Chapter 2

Arthur's chamber was looking somewhat as if it had been ransacked, but the truth of it was that Arthur and Merlin were packing. Or, to be more accurate, Arthur was going through his wardrobes, occasionally picking out a jacket or shirt and then throwing it somewhat haphazardly behind him for Merlin to somehow field and put into the travelling chest. As one shirt was thrown to the floor, Arthur said to his servant, "That one needs ironing". He didn't hear Merlin's comment under his breath, "It does now."

As Arthur stood deciding between two seemingly identical pairs of boots that he was holding in either hand, Merlin sat down on the edge of the chest. "So what's Bayard's court like?"

Arthur answered without turning round. "Pleasant enough….…." He paused, "… apart, that is, from the delightful Ivan."

"Who's that?"

Arthur turned and threw one of the pairs of boots to Merlin. "Bayard's son, so Prince Ivan to give him his proper title." Arthur turned his attention back to the cupboard and paused again before continuing, "There's no love lost between us."

Merlin was genuinely surprised. "It's not like you to hold a grudge, Arthur."

Arthur decided that he might as well take both pairs of boots after all, and threw the second pair to Merlin who caught them but didn't bother standing up to put them in the chest as he waited for Arthur's response.

"Well, it's not exactly a grudge – not on my side at least. I've no doubt, though, that Ivan holds one against me."

Arthur closed the door of the cupboard and leant against it. "We've met several times before on the tournament field, shall we say."

"So, how many times have you beaten him?"

"Four"

"And how many times has he beaten you?"

Arthur held his hands out in front of him with his head cocked to one side and shoulders raised, as if to say, it's obvious, and Merlin correctly commented, "That would be none then."

"I don't think he's ever got over it. I'm sure he must have been delighted when he found out that Bayard had invited us, with the prospect of the same thing happening again."

"So why don't you like him?"

Arthur stood thinking for a moment, searching for a way to sum the other prince up. "It's the way he treats people – I don't think I've ever seen someone who shows such obvious contempt for those he feels are below him. He's certainly nothing like his father."

Arthur shook his head slightly before adding, "How he could grow up alongside Bayard and yet turn out so different is a mystery to me."

Merlin raised his eyebrows slightly as he thought of Uther and replied with a slight note of sarcasm in his voice that Arthur missed, "Yeah, because sons always turn out like their fathers…"

Arthur walked over to the table and started moving around the collection of items that were lying there, as Merlin finally stood up and added the second pair of Arthur's boots to the chest, and then tried to rearrange the items in it so that the lid might have some chance of actually closing. There was silence between them as they both continued with what they were doing. Merlin cast a sideways glance at Arthur, and saw that he appeared to have a look of apprehension on his face. Merlin was momentarily puzzled, but then a slightly mystified smile of comprehension came to his face.

"You're nervous!"

Arthur responded defensively, "Don't be stupid, Merlin, of course I'm not nervous about Ivan."

"I didn't say you were….. so what are you nervous about?"

Arthur sighed, admitted defeat, and slumped down in a chair next to the table, glad to be able to talk about what was on his mind.

"The tournament isn't strictly speaking a contest between Mercia and Camelot. To start with, we have fewer knights than they do – they have ten, we have six….."

"So who are you taking?"

"Who do you think?"

Merlin knew perfectly who Arthur was referring to, so continued without needing to even mention their names. "Why the uneven numbers?"

"I suppose so that it appears less like a war between the two kingdoms!" Arthur hesitated slightly before continuing, as he was getting to the heart of the issue: "And that's why they also mix all the knights up in the draw, and so you're just as likely to be drawn against one of your own knights as theirs."

There was a pregnant pause as Merlin scrutinised Arthur, who was fiddling with a dagger on the table and looking slightly apprehensive again. And then the penny dropped and Merlin started grinning.

"So you're worried that you're going to get beaten by one of your own knights in front of everybody!"

Arthur grudgingly gave a small nod to concede that Merlin was right, and then started to verbalise the thinking that he had done. "Elyan's good, but he lacks the experience of contests and battles. Leon's an excellent swordsman, but he's never beaten me yet in all the years I've known him."

"Percival?"

"A well aimed blow from Percival would have any of us flat on our backs, but his size slows him, so he shouldn't be a problem." Arthur paused and the worried look returned to his face.

Merlin completed the line-up for him: "Lancelot and Gwaine?"

"Come on, Merlin, you know as well as I do that either of them could beat me on a good day!"

Merlin stood thinking, working out the implications of it all. "So… you could be knocked out by one of them in the first round. That would be really funny!" Arthur scowled at him. "…or not."

Arthur continued to look depressed as he thought about this possibility. "Ivan would love that…"

And that wasn't the only depressing thought in his mind. "And can you imagine getting beaten by Gwaine?! I'd never hear the end of it, and he'd make sure that every tavern in Camelot never heard the end of it either."

"Come on, Arthur – you'd get over it!"

"I'd rather not have to, given the choice."

"So it all comes down to the luck of the draw."

As Arthur continued to contemplate the various possible unwelcome outcomes, there was a tap on the door. Arthur glanced over towards it, and jumped to his feet as Gwen walked in. Merlin began to speak a little too deliberately and loudly: "I'll be going then…..There's something else I….." - he pointed to the door – ".… should probably be doing… just in case you might want to say goodbye…. Or something….."

Arthur smiled. "We don't need to say goodbye – Guinivere's coming with us. I've persuaded my father to allow her to come."

Merlin looked surprised. "How on earth did you manage that?"

Arthur grinned as he replied, "I told him that if our tunics or cloaks got ripped in the tournament then we'd need someone to mend them as surely he wouldn't want the knights of Camelot going round with torn clothes looking like vagrants, and that Guinivere was the best seamstress around. I don't think he bought it for a moment, though I did have to give him my word that I wouldn't try to pass her off as anything other than a servant whilst I was there."

Merlin grinned, "What, you mean as a lady of nobility, so you could get to sit with her all the time?"

Gwen laughed, whilst Arthur feigned a look of shock, "How could you think that I would ever come up with such an idea?"

"Yeah, good point. I don't think I could credit you with that amount of intelligence."

"Merlin?"

"Yes, Arthur?"

"Shut up!"

Merlin grinned again, "I'll just go back to finishing all your packing for you then, Sire, because I wouldn't want you to over-tire yourself before the tournament. Don't mind me." And with that Merlin turned his attention back to the challenge of actually getting the travel chest closed.

Arthur looked at Gwen with an expression of exasperation which made her laugh again. "Merlin?"

"Yes, Arthur?"

"Didn't you say just say that there was something else you had to be doing?"

Merlin didn't turn round as he answered, "No, I don't think so….," but then the penny dropped. "Oh, yes, that's right, I probably do still need to go and do…. Something", and with that he turned and quickly hurried out.

Arthur rolled his eyes and shook his head in despair. "And he accuses me of having no intelligence! You really would think he would have caught on by now!"

Gwen laughed and Arthur moved closer to her and put his hands on her waist. "I'm so glad you're coming with us. I hate not being with you."

They smiled, almost shyly, at each other, and Arthur paused before continuing in a more serious tone. "But…I'm afraid we cannot be open with our feelings for each other whilst we're there."

Gwen replied playfully, "You don't want to be seen to be in love with a servant?"

Arthur looked slightly hurt by her words. "You know that's not true."

"I'm sorry, Arthur – I do know that, from the bottom of my heart."

"It's just that my father has also forbidden me from making any public show of my feelings for you whilst we're there."

Gwen knew Uther too well to have any doubt in her mind as to why this was so. "He doesn't want the reputation of Camelot lowered by its prince being in a relationship with a servant."

Arthur hated the fact that he'd had tell Gwen this. "I'm sorry, Guinevere….. but you know what he's like."

Arthur paused before speaking again. "But there may be some wisdom in his words."

"What do you mean, Arthur?"

"In most of the five kingdoms any relationship between a prince and a serving girl would be viewed…." He paused again as he searched for the right words. "…. as something other than what ours is. Let's just say I don't think anyone would think that it had anything to do with real love, and I couldn't bear anyone thinking that I would treat you that way. At least it's different with most people here in Camelot."

"That's because most people in Camelot know what sort of man you are, Arthur."

Arthur smiled at her and not for the first time felt that he was the luckiest man alive to be loved by her.

Gwen returned his smile. "Then I will be just a servant."

"Very well. But….…I don't want you to be working either! I wish my lady to come and enjoy herself!", and he bowed slightly to her as he said this, causing her to laugh. Arthur continued, "You shall be the royal seamstress, but if any of the knights are so careless as to tear their garments they will get a severe reprimand from me…." – and he added almost as an afterthought – "…. and Merlin will do the mending! Just come and be near me, Guinevere."

He leant towards her and kissed her, and when she opened her eyes and looked up at him, her eyes were shining. "I can't wait for your rule, Arthur Pendragon. You'll build such a different kingdom, and people will want to be part of it."

Arthur smiled, "One day, one day…" and they shared another brief kiss.

Gwen laid her hand lightly on Arthur's arm, "I must be going." But as she turned and walked towards the door, Arthur suddenly asked. "Was there a reason you came by?"

Gwen answered with another playful expression on her face, "Does there have to be a reason?"

Arthur smiled happily at this, but then added suddenly just as Gwen had her hand on the door, "Oh, and if you happen to find Merlin wandering around aimlessly like a lost sheep you can tell him he can come back now!"