Hi, this chapter it's kind of short, but I wanted to upload something, to move on with another, more exciting chapter ;) Sorry for errors - I'm afraid there's many of them in here...

A few days ago I finally finished watching all seasons of "Merlin" for the second time and now I'm devastated... I know it's pathetic, but I can't remember the last time I cried so hard on the last episode. But... there are still fanfics and it's really amazing to have a chance to write something on my own, when the show's end. ;)


Chapter 3

"Herbs and scorpions"

„You really did all of this, when I was sleeping?" asked Gwen, who just woke up and now was standing in the centre of her small kitchen, completely astounded. Usually it was her to get up with dawn, and sometimes she felt like the only alive person in whole Camelot, while the other were soundly sleeping in their beds. Everything had changed after Morgana's disappearance. The King's ward was the one, Gwen woke for, even before first sunlight. She had less work to do now, without her lady and thus could sleep a little longer. So when Guinevere woke at the clinking sounds of plates and smell of some strange, sweet smell, she couldn't help but stood there and opened her mouth like she was struck dumb. Everything in her little house, from floor to the table, where stood vase with violet flowers, was shining with cleanliness. The windows were opened and she could breath fresh morning air coming through it. Gwen looked around and noticed that her basket with a pile of dirty clothes disappeared form the corner.

By the stove stood Ryia, her new house mate, who looked like she was cooking something. Something that smelled deliciously sweet.

Ryia heard some rustling behind her and turned out seeing that Gwen already got up form her bed and now was gaping at her in what seemed to be awe.

"Hello" she said with a smile in her voice. "Breakfast will be in a moment. I hope you don't mind, I took the liberty of making a porridge."

Gwen sighed. "Ryia, you really didn't have to do all of this. You're my guest, not my..." she gestured around "... maid"

Ryia didn't look like she was bothered and said with a radiant smile.

"I'm sorry, Gwen. I just wanted to say thank you that agreed to take me to your home. That's all."

"Oh, I'm not angry. It's just, you know. I've been a maid for my entire life and it's strange to see something like this done for me. That's ...sweet. Did you sleep at all? You must have wake long before dawn to make all of this"

"Oh, I couldn't sleep. I was too excited for today. You know, my first day in Camelot as an apprentice of famous Gaius - the Court Physician of King Uther Pendragon" she said proudly. "Sit, you should eat something."

Just now Gwen noticed the girl's attire. She wasn't wearing the usual proper dress, suitable for a young woman, but similar clothes to those she had previous night, though maybe more fitting. Brown breeches were hugging her legs without being overly snug. They were paired with forest green tunic that reached her upper thighs, which sleeves were rolled up. On the top she had dark suede vest that didn't has any fastener.

Ryia caught Gwen scrutinizing her attire and smiled. "I hate dresses" she said matter of factly. "I've always preferred wearing trousers. It's easier and more practical for someone who have to swiftly fetch some water or ingredients for the patient. Everyone in the village had to accustomed to my look."

The truth was, at the beginning, people said that it was improper for a young girl to dress like that, but soon they indeed got used to it. Ryia couldn't remember the last time she wore some ladylike gown or just simply ...more womanly clothes.

"Oh, I understand you completely" said Gwen. "Sometimes the breeches are better than even the most beautiful gown."

"So, shall we?" Ryia said, indicating her prepared meal.

After breakfast, during which Gwen told her about Lady Morgana and how they used to be friends more than servant and lady, they went then to the castle, when they split up.

"Hello, Gaius" she said after entering physician's chambers.

Gaius was standing by his laboratory bench covered with many test-tubes and jars."Oh, Ryia. Good you're here." he said without even looking at her. "Could you pass me that small jar form the top shelf with label leonurus cardiaca on it.

Ryia quickly approached the wall with many shelves full of various ingredients, localised the motherwort as she knew was common name for leonurus cardiaca and gave it to Gaius.

"What are you doing?" she asked as the physician took the glass from her and add few drops to some mixture he had in a flask.

"It's a calming potion for the King." Gaius answered, finally taking off his gaze from his work. "He needs it more than ever in this time."

Ryia didn't inquire further. She understood it pry in King's matters, but she assumed it was something with Lady Morgana.

"Here, you can chop these leaves and make a brew. Remember to..." but he was interrupted by the girl.

"...control the temperature, I know how to brew a borage leaves, Gaius. Remember that I was taught by Alice" she said with a wink. The physician chuckled, but there was something sad in that smile, Ryia thought, a nostalgia? Noticing that every time she said Alice's name, Gaius became gloomy, she promised herself try not to mention her old friend by him.

Ryia spent another two hours preparing brews and learning some tips from Gaius, she hadn't known. As it turned out, there was a patient with a rare fever and the physician needed her help to make certain difficult potion.

"Some of the herbs are about to be exhausted and there is no figwort at all." Gaius said when scanning though his shelves. "I will need to tell Merlin to go and pick some of them when he comes back."

"Is he on some expedition with a Prince Arthur?" Ryia asked. In fact, she became interested in Merlin, even though she met him only once, yesterday. And what meeting it was... She was felt the colour creeping on her face at the memory of him, seeing her changing into his clothes in his room.

Gaius sighed and pursed his lips. He looked like he didn't approve this venture. "King has sent Arthur with a patrol on searching for Morgana."

"And you don't approve?"

"I do not approve losing good knights for quest that is pointless."

"Then you don't think Lady Morgana is alive?" she asked quite surprised.

"I … am not sure. But it's been a year..."

"But still... King must really cares about her, and she must be very special, since everyone here misses her.. "

"Indeed. I've been a physician for Morgana ever since she was a child and first came to Camelot. She was one of the kindest and unselfish person I've known. Too emotional tough..."

Ryia didn't ask about the last. She suspected there was something more behind it, that Gaius wouldn't tell her.

"I can go and pick those herbs." she said finally after few minutes of silence.

Gaius looked at her and blinked. "Certainly not" he said with truly decisive tone he probably used while talking to his patients.

"But why? I used to do this all the time. Besides, I can recognize most of the plants" she said with a shrug. It was true. She was thought about it since she was a little girl.

"I cannot let you go alone to the forest, Ryia. It's too dangerous."

"Oh, Gaius." she rolled her eyes. "I came to Camelot on my own, after all. The boys in the village thought me how to defend myself, and I can carry a weapon if you have any. "Well, this, in contrast, wasn't completely true. In fact, some years ago a wandering blacksmith called at their village. He had a son, few years older than her with whom she liked to talk to and who taught her how to wield a sword. Ryia enjoyed those lessons very much and she thought she was starting to be quite good at it, but one day, the blacksmith took his son and departed to another village or city. Since that time, she didn't has much occasion to practise, or at least with real sword and ...partner to spar with. Sometimes she just grabbed a long stick and went on the river where she could work on her strike, where there was no one that would see her.

Gaius sighed. Ryia knew or at least guessed, the physician was at lost. He very likely promised to Alice to take care of her and kept her safe, if not personally, surely Gaius promised it to himself.

"All right. Have it your way. You can go, but be careful." he said and then muttered in lower voice that she barely could hear him "Though, if I wasn't in need for those herbs I wouldn't let you..."

Ryia beamed at him "Thank you, Gaius! I promise, I will return in a blink of an eye, safe and sound."

Less than hour later, she was already in the outskirts of the woods, looking carefully after herbs, Gaius had written for her on the list. She knew not to adventure further into the forest, because despite her rather good sense of direction, she was aware of any possible peril that lurked in the woods, even though those territories belonged to the King.

Sudden noise similar to breaking a twig came to her ears. The girl raised her head and scanned the area around. You're in the woods, it's normal to hear such sounds. There are a plenty of animals, after all – she thought to herself in attempt of reassurance, though suddenly she wished she had a sword instead of small knife for cutting plants.

Ryia wasn't a coward, or at least she was not like one of those ladies who were afraid of small mouse when they saw one. But in that moment she felt a little uneasy. Someone would called it a sense of foreboding. She ignored it and continued her task.

After a good hour the bag she carried was almost full of herbs, when the creak sounded again. This time much closer. Ryia looked up and saw that despite her previous self ensuring, somehow she wandered off the 'safe area'. Here the trees stood closer to each other and were significantly darker. Ryia felt her heart was gradually increasing its beating. It's time to go back, she thought and fastened her bag, preparing for the retreating. The feeling of anxiety didn't leave her, so Ryia decided to go as quiet and fast as possible. She carefully stepped on the ground, trying to avoid fallen branches that were laying there, but then the sound from earlier returned. This time it seemed to be even closer, like something was approaching, judging from persistent creaking of twigs and leaves rustling. The worst was that, the sound gave the impression as if it was coming not from one direction, but from everywhere...

Ryia's heart was now pounding and the palm that was holding a knife, which she hadn't hidden, turned wet. She stopped for a moment to scan the area around, but there was nothing except trees, some bushes and scorpion like creatures about the size of human and more trees. Wait, what?!

She craned her neck so quickly she felt small crick in the spine. She turned around. Her eyes didn't mislead her. There, just before her, huge scorpion beasts were approaching her. First she thought there were just two of them and if she turned and run away she would escape. But Ryia started panic after realising, that there was more of them, eight or more and they were now surrounding her.

You should have listen to Gaius, and stay in Camelot, she said to herself. Her thoughts ran through her mind as she considered options. The creatures were getting closer with every second, there wasn't enough space between them to pass, without being struck by their stings, and the trees around her hadn't got low branches she could reach, to climb on. Ryia looked down at her short knife. It probably wouldn't cut through the armour, but it was all she had at that moment. She bent and reached for one of the stone that was scattered around her and threw it at the nearest beast, hoping it would startled the creature and make it retreat, but it made them only angrier. They were now approaching much faster.


Ok, my first cliffhanger. I hope you'll forgive me;p Review?