Chapter 6 [Merlin's Bedchamber—An Hour Before First Light]

Mithian wiped Merlin's brow. Worry ate at her. Despite societal differences, she was his friend….

…well at least that's what her head told her…her heart, on the other hand, carried on to another beat….

Merlin, why did you have to confront Lady Morgana? WHY? The reforming bruise twisted her mouth into a frown. Why can you not just take it easy? We care! She rolled her eyes at her own semi-evasion. "I wish you were noble, Merlin. Why can Arthur knight the others but not you? You can fight. You are a skilled negotiator and diplomat. You are so patient and loyal. You have a special vision where others cannot see the way ahead." She leaned over him. Her lips whispered across his forehead.

"Well why can't that happen? Arthur did it with Gwen."

She stiffened. Her eyes rolled. "Aye, Sir Gawain." Rejection stabbed her in the heart. "I cannot believe it." She shook her hand. "The one man I cannot have…." A deep sigh escaped her lips.

"Hey. You just said it. Your biggest issue is Arthur not the stuck up stuff. Trust me. What Elyan or I have done to earn our deal, Merlin's pulled off a lot more. Some of it, I don't get how. Should I care? Nope. Neither should you. Neither should King Rodor." Gawain's boots clomped across the floorboards. "Anything new?" His eyes assessed the unconscious Merlin.

"Nay. Not since last night." She set the rag down in a wooden basin. Then she took a water skin out. "Can you hold his head please?"

"Yeah." Gawain arched Merlin's head back. "Just go slow."

She bit back her next response. She allowed the water to wet his mouth and throat. Then she capped the skin and set it down on the bed. "Just King Arthur." She shook her head. "The man who flouts the rules when it suits him. Merlin saved Arthur's life at the cave. He stood by Arthur against Odin. He suggested the treaty between our kingdoms. And that was just this week!" Exasperation grated on her tone.

He coughed. "The Princess does that." He sniffed. "He learned from ol' Uther. Between us, they have big time double standards. He knighted Percy, Elyan and Lancelot for one fight. He left Merlin out. Of course, Merlin goes off with Lance into the heart of the mess by themselves. Undead knights, witches and the Cup of Life. Merlin knocked the cup over and wins the day." He shook his head. "He'll say it's all of us. Yeah it was. We gave him that chance is all. And then there's when those ghosts were running all over the place. Froze people left and right. You have any of that?"

"Aye." Fear shot a spasm through her. "Our subjects came to us for protection. Master Wyngate said it was the divide between realms. It went on for three nights. Then it stopped." She stared at him. "Wait. You know?"

"Morgana again." He curled his lip. "Merlin threw himself in front of Arthur. He should have died from the ghosts. But again, you know Merlin. He came back. Apparently he was ready to sacrifice himself again. Lance beat Merlin to it." He shrugged. "I've got at least a dozen more like that if you want to hear 'em. Leon probably can tell you more."

"Thank you, Sir Gawain." Pride warmed her heart on Merlin's behalf. "And King Arthur does not make Merlin a knight?"

"He wants Merlin as a servant. Bloody unfair…" Gawain shook his head. "It's like Lance said. Merlin's the bravest of us all."

"I wish my father and Prince Kay could hear of this. They'd press King Arthur to raise him to knighthood." She put her hand on Merlin's shoulder.

"And that's why Arthur won't. He won't lose Merlin. He does not care." Gawain wanted to go off on an anti-royal rant. Yet he saw something different in front of him. He noted Mithian's insight. He could see she cared. "Thanks."

"Thanks…for what?" She raised an eyebrow.

"You see him for what he is. You're well…." He grimaced. "…you're okay." He rolled his eyes. "Everyone else wants what they want. Merlin just keeps giving and serving. He's my best mate. All right?"

His admission forced a tear from her eye. She grasped how rare of a compliment that was. "I appreciate that. Thank you." She smiled. "Nice to know I would have made friends eventually here."

"Oh you did that all right. Your brother…great fighter with a sword or mace…can drink with the best of 'em. But he's too stuffy for me." Gawain motioned toward Merlin. "Something you need to see." He pulled back the blanket and then Merlin's collar.

A rather nasty scar ran down Merlin's left shoulder.

Her eyes went wide. Her jaw dropped. "How did Merlin keep his arm?"

"I don't know. He should've been wearing chain mail. Of course, Merlin does not. Remember that fight with Meleagant at your border? One of the red tin cans took a swipe at ol' Kay. Merlin jumped between them and took that for him. Gaius gave him Hell afterwards." He chuckled. "And they don't knight him? What a load of manure that is."

"Father needs to know. By our laws, Merlin is a noble. By Camelot's laws, he is a noble." She bowed her head.

"You don't have to tell me that." Gawain stretched. Drowsiness weighed down on him. "That's weird."

"I'll be with him. You go outside. I will wake you if anything else happens." She glanced up at him. "Thank you."

He nodded and left the chamber. He shut the door behind himself.

She exhaled sharply. "You are unbelievable! When will you stop trying to kill yourself?" Her heart picked up several beats. She put her head on his chest. "Please save this special man, goddess. Please…" Her eyelids drooped. She fell asleep right there.

Mist wisped in the far corner. Dust danced on the moonbeams streaming through the window. The fog formed into a column.

From it, Freya stepped onto the room. She smoothed her emerald robes. Her eyes looked all about the area. Before her death, she would have desired a night there in Merlin's arms. Wistfulness hung on that fantasy. Then she pulled herself together. I have my purpose. She considered the slumbering Mithian beside Merlin.

Friendship was ascending to something more inside of the Princess….

No wonder we felt her prayer. Freya touched Merlin's wound. "She has a point, Merlin. You just cannot help yourself. Can you? Slànachdah!"

The bruise and surrounding purpling faded from Merlin's scalp. His breathing picked up ever so slightly.

"You are fortunate, Merlin. As Sir Gawain said, there are those of us who care about your hard head." Freya kissed his forehead. "I'll always be close." She straightened herself. Her eyes lingered on him for a heartbeat. Then she disappeared.

"What?" Merlin groaned. His eyes blinked open. "Princess?"

"What?" Mithian stirred. She opened her eyes and saw him looking back at her. "MERLIN! Oh thank the goddess!" Her eyes misted over. "SIR GAWAIN!"

"Yeah what?" Gawain hustled back into the room. He yawned and stretched. "Can't a…? MERLIN? About time you woke up!"

"What happened? I remember being in your chambers…." Merlin sat up. "I ruined your gown." He rolled his eyes.

"I am not worried about the gown. Merlin, when are you going to learn to slow down? You had a bad head injury. You push yourself. You came close to killing yourself this time." She shook her head.

"Mithian…" Merlin cleared his throat. "Princess…"

Gawain raised his eyebrow. A smirk creased his face.

"I know what you are thinking, Gawain. Don't…." Merlin started.

"I am not saying anything." Gawain folded his arms across his chest. "Lady and I here have been watching over you all night is all. By the way, she and Gwen saved your life."

"She what?" Merlin stared at her.

"Aye. I did." Sauciness danced in her eyes. "Good thing for you I have a servant-healer of my own who taught me basic herb lore. Queen Guinevere and I used Gaius' tome. I remembered the mix to use. So now, I get to say what you will do." She glanced at Gawain. "So she gets credit too."

Gawain rolled his eyes. "Yeah whatever. I'm just glad to have my mate back." He rubbed Merlin's arm. "She knows about the shoulder deal too."

"Gawain!" Exasperation narrowed his eyes.

"Merlin, you just lie there. It is all right to accept Nemeth's friendship especially when it is well deserved." She smirked at him. "I am going to find King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. They will let you stay there. Who knows? If you can ride, I might find a job for both of you."

"I'll keep an eye on him. Thanks, Mith…Princess." Gawain assured her.

"You are most welcome, Sir Gawain." Mithian curtseyed to them both. "To Nemeth's heroes." She hustled out of the room and toward the passage door.

"What was that about?" Merlin rubbed his forehead.

Gawain snorted. "You just don't get it. Do you, Merlin? Mith really likes you. Rest up. She's up to something."

"It could be boots for you to polish," Merlin jabbed.

"Not a chance. I'm not doing that again." Gawain planted himself in the chair next to him.

Some things just had to be seen to be believed….