Her eyes fluttered open from the sun in her face. Ashton regained her focus and lifted her head from the pillow. The town was awake and hard at work as she could her from her room. She looked to the bed next to her and noticed Merlin missing. She sat up and stretched her arms over her head. She looked around the room; no Merlin. She got up from her bed and went to the wash room to brush her hair.
When she was finished, she went to find Gaius; who was working with his potions. "Good morning." she yawned and scratched her head. Gaius looked to her and chuckled. "I see you had a nice sleep?" Ashton nodded in agreement. "Where is Merlin?" "He's Prince Arthur's servant remember?" Ashton rolled her eyes. What time is it?" Gaius grinned, "Almost ten!" Ashton almost chucked up her water. "TEN?" Gaius laughed and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Merlin didn't want to wake you."
Later that morning, Gaius and Ashton did some chores around the chambers. Ashton sweeped the floor and clean the windows. "Do you always have parties here or..?" she asked as she picked up a few books off the ground. "It's more like a war if you ask me."
When they finished cleaning the chambers, Gaius reveled her surprise. "Today is your free day. You get to roam around the castle as you please. You can see Lady Morgana, or go see The Throne Room, we have a library and then the kit-." Ashton gasped. "A library?" Gaius smiled. "I knew that would get your attention. I'll be glad to escort you there safely."
After Ashton got dressed in her baby blue gown, she and Gaius walked down together talking about sections of the castle and beyond the town. "What if I get lost?" she asked with giggles coming afterward. "I'm sure you won't my dear." They reached the library doors and they entered. This great big chamber had all kinds of books on the shelves. She didn't know where to start. The ceiling was ginormous with glass stain windows. She twirled around looking at the ceiling with awestruck wonder. "This place is incredible!" Geoffrey, the courts genealogist noticed the new arrivals and walked up to them with a surprised smile. "Hullo Gaius and Gaius's friend." he greeted. Ashton greeted herself with a smile and looked around the library again. "I'm letting Ashton explore the castle on her own today, if you're not too busy you could show her the library..?" Gaius asked. "Not a problem Gaius, anything for a friend of yours."
Ashton and Geoffrey walked along the paths of the library which contained all kinds of books. The two conversed about all the books she knew. Together, they grabbed a book called Pendregon's History; A book showing the beginning of the Pendragon family tree.
They then looked at a map of Camelot, something Ashton had never seen before. "I didn't Camelot was this big!" she shook her head with big green eyes. Geoffrey chuckled. "But put the five kingdoms together, and its all one big world." After another few minutes, Ashton decided to head out of the library. "I hope to see you soon Ashton, thank you for stopping by!" he smiled. "It's an honor. Maybe i'll stop by and look at those Doctor books...?"
Ashton started for the royal kitchen. It was going to be a nice place for her to explore because she wanted to know how to prepare the king's food and such, but was it really important? Possibly. She entered through a door and noticed a woman working on pies. She was a big woman with blonde hair and blue eyes that looked tired. She turned around to Ashton who gasped. "Oi! Wha are you doin in my kitchen?" Ashton stuttered, "i'm sorry miss i-i get to explore the castle today-." the woman finally realized who she was. "Your the new girl eh? The names Audrey my sweet." Audrey bowed. "I'm the head chef in the kitchen, would you like to help me prepare the prince's lunch?"
The two women got to work. Ashton was taken by surprised by all the steps they had concurred to cook, boil and stew up only three food groups for one person. Chicken breast with stewed tomatoes and greens. "I think it turned out very well." Ashton smiled. Ashton noticed a crate of gala apples near a vase and walked over to it. "Maybe add some color?" Ashton cut up one apple and placed it on the plate. "That looks nice love." Audrey complimented. "I'll take this up then, have an apple, they're freshly picked from yesterday!" she winked and out the door she went.
Her mouth watered from the sweet ripe apple in her mouth. She smiled with every bite. She stashed a second apple for Merlin in a secret pocket on her dress. She decided to head to the training area to watch the knights of Camelot train for battles and possibly, war. Down some spiral stairs she went, hoping for the sun to hit her skin as she made her way out on grass.
"Merlin! Fetch me my sword!" Called the annoyed prince as he got his armor on for training. Merlin rolled his eyes and went for the sword. As Merlin looked up he noticed a familiar figure walking around from tent to tent. 'Ashton! Over here!" Merlin called out waving his hands above his head. Ashton noticed the hands and started to walk over to the tent Merlin was in.
"Hello Merlin." Ashton smiled as she took a seat. "How's your day so far?" Merlin smiled as he tightened Arthur's suit. Ashton got up and helped the prince. "Well, the library is fantastic and crawling with books that I must read. The kitchen is splendid as well, Audrey, let me have this," she smirked as she pulled a small juicy gala apple from her pocket. Merlin laughed. "That's impossible Audrey doesn't let anyone come near those apples." Merlin said. "Wonder why." Arthur mumbled. Merlin rolled his eyes and looked back at Ashton.
"I have a charm for royal cooks." she winked and gave Arthur his sword. "I want you to have it Merlin," she offered the apple. "I can't, you keep it." "Merlin come on, I got this for you especially." She placed the apple in his hand. "Will you two stop flirting or whatever?" Arthur chuckled and waked off to the training. "Flirting?" Ashton question and tilted her head. "He doesn't know what he's talking about, wanna come watch Arthur with me?" he held out his arm and Ashton accepted it with a smile and the two walked together arm in arm. Merlin then took a bite of the apple and smiled as he chewed.
"So kind of you to escort me to around the grounds Merlin." she chuckled. "Anything for a lady like you, you're a guest of the castle." He smirked. "Do you enjoy being the servant of the future king?" Merlin sighed. "It has its days, but it's better than being one of those servants." he pointed with his free hand to a young boy being used for target practice of archery. "You have archery? Impressive; if I say myself. I use to do that at home. I'd practice on the side of my house with apples or dummies found around the village."
"Ask Arthur if you can practice with the knights!" Merlin offered as they kept walking. "I couldn't, it's for The Knights of Camelot, not a girl from Wilden." she shook her head blushingly. Merlin and her let go of each other and stood to watch Arthur with his men, he was talking so formally to his men. When Arthur was finished with his instructions, he sent the men off. "Arthur, Ashton tells me that she's great at archery." Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Really? Do you think you have what it takes to be a Camelot Archer miss Ashton?" Ashton smirked. "I think I can handle it." Arthur smirked and walked over to a wooden shelf that contained a bow and a set of 5 arrows.
He looked around for a target. He need something challenging, something impossible. He noticed a target that hung on the tallest trees near them. "I'll tell you what Ashton." he pointed at the target and handed her the bow and one arrow. "Let's make a wager, if you can hit the highest target, i'll-" "You'll give Merlin the entire week off." She filled in his words. Merlin and Arthur grew wide eyes from this request. "Merlin? The entire week off?" Merlin started to smile, thinking about how he'd spend that week off. "And i'll think about putting you, as the first woman to join Camelot's archers." Ashton gasped and smiled. "Sire you mean it?" "You have my word." he said.
"Soo, what would happen if I missed that target." Arthur bit his lip and chuckled. "If you miss it, you and Merlin will be my servants, for the entire time you stay in Camelot." Ashton felt her stomach drop. "I'm not scared to wash your clothes on make your bed." she smirked. Arthur laughed, "Your journey awaits you." he showed the target with his hands.
Ashton grabbed an arrow from the pack. Ashton could feel Arthur's eyes on her, and she loved it. She drew an arrow from her carrier and put it in the bow. She swallowed and lifted the bow. Deep breaths in through her nose and out of her mouth as she set her target. She finally got a good position. Thunk. She released the arrow and the boys watched it fly. It all happened within seconds and the arrow hit its target. Not exactly in the middle, but good enough for qualification. Arthur grew wide eyed and whistled. "Impressive Ashton, not too bad. You might need some more work."
Ashton and Merlin yelled with excitement and Merlin clapped his hands "You did it!" Ashton jumped up and down with a laughing smile. "I did it! I can't believe I did it Merlin!" She ran to Merlin and wrapped her arms around his neck. Merlin quickly wrapped his arms around her, to make sure she didn't fall. "I'll gladly tell my father about this, you deserve a position as archer Ashton." He winked, and started to walk off to the other knights.
"I feel like a magnificent Camelot knight!" She smirked to Merlin. "Where did you learn such skills?" Merlin asked as he looked to the arrow that pierced the target. "After my river accident, I decided to learn from the boys in my village about the art of archery. The practice paid off if I'd say so myself." She bit her finger and giggled. "Nice, now you want to go get that down?" Merlin grinned his adorable smile.