I walked with staggered steps to a guard dressed in the colors and bearing the crest of Camelot. Bernadette had been sleeping in my arms for about a half an hour and, even though she was tiny for her age, she was heavy. I didn't know how much longer I could take this without dropping her, especially since I had her older sister to deal with as well. Eladrine was the same age as my brother, but somehow managed to get into more trouble than he did.
"Pardon, sir, but do you know where I could find Gaius, the physician?" Mother had said that he was there, so that was where I'd look. And if he wasn't, Mother still trusted him. I figured I could get in some much needed rest as I waited.
The guard gave his answer in a complex series of nodding, pointing, and useless sounds. Somehow, I managed to glean his meaning and followed his directions.
I risked my balance as I shifted Bernadette to be supported with only one arm. I needed the other to knock on the door.
An old man answered. He was small, and his hair was white, and it reached his shoulders. It was pretty much the description that Mother had given me. This was Gaius.
"Hello?" He asked.
"Hello." I said. "Is Merlin here?"
He soundlessly stepped aside and gestured that I should come in. I slowly made a few steps through the door and looked around. Merlin was nowhere to be seen.
"He's at work." Gaius said from behind me.
"Why didn't you tell me that?" I asked. No matter how much Mother trusted this man, it didn't hurt to be careful
He only shrugged. "You look like you could use some sleep."
I felt relief at that. "I could, thank you. I should probably introduce myself first, though. My name is Alaïs. I'm Merlin's sister."
Gaius' eyes quickly flicked from the twenty-two year old me, to the seven year old Bernadette, to the twenty year old Eladrine and back again.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly to my feet. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten my charges, the two girls I'd looked after for ten years and recently saved from death.
"Ela." Eladrine said in her soft, young-sounding voice "I'm Ela, heir to the throne of Aldirret. That is my sister, Dettie. Alaïs is our servant. Last week she saved us from a fire. We've been traveling here to meet her brother for days now, and we'd me much obliged if you could give us a place to rest undisturbed for just a small while until Merlin comes back."
For a princess, Ela was sure good at introducing herself by herself. She was always good at getting what she wanted too, and right now she wanted to sleep. It wouldn't be long until that happened, and I couldn't wait. Gaius directed us to Merlin's room, which contained a bed (if I knew my brother at all, it was Gaius that made him keep it made up neatly) that I allotted to the royal sisters and a chair which I claimed to be my own place of resting.
"Alaïs?" Bernadette said sleepily. Of course, she who tired me out by sleeping on the way here would also be she who kept me up by waking once we arrived.
"Yes, Dettie?" I replied, trying to keep my exhaustion from showing through my voice.
"What does your brother do for work? You never told us."
"He works for Gaius. I imagine he's out gathering medical herbs and things. He'll be back soon. I suggest you let your sister and I sleep while we wait." I said, trying very hard not to sound terse.
"Oh." Dettie said. I yawned and she got the hint, shutting up so I could at least let my body rest if not my mind.