Author's Note: Thank you to all those who reviewed my first chapter. I appreciated your thoughts very much. Life has been very hectic of late, so my second chapter has taken a bit longer to post than I first anticipated. Thank you for being patient. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as you did the last.
The Lady Vanishes
The embers on the hearth were slowly dying when Gwen awoke to the quiet darkness just before the dawn. Her eyes fluttered open, glancing at the shadows cast by the dim firelight. Slowly the dreamy haze of slumber lifted, and Gwen came to realize that she was still wearing her clothes from the day before. Why had she not changed for bed? The last thing she remembered was staring into the fire while sitting beside –
"Arthur!" His name rushed from her lips in a hushed whisper that brought a low grunt from the side of the bed. Turning her head to the side, Gwen almost gasped at the sight of the crowned prince sitting on the floor, his head propped against her mattress as though it were a pillow. For a moment, she merely stared, wondering if her eyes were deceived. Tentatively, she reached out from beneath the blanket and brushed a few strands of hair from his brow, assuring herself that he was no apparition. The movement caused him to stir, and he turned his face toward her touch, causing Gwen's heart to skip a beat as his cheek brushed against her palm. His eyes gradually opened, and he turned to capture her in a blaze of blue that stole her breath away. What would it be like to be greeted with such a gaze each morning?
The moment the thought entered her mind, Gwen dismissed its absurdity. She was nothing more than a servant in the Pendragon household. She had no right to entertain such notions, and yet it was no mere whim of fancy that Arthur sat beside her bed, gracing her with a sleepy grin. Gwen knew he had been there all night, keeping guard as though she were the daughter of a nobleman whose well being mattered more than his comfort. The knowledge sent a pleasant tingling sensation down her spine, reminding her of the night he'd saved her from the dragon. I wasn't going to let anything happen to you. The memory brought a soft smile to her lips, which was immediately followed by a gentle blush as Gwen realized that her fingers still rested against Arthur's cheek. She quickly drew her hand back beneath the blanket but her rebellious eyes refused to relinquish contact with his warm gaze.
"Good morning, Guinevere," he murmured, his deep voice encircling her with a sense of security, much as his arms had done the night before. Gwen found herself constantly captivated by the sound of her name proceeding from his lips. Had it always sounded like that of a lady, or was the word lent a noble quality by his mere resonance?
"Good morning, my lord," she replied, burying the questions generated by his proximity. Now was not the time to ponder such things. The first light of dawn would soon creep over the horizon, awaking the residents of the lower town and causing them to stir. Reluctantly, she pushed herself up to a sitting position. She ignored the fact that his eyes followed her but was unable to withhold the warmth that flooded her cheeks – much less the shock of awareness that shuddered through her frame – as her bare foot grazed his leg. "Forgive me, sire, I – " Gwen met Arthur's gaze, and the apology faded from her mind.
If he stared at her like that much longer, she would forget her station and his title altogether. It can never be, the voice of reason whispered only to conjure Gaius' words to her heart's defense. Never underestimate the power of love. I've seen it change many things. The physician's council brought her hope, but discretion was the more pressing need at the current hour. It took all of Gwen's willpower to turn away from Arthur and find safe footing before rising from her bed. "You must go while it is still dark," she finally managed to whisper before hurrying to the back window and glancing out to ensure that all was quiet. Satisfied that her neighbors had yet to wake, she turned to fetch Arthur and nearly collided with his chest. How he had managed to rise and approach her with such stealth, she would never know. Gwen only hoped he could return to the castle in the same manner.
Silence reigned once more and, when he did not move, Gwen looked up to find that he seemed hesitant to leave, as though needing assurance that she would be all right. Instinctively, her hand rose to the side of his face, her earlier shyness forgotten as she murmured, "Go home, Arthur; get some rest. And thank you," she added, "for everything."
"It was my pleasure," he softly replied. Then, to her surprise, Arthur bent down, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, before disappearing out the backdoor and fading into the last hovering shadows of darkness. Gwen remained there, leaning her head against the door facing and staring into the haze through which Arthur had vanished, until the first rays of dawn broke across the sky. She pulled herself from her reverie, closed the door, confirmed it was locked, and then set about preparing for the day.
Gwen had washed, changed her clothing, and eaten breakfast before she was able to push her reflections of Arthur to the back of her mind. She had a busy day ahead and reminiscing over events that could never lead to anything more….Gwen brushed the thoughts aside as she rose to put away her dishes and tidy her house, focusing instead on the task at hand. With her morning chores completed, Gwen retrieved her cloak, tying it loosely about her shoulders, and headed out into the morning bustle of the lower town. Her walk to the castle was a pleasant one, and she was soon crossing the bridge into the courtyard.
"You seem really happy," was Kaelyn's greeting as she joined Gwen at the servants' entrance. "You've barely smiled since Lady Morgana's disappearance. Today you nearly beam with joy."
"You exaggerate, surely," Gwen replied. "It is a beautiful morning, nothing more." The auburn haired maid gave her a searching look but let the matter drop as they were approached by another servant who informed them that Durwood wished them to gather in the kitchen's antechamber. The women made their way to the room that served as a dining area for the castle staff and found that many of the servants had already assembled at Durwood's request. They joined the group and waited for his arrival.
A few minutes later the man responsible for directing the flow of the castle's staff appeared and informed them that their daily assignments were to be temporarily changed. Kaelyn shot her a confused look, and Gwen quickly imitated the surprise she saw on the faces of the others. Durwood was acting on Arthur's orders, but Gwen had no reason to know this and so she pretended to be as puzzled by the announcement as the rest. They each listened as they were assigned their new duties. When Durwood was finished, he dismissed the staff and sent them to their tasks. Kaelyn turned away from the gathering with a disgruntled sigh that caught Gwen's attention.
"Is everything all right?" she asked, gaining a frustrated grin in response.
"Yes, I just wish I hadn't been assigned the library is all," Kaelyn explained. "All that old parchment….It makes me sneeze something fierce. Besides, the court genealogist is always so sour. He scowls worse than my mother when I've done something wrong." Gwen smiled at the description. Geoffrey of Monmouth could be a formidable taskmaster, but he only wished for his books to be handled with extreme care. "You are lucky," Kaelyn was saying, "to have been assigned to the palace gardens instead."
"Why don't we switch duties?" Gwen suggested.
"Really?" The relief in Kaelyn's voice was almost comical. "Are you sure?"
"I am," Gwen replied. She knew Kaelyn would enjoy the outdoors much more than the confined spaces of the library. Besides, Gwen doubted she would run into the Kabbagian delegate there. The man did not seem the type to enjoy the written word, but even if he did venture into the library, the genealogist would watch him like a hawk and probably frighten him away before he even discovered her presence.
Kaelyn gave her a bright smile before hurrying off to see to the gardens. Gwen left the room as well, keeping to the servants' passages as she hastened to report for duty. The custodian of Camelot's records acknowledged her entrance with a frown and sent her off down a back isle to begin dusting. Without a word, Gwen set to work, thankful for a job that would allow her to remain out of sight for the rest of the day.
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Merlin glanced back at the guard patrolling the corridor. It had to be the fifth one he'd passed in the last ten minutes. Had something happened that he had yet to hear about? Merlin had spent the morning helping Gaius gather herbs for his various remedies; he had not been inside the castle walls for most of the day. Now, as he made his way to Arthur's chambers, he wondered at the increased presence of guard and the apparent lack of servants – or at least serving women – in the castle halls.
"Ah, Merlin, there you are," Arthur's voice echoed down the passageway. He turned to see his master approaching from a smaller corridor to his left. Merlin altered his course, meeting Arthur halfway.
"I'm sorry I'm late." The apology seemed grossly understated even to his own ears. It was already well past midday. "I was helping Gaius." When Arthur dismissively brushed off his excuse without the usual caustic retort, he asked, "What's going on?" The footsteps of a passing watchman caused Merlin to frown as he added, "Why are there so many guards about?" Arthur looked to see that no one was near before returning his attention to Merlin.
"Our visitor is not to be trusted," was his response. Merlin's frown deepened as did his curiosity.
"You think Lord Jeffries is a sorcerer?" The man was something of a mystery, but he couldn't imagine the Kabbagian representative using magic.
"No," Arthur solemnly answered, "I believe him to be an arrogant bollocks." Merlin's eyes widened at the insult, prompting Arthur to add, "He attacked Gwen last night."
"Is she all right?" Arthur's antagonism no longer seemed out of place. Merlin not only understood but shared his anger, for there was no one kinder than Gwen. He made no attempt to hide his own animosity. "Did he hurt her?"
"She was frightened but not harmed," Arthur assured him. "Jeffries has been warned." His tone grew darker as he added, "Any repetition of such behavior, and I will kill him myself." Merlin did not have to be told that Arthur had been the one to stop Jeffries' assault; the prince's demeanor said it all. Given Arthur's feelings for Gwen, the Kabbagian was fortunate to have escaped the confrontation with his life and limbs intact. Then again, as Merlin recalled, Arthur had not worn his sword to dinner last night. His lack of a weapon more than likely accounted for Jeffries' survival. Oblivious to Merlin's thoughts, Arthur continued, "Durwood is reassigning the women to work in areas that will keep them from his presence, and I doubled the guard to keep watch on our unwelcome guest."
"Is there anything I can do?" Apart from turning him into a toad? Merlin stifled the thought as soon as it surfaced, knowing that Jeffries' sudden disappearance would arouse suspicion.
"No, just keep an eye out for him while you work." Arthur continued down the hall but paused after a few steps and turned back. "Don't worry about mucking out the horses today." For the briefest moment, Arthur allowed a chink in his armor, hinting at the trust he usually denied but nonetheless placed in Merlin. "Stay close to the castle." Look after Gwen. The unspoken request hung between them.
"Yes, sire," he replied, acknowledging the underlying order with a nod. Satisfied, Arthur turned away once more and headed down the hall, withdrawing from sight as he rounded the corner.
Merlin decided that he would need to be discrete in asking where Gwen had been reposted. Without Morgana to summon her, there was little reason for him to seek her out. Announcing that Arthur had asked him to guard her was not an option. As he went to straighten Arthur's chambers, Merlin realized that the task he'd been given would be a tricky one. Would life in Camelot ever be simple? His own words came back to haunt him, No, you'd get bored. Rounding the corner, Merlin smiled to himself as he realized the truth of his own council. The difficulty of his errand only served to prove that this was but another day in Camelot.
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The first thing Arthur noticed upon joining his father for dinner was Jeffries' absence. His next observation was that Durwood had assigned only pages and errand boys to serve the food; even Merlin stood against the wall with a pitcher in his hands. He was thankful for Durwood's diligence, but he was even more grateful that Jeffries was not at the table. Though he had not seen the man all day, he'd dreaded the thought of sharing the evening meal with their "guest." Perhaps his threat had prodded Jeffries into remaining in his chambers; Arthur could only hope the slime did not seep back out from under his rock until his departure from Camelot. However, glowering throughout supper would draw unwanted attention, so Arthur pushed his thoughts aside and settled in to listen as his father informed him of plans for building a mill in one of the outlying villages. They had finished the first two courses of the meal before propriety demanded that he ask after their missing visitor.
"I see that Lord Jeffries does not dine with us tonight," Arthur stated in a casual tone.
"He set out for Kabbagia just before noon," Uther acknowledged. "With his business concluded, he was eager to return home." Arthur's relief did not go unobserved. "You did not care for him?"
"I fear I might have caused his hasty departure," Arthur confessed, forcing as much remorse into his tone as he could muster. Uther's sharp gaze demanded an explanation, and Arthur proceeded cautiously. "Last night I caught him mishandling a serving girl. I may have been a bit brusque when cautioning him that our women were not to be mistreated." The words were a gross understatement that nearly caused Merlin to knock over the cup he refilled, but Arthur ignored him, keeping his eyes focused on his father instead.
"You were right to reprimand him," Uther replied. "But I doubt the confrontation was his reason for leaving. I suggested that he return to his king's service." Arthur met his father's admission with a questioning look. "I did not care for Lord Jeffries either," Uther admitted. "As you said, his behavior toward the serving girls was distasteful to say the least." Then, he added with disgust, "The man actually wanted to purchase Morgana's maid." Arthur's glass froze in midair as his father continued, "I turned him down, of course." Slowly, he lowered his drink, thankful that the king had not noticed his reaction. "I decided then that I no longer wanted him here. He left an hour later." Arthur nodded in response and tried to quench the rising sense of dread.
He had not seen Guinevere since returning to the castle. Durwood had changed everyone's routine, which might account for the fact that he had not caught a glimpse of her. Yet, Jeffries' interest in her and subsequent departure were cause for worry. Arthur caught sight of Merlin's expression and felt his insides turn cold. As soon as it was prudent, he dismissed himself from the table and waited for Merlin to join him in the hall.
"Where's Guinevere?" he demanded without preamble.
"I don't know," Merlin replied in a worried voice. "I went to check on her after I finished tidying your chambers, but I couldn't find her." Then, realizing the effect of his words, he added, "Everyone has been moved about. Maybe she's just in another part of the castle. I only searched the main areas before being called to serve at the table." Arthur acknowledged his explanation with a nod. She could simply have been stationed somewhere out of sight, but he had to be sure.
"Ask Durwood what her post was for the day." Merlin gave him that same quizzical look he always wore when he thought Arthur was assigning him a task out of pure laziness. At times, Merlin was right, he did send his servant to do things he could just as easily do himself. Tonight, however, his orders were prompted by something more. "I cannot question Durwood; I've no reason to summon Gwen."
"I've no right to summon her at all," Merlin replied. "What do I tell him when he asks why I'm searching for her?" He had a point. Arthur knew that Durwood frowned on fraternization amongst the staff. His staunch hand in keeping the servants on task was one of the reasons he had been made head of the household.
"Tell him that Gaius has need of her," Arthur said. "Better yet, have Durwood send for Gwen; say that she's been ordered to assist the court physician. He will pass the message to the other servants; the more searching for her, the faster she'll be found."
"What happens when Gwen shows up at Gaius' door and he has no idea why she's been sent?" Merlin wanted to know.
"After you've spoken to Durwood, tell Gaius that if Gwen comes to his quarters he is to keep her there until you return," Arthur ordered. "Then I want you to go to the lower town; she may simply be at home. I'll speak with the stablemen and the guards at the gate to ensure Jeffries left alone. If Gwen is not at her house, check back with Gaius, and then meet me by the statue in the courtyard."
"You think Jeffries might have taken her." It was more a statement than a question, proving that Merlin shared his concern.
"Hopefully, she is safe here in Camelot," Arthur responded, keeping his worries at bay. "We just need to find her." Merlin nodded in agreement.
"I'll go find Durwood," he stated before ducking down a small corridor that led to the kitchens. Arthur turned and headed for the first group of guards stationed outside in the courtyard.
Half an hour later he had questioned the guards at the gates and the stablemen, receiving the same disturbing news. No one had actually seen Jeffries of Kabbagia leave, but his horse was gone and his quarters were empty. Arthur had checked them himself to be sure. Now, as he neared the rendezvous point, the anxious look on Merlin's face served only to strengthen his sense of dread.
"She wasn't at home," Merlin told him as soon as he reached the statue. "Durwood assigned her to the gardens, but none of the staff saw her there today. No one has seen her since she arrived at the castle this morning. If Jeffries has taken her, what do we do? The king won't send knights after the Kabbagian representative for a servant."
"Then we ride alone," Arthur replied. "Go to the armory and fetch a crossbow, then come to my chambers. If anyone asks, tell them I am going hunting." He did not wait for Merlin's response as he took to the steps that led up into the castle. It was only a slight deception, for Arthur planned to track Jeffries like the animal he was. If he had not abducted Guinevere, he would have a princely escort to the kingdom's border, but if Jeffries had taken her…Gwen's condition would determine just how painless or painful the man's death would be. Unbidden, the memory of Jeffries' behavior the night before rose to torment Arthur's thoughts. If he had dared to be so bold within Camelot's walls, what might he do with no one to counter his will? The question pounded through his mind like a relentless drum as Arthur ran up the stairway leading to his rooms. He had to find Jeffries for the sake of his own sanity. If his actions brought discord with Kabbagia, so be it. Arthur would face his father's anger and even risk the threat of war, all for the love a woman; all for Guinevere.
That is all for now. I hope you liked it. Please let me know what you think.