Chapter Two, Lunch with Gwaine

Once he finished dressing Gwaine took some money out of his bag to buy them a decent lunch, as Merlyn had hardly eaten that morning, and he would not allow his Merlyn bird to starve. Smiling happily to himself Gwaine left gaius' chambers and made his way out of the castle, taking in the sights as he searched for his Merlyn.

Merlyn sighed worriedly as she left Tom's old Blacksmith shop with Arthur's blunt sword for the Mele. Gwen had gotten someone to take over her father's shop a few months ago, as she couldn't bare to see her father's legacy go to waste.

"Merlyn, why do you look so tense?" Gwen asked her friend worriedly, as she walked with her back to her house.

"I met my Soulmate, Gwen. He saved Arthur yesterday and I'm supposed to meet him for lunch today, but I fear I'm going to be late." Merlyn sighed despondently.

"Really?" Gwen asked excitedly. "Why didn't you tell me sooner!? Oh, I'm so happy for you." Gwen exclaimed as she hugged her best friend.

"Thank you, Gwen. How're things with you and Arthur?" Merlyn teased, giggling when Gwen blushed and gently smacked her arm.

"Just you wait, Merlyn. I'll get you back." Gwen warned, mock-glaring at her before they both burst into giggles. While Gwen and Merlyn were giggling with each other we they walked up the Lower Town, Gwaine was walking down the Lower Town when he heard Merlyn giggling with her friend.

Smiling happily he quickly purchased a small bouquet of white flowers before making his way over to them.

"Now, I believe these belong to my beautiful Princess." Gwaine declared attracting not only Merlyn and Gwen's attention but quite a few others as well.

"Gwaine." Merlyn said happily a light blush on her cheeks. "They're beautiful, thank you."

"Not as beautiful as you." Gwaine denied. "Let's see if they're your colour." He said as he took a flower out of the bouquet that he'd handed Merlyn, and tucked it in her hair behind her ear, as Merlyn smelt the beautiful flowers to hide her blush.

"There. Perfect match." Gwaine said happily, as he took her hand and kissed the back of it causing Merlyn's blush to deepen.

"Gwaine, this is one of my best friends Gwen. Gwen, this is Gwaine." Merlyn introduced.

"Ah, the infamous Gwaine." Gwen teased as she got her own back on Merlyn.

"Oh, you've been talking about me." Gwaine teased with a wide smirk.

"All bad things, I assure you." Merlyn teased, her cerulean eyes shinning brightly as she laughed. Which made Gwen happy as she hasn't seen Merlyn this happy in a long while, everyone was extremely worried about her. Including Arthur, even if he won't show it. It seems Gwaine will be good for Merlyn.

"Oh really?" Gwaine asked with a mock-affronted look.

"I'll just have to change that then. Won't I, Merlyn bird. Now, are you ready for our lunch and walk, Princess Merlyn?" Gwaine asked as he took Merlyn's hand and bowed making the two ladies giggle.

"I'd like that." Merlyn agreed. "But..."

"Merlyn, I'll take the sword to Arthur's chambers for you." Gwen interrupted as she saw Merlyn's crestfallen look.

"Thank you, Gwen. I can drop your basket off for you." Merlyn bargained. "Maybe you'll get that time alone with Arthur. Hey!" Merlyn exclaimed giggling as Gwen swatted at her again.

"Oh hush." Gwen scolded with no real heat as a smile spread across her lips and a blush across her cheeks. "Thank you Merlyn." Gwen said gratefully as the two girls swapped items. "Gwaine, I would suggest taking my dear friend to the market for that lunch and walk, and it was nice to meet you." Gwen said as she hugged Merlyn.

"Thank you, Gwen. It was nice to meet you as well." Gwaine said as he and Merlyn bid Gwen goodbye. "Ready Merlyn bird?" Gwaine asked as he held his arm out to Merlyn.

Blushing Merlyn looped her arm through his as they made their way to the market only making a brief stop at Gwen's house to drop off the washing.

"So, what have you been up to since I saw you this morning?" Gwaine asked as he tucked a stray bit of hair behind Merlyn's ear.

"Just been doing my chores for Arthur really, and cleaning his armour. Again. That man likes to throw things around like a toddler." Merlyn complained making Gwaine laugh. "I may have teased him and told another Knight to give him hell after he threw a bit of his armour at me." Merlyn said with a sly smirk. "How're you feeling now, Gwaine?" She asked concerned.

"I'm much better now I'm here with you." Gwaine said with a charming smile as he kissed her hand.

"No seriously." Merlyn insisted concerned.

"I'm fine, Merlyn." Gwaine insisted smiling softly. "Two of your finest sandwiches, please." He asked as they stopped at a food stall in the market. "Thank you." Gwaine said as he handed over the right amount of money, ignoring Merlyn's protests.

"Thank you, Gwaine." Merlyn said gratefully, moaning in delight at the wonderful ham sandwich.

"You're welcome, Merlyn bird." Gwaine chuckled. "Legs a bit sore, but I'm fine." He finally answered when he saw Merlyn's look.

Nodding her head she linked arms with Gwaine once again, after they had finished their sandwiches. Walking through the market as they took in all the wonderful sights and smells as they got to know each other. Gwaine told Merlyn some of his stories about his travels through the different towns and Kingdoms as Merlyn listened with rapt attention, and Merlyn told Gwaine things about herself. Nothing evolving magic as there were too many ears and spies for Uther about, but she told him where she grew up in Ealdor, about her mother, about her father and how she had just met him when he died protecting her, and about her first friend Will who had died protecting Arthur. When Arthur had come to Ealdor to help protect her home from raiders against his father's wishes.

Gwaine knew there was more to those stories, to do with magic in fact, but that didn't stop him from listening as attentively to Merlyn as she had to his stories. For, he knew he'd get the full story when Merlyn was ready and when it was save to do so, and he would not push her for it either.

"So, Arthur is grumpy without his beauty sleep and his meals...like a Princess?" Gwaine asked, continuing their previous conversation before they dissolved into laughter once more, both of them wearing wide happy smiles.

"Pretty much, yeah." Merlyn agreed in between her laughter as they stopped in front of another stall, this time Merlyn buying them a drink before Gwaine could say anything.

"Thank you, Gwaine. This has been lovely." Merlyn said happily as they were walking back to the castle as Merlyn, unfortunately had to go back to work.

"No, thank you Merlyn. Would you like to do this again?"

Gwaine asked, his smile widening when Merlyn agreed.

"Merlyn!" Their moment was interrupted by Arthur calling for her, or more like shouting. Merlyn sighed and rolled her eyes knowing she had to get back now, but she didn't want to.

"I'll see you later, Gwaine." Merlyn said softly but neither made any effort to part from the other.

"MERLYN!" Arthur shouted louder this time.

"I'll see you tonight, Merlyn bird." Gwaine said equally as soft, but internally he was feeling annoyed at Arthur. Merlyn smiled and kissed Gwaine's cheek before she ran off towards Arthur's chambers. Just as Arthur shouted for her again, though this time it was more like a screech. Gwaine watched her run back into the castle towards Princess Arthur for a moment, before he headed back to the market to buy the necklace that he noticed had caught Merlyn's eye. He was going to court Merlyn, and he was going to do it properly.

'Merlyn deserves it and more.' Gwaine thought happily with a spring in his step.