CHAPTER 3 : IN GAIUS'S CARE
After what seemed like hours but was probably only minutes, Merlin said quietly, "If I were hurt badly, would you make Gawaine carry me on the front of his saddle…?"
Arthur glared at him, "I wouldn't let anyone touch you but me! You know I would carry you…"
"Well then, for me, would you let this little girl ride with you?"
Within reason, Arthur had never denied anything Merlin had asked him, and this seemed such an insignificant thing, so he nodded his head.
Favoury almost jumped out of her skin as Merlin turned yelling, "Gawaine, bring her up here!"
The knights all stopped, letting their horses have a break, they dismounted to stretch their legs. Gawaine rode to the front and handed to baby to Merlin, she looked at him but kept crying.
Gawaine removed the sling that had been fashioned out of a blanket and passed it to Arthur who snatched it disagreeably and put it over his head. Spenser tied it around Arthur's waist and over this shoulder while Arthur complained at all the fuss. "She can't lie against your armour, this way she'll be warm and you will not have to hug her to yourself the whole time. You'll have an arm free to ride."
Merlin handed the child up to Arthur and she stopped crying, she snuggled into his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist. Spenser tightened the ends of the blanket to keep her securely in place. Once everything was ready the group mounted.
"You know Favoury has such a smooth canter, why don't you try it, you can talk to her for a little and then maybe the rocking motion will help her sleep."
It did. To begin with, the child had gone rigid but when Arthur kept crooning to her, the motion of the horse had sent her asleep. "Wouldn't it be great if we could do the same, somehow let the horses know where they were to go and then just doze as they carried us along?" he said.
"…and if you had a pig headed horse who always wanted to return to the stable, you'd go so far and then find yourself back at home. Also, what if they didn't know where to go? I doubt that getting from A to B will ever be that easy!"
Arthur smiled, one of the things he liked about having Merlin with him on a sortie was that there was always someone with whom he could talk about nonsense if he so wished.
They pulled up at The Twisted Elm after noon. They were all hungry but Arthur told them no loitering to eat quickly so that they could be on their way. "Merlin, take her as I can't walk into the inn with a child as they know me here."
"Well, what about me?"
"They'll think it is a stray that you have picked up on the way. You know, 'Oh! Look, Arthur, at that poor little hedgehog, it's…hurt let's take it home. I can heal it!' No one will think anything seeing you with a baby."
But notice it, they did, the innkeeper's wife and her maids all fussed around Merlin and Arthur began to feel uncomfortable at all the adoring looks and pats he was receiving for being such a caring person. The inn-keeper's wife was able to give him some milky gruel for the child and Arthur watched as Merlin carefully spooned it into her mouth. He felt a pang of jealousy as the child shyly smiled at him.
He really shouldn't have expected anything else as everyone from youngsters to the aged brightened when they saw Merlin coming. He just had a way with people, an ease and interest in them. He remembered his father, no one would ever have chosen voluntarily to be in his company, he was not a people person, not even to his son.
The knights had finished eating and returned to their horses, Merlin walked over and handed the baby to Arthur as he grabbed some bread and cheese which he stuffed in his pockets and took a long drink of ale. Arthur felt guilty that no one had thought to take over the baby so Merlin could eat.
They all mounted and Arthur slipped the sling over his shoulder and Gawaine handed the child up to him. She settled against him, snuggling as close as she could and smiled happily at him. She still felt hot but not overly so.
If Arthur had turned around as he rode away, he would have heard one of the maids saying, "Our King is wonderful isn't he? Look how he cares about a child."
Once they were within an hour of Camelot, Arthur told the rest of the group to ride ahead. Not wanting to jolt the baby too much he had not ridden faster than an easy canter. "Tell Gaius that we have a child with a fever and let Thomas know that I will be arriving soon."
As the others rode ahead, Merlin and the squire Erik remained with Arthur. The child was quiet and had fallen asleep. Merlin had been a little worried as she still felt hot and seemed sleepy but irritable. Without the other knights around, Arthur seemed more worried about the child's health.
"Gaius will be able to figure out what's wrong and get her better? Won't he?"
"Well, if I had to put my money on anyone it would be Gaius!"
"What did you pick up for Gaius?" Arthur asked and Merlin showed him the packet and Arthur stretched over and took it in his hands giving it a shake.
"Don't do that…!" said Merlin trying to get it back, "There might be something fragile in there!"
"No problem, Merlin, as if you've been carrying it for three days, chances are, it is well and truly broken!"
Merlin grabbed the packet saying, "Sometimes, Arthur, you push the bounds of friendship…"
"Well, if those are the only bounds I push, that's all right…." Arthur said letting his eyes wander over Merlin's body, causing him to break out laughing. "If we were alone, I might ask you if you would like to ride double."
"Not likely, first we are not alone and although Mulgan always let us get away with it. I have a feeling that Favoury wouldn't be so agreeable."
Soon across the valley, they could make out the white turrets of Camelot, "It'll be good to get home," Arthur said.
-0-0-
Gaius took the child from Arthur and nodded his head, he could feel that she was feverish. "Gawaine brought me up to date on her injuries however, how long has she been unresponsive?"
Arthur allowed Merlin to answer, "Really only since lunch, she ate a little milky gruel and finally fell asleep."
Gaius said, "Arthur, go and do whatever kings do in the late afternoon and if Merlin could stay here, I would appreciate it."
Arthur nodded, suddenly looking more worried than he had when he had charged through the door with the child. "You'll be able to help her, won't you?"
"I'll do my best, now out of here…Merlin and I have work to do!"
Gaius laid the child on the cot and quickly removed her clothes. He checked her left arm and saw the telltale line of redness up the arm. He told Merlin to get some warm water and the cloths near the stove and carefully washed the arm down as far as the bandages. He then took scissors and carefully removed the cloth which Gawaine had placed over her hand.
The smell from the wound made Merlin's stomach clench. This would be a problem and whether too long had passed since the wound was made, would depend entirely on Gaius's expertise.
"Did you notice this mark? " Merlin shook his head. Gaius studied the wound before adding, "It's the poison in her system making its way up her arm. I can possibly save the child but not the hand. Get me what I need when treating battle wounds. Luckily she is deeply asleep as I would be afraid to give her too strong a sleeping draught in case it killed her."
It was well into the early morning before Gaius was finished. The child had lost half of her hand including all fingers save the index and the thumb. Her wound had been well dusted with one of Gaius's most trusted powders and left open to the air. She lay covered in a little blanket.
"When will we know if she is going to make it?"
"If she is still alive three days from now, I'd say she has a good chance of survival… Get some sleep, I can manage here. Arthur will be wondering why you haven't returned."
"He can wait! I'd rather stay here, if it's all right. I'll doze by the fire."
Gaius nodded and said, "Her body will now have to fight the infection. Hopefully she sleeps until daylight."
Merlin grabbed a blanket and sat near the fire. He was sure he wouldn't sleep, his mind was too active but his body demanded he did.
-0-0-
Arthur woke up to Thomas opening the curtains. "Sire, it is late. I have laid out your breakfast on your table. The water is hot and Sir Leon would like to see you as soon as it is convenient."
Arthur realised that Merlin hadn't returned and decided that he must have spent the night with Gaius. He said, "Give me a few minutes, then send Leon in…" he got out of bed and walked to the water closet and after finally splashing his face with warm water, he returned to the table.
"Arthur, I tried to get to you last night but Thomas is very protective and said that unless it was an absolute emergency he preferred that I wait until this morning," Leon said smiling.
Arthur chuckled, some of Merlin's possessiveness must have rubbed off on his manservant. He felt more capable of facing any emergencies after sleep. "Sit down, Leon, join me for breakfast. You can bring me up to date on things."
Leon placed a sheaf of papers down on the table. "Sir William of Whenscott died while you were away. He was of a good age and went in his sleep. He is survived by his son John who is a monk in Keynsham. He has been notified."
"Sorry to here that, he was always spoken well of when he was a younger man. Send my regrets to Brother John."
"Two of the squires got carried away and one ended up with a broken leg, The Squire Master got that sorted out."
Arthur had a flash of the crazy things he had done when that age. Luckily, he was never seriously hurt.
"We have had a nasty incident in the barracks, a guard was found with his neck slashed in his bed. No one heard anything but it happened the night before last. His family has been notified and arrangements will be made for his widow but we've come to a dead end in our investigations as another man was found hanged in the guard's armoury."
"Was there any friction between the two of them?"
"No, that is what is strange, there were cousins and got along well. The Sergeant-at-Arms will be keeping keep an eye out for anything unusual but it's demoralising for the rest of the squad.
"Also, we've been plagued by fires, one on a tenant's farm, the farmer and two children died. The Farm Manager asked to allow the eldest son who is married to carry on in his father's place. He should be able to keep going until the spring when the council can consider what is to be done." Arthur nodded in agreement as the farm would be better managed by family members than by new people.
Arthur suddenly remembered why Merlin was not at his side, the child must still be with Gaius and he would have stayed with her. "Leon, have you heard anything about the child which we brought back from out travels?"
"Not really, just that there was an attack with injuries and deaths."
"Leave the papers here, you can bring me up to date later." They walked down the corridor and down the stairs to Gaius's.
"Leon said, "You'll be happy to know that Camelot is now rid of all Montbus hangers-on."
"Thank God!" said Arthur as he left Leon and pushed open the door to the physician's chambers.
-0-0-
Merlin was sitting at the table talking to Gaius while the child was on a cot near them. She was asleep. Arthur walked over and looked at her. She was still alive which was something.
Gaius said, "She still has a fever but has been resting quietly. I had to remove more of her hand but was able to leave the index finger and thumb. Gawaine's fast action with the wraps while it was still covered in ash kept most of the flies off it. The infection has probably been caused by the blade which was used."
Arthur nodded and stood behind Merlin so he could get a closer look at the child. Her face was flushed but she was quiet. He put his hand on Merlin's shoulder and said, "I figured you'd stayed here."
Gaius had walked over to the fire to remove the kettle, so Merlin said under his breath, "Well, I wasn't really needed anywhere else was I? I bet you were out once your head hit the pillow."
"I was…but hopefully tonight I will have other ideas. I miss you when you are not beside me in bed."
Gaius came over with the boiling kettle and said, "We were going to have tea, should I pour you one?" Arthur nodded and Gaius continued, "Now, tell me how you happened upon the Little One?"
So Arthur brought Gaius up to date on all the things which had happened. "That's all I really know, her parents were only recent arrivals in the village where they were living. Then the mother, father and younger sibling were killed. I doubt that we'll ever be any the wiser. Who knows?"
Merlin smiled, "…and then she imprinted on our illustrious leader and he brought her home."
"Gawaine would have brought her home anyway. I couldn't have left her there as unless some kind woman was willing to take her, she would have died from neglect. These villages have enough mouths to fill in their own families without having another girl foisted upon them."
"Well, she knows on which side her bread is buttered!"
"Merlin, that makes you sound callus and cold-hearted. You would have done the same thing as you are a push over for any lost or orphaned animals."
"I am not…"
"What about the one-winged goshawk you came upon. Most people would have wrung its neck but no, we now have another goshawk in the mews."
"Well, she isn't any problem and she did produce three chicks last spring. Even the falconer, didn't realise that old Bunty still had it in him."
Gaius laughed, Merlin had always been a soft touch for the underdog. He remembered playing host to twin kids, whose mother had died and the goatherd had had trouble finding a nanny goat willing to feed them. Merlin had charged in and for three weeks, his quarters were home to the babies. He smiled, he had finally put his foot down when they started climbing all over the benches and cots. To this day, if he went down to the fields, those two same goats remembered him.
"Gaius, don't encourage him, I'm not like that! It's just that when things are hopeless, I can't
refrain from stepping in to help."
"That is a worthwhile quality to have as long as you accept your limitations as a mother."
Arthur laughed egging Gaius on. Suddenly, there was a movement from the cot and they both turned as the child opened her eyes and moaned. Arthur reached her first and when she saw him the crying stopped and upon hearing his voice a suspicion of a smile creased her face.
Arthur's face softened and he said, "Hello, Sweetheart, are you awake?"
"Who's feeling broody now?" Merlin said grinning at Gaius. "I'll heat up some gruel and hopefully, she's eat some if her boyfriend feeds her."
Arthur heard him and said over his shoulder, "Feeling threatened are we, Merlin?"
Checking that Gaius was not listening he said quietly, "Ask me later tonight!" causing Arthur to chuckle.
Gaius walked over to the cot and felt the baby's forehead with the back of his hand, it was not as hot as it had been. Before he would let Arthur move her, he put extra wrappings on her damaged hand explaining, "It still needs protection. If she should knock it against anything, I might have to work on it further. If it heals as it is, she should still have some use of her thumb and finger."
Finally, he finished and nodded at Arthur that he could pick her up, Merlin brought over a soft blanket and wrapped it around the little girl as Arthur held her.
As soon as she was back in his arms, she put her good fist in her mouth and tucked her head under Arthur's chin. Arthur said, "It's a good thing, that she sucks her thumb on her other hand."
Merlin pulled a chair closer to the fire and Arthur sat down, he then fetched the little pot which held the warmed gruel and tested it on the inside of his own wrist before handing it to Arthur.
"Blow on it a little to be sure that it is not too hot for her and try to keep it off her clean blanket!"
"Yes, Mother!" Arthur said with a grin.
Gaius watched the two of them with a grin, remembering years ago, those first days when he wondered if Merlin was even going to survive being Arthur's manservant.
-0-0-
Arthur had sent word with Leon that he should notify any knights who were on the last few days' outing, that they were relieved of training the following morning. He also included a message that Gawaine should not spend his time in the alehouse as he might be needed to take over baby-sitting duties.
Instead of sending a page to Gawaine as he had done to the other knights, Leon sought him specifically and remembered to mention to Gawaine that it would be only half a day as after lunch, Arthur wanted to see everyone to report on the outing and see if there is anything else they could remember. He added, "Just think, Gawaine, you rescued a fair damsel in distress just a shame that she is thirty-odd years too young for you!"
Gawaine picket up a goblet and threatened to throw it at him murmuring something about wasted time. Leon grinned and reminding him again of the meeting left the room.
Gawaine who wasn't adverse to drinking alone although he preferred company, decided that he deserved a liquid reward for finding the child who had it seemed turned out to be quite the mystery. Maybe he could find someone to drink with as he had the luxury of time and could certainly sleep in until noon if he so desired.
Leon was later to report back to Arthur that the look of disgust on Gawaine's face had been comical. He'd sat down head in his hands and had said, 'What else is there to do with a free half day?'
Simon had slept well, and he returned to his room after breakfast, pleased with the idea of a morning off. It wasn't until he unpacked his saddlebag that he saw the leather packet that the village woman had given him when they had left with the child. He slipped it onto his table intending to give it to Arthur that afternoon.
Sir Rook brought his wife up to date of the happenings of the last few days, especially the baby which they had brought home with them. "She's very poorly," he said, "and things don't look good for her."
His wife said, "I have every confidence that if anyone can save her it will be Dear Gaius!"
