Merlin walked into Gaius' chambers at the end of his first day of work, dropping a shield and helmet on the floor, bits of armour hanging off him and an utterly bewildered look on his face. On addition to this, he looked completely exhausted. Dwyn couldn't help but grin at how utterly lost he looked. Gaius shot a glare at her, cuffing the back of her head gently. She rolled her eyes, but didn't stop smiling.
"So, how was your first day as Arthur's servant?" Gaius asked, chuckling, Dwyn's good mood wearing off on him. Merlin looked around, hitting his head repetitively.
"Do you hear clanging?" He asked. Dwyn laughed, moving over so that Gaius could sit Merlin down next to her. She watched as the physician started giving the boy a back rub after removing the few bits of armour that were still on him.
"You gonna tell us how your day went?" She asked, fully expecting some long winded complaint about Arthur and how horrible he'd been. She wasn't to be disappointed.
"It was horrible, and I've still got to learn all about tournament etiquette by the morning," He sighed, looking around, looking at the book on the table which he'd been reading before he'd had to go to work, "Onhríne achtung bregdan!" He commanded, the book slipping across the table towards him. Dwyn slammed her hand down on top of it, stopping it in its tracks, and Gaius cuffed Merlin on the head for his laziness.
"Oi! What've I told you about using magic like this?" He demanded while Dwyn flipped through the pages until Merlin motioned for her to stop, when she slid the book in front of him.
"If I could actually feel my arms, I'd pick up the book myself." Merlin retorted.
"You could've just asked me, you know." Dwyn pointed out.
"You looked busy."
"Doing what? Brushing my hair?" Dwyn challenged sarcastically. Merlin paused, then nodded.
"Yup."
"Afraid I left my imaginary hairbrush in my chambers." She smiled, then peered over at the sheet of paper hanging out of the book. It was stuff she already knew, but it wasn't a bad idea to go over stuff again, and she was bored. Gaius glared at them both, Dwyn for not seeming to take things seriously, Merlin for using his magic in the first place.
"Never mind your arms," He scolded, bringing both of them back to the conversation, "What do I do if you get caught?" The young sorcerers looked around at him curiously.
"What would you do?" They asked at the same time, shooting each other quick grins, then looking back at Gaius. The old man sighed, obviously unsure about what he would do.
"Well, you just make sure it doesn't happen, for all our sakes." He ordered. Dwyn nodded.
"Fair enough." She said as Gaius resumed treating Merlin, pulling his arm back and twisting slightly, causing it to click quite satisfactorily. Merlin made a sound of pain, then went back to complaining.
"I save Arthur from being killed and I end up as a servant. How is that fair?"
"It's not." Dwyn replied, quite simply.
"I'm not sure fairness comes into it. You never know, it might be fun."
"Being around Arthur? Fun?" Dwyn scoffed, "He hasn't been any fun since we were children and his stupid father started showing an interest in what his son did in his free time." She pointed out, glancing over at the pot on the fire, peering into it to see if its contents needed stirring yet.
"And do you think mucking out Arthur's horses is going to be fun? You should hear my list of duties." Merlin turned to face Gaius.
"We all have our duties. Even Arthur." Gaius said as he walked around to start treating Merlin's other shoulder.
"It must be so tough for him with all the girls and the glory."
"Oh, quit complaining, Merlin. I mean, why should you be jealous of what that self – centred, stuck up pig has? He's doomed to be a king, and as such he has very little freedom. There's is a lot expected of him, from Uther, from the people, even from those in other kingdoms. I wouldn't envy him at all. He's under a ridiculous amount of pressure." Dwyn grumbled, annoyed that she actually understood all that. Gaius shot her a vaguely impressed look, pressing Merlin's shoulder quite hard.
"Ah!" Merlin shot an annoyed look at Gaius, "That makes two of us." Dwyn scoffed and stood up, chucking some previously chopped up bits of carrot into the pot and giving it another stir.
"So how do you plan on learning all that by morning if you're half asleep?" She asked Merlin, motioning to the open book on the table. Merlin sighed, leaning forwards once Gaius had finished treating his shoulders. He shook his head.
"Let me get back to you on that one." He mumbled. Dwyn sat back down and watched him for a second, thinking.
"You know, Gwen's father is a blacksmith. She might know a thing or two about armour at the very least. Maybe she could show you?"
"You think she would?" Merlin looked up hopefully.
"Yeah, Gwen is probably the nicest person I know. She'd be more than happy to help you out, I'm sure." The boy actually looked happy about this news, seeming a lot more willing to get to work reading the book. Then he looked up at her again, more curiously this time.
"Dwyn?"
"Yeah?"
"Why aren't you at work? I thought you were meant to be working late today." She thought for a moment.
"I was working late. Usually I get the morning work. You know, a bit before dawn until an hour or so before midday. Today I worked until maybe an hour before dusk."
"Why do you work as a cook? You never seem to enjoy it." Merlin muttered, looking down at the book again. Dwyn shrugged.
"Not everyone gets a job they want, Merlin," Gaius explained, "And Dwyn was in a rather unique position when she was first offered the job."
"That's enough from you, Gaius." Dwyn glared at him, which just made Merlin more curious.
"Unique position?" He asked.
"It really doesn't matter. Get on with your studying. It's not like you're going to be able to fall asleep and just absorb all that information." Merlin sighed, not saying anything else. Dwyn looked away into the pot again, wishing more than before that she could remember something – anything – from her past. Even her age or her name would do. Maybe someone she used to know. It didn't matter what, really, just something so people wouldn't pity her so much if they found out about her not knowing her past.
The next day was the first day of the tournament which Arthur had been practicing for and Merlin had been learning the etiquette for. He went off reasonably early in the morning to visit Gwen to get her help with learning about voiders and hauberks and where everything goes, while Dwyn was stuck in the kitchen for a little while.
"Wanna try to sneak out to watch the tournament?" Haul asked as he snuck up to stand at Dwyn's shoulder, obviously trying to make her jump, or to at least startle her a little. She just glanced around at him, then resumed chopping up vegetables for the pot.
"I think Audrey would kill me, considering that last time I snuck out wasn't all that long ago." She replied.
"Aw, come on! You know that you want to."
"Wanting to and being able to safely are two completely different things, Haul. You know that."
"Just... one match?" He pleaded, looking at Dwyn with pitiful, begging grey eyes. Dwyn sighed, raising one eyebrow slightly.
"You know what will happen if I do watch one match."
"Kinda why I want you to. You watch one match, you'll want to watch the rest of them." He grinned and she just shook her head.
"We're supposed to be making the food for what the Knights come on after hitting each other around the head with swords. No time to go and enjoy ourselves."
"You know... I don't think they'll be 'hitting each other around the head' with their swords... pretty sure that's not how swords are meant to be used. That seems more like a Morningstar job to me. Or a club," Dwyn scoffed, shaking her head, "So what about it? Sneak out to watch the tournament with me?" Dwyn glanced up at Audrey, who was busy making dumplings while yelling at a young girl for burning the bread. She chewed on her lower lip, thinking. She reached out and touched Merlin's mind.
"You think I should sneak out of work and watch a heap of sweaty men hit each other with swords?" She asked, sensing Merlin's surprise at being addressed so suddenly in his mind.
"I don't know. Never seen a tournament, have I?"
"Well, how pissed off is Arthur?" She figured that how angry Arthur was would be a reasonable way to judge how good the competition would be, and so whether or not it would be worth risking getting her head chewed of by Audrey later. Merlin opened his mind a little more so Dwyn could see what was going on, Merlin fumbling to get the prince's armour on while asking him questions such as 'are you nervous' and getting yelled at for his pains.
"OK, then there's a chance this'll be worth it. Thanks, Merlin." She looked over at Haul and nodded, grinning back at her.
"Ten minutes?" He asked.
"Sure. Careful not to let Audrey spot you while you make your get away." Dwyn teased.
"Ha! Likewise." He then turned and resumed what he had been doing, carrying his leg of what looked like venison to one of their colleagues and dumping it down on the bench to have whatever done to it.
"I see you made it out alive." Haul greeted once Dwyn met him outside the castle in the courtyard, where quite an impressive crowd was forming to watch the tournament. Dwyn rolled her eyes.
"It wasn't that hard. You forget I know this place better than even Prince Arthur."
"Of course. Because everyone knows that the kitchen girl with Mercian accent was born and raised literally inside the Citadel walls." Haul joked, but it didn't exactly have the effect he wanted, though Dwyn did her very best to pretend she wasn't bothered by it. They quietly found some seats where they could see the fights clearly and sat down, looking into the arena below. Gwen was sitting with Morgana not too far away to the right of where Uther was to sit once he arrived on the scene. After a few more moments of waiting with idle conversation, Uther arrived, standing before the Knights that would be fighting in but a few moments. Dwyn could feel the excitement rising inside her. What she wouldn't give to be one of those actually out there fighting... she knew she was at least as good as Arthur, and it was altogether possible that she would actually best him simply because she fought dirtier than him. Haul looked over at her and smiled, though Dwyn didn't really notice. She was already too absorbed in the speech the king was giving, silently willing him to hurry up so she could watch the fights.
"Knights of the realm," Uther started, "It's a great honour to welcome you to a tournament at Camelot. Over the next three days, you will come to put your bravery to the test, your skills as warriors, and of course, to challenge the reigning champion, my son, Prince Arthur," All attention went to Arthur for a moment before Uther continued, "Only one can have the honour of being crowned champion, and he will receive a prize of 1,000 gold pieces." A box was opened, revealing the prize and Dwyn scoffed.
"Can't say I pity the one who had to count all that money out." She muttered to Haul, who chuckled.
"No one would notice if it was one or two coins out, would they?" He mumbled back.
"You saying the only reason someone would take the job would be to swipe some of the money for themselves?"
"Your words, not mine."
"It is in combat that we learn a knight's true nature, whether he is indeed a warrior or a coward. The tournament begins!" Uther finished, the crowd erupting in applause. Uther walked over to Arthur and clapped his son on the shoulder, saying something to him quietly before leaving the ring to find his seat. Dwyn's eyes sparkled as she watched the fight that unfolded once the capes of those competing had been taken off them and shields handed over and helmets placed on their heads. The prince and another knight, one with a green striped shield, swapped blows, spinning and parrying, swiping, hacking, stabbing, but the final blow was given by Arthur, and it wasn't by a sword or a shield, but an elbow to the face, sending his opponent falling backwards into the dirt. Dwyn grinned, silently celebrating. The next fight she really took notice of the skill involved in was a knight in yellow with three green snakes on his shield. He was quite fearsome with an aggressive style.
"Who is that?" Dwyn asked, leaning over to Haul, who shrugged.
"Dunno. Think it's Knight Valiant. Haven't heard too much about him really, just that he's not from around here and is clearly quite good with a sword," He looked at Dwyn, "Why? You impressed by him or something?"
"Huh?" Dwyn looked around at Haul, slightly surprised, "Oh, um... No, I just... There's something about him. Can't quite put my finger on it."
"Ah, so you're attracted to him?"
"What?! No! I don't even know him, how could I be attracted to someone I don't even know?" She shook her head, looking away and feeling her cheeks go red. Haul just laughed, though it sounded more strained than normal. Dwyn hardly noticed, she was back to concentrating on Knight Valiant. She didn't like him. There was something strange about him, or something around him. She couldn't tell. She silently shrugged it off, thinking that it was probably her just thinking that he stood a chance against Arthur, which meant that the young prince was in for a challenge this year. But that was a good thing. Arthur needed challenges, he didn't get enough of them. Dwyn sighed.
"We'd better get back to work." She muttered. Haul groaned, pulling a face.
"Do we have to?"
"Would you rather work or get killed?"
"You'd think the answer was obvious, wouldn't you? And yet, I'm finding myself almost preferring the second option."
"Well, I prefer the first option, because I'd be killed three times over. Once by Audrey, once by Gaius, once by Gwilim. Therefore, I'm going back to work. With or without you in tow." Dwyn stood up and started pushing past the other viewers, Haul slowly standing up and walking after her.
"Well, I guess that put me in my place." He grumbled, though he wasn't really that bothered.
Merlin walked in that night with piles of Arthur's armour, struggling under the weight. Dwyn looked up from where she was resting her chin on the table, not raising her head, still feeling rather gloomy and confused. She watched as Merlin made his way to his room and dumped Arthur's stuff on the floor.
"Where's Gaius?" He called back.
"One his rounds. He should be back soonish." Dwyn muttered, sitting straight and tracing patterns on the table top. Merlin frowned, walking back into the room.
"You OK?" He asked.
"Just got a massive telling off from Audrey. Nothing I didn't deserve," She smiled slightly, then frowned, "But if I'm going to be truthful I just feel... like there's something wrong..." She shrugged, "Probably nothing. Just me not sleeping well."
"Dwyn?"
"It's nothing. Really. It's fine." She was trying to convince herself as much as Merlin. She shook her head and stood up, pacing around the room. She idly took her hair out of its braid and ran her fingers through it, pulling her fingers through the tangles that had formed in it over the course of the day. She darted a look at Merlin, then stopped and turned to face him front on.
"You know that feeling you get when you think something really bad is going to happen?" She asked. Merlin nodded.
"Yeah. Almost like there's something creeping up on you that you can't see."
"Something like that, yeah," Dwyn sighed, "Well, for some reason I've been feeling like that today. I can't explain it," Her voice dropped and she looked away from Merlin, "It's like when Arthur fell off that horse when he was a kid... Felt like something was wrong then, too, before any one found him." She muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing, unimportant. Anyway, it's just... keep an eye out, would you? Something bad is coming, I'm sure of it." Merlin sighed dramatically.
"Yeah, something bad's coming alright," He muttered, making Dwyn once again shoot a look at him, "If I don't get all that armour polished by tomorrow, Arthur is gonna kill me." A small smile found its way onto Dwyn's face and a small laugh escaped her.
"You better get to it then."
"Wanna help?"
"Would if I could. Unfortunately, I have to start preparing stuff for tomorrow. I have a castle to cater for, remember?"
"Which reminds me... who cooks for Arthur?" Merlin asked, seeming genuinely curious. Dwyn thought for a moment.
"When he has one... and depending if they can cook... his servant," She replied, "Otherwise it's me. I'm one of the few people who won't try to poison the little twerp, though I won't say I'm not tempted sometimes."
"Who could blame you?" Merlin snorted, then sighed and stood up, heading for his room again. Dwyn looked back at him as the door closed behind him before leaving to get back to the kitchens.
Images flicked across her vision as she slept, though she couldn't quite make out what they were. Just got the impression that it had something to do with Valiant and a couple of other knights, one in purple, the other wearing Camelot red. She could only guess that it was Arthur. A lot of what she was seeing was based around Valiant's shield, panic in the purple knight's eyes as something... she couldn't see what, but something was scaring him.
Dwyn's eyes shot open and she struggled to take deep breathes to calm herself down, to slow her racing heart beat. The night air slowly found its way into her lungs and she slowly felt herself relaxing. How long had it been since her last dream? She'd never told anyone about them, not even Gaius. They were usually important. Just like the feelings she got. The more she calmed down, the more the vision faded, leaving her with nothing more than a dread feeling. But the purple knight stuck in her memory. Something was going to happen to him. She just didn't understand what. It left her feeling empty and hopeless, but also strangely determined. If she was dreaming about him, then he was important. For all she knew, he was a warning. He might know what was leaving her with this bad feeling. But now wasn't the time to dwell on such things. She had a big day again tomorrow, and this time she wouldn't be able to escape from Audrey.
Merlin walked down the hall to the armoury the next day, looking forward to the tournament. Dare he say it, he was actually enjoying himself... a bit, though he wouldn't admit it freely. He stepped into the armoury and went about collecting Arthur's gear for the day. Something made him stop and turn around, searching the room for someone else. He could have sworn he heard something that was almost like... hissing?
"Hello?" He called out, "Is anyone there?" He wanted someone to be there so badly, just so he knew he wasn't imagining things, so he knew that it wasn't a ghost or something like that. Castles like this were bound to have a couple of ghosts, weren't they? He did not like the thought at all. Then his eyes fell on the Knight Valiant's shield, pale yellow background with three snakes intertwined. He peered at it closely. Dwyn had said that something bad was coming, even if she couldn't explain it. Then one of the snakes... no.., it couldn't have... did it just blink? Merlin leaned in closer to get a better look, but froze when a sword was pointed at his chest. Okay, so something bad had happened after all. Merlin's life was being threatened. Terrific. Merlin made a mental note to always listen to Dwyn's bad feelings. Though she'd only had them once with Merlin around, they seemed fairly accurate.
"Can I help you with something, boy?" Knight Valiant asked and Merlin stuff, bled to his feet.
"Nope. I'm good. I, I was just... I was, erm, gathering my master's armour." He looked around for Arthur's armour, then found his way over to it as Valiant lowered his sword.
"Then you'd best be on your way." Valiant replied, coolly, calmly, like he ruled the room in which they currently stood.
"Right, yeah. No problem." Merlin said hurriedly, collecting the armour then stumbling out of the room. He had to talk to Dwyn. The more he thought on it, the more sure he was that the snake had blinked, though there was still a sliver of doubt in his mind. Knight Valiant didn't quite seem like the kind of guy who would use magic to win the tournament. Maybe Dwyn would have an idea about it. Unfortunately he'd have to wait to talk to her about it. For now he had to go help Arthur into his armour. Oh the joys of being servant to the prince.
Dwyn looked around through a window, listening to the excited sounds coming from the field, finding herself wishing that she was there watching them. It would be better than slaving away in an overheated kitchen all day. When it was winter the heat was bliss. But this wasn't winter. This was still, summer. She looked back down at her workbench, then let her mind wander.
"Hi Merlin," She started, hiding a smile when Merlin jumped slightly, "Anything interesting going on?" She asked.
"Would you stop doing that?!"
"Doing what?"
"Talking in my head without giving me any warning!" Merlin snapped. Dwyn bit the inside of her lips to stop herself from laughing. Her colleagues would have looked at her funny if she'd laughed for apparently no reason.
"I'll try to keep that in mind. Now, how are the fights going?"
"Arthur just won his round, and now it's Valiant against Sir Ewan." Suddenly Merlin briefly slipped away and Dwyn felt something jolt through her. Was that... fear? Worry? She shook her head slightly. Why would she be worried? There was nothing to be worried about.
"Merlin?" She asked, "What's going on?" She felt Merlin's mind open more and she found herself able to see Gaius walking towards Sir Ewan, who was lying on his back on the ground, and Valiant walking around with his arms in the air, basking in the applause of the people. Now she knew that the worry she was feeling was her own. Something bad was coming... Merlin kept his eyes trained on Valiant.
"I need to talk to you. You and Gaius both. Think you can find a way out of the kitchens?" He asked.
"I can try. It'd be easier if Gaius sent a message asking for my help with a patient. He does that sometimes, usually Audrey is fine with it." Merlin nodded, though Dwyn could hardly tell, then Dwyn left his mind. She looked over at Haul and he looked up at her not long after. She motioned for him to come over.
"Do you know anything else about Knight Valiant?" She asked. He thought for a moment.
"Well, there's a rumour going around that the king invited him to stay after the tournament, become one of his knights. Or he's thinking about it. He's very impressed with Valiant's skill." Dwyn frowned.
"Mmm..."
"What is it with you and that guy? He's not that good looking, is he? Or do you just like the real macho guys?"
"Neither. I just don't trust him."
"What has he ever done to earn your mistrust?" Haul asked, frowning ever so slightly.
"He hasn't. Just... something about him seems off. Can't put my finger on it."
"Then it's probably nothing," Haul smiled, "Everything's going to be fine, Dwyn. Just... keep your head down and keep working. All this will be over soon and life will return to normal." He clapped her on the shoulder and walked off. Dwyn just shook her head.
"I think this is the new normal. Me risking my neck to help Arthur... and he'll never even know." She muttered to herself, too quietly for anyone else to hear. Merlin rushed into the kitchens a little while later, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Dwyn.
"Gaius wants you." Was all he said, a little out of breath. Dwyn nodded, dropping what she was doing and wiping her hands on her apron as she headed for the door.
"Oi! Where do you think you're going?" Audrey demanded, putting herself between Dwyn and the door.
"Gaius..." She looked up at Merlin imploringly and he quickly stepped into the room.
"Gaius sent me to find her. He needs some help with a patient." He quickly explained. Audrey didn't look too happy.
"We need all the 'elp we can get down 'ere." She growled.
"This shouldn't take too long. I'll be back and then I'll work twice as hard. Promise." Audrey's eyes seemed to bore holes into Dwyn as she made up her mind.
"Get going then. And make sure you 'urry back, would you? I've 'ad enough of your skiving off." She growled. Dwyn nodded.
"Yes, Ma'am." She replied before slipping past the larger woman and rushing down the hall with Merlin.
"That's who you work for?" Merlin asked incredulously.
"Still feel sorry for yourself about working for Arthur?" Dwyn asked, scoffing. Merlin just laughed.
Gaius glanced up as Merlin and Dwyn entered the room, frowning slightly when Dwyn froze at the sight of his patient. She wasn't usually like this around the injured or ill, normally she was calm and cool headed. Clearly not this time, which was very unlike her. She shook her head and strode forward purposefully, kneeling beside Gaius and looking Ewan, who was unconscious in the bed.
"How is he?" Merlin asked, standing just behind Dwyn.
"It's most odd. Look at this," Gaius pointed at the knight's neck, "See these two small wounds?" Dwyn frowned.
"He was injured in the tournament, right?" She asked, "But those look like – "
"A snake bite, yes." Gaius confirmed.
"How could he have been bitten by a snake? He was injured in the sword fight." Merlin muttered.
"But the symptoms are consistent with poisoning: slow pulse, fever, paralysis." Gaius replied. Dwyn stood up and headed over to Gaius' supplies, picking up bottles and checking the label, putting together a small collection of vials and herbs before crossing to a table.
"Can you heal him?" Merlin asked Gaius. The old man looked back around at Ewan.
"Well, if it is a snake bite, I'll have to extract venom from the snake that bit him to make an antidote."
"I might be able to slow down the progress of the poison, though Gaius probably won't like how." Dwyn glanced at Gaius, who grudgingly nodded, then began to mix her ingredients, mumbling something under her breath.
"What happens if he doesn't get the antidote?" Merlin asked.
"Then I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do for him. He's going to die." Gaius admitted. Merlin frowned and Dwyn could feel his anxiety, which did nothing for her own and just confused her further. How was she feeling what Merlin was feeling?
"He was fighting Knight Valiant." He muttered, turning and leaving the room.
"What's that?" Gaius asked.
"Nothing." Merlin called back as he walked down the hall. Dwyn shook her head.
"Don't be doing something stupid." She grumbled into his head, but Merlin didn't reply. His mind was set, he knew what he had to do. And Dwyn didn't like it one bit.
