Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin

Ch. 7

Josephine was hiding behind a stall full of pies. She knew that Merlin would follow the red...so she'd have to change her plans.
"Damn you, Gwaine," she hissed, "It wasn't for you and that stupid hat I'd have done the shopping as a boy." She whistled softly and Dragon dropped down from the sky with a white kerchief in his claws.
"Now where'd you get that?" she asked affectionately as the hawk settled on her shoulder. Dragon dropped it into her outstretched hand and ruffled his feathers. Jo pulled off the red scarf that she had made from the remnants of Gwaine's ridiculous hat and let it fall to the ground. She ran her hand through her short hair and sighed.
"I miss my long hair," she told Dragon, "And this bandage itches." She ran a careful finger down the bandage Gaius and carefully placed on her face after the battle with Tyreen.
"But," she added, "I knew what I was getting into when I decided to come to Camelot. Go to the tournament, prove I can fight, and go home...right?" Dragon gave her a disapproving look.
"Don't look at me like that," she said, wrapping the white kerchief like a headscarf, "I know what I'm ..."
Dragon screeched quietly and squeezed her shoulder gently.
"Careful," she admonished him, "I'm not wearing any leather. And I didn't plan in Merlin being so...let's just see what happens."
Dragon made a noise that Jo could have sworn was a scoff. Jo glared at him and glanced at the sky. Then she looked at the sky again. She swore and began to run, grabbing the remnants of Gwaine's red hat off the ground. Dragon cried out in alarm and took flight.
"Sorry," she cried, "But I need time to change for dinner! Arthur told me to sit in Boknavon's chair to make a point." Jo sprinted to the castle, slipped inside the gates with some maids and discreetly went back into the stables.

Merlin made it into Arthur's private rooms just as the king began to shout, "Merlin! Where are you? Mer- oh, there you are."
"What? I thought I had the afternoon off?" Merlin asked with mock innocence.
"Afternoon, not evening," Arthur admonished. "And you weren't even here all afternoon."
"How do you know whether I was hear or not?" Merlin asked as he began checking that Arthur's outfit was ready for the feast.
"I went to check if Boknavon had damaged your idiotic brain," Arthur muttered.
"Wait," Merlin paused, "You went to check on me? I'm honored that a king..."
"Shut up, Merlin." Arthur pulled away from Merlin and turned to look at him, "But seriously, where did you go?"
"I was shopping."
"Shopping?" The disbelief in Arthur's voice was so thick you could cut it with a knife. "No man shops for that long unless he is with a girl."
Merlin coughed uncomfortably and shifted on his feet.
Arthur narrowed his eyes and continued slowly, "But you weren't with a girl...we're you?"
Merlin avoided eye contact, but a slow shy smile was spreading across his face.
"Oh my God," Arthur exclaimed, "You were! Merlin was with a girl...I can't believe it! How hard did Boknavon hit you?"
Merlin's face was as red as the knight's capes and he hissed, "It's not that surprising!"
"Yes it is," Arthur said, "But calm down...she must be a beauty to get your attention."
"Stop talking about Jo like she's a horse or something," Merlin said with surprising force. Actually, his response surprise both men and they blinked at each other in confusion before Merlin grinned sheepishly and Arthur smiled.
Arthur clapped Merlin on the back before asking tentatively, "Jo?"
"Josephine," Merlin explained, "She's Jon's twin sister."
"Our Jon? Jon Starmount?"
"Yes."
"He has a twin sister?" Arthur asked in surprise.
"So I wasn't the only one who missed that!" Merlin exclaimed, "She told me she's one of four children."
"Huh...is she beautiful?" Arthur prompted.
"Yes," Merlin smiled.
Arthur chuckled; "It's about time, Merlin."
"Shut up."
"Careful, I'm the king. I could have you thrown in the dungeon."
Merlin gave Arthur a look that said, "Yeah, right." Out-loud, Merlin said, "Come on, Sire, your knights wait to dine with you."
Arthur shook his head but led the way to the dining hall. They got there just as Jon ran in, wearing his regular dinner attire.
That night, Boknavon didn't show his face - "Good riddance," Arthur huffed - but several other Lords congratulated the young Starmount for his victory that morning. Anticipation began to build for the next day.