CHAPTER 2 : EXTRA HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK

They stopped around noon in a village that boasted an inn. Arthur saw Gawaine visibly perk up. "We'll give the horses a break and get something to eat. No drinking of copious amounts of ale, Gawaine! Can't have you falling off Hazlit with a child in your arms."

The innkeeper was pleased to see the knights. He had hoped that they would have been returning his way and had plenty of ale, cheese and bread available. His lady wife looked surprised to see one of the knights carrying a sleeping child.

Rook went over to her and explained that the child had been in an accident and could do with a good wash. He had the extra clothes in his hand and the innkeeper without hesitation took them. Rook took the child from Simon, noticing that Gawaine gave him a broad wink as he sat down next to Arthur. He grinned back and followed the women into the kitchen area. He explained about the bandage on her arm and left the still unconscious child surrounded by the woman and her daughters.

The food was good, the ale better and the conversation around the table was relaxed. The time went by quickly. Arthur knew that their next stop would be reached before nightfall. The camping area often used by them was a cave in a wooded area near a small river. The following day, they would reach home.

As they rose to leave, the innkeepers wife arrived followed by her daughters, one holding a slightly cleaner child. Someone had ever brushed her hair. She approached Arthur and offered him the child. He looked down at her as she lay in his arms. She was certainly cleaner than before and smelled of lavender and what he thought might have been rosemary. He felt sorry for the little mite and hoped that they could get her to Gaius before it was too late.

Deciding to give Gawaine a rest from carrying her, he handed her to Rook who smiled fondly at her. Arthur had a sudden thought that maybe Rook's wife might consider adding her to their growing family. He could arrange for them to have an extra nursemaid. Satisfied, he made his way to his horse.

Simon had handed the innkeeper a generous amount for the food and drink. He had then slipped the landlady a couple of coins saying, "Thank you for looking after the little one. Buy some nice ribbons for yourself and your daughters."

"Does she have a name?" the landlady asked.

Shaking his head, Simon said, "Maybe when she wakes up she will be able to tell us. Her parents and baby brother were killed in an attack and no one in the hamlet wanted her, so the king told the knight who found her to bring her back to Camelot. She's very poorly…we don't know if she will ever wakeup."

But wake up she did…

-0-0-

They reached the cave at nightfall and the squires soon had everything organised; the horses were tied up and fed, a fire had been lit and was burning strongly, the food which the landlady had given them was passed around and soon it was time to pull their bedrolls around the fire and settle down. Gregory offered to take the first watch, sitting at the mouth of the cave and being responsible for keeping the fire going.

Gawaine had once again taken the child on his bedroll and covered her with his cloak. Arthur smiled as he looked so domesticated. He had mentioned to Arthur that he felt that the child's forehead was a little hot but Arthur said that it was possibly just being close to the fire and being too warm.

Arthur didn't fall asleep immediately as his mind wouldn't settle He wanted to get home having this child with them had made him realise the situations faced by many of the outlying hamlets. He knew that it was difficult for families relocating to an already existing village but that would be his plan if the hamlets were isolated and frequently under attack.

He planned to discuss it with the council. The kingdom"s money could be used to help them resettle. They would need to begin with, a helping hand with livestock, accommodation and supplies to get them on their feet. However, he felt it could be done.

He thought of some hamlets mostly on well-travelled roads which survived prospering even. He though of the families which even managed to offer space and food to travellers including royal messengers as they travelled the width of the kingdom.

These people were his responsibility, something which he took seriously. He glanced over at Gawaine cuddled up with the child, he realised she was even smaller than Treva the day he had found Merlin and himself in the woods.

He must have fallen off as the next thing he knew Gawaine was on his knees beside him. "She's still too hot! Can you take her as I have to go outside? She's moaning and fidgety and I don't want her rolling onto the fire.

Arthur tutted, "Gawaine, I'm sure she's all right. Give her to me…and hurry back, I'm not a nursemaid!"

"Neither am I! You know we need Merlin, don't you?"

Arthur knew that all their troubles would be over if Merlin could catch them up. He'd take control of the child and be able to explain her condition to Gaius when they arrived in Camelot. Where was he when you needed him?

Arthur leant over the child who was fretting even though still asleep. He reached out and picked her up, settling her on his lap and cradling her in his arms. She stopped moaning and he looked at her to be met with the most striking pale blue eyes with dark shading around the iris.

He automatically whispered, "Well, hello there, Love!" Later he could not remember what had prompted him say that. He told Merlin it had just seemed appropriate at the time.

The child stared at him. He knew she was seeing him as her face relaxed and she gave a little sob and her eyelids slowly closed and she fell asleep. Arthur was dumbfounded, she had cuddled into him and then relaxed again.

He said quietly, "Hey, I'm not Gawaine, I'm Arthur!"

Gawaine appeared and said, "Who in heaven's name are you talking to?"

Embarrassed, Arthur said, "Nobody…! By the way, the child opened her eyes."

Gawaine said, "Did she say anything?"

"For heaven's sake, Gawaine, she's been through so much. Now that she was awake, you expected her to carry on a conversation with a man she has never met? Anyway, she's your charge, now take her back and let me get some sleep."

Silence returned to the cave, punctuated now again by the crackling fire and snores.

-0-0-

Merlin and Spenser travelled after dusk. The road was in fair condition but they knew they would finally have to stop. They'd picked up some bread and cheese at a farm and figured that their next meal wouldn't be until the following noon, if they were lucky. Well, at least tomorrow night they would be in Camelot.

Iago started lagging and Merlin pushed him on as he was going slower and slower. He knew that he couldn't be that tired and had laughed saying, "You know that you've got at least another half an hour in you, get going!"

But get going he didn't, he stopped dead and suddenly whinnied sending little shudders through Merlin. Merlin knew his horse well and the chestnut was not overly vocal therefore he wasn't surprised to hear a horse answer in return and he knew and would have bet a gold coin on it that it was Arthur's Favoury.

He put his finger to his lips and whispered to Spenser, "Want to have a little fun?"

Spenser quick on the ball realised what had happened and grinned adding, "Let's go!"

They dismounted and left the road, leading their horses along the trail to the cave. The other horses heard them coming and turned to look at them and Gregory who was on guard stood up. He recognised first Iago and then Gulpha and smiled. This would made the king happy as he had wanted Merlin to check out the child.

He took the two horses, walked them down to the river for a drink, returning to tie them to the line, loosening their girths. He decided not to feed them as that would have caused the other horses to become unsettled, he'd make sure to tell Merlin that they needed extra oats in the morning.

Merlin and Spenser carrying their bedrolls, sneaked like kids into the cave. They picked out their partners with little trouble and moved to them. Spenser was lucky as there was space between Simon and the squire Erik who was practically sprawled on his brother Rook's sleeping roll.

Merlin picked out Arthur and made his way to him. He had Gawaine on one side and Rhylin on the other. He was far enough away from Rhylin that Merlin was able to put his bedroll down and then without hopefully disturbing anyone lie down on it next to Arthur. He heard murmuring from across the fire and knew that Spenser had woken Simon.

Arthur was dead to the world and Merlin faced him and pulling his cloak over both of them slide his arm protectively across the king's waist. Even asleep, the movement must have been familiar as Arthur sighed and clasped Merlin's hand in his.

Spenser was conscious of Gregory changing places with Erik who was going on guard duty.

However, he just fell back asleep. Simon had been pleased to see him and he hoped that Arthur had been happy with Merlin's return.

-0-0-

Arthur woke to a child whimpering and someone practically lying on top of him. Figuring it was Gawaine who had rolled over, he said quietly, "Gawaine, get off!"

The body didn't move and Arthur realised that a hand was under his tunic and the thumb was making little circles again his skin. He remembered another cave, long ago when Merlin had snuggled into him for the very first time and he opened his eyes and saw in the firelight a mop of dark hair at his shoulder and sighed. Merlin had found him. He gently kissed the top of his head and a sleepy voice responded, "Morning, Handsome!"

The child was now sobbing and Gawaine sat up, it was getting to him. In no time it would have the whole cave awake and it was still comparatively dark outside . He held the child on his lap and spoke to her, "Shh, Little One! We'll get you help soon." He had no idea why she was being fussy but he did notice that her eyes were half open.

As he spoke to her, her eyes opened wide and she wailed. This had Merlin sitting up, "Where in heaven's name, Gawaine, did you get a baby? Has your past caught up with you?"

Grinning Gawaine said, "No, thankfully! This is some kid whose parents are dead. Can you check her over? I think she has a fever, she's been asleep for two whole days and only woke up last night."

Arthur shifted over hoping not to get involved and Merlin rolled over him so he was sitting next to Gawaine, "Give her to me. What's up, Little One?" Merlin said as he felt the child's forehead and nodded, "She is a little warm. What happened to her wrist?"

Arthur who was looking on explained her injuries and how they needed to get her to Gaius.

"I won't undo the bandage but think the sooner Gaius sees her the better." The baby continued crying. Merlin tried to cradle her but she was rigid putting out her arms, pushing him away, wailing louder when her sore bandaged hand made sudden contact with his chest.

Arthur grinned and said softly, "Lost your touch…eh, Merlin?" The child stopped crying looking in the direction of the voice. She peeked around Merlin, saw Arthur and smiled.

"So who has a girlfriend now?" asked Gawaine.

"Don't be silly! You and Rook have been looking after her. I only held her when you had to go pee." The baby was still trying to get to Arthur and finally started to sob.

"Do something, Merlin!"

"What? She doesn't want me…she wants you! What did you do when you held her for Gawaine?"

"Nothing, she opened her eyes and I said, 'Hello, Love!'… I think."

"That's it," said Merlin, "You were the first person she has seen since the trauma of her parents' death and…" he said with a laugh, "she has imprinting on you."

"She did what on me?" said Arthur glancing down at his tunic and then back to Merlin.

"You are now the centre of her universe, the person she trusts completely. She has transferred her love to you!"

"She can't! I won't let her…"

The child continued sobbing as Merlin rocked her trying to get her to stop.

"Sorry, Arthur, not something you can undo. That's it…you are now her father-de-facto. Congratulations, Arthur!"

"You just can't be considered a father because a child chooses you…can you? Gawaine, stop laughing, it's not funny and anyway I don't believe you, Merlin." However, Arthur had a flash of a little boy wrapping himself around Merlin's leg unwilling to let him go. Treva even at the age of six had decided that Merlin was his.

Without realising it, he said aloud, "But I don't want to be responsible for a girl. I will find some

family in the castle who will look after her."

With a gleam in his eyes Merlin said, "…and break her heart."

"Merlin, she does't even know me I've only held her once."

"Well," said Merlin taking the child and putting her on Arthur's lap where the continual sobbing suddenly ceased, "Be a good man now and hold her so some of us can get some sleep. "

Arthur looked down at the little girl who had quietened and was now only hiccuping. She smiled through her hiccups and Arthur carefully with his thumb wiped away the tears on her cheeks. He didn't want this child; the sooner they got to Camelot and he passed her off to some woman the better. He looked down at her and in spite of everything he'd just told himself, he smiled and cradled her to himself.

Merlin looked at him and felt a tinge of jealousy, he could feel deep down that Arthur had, whether he knew it or not come up against an obstacle that had in the past defeated nations. Someone had chosen him as the recipient of her love. He decided that if the child survived there would be plenty of time to make decisions, however, the way the child had smiled at Arthur and quietened for him, made him think that maybe there would be a little girl in their life. He cuddled into Arthur's side and smiled to himself.

-0-0-

Breakfast consisted of the remnants of last night's meal. The child was still asleep and Arthur had transferred her carefully to Merlin so that he could eat.

"I think when she wakes up, Arthur, we should try give her something to drink, even a little gruel would be good we have to keep up her weight."

"Why tell me? You have to keep up her weight, you know more about healing than anyone here." Merlin smiled as Arthur added, "Maybe she could eat some softened bread, to begin with."

Merlin kept a straight face and said, "That sounds to me a good idea."

Leaving Merlin with the child, Arthur made his way to the fire and took some of the bread and dipped it into water and brought it back to Merlin. "Here, you can feed her," he said, "I have to go outside."

The child woke up and opened her eyes gazing at Merlin. He was mesmerised, he had only seen that clear light blue once before in Ealdor. His heart dropped, all the other children refused to let the little boy play with them as they said that he had sky-eyes. This little girl with a possible missing hand was going to have a doubly hard time being accepted.

He refrained from speaking to her and just smiled. Hesitantly, she ducked her head shyly only to once again peek at him and then give him the hint of a smile.

Gawaine came over and said, "So, our little one is awake." The child didn't smile at him but didn't pull away from him either.

"How bad is her hand?" Merlin asked, "Arthur doesn't know but you said that you bound it up."

"I looks pretty awful, only half of it was there and the rest was caked in blood and ashes. I wrapped it so that it didn't get banged by something. I didn't wash it in case that started the bleeding again…do you think Gaius will be able to do something for her."

"Well, her fever is still high but she seems alert. Only time will tell. I managed to check her over when she was asleep and there seem to be no broken bones and she has flexed her feet so I wonder if she could stand up."

He swivelled his legs underneath him so he was now kneeling and holding the child carefully lowered her so that her feet were touching the floor. He held her seeing how much weight she could put on her legs. She seemed to be doing well when she suddenly sat down with a bump, frightening herself and started crying.

Arthur materialised out of nowhere, "What did you do to her? Why did you make her cry?"

The child turned upon hearing Arthur's voice and reached out her arms to him, he bent over without thinking, picked her up and balanced her on his arm with his other hand at her back.

Walking away from them to the mouth of the cage, he muttering something about going to see the horses.

Merlin looked at Gawaine who hard burst out laughing. "Some little madame, Merlin, has found her prince in shining armour…or should I say King!"

-0-0-

Merlin grinned, setting out on the return journey had not been easy. Once they were ready to mount, Arthur passed the sleeping child to Gawaine. That lasted until she woke up and realised whom she was with. She refused to settle.

Merlin had ridden back to her and although she had stopped wailing while he was talking to Gawaine, once he left she started up again.

"Can't you stop that racket?" Arthur called over his shoulder.

Merlin caught up with him. "She's awake and is unhappy. The fever is making her irritable. It happens in children. Think back to when Treva was younger, he had a couple of fevers and poor Randall had his hands full, just one of the joys of parenthood. Maybe you should have brought a maidservant with you."

"Merlin, I hardly thought when we set off that we would have been burdened by a child on our return trip. I'm sorry that she feels unwell, but I am not a physician, I can't help her."

"You could let her ride with you. She obviously likes you and might settle."

The child's wailing seemed to grow louder. She obviously had no intention of settling for Gawaine.

Merlin again suggested that Arthur take her, however he had shook his head. "A king doesn't ride along with a baby in front of him. I have my position to think of. Anyway, I want to get home as fast as possible, Gawaine can take his time."

Merlin said nothing but Arthur knew that it didn't mean he had nothing to add to the conversation and that he was probably just biding his time.