"What do you think?" Morgana held up a belt dyed a deep brown with a simple knotted design etched into it.
Gwen nodded. "It's nice."
"It hardly seems nice enough." Morgana put it back on the table. "I want to get him something really nice. But not too nice. I mean I don't want to embarrass him."
"I don't think he'd be embarrassed no matter what you pick. I think he'd be touched that you got him anything."
"If I had more time I could think of something really special, something unique that really suits him. I could absolutely kill Arthur-"
"Why do you want to kill me?"
Morgana and Gwen turned around to find Arthur, fresh off the training ground, standing behind them grinning.
"Slumming it a bit aren't you Morgana?" Arthur smirked. "Not really like you to come into the market."
"I could say the same thing about you." Morgana shot back. Gwen tried to hide a grin. Even though Morgana was the only King's daughter by adoption, she and Arthur bickered like true siblings.
"Sir Percival saw the two of you wandering through here and I just came to make sure no one was bothering you."
"Well aren't you just the gentleman." Morgana rolled her eyes. "If you must know, I came looking for a gift for Merlin. And I really must thank you for not telling him about his birthday until two days before."
"Merlin's birthday?"
"You didn't know did you?" Morgana shook her head.
"Of course I knew. He is MY servant after all." Arthur countered. "But how did you know and why are you getting him a gift? Seems a bit unseemly."
"I know because Gaius asked Gwen to hide a package from Merlin's mother. He wanted it to be a surprise. As for why I am getting Merlin a gift. He might be your SERVANT but he's my friend and frankly I don't care how unseemly you or Uther think it is. Merlin has been nice to me and to Gwen and I think that deserves a little something, especially on his birthday."
"You really think you'll find something here?"
"Yes. And it will be a lot better than whatever you think up."
"I doubt that. I already have his gift."
"You do not."
"Of course I do. And it's something a lot better than anything you could find."
"Doubt that."
"I hate to interrupt." Gwen spoke up. "but someone's coming this way."
Gwen nodded her head to where Merlin was walking up the road from the forest.
"I suggest we continue this discussion later."
Morgana glared at Arthur, "We most certainly will."
