CHAPTER 7 : A RABBIT HUNT VERSUS A LIBRARY VISIT
The castle was abuzz with preparations. Arthur had been reminded that there would be many guests in Camelot for the Investiture of the Knights. After seven years of training, the graduating class would become knights in a ceremony presided over by the king. Merlin was all ears. Gaius slowly explained the ceremony, including the vigil and the following investiture when the king would, in front of everyone call the squire forward to place a word on his shoulder and then tell him to arise as a new knight of Camelot.
"Is Arthur a knight?"
"No, not yet...he needs to continue studying with Sir Martin and then when he is fourteen he will start to train with the squires."
"Will he have to go to war and kill and things like that?"
"Yes, if Camelot is attacked, he'll have to defend it."
"If I stayed in Camelot, would I become a knight?"
"No, to be a knight, your father must be a nobleman. All the pages are sons of knights and then if they are acceptable and capable, they will become squires and finally knights."
Merlin looked disappointed, "I would like to be a knight if Arthur is going to be one. That would be a lot of fun because I would have my own horse."
"Well, you don't have to be a knight to have a horse, Merlin."
"I don't! Well, then that's alright, 'cause the only reason I wanted to be one was for the horse and maybe the red cloak!"
Gaius smiled, he imagined how this conversation might have gone if it had been Arthur in Merlin's place. There would have been much anger and then pouting.
Merlin though for a moment and then said, "Gaius, it's because of the peasant thing isn't it? I know that the way Arthur says that word, that it is not a nice word. But I can't help being a peasant, do you think that my Mam knows that she is a peasant too? You never say 'peasant' the way Arthur does, all hateful like?" Merlin thought for a while before he continued. "Are you a knight too, Gaius?"
Gaius passed Merlin some poppy pods to peel and collect the soft mushy insides used to make a painkiller. He said, "Actually, my father was a knight and so were my two older brothers but I trained with a court physician. Both my father and my eldest brother died in the same battle and my mother returned to her parents' home with the rest of us."
"You would have made a good knight, Gaius, because you a strong and wise but then you wouldn't have had time to look after all the sick people and that would make them sad and my Mam wouldn't have known you...and I wouldn't be here with you." Merlin gave Gaius his famous grin and sighed contentedly.
If Gaius hadn't loved the youngster before, he did now. He had, for one so young, an excellent understanding of his self worth. He was happy being himself even if a horse and a cloak would have been an added bonus. He was miles away, he saw a mighty king and beside him a dark-haired advisor, riding side by side, the red Camelot cloak flanked by a royal blue one…Merlin.
He came to abruptly, as a little voice said, "Yes? Gaius did you want me?"
Gaius looked into Merlin's face with a querying frown.
Merlin smiled at him and said, "Gaius, you just said, 'Merlin!' and I thought you wanted me."
Gaius said, "No, it was nothing..." He thought to himself, 'Well, nothing which I can explain at the moment.' He looked at Merlin, playing with the leeches, he had them swimming around the tank in formation.
He glanced at Gaius worried by his frown, "I'm not hurting them, they like doing it. Watch!" With that, he began to make lines on the glass and the leeches followed his finger like trained seals.
"Remember, Merlin, only play like this when it is the two of us. Be careful! Arthur's father would think nothing of killing you if he ever found out. Your gift is special but you have to be ever so careful with it."
"I know. I'll be careful but it's hard. You know when Arthur is sad, I want to make him laugh and he would if I sent butterflies to dance for him. He'd love it, Gaius. When he's lonely, I would like him to have a dragon of his own. Maybe a lady dragon and then…" he grinned, "Pendragon could fall in love and they could have twins. Can dragons have twins?"
"Well, as I told you, dragons lay eggs, so if only two eggs hatched, then I guess you could call them twins. But Arthur doesn't need a dragon, honestly, if Uther found out about it, he would kill it even if it were only a baby."
"That's it, then! No dragon for Arthur. But I wouldn't have let Uther get it as I would just have made it disappear!" he smiled at Gaius and suddenly, Pendragon walked across the table. It stopped looked at Gaius and acknowledged him with a slight bow and went over to Merlin and curled up, under his chin and went fast asleep.
Merlin grinned at Gaius and dropped his chin so it rested on Pendragon's back.
There was something about dragons and this young boy and Gaius wondered if, like the riders in red and blue cloaks, it was a premonition of the future.
-0-0-
As far as Gaius could make out, Arthur seemed to be happier causing less of a problem with other staff members and on occasion, he had even been know to say thank you.
Charles mentioned to Gaius that he was much easier to live with, fewer bad moods; working for him was almost a pleasure. Charles was another fan of Merlin's as he attributed the changes to the influence, the younger boy had on the prince.
Sir Richard told his wife on innumerable occasions how the prince had improved, at one point referring to him as a proper gentleman after he had enquired about the twins. Merlin was still taking lessons on Ghellie and Sir Richard had promised that he might be able to arrange a picnic with his boys if Gaius would give his approval.
"But Arthur must come too!" Merlin insisted, then realising that he's was being rude, he added, "You'd let him come wouldn't you, Sir Richard? Tomas and Ewan would like him, wouldn't they?"
So it was arranged and one day instead of training, Sir Richard and Sirs Rupert and Maddox, left the stable yard with well packed saddle bags and four exceedingly excited boys.
The pages knew whom Arthur was and although a little reticent, they were friendly and happy to have Arthur accompany them. Merlin set the tone of the outing and the questions flew back and forth.
"Why are the streams still so cold? Do fish ever feel cold? Do they ever get lost in all theses streams and rivers?"
The twins were also in questioning mode and the knights had to laugh at their antics and even the prince caused them to laugh as he fended off Merlin's continual banter and teasing.
Merlin knew how to tease but in such an open kindly fashion that even the person who was the brunt of his joke ended up laughing as Merlin grinned immediately the other person acknowledged defeat.
Who knew that the prince had a sense of humour? No one had ever been that close to the almost ten year old to illicit such a response. Sir Rupert realised that little life lessons like this were as important to a growing mind as all the formal studies Arthur faced.
Arthur got into the mood and Sir Rupert smiled as the prince asked if when he was older he would be allowed to hunt the deer which they frequently put to flight as they rode along. For Arthur to phrase it as a question seeking permission was a surprise because he would formerly have just said, 'One day, I will kill these deer!'
The picnic proved a huge success. It was sad as the adults realised that Arthur had never been in the company of so many similarly aged children in his life.
Gaius received reports on the outing from the knights. They were really pleased to finally see their prince was being treated his age not his title. Merlin told Gaius that he had been worried that Arthur might have been difficult but with a big grin he stated that he behaved himself very well and had even remembered to thank Sir Richard for arranging the outing.
Sir Rupert could see the results of Merlin's contact. Arthur now reacted to situations from which he would normally have held himself aloof. He said to Gaius, "He's a changed boy; he interacts with people.
He was laughing and if I hadn't known who he was, I would never have suspected him of being the sullen reticent, rude, unlikeable boy, we all knew."
"The way I see it, Rupert, he was the newly hatched butterfly with wrinkled folded crepe-like wings waiting for the sun so he could stretch them to dry before facing the world."
"Well, we've got a certain sunny, cheerful young lad to thank for that and I believe you have had a fair share of mentoring in the process."
Rupert left and Gaius sat thinking of the many thousands of children who were raised as little adults, cut off from childhood by need or in some cases parental choices. He felt that their adult lives would never have the fullness achieved from happy memories of carefree years tempered with adult support and advice.
It would be interesting to see if the king would ever realise or acknowledge the amount of work and effort on Merlin's part for the prince's current state mind.
Gaius one afternoon joked, "Merlin, you deserve a prize for having helped Arthur, he was a very different person before meeting you."
"Honestly, Gaius, I don't like Arthur, just to get a prize, I just like him because..."He paused, lost for words, "I just like him because…he's Arthur!" The more Merlin thought about it, the more he realised that he liked Arthur because of the way he felt inside when he was with him.
Gaius was alone in his chambers, there was a hesitant knock on the door followed by its immediate opening. He looked up, "Arthur, what can I do for you?"
"I can't find Merlin and I need him right now. Where is he?"
Gaius's eyebrows raised perceptively. After an almost perfect entry into the chambers, the old Arthur was again standing in front of him, demanding and rude. He decided to ignore him giving him an opportunity to rephrase his demand.
Arthur didn't take well to being ignored. He stood as tall as a nine year old could and cleared his throat.
Gaius waited, finally raising his head to say, "Did you wish to speak with me or just talk at me, Arthur?"
"Sorry, Gaius!" Arthur was momentarily subdued but continued, "I'm trying to find Merlin because this afternoon, I am going to hunt rabbits with Matthew and I wanted Merlin to go too."
"Well, Merlin isn't here as he was invited by Sir Geoffrey to explore the library and then stay for lunch."
"Damn, I needed him!"
Gaius could see problems in the future when Merlin left. "Arthur, you don't need Merlin, to have fun hunting. You like it."
Arthur sat at the table and said, "But Gaius, people are happy to see Merlin and he knows all the correct questions to ask. He's funny and I like when he is with me...is that wrong?"
"Of course, it's not wrong! Merlin is a lovely boy and probably feels the same way but you can be friendly and nice too, when you want to." Arthur gave a little grin and Gaius continued, "You go hunting and if you are eating alone tonight, tell Charles that I have invited you to eat here and you can tell Merlin what you did and he could tell you about his visit with Geoffrey."
Arthur raised his eyes to heaven, a day with Sir Geoffrey could hardly be compared to an afternoon hunting. Gaius glanced at him and laughed, "You don't have to have the same interests to be good company."
Arthur laughed, "Gaius, we could hardly have the same interest, we're really different. I'm after all, a prince and he's only a peasant."
Gaius's head came up. "Arthur, you sound like an uncaring person. A peasant does not choose his station in life just as you were not chosen to be a prince, you just were born one. Merlin mentioned to me that he felt sad when you called him that as you said it in a hurtful manner."
Arthur was shocked, he hadn't meant to hurt Merlin. It was how his father always spoke. He hesitated before saying, "Will I have to apologise again? I remember how to, Gaius, should I?"
"No, just think before you open your mouth. Merlin has a lot to offer and you two get on well together. Since knowing him, I think you have had a lot more fun than before."
Arthur beamed, "I have had so much fun but what happens when his mother comes back?"
"You will be happy for him that he is going home."
"I don't think I can be as I want him to stay in Camelot."
"Well, that isn't going to happen but maybe, the two of you will meet up as adults."
"But by then, we will have nothing in common. I might be a king and he will still be nothing. "Gaius glanced at him and Arthur's face dropped, he would happily have allowed the floor to swallow him up, he felt sick and wondered, 'How did that phrase come out of his mouth so easily?'
"Oh, Gaius...where did than come from...?" and a contrite Arthur dropped his head into his hands.
"Arthur, always think of the person first and their position second. Many people in your life will curry your favour, saying what they think you want to hear but a few of your real friends will tell you what you need to hear."
"Will you always tell me the truth?"
"I will, even if it is not what you want to here. Merlin will also do the same. He can't lie, if you pay attention to how he says something, you will know that he only has your interests at heart. Trust him, Arthur, he will make you happier, more relaxed and you will enjoy him more."
"I will try Gaius, honestly. I don't want to hurt him 'cause then whom would I play with?"
"You can become friends with the knights' sons. Some of them would make nice companions for you, and in four years you will be joining with the fourteen year old squires for combat training. Don't worry, Arthur, you'll do fine. Sirs Geoffrey, Rupert, and others will always be there to keep an eye on you, advise you and give you any help you need."
"But I would rather have just you and Merlin! Honestly, Gaius I don't think I need anyone else…"
"Arthur, you will have advisors your whole life as you will need to rely on them. As you grow older, you will learn to make decisions about each person and decide which ones you need on the royal council just as your father the king, now does."
"That's easy, I'll have you, Sir Rupert, Sir Geoffrey and Merlin. That will be enough, won't it Gaius?"
Gaius smiled, "Yes, Arthur, I should think that would be fine. But, aren't you supposed to be going hunting?"
Arthur stood up, smiled and said, "I won't forget about supper and I know that Merlin will be my number one advisor. Right, Gaius?" He grinned and left.
Gaius smiled and shook his head.
-0-0-
Charles accompanied Arthur down to Gaius's in time for supper. He'd already spoken with Gaius and had arranged for the kitchens to deliver meals to his chambers. Merlin had returned full of the library and the interesting curios which Sir Martin had shown him.
"Gaius, did you know that in the library, there is an egg which has turned to stone and some other stones with strange fish imprints in them. Martin said they came from the seashore. Can I go there one day? Martin said that the waves never stop even in the night. I would like to see that!"
"Well, it's quite a trip from here. Maybe one day…"
"I'll take Arthur with me as Martin says that he hasn't seen the sea either. Do you think he'd like it? Has the king ever seen the sea? Why don't the waves just keep coming right up onto the land and reach us? Martin says that the sea is very big. He even had a sketch which Sir Geoffrey had done of the sea and he tried to fool me by saying that the water tasted like salt!"
Merlin paused for a moment and Gaius could see the wheels going around in his brain.
"Gaius, you can tell me the truth and I'll believe you. Does the sea really taste salty?"
"Yes, it does but why don't you wash you hands and help set the table as we're having a guest join us for supper. Do you want to guess who?"
"Should I guess whom I hope it is or whom I think it might be?"
"Your choice…"
"Well I would love it to be my Mam but that's not going to happen yet is it, Gaius?"
Gaius shook his head, "Not just yet, Merlin…"
"Well, then I think it will be one of your friends and I promise to be seen and not heard and be on my best behaviour."
Gaius tousled his hair as he passed him and said, "No, it's not my friend!"
"Then is it my 'bestest' friend in the whole world?"
Gaius smiled and Merlin threw his arms around the court physician saying, "I'm so glad that my Mam knew you and that you let me stay here with you. Gaius, you are my 'bestest' friend who is all grown up! But, Arthur is my 'bestest' friend who is little like me."
Laughing, Gaius hugged him back wondering if the crown prince realised how important he was in the life of the seven year old.
Arthur arrived and Charles told him that he would either pick him up or wait for him in the royal chambers. Arthur chose the latter and told him that Merlin would walk back upstairs with him. Gaius nodded and Charles left for a relaxing couple of hours with friends in the servants' dining quarters.
Remembering his manners, Arthur asked Merlin if he had had a pleasant time with Sirs Geoffrey and Martin.
Merlin told him about the curios and leg bone of a dragon and the fossils.
"There are no longer any dragons alive in the world, Merlin, my father says so. They were all killed as they were evil."
Gaius moved his elbow so that it made contact with Merlin's and looked warningly at him. It broke his heart to see the sad look in the boy's eyes as he accepted without question the king's words and Arthur's feelings.
"Arthur, maybe they weren't all bad. Maybe somewhere there is one that didn't die and he is just waiting for the right person to come along to be his friend."
"Well, I won't be his friend. I'd shoot him with an arrow and kill him. You know, Merlin, you've got some very strange ideas about dragons. They kill you, eat you, then spit you out!"
"Why? Don't they like the taste?"
"No, silly it's because…because they…don't want to waste time swallowing you." Arthur was pleased with that reasoning.
"I don't think they'd eat me, because I wouldn't be afraid as I like dragons."
"Well maybe, they wouldn't eat you but they'd sit on you and that would kill you as well."
"Arthur, what about a baby dragon about this big," and Merlin held his hands out to represent the size of Pendragon.
"That would be even easier to kill!"
"You wouldn't like to get to know one even if was only a baby?"
Gaius was beginning to worry that Merlin getting into a state over the dragons, might inadvertently let Pendragon appear. He said, "Boys, that's enough about dragons, are you hungry? Let's eat!" As he passed Merlin some bread, he mouthed, "Be careful!" and Merlin with a strained look, smiled back.
The meal went well and Arthur brought Merlin up to date on his killing expertise. They had returned with five rabbits and the huntsman Matthew had mentioned that he had natural hunting ability.
Merlin had remained quiet taking all of it in with wide open eyes. His stomach had contracted on a few occasions at Arthur's descriptions. He decided then and there that he would only kill to eat and not to have a fun afternoon, chasing innocent animals in the woods.
"You're quiet. Do you think you had a better time in the library than I did in the woods? Don't worry, I intend to take you with me next time. Don't I, Gaius? Then you can see how much fun it is!"
Gaius looked at the kind thoughtful seven year old beside him and could see him visually cringing as Arthur oblivious to Merlin's reaction was showing him how he held his bow and slotted the arrow's nocks on the bow string.
"And did you see anything else of interest in the woods, Arthur?" asked Gaius to change the subject.
"We saw some geese that Matthew thinks might have escaped but we didn't shoot them as they might belong to a very careless farmer. I thought I saw a unicorn but Matthew said that it was just a trunk of a light coloured tree in the shadows."
Merlin's ears perked up, "What's a unicorn?"
Arthur smiled and said not unkindly, "Gaius I think that your assistant needs to spend another afternoon in the library so he can look at pictures of unicorns. Didn't your mother teach you anything, Merlin?"
