"Their Greatest Accomplishment" (Rose)
As we sit down the dinner, Merlin asks the inevitable. "Why is Uther so blind to her true nature?"
"I don't know, Merlin," Gaius shakes his head in thought. "It's a mystery ... But Morgana will try again."
"I'll be ready for her," he says with certainty set in his voice.
"So will I," I mutter softly, almost as if I shouldn't speak.
"You must be careful," he cautions us.
"I'm not afraid of her, Gaius," Merlin retorts.
"You should be," the physician gives his rebuttal.
Merlin shakes his head sadly, "No. All I feel for her is ... sad."
"Uther's turned her into this," I say darkly.
"She's become so bitter, so full of hate," Merlin comments.
"Don't let that happen to you, Merlin," Gaius goes to dig into his stew, "Or you, young lady," he adds.
We both grin. "I won't," I say hushed.
"Nothing could ever make me that angry," Merlin follows up.
"MERLIN!" Arthur's shout echoes through the corridor outside the chambers. Promptly, the Prince pushes open the door and steps through it. "Get your lazy backside out here," he demands.
Merlin gives a small nod. "Second thought," he says in a voice just above a whisper with laughter in his eyes. Gaius laughs lightly, and so do I, but my joy is short-lived. A sharp pain shoots through my stomach and I hitch in breath.
"I hope that paste is working for you," Gaius says quietly.
"You knew," I state what is now obvious.
He inclines his head forward, keeping his eyes fixed on me. "If I may ask ... What herbs did you use?"
I jump right into an explanation. "We didn't have a surplus of Centaury, so I used Comfrey, Rue, and Arnica." Judging the look on his face, I don't wait for him to ask to take a look at it. "Don't worry. I think I'm perfectly capable of properly dressing a wound myself ... I'm not a child anymore, Gaius."
"I know you're not ... However, I also know that we could have used your healing skill in the hospital," his simple tone comes close to chastisement.
"Alright, go ahead."
"With what?"
"You know exactly what I mean. Go on and tell me how foolish and reckless and stupid it was," I give him clearance.
"It was foolish," he repeats sincerely, "But it was also brave ... Something your father would have done at your age."
"My father?" I ask, shocked. "In all my days, he had never been so careless."
"He was always quite impetuous," Gaius reminisces. "Not unlike you," he adds. "Your mother was also very bold and ambitious. They would often tackle dangerous feats together, doing what they thought was right, even if it landed them into trouble."
"Growing up, I had never seen my parents so much as stick a toe out of line."
"Well, you must consider that they had no reason to worry about taking care to keep out of harm's way until they had you." He smiles warmly at me. "You were a whole new adventure- one that they wanted to remain in one piece for."
I smile sadly, "Fat lot of good that did them ..."
"Despite the fact that they both met terrible ends- and too soon, I might add- you were their greatest accomplishment. Camelot wouldn't be the same without you."
"So, their greatest accomplishment in life is an impulsive, selfish child? That's not much to show for either of them."
"You're being too hard on yourself! I know you kept an eye out for Merlin on the battlefield. I would venture to say he wouldn't have been able to reach Morgana so easily if it weren't for you. I'd say you were a bit of a hero out there," he smirks knowingly.
"How is it that you seem to know even what you do not know and can speak it with such faith?" I quiz him playfully and seriously.
"It is both the burden and gift that comes with being an old goat," he laughs.
"You're no goat, Gaius," I say. "You're the hero."
"Rather Small" (Merlin)
"Merlin," Arthur calls, stopping me from taking my leave.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" I ask with a touch of annoyance.
"That soldier ... The one who so kindly saved you from the severed limb of the dead ..." he trails off in thought.
"What about him?"
"Did you happen to see who he was?" he asks. Not pausing for an answer, his tone takes on an explanatory twinge. "He was wearing a helmet so I didn't have the chance to distinguish who it was. He was rather small ... No matter, I owe him my thanks."
"No, unfortunately, I didn't," I lie, only partially. I didn't technically see who it was, I just knew ahead of time.
"Well, I hope to discover whomever it was, so that I may give them due credit," he finishes.
"Don't worry, Arthur. Even if you never get the chance, I'm sure he thought his duty to protect you. I don't think he will be seeking any recognition."
"I suppose you're right ... for once," he mutters rudely.
I smile, "Does that mean I can go?"
"Yes, yes," he waves me away. I laugh and set off for home.
I return to the sound of laughter contained behind the wooden door of the physician's quarters. The welcoming noise invites me through the door. "Look, Merlin!" Rose laughs. "Gaius hasn't killed me!"
For a moment, I'm puzzled. "Why would Gaius ki- Oh!" More laughter springs in the air. "By the way, Rose," she turns her focus solely on me, and I've almost forgotten what I was going to say ... Almost. "The Prince regrets he could not pinpoint your identity to thank you for being his willing scapegoat."
She laughs again. "You're kidding me!"
"I am not. He was befuddled as to which soldier he knew that was so small," I chuckle.
"It's probably best if Arthur doesn't know that he was saved by a girl," observes Gaius.
"Probably," she nods. "And it's also probably best that you eat your supper, Merlin. I've kept it warm for you."
I smile gratefully and thank her once she places the dish before me.
"Oh, Merlin," Gaius exclaims in a voice of remembrance. "I have a favor to ask of you ... There is a book I need you to bring me from the castle library."
"Sure," I mutter, and then swallow. "I can pick it up in the morning." I finish the last of my stew. "Why? Has Rose mulled through every last copy of your books on Herbals already?" I tease.
"Please, Merlin, I did that last week," she jokes in retort.
"Nevertheless," I say steadily, "Would you like to see the library? I forgot you've never seen it. I think you'd really enjoy it. Perhaps, you can find a piece that'd interest you that doesn't thoroughly describe the leaves of every plant known to man."
"I would be honored!"
"Alright," I stand, clearing my place at the table. "Then we shall rummage in the morning."
She rises as well. "Bright and early," she says in a mock voice of happiness.
The evening dissolves before us, and we find ourselves soon tucked away in bed with the cool breeze of night chilling the air and brushing against our faces.