AN: Thank you to those who left a comment, I really appreciate it. To everyone else, please take the minute to review, as it lets me know if you like my direction or not.
Guest: Thanks for reviewing! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. I really enjoy this one, so let me know what you think!
Fahrfighter86: Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it. I'm glad you liked the first chapter and will let me know what you think about this one as well.
Anon: Thanks so much. I'm so happy you like the story and the way I'm writing it. I hope you like this chapter and will please let me know what you think of it.
Whit: Thanks! I'm trying not to let the lack of response get me down so much. I've just put a lot of thought and effort into this story, so it sucks that not that many people seem to like it or are willing to review. I'm thankful you are, though! I'm doing the majority of episodes, but there are a couple I plan on skipping because I don't really like them much. I thought about just breezing through season 1, since my big changes come afterward, but I thought the developing relationship between Arthur and Emerlyn deserved to be properly shown. I hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think of it!
Disclaimer: I still do not own anything related to Merlin.
Chapter 4: Damsel in Distress
"Sorry it took so long, I had to convince Arthur I was too ill to go hunting. Although, why he would think I'd willingly go out to kill defenseless creatures is beyond me." Gwen hid her smile as Emerlyn slammed down into the chair opposite her.
The two had agreed that after the excitement, or terror depending on who you ask, of the last couple of weeks settled down, the two would have a long discussion on the secret Emerlyn let slip. Thankfully, Morgana had been happy to release her maid for the morning, meaning Emerlyn was the only one who had to get out of work.
And trying to get the idiot to let her stay inside the city had been almost impossible. Emerlyn didn't understand why he'd want her to go with him, as she was useless unless she used her magic. And she did not like hurting animals that could not protect themselves just for sport! It was barbaric!
"That's quite alright Em, I figured it might take some time. Would you like something to drink?" Gwen asked as she stood to pour them some water.
Emerlyn was a little hesitant to drink water ever again, but she was thirsty and knew she couldn't afford to get a pint at the tavern. And if Arthur found out she'd gone to the tavern while she was 'ill', there would undoubtedly be severe punishment for the servant.
"Thank you, Gwen." The witch said as her friend sat the goblet down in front of her before reseating herself with her own water. An awkward silence stretched between the two, until Emerlyn couldn't possibly take another second of it.
"I guess you want to know everything?" Gwen's shoulders gave a slight shrug.
"You don't have to tell me everything, Em; only what you want to tell me. Like, why'd you come to Camelot at all?" Emerlyn bit her lip before she launched into her tale, explaining as fully as she could everything she'd done and discovered since setting foot in the city.
To say Gwen was in awe at the end of the tale would have been very misleading. The maidservant was almost struck dumb by the witch's revelations; however, thankfully, she was able to quickly get control of herself before she embarrassed them both.
"That…that's very…" Gwen trailed off, not really sure what to say. How do you openly talk about someone being a witch in a kingdom that would see her dead?
"I know. But…I feel better having told you, Gwen. I know I can trust you to keep my secret. And…well, it's nice to have someone other than Gaius to talk to about this." Emerlyn said, giving the other girl a blinding smile. Gwen smiled back and gave her hand a squeeze.
"Of course you can trust me, Em; I'll take your secret to the grave, I promise." The two shared another smile.
"I better get going, I don't want Arthur to see me when he gets back. Although, I'm hoping his hunt takes the whole day." Emerlyn said, standing.
"Oh, it should, since his catch will be served at the feast that's approaching." Gwen said, causing the witch to turn to her in confusion.
"What feast?"
"It's surprising that you're the servant of the prince, and yet, you don't know what's going on." Gwen giggled, shaking her head at her friend. Emerlyn felt her cheeks redden in embarrassment. It wasn't her fault Arthur didn't tell her anything!
"Lord Bayard of Mercia is coming to sign a treaty with the King to bring peace between the two lands. He should arrive tomorrow, and he'll be bringing an entire fleet with him. This means that Arthur will have to stay on the hunt until he catches enough game to feed everyone."
"Oh. Right. Yeah I better go anyways. I'm sure Gaius knows I'm not ill, so he'll have something for me to do." Emerlyn said before waving bye and dashing out of the small house. Gwen shook her head in amusement before she started getting herself ready to tend to the Lady Morgana.
/*/
Emerlyn hurried into Arthur's rooms, having realized that even with being 'ill', the prince would not be happy if her chores were not done when he got back. Closing the door behind her, she made sure there were no servants lurking in his bedchambers or the antechamber before she quickly started using her magic to clean the room.
Clothes began flying into the basket, Arthur's bed made itself, his chamber pot emptied itself, etc. She smiled as she watched her powers at work; sure, she was using magic for small things, but it was still a thrill. And Emerlyn could feel her body beginning to relax as she released the pent up energy.
When the room was spotless, Emerlyn grabbed the clothes basket and Arthur's dirty dishes before heading back out of the room. She was going to have to wash the clothes by hand, like always, but Emerlyn was beginning to learn to enjoy her work.
Would she rather be anywhere else? Of course. But this was her lot at the moment, so the witch was determined to find happiness where she could. And she felt accomplished when her chores were completed, even when she had to do them all on her own, like with the laundry or mucking out the stables.
Okay, well, she could certainly do without the horse manure part. Emerlyn gave a shudder as she hurtled down the corridors, her nose seeming to fill with the stench of the stables with just the mere thought. She knew Arthur made her do that particular chore just because he was a prat and thought it was funny.
Well, it certainly wasn't. Especially when she had to wash her clothes three times just to get the stench out. She'd had had to make several bars of soap in the last week just to have enough to do her own laundry and bathe. She cursed Arthur Pendragon frequently on those days, not caring who heard her unfeminine language, as she only spoke the truth. Stupid prat.
/*/
"Emerlyn!"
The girl in question turned to see Gwen barge into the physician's chambers, a little breathless. The witch was instantly concerned that something was wrong, as Gwen rarely ran anywhere. There was a flash of fear, as the thought that somehow someone had found out about her secret flashed in her mind.
"Gwen? Is everything alright?" The dark skinned girl gave a small smile, but she was more focused with catching her breathe.
"Y-yes. Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. The Lady Morgana has requested that I ask if you would like to venture out today. She wishes to have a late lunch in a nearby meadow, and she has inquired if you would like to join us, since Arthur is not here." Gwen replied, taking several deep breaths until her lungs had stopped complaining.
Emerlyn, for her part, was surprised at the invitation. Morgana was certainly a nice person, especially for a noble, but she hadn't really spoken much with the raven beauty since she became Arthur's servant.
But, even while she was confused, she could not refuse the request, especially when she was trying to keep her head down around Uther. And upsetting the King's ward would not be a very wise thing to do to remain unnoticed by the brute.
"Um…sure I guess. I've actually just finished my chores and am waiting for Arthur's clothes to dry so I'm free." Emerlyn said, pointing to the clothes that were laid out on the clothes line she'd set up in front of the fire.
"Good, I'll let her know. We'll be leaving within the half hour, so change and meet us in the courtyard." Gwen said with another smile before she exited, making her way back to her mistress with the news.
Emerlyn glanced down at herself, noting the wet splotches that covered her tunic and breeches from doing laundry. She sighed, knowing she'd actually have to wear a dress, before she made her way back into her room.
Emerlyn quickly began removing her clothes and unwrapping her chest, moving over to the shallow washbasin she kept in her room to wash her face and run a wet cloth over herself. The large wooden tub was kept out in the main chamber, so that Gaius could use it when he chose, so she had decided to keep a bowl handy for just this purpose.
When she was sure all the sweat was removed from her flesh, Emerlyn pulled a small bottle of oil out of her cupboard. It was vanilla scented and she dabbed it on in several places, happy when she was certain that she smelled fresh once more.
Pulling on her undergarments and then her long-sleeved shift, Emerlyn pulled out the blue dress she'd made. Being a peasant, it was extremely simple, as it tied up the front with leather cords.
This meant the white sleeves of her shift were exposed, which was why she wore that one with this dress, as it didn't have any sleeves of its own. Dresses with sleeves tended to be for the higher ups, as it meant more fabric was used. Slipping her shoes back on, Emerlyn rebraided her hair before hurrying from the chambers, not wanting to keep the Lady Morgana nor Gwen waiting.
When she got to the courtyard, she saw there were several guards already mounted, as well as three horses waiting for riders. She spotted the two women making their way out of the front doors and she waved, moving over to greet them.
"Thank you for inviting me, my lady. It was very kind of you." Emerlyn said with a small curtsy.
"Nonsense, Emerlyn. We're friends, and so should be able to enjoy a meal together." Morgana said, waving a hand dismissively at Emerlyn's words.
The two black haired beauties shared a smile before they moved over to their horses. Emerlyn was finding her day without Arthur was turning out to be far more enjoyable than even she'd imagined.
/*/
Emerlyn leaned back on her hands, basking in the warmth of the spring day. The three girls had settled inside the meadow on a pretty purple blanket, their lunch spread out before them. The witch was shocked that Morgana really did treat her and Gwen as true friends, as equals. She liked the other girl more already.
"So tell me Emerlyn, how do you find working for the spoiled man-child that is our prince?" Morgana asked, her voice amused as she plucked up a grape to pop it in her mouth. Emerlyn sat up a little straighter, not sure how she should really respond.
"Uh…it's been a trial." Emerlyn said carefully, not wanting the guards to take her insults of Arthur back to the king. That would mean either her imprisonment or beheading, and she wasn't fond of either of those options. Morgana threw her head back and laughed, a fully belly chortle that she'd never dare do in front of the court.
"Oh, I'm sure it has, for the both of you. I do not believe Arthur has ever had someone like you work for him, if he's ever even met anyone else like you."
Emerlyn frowned, not sure if she was being jabbed out or not. Nobles were so much harder to keep up with sometimes, as they made insulting each other an art form that the witch didn't care to learn. She'd much rather just be honest with her slurs.
"Someone like me?"
"Yes, someone who speaks their mind, no matter who they're talking to. Well, except the King, of course. But it doesn't even faze you that Arthur's the prince; I think he respects you for it." Emerlyn tilted her head to the side, pondering the lady's words.
"I believe you're right, Lady Morgana. Arthur wouldn't allow Em to get away with her behavior unless he enjoyed it." Gwen spoke up, sending a smile at her friend. Morgana latched onto the last part of the servant's words and a sly smirk stretched across her features as she peered at the other raven girl.
"You're on to something, Gwen. I think Arthur does enjoy Emerlyn, not just her brash behavior." Emerlyn darted her eyes between the two smirking women, not knowing what they were getting at. Certainly not what she thought they might be getting at.
"I'm sure he just tired of going through servants."
"Hmm. Or he's intrigued with a certain servant." Morgana said, taking a sip from her goblet. Emerlyn's cheeks flushed as she darted to her feet.
"I, uh…I need to use the bush." Emerlyn said the first thing that came to mind before she dashed off, her blush deepening when the other two women let out giggles at her retreating back.
"I do not think Arthur is the only one intrigued, my lady." Gwen murmured lowly, not wanting to guards to overhear. Morgana gave a nod, still chuckling at the younger girl.
There might be talk in the court of her becoming Arthur's bride one day, but she was surprisingly content with this new progress, as she'd always viewed the young Pendragon as more of a brother than suitor.
Of course, nothing could arise between master and servant, and Morgana would have to step into her appointed role sooner or later; but for now, she thought it was cute that the two were so obviously attracted to each other and didn't know what to do about it.
/*/
Emerlyn slowly made her way back to the group, having cooled down her cheeks enough to be able to return. She didn't really know what was going on between her and the prat prince, but it was embarrassing that others seemed to be able to see it as well.
It wasn't as if she liked Arthur. NO, absolutely not. He was…annoying, a brute, spoiled…not to mention a prince. There was absolutely nothing attractive about the man to her; Emerlyn shoved the picture of his shirtless chest out of her mind, knowing that was just counterproductive.
"Ah, there she is. Emerlyn, we were just getting ready to leave." Gwen said when she spotted the witch while she was folding up the blanket. The extra food had already been repacked and Morgana was waiting by her horse, knowing Uther wouldn't take it well if she was gone for too long.
Before the witch could respond, there was the sound of rushing feet, twigs snapping and leaves rustling under the quick movements of many persons. Spinning around, Emerlyn had just a moment to assess the situation before a group of bandits closed in on them, circling the group with crude weapons raised.
"My Lady, stay back." One of the guards said, pushing Morgana towards the center of the clearing with Gwen, who clutched at her in fear. Emerlyn leaped to her feet, cursing as her skirt got tangled around her legs, making her trip again and land on her knees roughly.
The guards were quickly pulled into fights as they tried to protect the women. Emerlyn groaned as she was roughly pulled to her feet, coming face-to-face with a scruffy, yellow toothed man who gave a nasty smirk.
"Well look at you, pretty little lass. I could fetch a good bit of coin for you and your friends."
Emerlyn reached her hand back and delivered a loud smack to his face, making his head snap back before he quickly turned back to her with a snarl. She had a brief flash of fear before she was sent tumbling to the ground, her cheek exploding in pain as he backhanded her.
"Emerlyn!" Gwen shrieked, seeing her friend go down.
Morgana silently cursed their luck as the group of men began closing in on the two women, two of the three guards already down, wounded. She quickly glanced around before diving for one of the guards' swords, brandishing it to the snickers of the bandits.
"Oh looky-here boys, the little princess has a sword." One of the men taunted as he circled Morgana, the thought of how much gold he could ransom her for making his mouth water. Gwen clutched at the back of Morgana's dress, scared out of her mind, glancing over at Emerlyn every few seconds.
The witch shakily got to her feet, her cheek throbbing as she glared at her assailant, who smirked at her and raised another beefy paw and smacked her again, delighting in her cry of pain.
Emerlyn felt her magic surging forward, ready to defend herself when the man gave a yell as a sword was suddenly protruding from his chest. Her eyes wide, Emerlyn watched as the man gurgled, blood filling his mouth, before the sword was withdrawn and he fell to the ground, dead.
Arthur stood before her, his expression dark with rage as he took in her injured cheek and split lip; Emerlyn had never been so happy to see the prince and she had to resist the urge to throw herself at him. That would definitely not be in the best of either of their interests, so she simply let herself relax and look around her, seeing Arthur's men taking on any of the bandits that didn't flee.
"Are you alright?" Arthur asked, stepping forward to turn her face to the side, trying to stay focused on the matter at hand and not the warmth of her skin against his fingertips. He hated the man he'd killed and wished he could do it again, seeing the bruise blossoming along Emerlyn's sharp cheekbone.
"Y-yes, I'm fine, thank you." Emerlyn murmured, her eyes catching in his blue depths.
She saw the anger and worry swirling around, and Emerlyn tried to ignore her inner thrill that he seemed so concerned for her, a simple servant. Seeming to catch himself as well, Arthur stepped back and moved towards Morgana, who was standing next to Gwen, sword still clutched in her grip.
"Morgana, are you hurt?" Arthur questioned, knowing his father would have their heads if his ward was injured in any way. The dark beauty shook her head negatively and pointed at the two guards on the ground.
"No, you arrived just in time it seems. These men, however, are wounded and we should get them to Gaius before they perish." Arthur squatted down next to one of them, noting he had a large gash across his abdomen and was sweating profusely as he tried to hang onto life.
"Get these men to Camelot quickly. We will follow." Arthur said to two of his knights, who made quick work of strapping the two men onto a horse before departing. Gwen rushed over to the witch, ringing her hands in anxiety when she saw her poor face.
"Oh Em!" Gwen said sadly, her soft fingers stroking over the bruising skin in sympathy. Emerlyn gave a crooked smile, even though it pained her, not wanting her friend to worry.
"It's alright, Gwen. Nothing a little salve from Gaius won't fix." Gwen heard the undercurrent and could imagine she meant a little "magic". Giving a small nod, the two women made their way over to where Arthur and Morgana stood with the remaining knights.
"Let's leave this place before more of their friends decide to show up." Arthur said, helping Morgana up onto her horse. Emerlyn glanced around, seeing the knights had taken her own horse for the wounded men and that the extra one the knights had had several bucks, pheasants, and even a boar strapped to the poor animal.
"Emerlyn! Sometime today would be nice." Arthur called out arrogantly, making her send a glare his way, which only made him smirk at her. It was clear that whatever moment they'd had before was over and they were back to being servant and pratty prince, which Emerlyn was fine with.
Gwen hid her smile behind her hand as she was helped onto her horse by a knight, her cheeks flushing at the smile he gave her. The servant couldn't stop her mind from flashing back to the conversation she'd had with Emerlyn a while back about armor and knights, her cheeks flushing further.
Rolling his eyes at his slow servant, Arthur marched over to her, his mount's reins in his gloved hand. Emerlyn was startled when Arthur suddenly appeared at her side and quickly grasped her waist and lifted.
Having to bite back a frightened yell, Emerlyn clutched widely at the horse's saddle, not wanting to make a fool of herself by falling at the prince's feet, as she'd never live it down.
"Scoot back, dunderhead." Arthur said snidely, waiting for her to do so before he swung onto the horse himself, trying not to let his muddy boots ruin her blue skirt.
Since when did the clumsy buffoon start wearing dresses anyways? Sure, he'd given her a gown, but he'd never actually seen her wear one before and the prince found he was struck by how…feminine she looked. Which just made him even angrier at the dead man who'd struck her, as it was appalling to hit a woman, no matter her status.
Emerlyn lightly bit her lip before slowly sliding her arms around his waist, glad his bulky armor kept her from being able to actually feel his body. Arthur urged the horse forward and the party was on their way, not wanting to be ambushed again.
Arthur would have to report to his father, who'd be furious that bandits were so close to the city, especially when Lord Bayard was en route; it'd be very bad for their peace treaty if the man was attacked while in their borders.
Emerlyn tried to keep herself as far from her master as she could, but as they continued to ride, she found herself sliding closer to him, as her bum was very close to sliding off the saddle and she didn't fancy riding bareback.
Arthur, for his part, tried to ignore the heat that seemed to seep into his back, even through the thick layer of armor and chainmail; and the vanilla scent that wafted around him, making his head go cloudy. It would be beyond humiliating if he ended up crashing off his horse because his servant had such an effect on him, and Arthur refused to allow such a possibility.
When they finally made it into the city and up to the citadel's courtyard, Gwen and Morgana dismounted their own steads while watching in bemusement as Arthur helped Emerlyn down, his hands lingering on her waist longer than was strictly appropriate. The pair seemed to become absorbed with each other, their eyes focused on the other, not seeming to remember where they were.
"Make sure you have Gaius look at this." Arthur said, his thumb stroking over her cheek, making Emerlyn's breathe catch as she gave a little nod. Why couldn't she tear herself away from this spoiled prince as easily as she should be able to? It was madness!
Arthur gazed at her for a moment longer before giving himself a shake, stepping away from her and heading towards the front steps, needing to speak with his father. Turning at the top, he saw Emerlyn's cheeks were flushed as she muttered something to Gwen and Morgana, who snickered.
"Emerlyn, since you seemed well enough to be out today, I expect you to be back at your duties when I return from the council chambers." Arthur's voice boomed over them, making the servant give a small shrug and an eye roll.
It didn't seem to matter whatever pull the two had between them, Arthur was incapable of being anything but a prat for longer than five seconds. Seeing she'd heard him, Arthur spun back towards the doors and disappeared inside.
"I'm going to go check on the guards." Emerlyn murmured to the two women before slinking off, silently cursing her master under her breath. Of course he wouldn't let her remain in her chambers for the rest of the day, no matter how injured she was.
Okay, so she wasn't that hurt and it'd be gone in a few days, but still, that didn't mean Arthur had to be such a git. But such was her life, now that Camelot was her home and Arthur Pendragon was her lord and master, as irritating as that fact happened to be.
/*/
Emerlyn pushed Arthur's door open, balancing the plate of fruit and cheese in one hand as she struggled against the heavy door. Why the double doors needed to be so heavy, she didn't understand; it was probably just a way to make servants work harder, knowing how royals were. Arthur was at his desk, parchment spread out before him as he scribbled quickly, and most likely almost unreadable.
"It's about time. What took you so long?" Arthur looked up, his face contorting in irritation. Brushing it aside, as it was probably due to his discussion with his father, Emerlyn set the plate on a clear space on the desk.
"Gaius needed my help tending to the wounded men." She said, as if it should be obvious.
Arthur ignored her sarcastic tone, noting the chalky paste that covered the right side of her face, glad she'd gotten seen to as well. Pushing the parchment away, Arthur grabbed a pear from the plate and took a bite, chewing noisily just to get on his servant's nerves.
"You'll need to go make sure the preparations for Bayard are complete, that his rooms are clean, arrange for the kitchen to have platters waiting inside when he arrives tomorrow, collect my ceremonial clothes from the storage closet, and make sure the royal stables are cleaned and ready for Bayard's mounts. Also, I am having dinner with my father tonight and you'll need to be there to serve me." Arthur said, smirking smugly at her as the witch winced with each new chore.
Of course it wasn't enough that she'd completed all her normal duties, Arthur just had to go out of his way to torment her. The things he was requiring of her weren't even jobs his personal servant should be seeing to; they should be overseen by the household staff and Morgana, as she was the only female and in charge of arranging such things.
"Yes, sire." Arthur knew she wanted to curse him and his smirk widened, loving how he could push the servant's buttons.
Serves her right, though, lying about being ill just to get out of a hunting trip. He made a dismissive hand gesture and Emerlyn gave a small curtsy, glaring the entire time, before leaving to see to her duties. Arthur Pendragon was the bane of her existence!
/*/
Using magic as discretely as she could, Emerlyn did her chores as quickly as she could without drawing too much attention, wanting to just slide into her own bed and let oblivion take her.
She even risked exposure, that Gaius would kill her for if he found out, to make the stables pristine, not wanting to have to spend more time cleaning her dress than was necessary.
When all the tasks were done save one, Emerlyn grabbed the ceremonial outfit and made her way to Arthur's chambers, her nose scrunching up at the stench that filled her nose. These clothes apparently needed a good cleaning and she knew it would be one more thing she'd have to see to.
Returning to the prince's rooms, Emerlyn set the dirty clothes on a chest and sighed when she saw the mess he'd made of the previously clean room. Did he do such things just to aggravate her? She was beginning to think that yes, he did do it just to be spiteful, as he took amusement from her never ending list of chores.
Moving around the room, the girl began putting it to rights once more; thankfully, it appeared to just be clothes strewn about and a dirty plate and goblet from his late lunch, so she had it cleaned up quickly.
Grabbing the dirty dishes, Emerlyn made her way down to the kitchen before heading to the dining hall, where the king, prince, and ward were waiting.
/*/
Rushing through the halls, trying to make it to Arthur's rooms before he got too mad about her tardiness, Emerlyn ran straight into one of Bayard's servants. The two women crashed to the ground, the clothes the other servant had been caring landing with a weird clang on the floor.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't see you." Emerlyn said in a rush, her cheeks heated as she scrambled to her feet and offered a hand to the other woman. Gathering up her things, the servant let Emerlyn help her to her feet.
"That's alright, I didn't see you either. Are you…are you Prince Arthur's servant? I saw you in the great hall this morning. It must be such an honour to work for the prince."
"Eh, it has its days I guess. I'm Emerlyn." The woman shook her hand with a smile.
"I'm Kara." They shared a smile before Emerlyn excused herself to continue her quick pace to the prince's chambers. She skidded to a halt inside when she saw Arthur, who was waiting for her with an irritated look.
"Sorry."
He rolled his eyes at her, used to it by now. The day Emerlyn was on time for something was the day he allowed sorcery back in the kingdom. She hurried over to the stack of clothes she'd sat on the chest the night before, coughing in disgust as she shook out the red and gold coat.
"When was the last time these were cleaned?" The servant asked in distaste, turning to look at the prince.
"Last year some time, before the feast of Beltane." Arthur replied with a shrug.
"Did it end in a food fight?" Emerlyn questioned as she helped him into the garment.
"Don't all feasts?"
"I wouldn't know. The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me." She replied snidely, which made him smirk.
"Not tonight, they won't be." The prince responded as he picked at the coat.
"I'm going to be at the banquet?"
"Not quite. You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry. If I have to sit through Bayard's boring speeches I don't see why you should get out of it. Be sure to polish the buttons." Arthur said, shrugging out of the coat and shoving it into her hands.
Emerlyn huffed in irritation as he went behind the changing screen, beating lightly at the coat to try to get some of the dust off. She knew she'd have to clean it and was thankful for her little secret, as she couldn't imagine how long it would take to get the smell out otherwise.
"Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?"
"Wont this do?" Emerlyn points to her tunic and trousers when Arthur steps back out from behind the screen.
"No, tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot."
Noting the amused tone of his voice, Emerlyn wasn't sure what to expect. When Arthur held up the ghastly red dress and head cover, she gave him an appalled look, which made his amused grin widen
"You can't be serious." She replied, horrified. There was no way she was wearing such a dress.
"I am. Be in uniform and have my clothes laundered before the feast." Arthur said, throwing the clothes at her head.
Emerlyn caught the garments with a glare, making him chuckle before he went to his desk to overlook some things before the feast. Sighing in resignation, the witch gathered up his clothes and hers before scurrying away, once more hating that she'd ever come to Camelot.
/*/
Emerlyn scowled at the back of Arthur's head, hating that he'd made her wear this headdress. No one else was wearing it, and she knew they probably hadn't for some years. Stupid, prat prince! When Gwen saw her, she couldn't help but laugh.
"Nice head cover. I don't think anyone's worn one in a decade."
"Thanks." Emerlyn says sarcastically, making Gwen giggle, and glared at Arthur, who'd turned to look at her.
He gave her an amused grin, trying not to laugh before turning back to watch Bayard and his father sign the treaty. Huffing in irritation, Emerlyn ripped the tragic piece off her head and smoothed her hair down, as she'd worn it down for the evening.
Gwen giggled again before leaving her side, walking over to stand next to Gaius so she had a better view of the ceremony. Emerlyn bit back her curses as she watched Uther take his seat and Bayard begin pacing up and down the aisle, clearly about to give a speech.
Arthur sent her another look as he seated himself next to his father, and she couldn't help but stick her tongue out at him. Thankfully, Uther didn't see the action and Arthur just silently chuckled.
"People of Camelot, for a great many years we have been mortal enemies. The blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we mustn't allow any more to join them." Bayard said, walking up and down the free space between the tables. A servant arrived at his side, carrying a box.
"As a symbol of our good will and of our new found friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and your son, Arthur in the hope that our friendship may last." Bayard says, holding up each goblet in time with who it was meant for. Emerlyn was pulled out of her thoughts, which had been drifting, when Kara tugged on her sleeve.
"Emerlyn, I need to speak with you." She whispered urgently, sending fearful looks around the hall.
"What is it?" The witch asked, concerned at the woman's apprehensive demeanor.
"Not here. Please. I don't know who else to tell." She allowed herself to be pulled from the hall as Bayard continued his speech, keeping everyone's attention. The two females made their way into the corridor and Kara spun around to look at her with wide, scared eyes.
"It wasn't until I saw him give the goblet to Arthur that I realized…" Kara said in a rush.
"Slow down, start from the beginning." Emerlyn said, confused.
"Two days ago, I was bringing Bayard his evening meal, we're supposed to knock, he didn't expect me to walk in…"
"So? What're you trying to say?" Dread filled her chest, almost knowing what Kara was going to say before she uttered another word.
"If he knows I said anything he will kill me."
"I will not let that happen to you, I promise. Please, tell me what you saw."
"Bayard is no friend of Camelot. He craves the kingdom for himself." Kara whispered. Stomach beginning to turn in knots, Emerlyn grasped her shoulders and made her look her in the eye.
"Kara…tell me what has Bayard done with the goblet?"
"He believes that if he kills Arthur, Uther's spirit will be broken and Camelot will fall."
"What has he done with the goblet?" She questioned urgently, fear for Arthur over coming her.
"I saw him putting something in it…"
"What?"
"I shouldn't, he'll kill me."
"Please tell me. Was it poison?" Kara looks terrified but nods and Emerlyn rushes back to the hall, hoping she wasn't too late to save the prince, yet again.
"And may the differences from our past remain there. To your health, Uther, Arthur, the Lady Morgana, the people of Camelot." Bayard says, raising his cup in a toast. Everyone rises and salutes.
"And to fallen warriors on both sides." Uther says, earning a nod from the other king.
"Stop! It's poisoned! Don't drink it." Emerlyn shouted as she struggled through the throng of people to reach Arthur's side. She took the goblet from him, who gave her an irritated look.
"What?" Uther questioned, sending a glare the servant's way.
"Emerlyn, what're you doing?" Arthur demanded, angrily.
"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison." Emerlyn explained, turning to stare at the other king.
"This is an outrage!" Bayard exclaimed, drawing his sword. All the knights drew their own weapons, prepared to defend their respective kings.
"Order your men to put down their swords, you're outnumbered." Uther called as knights rush around the hall until Bayard is circled.
"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged." Bayard said angrily.
"On what grounds do you base this accusation?" Uther questioned, fury in his voice.
"I'll handle this. Emerlyn, you idiot, have you been at the sloe gin again?" Arthur asked, walking around the table to glare at her and pull her towards the king by a hand on her shoulder.
"Unless you want to be strung up, you'll tell me why you think it's poisoned. Now." Uther demanded.
"He was seen lacing it."
"By whom?"
"I can't say." Emerlyn replied, glancing down at the table.
"I won't listen to this anymore." Bayard said. Uther walked around the table.
"Pass me the goblet." Uther said, and Arthur handed it to him as he rounded the table to stand in front of Bayard.
"If you're telling the truth…" Uther said to Bayard, staring at the goblet.
"I am."
"Then you have nothing to fear, do you?" Uther replied and Bayard pulled back his sword, sheathing it before grabbing for the goblet.
"No. If it does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself." Uther said, pulling the cup away and Bayard scoffed. Uther turned and held the goblet out to the witch.
"She'll drink it."
"But if it's poisoned, she'll die." Arthur's eyes widen, suddenly afraid for his servant. For Emerlyn.
"Then we'll know she was telling the truth." Emerlyn slowly took the goblet, her heart clenching at the thought of her own death.
"And what if she lives?" Bayard questioned.
"Then you'll have my apologies and you can do with her as you will." Uther replied, looking back at Bayard.
"Uther, please, she's just a girl, she doesn't know what she's saying." Gaius pleaded with his old friend.
"Then you should've schooled her better." Uther said with a glare at the physician before moving to walk back to his table.
"Emerlyn, apologize. This is a mistake. I'll drink it." Arthur said and tried to take the cup but she quickly pulled it away.
"No, no, no, no, it's all right." Emerlyn said, biting her lip before glancing at Bayard and Uther. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm herself, before she lifted the goblet in a silent toast to Bayard than Uther.
Eyes meeting Arthur's, Emerlyn was warmed by the concern and fear in his blue orbs before she tipped the goblet back and downed the wine. After several tense seconds, Emerlyn looked to Bayard with wide eyes.
"It's fine." She revealed, glancing back at Uther.
"She's all yours." Uther uttered, taking his seat.
Emerlyn's face scrunched up when she suddenly couldn't breathe, her hand clutching at her throat as she choked. Eyes even wider than before, she stumbles back, coughing, before crashing to the floor. Arthur rushed to her side as all the knights drew their weapons again and Uther surged to his feet.
"It's poisoned. Guards, seize them!"
"A-Arth…" Emerlyn choked out, staring up at the prince's stricken face before passing out. Filling with panic, Arthur shook his servant, trying to get a response as the hall erupted in chaos and Gaius hurried over, sliding to his knees next to his ward.
"Emerlyn. Can you hear me?" Gaius questioned, but the girl was unresponsive.
"We have to get her back to my chambers." Gaius muttered to Arthur, the urgency in his voice obvious.
The prince gave a nod and moved to pick her up, cradling her to his chest as he began making his way to the physician's chambers, not concerned with anything but making sure she lived.
Gaius and Gwen hurried after him, the maidservant clutching the poisoned goblet in her fist. She couldn't believe that Emerlyn had actually drunk poison, had saved the prince's life yet again; and this time, the witch might not survive. Trying to stifle the sobs that wanted to escape her throat, Gwen rushed after the two men, determined to help her friend as much as she could.
"Lay her on the bed. Quickly. She's struggling to breathe." Gaius commanded Arthur when they made their way into the chambers; the prince followed the orders without comment.
"Gwen, fetch me some water and a towel." Gwen sat the goblet down on the table before hurrying to do as she was told.
"Is she going to be alright?" Arthur asked as Gaius helped him lay her out on the bed, the worry thick in his voice.
"She's burning up." The physician said, his own concern for her mounting. Gwen brought him the towel and water, her face reflecting her distress.
"You can cure her, can't you, Gaius?" She asked, staring down at Emerlyn, who was still unresponsive.
"I won't know until I can identify the poison. Pass me the goblet." Gaius said, pressing the damp cloth to her forehead.
Arthur sat in the chair next to the sick bed while Gwen fetched the cursed thing, not sure what to do with himself. How could she have willingly poisoned herself, just to save him?
"Ah, there's something stuck on the inside." Gaius said, peering into the goblet. Arthur stood, making his way over to the old man.
"What is it?"
"It looks like a flower petal of some kind." Gaius responded, using tongs to grip the petal out of the cup. Gwen pressed the cloth against Emerlyn's damp flesh, trying to help in any way she could.
"Her brow's on fire."
"Keep her cool, it'll help control her fever." Gwen looked over at him before nodding.
Gaius moved away from the prince and goblet, going to find the proper tome as Arthur examined the goblet, still not believing what had happened. Would they be able to save his servant's life? Emerlyn's life?
"Ah. The petal comes from the Mortaeus Flower. It says here that someone poisoned by the Mortaeus can only be saved by a potion made from the leaf of the very same flower." Gaius said as Arthur moved to his side to glance at the book over the man's shoulder.
"It can only be found in the caves deep beneath the forest of Baloch. The flower grows on the roots of the Mortaeus tree." Gaius read, turning pages. Arthur peered closer to a page before pointing to the picture of a creature.
"That doesn't look particularly friendly."
"A cockatrice, it guards the forest. Its venom is potent. A single drop would mean certain death." Arthur turned to look at Emerlyn, seeing Gwen looking back at him in concern as she continued to pat her forehead with the cloth.
"Few who have crossed the mountains of Isgard in search of the Mortaeus Flower have made it back alive." Gaius continued to read before glancing up, the three sharing a long look.
"Sounds like fun." Arthur said finally, beginning to stride towards the door.
"Arthur, it's too dangerous." Gaius called out, knowing the king would never allow the sole prince to go on such a reckless adventure.
"If I don't get the antidote, what happens to Emerlyn?" He asked, imploring her guardian to be honest with him. Gaius sighed.
"The Mortaeus induces a slow and painful death. She may hold out for four, maybe five days, but not for much longer. Eventually she will die." Gaius admitted, his throat becoming tight at the prospect of his ward's demise.
Arthur glanced over at the girl, seeming to fight an inner battle with himself before he stepped next to the bed and ran a hand down her sweat soaked cheek. The same one that was still sporting a deep bruise from the day before.
"She knew that goblet was poisoned, yet she drank from it anyway. Emerlyn risked her life to save mine, and I cannot sit here and simply wait for her to die." Arthur muttered, staring down at his suffering servant. He'd give anything for her to open her eyes and give them her dopey lopsided smile before saying something she knows will irritate him.
"Arthur, your father will never allow you to leave on this errand. You know he will not let you risk your life for that of a servant." Gaius said as he came to stand next to the silent Gwen.
"I will find a way to go, no matter what." Arthur declared before departing, leaving the room in silence before Gwen sighed.
"I need to go see to Morgana, Gaius. But I'll be back as quickly as I can."
The old man gave a nod, knowing the king wouldn't look kindly on his ward's servant skirting her duties for the sake of a poisoned girl, even when said girl saved his son's life. A prince's life was worth much more than a servant's, after all.
/*/
"Father, I'm going to go on a scouting mission. If Bayard does intend war, we should know where his troops are sooner rather than later." Arthur said when he found his father, who was fuming in the council chambers.
"Send out some knights, you're needed here." Uther said, glaring at the table top.
"I'd be faster than any of the others." Arthur replied, hoping his father would just allow him to leave. He really couldn't afford to waste time arguing with Uther. The king glanced up at him before finally giving a nod.
"Take a couple men with you and be quick about it. If war is what Bayard wants, war is what he'll get."
Arthur bowed before hurrying out of the room, telling the guards to find Sir Leon and Olwen for him. He rushed to his room, packing a quick bag of food and supplies before making his way to the front chamber, where the two knights were waiting for him.
"You requested our presence, sire?" Sir Leon asked, stepping forward. Arthur motioned for them to follow him as he exited the building and moved towards the royal stables.
"We've been assigned a scouting mission. Grab your supplies and head out, go east and see if Bayard has set up any troops. I will go west and do the same." Arthur said over his shoulder, pulling his horse out of the stall and quickly going through the routine of brushing him before saddling his back. He didn't have time to allow a stable boy to do so, his urgency spurring his men into action.
They might not understand why he would separate from them, becuase if Bayard had ordered troops to march towards Camelot, it would undoubtedly be from the east; but he was their prince and they did as told.
Arthur swung up onto the saddle and glanced back at the castle, eyes going to the tower Gaius's chambers were located in. He sent a silent prayer that Emerlyn held on until he returned, before he turned his horse around and thundered out of the courtyard and down through town.
/*/
Gwen had returned to Gaius's chambers, the Lady Morgana giving her leave to see to Emerlyn, with the promise to be by later to check on her. She sat with the girl, keeping the rag on her forehead damp as her hot skin seemed to evaporate the water after only a few minutes.
"She's getting hotter." Gwen called out to Gaius, who was standing by the window, trying to think of something to help his charge. He made his way over to the pair, frowning when he heard Emerlyn begin chanting under her breathe.
"What language is that?" Gwen asked, glancing over at him.
"None, the fever has taken hold, none of those words are her own."
"Oh, I thought maybe it was a magic language." Gwen responded, seeing the shock slide over his face.
"What do you mean?" Gaius's voice was guarded, not sure what the servant was implying.
"She told me about her…gift." Gwen said with a shrug, going back to dabbing at her face. Gaius stared at her, his mouth agape with astonishment.
"She…told you?"
"Yeah, um…when I was accused of witchcraft. She explained everything yesterday, actually. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Gwen said, sending a sidelong look his way. The poor man looked close to fainting or having a stroke.
"I…her pulse is weaker." Gaius said, shaking his head as he tried to refocus on the important things, like the fact that Emerlyn's condition was worsening. He'd deal with her blabbing her secret later, after they'd saved the witch's life.
"What is it?" Gwen questioned, seeing the worried look that overtook his expression as he held her wrist to feel the heartbeat and seeing red splotches decorating her skin.
"That can't be right. The rash is not supposed to appear until the final stage." Gaius commented, sharing an anxious look with Gwen before standing to consult his book.
"What does that mean?" The maid asked as she stood and joined him as he held an enlarging glass over the text.
"It says here that once a rash appears, death will follow within two days."
"You said she had four days!" Gwen retorted, tears instantly flooding her eyes.
"Something's increased the flower's potency. It warns that the effect of the Mortaeus will be more rapid if an enchantment is used during the flower's preparation." Gaius read aloud.
"An enchantment? But Bayard's no sorcerer."
"No, he isn't." Gaius said, trying to think.
"Then, who did this? Will her magic help her at all?" Gwen asked, glancing back at the shaking girl.
"It can't have been, she wouldn't dare come here." Gaius murmured to himself before turning back to her.
"Unless…"
"Unless what?"
"What happened to that girl?"
"Which girl?" Gwen asked, confused. Did Gaius know who poisoned the cup or not?
"Just before Emerlyn burst in to the hall, one of Bayard's serving girls took her outside." Gwen tried to recall the girl Gaius mentioned, having a fuzzy memory of seeing her friend rushing from the room.
"She had dark hair…a blue head rap."
"Find her. Quickly." Gwen nodded before hurrying from the room, desperate to help Emerlyn.
Gaius went back to sitting next to the witch, who was alternating between chanting in the old language and murmuring Arthur's name. He hoped for her sake Gwen was able to find Nimueh, even though he had a feeling the sorceress had already fled, job accomplished.
/*/
Gwen jumped back from the chanting witch with a small yelp as her blankets began to glow. Gaius rushed over, his brow furrowing as he pulled her blankets back to investigate.
"What's happening, Gaius?" Gwen asked, not understanding. Sure, Emerlyn had revealed her secret to her, but the maidservant still didn't know the first thing about magic.
"Emerlyn, what are you doing?" Gaius muttered quietly, exposing her right hand, which had a blue-white orb floating above her palm. Gwen's eyes widened as she shared a shocked look with the man, the orb casting a soft light across the witch.
"H-how's she doing that?" Gaius glanced back down at his ward before looking up at her, just as lost as she.
"I'm…not sure. Emerlyn is…immensely powerful." Gaius tried to explain as he recovered her hand, worried about someone coming into his chambers. Gwen reseated herself, the proof of her friend's power startling.
"Do you think she's-I dunno-helping Arthur? She muttered about it being too dark." Gaius gave a shrug as he seated himself, brushing her sweaty hair from her face.
"Anything's possible, I suppose." The two relapsed into silence as they waited for Arthur to return, praying he wasn't too late.
/*/
Uther paced angrily up and down the council chambers, fuming at his son's lies. Sir Leon and Olwen had returned, reporting there were no signs of troops on the march and that Arthur had decided to scout to the west.
But there was no way Bayard would send troops through Glorois's lands, as Uther held them until Morgana came of age. Which meant Arthur had lied to him and his men and gone off to do something the King would not have allowed.
"Sire?" A guard questioned, having been summoned.
"When my son arrives, he is to be taken to the dungeon to await me. Is that understood?" Uther asked, glaring at the man until he gave a nod and left to relay the orders to the other guards. Turning back to the window, Uther glared out at the torch lit city, hurt his only son would deceive him so.
/*/
Arthur urged his stead closer to the draw bridge, relieved he had finally made it back home, the flower tucked safely away in his pouch. He was surprised, however, when the guards at the bridge came forward, not allowing him to pass.
"The King has ordered for you to be taken to the dungeons, my lord." One man said, the one they'd elected to speak, as the others didn't think they could. Arthur jerked the horse to a stop, glaring down at the men, making most of them begin to shudder, knowing how capable he was with a sword.
"If the King wishes my imprisonment, it will have to wait. You can either get out of my way, or I'll make you." He said, glaring at them as he unsheathed his sword threateningly.
"Sire-"
"No! You may follow me and take me prisoner once I've delivered something, but I will not go before. Now get out of my way." He said, rearing the horse back before surging forward. The guards scattered, afraid of being trampled, before they hurried after him.
/*/
Gaius rushed to his feet when Arthur burst into the room, his face anxious as he pulled his pouch from his side. The physician moved over to him, taking the pouch gratefully, pulling the yellow flower from its depths to begin making the potion.
"Will she be alright now?" Arthur questioned, moving over to the fevered girl. Gwen stepped back, wanting to give them some privacy; she made her way over to Gaius to help him set up the potion.
"Yes, I believe she should make a full recovery. Thank you Arthur." Gaius stated, his gratefulness towards the prince crystal clear.
"I'm sure she'd have done the same for me." Arthur replied, stroking his hand over her sweat soaked hair.
He hoped he'd been fast enough, that that dismal sorceress hadn't delayed him too much; that the beautiful light had led him to safety quickly enough. The prince was shocked at how affected he was by Emerlyn's illness; at how much he didn't want her to die. He was pulled from his thoughts when guards entered the chamber, looking unsure of themselves.
"Sire?" Sighing, Arthur left Emerlyn's side and walked over to Gaius.
"You'll be able to make the antidote?" He questioned, wanting to know for certain before he left. The man nodded, sending a confused look over at the men before turning back to the vial.
"Yes, sire." Arthur nodded before turning slightly to Gwen.
"Make sure she's taken can of, yeah?" He said, earning a small nod from the maidservant.
Turning away from the pair, Arthur allowed himself to be led to the dungeon, where his father would no doubt demand the truth. But his father's wrath was a small price to pay if Emerlyn's life was saved.
/*/
It'd been a week since she'd received the antidote and Emerlyn was still a little shaky. Gaius said it may take a couple of weeks for her to fully recuperate, which had been made a lot easier by Arthur's punishment, as she hadn't had to see to him. However, the witch felt awful for his imprisonment when he was there because of her, because he'd lied to the king to save her.
Staring into the flames, Emerlyn clutched the blanket tighter around her as she thought about Arthur Pendragon, the pratty prince who'd risked his own life for that of a servant.
How was she supposed to act around him now, now that he'd saved her life twice in a matter of days? It was different when she saved his, because the ignorant man didn't know about it. But, everyone knew what he'd done, as the story had spread around the city like wildfire; and Emerlyn wasn't sure how she was supposed to react to it.
"Still alive, then?" Giving a start, the witch was pulled from her musings when the man of her thoughts came into the room.
Gaius sent him a nod before he left the room, softly closing the door behind him. He'd already yelled at the recovering girl for divulging her secret to Gwen, so he felt like he should allow the two privacy.
"Uh, yeah. Just about." Emerlyn replied with a small smile, turning to look at Arthur, who'd stopped by her chair. Arthur was glad to see a little color returned to her face, and that the bruise from the bandit's strikes was also lessening.
"I understand I have you to thank for that." Emerlyn murmured, staring up at him with her large cerulean eyes. Arthur fidgeted a little, uncomfortable with his new feelings for her now that she was well.
"Yeah, well, it was nothing. A half decent servant is hard to come by." The two shared a smile, knowing it was as close to "you're welcome" as Arthur was going to get. It was one thing to risk your life to save someone; it was another to be reminded of it by that very person, especially when they were from such a lower class.
"I was only dropping by to make sure you were all right, check you'd be back to work tomorrow." Arthur said, turning from the chair. Emerlyn shot to her feet, her small hand grasping at his jacket sleeve to halt his withdrawal.
"Thank you, Arthur. You didn't have to risk your neck for me." She murmured, stepping closer to the prince until they were almost touching. Arthur stared down at her, not sure what to do, especially when she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder.
Going completely still, Arthur darted his eyes to the closed door before slowly raising his hands up to stroke up and down her back. Her scent invaded his nose, filling he head as it had done the other day; he couldn't resist the temptation of her hair, sliding one hand through the silky strands and getting a contended sigh in response.
"Thank you, too." Arthur whispered, resting his head against hers. Emerlyn smiled into his shoulder and gave a small nod, not wanting the moment to end.
For once Arthur wasn't clad in armor, so she was rewarded with actually being able to feel his muscular body against her soft one, something the witch knew she shouldn't relish in so much. If Gwen or Morgana saw them, she'd never hear the end of it, that's for sure.
"Get some rest." Arthur said, stepping back and letting his arms fall lifelessly to his sides.
She nodded up at him, her face flushing now that they were parted. Arthur scratched at his jaw, suddenly uncomfortable before giving a curt nod and heading towards the door, needing to put distance between them.
Emerlyn watched him go, wondering if he was also beginning to feel the undeniable attraction between the two that she was starting to think would not simply dissipate over time. How could it, with them saving each other's lives every other day? Certainly that had to build some type of bond between two people, right?
Not having any answers to her inner wonderings, Emerlyn retook her seat before the hearth, hoping the nagging questions would leave her in peace for a while. She missed the days when all she had to worry or think about was if they'd have enough food to last the winter; when she was still ignorant of both her destiny and the reality of strong, muscular men and how they could distract a woman. Yes, things were certainly simpler then.
AN: Okay, so I won't be updated until after I've posted for my TVD and Harry Potter stories, as they've been waiting very patiently while I got caught up in this. So please don't be mad if it takes a little longer for the next chapter. But you can always help my muse along by reviewing! Lol.