"You're late Merlin," Gwen smiled as he rushed into the almost empty room.
"Sorry I was helping Freya pack and seeing her safely set off. She's taking supplies out to Ealdor, some of the little figures Will has been learning to carve too," Merlin said by way of explanation.
"Is she taking Will with her?" Gwen inquired, moving her hair and pinning it up.
"No, Freya didn't think that the road to Ealdor was any place for a child of his age," Merlin told her, pouring her a glass of water.
"And the road to Ealdor is a place for her to be alone?" Gwen raised her eyebrows.
"Oh, she isn't going alone. Some others from the market have gone with her to trade a few things for-"
"There you are Merlin," Arthur announced his presence by slamming open the door, talking loudly, his belt hanging loosly from his inside-out top. "Why is it you can never arrive on time?"
"Did you dress yourself this morning?" Merlin almost laughed, taking in the kings deshevelled appearance.
"Yes, actually, because my idiot servant was late. Again!"
"Daddy is not an idiot," a little voice from the doorway caught everybodys attention, causing Merlin to sigh and Gwen to smile.
"Will, I asked you to stay in the kitchens," Merlin told him, rubbing his eyes as though warding off a headache.
"I got bored," the four year old shrugged, Melins wooden dragon in one hand, a knight in the other while his wooden sword hund from his belt.
"Well now you're here you might as well be useful, come here," Merlin smirked.
Will scrunched his face up in protest, making Gwen grin and Merlin laugh, Arthur standing with his arms crossed.
"Alright then, you go back to the kitchens and stay there, and I won't make you stand here with a jug of water while the king and queen eat," Merlin smiled, making the half-threat more of a joke.
Will ran from the room, making noises as he made the dragon fly along side him with his hand, crashing into Gaius a little way down the hall.
"Will, you needn't run like that, you'll get yourself into trouble," Gaius warned, handing Will a small, leather-bound book. "Meet me in my chambers Will, we'll have a look through that."
Will grinned and rushed off at the same speed.
"William," the use of his full name caused him to slow down, walking sensibly while still making the dragon noises and holding the dragon at arms length, supposedly flying.
Once in Gaius' chambers Will started to look at all the bright coloured liquids, standing in test-tube racks and in jars on shelves. He tapped on the glass of the leech tank, scareing the creature.
"When you're quite finished," Gaius smiled as the child startled. "Come here, let's get looking at that book shall we?"
Within the hour, Will had several small, cerulean butterflies, who's colour rivalled that of his bright eyes, fluttering peacefully around Gaius' room, Merlin creating a few of his own once he got there a few hours later, his a warm brown, the colour of Freya's eyes.