Impressive responses from the last chapter, excellent - can it happen again? Check for typos I'm confused by the word Past and Passed - they are so similar.
Merlin was still dizzy from the bizarre game of tag with fully grown men, it had gone on for a gruelling and senseless two hours just outside the castle walls. Worst he had played it without laughing once, he grinned occasionally – that was because unbeknownst to the knights he had used magic to trip them up so they couldn't get away. He tagged them one after the other, then they pursued him and knocked him down, limbs tangling together in a heap, Sir Kay had squealed like a pig while Sir Leon guffawed at the sidelines. "Can't believe the idiocy I'm seeing – I wish I could paint this!"
When Merlin had staggered to his feet, he leant on the wall with one hand, from the back it looked like he was relieving himself which was why no one bothered him for about two minutes. "Feeling better now Merlin?" He drew a shaky breath before replying in all honesty.
"Yeah actually...pretty good." He pivoted when he was roughly jolted to one side, Sir Kay had gotten the sudden urge to relieve himself in the same spot, like a dog remarking his territory. He made himself scarce, not wanting to be clapped on the back by the knight who had just urinated. "Okay my tank is empty, need to refuel!" He announced rising his hands in the air as if he was preaching.
"Holy shit Merlin you're fricking funny, you're a dark horse!" The random knight whooped and keeled over sideways into the long grass. That was a little funny, but it didn't even prise a snort out of him.
Sir Bedivere who had sobered from chasing the other knights around the field had spotted Merlin's very sombre stance. "Look at Merlin here all moody!" Everyone looked over at him. Great.
Sir Leon closed in on the younger gent. "Well that won't do at all...this is a celebration!" An unwelcome arm came around his shoulder. "I think it is time for Merlin to pay a visit to Anchorit." It meant something to the knights because they all cheered and began to bustle him back into the kingdom, rather than dismiss there boisterous bruising and settle for a quiet drink – he, through curiosity and boredom wanted to see what Anchorit really was.
They past the stables – okay it wasn't a horse, they past the training grounds - okay it wasn't a special weapon. He spied a house between houses, the smallest in the kingdom but high meaning it contained more than three floors. Sir Leon seemed to have taken the reins in a matter of speaking, and was marching Merlin alone to the porch, he craned his head to see the knights lurking on the other side of the street watching expectantly. It deterred him. Leon knocked on the door firmly, light streamed through a peep hole then abruptly went dark. There were clunks and clangs of bolts coming undone and finally a woman answered. He knew the woman, she had visited Gaius to have a corn removed, Sir Leon inched him closer to the door and no sooner had Merlin's toes crossed the threshold the woman had seized his arm and dragged him inside shutting Sir Leon out. "You're welcome!" The knight called not too sure who it was intended for.
He hadn't been in this house of mystery before, it was very dark and smelt like cider – so basically like a tavern but with too many rooms. The woman dragged him down a hall and up a set of stairs before she stopped to query him, her breath reeking of herbs. "Now then think of a number between 16 and 40, what number are you thinking of?"
Merlin screwed up his face, what kind of game was this? – He might as well muse her, he let out a resigned sigh before – "..30."
"Damn I wished you'd picked a lower number." She pinched a bit of his shirt and dragged him up some spiral stairs. Turning after another, steps blurring and the sense he would die of boredom, nothing but stairs below and above him, and strange murmurs calling out of the darkness, bumps behind doors. They came to a stop and Merlin nearly tumbled over, he sensed the woman wanted him to proceed on his own, as a door before him unlocked, light spilled out into the hall engulfing him, enticing him into the warmth of that room.
The room was reminiscent of a gypsy's tent; all hanging drapes and pillows. He wasn't alone in this sealed off room, a different woman emerged from behind a room divider, for the first time in a while he nearly tittered; the woman was dressed like she was from the Far East, she was wearing very little to preserve her modesty, her midriff was showing and she had a jewel lodged in her belly button. She had a vale covering the lower half of her face, when she began to dance he stifled a snigger, which could have been misinterpreted as a groan of arousal. Why in the hell would you dance with no music? When she had done twirling around him and dusting him with her shawl, her smooth voice rung in his ear. "What shall I call you?"
Merlin shrugged giving her little interest. "Erm...you shall call me Merlin." She stopped close to his face and leered at him, he had hoped the dance was enough but she was now scrutinising his attire. "Okay now what?" He said impatiently, and she stood firm.
"You are a servant or a farmer."
"Yes." Leaving it at that, though he wasn't trying to create an air of mystery about him.
She did a sort of shimmy and her cups rattled furiously, she looked determined to make him swoon or blush at least. "You're not shy."
Merlin pulled a frown very similar to Arthur's. "No not really." He gave her a pointed look hoping she was just going to tell his fortune and then bugger off. She smiled casually at him and threw the shawl around his neck, pulling it in a sawing motion while shaking her hips so her decorations would jingle at him, the shawl was to hold his attention on her. Well she was hard to miss. "What shall I call you?"
"Fiona." It was hardly an eastern name, she could have thought of something that fit the theme."Okay then my lovely what will it be?"
"Sorry?" He started.
"Do you have a request or am I to find out?..To be honest it will be easier for you if you could tell me what you like." Her hand toyed with his collar, either to neaten it or to peak what was under there in preparation.
Merlin thought for a moment – well he couldn't believe he was actually thinking about it. He had worked out where he was and what she was here to do and he wasn't at all stifled by it. She looked eager and he didn't. "You could dance around a bit more and I'll sit here." He sank into a giant squashy pillow as room span around him, the action surprised her, he caught on to this. "Something wrong?"
"Erm no, just...well I know every man is different; you are either... vastly experienced and not letting on you are bored by me, or... you're shy and trying to put it off." Her voice oozed concern and dissatisfaction, like he gives a damn.
He had to admire her reading ability even if she was just a..."Have you been paid?" He asked keeping his voice gentle, and devoid of any slurring despite his discombobulated state.
"The madam was paid in advance by a very smartly dressed man with an aura of mystery and pride."
He quirked an eyebrow, wow she was going to burst into song as well. "Right, so I'm guessing anything that happens gets past on to him." The man was a sneaky fellow, he wondered what could have driven him to this sort of treatment. "Did he mention why, or when you should expect me here?"
She shook her head profusely. "He only said you were a friend and you had looked after his sister." And there it was – something to laugh at, he startled the woman, his voice was full of mirth. As if it wouldn't get back to him – as if he could disguise it by referring to the woman in question as his sister.
"Dear god...he promised me a knighthood!" He clapped his hands in hysterics and the woman uncomfortably covered her cups.
"I think this is better don't you think?" She retorted defiantly through his manic laughter. "Okay enough now...am I to pleasure you or not?" She stated impatiently hands on hips – her far eastern character completely absent.
He stared up at her through tears in his eyes and allowed his merriment to dry up entirely before responding. "Amuse yourself, dance around and I'll just sit here." He leant back on the plush cushion and crossed his stretched out legs. "Well dance woman!" He looked about him for any alcohol.
Fiona lowered her shawl disgruntled and closed the distance unexpectedly, she went on her knees and perched herself not too far away from her client. "Are you sure – I could do something else?" She hinted, her hand slipping to his thigh. Wrong move. No sooner was that rather warm hand caressing that cold thigh – a hand shot up and backhanded the woman across the face, she gasped and flew sideways. It was the least likely response to get from a client, her trust in even the simplest client had been faltered, and she sheepishly got up and flew to the back room to recover and hopefully soak her sores to prevent bruising. When she returned fretfully, he was still there – his fists clenched.
His breath was as sharp as his reflexes. "Actually that was pretty good, better response." It was mumbled to the floor and Fiona had to inch closer, she tensed when he looked up at her with pinkish eyes. "May I do that again?"
"My lady?"
Morgana was staring into space, her dress for some time had held her attention but now she couldn't even look at it. It was pretty and plain with lots of lace, oh god she hated it. The day after it was made she had adored it, when she had paid, she and Gwen had celebrated with smuggled in cider, it was never fitting for a noble woman to drink cider, only diluted wine. But thinking about the festivities with her wearing that dress it seemed so pointless, she was to dance and eat among women, and then they were to mingle and act all virginal and fruitful, without actually doing anything.
"My lady?" Gwen repeated.
"Yes?"
"Arms up." Gwen instructed, waiting with the loofah, Morgana made the water tinkle as she raised her arms above her head, Gwen scrubbed gently on her under arms and strained the loofah so that water would run down her chest. "Isn't the lavender relaxing?" She added dreamily, sniffing the loofah. Morgana watched bubbles pop as she felt Gwen's ministrations.
"I dare say it is." Morgana finally said after a moment's thought. She found Gwen's overzealous cleaning more appealing. "Oh Gwen – if only you were a man."
"But I'm not." She laughed. "I would make a terrible man, the intimacy I would provide would be timid and awkward."
"Better than nothing." Morgana replied. She made a sound of discomfort when Gwen pressed the loofah to her lower back under the soapy water.
"You alright my lady?"
"Fine." She stated too quickly to her maid's liking, Morgana discreetly lay back into the water to avoid being examined. "The ribbons you chose are really nice by the way."
"Well as long as you're satisfied."
"Well that's another problem entirely." Morgana commented, she began to swill the warm water around her tub until her mind was clear, impossible. "Did anybody call for me today?"
Guinevere didn't have the heart to say. "Um, the King knows you are well, Arthur was disgruntled about the lack of clean shirts..." She realised that wouldn't help at all – it would lead to summing up a reason why Arthur lacked cleaned shirts. "Err the kitchen staff have been very busy preparing for the festival, they are also pleased to know you are well." She could hear her mistress's stilted breathing as if waiting for something. "Other than that I think the whole of Camelot is content, there's no reason you shouldn't be."
The silence stretched out longer than necessary before the tub creaked as Morgana got up with speed. She was starker and wet. Guinevere dragged herself to her feet in order to cover the princess. She attempted to pat her dry but Morgana shrugged out of the hold and leapt out of the tub making puddles as she sped to her dresser. "How late would you make it?"
"Sorry?" Gwen replied baffled by Morgana's question and her casual nudity.
"Would you say it's chucking out time at the tavern?" She said offhandedly, sweeping up a dress that was yet to be washed, it was over her head before she could hear her friend retort.
"-You're not thinking of going to the tavern are you?" She said accusingly. "You can't drink yourself silly, what will the citizens say?"
Morgana realized she had her dress on back to front. Crap. "Do you really think I care what the people think?...Anyhow I've been before, and if it's chucking out time no one will see me..." She gave up with the fastenings since they were a little out of her reach.
"You're going to see him aren't you?" Morgana didn't answer, she just retrieved a wimple from the back of her dresser, it hadn't been worn in years – since it had gone out of style. "Now that will just look silly." She commented as the item was placed on her mistress's head.
"I look like an old lady of the court, that or a pre-teen."
"-Or a nun."
Morgana returned a sly grin. "So they will be very helpful, who could turn down a nun?" She sniggered at her genius before sobering on her maid's hard look.
"What are you planning? Merlin won't be nicer to you whatever you look like, he's not in the right frame of mind." Gwen tried. "Why the tavern?" She finally added completely resigned.
"Because that's the only place he can go...he's been chucked out remember?" She checked her damp hair was fully covered. "He'll probably get lodgings in the tavern, I'll meet him there."
After a moment's pause, Gwen forced herself forward as if driving her will. "I'm going with you, I won't let anything bad happen to you since you're my responsibility." Gwen slipped into her cape, she caught her friend smile smugly. "What?"
"You, you're so attractive when you're protective." Morgana opened the door for her. "I bet you want a drink as well."
"No I bloody do not." She said on the way out, she slammed the door and they made haste outside. It had rained considerably and the ground was sodden and shiny, quite a fun start to the evening skipping over puddles and laughing at near misses. It relieved the tension of what could come later, Gwen was hoping they wouldn't run into mean Merlin, she had heard from Gaius very negative things. She felt someone entwine their fingers with hers and she met her friend's gaze apprehensively. "That's sweet...but really Morgana you shouldn't."
Morgana hushed her. "No not Morgana, we should have nicknames in public...try Broomhilda." Guinevere rolled her eyes, trying to loosen the grip on her hands. "What about you?"
"Erm Esmeralda..."
"Really?" Morgana looked really masterful. "You do indeed."
Morgana's long strides were hard to keep up with, she really wanted to see mean Merlin at all costs.
The tavern was clearing out, the pub dwellers were spilling onto the narrow streets chatting amongst themselves and others stumbling into their wives who had come to collect them. She grabbed her lady's arm to divert her from some lecherous looking men who had stumbled in their direction.
"You alright my lovelies!"
Gwen murmured a 'fine' and was off towards where the pubbers had come from, as they came in they were about to be bustled out by the owner but he stalled when he saw the wimple. "Erm are you lost ladies?" He said politely.
Morgana had tightened her headdress. "I was wondering if you could inform me of any recent lodgers in your tavern?" Guinevere didn't think they would loosen their tongue so easily, but they had no reason to obtain any information.
"We have one...but he ain't come back yet – too bad he's paid in full already and he's going to get himself locked out."
Morgana tutted. "I see, shame...did he give you a name?" Gwen noticed her mistress was putting on a phoney voice, she had no idea why.
"What's it worth?"
Morgana blinked, it was Gwen's turn to step in. "A get out of prison clause." She chimed and the man gave up milking a bribe out of them.
"The lad with the over developed ears, Merlin." He said with no hesitation. "I thought he lived in the castle."
Morgana was beside herself and Gwen had to elbow her to still her. "Thank you." They were lucky, he wasn't about, though she didn't count on Morgana's persistence as she felt herself pushed aside. Her hand flew up pathetically to seize nothing, Morgana was out the door seeking her destiny. Oh Heck! "Please stop leaving me to pursue some boy." She whispered harshly outside the tavern, Morgana was going up the main street, her long wimple being a flag to identify how far away she was. "Come back!" Damn – when Morgana had a set goal she became selfish.
She had splashed along the high street when she came across Sir Kay puking behind a barrel. "Sir Kay?" Gwen said courteously from a safe distance.
He looked like hell and slightly ashamed he had been caught out, well at least he weren't peeing. "Gwinny-Guinevere you are out after hours, what is your business being here?" He tried to compose himself, and gain some power with a formal question.
"Taking care of a few things, are you drunk?" It was an afterthought, but she took pride at putting him on the spot.
He shook his head frivolously and his hand came up as if to slap himself. "No...it is merely food poisoning." Gwen could see vomit at the corner of his mouth and winced.
"Go to bed Kay."
"Are you promisin- promiscuat- propositioning me?"
"Believe me. No!" She didn't want to lose sight of the King's ward and swept past the swaggering knight as he attempted to lean on her.
"Oi, Broomhilda!" She took off for the corner and past more knights lurking by the roadside trying to stand up straight, they waved and cooed over her as she past, up ahead Morgana had been stopped by Sir Leon who was giving her an exaggerated bow. Thank God. "Sir Leon hold her there!" She quickly caught up to see a disgruntled maiden being grappled by the chivalrous knight, even when drunk. "Thank you." She turned to glare at her accomplice. "Do you mind if we get back? There is nothing out here for us."
Sir Leon pulled an odd face. "I thought you wanted me to arrest her – why else would you get me to halt her?"
"She isn't well." She was tempted to reveal Morgana's identity to the world. "Come along, I'm sure Merlin's fine."
"I bet he is." Sir Leon joshed quite devilishly, Gwen couldn't think what had gotten into everyone, she assumed it was all Morgana's fault. She tugged on her sleeve to ease her away, but Morgana had let loose her concern.
"How can you possibly know that? – He isn't at home, he isn't in the tavern...what if he's been mugged or murdered or something?"
"He can take care of himself...sadly." She could imagine the brutality.
Sir Leon had raised his finger to tug at the wimple curiously. "Morgana?" Then he said in a more sturdy and conclusive manner. "Lady Morgana."
"Yes yes yes." Her ladyship uttered aggressively, tugging the wimple completely off her head so her damp hair became fluffed up. "Alright I'm out of the castle and seeking a man."She added abruptly gaining unwanted attention from the knights further up the road.
"The King won't be pleased."
"Oh now you care, you weren't bothered when your men were plying me with alcohol!" She spat at the gentleman who raised his hands in defence. Gwen felt like covering her ears.
"You can see we're already in trouble." The maid quipped. "Can you be any louder? I don't think Mercia quite heard you." Morgana gave her a smouldering look.
"Does anybody care about Merlin?" She jibbed, fretting over her hair which she had just realised was a mess. "Why can't people just let me be?" The wimple was back on with vengeance. "You'd think the subjects would be more understanding."
Gwen bit back a laugh. "Can you hear yourself? – And see?"
Sir Leon interrupted their battle of the wits. "Why is her ladyship asking after Merlin?" Morgana huffed as if he had said something stupid, Gwen instead chose to reply, carefully.
"He's been consoling her, looking after her these past few days – since the trouble started." Gwen with a look- indicated for her mistress to keep her mouth shut. "He is firm and strict, and has a high resistance, so quite handy during these bizarre times don't you think?" Leon nodded admirably.
"He has been somewhat subdued and...moody." The knight began, though he became very sheepish. "You won't be able to see him till the morning."
Morgana met his gaze hopefully. "You know where he is?"
"Oh yeah." He restrained his cheekiness because ladies were present. He grew anxious when he saw they were still waiting for an explanation. "Right, best be off..."
"Where is he then? I shall report you if you don't tell me where the prince's manservant is?" This made it official and a threat.
One of the more obnoxious knights shimmied forward before Leon could stop him. "He's at the knock-up shop. The Funhouse."
Gwen gasped, Leon looked angry, and Morgana looked clueless. "I don't know what that is."
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