"You really were just a servant, weren't you?" Lisanor giggled as she and Merlin made their way out onto a balcony.
"I told you I was, but what truly gave it away?" He joked, leaning against the stone railing.
"The dancing."
They had entered the Great Hall earlier in the evening and Merlin was caught between pride at having a woman, who made him the envy of many inside, and anxiety at being in the entire situation to begin with. The two of them made small talk and visited with others, listening to the lively minstrels playing. After a few goblets of wine Lisanor finally was able to bring Merlin out onto the floor for a dance. A couple of missteps and a few bruised toes, she finally relented in allowing him to escape.
"Morgana has tried to teach me the steps, but it was one lesson that didn't quite work." He looked at the ground, feeling a bit guilty as he realized it was the first time he'd thought of the raven-haired beauty all evening. He suddenly felt a twinge of longing and heartache, realizing she could never join him at celebrations here in Camelot. He quickly pushed the thought away.
Lisanor glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "Morgana? We had heard some rumors that she tried to usurp the throne of Camelot for herself, a few years back. Is she still around?"
Merlin shook his head a sad smile playing on his face. "No, she's been exiled from the kingdom, but I've been assisting her recovery, and in turn she's been attempting to make me into a nobleman. As you have witnessed, I'm a poor student." He motioned back toward the hall.
"Oh, I'm sure if you had the proper teacher, you would be able to dance." She suggested, giving him a coy smile.
He was a bit surprised by her forwardness. "Are you offering then?"
She laughed, "Perhaps I am."
"I would have figured someone like you would already have a steady partner to dance with." He glanced at her appraisingly.
Lisanor looked out over the courtyard. "My brothers are rather overprotective of me. It can make it hard for a Lady to find a suitable partner."
Merlin nodded, his clever mind seeing the opening for a bit of prying. "Bedivere's squire seems a bit protective of you as well. He looks about fifteen, right?"
"Actually, he just turned thirteen." She stiffened beside him and her smile faded slightly, as she nodded.
The warlock pressed her further. "He's your son, isn't he?"
Gray eyes grew fearful and she sucked in a breath, her face falling into one of concern. "How did you know?"
He shrugged, "The look you gave him. My mother has that same one, whenever I stepped out of line."
She played with the rings on her hand, twisting them nervously. "I see."
"He's Arthur's son, too." Merlin stated more than asked.
She closed her eyes and turned her head away, not wanting to answer the question. Merlin allowed her the space, knowing if he stayed quiet, she would either excuse herself or answer him, either way, it would give him an answer.
"You're awfully protective of the King aren't you?" She finally countered.
"I have to be."
"So escorting me was all a ploy to get information?"
"Not at all. I really did need a date, and well, you've met the other eligible candidates in there." Merlin shivered melodramatically. "Arthur arranged for me to accompany you. Probably, because he feared for the lives of anyone else if your brothers are as cautious of men around you as you say. As well as the fear I would run and hide from any of the other women that were suggested...and your brothers would probably track me down and make me suffer if I did that to you."
"Ah, you felt threatened into escorting me,"she sighed.
Merlin chuckled, "No, I didn't even think of any of that until after I told Arthur I would and George...who is a very interesting servant...brought it up this afternoon. However, I am extremely pleased that I did agree. You have been wonderful company and I would be honored to escort you at any time."
Lisanor searched his eyes, a blue almost as deep as the night sky in the shadows of the balcony, and seemed pleased to find the truth there. A soft smile appeared back on her face.
"It wasn't until I entered your chambers and met Loholt, that I had any clue." He paused, allowing her time to process his words. "Does your boy know?"
She nodded slowly, her gray eyes sparkled with unshed tears. "He knows, but he also understands that due to the circumstances he has no claim...nor does he want any of it. Arthur has never been told. I would beg of you, please don't tell him, we do not want any issue with the King."
Merlin mulled the information over in his mind. "For now, I won't...but you, or one of your brothers, should tell him. Sooner rather than later. He may be a cabbage head at times, but the past has made him no friend of secrets, especially when it comes to family...and he considers you all like family."
"Really?" She seemed surprised and finally looked over at him.
His blue eyes were softened by a friendly smile. He took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, and brushed her knuckles with a light kiss.
"Lisanor, is this man bothering you?" A deep voice asked from the doorway.
They both looked up. Lisanor smiled at the man. Merlin noted this must be her eldest brother. He was slightly shorter than Bedivere, and not quite as broad, but the family resemblance was so strong that the two men could have been mistaken for twins. "You must be Lord Cai," The warlock said extending his arm.
"...And you are Lord Emyrs, the king's new-found cousin." He clasped Merlin's wrist in greeting, but his demeanor held a cool air of protectiveness. "I thought it best to come and meet the man escorting my sister this evening. The nobility is in a near panic gossiping about you, and talking of how a former servant somehow convinced the king to change certain laws."
Merlin looked him in the eye, his hands down and clasped down loosely in front of him.
Years of watching from the shadows as Arthur's manservant made him wise to the body language of people, and the first impression was always the most critical. He knew if he crossed his arms across his chest, it could be seen as defensive. If he held them behind his back, it could be seen as defensive. If he held them behind his back it could be taken to mean he was hiding something. Arms spread open would make him seem egotistical. By standing like he was, it gave him an air of confidence and control. He also leaned against the banister, allowing for a relaxed look, showing he had no reason to feel threatened by the larger man. "Arthur changed the laws because it was the right thing to do. He is a wise and just king who can see the value. whereas Uther was blinded by his past. I wasn't anywhere near Camelot when the changes were being discussed, although I do have to say...hearing them read aloud was one of the greatest days of my life."
"So you do have magic?" Cai gave him a hard stare, almost daring him to lie.
Merlin responded only with a tight-lipped smile, neither denying nor confirming it. Cai continued, using his words and size, to try and bully the warlock into giving him reason to protect his sister from another unworthy man. He had seen many suitors over the years come to call on Lisanor, most of them just coveting her for her beauty and the fact she was once fostered at King Uther's court. "There are some who say you were hiding in the shadows during that time, and whispering into the King's ear."
"Cai, please, this is not the time for accusations." Lisanor spoke up quietly, laying a hand on her brother's arm.
Merlin chuckled, "No, it's alright. Actually, I had left the kingdom on a quest with a friend for information. We were gone all summer, mostly to the north, on the Llyn Peninsula."
Cai stiffened and moved back, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Is that what led to the battle where Sir Leon was injured?"
The warlock nodded, "There were many factors that led to it. Myself and Gwaine being up there, was just one of them."
Cai shook his head, frustrated, but no longer trying to be overbearing. "They won't let me see him, because the new knights do not know me. He was a good friend during my time here."
"Did you speak with Arthur about it?" Merlin inquired.
"No, I did not realize I would need to."
"I'll take you to see him personally if you like." He offered, realizing it would be a good way to try and get to know the former knight.
"What, now?" Cai seemed shocked by the offer.
"Why not?" Merlin shrugged and cast his eyes over to Lisanor with a wink. "I doubt I'm going to be asked to dance again this evening."
Honey-colored curls swayed back and forth, as Lisanor laughed and shook her head. "It is true." She turned to her brother. "This one has two left feet for certain."
Merlin looked through the door, his eyes scanning those near it and smiled when he spotted the man he was looking for. "Oi, Gwaine! Come here a moment."
Gwaine grinned and joined them outside. "Hey Merlin! Nice footwork in there earlier." He gave his friend a pat on the back.
"Oh shut it." Merlin rolled his eyes. "Have you been introduced yet? This is Lord Cai, Bedivere's brother...you know, the one who bested you?" The warlock couldn't help but slip the jibe in. "...and their sister, the Lady Lisanor. I'm popping out for a while and I was wondering, if the lady doesn't object, would you be so kind as to show her that not everyone in Camelot is as graceless as I am?"
Gwaine's eyes swept over the beauty. He held out his hand and bowed. "It would be my pleasure."
Merlin looked at Lisanor. "Don't mind him. He's a flirt and a drunkard, and well, except for his singing, is mostly harmless...but definitely more entertaining than many of the others inside."
Lisanor pursed her lips, evaluating the knight. "I suppose that would be acceptable." She shot a glare at her brother, warning him to not overreact. Cai bit his lip, his protective instincts alerting him to the roguish man, but he did not want to lose his chance at seeing Leon.
"Thank you, Lord Emrys. It has been a wonderful evening with you." She said, smiling shyly at Merlin.
"The pleasure has been mine, My Lady. I do hope I can still take you up on the offer of lessons?"
She clicked her tongue against her teeth. "Perhaps we should talk about it another time, say...over lunch tomorrow?"
Merlin grinned from ear to ear. "That would be grand."
Gwaine chuckled and rolled his eyes at Merlin. "So, what should I tell the princess, if he sees me dancing with your date?"
Merlin opened his mouth and shrugged. He met Gwaine's eyes and at the same time they both said, "Tavern."
Footfalls echoed on the stone floors of the corridors. Most of the torches and candles were already extinguished for the night, through the halls of this part of the castle. Except for the occasional patrol, the hallways were empty, as most of the residents and guests were spending the evening in the Great Hall, with music and fanfare. Merlin was torn about leaving Lisanor to Gwaine, astonished at how she made the evening, even with the failed footwork, actually enjoyable. But, he was thankful to be out from under the prying eyes of gossiping idiots, who had nothing better to do with their time than look down their noses, while trying to analyze another person's life.
"...You go to the tavern often?" Cai said finally broaching the silence.
"No. Hardly at all actually. When I do, it's usually just to retrieve Sir … er Prince Gwaine." He grinned.
Cai looked confused, "But if this is what Gwaine is telling the king, then…?"
"...A very long-standing inside joke between us, for when I need to be excused from something without giving explanation."
"Ah." Cai nodded, "...because of your magic?" He once again fished for a real answer.
Merlin smirked, "Among other things." He said, only giving a hint, but still not fully confessing to what the former knight wanted to know.
The larger man stopped, clearly annoyed, "Can you ever give a straight answer?"
"Yes." Merlin stated simply, smiling like a simple fool, as he continued walking. "So tell me, why are you so keen to know if I have magic or not? Is it because of what happened the night with your brother?"
Cai caught back up to Merlin easily with his longer strides. "Arthur told you about it. Hmph. Who else did he tell?"
"No one beyond me, I can assure you."
He stopped again and put a hand on Merlin's shoulder, turning the warlock towards him. He looked up and down the hall to be sure they were alone.
"All my life, I dreamt of being a knight. My mother taught me only a few healing spells when I was young that could assist on the battlefield, if I ever needed them. Little did I know, it would need to be used on my own brother, because he lost his temper when he saw his best friend with our sister. We were all very distraught that night, and none of us were thinking clearly. Arthur could have turned us in easily, but instead, convinced his father that I needed to be excused from my duties to take the family home. Bedivere still holds some anger at losing his hand…"
Suddenly, Cai stepped back with an odd expression on his face. He snorted out a chuckle and shook his head in disbelief. "You are…I've never told anyone. Even my siblings and I don't discuss what happened that day." Cai's face changed and he looked at Merlin with a hint of appreciation. "Does King Arthur have any idea, how many people's secrets are stuffed away in that head of yours, behind that simpleton's grin?"
Merlin gave the larger man a look of mock innocence. Then he chuckled, knowing he'd just broken through the former knight's defenses, and in doing so gained another friend for himself and Camelot. "Come on," he said to his new companion. "We're almost to Leon's room."
They arrived at the chambers where Leon was being kept. With all the visitors in the castle, security had been upgraded. Now, two guards stood outside the door, with two knights inside at all times. The guards nodded at Merlin, opening the door for him and his guest. Once inside, Merlin asked the two knights to leave the room. He was still surprised, now that his birthright had been revealed, how easily they listened to him.
"He looks like death." Cai spoke softly, as he leaned over his old friend. "What happened to him?"
Merlin realized this was not the time for half-answers, especially after Cai had opened up to him. He wouldn't tell Cai everything, but it was clear the man deserved to know, at least, the basic truth. "He is very nearly dead. Sir Leon has been purposely cursed to slow the poison that ravages his body, until I can find the cure."
"Whatever you need, my family and I are at your disposal." He spoke with his heart when he said it, meaning every word. He sat down in the chair next at Leon's bedside.
Merlin saw an opportunity for them both. "Speak to Arthur. Then come with us on our quest."
Cai's laughter was of true relief. "If that's all you ask, then I will do so gladly! Is there anything else I can do, specifically for Leon? I don't have much magic, only a bit of healing and some knowledge of the Old Ways." Upon seeing Merlin's curious look, he elaborated, "My parents were followers of the Old Religion. Though they publicly renounced it when King Uther started his Purge, they still practiced in secret."
Merlin nodded in understanding. "What I need to do is find a place where the Old Magic is strong. Yet, it must be well protected, and move him there. I have a theory such a place will help keep the spells and curse upon him more stable."
Thoughts played across the former knight's face. "There is a temple on my estate that is only accessible by my family. It was once a shrine to the Triple Goddess, and when Joseph of Arimathea traveled through the lands, he was given sanctuary there. In return, he blessed it with the same staff he later set in the ground at Glastonbury. Do you think that would be sufficient?"
Merlin nearly crowed with elation. "Are you serious? That might be it then."
The warlock began pacing. His eyes darted back and forth as his mind shifted into high gear. If the way Cai described it was true, it would be perfect; hidden away with very few being able to access it, or even knowing of its existence...double-blessed as a shrine of the Old Religion, and a place of refuge of the new.
The Knights of Camelot would not be pleased with hiding away their commander's body, but that would be a small price to pay. They would, albeit reluctantly, follow Arthur's commands not to try to find the place. It wasn't that Merlin didn't trust them to not care for Leon, but sometimes their lack of respect for the Old Ways, seemed to cause more trouble than anything. If they were captured by one of Camelot's enemies or rival kingdoms, such as The Sarrum or Alined's, it could be disastrous. Neither of those men was above the use of true torture.
Merlin was still convinced that Alined kept his pet sorcerer to assist him with that. His thoughts kept racing on, planning everything; from who to tell, how to contact the men he'd sent out, and what Arthur should tell the other knights. As well as, how they would move Leon's body...and anything else he could come up with.
Cai was feeling a bit nervous watching the lanky dark-haired man pace. Merlin was alternating between chewing on the side of his thumb, and his hands moving about somewhat frantically, as if talking to himself. Occasionally Merlin paused. He would scratch at his beard in deep thought, then continue pacing. The former knight got the feeling that when Merlin was younger, he was one of the types who ranted out loud as he paced. He couldn't imagine how correct that assumption was, or how it had been only in the previous couple of years, that the warlock had finally learned to keep his mouth shut when his thoughts ran wild.
He briefly wondered if there was a way to interrupt the mental ramblings, or if he even should, when the door opened quietly. A man dressed as a knight, just as large as his brother...perhaps even slightly taller than Bedivere, peered inside. He smiled and shook his head at the sight of Merlin. After saying something to one of the knights outside the door, whom Cai then saw head off purposefully, the giant man came in.
"I'm Percival." He stated simply. Then he motioned towards Merlin. "How long has he been like that?"
"A few minutes," Cai said, breaking his eyes away from the hypnotic movement. "Does he do this often?"
Percival chuckled and nodded, "I heard Gaius recently refer to the disorder as 'Merlin's Multiplying Madness'. It's something to do with the way he thinks...I think."
Cai nodded slowly, almost afraid to ask. "Is there a cure?"
Suddenly Arthur came bursting through the door. "What the hell Merlin? You leave the ball?It was arranged by the queen for you, and to celebrate the treaty as well…Mer-lin?!" The king's jaw was clenched. He breathed heavily through his nostrils. The combination of stress, alcohol and finding the heir to his throne missing from his own celebration, had set Arthur on the warpath. Merlin not noticing him was the last straw, and Arthur found a wooden mug left by a knight from earlier in the evening, on a small table near the door. It was in his hand and flying through the air to clock the warlock in the back of his skull.
"OW!" Merlin glared darkly at the king and rubbed the back of his head, finally broken from his thoughts. He blinked a couple of times, as if realizing just where he was.
Percival snickered and turned to Cai, who had quickly stood when his liege lord entered. "Yep, that was the cure."
Merlin looked at Arthur and held up a finger. "I've got it." He said happily, and motioned for the king to come in and close the door. "...Or more accurately: it was offered to us, but I just figured out the way to make it work."
Merlin looked towards Cai, his eyes twinkling. "Would you permit others there, such as a few druids and guardians trained in magic of the Old Ways? They would be there to care for his body and guard him against threats. No more than that, I give you my word."
Cai took a deep breath. "For Leon, anything."
"Arthur, I think Cai needs his knighthood back." Merlin said as fast as his mouth would allow the words. It was so quickly spoken, that Cai wasn't sure he heard it right.
"You don't get to tell me who to make a knight, Merlin. It's not your place." Arthur scowled at the warlock.
"Sorry, Sire. I would like to request on behalf of Lord Cai, for the contribution he is willing to make in Sir Leon's continued safety, that he be offered reinstatement of his knighthood. Better?"
"Much and granted...ONLY because I was already planning on offering it to him..." Arthur shook his head and sighed. He turned to Cai, who was standing with his mouth agape. "...and I was actually looking for you to speak about this, when I noticed you and my idiot cousin were missing."
"Your Majesty, I would be honored." Cai said in total awe of how quickly it was accepted. He was seriously considering pinching himself to see if this was all some weird dream.
"Good we'll discuss it more tomorrow." Arthur nodded his head and turned to leave. "Merlin." He said over his shoulder. The former manservant's eyes sparkled with mischief, but he didn't move to follow the king. From outside the door Arthur called louder. "Merlin!"
Once again Merlin didn't move, he smiled like the cat that ate the canary, obviously waiting for something. Percival attempted to bite back his laughter, the castle had truly been dull the past summer without the dark-haired man around. In fact, even the last year or so with the servant hadn't been the same. It was a relief to see him back to be more of his normal self.
"MERR-LLINN!" They all heard the scream echo from down the hall.
"Coming, Sire!" He finally responded and headed out of the room, waving goodnight to Cai and Percival.
"He's not completely right in the head, is he?" Cai finally asked.
Percival shrugged, "Hard to say sometimes, but a truer and more loyal friend you'll never find."
AN: correction on one of my previous notes...Lisanor is the name of the mother of Arthur's son who is known as Loholt or Llachau. Who was a noted in the 10th century poem Pa Gur (not the Vulgate as I thought previously) from the Black Book of Carmarthean, as constant companion to Cai.
Before you say adieu, please review! (hehe I found a rhyme)