The sunlight broke early across the trees' top the following morning. Merlin and Arthur lay, together, joined only by their hands, in their sleep, in the hot summer nights. Merlin's eyelids fluttered open and he groaned at the dawning of the day. Pulling himself to his feet, he shook Arhtur awake before plucking a juicy ripe apple on the tree and taking a crunching bite. Apple juice ran in a small trickle down his chin as the paid joined the reste of their small group and the already saddled horses.
"If we ride hard all day we'll be at Northumberland before nightfull." Elyan explained. An approving murmuer was heard; the whole group looked forward to the prospect of comfortable beds and days off horseback. For what they hopped wold be the final day, they set off on horseback.
They saw the the castle - well more of a fortress it was so huge - far in the distance before they even got close, at it had been built strategically on asmall hill in the rolling feilds in the north of Albion, which gave it a clear view for miles around, to help protect it from attacking armies. The walls were thick stone and surrounded the castle compleyely so it could be sealed off if it was attacked. The town around the castle was large but not very.
The closer they got the More Arthur felt his nerves building up. He felt like he couldn't breathe and his heart wa hammering in his ears.
"Arthur?" He jusmpt at Merlin's soft voice next to him and looked at the dark ahired warlock with panic in his eyes.
"I Can't do this Merlin!" He said quietly. Merlin looked at him softly and held his hand over his saddle.
"Yes you can. You've practiced your manners, you know what you want, all we can do is ask him for help. He'll either say yes or no" the raven haired-man reassured him. Artuhr pulled an uncertain face.
"And I'll be with you the whole time" Merlin added with a smile, and Arthur felt th feeling of security in his lovers presence enrobe him lie a terrycloth dressing gown. Arthur nodded, feeling more secur now that he was reminded of MErlin support.
"Right" He announced. "lets go" and giddied his horse from her walking pace into a brisk trot. The caslte seems to grow before them as they approached, looming over the landscape and full of potential. They stlowed as they approached the gate, and stopped as a guard emerged.
"Halt! What brings you to Northumbria ravellers" Called the guard. Merlin and Arthur exchanged a loot and Arthur trotted forwards on his horse a little bit so he was in front.
"We seek an audience with your king" He called back. The guard laughed.
"On what grounds?" He quizzed, and Arthur squared his shoulders, he could feel Merlin's comforting presence behind him.
"I am Arthur Pendragon." The guart paused and blinked, then scurried into the guard room leaving them along. Arthur looked at MErlin uncertainly but he just nodded and offered him a reassuring smile. 'you've got this' it seemed to say. With a scuffle that guard came back out, accompanied with two more guards.
"Rightt his way sire." He said and opened the gates of the fortress wide. Arthur and Merlin and Lancelot and Gwen and Will and Gwaine and Elyn all rode in, thwo remaining guards bowing low to Arthur, which made him feel quite uncomfortable as he wasn't used to such treatment. They followed the guard to a courtyard, where stableboys rushed out to take their horses from them.
"Our stables will take care of your horses, my Lord. If you will come with me to the throne room, the King awaits your presence" The guard blinking at him owlishly. Arthur nodded, trying to look as regal as he could in three days of travelling dirt, and followed, the rest of his compainis close behind.
"You look very majestic, SIRE" Merlin whispered in his er as they walked through the huge heavy carved oake doors into the castle.
"Really? I feel like a fraud" Arthur whispered back over his shoulder, trying not to noice the stares and whisperes that follwed them.
"You've got this. It's your birthright" Merlin said placing a reassuring and stealthy hand on his lower back breifly, rolling his eyes at a gather gaggle of serving girls.
"Oh he's so handsome..." One whispered into her hand.
"Which one?" responded her friend.
"All of them!" the first girl giggled.
"Gosh she's so lucky" another said as Gwen walked passed and gave them a nervous smile.
"Do you think any of them is George?" the second serving girl said looking specualtively at them and touching her forearm, where her soul words would be emblazond.
"Fer ye, hen, I cou' bae" Will responded with a wink that send the cluster of serving girls into a fit of giggles.
"Ay tell ye, Merrls, ay cou' proper git uused tae this!" He said in his enchanted accent to Merlin, whom just flapped a hand at him and 'shh'd at him as they entered the throen room.
The Weighty oaken timber entrances swung open to revealy the king of Northumbria, Alfred, stood next to a young lady, and surrounded on all the side of the room by courtpeople and the servants. Alfred was a fairly short man but still looked yourng for his age. He wore boild leather britche and a huge two handed longsword in the scabbard at his waist. And had an animal skin draped around his shoulders over a slightly bloodied shirt. You could still see some of the animals congiled blood in the animals fur. He had a dirty white catipilar moustache growing above his lip, but thinck brown eyebrows.
His dsaughter stood beside him looking demurely at the ground, but occasioanlly glancing up to glipmse the strangers in her home. She was tall and slender and wore a golden gown that sparcled like diamonds in the rough. Her hair had been toughed by fire. Her face was nothing spectacular but not displeasing by anymeans. Her long sleaves of her gown would often get in the way but would never have them short as her father the king told her it was a sign of regality to have long sleaves.
The room was a hush in silence as Arthure and his friends approached the small stage where the king and his daughter was stood. Arhtur cleared his throat with a noble "hmmmmmrp" and bowed low.
"My good lord, your most humble- no- uhhhhm- majestic! Majestic majesty, I am PRince Arthur Pendrgaen, the heir of Uther- Camloet's King. I am...errr-... I am your most humble servant, my liege and come to beg your assistncacne for we are in most dire need." he said in a noble voice, confidence waxing at Alfred's stern and steealy glear. In the silcent ht followed Arthur could hear Gwaine's hand slap to his forehead in frustarion. He saw Merlin glare at him out the corner of his eyes. The silecnes dragged.
"Prince Arthur my boy" Alfred boomed loudly across the room "We know you'd return to us one day! And I see you brought friends. Welcome all!" He stread his arms wide in a gesture of welcome and Arthur felt some of the straing ease off his shoulders, which Alfred reached up with his meaty hands to clap on. Around him he culd see and feel his friends relaxing as well - no one had expected this to go so well.
"Meet my daughter, the Princess Rachel. I understand you have a great deal in common!" He waved a hand towards his daughtrr Rachel, who stood on the stage with her head bowed decorously, fidgeting and blushing as red as a tomato.
"A pleasure to see yu my Lady" Arthur said and bowed to her properly. SHe blushed even more if that was possible and stammered out her reply:
"A-and y-you my l-lord. I hear y-you are a g-great knight" She said glancing at him through her eyelashes and quickly looking away, playing with hte end of her sleeve with her fingers.
"Uhm..." Arthur started.
"hahaha there will be pleanty of time to talk at dinner" Alfrred interrupted laughing nervousty.
"Let us show you to your rooms. Sterward please show the prince and his retunie to their chambers." Arthur noded graciously at the king as everyone thanked him, and then followed the steward out of the throne room and into the depths of the castle.
First they stopped and the rooms Gwaine and Will were staying at next to each other, then Gwen and Lancelot shared chambers, and then finally Merlin and Arthurs seperate suites.
Merlin's room wa very grand, with lots of decourous hangings and a colour scheme of green and gold. The Luxious bed was inticately carved mahogany with a emerald veltet canopy and hangingns, and hunter green sheets embrouiderd with golden thread. The forest green velvet curtains were open to let the late afternoon sun cross the threshold of mottled glass and puddle on the hard stone ground, warming it slightly in patches. Merlin's things had been placd at the foot of his bed - he hadn't brought much but changed into clean clothes: his usual black boots and breeches, but instead chose a natural linen tunic and black jacket with embroidery to cover it. He still keps his knives on his out of habit.
He left is verdant room and knocked on Arthur's door. It opened quickly after he knocked and showed Arthur smiling at him.
"I missed you" he said and gve him a quick kiss before puling him into the room. It as as richly furnished as Melins, only in red instead of green. The room was the simering crimson of the warming fire that crackled, flames dancing in the dark of a snow lined November evening, it was the colour of warmth. It gulfed Merlin like the hug of Samhain ale.
Arthuer was clad in his fine outfit - strong black boots, in a soft buttery leather, brown jodpurs - caramel with a trim of cream thread, and a red hunting jacket, which Mrelim had enchanged to fetaure the Pendragen dragon chrest - it fit across his broad shoulders snugly, like a lover's embraced, which Merlin really liked the look of. His eyes gleamed naughtily as he appraised his lovewrs look.
"You look..." Merlin trrailed off looking Arthur up and down with a smirk on his face.
"What Arthur said self consciosus.
"Amazing" Merlin said and grinned at him. Arthur smiled softly back.
"You too" He said. "We should go downt to the feast" He said and held out his hand for Merlin took take, which he did, enterwinding their fingers together like vines and they went downstair together.