Merlin guided his horse along with Arthur's, tying them down in front of a tavern just outside of Camelot.
"I hope you're thirsty, Merlin, I for one can use a tankard of mead," Arthur straighten his leather vest and smoothed his breeches down.
"And remember," the prince turned to the servant, pointing a finger at his face, "I'm a peasant just like the rest, understood?" Merlin rolled his eyes, following the prince to the tavern.
Laughter was heard from outside the tavern, and when the doors were pulled open the smell of mead wafted and seemed to seep through the wooden construction.
Upon entering, the prince and servant sat among roguish men, slamming their hands and fist on the wooden tables in excitement.
"Just the place I want to be, Sire. Surrounded by vulgar songs and drunken men is heaven compared to tending you," Merlin smiled, taking a gulp of his mead.
"Very funny, Merlin,"
"I wasn't trying to be," Arthur rolled his eyes unbecomingly before turning his head at an outburst that made the whole tavern grow silent.
A large man entered the establishment, draped in old black leather and a face that has been through worse then anyone could imagine.
He approached a hooded figure in a dark cloak sitting in the farthest corner of tavern. Merlin had not noticed the figure and they would have gone unnoticed if the leather man had not walked towards them with such force.
"Where is my money?" Roared the large man, slamming both fists on the wooden table. Merlin was convinced that if he had hit it any harder he would have turned it into a pile of splinters.
The hood slipped off the figures head from the force, reveailing a very angry woman. Merlin had never seen her around before, not in town, nor the local market, but he noticed how she was dressed, and he knew exactly what she was.
"I don't owe you money," She had replied calmly, looking him in the eye.
"You gypsy scum!" Yelled the large man, grabbing the woman by the cloak and pulling her face to face. Before he could do any damage, the gypsy had sliced him on the cheek with a dagger, setting herself free from his strong hold.
"Damn you to hell gypsy!" The ugly man stood up and charged at her, but Arthur quickly reacted, stopping him with a hand to his throat and a kick to the stomach.
"Leave this woman alone," commanded the prince as he pulled out his sword from the scabbard. Merlin stood beside the woman and only then could he see her beauty.
She turned to him with large gray eyes and glowing olive skin, smiling as if nothing happened. He watched as she slipped the dagger to a hilt strapped to her thigh and walked towards Arthur, unaware of his title.
"Thank you for the concern, sir, but your assistance will not be needed anymore," her accent was quite foreign, and it was obvious she was not from any of the 5 kingdoms.
The large man growled, resembling a hog, grabbing the gypsy by the wrist and pulling her roughly to his side. The young gypsy woman cried out, glaring up at the man.
"Our business," said the man, "is none of yours. So I suggest you turn around and find another damsel in distress," Merlin felt like a spectator, and before Arthur could point his sword at the larger mans throat, the sorcerers eyes glowed gold, moving a barrel quickly behind the man, causing him to fall, bringing the gypsy down with him.
Merlin ran towards the gypsy girl, helping her up as Arthur picked up the man by the collar.
"As prince and future king of this realm, it is my business," Arthur proceeded to punch the man, hard, sending him flying to the ground again. The crowd began to whisper in awe at seeing their prince, for they have never even laid eyes on the king himself.
The gypsys' eyes widened and she froze after Arthur's confession, drawing back slowly, almost in fear. Gypsies weren't looked upon fairly by the crown and therefore mistreated by virtually everyone.
There was a long silence in the tavern as eyes followed the prince to the door.
"If anyone sees this man causing trouble again, notify the Knights of Camelot. We will protect you," the prince walked out the tavern with his manservant, head held high with pride, until he realized the gypsy woman had disappeared.
"Merlin, what of the gypsy?"
"I haven't a clue, Sire," Merlin said in equal confusion as she had escaped the both of them unnoticed.
"Well, it is of no importance. She was only a gypsy," Arthur said walking towards the horses. Merlin followed behind with a frown.
She was only a gypsy.