Chapter Eleven, Gwaine
The next morning Merlyn awoke with the rising sun, climbing reluctantly out of her bed stretching as she went. Slipping out of her nightgown, she placed it in the hamper with yesterday's clothes to be washed at some point today, before changing into her undergarments, some stockings, a white dress and mauve over-dress. Humming she ran a brush through her hair before tying her usual side braid with a ribbon her mother had given her, once satisfied she slipped on her brown boots and went to relieve her Uncle.
"Gaius. Gaius, Gaius." Merlyn whispered, gently shaking him awake as she crouched by his chair.
"Oh! Merlyn, you're up." Gaius said tiredly.
"Why don't you go get some rest I'll check on Gwaine and do this mornings rounds for you." Merlyn suggested.
"What about Arthur?" Gaius asked.
"I'll deal with Arthur don't worry. How was Gwaine?" She asked concerned.
"Fine. He had a slight fever but that's normal and it broke before midnight. Thank you, dear girl." Gaius said, getting up from his chair.
"Sweet dreams Uncle." Merlyn wished, as she cleaned his wound and changed the bandages before she started on breakfast for her and Gwaine. Merlyn had just finished both breakfasts when she heard a voice behind her startling her that she almost dropped Gwaine's breakfast but luckily managed to catch it, aided by her magic.
"Where am I?" Gwaine asked suddenly. "Sorry I didn't mean to startle you." He apologised, as Merlyn came over with his breakfast a slight blush to her cheeks. "What am I doing I'm this bed?" He asked confused.
"You were wounded. Arthur and I brought you back to Camelot so I could treat you with my Uncle." Merlyn whispered, pointing to where Gaius's slumbering form lay on the bed behind the screen his snores filling the room.
"Arthur? The man you were with? Thank you." Gwaine said, sitting up and taking a sip of his drink. "Wait, Camelot as in Prince Arthur?"
"Yes, you saved his life yesterday." Merlyn said, taking a seat in Gaius's vacated chair.
"Now I know why it's complicated." Gwaine muttered. "But if I'd known who he was, I probably wouldn't have. He's a Noble." He added at Merlyn's confused look.
"Yeah, but he's also a good man." Merlyn argued as she ate her own breakfast.
"If you say so." Gwaine laughed. "Although, I suppose he would have to be to garner your affections, eh Merlyn?" He teased making Merlyn blush and look down at her food.
"Anyway," Merlyn said changing the subject. "You're a hero. The King wants to thank you in person." She said, causing Gwaine to choke a little on his drink.
"Please, no." Gwaine argued, setting his drink back down. "I've met a few Kings. Once you've met one, you've met them all."
"I agree with you in regards to Uther, but Arthur isn't like his father, well not anymore. When I first arrived here a few years ago he was a selfish, self-centred arse that cared for no one but himself, but he's not like that anymore. I called him out on everything until he changed." Merlyn said with a smirk as Gwaine laughed, Merlyn joining in too. "Anyway he might give you a reward."
"Has he ever given you one?" Gwaine countered, making Merlyn blanch and try to stutter an excuse. "It's alright Merlyn. I'm not going to tell anyone I promise." Gwaine swore, causing Merlyn to let out a sigh of relief. "Besides, I've got everything I need right here." He added patting his bag.
"Why did you help us?" Merlyn asked curiously. "Your leg should be healed in a few days but you need to take it easy so you don't tear the stitches."
"Thank you Merlyn. Besides wanting to help you, your chances looked between slim and none. I guess I just liked the look of those odds." He said, causing Merlyn to laugh and shake her head. She was right they were going to best friends hopefully she could stay in contact with him more than she and Gwen can with Lancelot. Although, she was happy to admit that she had another friend who accepted her for her magic. She didn't feel so alone now.
"I've got to get Arthur his breakfast and do Gaius's rounds for him but I'll be back later." Merlyn said, quickly washing up their breakfast things with magic now that Gwaine knows and accepts and picked up the medicine bag.
"I'll see you later than Merlyn bird." Gwaine bid, smiling as she rushed out of the chambers.
"Hi Merlyn. How's Gwaine?" Arthur asked, as he did his stretches. "Why do you have Gaius's medicine bag with you?" He asked curiously.
"Gaius was up all night watching over Gwaine, so I sent him to bed and told him I'd do his morning rounds." Merlyn explained, as she opened the curtains, pausing only to roll her eyes and place a kiss to Arthur's cheek when he looked up at her expectantly. "And he's recovering rather well."
"Good. I suppose I'll have to make do of having George for this morning, won't I?" Arthur sighed as if put-upon.
"I'm sure one morning with George won't kill you, Arthur." Merlyn said rolling her eyes.
"How dare you Merlyn!" Arthur exclaimed dramatically, pulling her into his arms. "That man can make jokes about brass. It will surely end in my death!" He joked, making Merlyn giggle as she squirmed to get away from him.
"Dollophead!" Merlyn teased, laughing when Arthur snaked a surprised kiss from her lips.
"Who's that?" She asked, opening the window when she finally got away from Arthur and spotted a stranger riding into the courtyard.
"Ahh, Sir Darien. He's here for the Melee." Arthur said, looking over her shoulder and nodding to the Knight who waved to him.
"Oh yeah. The Tournament where you Knights ride around hitting each other with blunt weapons for no good reason." Merlyn teased, as she set his armour out ready for George to clean.
"Someone's in a teasing mood." Arthur said rolling his eyes at her but he had a smile on his lips. "There's more to it than that."
"Oh, really?" She asked sarcastically. "Well, all I've seen is people getting the seven bells knocked out of them so that the last man standing can be called the winner. And in nearly every tournament someone tries to kill you and I have to come to your rescue."
"You're not wrong there." Arthur conceded, thinking back on the last few tournaments he's participated in. "However, the Melee is the ultimate test of strength and courage."
"Are you sure we're talking about the same thing?" Merlyn teased.
"Oh, be quiet." Arthur admonished but the smile took the heat out of his words. "Before you go and leave me to my fate." Arthur said, causing Merlyn to roll her eyes only to gasp as Arthur pulled her close to him and kissed her passionately on the lips.
"Promise me you'll be careful in this Mele, Arthur. I have a bad feeling." Merlyn asked, when they pulled apart all joking aside.
"I promise." Arthur said, resting his forehead against hers for a few moments.
"Good." Merlyn said happily, smiling as Arthur moaned when she pulled away from him. "I better get started on the rounds and fetch George." She said, picking up the bag and leaving the room as Arthur watched her go.
Unbeknownst to Merlyn, her bad feeling was in fact correct as another threat against Arthur was brewing. A threat born out of revenge was the norm, but this threat was born out of humiliation and wasn't a magical threat per say. But in fact two of the thugs they fought against, who were planning to abuse magic to get their revenge. They were paying a poor old man, who lived alone in a hut in the middle of a forest, for magical items.
"The Stalone blades, just as you requested." The old man said as he held out the swords to the bald thug, who took one to examine it.
"They're blunt." The other complained as they both inspected one of the swords.
"That is only how they appear." The first thug said, before he ripped the others tunic with the sword and they both burst into deranged laughter.
"Why should you want such a weapon?" The old man questioned.
The first thug crept closer with a nasty look on his face pointing the sword closer to the old man's face.
"That's none of your business, old man." He sneered. The man immediately shook his head scared for his life as they took both the swords.
"You have the crystals?" The bald thug asked.
"Money first." The old man replied. Once he was handed a bag full of coins, the man limped over to the corner and retrieved a black box, opening it up to see two rather large crystals inside. "Not yet." He said when the thug went to take the crystals out of the box.
"Pece Treowan Andwlitan Heora Fram Gesihol Eallra!" The old man chanted as he moved his hand over both crystals. Once he finished the crystals glowed golden light before the light disappeared back into the crystals.
"The wearer of these crystals will be able to take on the form of whoever's blood they touch." The man informed them as he passed over the crystals.
"Thank you." The thug said after he and the old man shared a sinister laughter.
"Thank you." He said as he patted the pouch.
As he turned his back on them to count the money he was stabbed in the back by the first thug, killing him instantly.
"Now what?" The other thug questioned stupidly.
"Now, Ebor, we can take our revenge on Prince Arthur of Camelot." The first thug answered as they both let out a sinister laughter and left the hut, leaving their money behind next to the body.
Translation:
Pece Treowan Andwlitan Heora Fram Gesihol Eallra!
English: Literal translation = Cover/conceal true faces their from faculty or act of sight all/every.
Possible meaning = Cover their true faces from every sight!