The sun, before hiding completely behind the horizon, settled itself just slightly above the fields flooding the cloudless sky with red and orange tint which was a sign that there would be good weather the next day. Warm colours glistened in the windows and then the castle slowly began to immerse in darkness. Peace and silence in the city was interrupted by the clatter of horses' hooves that echoed throughout the main square as Arthur, Merlin and Gwaine entered Camelot's empty courtyard. The latter was holding princess Ragnell gently by her waist, preventing her from collapsing, because she was falling asleep.
"Take her to Gaius," Arthur turned to Gwaine, jumping off his horse. "Merlin will help you. I'll inform Guinevere," as he said that he rushed to the palace while Gwaine helped the lady dismount the horse.
"Can you walk?" he asked her with care in his voice and she just nodded in response.
They slowly headed to Gaius's chambers. The physician was already cleaning up his work table and preparing himself to sleep when the door swung open and Merlin came in first.
"Merlin, you really need to stop entering these chambers like that," said Gaius.
"Sorry Gaius, but this is urgent. We have someone that needs your help," the warlock said and Gwaine walked in with Ragnell in his arms.
When the physician saw the state the woman was in, he told the knight to lay her on the bed. Ragnell, as soon as she felt that she's safe, closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep. Gaius sat beside the bed and examined the princess. Nothing indicated that she's wounded or ill. The physician stood up and walked over to Merlin and Gwaine.
"By the look of it she doesn't seem to need any medical help, she's just exhausted and cold" he said quietly. "Who is she by the way?"
"It's princess Ragnell, daughter of the king of…," Merlin paused trying to recall the name of the kingdom he heard for the first time in his life. "...Airgialla," he replied hesitantly.
"The king Torin?" the physician frowned. "Where did you find her?"
"Her party was ambushed by a group of thugs who then abducted her for ransom. We just encountered them in a tavern," Gwaine explained.
"Well, she's been lucky that you were there," Gaius said, glancing at the princess.
The door opened again and Arthur with Guinevere walked into the chamber. The queen, half asleep, was only in her nightgown, because when Arthur told her everything that happened, she immediately jumped out of her bed and ran down to Gaius.
"How is she?" asked the king.
"She's fine, just needs rest."
"That's good news," Gwen smiled. "I'll prepare a chamber for her."
"And I'll help you," said Gwaine and everyone shot him a questioning look. The knight glanced at them abashed and explained quickly what he had meant. "I can carry her to her room, and if I may suggest, we can put her in the chamber next to mine. I'll keep an eye on her, just in case."
"Of course," Guinevere smiled and gave him a meaningful look. "Thank you, now we take care of her." she turned to Gaius and the physician nodded in return.
Gwaine took soundly sleeping princess Ragnell in his arms and walked out with the queen following him.
"I'll go find Leon, we need to send a word to Torin. I bid you two goodnight," Arthur nodded and left the chamber.
"So," said Gaius; "we're going to have a peaceful night eventually."
"Not me," Merlin rushed to his room and grabbed fresh washed shirts. "I have to take these to Arthur's chambers and then check up on Aithusa."
"At night?" the physician asked.
"It is unlikely that anyone would notice me sneaking out of the castle at this time," said the warlock.
"All right, Merlin, but…"
"I know, be careful," he chuckled. "I'll be fine, like always."
Merlin made his way straight to Arthur's chambers. The king didn't return yet so when the warlock put his clothes in the closet he decided to clean up a little, because by the state of Arthur's room he could tell that he neglected his duties as a servant even though the king would disagree with that. Merlin sorted all the papers on the desk that were scattered around, he even found some lying under the table. He couldn't believe Arthur didn't lose any of these. Probably, if Merlin wouldn't help him to keep the room tidy, the king wouldn't only have lost his documents, but also his head. When the warlock finished he headed to the door and ran into Arthur.
"Oh, sorry," the warlock laughed as he rubbed his forehead.
"You all right?" the king chuckled, taking Merlin by his shoulders.
"Yeah."
"What are you still doing here?" Arthur was surprised. "You should go to sleep."
"I just brought you clean clothes," Merlin replied.
"Right, thank you. Off you go," the king nodded towards the way out and followed his friend with his eyes as he passed him. He frowned when the warlock didn't turn the way he was supposed to have turned.
"Merlin," he said and the warlock stopped and turned to him; "where are you going?"
"Sleeping?"
"Yeah… but Gaius' chambers are this way," Arthur pointed in the opposite direction than Merlin was heading.
"Oh, you're right," the warlock slapped himself in the forehead, pretending to be stupid. "I really must be very tired," he turned and walked away, but this time in the right direction.
Arthur watched him go with a raised eyebrow. An odd behaviour of his friend was concerning him, but he quickly dismissed the thought as he remembered the pile of papers lying on his desk. He chuckled and shook his head as he saw that Merlin sorted all his documents. He sat at the desk by the window and devoted himself to reading one of the papers on which were written the rules of the Tournament of the Round Table, which was to be held for the first time in Camelot. Light fell on the parchment from just one candle on the windowsill and, from time to time, Arthur's eye flicked away in that direction. Suddenly, he spotted a moving figure outside the window. He narrowed his eyes and stuck his nose to the glass. In the figure he recognised Merlin's familiar attire and the king was curious why his friend was going out of the palace at this time of night.
He tried to come to some sensible conclusion, but after a while he found that Merlin would tell him he was going somewhere, and not lie, that he was going back to his room. After all, they promised themselves to tell each other about everything. So if Merlin decided not to tell him now, he would definitely do so soon. Arthur was sure of that. He blew out the candle and went to his bed, but for him that night seemed to be the sleepless one.
"My lord, there is a reply message from king Torin," said sir Leon.
It was a beautiful morning and the sun's rays falling into the council chamber through the narrow windows casted shadows on Arthur's face, emphasizing dark circles under his eyes. He slowly looked up at the knight.
"And what is it saying?" he asked.
"He is grateful for saving his daughter. Of course, he accepted our invitation and he's setting off as we speak."
"Then we should inform princess Ragnell," the king smiled slightly.
Meanwhile queen Guinevere was in the princess' chamber waiting for Ragnell to wake up. A soft knock on the door echoed across the room and Gwen walked over quickly to see who it was. Outside stood Gwaine with a bouquet of purple flowers.
"My lady," he said, bowing his head, and his eyes wandered over the queen's shoulder to the sleeping princess.
"Gwaine," she smiled.
"Would you please give it to her?" he asked, smiling.
"I see sparks in your eyes," Guinevere grinned. "She'll be happy," she took flowers from him.
The knight nodded. "Oh, and Arthur wanted me to tell that king Torin is heading to Camelot. He will be here in two days."
"That's great news. Thank you, Gwaine," she closed the door as he walked away.
"Where am I?" asked the voice behind her.
Gwen turned around and walked to the table to put flowers in a vase. "You're in Camelot. I'm queen Guinevere," she smiled and sat down on the edge of Ragnell's bed.
"Oh, yes, I remember. King Arthur saved me from the group of brutes," she said and looked at the bouquet of flowers. "Who are they from?"
"From sir Gwaine," the queen smiled. "You caught his eye."
"I must thank him in person," the princess smiled back.
Merlin walked into Arthur's chamber with the dinner. The king was already sitting at the table staring at the wall in front of him and as he saw his friend he rubbed his eyes and focused them on him. The warlock put a plate before Arthur and glanced at him.
"Arthur, you look worse than Gwaine after spending the whole day in a tavern," said Merlin when he saw his friend's face.
"I couldn't sleep," the king murmured.
"I can ask Gaius to make a sleeping draught for you," said the warlock.
"There's no need," he shook his head.
"All right."
Arthur started eating and watched as Merlin sat at the table across from him. The warlock propped his head up with his hand and stared at the king who stopped the fork halfway to his mouth.
"Do you want a piece of chicken to get stuck in my throat?"
"I thought that maybe you want to talk."
"Actually," the king put the cutlery aside; "I wanted to ask you if you have something to tell me."
Merlin frowned. "No, I don't think so, why?" he looked at him curiously.
"I don't know, maybe something happened yesterday. We don't talk much lately and I just wanted to know what's going on," he said and continued eating.
"Nothing happened," the warlock said, clearly worried about his friend. "We talk every day, Arthur. What's wrong?"
The king looked at him and wanted to tell Merlin that he saw him sneaking out at night, but on the other hand he didn't want to push him and let him think that he didn't trust him. He shook his head and replied. "Nothing."
Merlin sighed. "You sure you don't want anything?"
"You may go," said Arthur.
That night Merlin again left the palace but this time he went to Vortimer, and again Arthur saw him. The king wasn't quite sure why he didn't ask the warlock where he was going then, but he knew that the betrayal of another person he so much cared about would break his heart forever. That would kill him. Although Arthur trusted Merlin, there was still a small amount of fear. After the fight with his thoughts the king finally decided to go to Gaius. The physician was like a father to Merlin and he was the only person that could know the warlock better than Arthur. He knocked on the door and as he heard a muffled 'enter' he walked in.
"Ah, sire," said Gaius who was sitting at the table and reading a book. "What brings you to me?"
"I'm looking for Merlin," said Arthur.
Gaius took off his glasses and looked up at him. "He went to search for some herbs."
"Herbs? Again at night?" the king frowned. "I thought he did it recently."
"Yes," he said slowly. "But I found out that I miss two rare ones."
"And he was out looking for herbs yesterday, too?"
"Yesterday?" Gaius seemed surprised but he knew well what his apprentice was doing then.
"I saw him going out of the palace," Arthur said. Despite the astonished expression on the physician's face, the king could tell that Gaius knew something, something he also wasn't willing to tell. "Well, I see that Merlin keeps secrets not only from me," he stated with a tint of disappointment in his voice. He walked out from the chamber leaving wordless Gaius alone.
Late at night the warlock came back. He walked silently into the chamber but instead of sleeping Gaius he found the physician sitting by the candlelight. Just one glance at him and Merlin knew that something must have happened.
"Oh no, I know that look," he said.
"I want to talk to you."
"It's something serious, isn't it?" Merlin asked and sat next to Gaius.
"For you? I think, yes," the physician replied. "Arthur was looking for you."
"What for?"
"He didn't tell, but he knows about your night escapades. He saw you when you were leaving the castle."
"I should've been more cautious," the warlock sighed.
"No, you shouldn't lie to him," Gaius stated. "And I cannot cover for you all the time, it started getting out of control."
"I know… I noticed that he hasn't been himself today and now I know why. But here's so much happening. Telling Arthur about the dragons right now would be too much for him. Can you imagine his reaction?" Merlin tried to explain himself.
The physician sighed. "All I know is that Arthur doesn't feel well because it seems to him that something is wrong, and believe me, no matter how bad it may sound about the dragons, he cares about you and by accepting you as a sorcerer he knew well that it would be more magic still yet to come. Besides, it will not be his first time meeting with magical creatures."
"Is tomorrow the right moment?"
"Every moment is right. Arthur is not only your king, he is your friend first and foremost."
Merlin nodded, absorbing everything Gaius had told him. As always, he was right. "I was so used to having secrets that I put off telling Arthur about them until later, even though I had promised him otherwise," he said after a beat.
"I'm sure you had in mind to protect him in that way. Magic has always been there, but for Arthur it is still something new. So why not show it to him, especially the more beautiful side of magic he had so little to do with."
"Thank you, Gaius," the warlock smiled. "I don't know what I would do without you. It's so obvious and yet I needed someone to make me see it."
"That's why I'm here," the physician chuckled.
"So it means I will not be able to help you with your expedition in search of herbs, the real expedition this time," Merlin stated and Gaius wanted to object, but the warlock overtook him with a reply. "Don't worry, I have someone who will help."