I was dreaming pleasantly when he came into my room, all packed, and gently shook me awake. I jumped up and almost screamed until I realized it was Merlin.
"What's going on?" I whispered, afraid that something had gone terribly wrong somehow.
"Do you…want to go on a picnic with me?"
It took a moment for this to register. He wanted to take me out… just us. I managed to keep my eyes from going wide, though I probably looked like a frightened deer…it was starting!
Merlin's eye brows rose. I realized my candle was still lit because I could barely see his face; he must have started it burning again. I looked over Merlin, he was all ready to go and grinning cheerfully. I was in my night dress and my hair was tousled.
"Now?"
I saw the embarrassment cross his face as he put the pieces together. "Oh. I'll, uh, give you a moment. We have to get out of Camelot before dark though." He nodded and turned to go.
I sat up a little bit, "Why?"
He looked over his shoulder and smirked, "Let's just say we won't be taking horses."
"Alright?"
"You'll find out soon, I promise. I'll be on the stairs." And he left the room.
I got up from my bed and walked across the chilly wooden floor in my bare feet; over to the wardrobe. I fingered through the dresses, but then I considered something, I was going to be out doors and I didn't want to have to deal with long heavy tunics.
So I decided to surprise Merlin, I was a bit less lady like than I had let on. I had brought a pair of trousers from one of the young boys in the druid camp; I put these on and slipped into a very light blue tunic with wide shoulders and tight sleeves. Over that I laced up a leather corset vest. This is how I dressed when I was prepared to be outdoors, to go hiking or tracking... the druids didn't know about it. I told them I was going to my tent to be alone and they let me alone, while I was really out on my own in the woods climbing up big rocky hills just to think, then when I came back I stashed the boyish, uncouth clothing and went back to wearing the druidic robes and dresses, and put my hair back up.
Hmmm, my hair; I didn't really have that much time to mess with it. I brushed it through, so it fell in swooping kinky curls. Why put it up? I didn't feel like it.
The one thing I didn't have was a pair of boots though. I couldn't get my hands on those when I was with the druids, seeing as they didn't know about my adventures, really it was a whole other side of me.
I grabbed my woolen shawl for warmth, though it seemed misplaced to my appearance. I quietly eased open the door, and stood before Merlin who was sitting on the stairs. His eyes widened, and he laughed quietly and smiled in shock. I guess most girls he knew don't dress like this.
"Do you have boots I can borrow?" I asked in a hushed voice.
Merlin looked down at my bare toes, "Yeah…" he said, "One second." He tiptoed over to a trunk that was holding his cloths in a corner where the books were piled on the floor since he had been displaced by my stay, and eased it open. He pulled out a pair of leather boots that would be a little to big for my feet, but not bad. He handed them to me as I walked down the stairs. I slipped into them; comfortable. Suddenly my foot hit a creaky board.
Both Merlin and I froze and looked over at Gaius at the same time. He stirred, but didn't wake. I smiled in relief and Merlin let out quick breath he must have been holding. Then we slipped out from the physician's quarters and, hand in hand, ran across the court yard to the woods.