Eris, I'm glad you're still following the story. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter as well. I'll give my best to update every two Saturdays.

I hope you'll like this chapter. It's quite funny. maybe a bit too childish, but we're going to have some gloomy ones in the future so it's good to make you laugh before I'll have to send you napkins.

If some of you follow other stories of mine, there is a poll on my profile page about which story you prefer me to update more frequently. If you have time, please.

Sorry, I published the chapter from another story (Dynasty). That was the chapter from the last Saturday.

Flowers, dragons and love

Early in the morning

"Merlin, wake up!...Merlin...It's late." Merlin heard a voice speaking in his head. He put the blanket over his head and tried to ignore the voice. "Merlin!" The voice continued. He opened his eyes. It was still dark outside. The moon was still in the sky.

He didn't remember when he'd got in bed, but he was sure he didn't want to leave it. It was cozy and warm there. And full of magic. Tina had done a great job turning some old covers into new ones by using magic.

As she realized Merlin had no intention to leave the bed, Aithusa decided it was the time to get to the next phase. She dragged his blanket and then she dragged him down the bed. Merlin put his hands under his head and continued to sleep. The ground was cold, but it was better than waking up and going in the morning cold air. If he were to be able to drag his feet long enough to get to the cart.

"Brrrrr. I'm not leaving the room. Where's my blanket? Aithusa!"

"Merliiin!" The dragon cried exasperated. "They will leave can sleep in the cart if you want."

The warlock finally remembered he had to go back to Camelot. He was supposed to go with the merchants. They would go to Camelot to sell different goods from Elmet and bring back grains and different products that Elmet lacked. It wasn't much Elmet could sell apart from mushrooms, wild flowers, berries and fish, but they'd been very inventive.

A little child had come out with the idea to arrange the flowers in different shapes. At first, the adults had thought it funny, but Merlin and Aithusa advocated for this idea and as they have plenty of wild flowers and magic at their command they decided they could give it a try. They put a spell on the flowers to stay fresh for many days and with the help of fairies, prixies, children and Merlin's magic they managed to create the first dragon - a mini-Aithusa made of daizies and some blue flowers for the eyes. Then a white cat followed the dragon. Then, they made a blue butterfly. Two other butterflies and an unicorn. A tiny bear and a dog.

The night passed quickly while many other creatures emerged from the ocean of flowers. Merlin had already planned how to convince the lords to give up their gold for a little attention to the ladies of their hearts.

They also used magic to keep the berries and mushrooms fresh longer. They didn't know how long it would take until they would manage to sell them all. They were to start with Camelot. Merlin knew some people there and could help the merchants by convincing people to buy their products.

The team was made by people who had no magic so they wouldn't be in danger of being accused of breaking the law. Well, they were supporting and hiding sorcerers, but Arthur wasn't his father and everybody hoped they would be far from any danger.

In fact, they didn't have a choice. They needed a lot of things they couldn't procure from Elmet. They came with a story. None had to find out about Elmet. It was better to be kept secret until it would be strong enough.

And now, Merlin was late and Aithusa was too enthusiastic about going to sell the flowers. Much as Merlin tried, he couldn't convince her to stay in Elmet. She wanted to go to sell the flowers. So, they had to find a compromise. Aithusa would be turned into a cat, but she would be allowed to go.

Merlin ran as fast as he could on the halls of the castle. He took a slice of bread and some meat and was trying to eat them while he was giving his best not to bump into someone. He couldn't imagine how he'd managed to get in time, but to his surprise his people hadn't been ready yet. So, he had time to eat a quick breakfast a girl had brought to him and turn Aithusa into a cat.

"Merlin." He heard a girl calling him. He looked at the woman in front of him and he realized she was quite familiar to him.

"Sefa?" He asked surprised. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. What are you doing here? Why did you leave Camelot?" She was happy to see him. At least partially. She didn't know if she should be happy to meet him or to be afraid, but as he was there as well, she supposed he would understand her.

"I haven't. I still have to wake up the prat. And I hardly got enough sleep. I'm glad you're alright. I want you to know Gwen didn't intend to kill you. She just wanted to…" He realized that what he was about to say wasn't much better and he stopped for a while. "She wanted to catch your father. I'm sorry, Sefa. I really am. But his way wasn't the right one. Blood would only call for more blood. I hope you like Elmet. We all need a bit of peace. Life isn't very comfortable, but…"

"It's perfect. I've lived worse. I have shelter and food. And I don't have to fear they will come to hunt me down."

"Sorry. I have to go. ...It's nice to see you, Sefa. I was worried about you. I hope we'll meet soon. I'll be back tonight, but I have a lot of things to do. Maybe...where can I find you? What do you say about tomorrow night? We can have a little walk through the country. I'll suggest Arthur to spend some time with his wife and I may manage to return a bit earlier. "

Sefa smiled. "It will be nice." She said blushing. Deep down, she was still the girl he'd met in Camelot. "I mean. I don't have many people to talk with and...you seemed really nice...kind...I..I'm glad you are alright. I'm sorry I put you into danger. I...I only wanted to help my father. Our life…."

"I understand, Sefa. You don't have to explain it. Life hasn't been easy for many of us. I hope things will get better. Take care of you."

"I want to show you something." Merlin said to Arthur as he'd finished his training. Merlin had the slightest idea how he'd managed to keep his eyes opened. "All of you. " He added as he threw a glance towards the knights. "I've never seen something like that."

"What is it, Merlin?" Arthur asked, trying to hide his curiosity.

"Come and see." The warlock suggested.

"Come on, Merlin. Tell us." Gwain cried.

"You'll see...soon" Merlin repeated as he led them towards the place where he knew he would find his people. Eventually he stopped in front of a red-haired girl who presented a butterfly made of tiny bells-like flowers to some curious kids. A little boy with a basket full of little ducklings was watching a tiny bear made of blackberries. Merlin smiled as he noticed the bear. He hadn't known they'd made animals from berries, too. He'd been too tired and he'd retreated to his chambers as he didn't want to look like a zombie the next day.

Lila, the red-haired girl, smiled as she caught his expression.

"It's the only one we have. We made it here on the spot. We got bored and...well. Children seemed to like them."

"And Merlin, too." Elyan pointed out.

"Tell me you haven't brought us here to see a bear made of berries." Arthur said.

"I think Gwen will like it. And maybe a dragon. Like the symbol of Camelot. Can you show them the dragon?"

"Merlin, we aren't kids." Arthur complained.

"Just wait to see it. The queen will be impressed. And so will the blonde lady you keep trying to impress." He added as he threw a glance at Gwain.

Meanwhile a lady from the court stopped to watch the flowers and she heard the king scolding his servant.

"Merlin is right. Any lady will be impressed by something like that."

"Do you want one?" Gwain asked her, trying to impress her.

"Do not ask her. Just buy her one, Gwain." Merlin laughed.

"It seems Merlin knows better than you." Sir Leon laughed.

"Which one?" Lila asked. "Do you want me to show you all of them?"

"Which one do you like?" He asked the girl.

"Give me that bloody dragon." Arthur cried as he feared someone would buy it and he wouldn't be able to give it to Guinevere.

"Arthur, the kids would like to have a small berry-bear. Can't you pay for them?" Merlin put his child-like face as he said that. "Could you do more bears, couldn't you?" He addressed Lila.

"Of course." The girl smiled.

Arthur threw a tiny bag of gold. "Give the kids some berry-bears. And give one to Merlin. He's still a kid."

"Thank you, Sire." He was sick of berries, but he could give it to someone.

"Where is Ai...the cat? Aithusa, isn't it?" Merlin pretended not to know her well. Aithusa meowed from the arms of a little kid.

Soon other knights, who'd noticed the king buying the flower dragon, came to see the flower animals and some even bought one for the loved one. But there weren't enough for everyone and Lila had to promise she would return tomorrow with others. She asked them to write down how many they want and how they should look. Leon and Elyan added their names, too. Percival asked for some berry-dragons. As big as possible.

"She likes sweets." He added.

"We can make cookies if you want. A berries-pie dragon." Lila offered.

"Can you do one for me?" A man asked. "A small one, though. I don't have much money and my daughter has her birthday tomorrow and…." Merlin wanted to ask Lila to do it for free, but Arthur stepped in.

"I'll pay for it. And make one for the queen, too." He said.

"And two for me." A lord added.

"If I give you these ducklings, can you make one for me? " The boy with the ducklings asked.

Merlin smiled. They'd sold everything. He hoped the fish and the mushrooms were as successful.

"Merlin, don't you buy anything?" Arthur asked. "For your girl."

"Which girl?'

"I don't know. The one you date?"

"I think she would prefer a fish and some mushrooms." Kara added. He hadn't known she was in Camelot and he hadn't noticed her as he came to see the flowers.

"Kara? What are you doing here?" He was really surprised to see her in Camelot.

"I'm visiting someone. I heard he's in Camelot."

"And how does it make it so that everybody knows about my girl, but I'm the only one who hasn't met her yet?" Merlin asked, surprised.

"Green-eyed. Dark-haired. Beautiful. You've kept visiting her the whole week. You brought her food." Kara continued.

"I was just...being…. Kind."

"So, there is a girl." Gwain joined the conversation.

"Tell us about her." Arthur was the next one to display his curiosity. He hadn't expected Merlin to have found a girl.

"Do we know her?" Elyan asked.

"So, she is beautiful, isn't she?"

"No, you don't know her. And yes, she's nice, but she's not my girl and she will never be. Kara likes to tease me a lot. She's not serious."

"Aithusa told me." Kara answered.

"Aithusa? Is it the name of the cat?" Elyan asked, surprise.

"As I said. Kara is crazy."

"What about the girl from this morning?" Lila asked.

"There's another girl? Merlin!" Arthur exclaimed, shocked.

"He's more successful than me." Gwain admitted.

"And you haven't met Erutan. She's following him everywhere." The women laughed.

Erutan was the daughter of his general. Very similar to princess Vivian only that Erutan wasn't a princess. But she hoped to become queen.

"You have a lot to tell us, Merlin." The warlock hoped he had enough imagination left….