Disclaimer: yada yada yeah yeah!
Sorry for delays. Unfortunately, writing is having to compete with a lot more other things.
8888888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888 888888888888888888888888
As the journey progresses it seems to Arthur that nothing will ever go right for him. That makes his mood sour, and anyone who hangs around Arthur knows that bad mood means a pouty and pratty Arthur and pratty Arthur usually does not make for good company. Unfortunately, poor Merlin ends up taking the brunt of it, something that the younger man does not find amusing in the least.
They reach their intended destination and Arthur helps Morgana off her horse. He hears Gwen take a sharp breathe as she takes in the beauty of the place. He had secretly hoped that she would like it. He does not know why this woman makes him want to share everything with her, even the things that he holds close to his heart.
From the time he was a child, he had found this place serene and he regarded it as his sanctuary when he needed to be alone, or at least as alone as a prince could get. The place has a small brook that is surrounded by tall trees and wild flowers of all types and colours. Anyone with a sense of beauty would find the place lovely. He had stumbled upon it one day when he was seven years old and he had been upset over the teasing that he was getting from other squires. He had run away from training and to the stables. He had jumped on the first horse that he came across and ridden into the forest at a neck breaking pace. He had been lucky that he had not fallen off his horse and broken his back or worse. He had only stopped when he had come upon this brook. Somehow, the natural beauty of the place had quickly drained his ire and he felt much calmer. He had eventually gone back to the castle where he found the whole castle in uproar. Search parties had already been sent out to look for the 'lost prince' and to say his father had been livid would be an understatement. He suspects that his father was tempted to put him in the stocks for a week, which in his opinion would have been better than the long lecture on the responsibilities of a prince that the king settled on instead. From that day, he had found time to sneak out with a few guards who were sworn to secrecy, and go to his favourite place. His father had never caught him since he always fed him a story that least raised suspicion. He had always wanted to share this place with someone he cared for. Unfortunately, he had not bargained for a whole party of people. He briefly finds himself regretting his decision to bring them here but when he hears Gwen's reaction, he changes his mind. It was worth it just to see her eyes light up and the smile that seems to make the day that much sunnier. Morgana's reaction surprises him though because he has never taken her as someone who wastes time on the basic things of life.
"Arthur, you sneaky sod, how did you find this place? And why have you never brought me here before?"
"Really, the king has never brought you here?" Gwen asks in amazement. "I would have thought you would be the first person he would bring here?" She finds it weird, but much as she is shocked there is also a feeling of elation that he has not shared this place with anyone until now. Why that should make her happy, she does not stop to examine.
"Why would Arthur share everything with me? I know we are close but he is entitled to a little privacy surely?"
Gwen finds that rather confusing. Surely if you were in love with someone you would want to share all of your life with them? Maybe their marriage was arranged. From the look of things they look like they have known each other almost as long as she has known Ewan. She recognises that kind of familiarity that comes with knowing someone for a long time. She wonders if Arthur and Morgana were childhood friends like she had been with Ewan. She would have liked to ask Morgana but thought it would be inappropriate for people who had only just met, even for someone not too worried about propriety like her new friend. Merlin would be best person to ask. She does not condone gossip with servants but she somehow feels that Merlin is much different from the other servants and from the snippets of conversation she had overheard during their ride, the king and his servant seem to have a rather unusual relationship, much like Relena and her. They do seem to have quite a bit in common. Much as she does not want to get ahead of herself, she finds herself hoping they would all be friends. She would definitely need friends around court and her hope of making any among the other members had been dashed after spending a few moments in their company. She has nothing in common with the other nobles and she knows the minute they find out she enjoys working with horses, they would think her beneath them.
The servants are busy laying down blankets for the picnic. In all honesty, Gwen is feeling famished after the bit of exercise and knows that the food will be quite succulent. Everyone knows that the castle has the best cooks. She moves towards the brook and picks up some stones and starts throwing them in the water creating some ripples.
"I thought I was the only lady who could do that." Gwen is startled and turns around quickly to find Morgana smiling at her.
"Well, I sort of grew up with boys and learnt most of the things they can do from Elyan, my brother and Ewan."
"You have a brother? Younger or older?"
"Younger by a year, but you would never know it if you were to see us together. We look like twins and most people who don't know us assume we are because I have always been smaller in stature and he is big for his age. We used to fight a lot when we were children and I had to learn a lot of skills just to be able to defend myself against him and his friends, much to mama's disapproval." Gwen muses.
"And Ewan? How did you come to know him if you do not mind my asking? You implied that you grew up with him as well. Were you betrothed to him as a child?"
"Oh no, not at all. Papa would not have heard of it. We did grow up together but it's because our estates border each other. Our parents were fast friends and we saw each other quite a lot. For a long time he was like a second brother to me. We were almost always together until Ewan left to start his training as a knight. I remember those days very vividly. We felt rather lost without him. He would come back once a year. The funny thing is that for a long time whenever we saw each other it would take us a few days and it would be like he never left. The advantage was that he always came back with new skills. He taught both Elyan and I how to fight with a sword and archery. I took to the long bow like a fish to water but sword fighting was a little difficult for me to master. The swords were either too heavy or too big for me. Papa would have had a lighter sword made for me, but Mama discouraged him. She wanted Papa to encourage me to acquire lady- like' skills like sewing and embroidery instead of unconventional hobbies for ladies." The look on Morgana's face tells Gwen they share a dislike of needlework.
"I'm sure she thought very few men would find a woman with fighting skills attractive, just like my mother. So did you stop?"
Morgana is fascinated with this small woman and big personality who seems to defy all convention. She suspects that if she had met her when they were younger, she would have enjoyed her life at court more. She had been lonely around the stodgy aptly behaved nobles that she had grown up with. The ladies had been more interested in gossip, fashion and getting married and the men drinking, gambling, fighting and more fighting. She could not fit in either group. She found the women pretentious and the men, well too sure of how women were supposed to behave. Arthur had been different. While he sometimes scolded her for being out of line, he was the one person who had allowed her a bit of room to do what she really liked doing, even teaching her how to fight with a sword. He had persuaded his father to let Morgana train with the knights sometimes, citing that it would be good for her to be able to protect herself. The other noblewomen had gossiped about it behind her back. Morgana had quickly mastered the sword as well as the ability to ignore the gossip mongers with great skill. But deep down she had longed for company, someone to talk about girly things with, like who was the most handsome knight or lord and just to be silly once in a while without being judged. Much as she realised the growing feelings that Arthur was developing for Lady Gwen and the dangers that they could present, a selfish part of her hoped that she would be around for a long time.
"Would I ever? I practised without my parents knowing. Mama died when I was nine winters past and I threw myself into archery. It was the one thing that took my mind off my missing Mama. One day Papa came upon me practising. He half-heartedly tried to discourage me, I suspect in honour of Mama, but eventually had the local artillator to make a shorter version of the long bow, the normal length is six feet, and a lighter cross bow for me. I practised every day for hours on end until I discovered my love for horses. Now I divide my time between the two."
"I never found archery of particular interest until now. You make it sound so fascinating. How good are you at it?"
"Well, I can release nine arrows in the time it takes you to say my name twelve times. The long bow does tire you out though even when you are experienced. But I prefer it to the crossbow. It's more challenging and you can only shoot two bolts from a crossbow in the same amount of time."
"That sounds very fast," Morgana says in amazement. "I tried it once and I got the feeling it is not exactly an easy weapon to use. Although I had the strength to use it, I wasn't very accurate when it came to target. I'm ashamed to say I quickly lost interest after that. Would you teach me one day if you so wish? Did you bring your own weapons?"
"Yes I did. I never go anywhere without them just in case we are attacked by bandits. Since I'm not so good with the sword, they are the only weapons I can use."
"Well I'm glad you brought them because you will need them," a voice they recognise as Arthur's man's servant's says. The two ladies who were so absorbed in their conversation did not realise that Merlin had joined them. They turn around and realise that the picnic has been set up but Arthur and Ewan are nowhere to be found.
Morgana is about to scold Merlin for eavesdropping when she looks at Gwen and sees her look of surprise on her face.
"Merlin what do you mean I will need? Has there been an attack or something?" Gwen says looking around.
"You don't know, do you? There is going to be an archery competition in five days. Arthur thought you might want to enter."
"Why would I want to and how does the king know about my archery skills?" Gwen asks colour rising on her cheeks.
Merlin has the grace to look abashed and rubs his cheeks that are equally turning pink. "I might have let on that you were a skilled archer when I was talking to him after we met on your way to the armoury."
"Merlin I don't understand why you were telling him at all. What makes you think that the king would be interested in my skills?"
"Oh he is interested all right," says Merlin with a smirk until he sees the warning look that Morgana gives him. "He just wanted to make you feel at home."
From the look that Gwen gives Morgana, she is still not quite convinced so Morgana has to come up with something quickly.
"Well, my brother is very proud of his castle and cannot bear to think that any visitor would find life here boring. Don't look too much into it." Crossing her fingers, Morgana hopes Gwen would find that desperate explanation adequate.
Gwen however, has lost interest in everything else that Morgana said except one word. "Brother? You are King Arthur's sister?" Of course! That would explain the playful affection between the two.
"Oh yes of sorts. He is actually my half- brother. We share the same father but different mothers."
"But how…? I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't ask."
"I don't mind. It's a public secret. My mother had an affair with the then Prince Uther while promised to a man called Gorlois. When she found out that she was pregnant, she never told Uther but had to tell Gorlois. He loved her too much to expose her and cause a scandal so he married her instead and acknowledged me as his child. No one ever questioned them. We only found out recently when Uther was on his deathbed. My mother, out of guilt, had written to him and told him the truth when I was five winters. When both my mother and Gorlois died, Uther took me in as his ward. Arthur and I grew up not knowing we were related until a few years ago. Hence, my being called Lady Morgana and not Princess. I really don't mind either way. It doesn't change who I am. I am sure everyone did what they did for a reason. I would not have liked my mother's memory sullied by scandal. She was a good woman who made a mistake that might have cost her everything. I was happy as a child and Gorlois loved me like I was his own child. I have lived in privilege, never lacking anything. I have a brother who loves me. What else could a girl ask for?"
"But the difference would be, you could have been queen of Camelot. Don't you feel um-m well, cheated?"
"To tell the truth Arthur is the best person for the job. He has the right disposition of a king. He is noble, kind and is fair. And I couldn't bear the stuffiness that comes with being queen."
"I'm sorry but when I saw how you were with the king, I assumed that you were… um-m his intended, "Gwen says with some discomfiture.
Morgana and Merlin burst out in laughter, not stopping until they both had tears streaming down their cheeks and were holding their sides as if in agony.
"Morg-a-a-n-a and Ar-th-ur? Oh Gwen you kill me." Merlin says doubling over as he continues to laugh.
"Even if … if we… were not related, Arthur and I would… would strangle each other on our wedding night. I can only tolerate Arthur in small doses like one of Gaius's vials of medicine." Morgana gushes trying to contain her mirth.
"And I you. You are like one of Gaius's sleeping drafts, looks nice but knocks you out every time. I take it you are talking about me. Whatever you are talking about better be good or I will put you and Merlin in the stocks for the rest of your lives."
"Ah-h I really would like to see you try. Anyway, you know what they say about eavesdroppers. They never hear anything good about themselves." Morgana says mischievously and she notices that Arthur looks genuinely concerned. She supposes he is worried that they might give a bad impression of him to Gwen. Morgana has never known Arthur to care about what people think of him. They have always bent over backwards to try and please him. She assumes it is because people never say bad things about their sovereigns in fear of it getting back to them. Especially in the days of Uther's reign, people watched carefully what they said. That Arthur was worrying about Gwen's impression of him tells her that Arthur is in deeper than he realises. Oh bother!
On the hand, Gwen is sincerely hoping neither Morgana nor Merlin would mention her little assumption to the king. She has made a fool of herself enough times and she does not want another embarrassing incident added on to her growing list. She lifts her eyes and finds the king studying her with keen interest. Being unaware of what is going on in his head she quickly averts her gaze. The blue eyes do not miss the pink hue that slowly creeps to her cheekbones.
The group and Ewan quickly move to the picnic site making Gwen happy for a chance to reunite with Ewan. Ewan does not make her too aware of herself like Arthur does. She is comfortable with him and Arthur makes her feel things she cannot understand. Arthur makes her wants to touch her hair and make sure it is not in disarray. Arthur makes her jittery and her heart beat too fast. Sometimes she does not know whether she wants to run to him or away from him. She is afraid that if she runs towards him, what she feels will consume her totally. She is not free to do that. She would not do that Ewan. She knows he is a good man who truly adores her. She had made a promise and she would not break it, especially for something she could not even define herself yet.
The party has a meal of several types of sandwiches, cheeses and different fruits and pomegranate to drink. After lunch they play a game of backgammon. First it is Arthur against Gwen.
"I must warn you, Gwen is quite an expert in this one as well. I have never beaten her." Ewan praised his betrothed.
"Well I guess she has never played against the reigning champion of Camelot." Morgana says smiling at her brother who flushes a bashful grin in return.
Gwen is the first to roll the die. It rolls five but so does Arthur's so they have to go again. Gwen eventually gets the greater number and hence plays first. Her two dice roll 6 and 4. She moves her checkers accordingly. Arthur rolls a 4 and a three and opts to move one checker 7 places. The rest of the party cheer the players good-naturedly. In the end Arthur is the first to bear off all his fifteen checkers and therefore wins the game. Everyone cheers for him and Morgana challenges Ewan to play. As they start playing, Gwen decides to wander off to admire the wild flowers that are surrounding where they are. Relena quietly follows her mistress.
Lush heads of bluebells cover most of the area as well as fragrant orchid, agrimony, long headed poppy and cherry blossom. The fusion of the different scents go straight to Gwen's head as she inhales. Gwen starts picking some blue bells which are her favourite. She wants some to take back to her room. Relena is close by offloading what she picks from time to time.
"You really love flowers, don't you?"
Hands on her heart, heat rising Gwen tries to get herself together. "You startled me, my Lord."
"I seem to do that a great deal, don't I? I am sorry. It must be the warrior in me. I am rather quiet when moving."
"No harm caused, although I warn you not to ever do that while I am armed with my bow and arrow. I don't want to be the woman who killed the king."
"That's a disturbing picture. I hear you are quite a skilled markswoman. You have a chance to prove it at the upcoming archery competition." Arthur challenges he, blue eyes seemingly burrowing into the heart of her eyes.
"Sire, I am not even sure that I want to enter. I mean back home people are used to my unconventional ways but here…"
"There is no need to fret Lady Guinevere. We actually have a few ladies at the court that are good archers. They do it for sport and I'm sure some of them will be entering the competition. Most ladies prefer the crossbow though. Do you like hunting?"
"No, unfortunately I do not have the stomach for it. I don't like killing defenceless things."
"Isn't that ironic if you are so skilled at archery?"
"When I started I did not realise what a dangerous weapon it is. I just enjoyed the challenge of aiming and hitting a target. I don't know what I was put in a place where I had to shoot something with my bow and arrow."
"Merlin will kiss the ground you walk on for that. He hates hunting with a passion but I must admit I enjoy it."
"Oh, I do not judge sire, please do not take offense at my statements. I know different people enjoy things and I don't expect everyone to dislike what I dislike." Gwen tries to extract the foot she has clearly stuck in the mouth.
"None taken. I have been hunting since I was a child. I suppose I enjoy the chase. My father thought it the best way to make a man out of me. I was a bit timid as a child."
"Really sire, I can't picture you scared of anything."
"I was scared of a lot of things, believe me. To avoid being teased I just learnt to hide it pretty well. You cannot have a knight who is too scared to dash into the middle of trouble and rescue the helpless maiden, can you?"
"Of course not! Where would the damsels in distress be? "
"Indeed. If you don't mind my asking my lady, haven't we gathered enough flowers for the whole castle by now?"
Gwen looks down at all the flowers that they have gathered between them and laughs. "I think we might have robbed the forest of all its stock of blueberry for the season.
"Never mind. We can take them all back with us. I'm sure we can find places they would be appreciated."
"Thank you, sire. They are so beautiful. It would be a shame to throw them away." Gwen beams at Arthur making his heart flip.
Relena picks up all the flowers that the king and her mistress have gathered. Merlin turns and sees her load and comes to help.
"Miracles never cease. Merlin, I have never seen you do anything voluntarily, without being threatened."
"Of course Arthur, it just depends on who needs help. Some people are just a pleasure to work for," Merlin says impishly, which he gets a slap upside his head for.
As they approach, Ewan jumps up and comes to greet his betrothed with a big smile.
"I have finally found someone I can beat," he proclaims as he takes Gwen's hands into his.
Merlin sees Arthur's face cloud over as he looks at the couple's joined hands. Merlin sighs. It looks like it's going to be another long night of polishing armour, boots and whatever moody Arthur can find for him. He snorts. And he had really been hoping for an early night.
Please review. I love your comments. I makes it easier to know if I'm going in the right direction.