CHAPTER 11 : BATHING AND ELBOWING TO SUCCESS
The two of them were getting along well. Still some hiccups as Merlin learned the ropes. One morning as Arthur breakfasted, he said that he'd like to have a bath. Merlin looked clueless. Where did Arthur go to have a bath? In Ealdor if the weather was warm, the boys with lots of shouting and fooling around, used to splash around in the pond otherwise they sluiced off under the pump. Merlin couldn't see Arthur splashing around making lots of noise.
Under the pretense of taking laundry and returning the breakfast tray, Merlin sought out Humphrey, who gave him a quick course on princely bathing in Camelot. He felt stupid as he hadn't realised that that thing upended against the wall in the alcove of the antechamber was called a bath. He felt more confident so he notified housekeeping that the prince wished to bathe. Humphrey nodded at him approvingly and went on his way. That in itself was a big mistake!
Merlin returned to the room and assured Arthur that he had arranged for his bath to be prepared. Soon the chamber was a hive of activity. The bath was carried close to the fire and placed on some big thick sheets. Menservants arrived with pails of hot water, filling the bath and lighting the fire to keep extra pails of water warm. Everything was ready.
Merlin put a stack of bath sheets on a bench within easy reach, a face cloth and some soap. The water was the right temperature and he told Arthur that his bath was ready.
"Well, I'll see you when you're all spanking clean," he joked as he went to leave the room.
He opened the door to leave but a voice said, "Excuse me, Merlin!"
He backed into the room, turned and said, "Yes?"
"I need to disrobe for my bath."
"Well, I wouldn't expect you to get in with your clothes on..." Merlin laughed, he thought that he was really clever with that remark. "And don't splash, too much as I don't want to have to clean up a soaking floor!"
He again made to leave the chamber.
"Merlin! Your job is to be my second pair of hands, which includes getting me ready for my bath!"
Damn! Merlin realised that Humphrey, hadn't explained that Arthur would need help getting bathed. He wondered to himself, 'What sort of a weakling were they raising as a crown prince?'
"I'm not getting out of the bath to get clean warm water to rinse myself off! You get the fresh pails of water from the fireside when I am ready for them."
Merlin blushed, he couldn't help it. He hoped Arthur hadn't noticed. He had! He saw him smile...he was enjoying Merlin's discomfort.
He went into 'second pair of hands mode' and helped Arthur strip off. He couldn't control his head or his heart which was doing crazy things. "Now place my clean smalls and freshly laundered clothes near the fire to warm." He did, turning away and sat by the fire waiting for Arthur to wash himself.
He was woken out of his self-induced reverie by a voice asking for clean water. He picked up a bucket and set it by the bath and using a pitcher poured clean warm water over a soapy Arthur.
"Towel! Merlin handed him a bath sheet and a smaller towel for his wet head. "Thank you...
He walked over to the fire and toweled himself dry. Putting on his under garments and trousers and lacing them up.
"Tunic!" Merlin handed him a fresh clean tunic. "Belt! Jacket!" He sat on the bed and Merlin put on his socks and boots. He looked up at him and couldn't help smiling, he looked all pink and new. Arthur mistook the smile and said, "Well, as you found that so entertaining, hopefully next time, you will be able to do it without prompts."
Merlin turned to the window and said under his breath, "Royal Bastard!"
"Pardon? Was that for my ears?" Arthur asked.
Merlin turned sweetly and said, "I said, 'Oil and bath tub'! But, now what happens to all the water?"
Arthur smiled, "It's not hard Daniel used to get rid of it in no time. There's a pitcher and a bucket so you just fill up the bucket and walk it down to the latrines, repeating the process until the bath is empty. I believe you then wipe out the bath and upend it somewhere. Alright?
Merlin's jaw dropped, it would take him all day to empty that much water. "Couldn't it just go out the window?"
"Merlin, we don't want the courtyard and any people below soaked with royal bath water, do we?"
But Arthur couldn't keep a straight face any longer and he started to laugh. Merlin realising that he was the brunt of the joke launched himself at Arthur. He was half way through the air when he thought to himself, 'This isn't a good idea, Merlin!'
Arthur had been in the process of standing as Merlin barreled into him.
Arthur slid down the bedpost and landed with a grunt on the floor, while Merlin knocked his head on the side of the bench and landed on top of him with his head on Arthur's chest. His head hurt, he put his hand to it but didn't move as he was quite comfortable then reality dawned and he knew that his position was not only inappropriate but embarrassing. Arthur grabbed his wrist. Merlin moved his head to look at him and saw fleeting emotions of pleading and then resignation. He panicked and moved his elbow back and levered himself into a sitting position but not before realising upon hearing Arthur's gasp, that his elbow had not been on the floor. He leapt up, his face the colour of a beetroot.
"Arthur, I'm...Oh god! Arthur, I'm sorry I didn't realise..." Merlin offered him his hand and hauled him up.
Arthur was hanging onto the bedpost. Merlin kept his hand at his elbow as he made his way to the window, wincing with every step.
"Can, I help. Is there something I can do?"
Arthur shook his head and shuddered, "No, Merlin! I think that you have probably done enough damage as it is."
"Let me get Gaius. He must know about things like that!"
"Merlin, I think the fewer people involved the better." He put his hand on the back of the chair and gingerly lowered himself into it.
They were interrupted by a tap on the door. Arthur flapped his hand in Merlin's direction so he went and opened it. There was a young squire with a message from Castle Farm. Merlin took it and Arthur motioned for him to read it aloud. Basically, it said that if Arthur wished to ride Iago that afternoon he could.
Merlin heard the gasp from the chair and gulped, making an executive decision he notified the squire that the prince would not be riding that afternoon. The squire left to deliver the verbal response.
Merlin turned back to Arthur who had his head in his hands. Now, Merlin was really getting worried. Then he noticed Arthur's shoulders were shaking. He stood across from him and waited.
Arthur lifted his head, and said, "I couldn't." He caught Merlin's eye and burst out laughing. "Not even for Iago."
Merlin had Gaius in stitches when he recounted the full episode. "Merlin at the rate you're going, you won't have a job because we won't have a crown prince..."
It was little happenings like this which cemented the friendship and strengthened the master/servant bond.
But there were a few things which couldn't be glossed over.
Uther was welcoming a delegation from a neighbouring kingdom. It consisted of the ruling couple and various servants, lackeys and hangers on. The Lord Chamberlain had everything in hand and all the guest chambers were arranged as were quarters for the servants.
Merlin watched their arrival from Arthur's window. Arthur was closeted with Geoffrey, so Merlin was not in attendance on the steps as the party arrived. He looked around the room and laid out everything which he felt that Arthur might need for the welcoming supper that night. Humphrey had dropped by to tell him that Arthur would be wearing his formal clothes.
Not being interested, in formal or informal clothes whatever they were, Merlin was not really paying attention.
He figured that Arthur was old enough to decide what he wanted to wear, anyway.
True to form, Arthur came sweeping in, checked over the clothes on the bed nodding his approval. He hadn't been feeling too well as he had a head cold but he figured he was well enough to attend dinner and anyway the king would expect him to put in an appearance. Arthur took a good dose of Gaius's cold medicine just swigging it down. Merlin had hot water available so left Arthur to wash and went downstairs to get a repeat dose from Gaius but Gaius wasn't there.
Merlin, when he returned realised that Arthur mustn't have felt too well after washing, as he'd lain on the bed and in true style had fallen asleep. Merlin decided not to disturb him but give him a few more minutes to rest, 'Lazy, so and so,' he thought. He sat in front of the fire and before he knew it is was dark. Arthur was snoring away and by the sounds in the corridor, people were making their way from their rooms to the dining hall.
He ran over to Arthur and grabbed his arm, "You're late! Get up and get dressed."
Arthur was warm and sleepy, he grabbed Merlin's hand and rolled over pinning it to the mattress. Merlin pulled away but Arthur had been dreaming and in his sleep befuddled mind confused Merlin's hand with a sword and had no intention of relinquishing it to the enemy.
"Please, Arthur let go. Come on! Wake up, you're really running late for supper."
"Go away, Merlin! You don't know how to fight..." was all Arthur mumbled.
Merlin did the only thing which he could do. He held out his hand, he closed his eyes and whispered, "Sugeres sursum iam!" adding, "You slob!" in English for full affect.
Arthur let go and got up. He was very placid, stood perfectly still and allowed Merlin to dress him without comment. He waited and Merlin opened the door saying, "Alright, Arthur, we should make it before the king if we hurry."
Arthur didn't move. Merlin went back and got him by the arm, but Arthur wanted to hold hands. Merlin finally had to slap his hand away and not too gently drag him into the corridor. It was a battle of hands all the way down the stairs. Various people nodded at Arthur as he passed but he made no eye contact looking straight ahead. Gaius was waiting near the door and observed Merlin avoiding Arthur's hand and literally steering him to his chair. He caught Merlin's eye and all Merlin could do was shrug.
Those assembled waited and within minutes Uther's arrival was heralded, he came in with his royal guests and was seated. Merlin managed to get Arthur onto his chair. He caused no trouble but was uncommunicative. Geoffrey beside him gave him a strange look but Merlin managed to lean over and whisper, "His cold's worse...doesn't feel too well." Geoffrey nodded sympathetically.
As he went to stand back to assume his customary position, he felt something and realised that Arthur had latched onto his leg. Merlin stood on one leg trying to shake Arthur's hand off the other but it didn't work. Leaning forward, he pinched Arthur's underarm and Arthur who hadn't spoken in an hour suddenly said, loudly and clearly, into one of those rare periods of silence which happen infrequently in a crowded room, "Ow, Merlin! That hurt...!"
All heads turned to the crown prince who was nursing his arm. The king glanced down the table and gave Merlin one of his famous scowls, thinking, 'That boy is on his way out!'
Gaius left his seat and walked to Merlin. Pulling him aside he said, "What's wrong with him?"
Merlin shrugged, "Don't know but my leg is going to be bruised by tomorrow."
"Think Merlin, has he had any thing to eat which might be making him this way?"
"He took something for his cold before he got washed and when I got back to him he was asleep on his bed."
Gaius had a worried look, "How much did you give him?"
"Nothing, he took it himself."
"How much?"
"Don't know, I just saw him gulping down something from the vial."
"Merlin, that was a concentrate, it was to be diluted. You should have known better than to leave him alone with medications. That had laudanum in it. He's high!"
The meal was over and the after dinner speeches were beginning. The drug was still having an affect on Arthur. Gaius looked back and saw Geoffrey trying to cope with Arthur's desire to hold someone's hand.
"Merlin," Gaius whispered, "I half blame you for this mess. He's not going to get too rambunctious but you can keep him quiet and happy by holding his hand if that's what he wants."
"No way, Gaius. What if someone notices?"
Gaius whispered as he walked back to his seat, "Guess, they'll think you're courting!"
Merlin felt his face start to get red, he walked over to Geoffrey and felt stupid saying it but he whispered, "Sir Geoffrey, I'll hold his hand!"
Geoffrey looked relieved and handed Arthur's hand over to Merlin.
Arthur realising that there had been a change in hands, glanced down and entwined his fingers with Merlin's and glanced up giving him a warm smile and said, quietly, "That's better, Merlin!"
Merlin managed to get Arthur's arm off the armrest and his hand hung loosely between Geoffrey's and his chair and Merlin stood trying to keep a straight face as the Crown Prince of Camelot kept playing with his fingers.
Suddenly the speeches were over and the king had risen. He thanked everyone for attending the supper and left glaring at Merlin who was, as far as he was concerned standing much closer to his son than was proper.
Gaius made his way over and asked Geoffrey to meet him in his chambers later, presumable to explain Arthur's strange behaviour. Merlin asked Arthur to stand and he did so. Merlin slipped his hand under his elbow and Gaius and he managed to get him back to his chamber without any problems.
Merlin sat him on the bed and walked over to the table to find the vial of medicine. It wasn't there, but Arthur was, right behind him like a little dog, this time hanging onto his jacket.
Gaius smiled, He picked up the vial from the chest beside the bed. It was empty. "Well, that explains everything. He took the whole vial. I'm surprised that he's still on his feet. Nothing medicinal for him until late tomorrow afternoon and you'd better keep him in bed or at least confined to this room. See if you can get water down him during the night as that would help."
Merlin started to help Arthur undress, which was difficult as Arthur was still determined to hold hands. "But Gaius, I'll be up and down the stairs all night."
"No, you won't. You can stay here tonight. Sleep on the cot in the antechamber once he's willing to let you go!" Gaius laughed. "I have to get on my way now as I have a lot of explaining to do to Geoffrey. Don't worry unduly about him as it is only a romantic reaction to the overdose."
Gaius looked at Arthur and said, "No need, to tell you to sleep tight as you will and...hopefully you will remember none of your amourous advances tomorrow morning. Eh, Merlin?"
Merlin had had it, he just shook his head and continued trying to fend off Arthur's hand as he got him into his nightclothes. He pulled a chair beside the bed and allowed Arthur to hang onto his hand. He'd only ever held hands with his Mam or little children but holding hands with Arthur didn't seem as strange as he thought it might be.
By the times the sentries had changed for the second time, Arthur had let Merlin's hand slip out of his and he'd turned over. Merlin pulled himself up and went to the antechamber and literally flopped on the cot.
Morning came too soon, but he got up, checked on Arthur who was still fast asleep. He tidied up all the clothes from the previous evening, made up the cot and then, left him to get his breakfast. When he woke him up, asking him how he'd slept. He yawned and smiling saying, "Great! You know, Merlin, I felt as if someone was watching over me all night."
Merlin made no comment but if Arthur had looked at him, he would have seen a slight blush cross his face.
"Gaius suggested because of your cold, that you could spend the morning in bed. He would also prefer that you don't leave the chambers until supper.
Arthur said, "But, I feel fantastic! The mixture from Gaius worked really well. I was asleep before you came back from Gaius's and have only just woken up now. Do I have any to take this morning?"
"No," Merlin tried not to smile, "Gaius said that that was a twenty-four hour dose which you had taken and no more until later today, if you still need it. No headache, no wooziness, no nausea?"
"Merlin, stop being an old nursemaid! You wouldn't know how to deal with someone who was sick even if your life depended on it."
"Right, Arthur! Wouldn't know what to do with someone who was high and wanting to hold hands..."
"You talk absolute nonsense! By the way, did I miss anything going to bed early last night?"
Merlin looked straight at him and said, "Nothing worth remembering..."
