Fragile Peace

[elsewhere87]

DAY TWO: Unfortunate Encounters

Arthur was sitting on the corner of his bed hours after leaving Guinevere’s home. On his face was a scowl of discontent as Merlin came crashing into the room hours after dawn.

Uh literally crashing.

“Merlin, what is wrong with you?” Arthur asked moodily. After his collision with the desk, Merlin was down on the floor now practically atop his head, legs up in the air. Arthur snarled. “Get your filthy boots away from my work.” Moving off the bed, he snatched away the documents he had been laboring on a few days previous that he would take with him on his trip to Northumbria in just a few days.

Merlin rolled around until finally he was on his side and then rolled some more so that now he was on his knees. “Whoa. What did they put in that drink, or the next one, or the next?”

Arthur rolled his eyes with exasperation. “You were at the tavern again?”

Merlin gave a goofy grin before he got serious, slowly lumbering up to his feet. “Now hold on there a minute.” He brought up his finger to make his point. “All those times Gaius told you I was at the tavern I really wasn’t.”

“Oh…” Arthur played along. “What were you really doing, fighting off a dragon?”

Merlin lifted his eyebrows at that. Well…just change fighting off to fighting with and yeah that would be more accurate but then of course Arthur would be putting him in the dungeons. “Clotpole. No, look, I was actually doing things that would help you.”

“Right.” Arthur dryly dismissed him right away.

Merlin continued mumbling. “But this time it’s true. I was at the tavern because Percival’s friend Valen, who actually I get on quite well with, sneaked out and went to the tavern without-

Merlin stopped talking, noticing that the king was not paying attention to him. “Uh, Arthur?”

He was just sitting there on the corner of the bed, head in his hands. “Sire.”

Nothing.

Merlin moved over to the bed’s edge, making sure there was plenty of distance between them. Arthur sometimes got kind of edgy when people other than Gwen sat close to him. “Okay, what is it?”

Arthur sulked a little more, before he brought it out with that strong pout of his. “It’s Guinevere. This is just getting frustrating. We’re not able to…well you know.”

Merlin frowned at that, wondering if he should just go hide under the bed. Arthur was talking about…that? To him? “Uh, well you haven’t seemed all that dissatisfied with it. You always have a smile on your face, well, when the King of Anglia isn’t visiting anyway.”

Arthur scrunched up his face with distaste. “Ah, don’t mention him. Have to be chivalrous with the Princess Elanor tonight who I know is supposed to be nice and all, but the timing is awful with what Guinevere and I are dealing with…”

Merlin approached the topic carefully, still stunned that Arthur was talking to him about it. “Uh, look, maybe even though you’re the big king, these things, you’re just not as good at.”

“Huh?”

“Well you’re very impatient! Women like to be…” This was a subject Merlin sort of knew about because he had about two significant relationships in the past. Okay with Freya it was more love than physical, but when that Lady Sasha visited…that was definitely more physical. Even Arthur noticed how taken she was with him.

“Perhaps Arthur if you were more considerate of her feelings it would just naturally happen and uh…she would…uh…you know…be satisfied.”

“Be satisfied with what?”

“You!” Merlin yelled out with exasperation. “Your…” Merlin gestured downward a little, and then more meaningfully.

Arthur lowered his eyes with astonishment.

“Your you know…oh fie…sword thing or whatever.”

“BLOODY HELL. YOU THINK I’M TALKING ABOUT MY-

“Sword!”

“Oh you incompetent idiot!” Arthur cursed, carefully placing a pillow in front of his…sword. “I was not talking about that!”

Merlin yelled back. “Well you said your…you know what.”

Arthur got up off the bed now, lifting his hands with exasperation. “I meant the fact that we’re married and can’t even be seen together, Merlin! I hate that this princess is coming tonight and my wife’s going to be serving us, not sitting next to me. I want Guinevere to be…garr…my queen.”

There, he said it, Arthur thought. He agreed to this months ago, but now it was no longer enough. Going to her house just so they could be together, passing notes back and forth like some silly juveniles hiding from the parents was getting crazy. He knew he blew it with the whole banishment thing and he knew that Morgana affected her terribly, but enough was enough.

Seeing that he was sulking again and now getting the real gist of things, Merlin flopped down on the bed next to Arthur, who immediately scooted over to the other side, eyeing him warily.

Merlin put up his hand. “Okay, I was wrong. You don’t have a performance problem.”

Arthur actually laughed now, thinking how outlandish that could be.

Merlin waited for him to stop, and then as the pout came back, he asked, “Arthur, have you told her?”

The king shook his head. “She didn’t want to be queen when we got married.”

“And now?”

Arthur looked miserable. “We don’t really talk about it.”

“Well maybe you should.”

“No.” Arthur got up from the bed, negating Merlin’s suggestion. He had to get dressed. The preparations for tonight’s banquet needed to be completed. And when she arrived he had to face the Princess Elanor. “Get my clothes Merlin.”

With a huff Merlin got up from the bed. He found some suitable attire that he sent flying Arthur’s way, without magic.

The king caught at them, but before he went behind the changing screen he made certain of one thing. “Don’t tell her I said anything.”

Merlin rolled his eyes. If the either knew of how many secrets they had told him, before they just went and blabbed it to each other…ah.

“Oh and Merlin. My sword’s in fine working order.” Arthur let out a little giggle. Idiot and his names for things. “Guinevere is NEVER displeased.”

“Didn’t need to hear that!” Merlin hummed loudly and semi- innocently, as with a chuckle Arthur changed behind the screen.

~*~

The banquet hall was full of attendees dressed up for the festive occasion. Camelot was celebrating its friendship with the Duke of Elmet, father to Princess Elanor, so being a gracious host was indeed important.

Arthur understood that well and yet he wasn’t feeling terribly festive, the Duke’s excellent political advice not something in need tonight. He had each on either side of him, pulling on his ear for attention, the Duke and the Princess Elanor. While the duke kept telling him wild jokes about the knights of Elmet, Elanor kept offsetting him by trying to rest her hand upon his shoulder. Last time she did it he nearly sputtered out the roasted duck he was eating. It was a glass of water delivered by his disgruntled looking wife that saved him at the last moment. Indeed every time she came to their table he could tell she was less than pleased.

With the Duke telling him yet another one, Arthur glanced toward the other side of the room.

Well Merlin seemed to be enjoying himself. He was smiling and conversing with Percival’s friend, Valen, who was sitting with the knights. Arthur pouted, noticing how they were all in a jovial mood, before he faked a smile for the punch-line of the Duke’s joke.

Gwen let out a sigh of tight exasperation, catching the Princess Elanor yet again trying to get her husband’s attention. Of course she did it in polite fashion, not realizing he was married, but that didn’t make Gwen any less sore.

Okay, so she was lovely. Very polite. Very nice. Had beautiful hair. Was tall. Danced well.

Gwen would like to strangle the woman.

OOOOHHHH.

Instead she grabbed Merlin by his scarf on her way to the hot kitchens.

His cheery greeting was cut off by the force of her grip. “Ah, eh, Gwen! Choking me! Er, chok-

Hearing his desperate plea Gwen suddenly realized what she was doing. Her face going red, she let go of his scarf as they came near the kitchens’ entrance.

“Oh Merlin I’m so sorry!” She apologized profusely. Before she hissed like an angry cat. “But can’t you keep her away? They’ve danced together two times!”

Merlin smiled amicably as he straightened out his handled scarf. “She’s actually a very nice person.”

Gwen’s eyebrows grew more pointed, making Merlin alter his statement. “Okay, well, they haven’t been dancing that closely together.”

Gwen countered strongly with a groan. “I know she is very nice. And yes it was quite far apart, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that you let it happen in the first place. You’re supposed to be my friend.”

Merlin shrugged. “The Duke of Elmet insisted on it. Arthur tried to get out, but you know how pushy the Duke can be.”

“For once my servant is right.” A voice from behind said.

Turning around, Gwen saw her husband standing there in his ceremonial cape and crown, lightly smiling to appease her ill mood, and looking much too handsome for her to be able to restrain herself. He fingered her waist just as the kitchen door opened, Hilda, the head cook, walking out. Unsatisfied at only getting to share looks with him, Gwen grabbed Arthur’s face to pull him in for a deep kiss making sure he at least was strongly hidden by a hallway column.

Passing by, Hilda peered at the observing Merlin, whose ears were getting red as he went back and forth from watching to acting like a statue. Giving her a big grin, Merlin’s smile faltered as Hilda, a heavyset grimacing woman, hissed at him. “Peeping Tom!”

Merlin frowned at that. Since when was he a peeping tom? Sure he listened a bit to Arthur and Gwen’s first proposal. He spied on Arthur with…

Well he wasn’t a peeping tom!

Going by the very amorous anonymous couple, Hilda just shook her head.

After she passed them entirely, Gwen sighed in relief, letting Arthur go. He sagged against the second column, looking quite pleased and dazed altogether. “Whoa, if I knew she’d make you this mad-

Gwen lifted her finger. “No more dancing.”

Arthur smiled, giving his wife a quick peck on the cheek before turning to go. “They’ll wonder where I am. But yes dear, no more dancing.”

~*~

The night was nearly over. Finally.

Listening to the last of the Duke of Elmet’s wild jokes and feeling the Princess Elanor’s hand grazing his shoulder, Arthur tried to act like he was interested. It was as Guinevere came to serve him some more wine that he truly took interest, accidentally brushing his hand against hers.

Gwen smiled at that, before moving away with as much objectivity she could muster and picking up a tray full of dishes before heading toward the kitchens. Once in the hallway, feeling the familiar rush of heat, she made her way toward the large steaming rooms. Before she could get there though, a hand locked around her waist rapidly, before letting go. She smiled knowingly. “Ar-

It wasn’t her husband, instead a man with a ponytail of dark hair, a smoky black tunic and a burgundy cloak surrounding pointed shoulders. Tall, with pale skin, his grip had been quite strong. Yet she assumed it had been accidental or intended for someone else. With a polite smile, Gwen moved to pass by. “Excuse me.”

To that he pushed her into the wall, making clear his rude intentionality. Barely able to keep the tray of dishes she was carrying in hand, she reached for a fork resting upon the top dish, pointing it at him strongly.

“Move your hands now or I will use this.”

He laughed at that, gripping her arms so tightly she dropped the fork. “Ah, stop-

She pushed at him, bringing the flat of her palm over his face, but then it happened. Like with Arthur, she found herself suddenly dizzy. Dropping the tray of dishes with a heavy clatter, Gwen fell to her knees.

~*~

As the duke was talking with some other guests and the princess excused herself for a moment, Arthur looked around for Guinevere, a look of concern coming to his face as he noticed she was not there. She was always swift in her return from the kitchens. He turned to the side, calling out to his servant.

“Merlin…”

“Yes Sire.” Merlin made his way quickly as he noticed the trouble in Arthur’s expression.

“Have you seen Guinevere?”

Merlin shook his head. “No. Not for a while now that you mention it.”

Arthur didn’t like that. “Merlin, go check on her.”

“Yes Sire.” Merlin quickly departed the room.

~*~

The man was hovering over her so she put up her hand, “Don’t touch me.” Although she tried to make her voice firm, it came out mostly weak. Within a few seconds she felt her balance coming back and got up to her feet, avoiding the mess of fallen dishes, but as she stood fully her wrist was grabbed. Gwen moaned.

“She said to NOT TOUCH HER.”

Gwen backed against the wall as another man with a strong muscular build and a beard brought out his fist, connecting with the other’s face to bring the pony tail haired man down. Gwen faced the new one warily. She could have sworn she saw him earlier with Percival and even heard Arthur say something about him, but after being accosted by a threatening stranger, she was on edge.

The man must have known that because he intentionally lowered his natural booming voice, asking as he gently held onto her arm, “Are you alright?”

She nodded. At that moment Merlin came rushing through the hallway and seeing a familiar face, Gwen gratefully moved towards her friend. “Merlin.”

Asking Valen what happened as he held Gwen in his arms, Merlin found out about the man down on the ground who had accosted her. He noticed something odd though that he commented on now.

“This hallway leads down to the kitchens only. Why were you walking this way?”

Valen shook his head with a wry grin. “Well, obviously Merlin I got lost on my way to the refresher. You know, been getting into the mead quite a bit tonight.”

Merlin smiled at that.

Valen went on importantly. “So as I finally realized from the heat pouring over that way and the strong smell of food that I was going in the complete opposite direction of where I wanted to be, I hear this cry and it was this woman who I’m assuming you know. That man down there, he was grabbing her and not at all listening when she told him to stop. Now I may be no chivalrous type, but I surely wasn’t going to let any lady be hurt by filth like that. So I knocked him out, one blow. He didn’t know what was coming at him.”

The oddly congenial boasting made Merlin smile.

“So you know her?”

Merlin nodded his head, gently rubbing Gwen’s back as she kept her face turned away from both of them. “Yes, this is Gwen, Valen. One of my closest friends here in Camelot. Thank you for looking out for her.”

Valen nodded, glancing down at the hidden woman and then back up to Merlin with a quiet smile. “Well she seems in good hands now. I think I finally remember my way so I’ll be going.”

Gwen pulled away from Merlin’s caring grasp then. She had been getting her composure back and fighting that momentary vertigo while they were talking. Now fully settled, she walked over to the man who had saved her.

“Thank you.”

Valen smiled down at her. “No need. It was my pleasure.”

Merlin made the formal introductions, stating afterward, “Gwen’s a servant like me, but she’s much better at it, taught me quite a bit. In fact she practically runs this castle.”

Gwen put up her hand to cease her friend’s flattery. “Oh Merlin stop, not true at all.”

As she protested Merlin thought of Arthur. He asked Valen if he could stay with her for a moment, but then Gwen cut in.

“Oh no, Merlin. He doesn’t need to. I was just heading to the kitchens to pick up the desserts and there’s that mess on the floor there.”

To that Merlin assured her he’d take care of it with the help of some of the other servants. Gwen had no choice but to relent, staying with Valen.

Perhaps seeing that she was still shaky, Valen poked fun at her attacker.

“Ah that guy went down too fast. I wanted to see what he’d look like with a colorful nose. Did you catch how long that honker was! Wow, only a mother could love a face as hideous as that!”

Gwen giggled.

Valen smiled back at her with approval. “Ah, that’s better. Now how about we find somewhere to sit?” He led her to a bench near the kitchen. Gwen listened in as he told her humorous stories about his exploits with Percival, like the time they went to Escetia and popped off a statue of a gargoyle from the front of Cenred’s castle.

Gwen’s eyes widened. “Did he ever notice it was missing?”

Valen grinned. “Must have the next morning when he woke up and one gargoyle was on the left, but the one on the right had nothing more than chopped off wings.”

She pressed her hand against his. “You’re quite the jokester!”

Valen looked amusingly affronted. “Ah, it’s true! Of course we were fourteen at the time, little buggers that no doubt Cenred wanted to do away with.”

She laughed as he started to tell her another one.

Meanwhile, Merlin was relating the events to Arthur who quickly excused himself. It wasn’t until he saw her laughing with Valen that finally Arthur felt a bit reassured. With two of the knights in tow, Elyan and Percival, Arthur raked his eyes over the fallen man disgustedly as a group of servants quickly picked up the fallen dishes and took them to the kitchens.

Elyan moved past Arthur to Gwen asking her if she was alright. When she told him yes and tried introducing him to Valen she quickly learned that they were tavern buddies which made her give a roll of the eyes. Feeling his arm wrap protectively around her she reassured him again as he asked in his soft voice, “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yes, Elyan, I’m fine thanks to Valen.”

Arthur moved over to Valen, ordering the knights to take the fallen man to the dungeons. Both Percival and Elyan hurried to their duty as Valen respectfully, although maybe a bit spontaneously, told Arthur his feelings.

“Sire, I don’t try to tell kings how to rule, but in this case, I have to insist, this man should be kept locked up for a while.”

“Don’t worry about that Valen. He’ll be properly taken care of.” Arthur barely contained a bothered sigh. He really wanted time alone with his wife, so he looked to Merlin pointedly for assistance, getting it after a few moments.

“Sire, perhaps Gwen could answer a few helpful questions about the strange man, if she’s feeling up to it.”

Giving his servant a secretive smile, Arthur moved toward Gwen formally to not reveal the true nature of their relationship. When she agreed to come with him he had to fight to not grasp her hand, especially as she turned backward to Valen.

“Thank you again.”

“Really, it was nothing.”

Arthur led the way after that, getting her to follow. As soon as they were past the banquet hall and near the knights’ rooms, he grasped his wife’s hand, bringing her into one of them. Closing the door tight, he whispered with emotion, “Guinevere…”

Gwen moved, holding on tight to his shoulder and pressing her palm against his chest as she felt his arms wrap around her. Warm in his embrace, peace finally filled the left over pockets of tension in her body.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Did he hurt you?”

Gwen shook her head, fingers of one hand nuzzling into his tunic as the other lifted to his supple blond waves. They were such a sweet contradiction to the toughness of his broad muscles that impressed her so. “No Arthur, he did not hurt me. Just frightened me a little.”

He did a slow inspection which got her to grasp his hands.

“Arthur I’m fine. Just happy to have the excuse to finally be alone with you. I admit I’ve been a bit irritable tonight, watching you with the princess.”

He lifted her hand, his lips grazing the back of it. “All just political courtesies. She’s nice enough. I didn’t want to be rude.”

Telling her he felt bits of envy at watching her and Valen laughing with each other, she admitted that gave her some satisfaction as she had not enjoyed watching him dance with the princess.

Arthur clutched her waist possessively, but gently. “All for cover.”

Gwen still looked somewhat disgruntled.

“Need I remind you this is how you wanted it?”

“I know. I did.”

Arthur peered down at her curiously. “Did?”

Gwen shrugged.

“Are you changing your mind?”

“Maybe.” She whispered softly, before feeling it. “Oh.” She grimaced with irritation.

Arthur looked down as she held at her leg. “What is it?” He asked.

Gwen shook her head, but soon enough he was lifting the bottom of her dress for inspection. Gwen didn’t have enough time to stop him so she just sighed as he noticed the bruise.

“Did he do this to you?” It was just a bit purplish black under her knee.

Gwen quickly negated the question. “No. I fell.”

Arthur’s face reddened. “He pushed you down?”

Gwen held onto her husband’s waist, trying to get him to calm down. “No. I-

“You what?”

Gwen grimaced. “I fell. On my own.” As a joke she added, “Or maybe I tripped over his big feet like I tripped over yours in my house…” because he was staring at her so intensely.

“You fell again Guinevere?”

“I didn’t fall the first time.” She told him strongly, pushing away his searching hands.

“But you fell tonight. You lost your balance again?”

Gwen nodded. “I started to feel…kind of dizzy. That’s probably why when I raised that fork at him he made me drop it so fast.”

Arthur frowned tightly with concern. “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?” He brought his hand to her cheek, tenderly caressing.

Gwen shook her head adamantly. “No, he pushed and grabbed me, but I was able to brace myself against the wall. I’m not hurt other than this little bruise.”

“Did you recognize him? I’ve yet to see his face.” Arthur raked the ceiling tightly, clenching his jaw. “I admit, I haven’t wanted to see it yet. I’m afraid I may do something to him that you wouldn’t approve of.”

Gwen clasped tightly to her husband’s waist, getting his eyes to come back down to hers. “I know. I can see you trying to fight it. But no to your question. I’ve never seen this man before. He must be a citizen of Elmet.”

“Yes, he must.” Arthur grimaced. “Well he’ll be questioned strongly and I’ll ask the Duke if he knows of him. I don’t think this was very calculated. It seems a random stupid thing. The fool just didn’t realize he was going after the king’s wife.”

Gwen shrugged. “Of course he didn’t.”

Arthur saw it again, that sign of discontent. He started to ask about it as he felt her lips come up to his.

“Kiss me.”

With a smile that grew more solidly as their lips came together, Arthur fully obliged his wife’s command. The door opened and they were caught in their lip-lock. Thankfully it was Leon.

“Oh, excuse me Sire.”

Arthur chuckled at that, pulling away from Gwen. “No, we should be probably apologizing. This is your room after all, right Leon?”

The red haired knight just kind of shrugged, before looking to Gwen. “I heard what happened to you Gwen. Are you alright?”

She smiled. “Yes, I’m fine Leon thank you.”

That answer appeasing him, Leon turned to the king importantly. “Sire, the questioning of the man has begun.”

They talked about how Gwen had not recognized the man and he was a stranger to Leon too. Arthur made clear that they would question whoever was necessary and that the man would be punished. Then both he and Gwen excused themselves from Leon’s room.

~*~

The festivities now completely over, Arthur sent Merlin home with Gwen. She protested at first, but he insisted that he didn’t want her to return alone. He also had Elyan keep watch outside, just in case.

And in the meantime Arthur met with the Duke of Elmet. “I’m sorry about this, I’m sure you’d like to retire for the night.”

The duke, an aging man, definitely weary from the night’s mostly festive proceedings, but understanding of the seriousness, quickly dismissed the king’s apologies. “Nonsense Arthur. I feel terrible about that such a thing would happen here in Camelot during my visit. If it’s one of my citizens they will pay the price for their insolence.”

“I appreciate your care to this matter.” Arthur led the duke to the dungeons where the man was sitting on his knees, his hands chained to the floor. He had a sullen look, but also seemed chilled by the icy water that had been thrown upon him when he refused to talk.

The duke approached, peering curiously, frowning a bit before he turned back to the king. “I’m sorry Sire. But I have never seen this man.”

“Do you think anyone else from Elmet might have?”

The duke shrugged. “It is possible. He may be no more than a peasant, but then it would be rare for him to have come on such a visit, unless he was a stowaway.”

Arthur nodded. “Indeed possible.” He fingered his chin. “What about maybe a servant?”

The duke consented. “Yes, that could be.”

Arthur looked around, telling the duke, “I know the hour is getting late and that there has been a lot of celebrating, drinks imbibed, but would you mind at all if I question those who came with you?”

The duke shook his head firmly. “Not at all. Do whatever you need Arthur to figure this out.”

“Thank you. I think we’ll question Camelot citizens too. Someone must know him.”

~*~

It was deep into the night when finally Arthur made his way to Gwen’s house. Stepping inside, he tiptoed quietly at Merlin’s shush. Looking over to her tiny bed, he saw his wife slumbering peacefully. Heavily Arthur sat down on the bench at her dining table, running a hand restlessly through his hair.

“What is it?” Merlin asked, sitting across.

Arthur turned to him. “Not a single person of Elmet has ever seen this man, Merlin. We couldn’t ask all of them.” He grimaced. “Some were a little sloshed. But we questioned not only nobles, but handmaidens, servant boys, almost everyone. None of them can identify him. And not only that. No one from Camelot seems to know him either.”

“That’s strange.” Merlin whispered.

The king silently agreed.

“What are you going to do Arthur?” Merlin quietly asked.

The king looked over to his sleeping wife, thankful nothing worse had happened, grateful to Valen. “I don’t know. I’m at a loss. But for now he’s in our custody and we’re going to keep questioning him until he says something.” Arthur clenched his fist with frustration and anger. “I wish he would just talk and that somebody knew him so we could punish him for his ill behaviors and be done with it.”

Merlin looked down at the table, saying nothing.

Arthur knew his servant’s moods though quite well. “What?”

Merlin approached the subject carefully. “Do you think it could be the work of Morgana?”

Arthur sighed raggedly, pulling away his cloak, feeling a release of the tension on his neck as he got rid of it. Already he’d dispatched of his crown. “Morgana? She hasn’t been spotted for over a year. Why do you think she would have anything to do with this?”

Merlin shrugged uncomfortably. “Don’t know. But whenever something weird happened in the past, Agravaine, all that, Morgana was behind it. And well, it’s been awfully quiet for a while.”

Arthur pulled at his hair, disturbed. “Fie. It has. I swore after what happened with Agravaine I would never let anyone get inside Camelot so deeply again. If it’s Morgana, I shudder to think what this will do to Guinevere.” He whispered tightly, just in case she woke up. “She has nightmares regularly about it. Their encounter, Merlin. She’s just so reluctant to talk about it.”

“Yes, well Morgana hunted her down through the forest. Brought back the dead, tainting Lancelot’s memory. Can you blame her?”

Arthur nodded heavily. “I’ll have the interrogators question about Morgana.”

He smiled wryly, having to get it in. “Well once again you show Merlin how you are not a complete idiot. Have these rare moments of wisdom.”

“Clotpole.”

Arthur laughed at that. “Never change Merlin.”

“Ah, you’d be too bored if I did, a bunch of bootlickers only at your feet would drive you mad.”

“Agreed.” Arthur stood up as Merlin did too. He clasped his hand with meaning. “Thank you.”

Merlin shrugged. “Don’t thank me. Thank Valen. He’s the one who got to her on time.”

Arthur sighed with relief. “Yes, you’re right. I need to pay him back somehow.”

Merlin offered, “Well I know he likes the tavern a lot, but I doubt that you can get him a year of free mead. Other than that gold doesn’t interest him much. So uh…you could make him a knight. Definitely has the brawn for it.”

Arthur’s eyes lifted at that suggestion. “You may be onto something there Merlin.”

The servant shook his head. “Except for the fact he’s made it clear he’s a traveler at heart. I doubt he’d stay.”

Arthur shrugged. “Well no harm in offering. I’ve made knights of others who swore they didn’t want to be in service to a king.”

Merlin grinned, Gwaine especially coming to mind. “True.”

Beyond them, on the bed, Gwen stirred slightly.

Merlin took that as his cue. “I better go. Have an obnoxious prat I have to work for early in the morning.”

Arthur laughed, and then asked Merlin if he could cover for him some in the morning if need be. He wanted to stay a little longer with his wife.

Giving a smile to that, thinking how Gwen brought out Arthur’s soft side, Merlin agreed and bid him good night.

~*~

A burly guard approached. The ponytail haired man chained to the floor of the dungeon cell and so forced to stay upon his knees, sneered. “Took you long enough.”

The guard spoke softly. “Yes, well you’re still going to have to wait.”

“But you said-

The guard cut him off. “We told you that you’d be paid handsomely and you will. You’ll receive your bounty when the task has been completed.”

“They may kill me first. She may just be a servant, but seems that such are prime in Camelot. At least she is.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed that too. I’m just a little perplexed by it.”

“I want my gold so I can be on my way.”

The guard nodded. “I already told you that you’ll get your precious gold. Just make sure that you keep your mouth shut.”

“Then you better get me out. And protect me from anything they’re going to do. Not good to have any money if I’m dead!”

“Just calm down.” The guard looked around carefully, making sure the other guards he had knocked out were still down on the floor. Then as he whispered in ancient words, a golden glow filled his eyes.

“There. That should hold for now.”

The man down upon the floor stared for a moment. “Not like your hair’s holding. I thought it was dark brown.”

“So?”

“Well what’s peeking through that helmet is tinged with black.”

The guard frowned at that, for a moment looking very troubled, but then his expression smoothed over. He stated coldly. “Just do your part. Let me worry about mine.”

~*~

Feeling uneasy, Morgana starkly woke from her troubled sleep. It was regularly riddled with nightmares about Emrys, and that last altercation that happened between her and Gwen. She moved to the cave’s edge, squinting into the darkness to find the foe, but there were only the clawing tendrils of cold mist. Wrapping her black torn cloak around her body, she returned to the cave’s interior. As she turned her back, the voice came.

“Oh, sorry if I woke you.”

Morgana hissed viciously, prickles of fear chilling her arms. “I told you not to sneak up on me. And why are you in guard’s uniform?”

The lumbering man let out a few heavy breaths, slumping onto the stool at the table they ate their meals at. “Give me a chance. The transference was shorter this time. I had to walk half a mile to get here. And I will still need to get back before anyone gets suspicious.”

She moved ever so close to him, noticing it. She poked at the strands. “It has changed color.”

He grimaced tightly. “I noticed that too. Or at least our ‘accomplice’ did.”

“It went across cleanly?”

“As cleanly as it could. But I don’t get it. She’s treated more like a princess than any servant woman.”

Morgana gave a great shake of her head. “Did I not even explain it to you? They were to be married. Although I thought the bracelet had changed things.”

“I’m assuming it did as I rarely witness them in close proximity of each other.”

“Make sure you are right on that.”

The guard stood up now. “Trust I will.”

The look he gave her was one of vicious intent, made even more malevolent by the blade that fell over his nose and mouth. “It’s been interesting, seeing him again.”

The words sparked wonder in Morgana.

The guard offered a name.

“Emrys.”

Morgana grasped at his chainmail. “The man you seek, within Camelot’s walls, is Emrys?”

He grinned. “Oh yes. He’s been there a long time Morgana.”

“He is an old man though!”

The guard chuckled at her like she was nothing more than a naïve child. “Oh Morgana. That is only ONE of his many faces. There are future ones you have yet to witness. Ones I’ve never even seen.”

She faced him furiously, her questioning insistent. “Who is he?”

The guard slowly shook his head. “No. Not yet. All in due time Morgana. I promise you. But first…” He gestured upward to the hair on his head. “You must help me with this. As the spell could only first be done together, I need your assistance to make it hold.”

She conjured up a pot of it, mixing the ingredients quickly together. Within the cauldron were locks of hair, bits of a sword, knife, clothing, and torn off tatters of flesh, now turned to pure, but quite thick liquid. It was all needed to make the spell remain. She held her nose as the sight of it was gruesome in hue and the smell horrid. Taking away the helmet, she smattered the concoction into the guard’s hair.

Even he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth at the sensations, awful ones. “Oh, how I will celebrate the day this is over. And yet a few things have been enjoyable. She is quite tempting to look at. Guess I didn’t notice that so much when I was just a boy. Now with a man’s thoughts, well you wouldn’t mind, would you?”

Every so often, Morgana felt them, icy trickles of fear that she never felt with Morgause. There was something very dark, very crudely sinister about…

“I told you to just bring her to me. That’s all.”

“Oh I’ll bring her to you. Don’t worry about that. Look what she did.”

Morgana felt his rough thick fingers upon her face now, going to the scars.

“Don’t you want her dead? Don’t you want her even worse than that? We can make her suffer Morgana. I can start it. Don’t you see? You and Agravaine never did enough. Not even you and Morgause. You were too lenient then. Too fragile handed. But you and I, oh Morgana, look what we’ve done already.”

She did now, gazing down upon the cauldron and its contents with revulsion. She never felt it before. Not when she took Lancelot’s spirit, but now, tonight’s meal rose from her stomach up into her throat and-

Morgana raced away, retching horribly, feeling his eyes on her curiously, just a hint of concern, before he laughed.

~*~

Merlin was leaving Gwen’s place, the darkness of night surrounding him, as he felt a presence.

“Valen?”

The muscled man was swiftly pulling on his jacket and breathing heavily. “Merlin.”

“Where are you coming from?” Merlin asked curiously, doubting this time it had been the tavern, since it was in the opposite direction.

The hood of his jacket up, shadowing his face, Valen grimaced a bit before letting out a dry chuckle. “Ah, I just got a little lost again. Not used to a kingdom so grand.”

“Well Camelot is probably one of the largest indeed. Just the castle itself is enormous. Even rumored that it was built magically.” Merlin whispered playfully.

Valen chuckled, walking beside the servant as they headed back to the entrance. “So where were you?”

Merlin hesitated for a moment, before answering with the truth. “Oh I was just at Gwen’s. Making sure she was okay, you know.”

“And she is?” Valen asked quietly.

“Yes. She’s fine.”

“Nice to hear.”

~*~

It was just a little after she felt Arthur slide into bed beside her that Gwen had another one of those dreams. This time she woke herself from it and felt no awful lasting effects.

Carefully sitting up, she turned to her sleeping husband’s face, relaxed in slumber. Hearing him murmur, giving a slight frown, she lay back down on the bed, felt how he relaxed once more at her close contact. She reached for his hand, grasping it with her fingers, pressing her lips against the warm and worked skin intimately. Now she knew that it was time. No secrets, no distance, no fear.

Day Three