She Watched Him from the Window

By MySoapBox

Many thanks again to my beta angleinthecrowd. I'm glad she knows homonyms, because I sure don't.

In the last chapter…

She watched him from the window and for the hundredth time, Guinevere both cursed and blessed the fact that her Mistress Morgana's room overlooked the courtyard where Arthur and his men trained… How she could ever have any feelings for Arthur Pendragon was beyond understanding… One minute she was thinking what a prat he was, and the next how much she would like to kiss him…."Thank you," he said sincerely, holding her hand a bit longer than was necessary…Guinevere dropped his hand and curtsied deeply. "Just doing my duty, my Lord."



"We've been waiting here for over an hour. She isn't coming." Merlin tossed a red apple from one hand to the other and then back again.

Arthur looked at him. "Who isn't coming?"

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Thor with his mighty hammer," he said sarcastically. "Who do you think?

Arthur turned his head away and back to the small well they had been sitting across from all morning. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Gwen!" Merlin answered.

Arthur only furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head.

"You know, Guinevere? Beautiful brown eyes? Curly hair?"

Arthur remained silent.

Merlin raised his eyebrows. "Attractive figure," he said suggestively as he tossed the apple once more.

Arthur caught the apple in the air. "What are you doing looking at Gwen that way?"

"I can't help but notice…" Merlin stammered.

"Guinevere is a lady… well, not a Lady, lady, but a… female, and she deserves our respect." Arthur put the apple to his lips and took a big bite.

"Hey!" Merlin protested, "That was my snack."

Arthur tossed the bitten apple back into Merlin's lap. "That's what you get for saying inappropriate things about Guinevere."

"What? I just said she was attractive," Merlin protested. "Surely you must have noticed."

"Of course I've noticed!" Arthur retorted. "I just don't want you to talk about it, that's all. Anyway, we aren't sitting her waiting for Gwen. I simply enjoy the sunlight in this part of the city this time of day.

"Oh, right," Merlin nodded in feigned agreement. "The sunlight here is much better than up at the castle."

"Exactly," Arthur said. "And it is good for me to be out among the people. It helps them have confidence."

"Confidence? Exactly…"

Arthur turned to Merlin and gave him a hard stare.

Merlin stammered, "…um…exactly what I was thinking myself."

"And then if someone were to pass by, someone we knew," Arthur continued, "well, then it would only be appropriate to stop and talk to that someone. Would it not?"

"Oh, absolutely." Merlin nodded his head enthusiastically. "And talking to the citizens would increase people's confidence in Camelot."

"Precisely," Arthur said, jabbing an index finger into Merlin's forehead. "Now you've got it."

They fell silent and Merlin went to work on what was left of his apple. After awhile, Arthur pulled out his sword and began twirling it from side to side. A man with a small cart came to the well and filled up two large jars. A few minutes later an older woman arrived with a water sack and filled it to over flowing before heading back down the cobbled roads.

Arthur looked up at position of the sun in the sky and mumbled, "Doesn't that girl drink?"

"Hum?" Merlin asked, tossing his apple core away.

"Nothing," Arthur said as he looked up and down the street. His eyes fell on a couple of brooms leaning up against a building. "Why don't we do some sparing?"

"Oh no." Merlin raised his palms in surrender. "Last time we did a little sparing you gave me a goose egg the size of a small melon. Remember?"

"Don't be such a weakling, Merlin." Arthur picked up one broom, stepped on the head, pulled out the handle and tossed it to Merlin. "I'll make a man out of you yet."

"Believe me, I'm all man now. I just don't have to whack people on the head to prove it."

Arthur ignored him and pointed down the street. "We'll have more room down there," he said, grabbing a broom handle for himself.

"Down there, in front of Gwen's house?" Merlin asked?

"Exactly," Arthur confirmed. "There's a nice open space there."

"I don't see any open space."

"Don't you see that space there?" Arthur gestured vaguely to a small space between a wagon and a fruit stall.

"And that's the only reason you want to go down there," Merlin asked.

"Of course," Arthur answered, and he turned and headed down the lane.

Once they arrived at the place Arthur had indicated, Arthur turned to Merlin and raised his stick. "Defend yourself," he said.

Merlin hardly had time to raise his staff when Arthur was upon him, swinging for his head. Merlin blocked him just in time; the vibrations from the blow stung his hands. He was just recovering when Arthur swung at him again, this time towards his middle. Merlin jumped back and heard the swish as Arthur's swing missed its mark.

"Come now, Merlin, you aren't even trying," Arthur taunted, twirling the stick deftly behind him.

"I am trying," he protested. "Trying not to get killed," he mumbled after.

Arthur stepped back and looked around at the small crowd that had gathered while Merlin regripped his stick.

"Attack me!" Arthur called out.

"What?" Merlin said. He was getting the hang of defense - he had to, to save himself from pain – but he wasn't very good at offense.

"Come on, Merlin! Take a swing at me."

Merlin gritted his teeth and lunged toward Arthur, swinging his stick in a wild arch over his head. Arthur jumped to one side and Merlin struck the ground with a thwack.

"You can do better than that!" Arthur said.

Merlin raised his staff again, and parried Arthur's next attack, spinning into a counter attack of his own.

Arthur blocked Merlin's swing easily and then spun around sweeping at Merlin's feet. He struck Merlin's boot, and Merlin went tumbling.

Arthur reached out his hand and helped Merlin up. "Better," he complimented. While Merlin dusted himself off, Arthur looked looked over to Guinevere's house. Was that a shadow in the window he saw? Encouraged he turned back to Merlin and said, "Again."

Merlin steadied himself and considered his next move. He feigned to the left and then quickly spun to the right. But Arthur hadn't taken the bait and blocked him easily. Somehow Merlin managed to block Arthur's next swing and when he went for a counter attack was amazed to see the Arthur had left himself vulnerable. Merlin struck quickly and hit Arthur hard on the thigh.

"Aggh!" Arthur cried out, and he crumbled to the ground.

"Oh no! Are you okay!" Merlin rushed to Arthur's side. "I didn't think I hit you that hard."

Just then the door to Guinevere's house swung open and a very large woman came hurrying out.

"The Crowned Prince!" the woman exclaimed, kneeling next to Arthur on the ground. "Are you hurt?"

Arthur looked at her warily. "You aren't Gwen."

The woman seemed confused. "No, no, I'm her cousin, Elizabeth. Gwen's away for the day. But are you alright? I heard you cry out."

"Fine, fine. Just a scratch," Arthur said.

"Oh, don't get up my Lord. You look very pale. You should rest for awhile," the woman said.

"I totally agree. You look just awful," Merlin agreed. He couldn't contain the grin on this face.

"No, really, I'm fine," Arthur protested.

"You really should come in and let me take a look at you. That leg may need bandaging," the woman said.

Arthur went to stand. Merlin put his hands on Arthur's shoulders and pushed him down again.

"I agree with Elizabeth. You really should have someone look at that. It might bruise," Merlin said, the smile still beaming from his face. "Why don't you go in and you can slip off your pants so this good woman can get a look at you."

"Oh, no!" Arthur said, much louder than was necessary. "I'm fine really." He pushed himself up. "Thank you…."

"Elizabeth," the woman supplied.

"Yes. Thank you, Elizabeth, for your help. But I'm feeling much better." He turned to Merlin. "Let's go home, Merlin. There is much to do at the castle."

"Yes, my lord."

Arthur turned and walked off down the street.

"Thank you," Merlin said to the woman. "You have brightened my day." He winked at her before heading off after his master.

"Arthur," Merlin said after a few minutes of walking. "I can't help but notice that you aren't even limping."

"What?" Arthur asked. He had obviously not been listening.

"I was just saying, that I noticed that you don't seem to be hurt at all, after my striking you a few minutes ago."

"Oh that," Arthur said in disgust. "You didn't hurt me, Merlin."

"I didn't?" Merlin asked. "Then why did you cry out like that, and fall to the ground?"

"Oh, well… you just caught me by surprise. That's all."

"Caught you by surprise?"

"Yes." Arthur said. Merlin looked at him in unbelief. "It happens," Arthur protested.

"Of course," Merlin agreed.

They walked side by side for a few minutes in silence.

"Two weeks," Arthur finally said.

"What was that?" Merlin asked.

"I haven't seen Gwen in two weeks," Arthur answered.

"That makes sense, now with Morgana gone."

"Where is Gwen?" Arthur asked. "What does she do now?"

"I saw her a few days ago working in the kitchens," Merlin offered. "She said she helps out there sometimes."

"The kitchens?" Arthur stopped walking and turned to face Merlin. "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

"Well, you never asked," Merlin said.

"Never asked? Of all the stupid!"

"What?"

"Didn't you think I'd like to know?"

"Well, you said…"

Arthur reached out and punched Merlin solidly in the shoulder.

"Ow! What was that for?" Merlin complained.

"That was for letting us waste all our morning sitting out in the blasted sun for nothing."

"What? You said we were there for the sunlight," Merlin protested.

"Right. Well. We were." Arthur backpedaled. "I should be informed when we make these sort of staffing changes. Understand?"

"Understood," Merlin said.

"I can't go around looking like I don't know what's going on in my own castle, can I?"

"Of course not," Merlin agreed.

The pair started walking again. After a few moments Arthur wagged his finger in the air and said, "You know, Merlin. It's been a long time since we've had a feast."

"A feast?" Merlin asked.

"Yes, a feast," Arthur answered. "I think it's time we had a nice big feast; one that would require every servant of the castle to attend. Don't you?"

Merlin smiled again. "Yes, my Lord. I think a feast would be just the thing."

To be continued