Hope you enjoyed the ninth Chapter.
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Chapter 10- One Step Forward.
The sun was rising in the sky shining a warming orange glow. Merlin slammed open Arthur's chamber door in an attempt to wake him. Getting nothing out of the pile of covers on the bed Merlin stomped over to the windows. Smiling to himself Merlin threw open the long red velvet curtains.
"Rise and shine." he sang in the most annoying voice he could muster.
Nothing. He didn't get the usual grunt response or a pillow thrown at his head. That was strange. Confused and unsure on whether he was grateful or not for the lack of objects flying at his face, Merlin pulled back the covers with as much force as he could conjure.
Again nothing. He wasn't in his bed. Merlin just figured that the prince had decided to do some early morning hunting without telling him. With a shrug of his shoulders Merlin left the prince's chamber and headed past Alaya's room. As he passed he heard a strange noise then a shuffle come from within. Curious at the strange noise Merlin knocked on Alaya's door. The noise suddenly stopped which only sparked concern in the young warlock.
Merlin quickly opened the chamber to door find something he did not expect. He saw a dishevelled Arthur trying to pry himself out of Alaya's grip. Once he saw that Merlin was staring at him with his typical childish grin, Arthur stopped dead. The Prince looked from Merlin to the still sleeping Alaya.
"It's not what it looks like." mumbled Arthur.
It was obvious by the look on Merlin's face that he didn't believe Arthur and it wasn't long before he began to laugh. Arthur didn't not appreciate his manservant laughing at him at anytime, his pride wouldn't allow it. His face tensed and his eyes thinned. Merlin quickly regained control.
Arthur was suddenly free. He stumbled towards the table. Alaya had released him only to grab the nearest pillow and throw it with all of her sleepy might at Merlin. The pillow hit Merlin square in his face making him take a step backwards. For a brief moment he thought he escaped objects flying towards his face that morning.
"I'm trying to sleep." grumbled Alaya before she sank further down in her bed, pulling the covers over her head.
"Actually you're going to want to get up. Gaius thinks he has found something but he wants you to take a look first."
At that Alaya sat straight up, her hair all over the place. She looked at Merlin to make sure he wasn't lying before darting to her screen to get changed almost tripping over the bed sheets as she did so. He was stood staring at her with a smile on his face and his arms folded. Arthur shook his head as Merlin was mesmerised by the speed the supposedly tired Alaya had shown.
"I'll go get changed. We'll meet you in Gaius' chamber." declared the Prince.
All he got out of the female hunter was an annoyed groan as she changed behind the screen. With one last glance towards Alaya all Arthur could see was a lot of bare leg appear from behind the screen as she hopped around trying to put her trousers on. Arthur left the room with a slight blush on his cheeks closely followed by Merlin, who was even redder, chuckling as they went.
Gaius' Chamber.
The court physician was busing himself with several vials. He would look from one to the other heavy in thought. One of the small vials was a clear colour and had a single strand of hair in it. The other was a dirty brown colour that you couldn't see a single thing through. The only bit of colour was a small fleck of blue that seemed to swirl around of it's own free will.
Gaius was so focused on the vials in his hand he was oblivious to the sound of thundering feet outside his chamber. Alaya charged through the door making it bounce off of the wall. Gaius jumped so badly he might as well have been a cat pouncing into a tree. As she managed to stop in her tracks she turned to make sure the door was still on it's hinges while repeatedly saying sorry.
Gaius had ahold of his chest but was smiling at Alaya as she came to stand beside the physician. She was breathing heavily. Gaius passed her a cup of water as she held her the stitch in her side.
"What have you got for me Gaius?" she breathed, eagerly looking at the vials that Gaius had had in his hand.
Gaius couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he pointed to a book that was laid open on the table. Before Alaya could get to it Merlin came running into the room out of breath. Alaya looked at him smiling until she saw the look on his face. He looked panicked, like he'd seen a ghost and been chased by that ghost as it promised to repeatedly stab him with a spoon.
"Arthur is stalling her as best as he can but she knows that you are here." he breathed, sweat dripping down his face.
To say Alaya was confused would be an understatement. She just looked at him wide eyed like he was running naked through the market place. She wasn't the only one either. Gaius was looking between Alaya and Merlin hoping one of them would tell him what was going on. It all clicked into place when they heard a voice shouting in the corridor.
A woman's voice echoed down the corridor and that voice was all to familiar to Alaya. It was the judgemental, condescending voice of her mother. She could hear Arthur trying to convince Linella that Alaya was no where near Camelot.
"Go. Into Merlin's room. Quickly." ushered Gaius as he pushed Alaya towards the back room.
Alaya managed to dart into Merlin's room just before Linella burst through the door. Merlin was trying so hard to look like he wasn't out of breath. He was lent against the table some how managing to control his breathing. Linella's eyes scanned over the room looking for any sign of her daughter.
"Lady Linella, to what do I owe the pleasure?" inquired Gaius in the most polite manner he could.
The Queen of Zewen was adorned in a luxurious deep blue gown that had a lighter blue corset. The sleeves grew wider as they reached the edge becoming a lighter shade of cobalt. She gave Gaius the most mistrustful look that she could. She proceeded to search the room as Arthur entered. With her back turned to him Arthur mouthed sorry to Gaius.
Linella marched around the room casting aside anything that wasn't helpful or she didn't like. Merlin was about to say something when the Queen began to throw things around. One look from Arthur told him to do otherwise.
"Where is my daughter? Where is Alaya?" demanded Linella who was still scowling.
"Alaya? I haven't seen her in years. Why the last time was here was when she and a young Arthur decided to climb the old oak..." Merlin had always admired how quickly Gaius could think on his feet.
"Shut up old man! That dirty curly haired servant has already told me that she saw her come this way." snapped Linella. From inside Merlin's room, Alaya wanted so badly to shout at her mother but knew better of it. She was curling her hands into fist as Linella spoke, breathing deeply in an attempt to control herself.
"If Alaya is in Camelot I have not seen her." Gaius' polite tone was now completely gone.
"If she was here she would have visited me my Lady. We were great friends when we were young." pitched in Arthur.
Merlin had to stifle a laugh. From the way he had found them that morning he would have thought they were something a little more.
Linella was still searching for her daughter not listening to anything that the others had said. She had made her way to Merlin's room. The knot in everyones stomach tightened when she threw open the newly fixed door. Nothing. All Linella could see was the mess that was Merlin's room.
"If Alaya shows up I demand that you tell me. She will no doubt take the side of that boyfriend of her's, Lucas." grumbled Linella, spitting out venom as she said his name.
By the look on her face Linella couldn't wait to get out of Gaius' chamber. She marched to the door not saying goodbye to anyone before slamming it on the way out.
Alaya dropped down from above the door. She was stood there, frowning, staring at the entrance as silence filled the room.
"Of course I will. He actually helps the people of Zewen." she mumbled still not taking her eyes off of the door.
Arthur gulped uncomfortably as everyone looked at each other awkwardly.