A/N: I wasn't planning on posting this until Friday, but then remembered I'm leaving the country tonight which could make posting difficult! Here it is: the final part of Of Things Unspoken. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review; each one means a lot to me and has given me the confidence to post each chapter.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to be BBC. No copyright infringement intended; I just wanted to play.
Set between episodes one and two of Season Two
Of Things Unspoken
Chapter Three
Uther Pendragon was not accustomed to being disobeyed, least of all by his own son. Arthur's defiance could only be met with strict punishment and it was five days before Uther's fury was appeased and Arthur released from his cell.
Arthur blinked as he stepped into the bright sun shining on the courtyard. Merlin babbled beside him, taking small leaps every couple of steps to keep up with the prince's strides as they made their way towards the council chambers. Arthur's eyes scanned the courtyard as they walked; horses and carts clattered across the flagstones while busy townsfolk hurried about. Men called to one another as crates were unloaded, and the shrill squeak of the wheel drawing the bucket to the mouth of the well echoed around. But for all the busyness and movement, Arthur couldn't see the one small figure he most wanted to see.
'She's fine.'
Arthur's head whipped around to look at Merlin, who was staring at him wearing a sympathetic expression that knew far too much. Arthur frowned and pursed his lips, thrusting his chin into the air.
'Who.'
'Gwen.' Merlin suppressed a smile. 'Morgana insisted she rested for two more days after you were thrown…' Merlin cleared his throat as Arthur glared at him. 'After you … went away.'
'Oh.' Arthur nodded, looking absently about once more. 'Good.' Squaring his shoulders he tackled the steps two at a time and strode purposefully down the corridors towards the council chambers.
Merlin, catching up, looked at Arthur, that all-too-knowing look in his eye once more. 'That was a very courageous thing you did, looking after Gwen like that.'
'You do fuss over the most peculiar things, Merlin,' Arthur complained, halting his march outside the council chamber and staring incredulously at his servant. 'There was nothing unusual about my actions, I would have done…'
His words trailed off to nothing as Guinevere stepped around the corner behind Merlin. It was not lost upon Arthur that they were both now in the exact spot they'd stood when she'd collapsed, and judging by the faint blush that stole across her cheeks as she met his eye, her mind was similarly engaged. She smiled self-consciously, dropping her eyes to the floor for a moment. He couldn't help but grin back, relieved to see her so recovered. As she met his gaze again, she smiled more fully, her warm expression making his heart beat thickly.
Merlin looked from Arthur to Gwen, and back again. Pausing for a moment, eyebrows raised, he asked; 'are you quite done, or shall I tell the king you'll be along in a minute?'
Arthur shot Merlin a mutinous glare.
'I mean, I can if you want,' Merlin continued, an impish grin tugging at the corner of his lips. 'It's just the king's not been in the best of moods recently and I think you might be rewarded with another trip to the dungeons…'
'Merlin,' Arthur growled through gritted teeth.
'Yes, Sire?' Merlin's voice dripped with innocence.
'Shut up.'
Merlin nodded, a smile breaking across his face as Arthur pushed open the doors council chambers, casting one last look towards Guinevere over his shoulder as he entered.
oOo
Later that evening, Guinevere pushed open the door to her small home, glad to be returning after a long day. As she pulled loose the chord of her cloak, hanging it on a nail, she spotted a small posy of flowers carefully lain on the edge of her table.
Gently lifting the offering, she inhaled the sweet fragrances. Upon closer examination she realised that the flowers were not from the castle hot house; the stalks were unevenly measured, fraying slightly at the bottom where the stem had been torn. The strip of scarlet material firmly holding the blooms in place was tied in a clumsy bow. Guinevere smiled as she gently stroked the petals of the handpicked bunch, slowly wandering to find something to store such a precious gift safely in.
oOo
Arthur sat on the edge of his bed, sucking his finger as blood ran freely once more from a small tear from a particularly thorny bush he'd encountered earlier in the afternoon.
Merlin pottered about the room, prattling about the events of the past few days. Arthur moved absently as Merlin began to turn down the sheets. As he wandered the room, musing on the past few days and unwilling to admit to Merlin how much he was looking forward to sleeping in his own bed, Arthur's eye fell upon a small bundle, wrapped in a light lavender cloth, resting on the corner of his desk. A wild desire for privacy crashed upon him, and, slipping the package into his sleeve, he interrupted Merlin, asking if there was to be any end to his prattling for the evening. Merlin froze, his eyes darting to Arthur's face. Arthur avoided his gaze, knowing the look his young servant would be wearing and having no desire to see it. Merlin had the uncanny talent for seeming to understand whatever Arthur was thinking with little more than a glance.
As the door closed behind Merlin, Arthur sat behind his desk, exhaling with an odd sense of nervousness as he pulled out the bundle and examined it. The soft lavender fabric was tied with a rough twine, finished with an elegant knot. He ran his fingers over the soft material before releasing the string. The fabric fell away to reveal a shiny dark grey metal, fashioned into a ring. A complicated pattern was engraved into the surface, the design imperfect but universally charming. Arthur turned the item in his hands, tracing over the design with his thumb before deliberately slipping it onto his finger.
Picking up the lavender fabric once more, he smiled broadly. Folding it neatly he tucked it away in a small box containing precious items. Stretching and heaving a mighty yawn, Arthur climbed into bed, the smile on his face remaining even as he slipped gently into sweet dreams.
FIN
That's it, folks! Thanks for reading to the end; I'd love to know what you thought of it all – comments are very welcome!
