Chapter 2
Merlin burst through the door to the court physicans chambers with a pail of water in one hand and Arlene clinging on to the other. "Merlin, I told you to stay out of trouble, this is the exact opposite." Guis said, the irritation evident in his voice. "Guis, Arlene has come all the way from Estabor, she has no home there anymore." Merlin argued. Guis gazed at Arlene, who was gazing around the room with fasinaction, her eyes lit upon a table that was covered in books, her eyes glowed gold for a second and the books neatly stacked themselves up on the table top and only one lay open. Guis gave Merlin a stern glance and then went over to inspect his books. "How...how did you know this one was the one I needed?" Guis asked astonished at the coincidence. "Simple deduction." Arlene answered simply letting go of Merlin's hand and wandering over to the shelves that were stacked with vials of herbs. Guis walked over to the shelves and took a few of the vials and began to pound the herbs to make a paste, which he then applied to the wound above her eyebrow and then pressed a small strip of white cloth to the cut. "This should heal in a few hours."Guis said to Arlene.
Turning to Merlin, Guis spoke in a hushed tone."Merlin, she's a soccerer. If Uther finds out she'll be executed,we can't risk him finding Arlene much less allowing her to stay." He argued, keeping his voice low so Arlene wouldn't hear him. "I'll teach her Guis. Arlene is an outcast, if the people from her village find her, they'll more than likely kill her, we can't let them find her." Merlin retorted. "Merlin, how can you teach her and carry out your duties to Prince Arthur, I agree that she needs somewhere to stay but we can't risk Uther finding out." Guis argued back, "We don't even know how old she is." Guis continued. Merlin walked over to where Arlene was sitting. "Arlene, you never told me how old you are." Merlin said. "I'm sixteen." Arlene replied. "If you don't mind me asking, do you have any evil intentions?" Merlin asked. Arlene looked at him shocked that he would ask such a thing. "No, I would never want to hurt anyone." She said, sounding as though she ment it. Merlin looked at Guis "Well I guess you better find her somewhere to stay." he smiled for the first time in days. Her smile was genuine and lit up her whole face.
At that moment Gwen came into the chamber with a basket full of herbs, she saw Arlene and smiled at her. "Who's this Guis?" She asked. "That's Arlene, she came here from Estabor, Merlin found her and he is going to teach her." Guis replied looking at Merlin, "Yes, I'm going to teach her about, skills." Merlin said quicky. "She can come stay with my father and I, if that's okay with her." Gwen said. Arlene nodded and smiled. "Well thene,Arlene come back here early tomorrow morning. " Guis said "Merlin can teach you then and I can teach you about healing." Guis continued. "Yes, of course." Arlene replied before she left with Gwen.
Gwen took Arlene into the house she shared with her father. Arlene was lead into Gwen's sleeping area, where Gwen arranged a spare mattress, some blankets and a pillow into a makeshift bed for her. "I've got some old clothes in that cupbord, you can choose the ones you like, whilst I fetch you some hot water." She said gesturing towards the small cupbord in the corner of her room, before she left to heat up some water. Arlene opened the cupbord and she saw the clothes were neatly arranged, the old ones on the bottom shelf and the new ones were on the top shelf. Arlene took out the old clothes and unfolded them, she tried a few of the dresses on, they fit her perfectly. Arlene selected the ones she liked and put the others back in the cupbord. Gwen came back with some hot water and a grey tattered rag. Arlene was left to wash and change before Gwen's father returned from the blacksmiths.
Night had fallen when Gewn's father returned,he immediatly accepted Arlene and had shown this by wrapping her in a warm embrace. They ate their evening meal in comfortable silence before Arlene and Gwen retired for the night.