CHAPTER 3 : RELOCATED

After lunch, Arthur had the meeting with Humphrey, the assistant to the Lord Chamberlain and the manservant Carreg. To avoid any embarrassment to Merlin, Arthur had told him to go and watch Sir Seymour working with the squires on the training grounds.

He'd made a face but had gone all the same and had Gawaine with him whom he found wandering around at a loose end. He had to promise to go with to the ale house afterwards but he decided that maybe the other knight Seymour seeing the two of them together mights have at least wondered where Arthur was.

Gawaine wasn't stupid and he twigged immediately that there was a reason for Merlin to be alone on a beautiful autumn afternoon. "Well, if you're not going to tell me, I guess I might ask Arthur."

"Nothing very interesting, except see that knight in blue, he's one of Guildwood's men and he has been asking some pointed questions about Arthur's living arrangements. Carreg has been working for him."

"I thought Carreg worked with the old and infirm in the West Wing."

"He usually does but he was seconded to Sir Seymour and the poor man has to keep his wits about himself as Seymour never lets up on questioning him. Finally, Humphrey got wind of it and he, Arthur and Carreg are meeting as we speak."

"So is Arthur planning to give you or Seymour the bum's rush."

Merlin laughing at him, "Well, I doubt that it will be me…however, we think it might be a good idea for all intents and purposes, if I sleep elsewhere until the Seymour situation is settled."

"Merlin, I have a brilliant idea."

For a second Merlin thought of Arthur's brilliant idea which had actually been quite enjoyable. He came back to the present and said, "What?"

"I have a rather well appointed chamber. It is spacious and not on the main drag as one might say and with Arthur's blessing, we could share…!"

Merlin punched him in the arm, "Don't even think of it! I'd rather spend a night under the stars than share your bed."

Laughing Gawaine said, "Who said anything about sharing my bed! I meant that you would be able to sleep on the floor in the corner like a servant."

Merlin was going to retort when Gawaine gave him a bear hug which didn't go unnoticed by the knight in blue.

Gawaine was a hugger, something which came naturally to him, just as Arthur to begin with was a non-hugger. He'd lean in uncomfortably and do the one arm pat on back thing but beyond Gaius, it took time for him to actually wrap his arms around anyone and hug them. Merlin on the other hand was a hugger, his mother had always hugged him and he accepted the close contact with ease.

-0-0-

While Merlin and Gawaine were socialising, Humphrey was introducing Carreg to Arthur. To make Carreg feel less uncomfortable, they were meeting in a small chamber within the library which was sometimes used as a private reading area.

Carreg repeated as best as he could all the questions asked by Sir Seymour. It was obvious when they were all listed together that there was an undeniable connection. "I tried explaining to him that I was not privileged to the information he was seeking. He wouldn't take that as an answer and daily repeated his questions. He seemed really interested in Merlin and my saying that King Uther had appointed him your manservant after he had saved your life didn't satisfy him. He wanted to know who occupied the servant's quarters in the royal suite. Did each of your manservants take turns?" He sighed, "Certainly, working with my elderly knights is easier on the nerves."

Arthur smiled and thanked him, "I think, Humphrey, that tomorrow Carreg should return to his former duties, I'm sure you can find someone to look after Sir Seymour. Thank you, Carreg, for bringing the situation to our notice. You may go now!"

A relieved Carreg saying, "Thank you, Sire, anyone else would have done the same," left the room. As Sir Seymour would be eating with the rest of the knights tonight, he would only have a minimum of contact if any with him tonight.

Arthur said, "Let's return to my chambers and over a drink decide who we are going to send to look after this Seymour bloke. Do you think it is just a coincidence that he seems so interested in Merlin or is he collecting information which he will be able to sell to interested parties?"

"I don't know, could he be a plant for something nefarious? We've know the Duke of Guildwood for years and he has never caused any problems. Could you not just send the man packing?"

"I could but then I wouldn't know what was the reasoning behind all the questions. I know my living arrangements are unusual but that concerns only Merlin and myself."

"Arthur, I think you have done well keeping your lifestyle private. I realise that your immediate friends are in the know but what are you going to do to satisfy this man's curiosity and give him a reason to vacate the castle?"

"That, Humphrey is where you come in. We need to find someone to replace Carreg who will feed Seymour the information we want and form a rapport with him so that he might let slip why he has this interest in our lives. Have you any suggestions? It can't be a knight because that would be too obvious."

"How about Daniel? He was your servant for a while. I'm sure he'd be up to it and knowing him, he'd like to be involved in a little royal subterfuge. Would you like me to see if he can take on the job as of tomorrow? I'll miss his assistance but it shouldn't be for long. We might have to do a little shuffling to cover his present position."

"Yes, that's a good choice. Tell him to report directly to you and you'll have to give him a little idea of what we are up against. I am also trying to convince Merlin not that easily, may I say, to move out of my chambers. Technically, he has the right to occupy the manservant's quarters off the antechamber but maybe it would be better if he were elsewhere."

Humphrey nodded saying, "That might work, Daniel can mention that he is also looking after his chamber and jokingly refer to himself as the Royal Manservant's manservant!"

Smiling Arthur said, "I do believe, Humphrey, that I could use your mind at some of the tedious council meetings I have. I might be bringing Sir Gawaine into the game but I will let you know. Just for now, don't mention anything to anyone."

-0-0-

Humphrey had no sooner left the king's chambers than he saw Sir Seymour having a heated conversation with Carreg. He sauntered in their direction as he heard Carreg say, "I don't know, Sir, I don't have contact with other knights."

"Well, you shouldn't call yourself a manservant as you are pathetically ignorant of castle…"

Sir Seymour looked up and realised that Humphrey was right there. He stopped mid sentence and acknowledged Humphrey as the assistant to the Lord Chamberlain with a slight bow.

Carreg, realising his time with the visiting knight was almost over spoke up saying, "I believe that Mister Humphrey would be able to answer all your questions, Sir Knight!"

"Thank you, Carreg, run along, I can take it from here. By the way, Daniel will be seeing to Sir Seymour from tomorrow as you are really needed back with the elderly knights." Carreg bowed and left.

Humphrey continued, "Good man that Carreg but I'm sure you will find Daniel capable as well." He laughed saying, "He's a good sort, nothing much goes on in this castle without his being in the know. Was there something specific you had wanted to know about the castle, Sir?"

"No, Sir! Carreg and I had just been talking about…the layout of the Squires' Wing."

'Nice save!' Humphrey thought and then said, "Yes, that has its merits as it can comfortably handle so many young men, their dormitories, school rooms and dining hall as well as some of their masters' quarters. Do you know Gaius?" Seymour nodded. "Well, once he was quarantined along with forty squires, various masters and his assistant Merlin for ten days. Food and water were delivered on the adjourning staircase and left so that they could access it without any of the disease being released into the main parts of the castle. Brilliant move on Gaius's part! Sadly we did have fatalities among the squires."

Humphrey was watching the man carefully and he knew immediately that he had not realised that Merlin had been Gaius's assistant. He continued, "I don't know what we would have done if Merlin and Gaius hadn't been with the squires. Their expertise was needed as it often is even to this day."

After having witnessed the hug on the training fields and the news that Merlin was still working with Gaius, Seymour wondered if maybe what he had been asked to dig for was based on misinformation.

Nodding at the young knight, Humphrey made his way down the corridor. He smiled to himself as he thought, 'This cloak and dagger scenario will be a change from the usual work I do!'

When Humphrey had been Arthur's first manservant, it had taken time for the young lad to accept being looked after by a stranger. He had been with Gaius for his first six years and as a toddler had had an assortment of maidservants but his father suddenly decided that he wanted him start his training as a page and he was thrown into the rough and tough life of the castle. Humphrey had proved exemplary, he had made the transition easier for Arthur who still lived in his own royal chamber but attended school and mixed with the other pages.

He thought to himself that sometimes, he missed the manservant role but not that often especially lugging water and fetching meals.

-0-0-

Arthur was in high spirits when Merlin returned. He was able to bring him up to date. Daniel would take over from Carreg and report directly to Humphrey. He would also be acting manservant to Merlin under the pretence of lightening his load with looking after Arthur and working with Gaius.

"But I don't need a manservant, even if I am supposed to be in the lower chamber, because I will come up here."

"Yes, but you will have to be seen in the lower corridor at least in the morning and in the evening. Daniel won't have anything to do other that check the room twice a day. Let's go downstairs and check out the room."

Merlin thought it was a waste of time but they made their way down the Maids' Staircase and let themselves into the lower chamber. It was stale smelling and Merlin threw open the windows which looked over the valley. He said, "Not a bad view, guess I could retire here after our relationship is over."

Giving him a not so gentle pat on the back, Arthur said, "Once Seymour had gone, there will be no need to keep up the pretence."

"Some pretence, in the morning and at night I use the door on the lower floor but during the day I am free to come and go by the upstairs door, sounds balmy to me. Surely, I could just have been officially living in the manservant's room upstairs."

Arthur grinned and said,"But you and I know you don't…don't we Merlin?" He slipped his hands around Merlin's shoulders and tilted his head up for Merlin to kiss.

Merlin pulled back saying, "Sorry can't do! My hours of 'paramourship' are from after supper to dawn. Outside hours, will cost you more!" Merlin moved suddenly and Arthur found himself flat on his back in the cloud of dust on the bed. He yelped then coughed.

Merlin grinned saying, "Arthur, you're going to have to be very quiet when we are here. You wouldn't want someone knocking on the door to find out why the king is moaning uncontrollably in a room which is allocated to one of his menservants…now would you?"