Chapter Three
Isabella
"What was I thinking?! I think to myself, I am walking down a very long corridor that leads to Prince Arthur's rooms, I realize that I would have killed someone if I had tried to pick the herbs for Merlin, but why did I volunteer to be the Prince's manservant (maidservant?) for the day? "I just wanted to be helpful; after all, Merlin did save my life. This was the only thing I could think to do that would repay him." I think, "How is the Prince going to react to this?"
I am thrown out of my inner monologue when I realize where I am, in front of the Prince's doors. I take a deep breath, "this is it," I think to myself. I grab the door handles before I can change my mind. And slowly, very slowly, I open the doors.
As I enter Prince Arthur's room, I try to remember the things Merlin told me to do. Set the prince's food out, wake up the prince….. And that's all I remember. I start to set His Highness' breakfast out for Him, when my mind begins to wander. I start to think about the conversation I had with Merlin last night. I couldn't bear to tell him the whole truth; I had to keep some of it a secret. If I had told him, told him about what my capture really did to me.
He split my soul in two! I am good, but I also fear I am evil. There is a part of me that wonders which side will win out. Sometimes, when I am angry, or frightened, the evil side comes out. Instead of wanting to run, like I should, I want to stay and fight. That thing inside on me, want to hurt whoever I am angry at, or afraid of. I'm scared of what I could do. And, I'm scared of what people would do to me if they found out. I'm scared of what Merlin would think of me…
I am so lost in my thoughts that I don't realize where I'm going, and I crash right into the Prince's table. As I fall, the food and the platter fly into the air and crash to the floor with a loud BANG. I freeze, and just stare at the mess I have made.
I quickly look at the Prince's bed, hoping that he somehow slept through all that noise. Slowly, very slowly, I see the Princes eyes start to open…..
Arthur
I hear a loud bang, as I awaken from my sleep. "Merlin," I think to myself. Slowly I open my eyes, and shout, "Merlin, you idiot! What did you do this time?!"
Still half asleep, I slowly look at the mess Merlin has made, food everywhere. My eyes scan the room for my servant, I see him bent over the mess, trying, in vain, to clean up. "Come here, Merlin."
As he slowly gets off the floor, I realize the person in my room, dressed like my servant, is not Merlin. Now I am fully awake, I jump out of bed and grab my sword. "Who are you?" I demand.
The intruder turns to face me, I realize it's only a young woman. She is very beautiful, long tangled dark waves hang in her face. Her green eyes look at me with fear. That's when I remember I am still holding my sword. "Who are you." I say, more kindly this time.
"My name is Isabella." She says, and then she quickly adds, "My lord."
"Why are you in my chambers, Isabella? And why are you dressed like my servant?" I ask, puzzled. She really is dressed exactly like Merlin; she is even wearing that stupid neckerchief he always wears.
"Oh, yes! Sorry!" she says hastily, she looks embarrassed, I smile at that. "Merlin had to go and pick some herbs for…" She looks frustrated, like she should know, but doesn't. I smile at this too.
"Gaius?" I supply helpfully.
"Yes! That's his name!" she looks happy now, she is smiling, she really has a beautiful smile, it makes me trust her, which is insane, I am the crown prince, damn it! I can't trust random girls who show up in my room; even if she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.
"Yes, so. Merlin went to pick herbs for Gaius. And I offered to help out with his duties as your servant." She said, and then she added, as an afterthought, "Sire."
"Okay, that part I understand, but how did you and Merlin meet? And why on earth are you wearing his clothes?!" I ask again.
She looks like she is about to answer, when my father, King Uther, bursts into my chambers. He looks at me, then does a double take and looks at the blushing girl, dressed like my servant. He looks back at me. I realize how this must look.
"Father," I begin. But he cuts me off before I can get any further with my explanation.
"Why is there a girl dressed like your servant, in your room?" Before I can answer, he yells, "Guards!" When they come rushing in, he says, "Take his girl," and he looks in Isabella's direction, then continues. "Take this girl to the throne room, I will be there shortly, I need to speak with my son."
Isabella shoots me a look of pure fear, and for a moment her eyes look gray, and I could have sworn they were green before. But I must be mistaken, because then, as she is drug out of my room her wide, fear-filled eyes, are green again.
Isabella
I am lead, drug, from The Princes chambers, to the throne room. I am thrown onto the ground and told to get on my knees. Before too long, Merlin joins me, kneeling on the floor. I hate that he is here because of me. (I assume His Royal Highness told the king about Merlin gathering herbs.) He must see the Panic in my eyes, because he smiles reassuringly at me, and I smile back. I am still very afraid, and I know that he can tell, because then he grabs my hand and squeezes it quickly. A friendly gesture, but I find myself blushing, and looking away.
We hear the King enter the throne room, and Merlin drops my hand. The king sits on his throne, with Prince Arthur standing beside him. "So," he addresses Merlin. "My son tells me you were picking herbs, and neglected your duties to him, and just let some random girl take your place." The king looks at Merlin, while Arthurs mutters, "that is not what I said."
Merlin answers the King with a simple, "Yes, my lord," The king glares, and says to the guards, "Take Arthur's servant to the stocks, again." As the guards start to pick Merlin up off the ground, I jump up and shout, "NO!"
That got everyone's attention.
"It's my fault, your highness. I told Merlin I would help him out with his duties. And I couldn't pick the herbs, because I don't know anything about herbs, and I could have got the wrong thing, and someone might have died, and…" I know I'm rambling, but I have to save Merlin, from the stocks.
"So," the king says at last. "Are you saying you are guilty?" I nod yes. "Very well then." to the guards he says, "Put both of them in the stocks."
As Merlin and I are dragged from the courtroom to the stocks, I can hear Arthur protesting. I smile at that. Merlin sees me smiling, and looks at me like I'm a fool, I just smile bigger. Merlin smiles, soon we are both grinning like idiots, as we are taken to the stocks.
(Author note: sorry! I know I took forever to post a new chapter! Sorry again! =( )
