Chapter 15 – Love Triangle

After Merlin left, Willow leaned against the closed door with a huge grin on her face. Daydreams of horseback riding with Merlin through a meadow and walking hand-in-hand beside of creek played mistily through her mind. The grin turned into a huge yawn. She shook herself. With a sigh, she climbed into bed without changing clothes. She only had a short while to wonder with a smile on her face at her sudden change of heart. Where had her vow to be a spinster gone? Then she was asleep.

When she awoke in the morning, her first thought was of Merlin. She blushed to remember how she threw herself at him. Had she scared him away? Did he think her too young and inconstant to be worth his time? As she freshened up, her eyes fell on the blue dress. He must have had a seamstress begin work on it right away. The bet was only made this morning. Would it even fit? It was so beautiful. How had he had the money to buy it? He was prepared to give it to her if he lost. He gave it to her even though he won and she'd reneged on paying her side of the bargain. He'd let Arthur take his warm plate of food last night and ate Arthur's cold food without even a second's hesitation. How could anyone be so selfless? She shivered to think how easily he'd flicked his wrist and the trunk across the room had opened and the dress had risen up to float in the air. He was such a powerful sorcerer, hiding right her underneath Uther's nose, helping Arthur thanklessly. She shivered again with fear for him. What would Uther do if he ever found out Merlin had magic? How could Merlin risk himself continually to help and protect Arthur as he did? She didn't deserve him. He made her feel so amazing! She had to make sure she hadn't scared him away by being so forward last night!

As soon as she was cleaned up she went looking for Merlin. She found him in the stables, mucking out Swift Frost's stall.

"Merlin?" She whispered, suddenly afraid he would reject her.

He looked up and beamed. "Willow!" He stopped mucking and rested an arm on the shovel. "Did you sleep well?"

She smiled at him. "I'm sorry about how I acted last night. I was being very forward."

His smile faded. He looked down at the muck. "I figured you weren't thinking straight. I didn't want you to do anything rash." He looked up at her. "Thank you for the kiss. I know I tricked you with the bet into doing something you didn't want to do. I'm sorry."

Willow couldn't believe her ears. He was feeling like he'd done something wrong. She stepped into the stall.

"Willow, you'll get your boots dirty." Merlin leaned the shovel against the side of the stall to offer her his hand to steady her.

She took his face in both of her hands and kissed him again. He didn't hold back this time. She could feel him smiling through the kiss.

Somebody cleared their throat. Willow pulled away guiltily to see who it was.

Arthur stood leaning against a post outside the stall.

Merlin and Willow sprang apart. "Um, Arthur," Willow stammered. "You're up and about."

Merlin muttered, "Sorry, Arthur."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "I was wondering where my healer was. My bandages need to be changed. I could hardly believe my ears when someone said they'd seen her heading to the stable."

"Um, yeah, about that." Willow's mind fumbled furiously for some reason that this was acceptable. There wasn't any. "Sorry."

Arthur began to pace. "And what do I find when I get here?" He stopped to look at them. "My healer in the horse shit kissing my servant."

Merlin grinned.

Arthur pointed at him. "Shut up, Merlin." He sighed. "Willow, Merlin told me that you overheard our little competition for your affection." He blushed. "That was tactless." He sighed. "But I guess you fell for the servant mucking horses rather than a wounded prince." He looked away. "I can't say that I understand your choice, but clearly you've made it." He paused. He looked at Merlin suspiciously. "Merlin didn't trick you into this, did he?"

Merlin laughed out loud. "You can't believe she'd like me more than you, can you?" He turned around in disbelief at Arthur's assumption of greater worth. "You're so conceited that you can't even fathom that she could like me more." He slipped in the muck and fell down into a large pile of muck with a splat.

Willow tried not to laugh at all the muck he was now covered in. Arthur said drily, "No. I can't believe it." He looked at Willow. "Care to change your mind?"

Willow smiled at him. "Arthur, truth be told, I've known Merlin longer and was already falling for him and considering breaking my vow of spinsterhood for him. You never really had a chance."

From the bottom of the stall, Merlin called, "I knew it. I could tell you liked me more than you were letting on."

Arthur cocked his head. "Interesting that you use the word 'falling.' What do you see in this buffoon?"

Willow laughed and reached down to help Merlin up.

Merlin shook his head. "No, Willow, you shouldn't get any dirtier than you've already gotten because of me. You have bandages to change and dresses to look at. I'll be fine." He smiled at her to reassure her.

Arthur offered her his hand to help her out of the stall.

She refused. "You shouldn't even be out of your room. I'm not letting you help support me. Just step back and give me room. I won't slip." Once she was clear of the stall Arthur took her arm as an escort.

Merlin stood up half covered in muck. Willow looked back sympathetically. Arthur looked over their shoulders as he escorted her away. He called, "Merlin, once you've finished with the stall, my armor needs polishing." He grinned at Willow. "I'll be busy trying to bring Willow here to her senses."

Merlin called, "Oh, swell. Is there any other work for me to do?" He shook his head. "Why does your armor even need to be polished. You can't fight wounded anyway."

Arthur called, "Oh, yes, Merlin, thank you for reminding me. My dress clothes need to be washed and pressed for tonight's dinner."

Merlin frowned. "Oh! Swell! Sure! I'll get right on it."

Arthur smiled at him. "Good. But be sure to clean up first. You're a mess." He said to Willow, "Thank you for stopping the attempt on my life yesterday. I seem to be more and more in your debt."

She smiled. "Merlin did most of the work, really." As they climbed the stairs, Arthur slowed down and put a hand to his ribs. Willow shook her head and wrapped an arm around him to support him up the stairs. "You're not as strong as you think you are."

He grimaced. "So, Willow, are you sure about your affection for Merlin? He's a lazy servant. He talks back all the time and disappears whenever work needs to be done."

Willow wanted to protest. She even opened her mouth to start, but then remembered that Merlin admitted freely avoiding Arthur because Arthur gave him endless work. She knew full well it wasn't because he was lazy. He was doing so much work for Gaius as well. And he had to hide any and all magical activity from Arthur too. Plus, he did so much behind the scenes to keep Arthur safe, that Arthur hadn't any clue about. She shut her mouth again. Merlin didn't want Arthur to know all of that. She said simply, "I know Merlin's not perfect, but–"

Arthur spoke as if she hadn't started to say anything. "Whereas I am a prince, my father's right hand, the captain of the guards, a hero of the realm. I don't see how you could possibly choose him over me."

Willow smiled thinly. "Arthur, you–"

Again he spoke over her. "Plus there's our looks. I'm dashing and well built from all of my sword training. He's scrawny and goofy looking."

Annoyed Willow added, "And there's your amazing humility."

"And I'm amazingly hum–" he cleared his throat. "Well. Hmm. That was sarcasm, wasn't it?"

Willow smiled as they turned down his hallway. "Got it in one." She sighed. "Arthur, you know as well as I that your father would never allow any relationship between you and an orphaned healer girl to go anywhere. Any time you spent with me would only be a dalliance. A distraction. It would have no future."

Arthur opened his mouth then shut it again. He gritted his teeth in protest. "I wouldn't play with your affections like that, Willow. I wouldn't. I can deal with my father. He doesn't control me. I'm my own man with my own mind. I decide my future."

Willow shook her head. "A prince, like a king, must put the good of the kingdom before his personal wishes. You and I both know that."

Arthur grunted.

Willow smiled as she led him into his room. "May I use your water bowl to clean up my hands with before I redress your wounds?"

He waved her toward the bowl. "Don't let my father know about you and Merlin. He would be furious if he knew you chose Merlin over me."

Willow nodded. "Yes. That would be a good thing to keep secret."