Krysia was already beginning her breakfast the following morning when Merlin dragged himself out of bed and into the physician's chambers where Gaius was readying things for the day. She did her best not to smirk at the boy's bedraggled appearance.

"I got you water," Gaius said, frowning at Merlin. "You didn't wash last night."

"Sorry," Merlin muttered, looking over at Krysia, who had to work very hard to hide the way her lips tipped up with amusement.

"Help yourself to breakfast," Gaius said, gesturing to the watery porridge set out for Merlin, who looked at it with a bit of discomfort, glancing over at Krysia's more hardy breakfast. She just smiled at him as she swallowed the last of her bacon.

Gaius knocked over the bucket of water and Merlin stood, stopping the bucket in mid-air with magic, just as he had done with the mattress the day before. Gaius gasped and Krysia plucked the bucket out of mid-air and set it back on the table, well aware as Gaius and Merlin looked at each other that it would go tumbling to the floor otherwise and leave a mess that somehow she would end up having to clean.

"How did you do that?" Gaius demanded. "Did you incant a spell in your mind?"

"I don't know any spells," Merlin insisted, and Krysia had to admit, despite the impossibility, she was beginning to believe him. She'd heard strange voices in her sleep the night before, and the only thing that had changed was Merlin's presence.

"So what did you do?" Gaius pressed. "There must be something."

"It just happens," Merlin said with a shrug, and Krysia finished her breakfast, scooting the bucket just a bit more onto the table for safety.

She would not be held responsible for messes made if things were going to be 'just happening' around her.

"Well, we'd better keep you out of trouble," Gaius sighed. "You can assist Krysia in her duties to me until I can find you a paid job."

Krysia was about to protest, but she knew there was no point to it. Gaius was determined that Krysia show Merlin the ropes, keep him in line. Judging by his readiness to use magic, she doubted anyone would be able to pull that off.

Gaius handed Krysia a pouch and a small bottle.

"Hollyhock and feverfew for Lady Percival," Gaius told her. "And this is for Sir Olwin. Remember, he's blind as a weevil, so be sure to tell him-"

"Not to drink it all at once, yes," Krysia said with a smile. "I recall."

"And here," Gaius said, thrusting a plate with a sandwich at Merlin, who looked relieved not to have to eat the porridge. Krysia giggled as Merlin took the sandwich. "Off you go!" Gaius said to the pair of them. "Oh, and Merlin, I hardly think we need to tell you that any practice of magic will get you killed. And it would likely throw Krysia into suspicion as well, and we don't want that."

Merlin nodded solemnly, and Krysia led the way to Lady Percival's rooms.

"Had you met anyone, when you got here, or was I the first person you'd actually talked to?" Krysia asked, strolling along the familiar corridors.

"Ah, no, you were certainly the first person I met," Merlin said, glancing around as they walked. "I caught the execution, though."

"Lovely," she said, wrinkling her nose slightly. "I didn't even want to see that. I got more or less forced into it by a friend."

"You have friends?" Merlin asked. "I mean - sorry, that was rude. I just meant, are there many people our age working here?"

"A few," Krysia sighed. "But the friend doesn't work here, at least, not as you mean. He's a knight."

"A knight?" Merlin gaped. "You're friends with a knight?"

She raised an eyebrow at him as she knocked sharply on the door.

"Sorry, that was rude again," he muttered, and the door swung open.

"Hello, Lady Percival," Krysia said in her sweetest voice, such a change from the tone she'd taken with Merlin that he looked at her sharply. "I have the hollyhock and feverfew Gaius gathered for you."

"Oh, thank you, dear," the woman said in a kindly voice. "I saw that you were at the execution the other day. A terrible business."

"Yes, m'lady," Krysia said in her most servile voice. "Sir Leon asked me to be there, otherwise I don't think I would have gone. I hate bloodshed."

"Understandable, my dear," Lady Percival cooed as one talks to a sick dog. She glanced at Merlin. "And he is?"

"Gaius is trying to find him a job, m'lady," Krysia said with a smile. "He is new in Camelot. He'll be helping me until then, and learning his way around. If you hear tell of a position that's open, you will pass it along, won't you? Anything at all would do, really."

"Oh, of course, dear!" Lady Percival said eagerly, looking Merlin over. "You know, I thought the stables were looking someone to muck them more regularly, but I'd have to check."

Merlin paled and Krysia had to try very hard not to laugh.

"I'll look into it, Lady Percival," Krysia insisted. "Don't you trouble yourself with such legwork."

When they made their way off to Sir Oswin, Merlin asked nervously, "You won't make me get that stable job, right? You were just joking?"

Krysia had been joking, but she decided it was important to make one thing perfectly clear.

"Especially when you're new, Merlin," she said firmly, "it doesn't do to turn one's nose up at work. It's hard to stay employed in Camelot. Everyone wants to live here. Not everyone can. Take what you're given, work very hard, and maybe you'll get something better if you find half a chance. No, it probably won't be the stables, but don't expect to be the king's personal servant just because you're living in the castle."

They reached Sir Oswin's door and Krysia knocked.

"Sir Oswin?" she said gently to the blind man. "I have Gaius's medicine for you."

With a bit of difficulty with his blind reaching, Krysia managed to press it into the man's hand after a moment and before she had a chance to remind him not to drink it all at once, the man had downed the bottle. She blinked at him as the door closed behind him.

"Is that going to be okay?" Merlin asked nervously.

"Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine," Krysia said, desperately trying to remember what all was in that particular potion. "Probably just a waste of ingredients."

"Probably?" Merlin prodded.

"He'll be fine," Krysia bluffed, trying to be sure to remember later to tell Gaius what had happened, when Merlin wasn't on her tail.

They walked out into the sun where the training grounds were, as Krysia's next step was making sure Leon and Arthur had no need for her assistance for the day before checking in on Gwen, Morgana, and Uther. Merlin tagged along at her ankles, and Krysia's eyes hit a sight that made her blood turn with the assurance of trouble.

"Oh, no," she sighed.

"What?" Merlin asked, frowning at her.

"Nothing," she muttered, moving forward onto the training grounds with purpose as Arthur continued to throw knives at the target the serving boy, Morris, was carrying. "Just Morris being used as a living joke again."

"Who's Morris?" Merlin asked, and Krysia pointed at the boy who was scurrying away as knives hit the target, trying to make it to the far wall.

"Do you want some moving target practice?" Arthur said, with his knights laughing in the background, and poor Morris dropped the target, which rolled to a stop at Merlin's feet. To Krysia's shock and horror, Merlin put his foot on the target, keeping the flushed and scurrying Morris from picking it up.

"Hey, come on, that's enough," Merlin said, and Krysia could have sworn she'd felt her heart stop in her chest.

On occasion, Krysia had given Arthur a peace of her mind, but only when he was in a good mood, only when it was absolutely necessary, and certainly never in front of anyone at all, especially his knights. She caught Leon's eye and blushed a bit, hoping he'd come to her rescue, but he didn't move.

"What?" Arthur said, clearly not believing what was happening any more than Krysia.

"You've had your fun, my friend," Merlin said, and Krysia actually groaned.

"Merlin, please, just go," she said softly.

"Do I know him, Krysia?" Arthur asked sharply.

"No, he's... no," she muttered, looking down and hoping she wouldn't get in trouble to boot. Merlin was hard on those he didn't like, but twice as hard on friends who upset him.

To her shock and horror, Merlin held out his hand.

"So I don't know you," Arthur said dryly, staring at the hand in front of him like it was a piece of wood he wasn't sure what he was going to do with yet.

"No," Merlin conceded.

"Yet you called me 'friend,'" Arthur said, and Krysia knew he was looking at her again, but she was determinedly staring at a spot on her shoe that she would have to clean later, as soon as she was out of this terrible mess she'd gotten dragged into against her will. What would she tell Gaius if he had to save the pair of them from the stocks?

"That was my mistake," Merlin said, and Krysia relaxed a little, almost ready to breathe a sigh of relief. Maybe Merlin wasn't as dumb as he looked.

"Yes, absolutely, a mistake," she began, ready to talk it all off, but then Merlin had to continue.

"Yeah, I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass."

Krysia's head jerked up and her eyes were wide with horror.

No.

No, no, no, this couldn't be happening. She glanced at Arthur, who was livid. She looked over at Leon, who seemed at as much of a loss as she was. She even glanced up and saw Gwen cleaning a rug in a window, watching the whole scene. What a mess.

Merlin had begun to walk away when Arthur said, "Or I one who could be so stupid, right Krysia?"

She could almost feel Merlin freeze and she could taste the tension in the air.

"Arthur, please," she whispered, desperate to stop this. "He doesn't-"

"Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?" Arthur said, talking right over her, clearly not interested in letting it go.

"No," Merlin said.

"Would you like me to help you?" Arthur said, moving forward a step. Krysia turned and gave Leon a pleading look, but he just shook his head.

There was nothing he could do.

"I wouldn't, if I were you," Merlin said, and then Krysia's stomach hit her throat and she knew something terrible could potentially happen, something that could cost both of their necks, and she had worked so very hard protecting hers that she couldn't let Merlin ruin her life's work.

"Why?" Arthur asked with a laugh. "What's he going to do to me, Krysia?"

"I don't know," she snapped. "Stop trying to get me involved. I'm just standing here."

"Be my guest!" Arthur cried, turning back to Merlin. "Come on! Come on. Come oooon."

Merlin took a swing at Arthur, but Arthur was clearly much better trained, easily twisting Merlin's arm behind his back. The knights made impressed sounds and Krysia rolled her eyes, too annoyed to be impressed by anything.

"I'll have you thrown in jail for that," Arthur said, and it was his most serious voice. Merlin would be, certainly, spending the night in jail.

"What, who do you think you are?" Merlin asked, incredulously. "The king?"

"No," Krysia said, her completely annoyance biting through. "He's his son, Prince Arthur."

Arthur took Merlin out at the knees and some of the newer recruits were instructed to take him to jail. Krysia watched him go, already trying to think of how to explain this all to Gaius.

She turned back to Arthur, making sure the knights had gone about their own business when she addressed him.

"Was that really necessary?" she asked.

"Of course it was, Krysia," he sighed. "I can't have someone challenge me like that in front of my knights, even if he's some kind of friend of yours."

"He's just arrived, and that wasn't what I meant," she said coldly. "Throwing knives at Morris! Allowing someone who clearly didn't know what he was getting himself into continue on insulting you without letting him know he was dealing with royalty! Arthur, it's not fair and it's not right!"

"You could have said something, any time," he said, glaring at her.

"You know I couldn't have, not in front of your knights," she sighed. "It's not my place. It is, however, yours. Now, as I was going to ask before this whole disaster took off, is there anything you need me to do today, or can I get out of your presence before I have half a mind to throw things at you?"

He cracked a small, rueful smile, but it was gone almost as soon as it appeared. "Actually, I was hoping you could inspect Morris's job polishing things when he finishes. You know how poorly he does. I'll send him to find you when he's done."

"Oh, very tactful of you," she said sarcastically. "I applaud you, your highness. After scaring the boy half to death, you all but tell him he's being inspected. Fine, I'll do it, but don't expect me to be pleased with you."

"Are you ever?" he teased, but then Krysia just shook her head, waved at Leon, and left the training ground with a stiff back, an erect neck, and her most indignant walk, making full well that even though she'd not insulted him in front of his knights, all the people on the training ground would know that she wasn't pleased with Arthur that day.

/-/

Krysia was standing at the side of the throne later that night, specifically requested to tend to Uther and his newly arriving guest in the throne room. She always was selected for nights like this, mostly because she had a natural poise that most servants couldn't be trained to have, even with the most intensive training.

Lady Helen walked down the hall with grace and Krysia couldn't honestly decide whether she thought the singer beautiful or not. She glanced around at the other members of court, although very few were present. None looked as pleased to see the singer as Uther.

"Lady Helen," Uther said in greeting. "Thank you so much for coming to sing at our celebrations."

"The pleasure's all mine," Lady Helen insisted.

Of course it was, Krysia thought. Who wouldn't be pleased to bits to be invited to Camelot as a guest of honor by the king himself?

"How was your journey?" Uther asked.

Lady Helen sighed.

"Oh, the time it took, sire."

Uther kissed her hands and Krysia bit the inside of her lip to keep from making an exasperated sound.

"Well, it's always worth the wait."

"It will be," Lady Helen assured him.

"Krysia, show Lady Helen to her room," Uther said without looking at Krysia. "Make sure she's comfortable.

"Of course, Sire," Krysia said, curtsying and leading Lady Helen out of the throne room to the chambers several serving girls had prepared earlier in the day.

"This way, m'lady," Krysia told the singer, who followed her brisk pace with ease.

"Working here long, dear?" Lady Helen asked.

"As long as I can remember, m'lady," Krysia replied honestly. "I believe I've seen you before, but it was not recently enough that I think I would have been old enough to have met you. It is an honor."

No, Krysia didn't actually feel honored, but it had become almost a habit to say that to all of Uther's most prized guests, and it was clear that Lady Helen was in this category.

"Well, then, you won't recall that I value my privacy," Lady Helen said firmly. "I might be a Lady, but I don't need to be fussed over."

"Certainly, m'lady," Krysia assured her. "I will pass it along to all the serving girls who might work with you. Let me know if you have any problems and I will take care of them right away. A few of our serving girls are very new. Is there a time of day you would prefer the girls with less discretion, or should I put the more experienced girls on double shifts?"

"I will leave that up to you," Lady Helen said as Krysia held the door to the quarters open. "You seem capable, and the king seems to trust you."

"I do my best, m'lady," Krysia said, inwardly wondering what Lady Helen was getting at. "Is there anything I can do for you tonight, or would you prefer to be left alone?"

"I think I can manage just fine," Lady Helen said with a smile. "You could do with a rest, I'm sure. I know how hard you work here. You're probably as tired as I am."

"If you're sure, m'lady, the rest would be welcome," Krysia said honestly. "Do you have anything to send out for washing, at least?"

"I'll sort it out when I get up in the morning," Lady Helen said, smiling. "Good night, Krysia."

"Good night, Lady Helen."

Krysia watched Lady Helen close the door before turning away and walking briskly to Gaius's chambers, eager to get a bit of rest in. Gaius was pouring over some papers.

"Where's Merlin?" he asked.

Krysia froze.

"Merlin?" she said sheepishly. "He's... erm..."

"Where?" Gaius demanded.

"Arthur had him thrown in jail," Krysia admitted. "There really wasn't a lot I could do. No magic, just... well... let his stupid mouth run. Then he threw a punch."

Gaius looked up at her with shock.

"I'll get him out in the morning!" she said, sharply, sitting down across from Gaius, pouting a bit. "Lady Helen seemed pleased with me, so that should give me a bit of leverage. Besides, a bit of time in jail should remind him to listen to me when I tell him to shut up."

"I certainly hope so," Gaius said, shaking his head and turning back to his papers. "Go ahead and get some rest."

Krysia made for her chambers and froze, turning back to Gaius.

"Sir Oswin drank it all."

"He'll be fine," Gaius said, waving his head. "I'll have to get more ingredients sooner and he'll be spending a lot of time... erm..."

"Right, just making sure," Krysia said, waving her hand. "Good night, Gaius!"

"Good night."

She went inside, closed the door, and collapsed on the bed. Hopefully the next day would be just a bit calmer.