Author's note:
Hi!
Thanks to the 8 people who read chapter one the first day it came out, and thank you to the two who read it on the second. If you're back again then I hope you enjoy this chapter! Please review, I'd like to know what I can do better, or what you might like to come up in this.
The chapter after this will be short, but it is not because I can't be bothered, it's for dramatic effect.
Please give me tips, I'd like to improve. Also, I don't like the title, any suggestions are welcome.
Enjoy!
Chapter 2
Katherine woke to a knock on her door, and she sat up and stretched.
"Come in!" She called, and a young female entered, carrying an extravagant dress.
"Good morning ma'am. I have a dress, courtesy of the prince." She laid it across the chest at the bottom of Katherine's bed. "Do you need any help with anything?"
"No thank you." Katherine smiled at the girl and got up to look at the dress. "Oh wait," She said as the girl was about to leave. "What's your name?"
"Charlotte, milady."
"That's a lovely name."
Charlotte blushed slightly. "Thank you."
She bowed and left as Katherine went to change into the dress. It was a beautiful deep shade of green, with gold and silver swirls across the skirt. The v-neck was lined with shimmering moonstones, and the sleeves hugged her arms down to her elbows, where they billowed out into a flowing wave that reached the floor. She picked up a delicate swirling silver headpiece with a gentle turquoise stone set into the front.
"It's lovely," She muttered, looking at it in the mirror.
She sat on her bed and read the instructions her mother had sent her with.
There was a gentle knock on the door, and Charlotte came in.
"You look stunning," Katherine smiled at her. "I was sent to take you to your audience, it starts in a few minutes.
"Thank you, Charlotte."
Charlotte bowed her way out, and Katherine followed.
Katherine was led to a relatively small room which contained only a table and four chairs. She sat down and made conversation with Charlotte, and soon, Gaius and Merlin arrived.
"Katherine?" Gaius said, looking surprised. "They didn't tell me it was you!"
She stood, and they embraced.
"Merlin, it is an honor to meet you."
Morganna entered through the still open door, and Katherine introduced herself. They all sat down around the table, curious about what the results of the meeting would be.
"So why is it that you wished to speak to us?" Morganna said, leaning forward.
"It's something that you all have in common, magic. While Gaius does not wield magic in quite the same way you and Merlin do, but he has knowledge that we do not. And he's the only person here who I know. Morganna, your sister in the magic that you possess resides in my land, and she calls herself the oracle. Once our business here is concluded, she has requested to meet you."
"But I'm still confused as to what exactly our business here is," Morganna said.
"The Dragon."
Merlin's head snapped up.
"What?" He said sharply.
"The oracle foretold that it was time for Morganna to meet him, and I must speak with him urgently." She continued to talk about the oracle, going into detail about the prophecies, and Merlin slipped back into his thoughts.
"Merlin?" He looked up to see everyone looking at him. "Will you take us to the dragon?"
"Oh, yes, of course."
"Excellent, meet outside this room at midnight tonight." She turned to leave before Morganna stopped her.
"Wait, I'm curious, how exactly do you know Gaius?"
Gaius stepped forward. "Before I became the court physician here, I traveled in order to learn about different remedies. Within her kingdom, they have lots of rare medicinal herbs which are extremely useful in many circumstances."
"While he was there, he taught me much about his trade, and we became friends. That's about all there is to it." Katherine finished.
She left the room and was swiftly followed by Morganna, asking questions about the Oracle.
"So, dozed off a bit there?" Gaius smiled knowingly
"I don't know what you mean," Merlin muttered but blushed all the same.
"Go on." Gaius nodded towards the door. "Go after her."
"But Morganna-"
"Can't ask questions forever."
As luck would have it, as Merlin was leaving the room, Morganna had already finished her last question and was walking away.
"Hello Merlin, how can I help you?" Katherine smiled warmly at him.
"I was wondering if...if you'd like to go on a walk around the castle with me...I could show you round?" He offered.
"Sounds great."
"Do you want to go now...or..."
"Now is fine," She said, smirking.
"Alright." With that, they set off down the corridor, making small talk.
After a little while, Katherine stopped and leaned against the corner, and Merlin leaned against the wall, facing her. They began to form a proper conversation, and they both warmed up to each other, soon easily smiling and laughing together.
Arthur walked down the corridor, but his steps faltered when he saw Katherine and Merlin. He spoke, and Katherine laughed, and Arthur felt a spark of jealousy course through him. He saw that she was wearing the dress he had sent her, and the colour made her eyes sparkle. He watched as Merlin edged a little closer and his eyes narrowed, so he ducked into a small alcove to listen in to their conversation.
"So, midnight?" Merlin said, nudging her gently.
She rolled her eyes. "I hope you get up in time.
"It'll be a struggle, but I think I'll manage." They laughed together.
'Midnight?' Arthur thought. 'Why are they sneaking off? Especially together? No, it wouldn't be anything like that, they'd only just met.'Arthur told himself. He walked away, a plan already beginning to form in his mind.
Midnight
Merlin awoke to his body being lightly shaken.
"Wha-eh?"
"Time to get up," Gaius said.
"Yeah, yeah," Merlin turned over. "Five more minutes."
He heard Gaius walk away and was about to return to his sleep when he was jolted awake, coughing and spluttering. Gaius stood above him holding a dripping, empty bucket.
"Up. Now."
Merlin groaned but rolled out of bed all the same.
Katherine tied back her hair, wearing her usual brown trousers and white shirt. She opened the door and had almost made it halfway down the corridor when she heard a voice behind her.
"Katherine?" She spun on the balls of her feet to see Arthur.
"Hey." She said, faking a smile.
"What are you doing here?" Arthur asked his face the picture of concern. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, quite. I just...couldn't sleep, so I came out for a short walk. What about you?"
"Same reason actually. Care to walk with me?" He offered his arm.
"That sounds lovely." She took his arm and they began to walk down the corridor together.
Arthur observed Katherine's natural, yet tired stance, and wondered if she really was just out for a walk.
Katherine noticed that they were nearing the meeting place and began to panic. She desperately reached out with her thoughts, shouting Merlin's name in her head.
'Merlin?! Can you hear me?!' She paused to wait for a reply. 'Merlin?!' She tried again.
'Katherine?'
She almost let out an audible sigh of relief before remembering who was next to her.
'Get the others and hide.'
'Why?'
'Arthur discovered me outside my chambers and I told him that I was going for a stroll. He joined me, and I couldn't very well say no, so I'm walking with him now, and we're heading towards the meeting place.'
'Got it. How long will you be?'
'No idea, but I'll let you know when I have a rough idea.'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Arthur's voice.
"Katherine?"
She looked up. "Yes?"
"You were pretty deep in thought there."
"I guess I just got lost in my mind." She smiled at him, and he gazed deeply into her turquoise eyes.
"What were you thinking about?"
She shrugged. "Just sort of thinking about the moment. The breeze on my skin, the light of the moon and stars."
"That's beautiful."
"I do my best thinking at night."
They walked through the castle for another half an hour, with small amounts of conversation woven in. They ended up back outside Katherine's room.
"I should go back to sleep, big day of negotiations tomorrow." She feigned a yawn.
Arthur bent over slightly and took her hand in his, gently kissing it, his lips lingering there a little more than necessary. They smiled at each other and she retreated back into her room and shut the door lightly.
'She seemed really genuine.' Arthur thought to himself. 'Maybe I doubted her too quickly.' He began to walk away. 'And even if I was right, Merlin will think she bailed on him.'
Katherine listened at her door until she heard Arthur's footsteps fade away. She waited a couple more seconds and sent a mental message to Merlin.
'I'll be there in a minute or so.'
'Great, see you then.'
Merlin saw a figure approaching and ducked back into the meeting room.
'Merlin. That was me.'
'Oh.'
'Yeah.'
The door was pushed open and they all heard Katherine's whispered voice.
"Shall we go then?" She said out loud. They all came out of the room and Merlin began to lead the way. They walked through what seemed like endless amounts of corridors until they were finally led to the large cavern.
"You brought visitors, Merlin." The dragon's voice boomed out, echoing against the hard stone walls. As he turned to face them, Katherine dropped into a deep bow and the dragon chuckled. Morganna looked over and nervously sank into a matching bow.
"I have not been bowed to in a millennium." He said, looking pointedly at Merlin.
"I was supposed to bow?" He said incredulously.
"Only those who retain the old ways do now."
"The oracle foretold that it was her time to meet you and that they could both help," Katherine said, standing from her bow and gesturing towards Morganna and Gaius.
"Your people felt the imbalance too then?"
"Indeed." She nodded gently. "It seemed as if somebody was shielding the events though. We couldn't make out any specifics, and I have been sent to see if you could enlighten us any further.
"I'm afraid I cannot help you."
Katherine turned to Morganna, who had been rather quiet.
"Have you seen anything, Morganna?"
"Well...Sort of... I've been trying to remember something I saw, it's very hazy though.
"Just keep trying," Gaius said, stepping forward and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I will." She said.
"If I may," He turned to Katherine. "I would like to ask what exactly my purpose here is."
"Your skills and knowledge are likely to become useful." She replied. "Also, I figured that you would probably rather be involved if Merlin is."
"That is true...thank you"
"I've got it!" Morganna said suddenly, causing everybody to turn to look at her. "I remembered my vision." She closed her eyes to remember. "There was a letter...and a hand with a dagger... blood...so much blood..."
"What did the hand look like?" Merlin interjected.
"Young, maybe female?"
"What about the place?" Gaius added.
"Stone floor...there was the corner of an ornate rug... It actually looked like somewhere here in the castle."
They all fell silent at this, thinking. A death in the castle...Before long, they were making their out of the caves and back to their chambers, each mind weighed down by the news.
