A pool and secrets
Chapter Five
Merlin was in the kitchen preparing the picnic for Arthur and Gwen when he felt somebody put their hands over his eyes. He panicked before hearing someone say, "Guess who Merlin!" into his ears. Merlin thought over who it could be before he realised that there is only person in the whole castle who would come up behind him and cover his eyes.
"Gwaine! What is it with you and trying to scare me half to death?!" Merlin yelled, turning around to poke his finger to the knight's chest with a glare.
Gwaine laughed. "Sorry Merlin I forget how jumpy you can be. So what are you preparing for his royal highness this fine morning?" he peered over the young man's shoulder picking up an apple from the basket.
Merlin slapped the knight's hand and placed the apple back in the basket. "If you must know I am preparing a picnic for his royal pain in the ass and his future bride. They are heading out around lunch and of course I must make sure that everything is ready on time. I was just finishing up here and then on my way to collect some flowers. Have to make sure it is romantic for them." He said with a sad smile.
"Oh Merlin, he should organise his own flowers even if he is the king." Gwaine patted Merlin on the back with a smile. "It's decided then. I'll come keep you company while you pick flowers for the kings little picnic."
"You don't have to Gwaine. I don't want to take up your time. Don't you have knight stuff to do anyway?" Merlin asked as he did not want to inconvenience his friend.
"Nonsense. It's no bother at all and I have the morning off. Besides it will go faster if we work together. Though I have to admit I'm not sure which flowers would be romantic."
Merlin laughed at the knight. "Don't worry. You just have to pick the ones that look nice. Gwen loves almost anything you give her. She is a very nice person and will make a fine queen when they finally get married. If there is somebody that Arthur is to love and marry I'm glad it is Gwen."
Gwaine swept Merlin into his arms and held him in a tight hug. "You are so strong Merlin. I could never be as strong as you, watching the person you love, loving and marrying another. It would kill me to watch them together and you have to see them together every day probably for the rest of your life. Maybe one day you will forget him and move on."
The young wizard wept at the knight's kind words. "It is my destiny to watch over Arthur even if it does break my heart." This sentence made the knight hold the young man even tighter wishing he could stop the pain and heartache.
Gwaine pushed Merlin out so he was an arm length away and smiled at the wizard. "Come, let's go pick flowers and be merry as they say." Merlin laughed at the man before him. "Ah, now that is a better sight. You look much better with a smile upon your face." With that Merlin blushed from his head down to his toes, as Gwaine laughed.
"Don't pick that Gwaine it is weed not a flower." Merlin told Gwaine when he walked over to a weed bush.
"See this is why I am a knight. I would not be able to pick a flower from a grain of rice." Gwaine huffed.
Merlin laughed. "Don't beat yourself up, you are doing fine. I mean, you found this nice purple one." Merlin lifted up the beautiful purple flower that Gwaine had found hidden under a pile of weeds.
The knight pinched his chin as if in great thought. "I suppose you are right." He smiled as he ran over to another bush. This one sporting a bright pink flower. "This one looks nice." Gwaine picked the flower and added it to the pile growing on top of the picnic basket.
"Yes it does look nice. I'm sure Gwen will love it. Right, well I think we have collected enough flowers for one day. Thank you so much for helping me. You are truly a great friend." Merlin thanked the knight with a warm smile. The two men started to head back into the citadel.
"You are welcome. Listen Merlin, I've been thinking and if you agree I would like to teach you archery and how to wield a sword. Just in case you need to use one to protect yourself when out with Arthur. This way if you ever need to you will know how to defend yourself."
Merlin spun around to face the knight, eyes shining bright. "You would really teach me?"
"Of course, you need to protect yourself as much as you do the king." Gwaine said.
Before Gwaine could finish the sentence he had arms full of blubbering servant. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" All of a sudden Merlin pulled away from Gwaine and looked to the ground. "But don't you have all your knightly duties to uphold?"
"Well of course I do, but I do get time off and during those times I will teach you. I think you will take to archery the best."
"You are good friend Gwaine. I know I have said it a lot today, but I really do mean it." The young wizard said to the knight.
"No worries Merlin. What are friends for?" they shared a smile and continued to head for Camelot talking about anything and everything.
Arthur was getting ready for his picnic with Gwen when he headed over to the window to check on the weather. As he opened the window he heard laughter. Recognising the laughter he looked down to see Merlin and Gwaine in the square laughing presumably over a joke the knight had said. Gwaine had his hands resting on Merlins shoulders as he laughed. Arthur saw red. 'What are they laughing about? What could be so funny?' Arthur paused in his mind rant. 'He looks so happy with Gwaine. I have never seen him act that happy around me. What are you talking about Arthur of course you haven't; you treat him like a slave. Why do I even care about this? It's not like I have feelings for Merlin. I love Gwen, forever and always. But I've never seen Merlin laugh like that in a long time. I wonder what has changed between them.' Arthur was broken out of his thoughts when he heard a knock on his door. "Enter." He called out, turning his head away from the laughing men to look at the door.
The door opened and Gwen stepped into the room, looking brilliant as always. "Arthur, are you ready to head out for our picnic? It is just after noon."
"Yes I was just finishing getting ready." Arthur turned back to look at the window but Merlin and Gwaine had gone.
"What are you looking at?" Gwen had come up behind him and rested her chin on his shoulder.
"Oh, nothing. I just saw Merlin and Gwaine having a laugh in the courtyard." Arthur said.
"That's nice. It's good to see Merlin smiling and having a good time. It has been long since I have seen a true smile on his face. Perhaps they are starting to like one another in a romantic way?" Gwen had a mischievous smile on her face.
"What! What are you talking about Gwen? Like Gwaine and Merlin would really become involved with one another. Gwaine is a knight and Merlin is a servant. They are totally different people." He snapped.
"What about us? You were a prince and I a servant when we fell in love. Love can blossom anywhere, we were proof enough. If they are happy then we should not stop them." Gwen said with fire in her eyes.
The king sighed. "Okay, okay I get it. I just find it hard to believe is all. I didn't mean what I said. So are you ready for our little romantic getaway?" Arthur pulled Gwen into his arm kissing her on the lips. They pulled apart when they heard knocking on door. "Enter." The door opened and in stepped Merlin carrying the picnic basket and the bouquet of flowers. "Ah Merlin. How unusual of you to be on time."
"Yes, well your job does go faster when you are being helped. Everything is ready for you picnic Sire." Merlin said as he placed the basket on the table. "I was wondering sire if you really needed me to come along with you? You see Gwaine was going to teach me a bit about archery while he was free." The wizard looked pleadingly at the king.
"I'm sorry but yes you will. Perhaps Gwaine can teach you another time." The king lifted up his nose. 'Note to self. Keep Gwaine occupied. Cannot have Gwaine hurting Merlin in the long run.'
"No we don't Arthur. We will be perfectly fine on our own. It will be more romantic that way." Gwen said.
"But-"Arthur tried to give a reason why that was a bad idea, but he stopped mid-sentence when his fiancé levelled a glare at him. "Right, we will be fine on our own. You may go."
"Thank you, sire." Merlin smiled and walked out of the room.
Arthur glared at the retreating man's back. Gwen turned to Arthur and smiled. "There, that wasn't so hard now was it? It will do you some good to not have Merlin always at your beck and call, besides I'm sure we can do a lot more with our alone time than if he was there." Gwen kissed Arthur and headed out the door missing the glare he threw out the open window.
A.N. I hope you enjoyed another chapter! Sorry for so long in between posts I was away for a week and did not have internet access where I was staying. Didn't think I would be gone for so long. Same with all chapters read and review please