Alaia Skyhawk: Dum Dee Dum Dee Doo! DOUBLE UPDATE! (Giggles)
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
Music: Hunith's Letter To Gaius (Merlin OST)
"Whom History Won't Remember" Episode: N/A
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Chapter 18: A Hard Lesson Learnt ~Part 3~
The bell tolled the coming of noon, and triggered the mass rush of servants heading into the kitchens to collect the meals for their masters.
Merlin struggled through the crowd, cursing that he hadn't paid more attention to the time and got here before the bell. The crowd in the hallway seemed worse than usual, or at least no one heading in to the kitchens seemed to have the courtesy to move aside from those coming out.
Someone shoving past him jostled his elbow, making him rattle the tray and send one of the two bread rolls he carried on it rolling off. Without even thinking about it, he ducked down, hiding the golden glimmer of his eyes as he steadied the tray in his grip long enough to balance it and grab the roll from the floor. He then hurried from the crowded hallway and went up the nearby set of stairs, too busy discretely brushing any traces of dust from the bread roll to remember he should have taken a different set much further down the hall.
Merlin blinked, wondering where he was, until he reasoned that he if he was close enough to the one all the other servants used to get to the nobles' wing, then this way would theoretically let him get back to the normal route. If that were true, then if he kept going down it a side passage leading back to it would come along eventually.
It didn't, all of the adjoining passages going off to his left and not his right. He was all set to turn around when one of those openings on the right, just before the passage reached a dead end, turned out to be a very narrow set of dusty and disused spiral stairs. Figuring he was going to be late anyway at this rate, he decided he might as well see where they went.
He went up them, leaving them at the first exit assuming it would be the third floor. When he came out it through the narrow doorway, forced to brush past a slightly tatty wall hanging, it seemed he was in the area of the castle where guests-who-were-not-nobles would stay. A peek into one of the rooms revealed a bed and furniture of reasonable quality, although nothing of the standard the nobility would expect, and the bed itself held only a mattress indicating it had been quite some time since the room was last used. In fact just the generally dusty state of the floor in this passage indicated that people rarely came this way, although it seemed that at least the cobwebs were cleared on a regular basis.
He followed the hallway, tray of food still in hand, and paused when he reached the end of it. He then blinked, hardly able to believe his luck, when far down the hall to his left he spotted a statue he recognised and knew was close to the nobles' wing.
Victorious, he headed straight for it and took the passage to the right, arriving at Arthur's chambers less than a minute later. He then went briskly though the door, all set to apologise for being late.
Arthur looked up from where he sat at his desk, seemingly surprised.
"Well well, on time for the second time in a single day... Will wonders never cease."
Merlin nearly paused in shock. He was on time? But he'd gone the wrong way and almost gotten lost. He set down the tray, leaving the stew and bread there for the prince before hurrying out again and starting to smile... He'd also not spent the entire trip struggling through hallways packed with other servants.
He went back to the disused passage, using a touch of magic to straighten the tatty wall hanging so its edge no longer intruded over the door from the stairs. This time he tried taking those stairs all the way down to what would be the ground floor and did a quick look around, starting to grin when a check down a nearby passage revealed they came out quite close to one of the store rooms where the cleaning supplies were kept, although it would be a winding route from this point to get to the kitchens. It seemed the only reason that set of stairs was ignored by the servants was because it was so cramped and narrow, and only led to an area of disused guest rooms. For a single servant with the wit to take advantage, it was perfectly placed and ideal to efficiently deal with chores and tasks.
Still smiling, Merlin entered the storeroom and got a dustpan, broom, bucket, and cloth. A trip to the nearby cistern filled that bucket, and a trouble-free climb up the steep and narrow stairway let him return to Arthur's chambers in half the time it would have taken normally.
In fact it was such a time-saver that Arthur hadn't even finished his food yet by the time he got back and peeked through the door to confirm it.
Merlin deliberately stayed outside the room, waiting until the prince was almost done before going in. There was no way he was going to let on he had a new trick to save time on all his chores. Time saved was time he could use for himself.
As soon as Arthur had finished the food, Merlin took the tray and cheerfully went back to the dusty stairway. Down one floor, retrace his steps to the junction with the next passage, and go down two more flights of steps to find himself rather close to the kitchens. It seemed like today was really starting to look up.
He left the tray by the large sinks where everything was washed, none of the staff even standing there yet having not expected anything to be brought back so soon. Several of them regarded him with surprise, Merlin just smiling cheerfully at them and giving them a wave before racing off to get his own midday meal.
Gaius seemed similarly surprised to see him arrive, it being at least fifteen minutes sooner than normal. He recovered quickly though, pointing to the hearth where some of the same stew that had been taken to Arthur was set in a pot close to the fire.
"I got something from the kitchens today, but don't get used to it. As Court Physician I'm entitled to have meals brought to me, but with you here as well it wouldn't be proper of me to do it too often. It could make the other servants start to resent you."
Merlin snorted, serving the stew up into two bowls.
"They resent me already, so it wouldn't be a big change, but I understand what you mean. Besides, it's cheaper for me to give you part of my wages towards food from the market, than to have a great big chunk taken out of it by the chief of staff. He's irritated enough as it is, because since I live here with you I don't have to pay for use of a room in the servants' wing."
Gaius raised his eyebrows.
"Don't grow too attached to the money you're saving, Merlin. I've seen the state of your tiny selection of clothing, and need remind you that as Arthur's manservant you will be expected to maintain a certain standard. As soon as you have enough, you and I will be seeing about getting you some new shirts and breeches. Boots as well while we're at it."
Merlin looked down at his boots, mottled as they were from dirt and long use.
"What's wrong with my boots?"
"Nothing, except that they are so worn it's a wonder they're still in one piece."
Merlin sighed, sitting himself down at the table when Gaius did the same.
"Should have figured it would be too good to be true, and here I was thinking I'd be able to save up and send money home to my mother."
Gaius regarded him for a moment.
"I know you'd like to, but Hunith can cope on her own. She managed to raise you by herself, didn't she? She no longer has to worry about feeding you, clothing you, those responsibilities are your own now. She's capable of looking after herself, and if you truly want to study magic then as you progress you will need to start purchasing the herbs, crystals, and stones that are required for the more complicated spells. When that time comes, you're going to need all the money you can spare, for I certainly cannot afford to supply you with more than the basics."
A bit bemused by that thought, but unable to deny that it was more than fair that he be the one to buy his own supplies, Merlin tapped his fingers on the table for a moment before changing the subject.
"Gaius, what's all this stuff Arthur said about King Bayard of Mercia coming to Camelot to sign a treaty?"
Gaius swallowed his current mouthful, surprised by the question.
"Bayard? King Bayard and his country have been at odds with Camelot for many years. Mercia borders us on a narrow front to the north-east, adjacent to Cenrid's lands. With all the sporadic fighting and conflict that has taken place, both sides tired of it and negotiations began, in part because of Ulwin being a middle ground."
Merlin frowned, puzzled.
"Ulwin? Why because of Ulwin?"
Gaius explained.
"Lord Hargren, who is Steward of Ulwin on Uther's behalf, turned that town into hub of trade well known across the lands. After hearing good things of Hargren from his own country's merchants, King Bayard decided that if such an honourable and well-liked nobleman would serve Uther, then Uther too must be worth respecting. And with that, he sent a messenger proposing the negotiation of an agreement, and the end of the conflict between Camelot and Mercia. This is a very important treaty, Merlin. It will mean Camelot's allies to the north of Mercia will no longer be forced to divert west around it to get here. It will also mean greater security of Camelot's eastern border."
Merlin winced, knowing what he meant by that.
"Yeah, King Cenrid is not a man you want to turn your back on. I was lucky in Ealdor, we were far enough away from all the main towns and routes that we've been pretty much left alone. But some of the other villages further in, that we used to trade with... That stopped after he became king. Those places, and the people in them, changed. A lot of them you couldn't trust anymore."
Gaius sighed.
"That may well be, but with Mercia as an ally to Camelot, he should be more cautious about attacking us after the treaty is signed. He has always been on reasonable terms with Mercia, or at the very least has never caused trouble along their border. King Bayard is someone he won't want to provoke."
Merlin quickly wolfed down the remainder of his stew, rising to his feet as soon as he was done.
"Well I'd best get going. I've a load of chores I need to get done... Arthur's room was a complete wreck when I got there this morning. I swear, four days without a servant and his chambers become a total pig sty."
He headed for the door, Gaius' parting shot making him pause.
"And your room is so much better?"
Merlin returned to Arthur's chambers, a bit put out by that remark. Sure, his room was a mess, but with all the tidying up he had to do for Arthur, since when did he really have time to do his own?
Arriving back there, he set to work water and cloth, scrubbing Arthur's floor while the prince poured over a load of paperwork. It was after a while that he becomes curious, and left his work for a moment to stand at Arthur's shoulder.
"So what are you having to sort?"
Arthur gave him an irritated glance.
"I'm picking which knights will be escorting King Bayard to and from the border. I can only send six, which means I need to send the ones best suited for it. Men who are strong enough fighters to manage in such a small group."
Merlin frowned.
"Why not send more?"
The prince put down the quill-pen he'd been holding, exasperated. This really should be obvious.
"Because it would be like saying to Bayard that Camelot doesn't think his own men can protect him. He'll have at least thirty knights and soldiers of his own with him, but if Cenrid tries something then I need to have the right knights be there to act in Bayard's defence."
Merlin still looked baffled.
"What difference could only six men make?"
"You might think that there being so few Knights means they won't be able to do much, Merlin, but anyone with sense knows that numbers aren't everything." Arthur turned in his seat to face him, not even sure why he was bothering to explain this. "If you have the skills and use them in the right way, then even a small force can take down one much larger than them. You don't always have to hit something with a massive great axe to get the job done. Sometimes something as small as a single arrow can turn the tide in your favour if it hits the right target. I'm picking knights than can fight in that way."
Merlin blinked, almost like he'd gotten a sudden idea before he went back over to his bucket. Arthur just shook his head, unaware that his words had provided a solution to Merlin's biggest dilemma. How to use magic to help and protect people, without getting caught or getting them in trouble. He was in the perfect position to be that 'single arrow', him with his magic. He just had to dig in with his studies of spells, and then be smart about when and where he applied them. If he worked with whatever Arthur and his men were doing, then the little touches of magic would be hidden away among everything else.
Feeling like a weight was gone from his shoulders, the rest of the day seemed to fly by for Merlin. He returned to Gaius' chambers that evening in a rather good mood, only to pause in surprise when he walked through the door.
"Gwen? What are you doing here?"
Gwen rose to her feet from where she sat waiting for him to arrive, smiling as she did so. Gaius was watching from where he worked on remedies nearby.
"I came to thank you for talking to Arthur and getting that pardon for me. You were right about what you said, that if whoever cured father did it out of mercy, then they'd understand the need for people to think otherwise. Everyone's acting normal again with my father and me, and it's all because of you."
Merlin looked a bit flustered, averting his gaze in embarrassment. Hadn't she thanked him enough already?
"It's nothing. Really, I do it for any of my friends."
Gwen's smile widened.
"I know, and that's what makes you such a good person. You've helped in more ways than just clearing my name, Merlin. Not only that, but the attention has raised my father's profile a bit. He got nearly a dozen commissions for work after you and Arthur left this morning, and it looks like he can expect them to keep coming for a while. Because of that, he wanted to give you something as a thank you." She turned, picking up a long, wrapped bundle and holding it out to him with an amused expression. "I know it's probably not your kind of thing, but if Arthur keeps using you as a practice partner before tournaments, then chances are you're going to learn to use one anyway."
Merlin came over and hesitantly accepted the bundle, unwrapping the cloth to reveal a plain but very well-made sword. He drew it, able to see from the fine polishing of the blade that it was of a high quality.
"Gwen, I can't accept this. It's too much, your father could sell this for enough food to feed you both for a couple of weeks."
He tried to hand it back to her, but was stopped when she pushed it into his grip and smiled wryly.
"Well you're going to have to, because it can't exactly be sold now... Not considering he engraved your name on it." She flipped it over in his grasp, showing him where indeed his name was engraved onto the hilt. "There's a saying, that a sword given by a friend will swing truer than any other, and always help it's owner return home to them safely. You saved my life Merlin, and cleared mine and my father's name. This repays that debt."
There was no way Merlin could argue with that, not once she'd mentioned the thing about a blade being given by a friend. He sighed, returning it to its sheath and resolving that he would learn to wield it properly... as if he didn't already have enough to learn with horse riding and sorcery.
"Thank you, to the both of you. I'll treasure it."
Gwen smiled happily and left, Gaius coming to his ward's side as she closed the door behind her.
"That was a very noble thing you did, Merlin. Tainting the people's view of your act of kindness, so that Gwen's name could be cleared."
Merlin sighed, running his hands over the sheathed sword he held.
"It was hard, but it was the right thing to do... And I think I have a better idea of how I need to go about using my magic from now on." He smiled at his mentor. "I just have to put the right spells in the right places, and in ways that people won't notice. I'll have to watch Arthur to see how he does the same thing using his knights." He glanced back at the sword. "I just have to hope I can survive his idea of 'teaching'."
Gaius began to chuckle at that, patting Merlin on the shoulder and returning to his work. Where before he'd been worried that Merlin would be corrupted by his power, he knew now that those worries were groundless. Merlin was far too kind a soul to ever use his magic for evil.
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Alaia Skyhawk: Heehehehe, the BREADROLL INCIDENT, or at least the time he dropped one that Merlin recalled during Part 2 of First Request for Magic, from Motives. Hehehehe, I thought it would be a fun to use it as the reason he discovered his favourite route between the kitchens and Arthur's chambers, the route now referred to in that fic as 'merlin's favourite stairwell' XD
And yeah, you can tell I churned this sub-ep out at crazy speed, just so I could start on The Poisoned Chalice... Guilty as charged XD