I'M BACCK! Okay not really, but I know I've not updated this in ages but please don't hurt me; I wasn't sure how to start this. And I'll be honest, I still don't :S haha
As Merlin starts tonight I'll probably get inspiration to write more from there so hopefully updates will be more regular then!
Enjoy! x
Merlin was walking through Camelot the next morning with a skip in his step and a smile from ear to ear. He knocked brightly on Arthur's door, breakfast in hand, and heard a muffled reply from inside. Arthur was sitting at his wooden table, slouching over his fancy chair and pouting.
Merlin placed Arthur's food in front of him and stood to watch him, not being able to wipe the smile from his face. Arthur looked from his food, to Merlin's face and back again.
"Why're you so happy?" He asked; evidently grumpy.
"No reason." Merlin answered sceptically.
"Tell me." Arthur was getting slowly happier; bossing Merlin about often brightened his mood.
"You know when you went to that picnic with Gwen? And you were so excited and happy." Merlin tried to get Arthur to understand by using something he could get to grips with; himself.
"Yeah…" Arthur smiled slightly at the memory. "You've got a girl?" Arthur presumed.
"Yes." Merlin nodded, the smile not fading.
"What's her name?" Arthur asked. Merlin knew he couldn't reveal Anna's true identity; Arthur had banned him from seeing her!
"Annabelle." Merlin extended her name; his voice shaky as he answered.
"What's she like?" He asked.
"She," Merlin paused as he tried to think of a good lie. "She has hair. Nice hair. Long, flowing, from her head. And eyes! Above her nose, under her forehead, blue." Merlin lied incredibly badly.
"She sounds like, I don't know, maybe a girl? Any girl." Arthur asked sarcastically. His mood improving as he insulted Merlin's intelligence. Yet again.
Merlin remained silent; wondering where Arthur would take this. "I know exactly what happened last night." Arthur mused.
Merlin's eyes widened. "What?"
"You went to the Tavern. You got drunk. Then you thought you met a girl but it didn't happen. Who are we kidding Merlin, you couldn't attract a girl without trying really hard." Arthur teased.
"That must have been it." Merlin agreed.
"Anyway, dress me; the tournament starts in half an hour and I'd actually like the chance to warm up today." Arthur remembered Merlin's lateness at the first day of the tournament. Merlin grimaced and prepared Arthur without the joke about Arthur dressing himself he'd been formulating.
They made their way down to the tournament 10 minutes later and Arthur joined the other knights warming their shoulders up and talking to themselves in the ring.
Merlin leant against the entrance to the arena and scanned the audience for Anna. He didn't see her. But Sir Oliver soon entered the ring.
Arthur had 3 matches today. As did Oliver. 2 more matches tomorrow and the Final on Friday. A small part of Merlin hoped Oliver wouldn't make it that far and then he wouldn't have to wait that long before openly being in a relationship with Anna.
Merlin let his mind wonder to his meeting last night.
She'd kissed his cheek.
The day passed quickly and Merlin was soon heading back to the river to meet Anna.
He'd even put a new scarf round his neck. Well he had to look tidy didn't he?
When he arrived Anna was already waiting.
"Hi." He called.
"Hello Merlin." She greeted him with a smile.
Merlin gestured to the small paddle boat and she climbed in again. He rowed out to the middle of the river and let the boat drift.
"So tell me about you Merlin." Anna smiled.
"Me? Err, I lived in a small village with my mother before she sent me here to find work. I've lived here with Gaius for a few years now."
"How long have you worked for Arthur?"
"Most of the time I've lived here. After I saved his life specifically."
"How?"
"A psychopathic witch wanted to kill him in revenge for Uther killing her son. I saved Arthur from death. All in a day's work." Merlin smirked. Anna laughed.
"So what's Arthur like?"
"What's with the sudden interest in Arthur?"
"Sorry, just trying to make conversation."
"It's okay. What about you then? Tell me about you."
"I lived in a small village and moved to a city when my mother died. My father has looked after me ever since. Sir Oliver took me in as his servant and provided me with food and a place to live so Father didn't have to work so hard." Anna explained.
"I'm sorry about your parents." Merlin apologised.
"It's okay. Mother was ill and we knew she wouldn't live. I write to my Father." Anna explained.
They sat in momentary silence.
"Sir Oliver fought well today, don't you think?" Merlin started.
"Yeah. Though the injury from Monday was causing him trouble."
"How do you know? Are you inside his head?" Merlin laughed.
"I had to tend to the wound Monday. And I've seen him fight many a time before; I could tell." Anna answered smoothly.
"Oh. Is he okay? I'm sure Gaius would take a look at him if the wound was infected or anything-" Merlin blabbered.
"No, Merlin, it's fine." Anna laughed. "He knows where to go if he needs help."
They sat in silence again and Anna tilted her chin upwards.
"The stars are beautiful tonight."
Merlin looked up too, admiring the little balls of light millions of miles away in the night sky. "They are."
As they floated further away from the shore, they approached a gap in the tree's Merlin hadn't seen before. He saw the castle and all its guards; a few windows lit by fire light, a few shadows in the windows, nothing from those who've already joined with sleep.
Anna caught sight of the castle and took one last look at the stars. "I really need to be going." She whispered.
"Why?" Merlin asked; care evident in his voice.
"I need to wash all of Oliver's things before tomorrow."
"Please stay? Just for a little while longer." Merlin asked, not wanting their meeting to be cut short again.
"I promise you, after Oliver's last day of competing I'll spend all night with you. Unless he suffers a fatal injury or something." Anna smiled slightly.
"In that case, I hope Arthur wins." Merlin whispered as their faces neared. Anna climbed out the boat, saying goodbye as though it was a whisper in the wind and disappearing between the trees.