Part 10 With None For Himself
(Authors Note: I own nothing.)
Arthur watched Merlin shiver himself up to his room. When the door closed and Arthur was sure Merlin wouldn't be paying attention he whirled on Giaus.
"Why doesn't Merlin get himself a new cloak? I don't pay him that little." Arthur glared at Gwaine but Giaus smiled up at the closed door.
"Merlin is a very unique person. He doesn't like to spend money on himself. Almost all he makes he sends to his mother." Giaus' expression was soft, pride edging the corners of his eyes.
"Why?" Arthur felt slightly stupid, he understood the philosophy but had never heard of it being used to this much of an extreme. Gwaine cuffed him around the head again.
"Ealdor is a small village my lord. They do not have much there." Arthur nodded, he had been to Ealdor before.
"As you know sire, Ealdor is in Esstier." Again Arthur nodded, Gwaine however interrupted.
"Wait. Merlin's not from Camelot?" He sounded shocked. Arthur nodded and explained.
"No he's not. He grew up in Ealdor. He's only been in Camelot for six, maybe seven, years now." Gwaine raised an eyebrow.
"Why does that surprise you?" Arthur asked, more confused now than ever.
"Well I thought he was born in Camelot. He cares about it so much I figured he had to be from here." Gwaine shrugged. Giaus continued.
"Ealdor is small and on the outskirts of the kingdom. With all the turmoil in Esstier since Cenred's fall they have fallen on hard times. Merlin and his mother both grew up there, both care deeply for the people there. Hunith does what she can but there's only so much one woman can do. According to the letters she sends, the money Merlin send to her helps the whole village."
"How so?" Arthur asked.
"Well for instance, the crops this past year were poor and they had nothing to trade with nearby towns or traders. But because of the money Merlin sent to her she was able to buy extra supplies from a nearby village, and many who may have starved to death otherwise survived.
"That's Merlin for you, always thinking of others first." Gwaine chuckled smiling widely.
"Yet he never asks for anything in return. He's never even asked for a pay rise has he?" Lancelot asked looking over at Arthur. Arthur shook his head. Merlin hadn't asked for a pay rise. Sure he complained a lot but the only thing he ever asked for earnestly was for Arthur to listen to his advice. Gwaine threw an arm around Lancelot's shoulder.
"Come on Lance!" Lance frowned at the nickname.
"Where are we going?" He asked warily.
"The market. We're getting Merlin a decent cloak." Gwen, who had stood to one side watching Merlin's door this whole time, perked up.
"I'll come with you!" The two knights glanced over at her, both grinning.
"Please! I could help." Gwaine and Lancelot nodded.
"Oh thank you! What color should it be?" Everyone paused at that.
"Blue, dark blue." Arthur piped up. Everyone stared at him.
"What!? It's his favorite color." Eyebrows rose all at once.
"He's always wearing that obnoxious blue scarf thing. He almost lost it last week, he was two hours late." Arthur explained. Grins lit every face.
"Blue it is then!" Gwaine grinned.