"WHAT?!" Merlin screeched loud enough to disturb the entire castle.
"Merlin…" Gaius sighed. "Come on… It's the only option…"
"I refuse to turn myself into a girl… even if it is to save Camelot!" Merlin exclaimed desperately.
Gaius looked at him with his wise, withering gaze.
"No, Gaius! I will not! I won't do it! I refuse! Nope! Not a chance! Not at all!... No!"
An hour later, Merlin found himself standing in his shabby chambers draped in one of Gwen's old dresses. He stared at his reflection in the darkening window.
His hair was still ebony black but it was long and flowing, stretching a good length down his back to his waist. His face was slightly more rounded and his ears had shrunk. His lips were plumper and more poised, holding the grace of a girl as opposed to a scruffy, young lad. He was shorter, he realised, when he tried to reach up to close the shutters and failed. He had also lost the bean-pole figure, and had instead grown hips and a tightened waist.
He knew that Gaius was trying his best not to laugh. Merlin turned round to glare at the old man and watched as the glimmer of a chuckle in his eyes immediately vanished at the murderous intensity of the opposing blue ones. They were the only thing that had stayed the same, Merlin realised, once he had turned back to the window. He allowed himself one last glance before turning to leave.
Well… he took one step, and promptly staggered.
"How on Earth do girls walk in these ridiculous dresses?" Merlin gasped. "I feel like I'm being sucked inside out. Ugh! It's so uncomfortable; I can't breathe! Surely, this can't be right."
Unable to contain himself any longer, Gaius smirked and muttered "Just wait until you try the shoes."
Merlin glared at him, but the anger soon subsided and the pair fell about laughing. The whole situation was just too ridiculous to get cross about.
With an eye-roll, Merlin shoved his feet into the dainty heels that Gaius had… borrowed… from the servants' hall down stairs.
"How do I look?" Merlin asked tauntingly.
"Beautiful, my lady." Gaius teased. "You're all set. You had better get going, the banquet will be beginning soon and you don't want to draw attention to yourself by being late."
"Yes, mother." Merlin groaned.
"Just because you're a girl, doesn't mean I am too!" Gaius protested and Merlin just stuck his tongue out. However, Gaius' face settled into a more serious expression and he added "Be careful, Merlin. Remember, keep out of sight as much as possible, just try and blend in. Don't talk to Gwen or Arthur or anyone who might recognise you. Keep your head down and follow the lead of all the other women. Oh and try and do something about your voice."
"Ok…" Merlin coughed, concentrated for a minute, and then continued in a higher pitched, slightly strained tone. "Ok. See you later, Gaius."
"On second thoughts, maybe just don't speak too much at all." Gaius blinked. "Do you know what it is you need to do?"
"Stay out of sight, blend in, be inconspicuous, don't speak too much. And somewhere along the way try and identify the sorcerer among all the other normal peasant women at this stupid women's banquet. I still don't know why I couldn't have just served at it."
"Because you wouldn't have been allowed to stay in the room long enough to find out who it is. You wouldn't have been allowed to talk to anyone. You know no males are allowed at the ladies banquet."
"Arthur's going!" Merlin protested.
"Arthur doesn't count. Now get going or you'll be late!" Gaius hurried Merlin out the door, who was swaying and tripping with every other step. "And for Camelot's sake, sort out your posture and walk normally!"
"I'm trying the best I can!" Merlin called back.
"Good luck, Merlin." Gaius nodded, before Merlin left through the door to their chambers and hurried down the corridor.
It was incredibly awkward, scurrying along in these heels. He hadn't really anticipated the loss of his long legs, or the fact that these stupid little shoes on his feet would slow him down this much. He also hadn't considered that this stupid dress sucked in his flesh so that he could barely breathe.
By the time he made it to the banquet hall, he was flushed and out of breath. He tried to join the crowd of waiting women who had come from towns all over the Camelot realms. Thankfully, there was a lot of newcomers so he didn't stand out too much as being the only one that no one knew, but his general gangly and awkward appearance didn't do much to help him fit in. He shuffled his way to the back of the crowd and tried to keep his head down.
Right, time to remember why he was here and actually try and identify this sorcerer... or sorceress, he supposed. He looked around. Everyone seemed to be chatting away, smiling and laughing and talking. They were all so elegant and so careful in their movements; it was really quite impressive. Especially now that Merlin knew everything they had to go through with the clothes and the shoes and everything. For the first time in his life, he thanked the stars that he was a boy.
Someone suddenly bumped his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry," he instinctively apologised, spinning around to face the person.
"My apologies, my lady." Came the deep, strong voice that Merlin knew only too well.
Merlin's eyes travelled up from where they resided at a lower level than usual, and immediately wished he hadn't done so.
Prince Arthur stood there, his eyes full of concern for the unknown young woman whom he had just barged so rudely.
Merlin nearly yelped and dipped his head again, dropping into a curtsy. He held himself there while mumbling "My lord." How the hell was he going to get out of this? This was definitely not being subtle. This was one of the few things he was told not to do! He couldn't look up again; Arthur would surely recognise him.
"My good lady, there is no need for such courtesy when I am the one who was so impolite in the first place." Arthur apologised from the depth of his heart. "Won't you look up, and let me know that you are not hurt." He pressed, anxious that he should not have caused harm.
"I'm fine, sire." Merlin protested meekly, forcing his voice into that painful falsetto again.
"Then why will you not look up?"
"It would be improper, your majesty." Merlin was floundering and began shuffling away, still bowed.
Arthur reached out on instinct to stop her from escaping. His hand closed around her elbow.
A shock of electricity passed between the pair. It was like the skin where they touched was on fire and the rest of the world ceased to exist.
With a jolt, Merlin's head jolted up.
Arthur gasped.
Merlin blushed and tore himself from his grip, realising his mistake.
Had he realised? He couldn't possibly? But he had gasped!
A guard nearby coughed and Merlin realised that all the other women had already entered. With a start, he dashed in after them, not daring to look back.
Arthur was struck dumb. Who was this stunning maiden who had fled from him and resisted him? She was surely beautiful and yet she insisted on hiding her face. Why? Why did she seem to think it would be improper? Perhaps it is because this ladies' banquet is meant to be celebrating the individuality of women and it would therefore not be proper to engage with men during it? But Arthur wanted to know more about this girl. He felt like he knew her. He felt like she was familiar to him. But certainly he would remember a girl like that. When he had touched her, the feeling was euphoric. It was incredible. He knew he needed to see her again. And yet, she hadn't even told him her name.
With a deep sigh, the prince entered the banquet hall and settled in his place at the head.