Rating: g
Characters/Pairings: Merlin, Arthur, Sir Geoffrey
Summary: Merlin asks a question and Arthur makes use of the information.
Author's notes: *This drabble was a prequel to EXILE OF THE ROUND TABLE QUEEN.

THE WARRIOR'S QUEEN
"Merlin!" Arthur calls out as he enters the dusty library of Camelot.

"Yes Sire," Merlin answered more quietly.

"What are you doing in here?" Arthur looked around and wrinkled his nose.

"Research. Since I will one day become the man servant of the king I decided to learn more about Camelot's former rulers." Merlin smiled as he explained to the Prince.

Arthur stared confused at him. "Why do you want to do that?"

Merlin shrugged.

Sir Geoffrey came from behind a shelf of books with a old dusty book he was holding open in front of him. "I found the answer to your question Merlin. Oh hello my lord."

"Thank you, Sir Geoffrey," Merlin took the book and looked at the page.

"There was only one Queen that has ever been of common birth in Camelot. That is King Alistair's wife, Queen Alice." Sir Geoffrey pointed to the page in front of Merlin. "Here is a description that was given of her. They called her the Warrior's Queen."

Arthur looked over Merlin's shoulder at the book. The fact that there had been a commoner Queen gave him hope that he and Guinevere could marry. Arthur remembered something. "Sir Geoffrey wasn't King Alistair the first king to use the Round Table?"

"That is right, Sire. It would stand to reason that a king who values everyone would marry a woman of low birth."

"Arthur, you should read this." Merlin motioned to the book.

Arthur picked up the book and read it aloud:

"'QUEEN ALICE THE WARRIOR'S QUEEN
She was beautiful beyond measure. She was loyal to her King and his Kingdom. She was brave, strong and courageous. She would pick up a sword and wield it by the King's side when there was a need. She spoke truth to her King when no one else dared. She knew the King's heart and had a well established place within it. She was not of Noble birth but of Noble heart.'"

"Sounds like someone we both know, doesn't it?" Merlin whispered to Arthur.

Arthur looked at him and gave a slight nod. "Sir Geoffrey what is this mark here?" Arthur pointed to a faded mark at the bottom of the page.

"That would be the seal of Queen Alice. It's too faded to see but …." Sir Geoffrey turned to pull another volume off the shelf. It was a book of all known seals of the noble houses. "In those days a Queen would keep the seal of the Noble house of her birth for her personal correspondence. King Alistair had a seal made for her because she was not of Noble birth." He opened the dusty volume up to a page. "This is Queen Alice's seal."

Merlin and Arthur looked at the seal on the page and recognized it immediately. It was the top of the Round Table.

Arthur straitened up and smiled. "Thank you, Sir Geoffrey for educating my man servant. Come along Merlin we have training and bring your homework with you." Arthur turned to leave.

Merlin took both books and smiled at Sir Geoffrey. "I'll have them back as soon as I can."

Sir Geoffrey nodded. "Be careful with them Merlin."

"I promise." Merlin gave the old librarian a big grin. He hurried to catch up with Arthur.

Arthur had only gone a ways down the corridor and stopped. Merlin nearly ran into him. "Merlin, make a copy of that seal and have one made for me."

"You're going to give it to Gwen aren't you?" Merlin grinned.

"Yes, just do it and meet me on the training field when you have it done." Arthur started down the corridor then turned back to Merlin. "If you breathe a word of this to anyone …"

"I know, I know," Merlin nodded. "You'll kill me."

"Exactly! Now hurry, it has to done by Winter Solstice." Arthur went off to training.

Merlin took the books to Arthur's chambers and took a piece of parchment and magically copied the seal's image and hurried off to the engraver.