Dreams for Plans part 7

[s11235]

‘Uther,’ Morgana said looking up from her plate, ‘I was wondering, if perhaps I could maybe, possibly, go on a pilgrimage to my father’s grave’

‘After what happened last time?’ Uther scoffed.

‘But I haven’t been to my father’s grave in over a year, it is not far-’

‘Far enough to be attacked by bandits’

‘But I would have guards with me and Gwen’

‘Isn’t Gwen your-’

‘I’ll go with them’ Arthur said quickly.

‘I don’t know Arthur’ Uther said uncertainly. His tone informing Arthur that the battle was already won.

‘I know how much these pilgrimages mean to Morgana and I don’t want what happened before to make her feel as though she can never visit her father’s grave again. Besides I have my own reasons for wanting to go-’ I bet you do, Morgana thought with a wry little smile ‘-I have never visited Gorlois’s grave and would like to pay my respects and I would be able to do my utmost to ensure the party’s safety’

‘Very well’ Uther said after a moment’s pause, ‘you both may go’

‘Thank you Father’ he said inclining his head.

‘Thank you’ Morgana echoed.

‘Arthur’ she said, catching him by the arm as they left the hall, ‘I just wanted to thank you for what you did in there, Uther never would have allowed me to go otherwise’

‘It’s no trouble’ he said with a shrug and a smile.

‘Well it means a lot and I know Gwen will be glad you are accompanying us’

She saw his eyes widen slightly.

‘Can I ask why?’ he almost stammered.

Morgana rolled her eyes, ‘because she got kidnapped last time we tried to visit my father’s grave remember?’

‘Oh right, sure’ he said quickly.

‘Why? What did you think I meant?’ she asked innocently.

‘I don’t know, I just-’ he stuttered, ‘I should be going, training with the knights, you know’

‘Arthur it’s past nightfall’

‘So I need an early night for training first thing tomorrow morning’ he recovered with a grin before disappearing off down the corridor.

‘So how did you manage to convince Uther to let us go without guards?’ Morgana asked as she settled into the saddle.

‘Told him that we would be in less danger if we remained inconspicuous and taking a dozen guards with us is just asking for trouble’

Morgana raised a sceptical eyebrow but didn’t say a word.

‘Merlin? What is taking you so long?’ Arthur asked, turning round in his saddle to see his manservant staggering down the steps his arms laden with saddle packs and several swords. Gwen looked up from adjusting Morgana’s stirrups ‘Merlin hang on, I’ll give you a hand with all that’

‘It’s okay, I’ll help him’ Arthur said quickly, alighting from his horse, ‘though if he’d done it in two runs like I told him too there wouldn’t have been a problem in the first place’

‘Well if you’d packed light like I told you to then I wouldn’t have needed to do two runs, would I?’

Gwen smothered a smile in the sleeve of her shirt. Arthur caught her eye and had to bite back his own grin as he took the vast majority of the load in Merlin’s arms.

It was so obvious now, Morgana thought as she watched Gwen helping Arthur to attach the saddle bags, now that she knew the truth it was staring her in the face.

‘Did we really have to get up so early?’ Merlin yawned half an hour later as made their way through the main gate, ‘it’s not six yet’

‘Yes Merlin, we did, but I am so very sorry that it has messed with your sleeping patterns, I know how much you love your lie ins’

‘Well since you told me you are capable of dressing yourself I figured I might as well leave you to it’

‘Just because I can dress myself doesn’t mean that you can sleep in’

‘I don’t see why not?’

‘I’ll tell you why not-’

‘They are bickering already’ Morgana sighed with a smile, shaking her head.

‘They do make quite a pair’ Gwen laughed.

‘Well while they are squabbling like children-’

‘We are not squabbling like children’ Merlin and Arthur said in unison, turning around in their saddles to glare at Morgana.

‘As I was saying’ she said with a grin at Gwen, ignoring the scowls of the boys, ‘we need to find some way to occupy ourselves and I was wondering if you might like to play a game’

‘A game?’

‘I give you two choices and you have to pick one and you’re not allowed to over think the answer’

‘Okay’ Gwen said uncertainly.

‘Apples or Strawberries?’

‘Strawberries’ Gwen said quickly.

‘Prose or Poetry?’

‘Prose’

‘Red or Green?’

‘Red’

‘Blue eyes or Brown eyes?’

‘Blue’ she said, a faint heat coming to her cheeks as she felt his eyes flicker to her.

‘Sewing or Sword fighting?’

Gwen laughed, ‘sword fighting’

‘Roses or Tulips?’

‘Roses’ Gwen said, feeling Arthur’s gaze on her again.

‘Marry Merlin or Arthur?’

‘Arthur’ she said without blinking.

The others turned to stare at her.

‘What?’ she said, addressing only Morgana, ‘it’s merely the lesser of two evils, I mean, who would want to marry Merlin? I couldn’t curse my children with his big ears’ she grinned.

‘Hey!’ Merlin exclaimed while Arthur laughed.

‘That is the most ridiculous reasoning I have ever heard’ Morgana said in mock outrage, though she couldn’t help but smile.

‘Well it was a ridiculous question’ said Gwen, just as hers and Arthur’s eyes met.

‘And my ears are not that big’ Merlin protested.

‘I’m pretty sure they can be seen from Olaf’s kingdom’ Arthur said with a wicked grin.

‘Well personally I think Gwen should be more concerned about her children inheriting your big fat head’

‘My head is not big or fat’

‘Have you looked in a mirror recently?’

Morgana put an exasperated hand over her eyes as Gwen giggled.

This was going to be a long trip.

The boys fell silent for the first time since they had set out as they alighted from their horses and followed the girls up the hill.

‘Are you okay?’ Gwen asked, her arm interlinked with Morgana’s.

Morgana bit her lip but nodded.

Gwen gave her hand a gentle squeeze, ‘I know it’s hard’

‘I really miss him, and with things being so difficulty with Uther in the last few years I just want my father back, I know it sounds silly-’

‘It doesn’t’ Gwen said with an understanding smile.

‘Sometimes I just want to be eight years old again and be able to run into his room after I’ve had one of my nightmares and for him to give me a hug and tell me everything is going to be alright’

‘I know’

‘Not that your don’t do a wonderful job of looking after me’ Morgana said quickly.

‘Thank you, but I know that it’s not the same’

Morgana gave her a tight lipped smile, ‘thank you so much for coming with me’

‘What are friends for?’ Gwen said warmly as they reached their destination. The four of them stood on the hillside, there was totally silence apart from the rush of the cool breeze as it whipped about them. Four silhouettes in the descending darkness, four heads bowed as they remembered all those whom they had lost. Arthur slipped his hand into Gwen’s, unseen by the other two. She gave him a small smile as he ran over her knuckles with a soothing finger.

After a while Morgana took a deep breath and said in a voice barely louder than a whisper ‘I’m ready to go now’

Gwen swiftly dropped Arthur’s hand and put an arm around Morgana as they headed off back down the hill.

‘You’re like a sister to me, do you know that?’ Morgana said as they picked their way through the long grass.

Arthur couldn’t help the satisfied smile that came to his face as Morgana’s words met his ears. Everything was falling into place.

By the time they reached the inn night had well and truly fallen and the heavy rain which had begun to fall had all four of them soaked to the skin. As they tied up their horses in the stables Morgana said ‘I think we need a cover story’

‘What?’

‘Well four young unattached people travelling alone together- I think it might arouse suspicion’

‘What do you suggest?’ Arthur said briskly.

‘You and I share a room as brother and sister obviously and Merlin and Gwen will be distant cousins or something’

‘Gwen would be sharing a room with Merlin?’

She nodded, ‘well you’re here to protect me after all’ she said, before adding with a grin ‘and someone needs to take care of Merlin’

‘Sounds fine to me’ Gwen said with a smile.

‘Same’ Merlin nodded vehemently.

‘Fine’ Arthur half snapped, well and truly backed into a corner now, ‘fine’ he huffed under his breath.

Morgana had to fight the impulse to laugh at the scowl on Arthur’s face.

‘Good evening’ said the plump middle aged woman from behind the bar.

‘We are looking for a bed for the night-’ Arthur replied.

‘-a twin room if you have one’ added Morgana quickly.

‘I was about to ask about that’ Arthur snapped back.

The woman chuckled, ‘I was exactly the same with my brother growing up’ she said conspiratorially to Morgana, ‘but don’t worry, they grow out of it eventually, just wait until he’s married’

‘Oh I look forward to that day very much, I’m sick of looking after him, though how I’ll ever find a girl willing to take him I don’t know’ she said with a grin.

‘Hey! I am not that bad’ Arthur objected.

‘Are they bullying you son?’ asked the lanky old barman with a gummy smile, ‘you’ll have to excuse my wife, she’s a bit of a character. Twin room was it?’

Arthur smiled back.

Just then Merlin and Gwen entered the bar.

‘You two are in room six. Go up the stairs, and it’s-’ the old man began to direct Arthur.

‘Oh newly weds!’ cried the woman, throwing her arms into the air in welcome as Merlin and Gwen approached the bar, ‘I just love newly weds’

Arthur paled while both Gwen and Merlin stood there in their damp cloaks looking blank and Morgana tried her best to hold back a smile.

Gwen recovered first, ‘how did you know?’ she said in a voice which was rather higher than normal.

‘I have a sixth sense for this type of thing, you just have that newly wed, totally in love, glow about you’

Gwen blushed and she felt Arthur’s gaze fall on her, and though her eyes were on the floor, she could tell there was a slight smirk on Arthur’s lips.

‘Now that you mention it, I see what you mean, they do make a lovely couple’ Morgana chipped in with a grin at the older woman. Arthur had to resist a very strong urge to thump his foster sister.

‘So when did you two tie the knot?’ the barman asked, having totally forgotten about giving Arthur and Morgana directions to their room.

‘Just last week’ Gwen said swiftly.

‘So what are you doing here?’ the barman said, directing the enquiry at Merlin, ‘I wouldn’t have thought you’d have wanted to leave the bedroom at all for at least the first fortnight with a wife as beautiful as her’

Gwen flushed deeply.

‘Well she really wanted to see her sister who unfortunately couldn’t make it to the ceremony, she’s got four little ones and is expecting a fifth in the next few weeks’ Merlin said slipping his hand into Gwen’s, a slight smirk on his lips as he noticed Arthur stony expression, ‘it’s a long trip, but it’s worth it to keep her happy’

‘I see you have learnt the first lesson of marriage my friend’ the old man said with a wink, ‘give her happy days and it will ensure you many happy nights’

Both Gwen and Merlin blushed then.

‘How about you two take the honeymoon suite? No extra cost, one’s using it tonight and it’ll just go to waste otherwise’

‘That’s very kind of you’ Gwen said with a warm smile, ‘thank you’

Arthur spluttered.

‘Oh I’m sorry’ the barman said quickly, turning to face Arthur again, ‘your room is the fourth on the left, it is next to the honeymoon suit, but don’t worry, the walls are pretty thick’ he grinned.

‘Thanks’ Arthur said unenthusiastically, his eyes on Gwen.

‘Come on’ Morgana said pulling a reluctant Arthur off up the stairs.

‘Your room is fifth on the left’ the middle aged woman said with a smile.

‘Thank you so much’ Gwen replied, returning her smile as she headed up the staircase after Morgana and Arthur, a saddle pack over her shoulder.

Merlin went to follow her but the old barman caught his arm, ‘I’d watch the blonde chap if I were you, he could barely keep his eyes off your wife’

An ‘oh’ was all Merlin could manage.

‘It’s the price of marrying an attractive woman I’m afraid’

‘Right, thanks’ Merlin smiled weakly.

‘No trouble’ the old barman said with a grin ‘and we’ll send up room service in an hour if you’d like?’

‘Sounds great’

‘That’s if you have time to eat eh’ he added with a wink.

‘Night’ Merlin said quickly before making a swift escape up the stairs.

‘Why didn’t you correct her?’

‘Because it was easier not to, besides, what’s the harm?’

‘What’s the harm?’ he spluttered indignantly, ‘there’s only one bed!’

‘It’s a big bed’ she reasoned.

‘There is no way I’m going to let you share a bed with Merlin’

‘Let me?’ she exclaimed, ‘I’m sorry but when did my sleeping arrangements become your business?’

‘I didn’t mean it to come out like that, but I think it is my concern who you share a bed with, after all you are my-’

‘Your what?’ she said with an arched eyebrow, amusement playing around her lips.

‘I don’t think there is a word for what you are to me’ he said scratching the back of his head, his cheeks rather pink.

She smiled.

‘So does that mean Merlin’s sleeping on the floor?’ he said hopefully.

‘I am not making Merlin sleep on the floor’

‘Too right’ Merlin said as he joined them in the bedroom and jumped backwards onto the large bed, ‘cause this bed is really comfy, come and try it out Gwen, nice and bouncy’

‘You are enjoying this!’

Merlin sat up, and fighting to keep a straight face said, ‘not at all,’ while pulling Gwen by the hand onto the bed beside him.

She giggled, ‘you’re right, it is bouncy’ she said, testing it out.

‘Well I still think Merlin should be sleeping on the floor’

‘Don’t be silly Arthur’ she said taking his hand in both of hers, ‘nothing is going to happen, it’s Merlin’

‘What is that supposed to mean?’ Merlin asked, rather put out.

Gwen dropped Arthur’s hand and turned to face the man on the bed beside her, ‘that you’re my best friend and you’d be too scared of Arthur to do anything even if you wanted to- which you don’t’

‘I am not scared of Arthur’ Merlin protested.

Arthur swiftly withdrew his sword and pointed directly at his manservant’s throat.

Merlin gulped, his Adam’s apple bobbing dangerously close to the point of Arthur’s sword.

‘Okay’ Merlin said, raising his hands in defeat, ‘I’m scared of Arthur when he has a sword’

‘What’s going on?’ Morgana asked from the door.

Arthur sheathed his sword, his cheeks a little flushed.

‘Arthur was just making a point’ Merlin said with a grin.

‘The bedroom is yours Arthur if you want to get changed’

‘Thanks’ he said before slipping out of the door.

Morgana sat down on the bed between Merlin and Gwen, ‘this bed is really bouncy’ she observed.

Morgana and Arthur made their way back up the stairs after having eaten dinner down in the bar.

She was about open the door of their room when the sound of a creaking bedstead and a deep groan met their ears. Morgana couldn’t help but smirk as she saw her brother turn pale, ‘sounds like Gwen and Merlin are having fun’ she said, not having been able to resist the temptation.

‘So what do you want to do?’ Morgana said, taking a seat by the hearth.

‘I don’t mind’ Arthur replied through gritted teeth as he attempted to block out the sound of giggles coming from the next room.

‘They are very cute together don’t you think?’ Morgana asked with a raised eyebrow, her lips twitching in amusement.

‘You should not be encouraging this’ Arthur snapped as he began to pace the room.

‘And why not?’ she said in a low voice which was almost drowned out by Merlin’s laughing shout of ‘Gwen stop it!’

‘You are encouraging loose morals’

‘What does it matter, they’ll probably end up married anyway’

Arthur cursed in a hiss as he stubbed his toe on a bedpost.

‘Merlin!’ came a rather breathless cry from the next room.

‘I think Merlin has one of my shirts’ Arthur said as he nearly sprinted to the door.

He threw open the door to the honeymoon suite to find Gwen lying flat and breathless on the bed, Merlin straddling her, pinning her arms above her head, still laughing, and thank God, fully clothed. But the bed sheets were in disarray, the pillows scattered haphazardly on the floor around the bed.

Both flushed faces turned to look at the intruder.

Merlin quickly let go of Gwen’s arms and rolled off of her so fast he fell out of the bed.

‘And this is why you should learn to knock Arthur’ Morgana said from behind him, a small smile on her face.

‘That was not as bad as it looked’ Merlin stammered as poked his head over the side of the side of the bed.

‘And it was not as bad it sounded?’

‘Correct’ Merlin beamed.

It was only Morgana’s presence which prevented Arthur launching himself over the bed at Merlin’s head.

‘We were just messing around’ Gwen said sitting up, her concern at the look on Arthur’s face evident.

‘Messing around?’ he breathed hoarsely.

‘Yeah, we were having a pillow fight’ Merlin said with a grin, gesturing lamely at the dishevelled bed which he was half hiding behind, grateful that it’s bulk as well as the presence of Gwen and Morgana stood between him and serious bodily harm.

‘But Gwen’s really ticklish so it’s easy to beat her’ Merlin said reasonably.

‘Really?’ Arthur asked, his voice hard, though there was the beginning of a playful glint in his eye.

‘Really,’ Morgana said with a laugh, ‘I can’t believe you didn’t know that’

Arthur suddenly turned pink, ‘why would I know something like that?’ he spluttered.

‘Because Gwen’s ticklishness is legendary, I thought everyone knew’ Merlin said, straightening up finally, as it seemed the danger had passed.

‘Evidently not’ he said, one eyebrow arched with a mixture of curiosity, distain and amusement.

‘Arthur are you going to ask Merlin for your shirt back?’ Morgana asked innocently.

‘Why would I have one of Arthur’s shirts?’ Merlin asked as he sat back down on the bed.

‘I don’t know Merlin, why would he have one of your shirts Arthur?’

‘I dunno’ Arthur shrugged, ‘I just thought I’d pack my red one and it wasn’t in any of the bags’

‘You mean to say that you didn’t pack your entire wardrobe, could have fooled me with the weight of those bags’

‘Shut up Merlin’

There was an awkward pause.

‘How about a game?’ Morgana said kicking off her shoes and joining Merlin and Gwen on the bed.

‘Sure’ Gwen and Merlin said together.

‘What game?’ Arthur asked slightly warily as he sat down on the edge of the bed between Gwen and Merlin.

‘Truth or dare’ she replied with a grin.

‘Aren’t we a bit old for that?’

‘Indulge my nostalgia Arthur’

‘Fine’ he shrugged.

‘Merlin, truth or dare?’ Morgana said.

‘Dare’ he said with a mischievous grin.

‘You have to go and knock on the door opposite at tell them that you are there to check there is not an infestation of moths in their closet because if we don’t stop them we’ll all be walking around naked’ Morgana said swiftly.

‘I can’t believe you told her!’ Merlin exclaimed with accusatory eyes.

Gwen giggled, ‘well I had to offer some explanation as to why you torched one of her dresses’

‘So that’s the excuse you gave Gwen as to why you stole one of Morgana’s dresses to play dress up?’ Arthur added.

‘I didn’t-’ he began but the other three were laughing so hard at his indignant expression that he could not make himself heard.

‘I’ll just go and do my dare’ Merlin sulked as he skulked out of the door.

The three of them ran to the door, pressing their ears up against it.

They giggled like small children as they listened to the exchange. After a few minutes a shamefaced Merlin opened the door.

‘That was so embarrassing’ he said as he flopped back down on the bed.

‘Gwen you’re next’ Morgana grinned as they joined their red faced friend.

‘Truth’ Gwen said quickly.

‘You are so predictable’

‘Are you in love?’ Morgana asked swiftly.

‘Yes’ she replied without missing a beat, her eyes only resting on Arthur for a split second.

‘Who are you in love with?

‘You’re not allowed to ask two questions in one go remember?’ Gwen said with a serene smile.

Morgana scowled.

‘It’s Arthur’s turn’ Merlin reminded her.

‘Dare’ he said without flinching.

Morgana paused for a second, thinking, ‘you have to kiss Gwen’ she said triumphantly.

Arthur’s cheeks turned scarlet and Gwen’s eyes grew wide for the briefest moment.

‘I am not going to do that’ he spluttered.

‘Why not?’

‘Because it would be wrong’ he said very flustered.

‘Or maybe you are just too much of a coward’ Morgana shot back at him, the look in her eyes very clearly a challenge.

He looked between Gwen and Morgana, torn between the woman he loved and his pride.

‘I won’t do it’ he said standing up.

‘Why? You two have kissed plenty of times before’ Morgana said breezily.

She watched with considerable amusement as the three of them turned as one to stare at her, the same look of pure disbelief on the faces of each.

‘When did you-’ Merlin began to splutter.

‘I wanted to tell you but the situation is so delicate, we didn’t think-’

‘How did you-’

‘It’s okay’ she said with a weak smile, ‘I understand, I found out when I found the note. Gwen, I’m so sorry, I know it was an invasion of privacy but I knew something was going on and I had to know what’

‘But how did you-’

‘I saw you in the gardens’ she said looking at her hands, ‘sorry’ she added lamely.

‘It’s fine, in fact it’s more than fine’ Gwen beamed, ‘you have no idea how hard it has been keeping this from you. And you’re not angry?’

‘I’m not angry’ she smiled, ‘I was, and upset that you felt you couldn’t confide in me Gwen. But I understand, he is my brother, I am Uther’s ward, I was pegged for future Queen; I can see why you didn’t feel comfortable telling me. But seriously I don’t mind you taking the throne instead of me. Queen Morgana does have a ring to it, but who’d want to marry Arthur?’ she said with a playful light in her eyes as Gwen and Merlin exchanged a look.

‘And I have to say it was nice to see you squirm a bit Arthur, your face when the bar lady called them a married couple- priceless. And this is something that I can hold over your head for many months to come’ she smirked.

‘I look forward to it’ he said rolling his eyes as he sat back down next to Gwen and put one arm around her.

‘So tell me, when did this all start?’

‘Ealdor’ said Arthur, ‘the jousting tournament’ said Gwen at the same time.

‘Tell me everything’ Morgana said, grinning excitedly as Merlin settled back against the headboard and closed his eyes, it was going to be a long night.

She sat there at the end of the bed, hours after the other three had fallen asleep, and tried to absorb all she had been told. As her brain ran through all that had been said what struck her most was all the lies. The lies he had told Uther, the lies they had told each other, the lies they had told everyone else and the lies they had told themselves. She couldn’t quite take it all in. And there had been some real surprises amongst all the lies: Lancelot for one. Morgana remember vaguely the handsome would-be knight who Gwen had taken a bit of a shine to and did not miss the stony expression on Arthur’s features when he was mentioned, his hand interlinking with Gwen’s almost subconsciously.

As she watched them sleeping- Gwen tucked neatly into Arthur’s side and under his chin, her hand resting on his chest, rising and falling with every gentle snore- she did not think Arthur had much to worry about. After all they did have her on their side.

A/N: Apologies for the state of this chapter, this comes to you largely unchecked, so I apologise for any mistakes (plot wise, grammar wise, spelling wise.) Anyway hope that it's okay and wasn't too disappointing.