"Arthur, would you ever employ a woman to work as your servant?" Merlin asked as they walked back towards the castle.
Arthur looked at him, an eyebrow raised, "Are you trying to tell me something?"
"No! No, I was just asking, purely out of interest." Merlin said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
"Well no, because it's a male job, isn't it? I mean a woman could clean my armour and sharpen my swords and prepare food and clothes, but when it comes to practicing for jousts and festivals and competitions, then you would be stuck, wouldn't you?"
The two of them walked through the door and Arthur sat down on his bed, laying his helmet beside him and stretching his arms. Merlin took the helmet from him and started to polish it, purely for something to do.
"But what if they were a really good female? One that could do all of those things, fighting and helping you prepare?" he persisted.
"Well, then I'd know that there was a man who was perfectly able of doing the job two times better," Arthur said, sighing, "Look, are you going somewhere with this?"
"I..." Merlin paused, "No, I'm not."
"Well then, come back and fetch me when lunch is ready, for I need a rest." The Prince said, lying down and closing his eyes.
"Of course." Merlin made a small bow and left the room.
His own thoughts were buzzing around his head. When Arthur had asked him if he was going somewhere with it, he had come up short, because he did not know. It wasn't like he was going to get her a job or anything; it was purely just him being interested in why the knights seemed to prefer males over females. He supposed it was really a good thing that Arthur hadn't said that he would have a female servant for some sleazy reason, for that would have left Merlin's opinion for him dipping a lot.
Instead, although he might not personally take that view, he was glad that the Prince's views matched up with most others, and was noble and normal more than repulsive. He desperately wanted to help this girl that he hardly knew, because he knew what a life saver Camelot had been for himself, and how much he loved the place, and really, although he might not liked to admit it, how much he loved his job.
And if there was someone in a job they hated, in a place they hated, working for someone they hated, then he wanted to help them.
He sat on the step outside and rested his head on his hands, looking around slowly. He pushed and apple around the stony ground with his mind, racking his brains. The apple bobbed up and down, looking as if it were a feather caught in a wind gust. Suddenly a figure appeared and he sent it crashing to the ground where it exploded slightly, leaving apple smush on the gravelly floor.
Elze raised an eyebrow, looking at the apple for a second before looking at Merlin and nodding, "Hi."
"Hey there." He smiled, rubbing his head.
"You look stressed, or over worked, or both." She told him, sitting down beside him.
"That's because I am." He laughed.
"So you have a pretty great life here." She said, a vague smile on her face.
"Yeah, I d-," he cut off mid sentence, his face lighting up, "I HAVE IT. I KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'LL BE BACK LATER."
Merlin ran off at once, leaving Elze sat on the step by herself. He practically ran to Gaius' quarters and the old man jumped back, "Merlin, you gave me a fright!"
"Sorry, sorry, I am sorry, but I just had the best idea." He said, a grin plastered onto his face.
"And what would this be, Merlin?" he asked, looking intently at the boy.
"Well, I was speaking to this girl," Merlin ploughed on before the man could say anything, although his eyebrows were already raised, "And she works for this knight called Everglade, but she hates it, and her only wish is to live in Camelot, but she couldn't stand to work for a woman and be a maid, and seeing as I've just left you and you need someone..." Merlin trailed off, hoping that Gaius could see where he was going with this.
"And so you think she would be a useful asset to me." Gaius finished, looking at Merlin.
"Exactly. She seems clever, she seems brave, she's definitely strong, she could handle it." Merlin told him, nodding fiercely.
"I'm sure she could, Merlin. But this may only come about if our dear Prince Arthur beats Knight Everglade in the joust. If he does not it would be not only uncommonly but offensive to suggest such a thing. Yet if Arthur does beat his opponent, then a suggestion may be made, and the girl may be able to transfer here," and before Merlin could say anything he added, "If she wishes."
"Oh, Gaius, I..." Merlin approached the old man and took his head in his hands, kissing him on the forehead, "Thank you!"
He looked shocked, but shook his head lightly as Merlin disappeared through the door and set to get back to his work at once.