Chapter Five
Merlin showed Catherine and Arthur to the guest suite.
"You can take your ease here," said Merlin, "We'll bring up your things. Are you hungry would you like me to arrange some food to be brought?"
"Yes," said Catherine, "That would be lovely," she smiled at Merlin.
"Come on, Peter, we can stop by the kitchen on the way downstairs," said Merlin.
Merlin led Arthur down to the kitchens, a place Arthur hadn't been since he used to sneak snacks as a child. A large woman covered in flour, greeted them as they entered.
"Merlin!" she cried grinning from ear to ear, "Where have you been? You look positively starved. I heard Prince Arthur has been injured, has he been taking you on dangerous quests again?" She shook her rolling pin at him.
"It was just a patrol," said Merlin holding up his hands, "It's not my fault the bandits follow us around." He smiled at her, "Maggie, this is Peter," Arthur did a little wave staying back as he felt a little intimidated, "Peter, Maggie is the best cook Camelot has ever had."
"You flatter me boy," said Maggie with a grudging smile.
"Maggie, Peter is servant to the Lady Catherine, she's a guest of the king for a couple of days. Can we get a fruit plate and a pitcher of water ready in about twenty minutes? We're going to get the Lady's belonging and haul them up to the guest suites and be back."
"That's no problem," said Maggie, "I know you'll be wanting to check on Arthur, do you want me to have Flora take the food up for you?"
"That's okay," said Merlin, "Peter is new to serving, I've promised to show him the basics. We'll be back in a little while."
"Hold it right there," said Maggie, she turned and grabbed a loaf of sweet bread from the basket behind her, "I know you won't have eaten lunch, take this and be gone with you." She handed them each half of the loaf.
"Thank you, Maggie, may all your cakes rise and never fall," said Merlin grinning.
They left the kitchen by the back door, Arthur chewed on part of his sweet bread, but Merlin just held his.
"Hang on for a minute," said Merlin and jogged down a back alley, Arthur followed curious. A couple of kids, a boy and girl, were hanging around by the kitchen vents; for the warmth, Arthur realized, they must be homeless. They smiled at Merlin when they saw him, and then backed off when they saw Arthur, "It's okay," said Merlin,
"This is Peter, we brought you some food." He handed over the loaf of bread, and Arthur followed suit. The boy took Merlin's and the girl took Arthur's.
"Thank you," she squeaked and they both ran off down the alley.
"Thank you," said Merlin sincerely, "They don't get much, and that extra will help them keep going until they can find work."
"Work?" said Arthur, "They're children."
"They're farm children they work the farms most of the year, but right after harvest is when there's no work for them. No work means no on site lodgings and no money for food. The king distributes some rations to the poor, but it's not really enough for them to live on for the next few months until planting season."
"Where are their parents?" asked Arthur.
"Dead, an attack last year," said Merlin starting to walk back down the alley towards the courtyard, "and they are not the only ones."
"Why doesn't someone take them in?" asked Arthur, looking back at where the children had gone.
"No room, and no money to feed them," said Merlin pulling Catherine's trunk off the litter they had used, "most of the townsfolk are hand to mouth, they don't have the means to support anyone else." He heaved the trunk up and Arthur caught the other end. "I wish it were different, but it is what it is, I do what I can, get food to them, my friend Gwen sews clothes for them using odd bits of cloth she has extra. I've been teaching some of the older kids what's good to eat in the forest. A few of the traders in the lower towns donate to the kid's fund; get them rooms when it's really cold. Every little bit helps." Merlin let Arthur go first up the stairs and they carried the trunk between them.
Arthur was out of breath when they dropped the trunk in Catherine's chambers; Peter it seemed was not built for manual labor.
"You'll get used to the stairs," said Merlin companionably as they made their way down to the kitchen, "I remember when I first got here, the stairs were a shock. I spent my entire life living in a one-room house. I can walk ten miles without breaking a sweat, but ask me to run up the stairs?" he shook his head, "It's a completely different set of muscles."
"You're not a out of breath now," said Arthur.
"I've been doing this for three years," said Merlin with a shrug. They walked down the last steps to the kitchen; a small but well-appointed platter of fruits and cheeses was set up on the table, as well as a small pitcher of water and a goblet. "You get the plate and I'll get the pitcher and the goblet," said Merlin.
They carried up the food and drink to Catherine's quarters. Merlin directed Arthur where to put the plate.
"Thank you Merlin," said Catherine, smiling slightly at Arthur who was still catching his breath.
"Do you need anything else my lady?" asked Merlin.
"No thank you Merlin," said Catherine, "I assume you have other duties to perform?" she asked.
"I'm going to check in with Arthur, and see if Gaius needs me for anything," said Merlin.
"I'll send Peter along to the Prince's chambers in a moment," said Catherine.
"Arthur's chamber is down the hall to the left middle door on the right," Merlin told Arthur, "If you require anything else, one of the other servants will know where to find me." He bowed shortly and left.
"So," said Catherine turning to Arthur, "Have you learned anything?"
"I learned that this Peter isn't very fit," said Arthur drinking some of the water they'd brought for Catherine. "And that Merlin doesn't stop to each lunch," he picked up a couple of grapes and popped each one into his mouth.
"As my servant, I could have you put in the stocks for what you just did," said Catherine. Arthur stopped mid-chew frowning. "What would you do if Merlin ate off your plate?" She smirked at him, "Go catch up to Merlin, see how he cares for you, and maybe before this time is done you will learn something new."
I'm having so much fun with this I already had a great suggestion for an additional scene and plenty of fantastic reviews.
More to come until then...
Cynic