CHAPTER 25 : FROM WORSE TO WORSE
Arthur woke up early, he rolled over glancing at Merlin. Merlin was snoring, well more like huffing gently. He got up and opened the curtains, the day was grey but to the east he could see streaks of light heralding a possible clearing.
He made his way to the water closet and smiled at the facilities which were much superior to those offered at the hunting lodge which had a primitive water closet off their chamber but it only offered a rudimentary drain and a copper warmed by the fire in the main room. After a day's hunting, it was a luxury to be able to wash off in warm water and not needing to make a trip outside in the night was much appreciated.
By the time Arthur came back to the bed, Merlin was awake, so he said, "Well, hello there! Did you sleep well?"
Merlin hummed at him which Arthur took to mean yes. Stretching his legs to the end of the bed, he yawned and said, "What are the plans for today?"
"First breakfast, then a quick update from Leon. Then a surprise visit to the squires during late morning training, afterwards lunch with Treva maybe? Later on, I have a damned council meeting!" Merlin sighed sympathetically as Arthur continued, "During which time you could give Gaius a hand."
Merlin perked up, he did have a few things he'd like to discuss with Gaius. He wanted to give him a heads up about King Peter's proposal. "Do you need me before lunch?"
"No, I can get through that without any help. Get up now and we'll eat breakfast."
Merlin slipped his feet into house shoes, he hated the cold flagstones. He went to the antechamber to get the breakfast platters. He placed them on the edge of the table and moved the papers from the previous night.
Arthur wasn't there so he glanced around and he was sitting up in bed and he patted the bed beside him saying, "Let's have breakfast in bed."
"All right but only if you promise to be serious, usually it ends up causing Thomas more work." He placed the platters on the bed and went to the water closet.
"Feel better now?" asked a laughing voice as he came back to the bed.
Merlin made a face at him and slipped off his shoes and swung his legs into bed. His way of paying Arthur back was to let his cold feet touch his warm legs, causing Arthur to say with a laugh, "I guess I can suffer that as the saying goes, 'cold feet warm heart'.
-0-0-
Arthur was mystified, following his meeting with Leon, as the latter had said that Sir Graham had requested a private meeting with Arthur upon his return. Leon knew nothing more as Graham had said that he preferred not to divulge any information.
Leon did add, "Sir Graham said that he would like Merlin to be present."
"Thank you, Leon. Tell Graham that I will see him after lunch in my chambers and change the time of the Council Meeting to mid afternoon."
Arthur was flummoxed; why would Graham withhold information from Leon whom he had left in charge of the knights...and how was Merlin involved?
The squires' training session was good and it took Arthur's mind off Sir Graham's strange reluctance to enlighten Leon on the subject of the requested meeting with him. The squires especially those in their second year of training had showed marked improvement since they had first entered the squire training programme. By the time these fifteen year olds were candidates for the knighthood they would be fighters of the first calibre.
Arthur congratulated the Squire Master on the students' improvement and walked back to the castle with Caedrik and Rhylin. He smiled hearing Caedrick congratulating some of the squires as they made their way back to their quarters.
"Not that long ago for you, eh, Rhylin?" Arthur had said. He liked this man and had taken to having him with him frequently when he was a squire. Now as a knight he was often in Arthur's group as he'd always liked his brother Romney and they were of the same mould
"Seems years ago that I was that age but even then I knew what I wanted...the red cloak of a Camelot Knight."
Arthur smiled when he was young, he hadn't realised that he was to be a king and his one ambition was to be a knight, to have his own squire, a sword, a big horse and a red cloak.
He sometimes wondered if becoming a knight had not been a better accomplishment than being crowned king. The former he had worked at since the age of seven while the latter had come to him by a fault of birth.
Not that he diminished the value of kingship but he would not really know how successful he had been until he was dead and history had been written. He chuckled as he climbed the stairs to his chambers. Dead, or he could rely on Merlin to set him right.
-0-0-
Sir Graham joined them after lunch. He was the father of Henry Treva's little friend and shadow.
The three of them sat in the solar and Graham explained that what he was going to tell the two of them might be of little consequence but that he'd found it slightly disturbing and felt it was better to pass it on.
He explained, "One evening at bedtime, I checked in with Henry who surprised me by saying that he didn't like Demetrius and Darius and would be glad when they left because they made Treva and him sad. I was unable to get too much information but got the idea that they had been telling Treva that he was not important because he was only your ward and didn't really belong in Camelot. He kept repeating, 'But his does, Father, doesn't he?'
"I assured him that Treva belonged in Camelot and would be here for many years to come. It sounded such a strange thing for boys to be discussing that I thought I'd mention it to you.
Did Treva say anything to you?"
Both Arthur and Merlin shook their heads. Merlin added, "But Arthur has been busy entertaining and hunting. Treva said nothing when we had lunch with him today. He seemed quite happy as he'd been busy this morning with riding lessons." He turned to Arthur who nodded as Merlin continued, "He didn't seem upset about anything. Well, nothing he shared with us."
"He wasn't that talkative," said Arthur, "But he did mention the massive boar and how excited Demetrius and Darius were that their grandfather had killed it."
Merlin shrugged adding, "Technically, it was Gawaine's bolt but we let King Peter as a guest take the credit. It worked out well as he left for Camelot and gave us a break."
"Those boys didn't come up with that themselves, they've heard it from an adult and we need to find out who is saying things like that about Treva and more importantly why. I intend to get to the bottom of this. Has there been anything else?" Arthur wanted to know.
Sir Graham nodded, "Again, it might be nothing but I began keeping an eye on what was going on with the rest of the royal family. My wife has on some occasions been with Queen Zaerian and the princess and she mentioned that the princess's companion the Lady Florence was very nosey about the set up in the palace, especially the set up on the royal floors and the numbers of servants available.
"Then I hear from William my manservant that a few of the other servants have felt that the Montbus staff have ben watching a little too intently how things were carried out in Camelot and have been found in areas of the castles in which they had no business.
His wife mentioned that Lady Florence's maidservant had been asking some pointed questions about you, Arthur, and any female acquaintances which you might have. It was all done in a light heated manner but she felt uncomfortable as if there was a serious undercurrent and had mentioned it to her husband who very apologetically told me."
"Thank the young women on my behalf and tell William that he did the right in bringing it to your attention."
"Arthur, that is all I really know. Thank you for listening to me and I hope that Treva has not been unduly harassed by those two boys."
Arthur stood up as did Merlin and Graham. "I am going to ask you to keep your ear to the ground. Maybe we have given our guests too much freedom in the castle. Thank you for having the sense to bring it to my attention. Tell Lady Henrietta that her information is valued and Merlin and I will look into this immediately."
Sir Graham bowed and left the solar. Thomas who had been standing in the antechamber, saw him out into the corridor.
Merlin looked at Arthur and shook his head. There was something under foot but how important it was neither of them knew. Merlin was determined that Treva's confidence in himself was not going to be undermined by two grandsons of an inconsequential royal.
"If I catch them at it, Arthur, they'll be sorry!"
As he left for the council meeting Arthur mentioned to Thomas that he would like to see Randall after Treva was in bed.
-0-0-
Merlin took the opportunity to go to Gaius whom he found reading in his chamber.
He brought him up to date on what he knew about Arthur's walk in the garden with King Peter. He was surprised when Gaius took it in without comment.
"So, that's all you're going to do…nod?" he asked Gaius.
Gaius shook his head, "Geoffrey and I surmised that something like this might happen."
"But, why didn't you warn Arthur? He hasn't told me everything but I have to confess that I was able to overhear the whole conversation. Gaius, he obviously wants Arthur to ask for the hand of his daughter. It would explain so much of what is happening. Henry told his father that the boys have been teasing Treva, reminding him that he is not Arthur's real son and only a ward. Treva knows that but I guess they upset him. I like children but some of them can be hurtful to others especially if they are younger or if they feel that it would result in their parents' approval.
"Sir Graham looked into the situation and has had reports that the Montbus contingent have been trying to find out about the castle accommodation and even about Arthur's friendship with the opposite sex."
Gaius looked at Merlin, he could see that he was upset that both Treva's and Arthur's privacy had been compromised. "Merlin, nothing will happen which Arthur doesn't want. He is the King of Camelot and has the upper hand. If necessary he can send his royal guests packing, it is well within his right. But this isn't the only thing which is upsetting you, is it?"
Merlin shook his head. He stopped to collect this thoughts and then said, "Gaius, what if King Peter is right, that Arthur should marry and produce an heir. A princess would be a suitable match wouldn't she?"
Gaius thought, 'Only if Arthur was attracted to her and agreed.'
"Would I be wrong trying to stop him?" Merlin continued, "I know that Treva has his own estates and will never rule Camelot and all the work Arthur has done will be eroded by neighbouring kingdoms."
"Did you tell Arthur of your concerns?"
"No, I am waiting for him to tell me everything which the king said. I know I shouldn't have been eavesdropping but I am glad I did as I now know what Arthur is facing."
"Merlin, you need to talk to Arthur. He might have absolutely no intention of marrying anyone. Nothing states that as king he has to marry. That would be his own personal choice. Maybe he didn't take what King Peter said seriously.
"From what you told me Sir Graham said, I would think that should a marriage take place, as Father of the Queen, King Peter intends to move his family in here. But, I'm sorry that Treva was upset. That Henry is a sensible boy and a credit to Graham and Henrietta. I think you might limit the time the four of them spend together and make sure that squires are with them when they have any free time. It was like that when Arthur was a page, Romney and Gielbert were always nearby."
He looked at Merlin's face and felt sorry for him. He was so down and until he and Arthur got everything out on the table he could really do nothing. At least he would bring Geoffrey up to date on what has happened and maybe he could suggest something.
Merlin thanked Gaius. The physician put his arm around Merlin and gave him a big hug. "Don't worry, you know Arthur better than any of us and I know that he could never consider spending the rest of his life without you."
Merlin smiled adding that King Peter had also told Arthur that after the wedding he would be expected to have a married man as manservant.
Gaius said wisely, "As if that is going to happen!"
Smiling sadly, Merlin made his way back to their chambers, He sat in the solar. It was warm and Arthur was late and he felt himself dozing off.
-0-0-
He awoke to someone nuzzling at his neck. He stretched and let Arthur continue but the smile on his face showed that he knew exactly who it was and what was happening. He almost purred causing Arthur to start laughing and spoil the whole mood. "Well, you seem to have had a very relaxing afternoon, while I was busy batting my head against a very annoying old knight who didn't have a leg to stand on nor enough sense to realise it."
Merlin didn't say anything just turned so that he was able to reach Arthur more easily. He really loved him and the idea of a princess coming between them frightened him but he knew that that was to be Arthur's choice not his. This was Arthur's world and he alone would need to make the decision.
"Did you see Gaius? Where you able to tell him about what Graham told us about Treva?"
Merlin keeping his arms around Arthur's waist said, "Yes and yes! He wasn't too surprised as he felt that King Peter had something up his sleeve, just that he didn't know what. He says that we should watch over Treva carefully, maybe insist that he goes nowhere even around the castle without two squires. I'll have a word with him I'm sure he'll accept it."
"He won't have a choice! If I have anything to say. He's not going to be bullied in his own home by supposed guests. What did he think about Graham's information?"
"He didn't seem surprised. Geoffrey had also mentioned to him that he had questions about King Peter's behaviour when he first arrived. Maybe the two of us have been wandering around in blinkers. From now on I'm keeping my eyes open and not trusting any royalty!"
"Not even me?" Arthur asked with a little grin.
"No, I will continue to trust you…until you do something to lose my trust!"
"Oh, something like this maybe?" Arthur slipped his hands around Merlin's waist managing at the same time to slip them under his tunic. He hugged Merlin to him saying, "Stop worrying! We're going to be all right. We'll get this Treva mess sorted. I'll take care of King Peter and his crazy ideas…and remember they have already been here for three weeks. Roll on Samhain!"
-0-0-
The following morning, Arthur spoke to the Chamberlain and his assistant Humphrey telling them of the reports which were filtering back about the Montbus servants. "I think it is specific ones, maybe those closer to the royal family. At the moment they are only guilty of being intrusive with comments and questions. Keep me posted if you hear anything."
Arthur asked Humphrey to send a page to notify the Squire Master that he would like to see him immediately. Both men bowed and left Arthur's presence.
His next visitor was the Squire Master, he notifying him that as of tomorrow a squire Rhys or Gregory was to accompany Treva whenever he had time away from his training as a page unless he was with Randall.
He had notified Randall of the incident but asked him not to mention it to Treva as Merlin was going to speak to him later. Arthur was satisfied that he had everything taken care of.
But he hadn't…that afternoon, Demetrius and Darius met up with Treva and Henry as together they were delivering a message to Sir Rook.
Treva explained that they were working and had to see Sir Rook. Demetrius snatched the note and told him that he would deliver it himself.
Treva said, "But you don't know where his chamber is. It is our job to deliver it and we will be in trouble if we don't…won't we, Henry?" Henry nodded his agreement.
Demetrius took control, to Treva he was almost a grown up so when he insisted that he would see it delivered, he was afraid to argue.
They walked along a corridor and Darius who was tagging along said, "Do you celebrate Yuletide with lots of presents?"
Treva and Henry's faces lit up with Henry saying, "Oh, Yes! It's so much fun and there is a feast for the knights' families in the grand hall and all the children get to attend!"
"Remember Henry, we saw the great Yule Log and the mummers…"
"And the acrobats and musicians!" Henry added.
Treva told the other two boys, "Arthur and Merlin give me presents and usually I make something for them with Randall's help."
"Can't be that good as you're only a kid!"
"But it was!" insisted Henry, "Merlin said so."
"Merlin's only a servant what would he know?" said Demetrius.
Treva's face fell; Merlin was like the sun, the centre of his universe, his whole world orbited around him. He had never forgotten nor was he ever likely to, how Merlin had saved his life. Arthur too of course but there was something about Merlin which was special. Treva had a feeling that he really didn't like Demetrius even if he was the grandson of a king.
However, Demetrius was off on another tangent, "Would you like to show us the castle?" he said.
Henry loved exploring and jumped up and down saying to Treva, "Let's do it."
Treva nodded, the delivery of the message to Sir Rook completely slipped his mind. "But I should let Randall know."
"You don't have to, I'll explain to him when we get back." Demetrius said with all the authority of a thirteen year old.
-0-0-
They wandered on the upper floors and reached the stairs which gave access to the attics. It was fun, dusty furniture and old amours, they each took old swords to protect them from ghosts.
Then they reached another corridor with stairs which Treva knew would lead them to the battlements. Treva knew they were forbidden to go up there as one day he had watched guards up on the battlements and saw one servant with a ladder climbing to the top of the turret to replace one of the pennants which flew there.
Randall had explained that that was a very dangerous job, even the guards were careful on the battlements as should they fell over, they would certainly die.
So, he kept walking past the stairs but Darius wanted to go up them to the door at the top. "We must be near the battlements," he said, "We will be able to see the whole of the castle just like one of the crows."
Henry said, "The door will be padlocked."
"You hope!" said Demetrius and started climbing the stairs. "You're a chicken! You'll never be a squire and certainly not a knight…and you parents will be disappointed with you and hate you."
Henry stood stock still, he was really afraid but he didn't want his parents to be disappointed.
He soon had tears running down his face.
Treva hugged him and told him that no one would ever feel that way about him especially his mother and father. "They never feel that way about their children because they love them too much!"
"Another mother's boy!" said Demetrius nastily.
As Darius added laughing, "Oh, that's right, he doesn't have a mother, does he?"
Demetrius gave his brother a pat on the back and said, "Good one!"
However, with Darius calling them chicken and Demetrius saying that Treva didn't have the right to be a King's Ward and things would soon change for him in Camelot. Henry gave up and sat crying on the bottom step.
Treva feeling that he had to show them how brave he was so Merlin wouldn't be disappointed, began to follow them up the stairs.