"Sire, I found these two at the castle pond." Sir Leon says before beating a quick retreat.
Coward.
Arthur stares at the two girls in front of him. They are covered from head to toe in mud and only their wide smiles can be seen. His first thought is that Guinevere is not going to be happy. Before he can form his second, a pair of muddy arms wraps around his thigh.
"We went to catch frogs at the pond like you used to, Daddy! I caught two but Leon made me put them back!" Ariane pouts. "I bet you didn't have to put your frogs back."
Elaine babbles something as well before attaching herself to his other leg. He can feel the wet mud seeping through his trouser's leg. Quickly, he picks the two girls up - Ariane is far too old to be carried but he needs to ensure they don't slip away from him and yells for George to clean up the floor.
"Draw a bath!" he tells Merlin who opens his mouth to protest that he's no longer Arthur's servant, then seeing the two mud monsters in his arms, nods and dashes off.
They are in Merlin's room. Merlin and Arthur are completely wet but at least the girls are clean. Ariane tells them the long story of how they escaped Tasha's clutches (Ariane is easily distracted and Arthur never finds out how they ran away from their nursemaid) and went to the pond while Elaine laughs and splashes water all over.
"Don't tell -"
"I won't," says Merlin solemnly.