Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter Seven:

Gwen walked through the lower town, heading towards the market. She nodded to some knights as the passed by her. It didn't take her long to reach the market and she stopped at a vendor that was selling cloth. She examined the cloth on sale, looking to see if anything appealed to her. She was in need of a new dress and cloak.

Gwen had just picked up a soft piece of silk which would be ideal for making a scarf out of, when an old women approached her. The old women suddenly grabbed her by the wrist and Gwen looked up at her in alarm. With a gasp, Gwen realised the old women was Morgana.

"Just a few drops will ease your troubles, my dear," Morgana pressed two vials into Gwen's hand. "Do you understand?"

A few Knight's patrolling the market had stopped to speak with a women nearby and Gwen glanced at them nervously, before turning back to Morgana.

"Yes," Gwen nodded. "Come on."

"Are you prepared?" Morgana asked, as Gwen led her through the market. "Have you found someone to take the fall?"

"Don't worry," Gwen smirked. "I have someone in mind."

They reach the draw bridge leading out of the lower town and Morgana quickly left, Gwen watched her go, smirking all the while.

)o(

Merlin sighed to himself in annoyance as he searched through Gwen's clothes looking for the dress which would matched the piece of cloth he and Gaius had found in the woods. He compares each dress to the piece of cloth he has but none of them match. He sighed in frustration.

"Merlin?" A voice from behind him almost caused him to jump.

Merlin quickly turned round and came face to face with Arthur.

"Would you care to explain exactly what it is that you're doing?" Arthur asked, not looking impressed.

"I was just checking for holes," Merlin quickly answered, and he wasn't lying.

"Holes?" Arthur repeated.

"Yes," Merlin nodded. "I heard one of the other servants talking about an infestation of moths."

Arthur just raised an eyebrow. Almost sighing again, Merlin knew he had no choice. The only way he was going to get out of this was by acting like a complete fool. Merlin quickly put a hands though one of the sleeves of the dress he was holding.

"Yes," Arthur nodded slowly. "That's where the hand goes."

Merlin almost smiled, he forgot how easy it was to trick Arthur like this.

"Granted," Merlin acknowledged. "But look…"

Merlin pulled his hand out the sleeve and puts it through the other sleeve.

"Hm," Arthur hummed. "That, I believe, is where the other hand goes."

"Right," Merlin nodded. "Yeah, I'm just saying that you can't be too careful. A lady's modesty is at stake, after all."

He quickly returned the dress to wardrobe.

"Is it now?" Arthur questioned. "Merlin, I would strongly recommend that you start showing a little less interest in Guinevere's clothing and a little more interest in mine."

Arthur picked up a laundry basket and held it out to Merlin. Merlin sniff it and gagged.

"I think I prefer Gwen's," Merlin coughed.

"I'm going to do everything in my power to try and forget that you ever just said that," Arthur shoved the basket into Merlin's chest. "I suggest you do the same."

Merlin didn't hesitate in making a quick escape and hurried through the castle to the kitchens. He knew he could simply have asked anther servant to take over his duties, while he tried to find evidence that it was Camelot's Queen who had been meeting Morgana in the forest, but he knew that was a bad idea.

So for the time being Merlin was stuck washing Arthur's clothes and avoiding Audrey, the head cook, the best he could. He wrung out shirt and placed it out to dry and picked up another piece of clothing and throwing it into the tub of hot water he was using to clean the clothes and cursed to himself.

He was the King of the Druids and he was stuck doing the washing.

The castle had staff dedicated to doing this job! The same as they had stable staff to clean out the royal horses and yet Merlin still found himself having to do it… So many of the jobs Arthur ordered him to do, were actually jobs which should have been done by other people!

He looked round as the scent of freshly cooked dumplings reached his nose. His out watered and it was only then Merlin realised he hadn't eaten since breakfast. He turned round to find the kitchen was empty. Surely Audrey wouldn't notice if he took one… He reached out to take one.

"Keep your grubby hands off my dumplings!" Audrey yelled seemingly appearing out of nowhere and smacking his hand with her spoon.

Merlin sighed and turned away. Looked like he'd be going without food for a little while longer. He tipped the rest of the clothes into the water, when a silver dress caught his attention. He quickly reached for the hem of the dress and began to look along the edge. He quickly found a patch which had been torn away and he pulled out the piece of cloth he and Gaius had found.

It matched.

Merlin dropped the dress and piece of cloth to the floor and took off running.

)o(

Arthur sat at the table preparing to eat, as Gwen entered their shared quarters just as the servant who was pouring the wine turned to leave. Gwen smiled at them as they passed her and took her seat at the table.

"Guinevere," Arthur smiled at her. "I was beginning to wonder where you were."

"Sorry," Gwen apologies. "I had some business to attend to in town."

"I hope you have an appetite," Arthur said, gesturing to the food.

"Mmm," Gwen hummed. "And a thirst."

Arthur stood and reached for the pitcher of wine the servant who been attending to him had left behind and while he does so, Gwen reached forward and poured the vial of Valerian into Arthur's drink.

"What took you into town?" Arthur asked, as he returned to his seat with the pitcher of wine.

"Oh, just delivering supplies to those most in need," Gwen answered.

"Your kindness never ceases to amaze me," Arthur smiled fondly as he poured wine into Gwen's goblet.

She takes a sip, whilst staring at Arthur's goblet. She almost screamed in frustration as Arthur picked it up and went to take a slip, only to stop.

"You know," Arthur said. "Now that I think of it, we never got to have our little celebration, did we?"

"Yes," Gwen agreed. "Why was that?"

Arthur smiled at her but didn't answer.

"To us," He raised his goblet instead.

They clink goblets and Arthur takes a sip of his wine. He started to feel the effect of the Valerian and Gwen watched him as he slowly began to lose consciousness. Once Arthur has lost consciousness completely Gwen pulled out the vial of Henbane and poured a drop of it into Arthur's ear. She recorked the vial with a smirk and quickly got to her feet.

Seconds later Merlin burst into the room to find Arthur slummed over in his chair, unconscious and Gwen nowhere in sight.

)o(

Hey, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Until next time,

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.