Alaia Skyhawk: 100,000 words! This fic has passed the magic number lol... Man, it makes me realise just how much time I spend writing, but then everything on TV is repeats anyway XD
Disclaimer: I don't own the Merlin TV series etc, but I do own the star of this fic... LIAM!
Music: Down By The Glenside (Celtic Folk)
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Chapter 36: Lessons ~Part 3~
Knives and forks clattered against metal plates that had been scoured until they shined, water sloshing into the cups destined for the two boys at the table with the Lord of Ulwin. Hargren watched both of them carefully, noting Liam's confusion and a hint of almost hidden reluctance on Tarven's part. His son was doing as he'd been told, and talking to Liam about the harvest. To give him credit, Liam was able to comment in return, even naming prominent workers from the manor's farms, to which Tarven had then spoken in compliment to those people.
To put things bluntly, both boys were struggling with the conversation, masking awkward silences by picking at their food or examining the wood-grain of the long table. But for all the obvious tension, both were keeping things polite and civil, and at least that was something.
"I think that's enough for this evening. Both of you should be off to your rooms." Liam and Tarven turned their heads to look at him, as he smiled at both. "It has, as always, been a pleasure having you dining with me. Liam, you will come as usual next week. Tarven, you are to dine with me the day before that."
"Yes, sir."
"Yes, Father."
Hargren indicated the door out of the dining hall.
"Off you go, then. Both of you have lessons in the morning, and you need to make sure you get enough sleep. Neither of your tutors will appreciate it if you fall asleep while they're trying to teach you."
Both of them got up, bowing to the lord before turning and walking along their sides of the table. The reached the door at the same time, Liam opening it for Tarven as protocol dictated, and following him out. And then, once the door was shut, the young lord directed a slight glare at the commoner.
"Don't think this means we're going to be friends. Father has ordered me to be nice to you in public, but that's the only time you should expect it. Don't forget that!"
He stormed away, an uncertain and scared Liam hurrying off in the opposite direction. He fled to his room in the servants' wing, closing the door behind him before going and huddling on his bed. He'd never realised before he lost him, just how much of his confidence had depended on Kalem. Now that the sorcerer was gone, the world was a much scarier and uncertain place. Yes there were people who genuinely wished to look after him, but there were others who didn't want him around... And now he didn't have Kalem, his magic and his supportive words, to protect and reassure him.
Kicking off his shoes, Liam pulled his covers over himself in the gloom of his tiny chamber, shutting out the world and wishing in his subsequent dreams that Kalem was here with him.
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The two nobles sat opposite each other, placed as they were at the table in the lady of the couple's chambers. Jancine found sitting in the narrow chairs at the table difficult, but once a week she did it to have breakfast with her husband. Hargren had tried to talk her out of it in the past, but she had stubbornly refused to be deterred. No matter the discomfort or pain from her limbs, she would sit at this table and she would dine with him.
Talk remained on idle things, topics ranging from the latest minor scandal to the recent news from Camelot. Only once Clara had gone to take the plates to the kitchens did the talk move to other things. Where once Jancine had come to his study for these talks, now he had to come to her.
Looking down at her hands, folded elegantly on the table in front of her, Jancine tilted her head and glanced up at her husband. These were times he always liked her to speak her mind.
"So what has Forwin said of Liam's progress? He's doing well in his history and decorum lessons, but nothing has been said to me as to what our physician thinks."
Hargren seemed to mull on his answer for a moment, tapping the fingers of one hand on the table's surface. He wasn't completely certain.
"Forwin says Liam is a fast learner, and already knew quite a bit about reading and writing. He's just about ready to continue the rest of his study on his own."
"But you don't want to rush him." Jancine sighed. "And what of his history lessons? Do you want those to stop as well, when Forwin declares his writing up to standard?"
Her husband shook his head firmly.
"No. Liam is too good of an opportunity, as an assistant I will be able to trust implicitly. I want him to know the true history of Camelot and Magic, not just the edited version that Uther has permitted. As soon as Forwin thinks he's ready, I want to start training him myself."
"Does he know you're planning that for him?"
Hargren stood up, starting to pace.
"No, because I wanted him to have the chance to settle in first without any pressure. Bern is all and well as a general manservant, but he's of Uther's opinion though-and-through. He distrusts magic completely, which is why I've never had him help me in my study. I can't trust him with that, which is why I need Liam. It gives him a permanent job, and me someone I can rely on to support me in matters regarding magic." He stopped, facing his wife where she sat. "Ever since the Purge, Uther has always provided each individual who has been my manservant. He sees it as a mark of favour, that he should send one of the best from among the staff in his household to me, but it has only been a shackle holding me down. He cannot dispute me taking Liam on, and if I happen to train him up to be exactly the sort of manservant I want, well that only makes sense."
Jancine raised her eyebrows.
"So as soon as you think that Liam is old enough to cope on his own, you will be sending Bern back to Camelot?"
Hargren smiled a little in amusement.
"No, I will leave him to do most of the menial tasks, while Liam helps me with my organising and dealing with all my paperwork. I know the man, he will quickly tire of being overshadowed by a boy less than half his age. He'll request to go back to Camelot on his own, and I'll be free to put one of my most trusted men into his position. I doubt Uther will have someone else he could send on such short notice. Not when Bern has only worked here for four months."
She chuckled, shaking her head a little.
"As devious as always... When did Forwin say to expect Liam to be ready to begin training?"
Hargren regarded her for a long moment, before sighing as his eyes became distant and thoughtful.
"He said he should be ready to start by the end of the week. If all goes well, then I expect in a few weeks I will be able to replace Bern as planned."
Jancine raised her cup of wine, as if in toast.
"Then I shall do my best to prepare Liam during the next few days... To Camelot, and to Ulwin. May we continue to do our best in softening the blows of Uther's hatred of magic. The day Bern leaves, will be the day that Camelot no longer has an eye at your shoulder."
Hargren picked his cup up as well, lightly tapping it against hers before lifting it close to his lips.
"For the future of Albion, I will strive to see it be so."
Both cups were emptied and set down, the promise made. As soon as Bern was gone, work in the shadows could then begin.
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The normally narrowed brown eyes regarded the boy sat at the table, who for once was writing out his assigned text without being distracted. That was probably due in part to the fact his teacher wasn't mixing remedies this morning, instead writing out a list of things he needed ordering in from the apothecary in Camelot.
Forwin watched Liam write, the twelve-year-old now entrusted with a pen, ink pot, and a large sheet of paper. He did not know it, but if could write as well with the pen on the paper as he'd been doing with the stylus on the slate, then his lessons with him would be over. A few weeks ago, the physician had been hurrying the boy towards this day, but now he found himself hesitating.
Back when Liam had been handed over to him for tutoring, he'd only seen him as a nuisance, but that was before he'd noticed something... Liam had an intense interest in medicine and the physician's craft...
Forwin suppressed a sigh, instead frowning to himself. If only he'd noticed it sooner, perhaps he could have taken the boy on as an apprentice since it seemed he was so keen. It was too late now, though. Hargren already had plans for the boy, important plans, and they were something the middle-aged physician would be part of.
Hargren had waited a long while for a chance like this, a chance to innocently nudge one of Uther's bootlickers out of Ulwin. He knew he wouldn't be able to get rid of all of them, but at least he could get rid of the ones closest to the heart of the manor and its lands. With them out of the way, things would be a lot easier, and previous things that they'd been forced to ignore could then be pursued.
This time he did sigh, although not loud enough to catch Liam's attention. It was all and well lamenting the loss of a potential apprentice, but he couldn't let Liam know he regretted it. The boy was going to be disappointed enough when he was handed over to the Lord of Ulwin, without him knowing he's been so close to doing something he quite likely wanted to do.
Yes, it was kinder if he didn't know.
"I'm finished, sir."
The quiet words jolted the physician from his thoughts, Forwin getting to his feet and striding over to the table where Liam sat. He accepted the sheet of paper he was offered, turning the cream-coloured sheet so it was the right way up and starting to examine the rows of writing that marched down its length straight and true. Every letter was legible, the words easy to read even if the handwriting itself was far from perfect. Liam didn't need to be up to the standard of a professional scribe, he just needed to be good enough that anyone would be able to read what he set down... and that meant he'd passed this test of his skills.
Forwin stared at the paper for several moments, his heart tinged with regret before he murmured gruffly.
"Well, boy, it looks like you're good enough now... About time too, it means you're finally going to be out of my hair and I can get back to doing my work properly."
Liam stiffened.
"I... I'm not going to be getting lessons from you anymore?"
The almost pleading note in his voice struck the physician, but long experience in hiding his emotions from patients and their families meant he had no trouble hiding them from the child.
"That's right. Lord Hargren wants to train you up to be his manservant and assistant. It's an excellent opportunity, boy. Your brother would be proud of you to know you were being trusted with such an important position. That's why Lord Hargren had me improving your reading and writing. You're going to need them, working for him."
Liam lowered his head, staring crestfallen at his hands. His disappointment was clear to see.
"Oh..."
Forwin regarded him in silence, waiting nearly a minute before putting a hand on Liam's shoulder.
"Get yourself up, boy, the rest of your future starts today. I told Lord Hargren I would send you to him if you passed your writing test, so you'd best not keep him waiting."
Liam stood up, keeping his head lowered, but even so the physician caught a glimpse of tears hastily wiped away. Liam didn't look at him again, but rather turned and wordlessly ran to and out the door, and watching him go, Forwin couldn't blame him. If he were in that child's shoes, he'd want to cry too.
Shaking his head at his sentimentalism, the physician returned to writing out his order for supplies. He had people to help him gather what grew locally, but there were things he could get only from merchants. If he wanted them before winter hit, he had to get it sorted out now.
Pen scratched across paper, pausing to dip into the ink pot now and then, that being the only sound within the infirmary that was no longer serving as a classroom.
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Alaia Skyhawk: Liam has no idea Forwin wanted him as an apprentice. Poor kid, but Hargren does get first dibs. He really does need Liam more than Forwin does.