The disguising potion had worked perfectly. A puddle showed Merlin's new face. Er, well, he definitely had to admit this was a very different face. He had planned he would seek employment as a serving boy or a kitchen hand. So he could get a knocking-out potion into Morgana''s food. In her drink would be too suspicious. Merlin slipped the roots for the potion into his bag and approached the castle.
A young girl opened the door when he knocked.
" I have been travelling a long time and trying to seek employment," Merlin began, "Who do I ask about working here?"
"You don't ask," the girl said saucily, "Our cook ran away with the stable boy. We need more hands to help out. Can you cook?"
"Er sort of. I was more thinking along the lines of kitchen assistant but if..."
The girl pulled him in the door. "Whatever. You'll do for now. "
"Um okay..." Merlin said, following her.
"Name?" the girl asked.
Merlin was distracted looking at the tapestries along the hall. "What?"
The girl spoke slowly as if he were daft. "What. Is. Your. Name?"
"Martin," he said before he could think of anything better.
"How old are you?" the girl asked.
"Twenty-five," Merlin replied.
"Just tell the Lady Elaine you are fifteen," the girl replied.
Fifteen? Did he look fifteen or something? He was almost twice that age. "Um do I look fifteen or something?"
"Well not really no, but if you want the job you are fifteen. Sixteen is even pushing it."
"Why?" Merlin followed her down a long hall.
"Elaine doesn't like 'men' working in her castle because she fears we will be seduced or something. Like we have time for such frivolity! Who would want to be seduced anyways?"
Merlin did not answer that question.
The girl looked about twelve, so of course she probably had no interest in such things at all.
"Anyways, here is the kitchen. You need to make a chicken souffle with a side of candied carrots and julienned apples and prepare some hot ginger milk . Per request of the bitch."
"The bitch?" Merlin raised his eyebrow.
"Yeah. The bitch. She is like a high priestess or something. Or THE high priestess. I dunno something fancy. She thinks she is a queen or something and won't get off your case if she isn't brought hot ginger milk every hour. I actually think Elaine drugs it or something. Well, she better put heavier doses in now that the witch has her powers back. She was just irritating before and I could be rude to her but now if I am rude I'm never quite sure if she will blow me to bits or not!" The girl blabbered, "Well, I'd better get going now!" She ran out of the room.
"Wait! Where do I get the food?" Merlin called after her.
She didn't reply.
Merlin groaned and began looking around. He found the food with ease surisingly. There was no other servants. Merlin used a few tricks to finish it on time. He desperately hoped he could pass for a cook. At last, he was done, and the girl came running into the room not a moment after.
"Oh goddess be good! You are done! Where is the ginger milk? Drugs must be put in her glass now! She is deranged!" The girl exclaimed.
Merlin handed the girl the cup and watched as she poured a generous dose of sparkling pink liquid in. She called for extra servants to help carry the lunch up.
Merlin was afraid he would freak out or do something stupid once he saw Morgana again. He had been waiting four months for this, and the moment was finally here. He did not originally wish for their reunion to be like this, but it would do just fine! And he didn't look anything like himself either. This could prove useful. Very useful indeed.
They brought the lunch to Morgana's room, a beautiful chambers with a giant bed covered in pillows and silken sheets, elaborate paintings and carvings all around and a pot of green flowers.
Merlin put her souffle down in front of her. It was the part he had drugged.
"Your lunch, my beautiful lady," He said, playing off the fact his true identity was disguised and he could flirt however much he wanted without risk of death.
"Are you trying to hit on me?" Morgana asked.
Merlin choked "What? No!"
The serving girls giggled.
"Do you know who I am even?" she snapped.
"Yes...I may have been told once or twice!" He stepped backwards.
She advanced. "I am the..."
"High priestess !" he cut her off.
She smiled. "Yes! You know!"
She advanced towards him. "You feel it, don't you? You can feel my power. Tell me you can feel it."
"No," he said, "I was just told who you were."
She glared at him, but then her voice softened as she burst into tears. "Oh gods I'm so miserable! My birthright! My birthright! I should be the Queen!"
"Well," Merlin snapped, " I will tell you why you are not Queen! A) you are illegitimate and B) you are a woman. How can you be a queen?"
"Shut up!" she screeched, "Who told you those lies about my birth?"
"People here talk of the happenings of Camelot...it is the strongest and biggest kingdom...you hear a lot of gossip while on the road," he explained.
"Well if you ever say anything against me again... you... you insolent little whelp, I will kill you!" Morgana screeched. Her eyes looked crazed. "I can do that you know. Magic is evil."
Merlin leaned against the door. "Magic is neither good nor bad. It is all what you decide to do with it that determines the outcome!"
Recognition flashed in her eyes." What village did you say you came from again? I have heard someone say that to me before!"
"From a place closer to Camelot than you can imagine!" Merlin spat out, before quickly exiting.
She called after him. "Wait! Who are you!?"
