"Ashton please, hold still." Gaius, Merlin and Gwen tried to keep her still from the pain in her lower back. "I'm trying to paralyzed the area." Gaius dabbed clear liquid on her lower area, while Merlin and Gwen held her arms to the cot. Her face was bright red from holding back screams. "Guinevere, please grab me a towel from the table." Gwen rushed to find a towel for Gaius. "Merlin." Gaius looked to Merlin, a look that said, "Use your magic to heal her tailbone." Gaius distracted Ashton as Merlin did the magic spell. His eyes lit up and a popping noise came from the result of the spell.
Ashton yelped from the popping noise and stopped to stare at Gaius. "What just happened?" she said slowly in shock. "I-I popped the bone into place, it seems your tailbone was misplaced after your falls." he concluded. Ashton sighed of relief and immediately felt no pain when she sat up from the small cot.
"Thank you Gaius. And thank you Merlin." she bowed her head. Guinevere came back into the room with a towel and noticed that it was not needed. "Sorry about that Gwen." Gaius sighed as he cleaned the station. "Not a problem." Gwen smiled.
"Gwen," asked Ashton. "Could you help me get ready for this feast tonight?" Guinevere smiled, "Of course Ashton!" "Great!" Ashton blushed. This caused Gaius to smile. "Yes! Guinevere, you and Lady Morgana should assist her if you will.'
Later that night, Guinevere and Morgana were in Morgana's chambers, helping her with dress, hair and makeup. "You look beautiful." Morgana smiled as she patted her eyelids with a powder. "You think so?" Ashton said quietly, trying to keep Morgana's focus on point. "I do. And your hair is magnificent!" Ashton smiled and opened her eyes to the girls. "If we have time tonight, I can tell you why my hair is this way." Gwen chuckled along with Morgana. "Yes, you must. Arthur has been asking me about it all afternoon!" Morgana laughed as she brushed her hair.
"The prince? Really? About my hair?" Ashton showed teeth in her blushing smile. "He was putting together stories on how it was magic, but he's ridiculous." Gwen tired a pretty white bow in her hair and told her to stand up. Ashton walked to the mirror and gasped. "Dear God!.. I look beautiful.." Ashton said quietly. The ladies giggled together as she demonstrated her walk, twirling and bowing. It was like butterflies were all around. She felt happy, and like a flower she bloomed. She could feel a warm sensation on her face, as if the sun was glowing on her.
The finishing touch was added; a small tiara that Morgana received when she was seventeen. "My Lady, I could not wear your tiara i-it's yours and I would-" Morgana shook her head and laughed. "No please, I think you'll look magnificent for the guests tonight." Morgana placed the white diamond tiara on top of Ashton's head and Ashton was speechless. "Tonight, you're an honored guest. And an honored guest should feel honored to be that guest." she concluded
The girls made their way downstairs and were assisted by two guards to the banquet hall. During their walk, Morgana asked Ashton about her hair. "Well, its a weird story."
Ashton told Gwen and Morgana everything about her hair. The cold winter day that changed her life forever. "You could of died, I think you're very brave My Lady." Guinevere declared as she straightened out her white laces dress, which matched the bow and tiara in her pink curly hair that fell perfectly down her back.
When they reached the banquet hall, they waited to be introduced to the party. Ashton grew nervous as her turn approached; just after Morgana was to enter the room. "My lady what if I mess up -wha-what if I trip or-" "Just walk in and smile to everyone. Especially Uther and his son." Morgana winked as she turned around. "Entering Lady Morgana." called a man. Morgana smiled and entered the banquet with her head held high.
Ashton took a few deep breaths and rubbed her hands together. She looked into a nearby mirror and smiled. "Smile." she smiled to the mirror. "Entering Lady Ashton." Ashton gasped softy and heard the room go silent as she walked to the door and held her head high, just as Morgana did.
Merlin, Gaius and the entire room turned to the door to the new guest of Camelot's royal banquet. Their she was. Ashton smiling as everyone noticed her long pink hair reach her lower back. Her dress was a simple design of lace and white. She smiled to the king and his son. Arthur was wide eyed as he noticed her. She walked to the table and bowed before them. Merlin smiled and noticed not one ounce of sadness was near her eyes. God her eyes were so green he thought. Ashton was seated next to Gaius at one of the tables near the windows. "Gaius sat down and whispered, "You look beautiful my dear." Ashton smiled.
The meals were brought out and this gave Ashton time to scan the room. She noticed laughter from the knights and Arthur. Morgana talking with the king, maids and servers pouring more wine and water. Merlin was clearing plates with Gwen. A small band was play simple tunes to get the night going. The violin was playing slowly and so was the citteern. She then noticed Merlin glancing to her and smiling, Ashton waved a small wave. She noticed Merlin mouthed, "beautiful." and left to take the plates back.
Ashton sighed and played with her olives with her fork. "You alright?" Gaius asked. Ashton shrugged. "I'm homesick honestly. Penelope and Maxwell. I miss my small bed and the mountain sounds." Ashton picture herself lying on her small bed around summer time. The crickets were loud and a calming lullaby to her as the cold night air rocked her to sleep. The feeling of her eyes drooping, and the word 'home' made her sad. Gaius sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I have an idea. Don't worry, I'll be right back." Gaius got up from his chair and went to the king's table. "My lord, if I may have a word, very sorry my lady." he addressed to Morgana.
"My lord, Ashton is feeling homesick tonight." Uther glanced to Ashton; who was looking tired and sad. "Indeed, she is sad." Uther sighed and took a drink. "If it is alright with you, may she dance for the banquet?" Uther looked confused. "Dance? Why dance?" Gaius chuckled. "In our home village, when someone got married or a birthday was around, Ashton could be the best dancer you'd ever seen my lord." Uther looked to his son, who gave a look back to his father. "Very well, anything for your guest Gaius. You've been faithful to me, and I know she is trustworthy like you. Let her dance." he winked.
Gaius walked over to the band playing and gave a few instruction. To play, "The Dragon Dance." Turns out, this band knew the song already and was glad to play it for the honored guest. Gaius walked back to his seat and smiled. "Gaius, what did you do?" Gaius started to whistle and look to the ceiling to tease her. "Come on Gaius!" Suddenly the room grew quiet as the band stopped playing. Uther was now watching Ashton and Gaius, to see if her reaction would be delightful to watch. The music started up and a few people looked confident to the small melody.
Ashton gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. "Gaius!" he smiled. Gaius placed his hands on hers. "Now is the time to make this castle feel a little more like home. Go my dear, dance. Dance until your feet cant support you." he nodded and kissed her cheek. Ashton grinned and got up from her chair, removed her shoes and went to the middle of the floor.
People noticed and started to watch her performance. Ashton moved around on her tiptoes constantly to the violins sweet melody with the cittern being strummed away by the man. People clapped as she did a full 360 turn four times in a row. She stopped to notice Merlin watching her with Gaius. She grinned and ran over to him.
"Come with me." she smiled. Merlin grew wide eyed. "I can't dance.." Ashton grabbed his hands, "Come on it doesn't matter to me." She dragged him to the floor and another round of applause was held. Merlin heard Arthur chuckle. "That a boy Merlin!" Merlin rolled his eyes and felt his heart thump as Ashton placed his hand on her waist. "Just follow my lead." she winked. The two started to to dance in circles. Merlin twirled her around, he watched her hair flow freely as she twirled. Merlin was starting to enjoy this little dance. "Stay here." she stopped their dancing and ran to Guinevere, who was on the sides watching. "Come on." she places the water jug in her hand down on the table and grabbed her hands to the floor. Ashton managed to get three knights, four servers, and five major council members to join the floor for this chain dance. She even managed to get Lady Morgana out of her chair.
Merlin, Ashton, Gwen and the others started to go in a circle and make an 's' shape and they gleefully twirled again. Ashton grabbed more people from the tables and they all joined the lovely chain dance of the banquet. Everyone was enjoying it as much as Merlin and Gwen, with Ashton leading the chain. Gaius was too old to dance, so all he did was watch. He walked over to Arthur and Uther's table. "You know Sire, You should join them." He offered with a smile. "I don't dance my dear Gaius." Arthur started to laugh a little, when he noticed Geoffery, dancing next to a lady from the council. He looked happy.
The dance ended with a violin solo and everyone clapped. Arthur and Uther rose from their chairs and clapped as well. It was like tonight's entertainment. "Bravo! Bravo!" shouted Uther. Ashton and the rest bowed before the king, Ashton was blushing. Merlin hadn't felt this free in months. He wanted to dance again, but he realized that everyone was retiring for bed. Ashton walked back to Morgana's chamber to get back into normal clothing.
"Ashton that was brilliant!" Gwen laughed. Ashton handed back the tiara to lady Morgana and bowed. "Good night ladies." she smiled and walked back to the chambers of hers.
Gaius and Merlin prepared a cot for Ashton in Merlin's room, right next to his bed. Gaius and Merlin placed sheets, and a soft pillow for her. When Ashton entered her chambers, she felt sleepy and felt her eyes droop. She realized Merlin and Gaius were sitting at the table waiting for her return. "You two head to bed then. Ashton, tomorrow morning I have a surprise for you." he winked. Ashton walked to Gaius and hugged him. "Thank you Gaius. Thank you for tonight." Gaius hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "Get some rest my dear." she and Merlin walked to the back room and closed the door.
Ashton washed her face with a cloth and put on her nighty. She also removed a few pieces of jewelry and sighed. Camelot was a wonderful place for her, but she still missed home. I wonder how Rose and Penelope are she wondered. She walked out of the wash room and laid in bed. Merlin was reading a book and started to get under covers. Ashton folded her arms behind her head and smiled. "Soo, Ashton." Merlin sat up and looked to the bed next to him. "How do you like Camelot so far?"
This made her think for a few minutes. "It's different." she said, playing with her hair as she laid in her bed. "Much louder, more people, and you don't get to dance for the king everyday am I right?" Merlin nodded. "I've only been here for three months now; and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else." Ashton smiled. "I have a question, if you don't mind- but why is your hair pink?" Ashton sat up from her bed and looked to Merlin with an embarrassed look. "Alright, story time then."
"When I was seven, I lived in Wilden with Gaius and others. The village lived near the mountains; which means cold cold winters. Also when I was little, my hair was black. Blacker than the night sky, possible blacker then your hair Merlin." "One day, my friends Rose, Maxwell Penelope and I went on an 'adventure'" she grinned. "I guess it really wasn't an adventure huh?" Merlin wondered. "We always went on these wild adventures. Gaius doesn't even know about half of them." She giggled and then continued.
"One winter day, we decided to go into the woods and play. We would play knights and princesses all afternoon until our noses turned red." she said quietly, almost as she was playing the story in her mind. "But Maxwell found this lake near the end of the woods and we went over there; it sure was a beautiful lake." "The lake was frozen because of winter and we thought it would be fun to throw things on the lake to break the ice. We used rocks, pebbles and logs to satisfy that moment. But nothing broke it. Rose started to walk out on the icy lake. And we joined her." she gave a soft laugh.
"So then what happened?" Ashton got shivers from the moment. "When I walked out; I felt fine. I got to skate across the ice with my boots. And when I reached this one part of the lake, it was thin. I fell through." she swallowed. Merlin was getting tense from this story and almost felt sad. "I remember screaming; screaming; to get Gaius. Maxwell ran faster then any horse in the kingdom to reach the village. Luckily, Rose and Penelope managed to pull me out of the water. It was so cold Merlin. It was like fire inside of the skin. I couldn't move and my whole body turned blue." she frowned. "When Gaius and a few men arrived, all I remember is Gaius taking be to the horses.
" I woke up in my home covered from head to toe in these blankets and my hair was wrapped in this other blanket as well. He gave me some medicine to warm my body to its normal temperature. I thank Gaius for saving my life." She started to laugh. "What's so funny?" Merlin cracked a smile. Ashton continued her story. "So, when I was all warmed up, Gaius started to remove the blankets and he saw my hair and just freaked out!" She laughed. "It turned pink on it's own?" Merlin laughed. Ashton nodded her head. "Gaius and a village elder think that a sorcerer enchanted the lake before the children played in it. But, i'm quiet happy with my looks now. It's something different." she smirked.
She gave a long yawn and laid back down. "You need rest." Merlin suggested with a smile. Ashton closed her eyes and sighed. "Goodnight Merlin." he smiled, "Goodnight Ashton."