Chapter IX

Merlin remained unconscious for the next two days. Sometimes mumbling in his sleep. I went as often as I could, but I was now the Queens maid. And a Queen was never expected to wait for her servant to arrive. But the Queen was very kind to me and often asked how Merlin was.
"Where is Eira? I haven't seen her for days"
"She is with Merlin, my Lady"
"She must enjoy his company"
"I believe she does."
"Can't believe it to be very entertaining" she gave a little smile
"No, I believe not, my Lady" I smiled to myself as I was turned away from the Queen.
"Oh, sorry, here I go on complaining. It's just... Oh he'd never admit it"
"My Lady?"
"Arthur. He'd never admit that Merlin is his best friend. And that now that he is ill he misses his company terribly. He's been mopping for days. Though he'd never admit that either"
"I do not know the King as you do, my Lady. But of what Gaius and the Knights have told me you might be right."
"Talk, do they?"
"Only good, my Lady. Mostly about things they have done"
"They're good at boosting. Be careful you don't fall."
"Fall my Lady? Into what?"
The Queen chuckled "Rather into who" She looked at me with twinkling eyes and a smile.
"Don't worry, my Lady. I'm not falling for anyone. They're to macho for me."
"And Merlin?" I looked at her surprised.
"Merlin was... is my best friend"
"That's how it starts"
I wanted to respond but there was a knock on the door and the King entered.
"Gwen I need to..." He stopped there staring in front of him.
"Yes, Arthur?" He shook his head.
"Ah... I need to... Eh... Ask you something"
"Yes Arthur, what is it?"
"Do... would you like to come riding with me this afternoon?"
"I'd love to"
"Good, good... Well see you then" He smiled and hurried out the door.
"That was not what he really wanted"
"No?!"
"No. Well I'll find out this afternoon I suppose."

That afternoon the King and Queen road of and I went to Gaius and Merlin.
"Ah, Pádraigín, come in, come in. Have a look at this. What do you think?"
Gaius showed me a herb.
"Isn't that used for sleeping draught?"
"Yes, good. I used to use these for Lady Morgana she... Well never mind. Now Mrs Jones is having trouble sleeping so I need to make her a draught as well... Now let's see..."
Gaius disappeared in his own thoughts. I smiled and turned towards Eira and Merlin.
"Hello, how have you been?" Eira looked at me
"Yes I know. We will go out soon, promise"
"That would be good. It's quite boring laying here"
"Merlin!"
"Hello" he smiled weakly.
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine, never better"
"Liar"
"Yeah, feel rubbish"
"Good"
we fell silent and watched each other for a while.
"Ah, ha, yes that's it!" Gaius shouted out.
"What has he been doing?"
"Sleeping draught, couldn't remember the recipe."
"Hmm, it's on page 150 in the big red book third on the right on the second top shelve."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"well, why didn't you tell him so?"
"I didn't know he was looking for it. Besides I was unconscious."
"True"
"So what have you been up to these past few days? weeks?"
"Only 5 days. Not much. Looking for herbs, healing you, been running after the Queen. Run after by knights and keeping you and Gaius company"
"The knights are running after you? What did you do?"
"I've done nothing"
"What do you mean healing me. You haven't used magic have you?" his voice going from jokingly to slight panic in seconds.
"Of course I have. You asked me to. Don't worry the King doesn't know only Gaius and he promised not to tell anyone" I gave a small smile.
"I trust Gaius with me life" Merlin said gravely
"Good! " I looked away from him.
"What's wrong Pádraigín?"
"Nothing" I knew I wasn't fooling him, but he didn't press on instead he asked;
"Tell me about the Knights?"
"What's there to tell?"
"I don't know, you tell me. You were the one telling me they're after you"
"Well only Elian and Gwain"
"Why?"
"I don't know, Gwen sais they fancy me, but don't ask me why"
"Well I can believe that" He said with a secret smile crossing his face. I looked dumbstruck at him, this was getting to serious so I gave a joke back, hoping to ease the tension building up between us.
"What did you hit? Your head?"
"I suppose I did" he jokes back.
"Woof"
"Yes Eira. What is it?" I asked and Merlin looked at the dog with a raised eyebrow.
"Woof, woof"
"Well why didn't you say so in the first place?"
"grrr" I laughed.
"You think that is funny? an angry dog?"
"She isn't angry, she just said..." The rest of my sentence was cut off by a knock on the door.

"Come in" Gaius said. The door opened and Gwain and Elian entered.
"Eh. Hello Gaius. Is... is Pádraigín in?"
I gave Merlin a meaning look and he just looked shocked.
"Yes, she's with Merlin" Gaius answered without really looking up from his work. The Knights turned to me and Merlin.
"Eh, Hello Pádraigín. We were wondering if ... if you'd like to go for a walk in... in the woods with us. You can of course bring Eira."
"Eira already told me you were coming" I smiled and winked at Merlin.
"She did?" the Knights asked in unison.
"Oh so that was the growling" Merlin said understandingly. The Knights looked surprised.
"MERLIN! You're back!?" They both shouted.
"Well I had no intentions of leaving"
"This is great. Arthur is going to be so pleased to hear you've come around" Elian said.
"ha, ha Yes. He need someone to help him I suppose." Merlin smiled.
"Now how about that walk" Gwain asked. I looked at Merlin who nodded.
"Alright then." I stood up "See you later Merlin"
"See you" He put his head back on the pillows and was sleeping before we had left the room.

It was a short walk in the woods Eira running ahead of us. The Knights telling all sorts of stories about their earlier adventures. Back at the castle Eira disappeared and the Knights bid me a good afternoon. I went back to the Queens quarters and did some cleaning.

It was late afternoon when they came back, the King and Queen. Their dinner was already waiting for them, they sat down and started their dinner.
"How was your day Pádraigín?"
"Fine, my Lady."
"And Merlin?"

"Oh...He woke up today. He should be up and about in a few days, Sire"
"Good." the King said without much interest. "Sorry, what?" he said.
"I said Merlin will be back working in a few days, Sire"
"Excuse me" he said and hurried out the door.
"Good for him" the Queen mumbled and then smiled broadly. "So Merlin woke up?"
"Yes my Lady"
"Nothing else special happened today?"
"No"
"Oh, Cause I thought I saw you and two of the Knights in the woods earlier today"
"Oh, yes. Well Gwain and Elian asked me to go for a walk with them"
"hmm" the Queen said and went back to her dinner. The King returned 30 minutes later looking better than he had done in days. He ate his dinner not even complaining about it being cold.