Chapter 13

It was now late evening, but the palace was unusually busy and noisy. Not only had the majority of the population slept for most of the day anyway, but there was a battle to prepare for and so many had decided to keep working and hopefully just get a couple of hours sleep at some point during the night. Merlin and Gwen, however, had both been awake since before dawn and they and the rest of the Round Table, definitely felt the need for some sleep after the stresses of the day.

Arthur now insisted that Gwen had no choice but to stay in Morgana's old chambers, seeing she could be called on at any time during the next few days to help with the organisation. Sara stopped Merlin to tell him the news, as he sleepily ambled down the corridor, hoping that Arthur wouldn't set him too many errands tonight, and it was obviously that the maid was revelling in the chance to actually do the job she'd been assigned for. He couldn't help but smile when he thought of how Gwen would be feeling to have Sara insist that she undress her, brush her hair and tuck her into bed as she herself had done countless times for Morgana.

"What are you grinning about?" Arthur asked as Merlin walked through the door.

"Gwen's settled into her new chambers," he said and then laughed again as he saw the triumphant look on Arthur's face. "I don't see why it matters to you whether she's down the corridor or back in her old house. It's not as if you can take advantage of her proximity, after all."

The Prince's face fell. "No. I can't." Merlin felt his own smile fade. He probably shouldn't tease either of them about such things. It couldn't be easy. "Of course, as servants, you and Sara don't have to worry about such prudish court rules," the prince replied with a wicked grin. Then again, perhaps a little teasing wasn't such a bad idea.

"Court rules have nothing to do with it. It's about respect and honour and … anyway, who says I even feel like that about her?"

"Everyone who's seen you with her today," Arthur retorted.

"I-I was just trying to be nice. She .." There was a knock on the door and Merlin glared at a grinning Arthur before opening it to the very two ladies they'd been discussing." He turned bright pink as he let them in, feeling strangely shy about looking at Sara.

"You asked to see me ..." said Gwen, curtseying beautifully. She had obviously been on the verge of saying, 'Sire', but didn't have the nerve to call him Arthur in this situation either.

"Ah, Guinevere yes, you may go, Merlin."

"Are you quite sure about that?" he asked with a knowing grin and got a glare for his trouble.

He moved towards the door, only to get hauled out into the corridor by Sara. The next thing he knew she was kissing him again, very passionately. He thought that it probably shouldn't have taken him quite so long to protest.

"Ah, we're right in a public corridor here," he said eventually, his cheeks feeling very warm.

"Alright, where can we go where it's more private?"

"Sara!" He suddenly remembered his earlier conversations with Gwen and decided that it wasn't the honour of the men in this area of the Palace that he needed to worry about.

"What? I only wanted to say a proper thank you for saving my life ... saving everyone's life." This time as she kissed him, both her hands went confidently under his shirt and greedily explored his bare skin. He yelped and pulled gently away. She didn't seem hurt … just amused. He wasn't sure if that was better or worse.

"I really don't think we should leave those two alone in there for too long," he said tipping his head towards the closed door. "Gwen's a lady of the court now and has a certain reputation to maintain." He hoped Sara might understand that slight emphasise was aimed at her too.

"You like being in control. I can understand that considering the circumstances, Merlin, so ... feel free to take the initiative back at any time." She kissed him again, more gently this time and he returned it, rewarding her for her more civilised behaviour, whilst his mind raced at the implication of her words. He then went back into Arthur's room to find his two friends in a very similar clinch to the one he'd just escaped from. The problem was, neither of them looked at all bothered by the way the situation was progressing and, considering how well he knew them both, Merlin found the scene highly embarrassing.

"I really do think it's time we went to bed," he said loudly. They broke apart, not looking anywhere near as guilty as he thought they should. He noticed small wicked grins appear on both their faces just as he realised he should have rephrased his command. "I mean it's time to go to sleep … in our own beds … alone." Gwen giggled, but Arthur had finally got the message.

"Merlin is quite right and I apologise for my behaviour, Guinevere, it was most unseemly." He bowed.

"I too am to blame but … I am pleased to know that you can also knock a girl off her feet with a kiss." She turned round with a rustle of skirts, winked at Merlin and swept out of the door in a manner which, unfortunately, rather reminded him of Morgana. He raised an eyebrow at Arthur who was wearing a very silly grin on his face. He flopped backward onto his bed.

"I have to marry that girl, Merlin. Tomorrow preferably."

"I think we might all be a bit too busy tomorrow, Sire," Merlin responded calmly.

Arthur sighed, rather over dramatically he thought. "You're probably right."

"Arthur … do you have much for me to do tonight? Only … well with all this ice stuff I was up before dawn and what with the worry, and all that running, not to mention the sliding and the number of bruises I've got and …"

"Merlin!"

"Yes, Sire?"

"Shut up. Goodness, you don't half ramble on sometimes. Yes, off you go to bed … get some sleep before tomorrow, can't have you falling asleep in the middle of a battle, can we?"

"Thank you, Sire."

"Make sure you're alone too … If I can't then you certain can't."

"Hey!" he replied as he started to make his way out of the door. "Anyway," he continued with a small smile as he left. "Have you seen the size of my bed?"

~o~0~o~

He was shaken awake from a far more pleasant dream than the previous morning.

"Merlin," Gaius hissed urgently.

"What? What time is it?"

"A little after dawn … Morgana's army are in sight of the castle." Merlin sat up quickly, very suddenly awake.

"Already?"

"Arthur's tried to call for you several times, but it seems that the girls, Lancelot and Gwaine have been distracting him deliberately to make sure you get some proper sleep."

"Really?" He was quickly up and, with a golden glow of his eyes, various items of clothes that had been thrown randomly on the floor, floated up from their hiding places and started to dance towards him. Gaius made a tutting sound at the sight.

"I do hope this new found attention doesn't start to go to your head, Merlin. After all, you do still want to keep it on your shoulders."

"Yes, yes. Business as usual, I know."

"Well go and report in with him and see what the situation is but, Merlin? If your special talents aren't needed up there, I do think you would be of more use to me here … helping with the injured."

"You're probably right. I'll try to persuade his royal pratness."

"Merlin! Honestly," Gaius said with a reluctant smile as the young man grabbed a piece of stale bread and sprinted out of the door.

"Where have you been?" said Arthur when he finally reached the battlements. "I've sent people looking for you for hours ago but no-one could find you."

"Lots to do – preparing stuff for Gaius ... you know, potions? Ah … he wants to know if I can help him today … in the hospital?"

"Are you quite sure you weren't with Sara last night?" A hint of a smirk appeared on the prince's face.

"Hey, no. I told you … far too tired … bed too small." He grinned and was pleased when Arthur gave a genuine laugh back at the comment.

"If you say so. I don't suppose you or Gaius can tell if there are any sorcerers out there can you?" All Merlin could see were a large number of dots holding flags, slowly but surely approaching their position.

"Not unless they actually start using magic, no." Arthur looked at him slightly surprised at his confidence. "Alright, you can ask Gaius if you want but … what do you want me to say, Arthur? You do know that they just look like ordinary people, right? I mean … we've met enough to know that."

Arthur gave a huge sigh before nodding reluctantly. "I suppose so. Look, you're probably right about the medical stuff but, before that, could you go down to the armoury and help with the supplies? There are a number of broken shields and blunt swords which really do need to be in serviceable order. Oh, and check in with Guinevere will you and see if there's anything else to be done; she's pretty much in charge of personnel down there? Oh and …"

"Yes, Arthur, I get it. Just an ordinary day; no ice, plenty of work and a little battle thrown in for good measure." Arthur gave him a broad smile and he returned it despite himself.

~o~0~o~

Merlin was aware of the moment the fighting begun but, unlike many of the other conflicts he'd been involved in, he didn't really feel part of it at all. He could hear the crashes as objects hit the walls, he could hear the screams as people were injured or ran from falling masonry. He kept thinking that there must be something else he should be doing, some way of protecting everyone with magic but, just as he'd finished one task, someone would present him with another urgent one in such a way that he just couldn't leave. A seriously injured soldier that had to be taken to the hospital, a consignment of bandages that had to be cleaned ready for the next person, newly repaired shields that had to be taken to the knights … half an hour ago.

"Merlin!" Gaius called him over, a look of concern on his face.

"What is it?"

"You've got to do something, we're loosing badly. Arthur's just called for me to ask about the magic that's being used."

"There's magic being used?" he squeaked. "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I'm telling you now," the old man replied cooly. "There's at least a couple of sorcerers out there and they've created this shield."

"What sort of shield?" the young man asked.

"It's stopping all our weapons from hitting them, but theirs are breaking through with no problem."

"Is Morgana out there?"

"We're not sure but it's definitely her Blood Guard flag on show."

"I can't be here doing this, Gaius, I have to do something … more."

"Yes but, Merlin, everyone is out there, including Uther, and this isn't a matter of breaking an enchantment or quietly tripping up a couple of soldiers, this is going to require major magic and … they have a large army with an unknown number of sorcerers, whilst Camelot has …"

"... just Merlin," he replied with a wry smile.

~o~0~o~

A/N. I just can't give Merlin the word 'alone' to say without remembering "The Changeling." I keep wanted to put the word in italics or write 'aloooone' but, to me, it just sounds that way every time I type it anyway!

For those of you wishing for a sequel I should say that I've no current plans but, my new multi-parter, King Arthur's Ward, is set in the future and almost sits in this time-line with only a few minor inconsistencies.