Ch. 7~ The Feast
Gaius finally decided to take a look at Merlin's wounds, so I decide to help. Merlin was sprawled, facedown, on his bed.
"Up you get, take your shirt off." The older man said.
Merlin sat up, pulling his shirt over his head. His back was a patchwork of bruises from his shoulders to his waist. Gaius started dabbing the area with medicine, cleaning out the few cuts that there were. I noticed, momentarily, that he wasn't as thin as he looked with his baggy shirt...he actually had quite a bit of muscle.
"I'm sorry, Gaius. I shouldn't have yelled."
"It's quite alright; I understand that this is hard for you. But you'll find a way, I promise. Now, drink this." He handed Merlin a cup, "It will help with the pain. Tia, why don't you take point?" Then he loft, leaving Merlin looking around.
He started to put his shirt back on before I stepped out of the shadows. "Don't," I said. And he put his arms back on his knees, astonished.
"You?!" he stood up.
"Me," I said merrily. "Why don't you sit back down and let me take a look at your back."
So he did. After a few moments, he couldn't stand the silence anymore.
"I, uh, didn't know Gaius had another assistant..."
"That's because he doesn't. He's my tutor, and my very good friend."
"Oh. So, how long has he been teaching you?"
"Ten years almost. I came here when I was eight, Gaius saw that I had a talent for medicine and healing, and he wanted to help. So, he took me in."
"Hmm. You also seem pretty close to the prince, as well."
"I suppose you could say that, yes."
"Do you love him?"
I laughed out loud. "Love Arthur? El Pequiño Rey? He's been like a brother to me all these years." I wiped away a tear of mirth, and then leaned around him. "Do you always start conversations like this?"
Merlin's cheeks darkened in the weak light, "Sorry...I didn't mean-"
"It's alright. I am close to the prince, and I do love him...just not the way you're thinking." The bruises on his back were slowly fading, and the cuts were no more that faint scars. "There. You might still be a bit sore, but you should feel better in the morning." I got up. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight...and thank you, my lady."
My hand stopped pulling the door open and a smile crept across my face. I turned back to him. "Lady? No, good sir. I am simply...a woman." I curtsied quickly, and then left.
The next day was the morning before the feast, and I was driving myself harder than usual in training.
Soon after Uther realized who I was, he also allowed the remaining girls to return to España, leaving me as the only dancer. It didn't bother me, and it meant I didn't need to worry about the whole troupe being in time. Plus, I could go as long as I liked, without worrying about whether the others needed a break. Not everyone had my driving force for perfection. The king was also spared no expense for my training room, or the crowning glory of the mirror wall, which I used to make sure the movements, looked right.
I was up on the hanging rings, lifting and flipping myself. The door opened, revealing a very harried looking Merlin.
"Hello? Uh, I have a delivery for the Court Entertainer." He held up the jar in his hand.
"Oh, thank you." Merlin's head shot up, taking in the sight of me hanging upside-down by my knees. "I was beginning to wonder when Gaius would have it ready." I flipped over, and then swung back and forth to gain momentum. Using that force, I released my grip on the rings and sailed through the air, landing lightly on the padded balance beam. Merlin let out a cry of concern until I stood up on the narrow beam. I smiled at him, then hopped down and took the jar from him.
"You have no idea how much I needed this. Please give Gaius my thanks."
Merlin's face turned a faint shade of pink as he took in the sight of my skin-tight leotard and practice skirt. "How...how did you do that?"
I chuckled, "Years and years of practice. My mother was an acrobatic dancer, she taught me until I came to Camelot."
"Oh...well, uh, Gaius is espectingme back-WHOA!" he had started backing up towards the doors, but had tripped over a rack of pole-vaulting staffs. I cringed at the loud crash it hade made. Merlin got up and bowed. "Sorry, I- uh- I have to-" then ran out of the room.
"I knelt down to pick up the staffs, when Arthur came running in, sword drawn.
"What happened?" He was turning round in spot, looking for an intruder.
"It's alright. Just calm down, Pequiño Rey. Merlin tripped."
"What was he doing in here in the first place?" he demanded, so I explained.
"It's not as if he came in looking for me. Gaius sent him for the Court Entertainer..." I chuckled. "Be nice to the poor boy, he's not used to being in a big town yet?"
"Or having to answer to a higher authority, obviously."
I just rolled my eyes and went back to work. Arthur left eventually, leaving me to my thoughts.
*Flashback* Yesterday
Uther had asked me to join him and Lady Helen for dinner. I had never met the woman with an angel's voice, but if the king held her in high regard, then she must be wonderful.
"Celestia, this is Lady Helen." He beamed as soon as I walked into the room.
"It's a great honor to meet you, my lady." I curtsied.
"Oh, the honor is all mine, dear. His majesty has told me so much about you. Do you really hail from España?" Lady Helen asked as we sat down.
"Yes, I do. A very long time ago..." I trailed off. There were times that my curse acted up before its time, especially around magic. This was one of those times. When I had looked up at her, my vision went foggy for a moment, and then cleared up. But I wasn't looking at the beautiful Lady Helen...it was an old crone.
"Something wrong, dear?" they were both staring at me.
I shook my head, clearing my vision. "Um...yes, I'm fine. Thank you. I'm just a bit tired, you know: practice, practice, practice." I chuckled nervously.
The king just shook his head, "You push yourself far too hard, my dear Celestia."
"Only the best for the Great King of Camelot." My voice felt strained.
*End Flashback*
There was no way to deny what I had seen, that Lady Helen wasn't who she seemed to be. But how could I prove anything without putting more suspicion on myself. For example: How could I have seen through the disguise? How did I know I wasn't just hallucinating? And so on and so forth.
A few hours later, I made my way down to the Feast Hall. I had a small alcove above the High Table where I could watch and wait for my cue. The high class didn't look around at the decorations anymore, they just came to enjoy the food and drink…mostly drink. But that was fine by me; it meant I could hide better before my performance. Of course, I rarely performed anymore, especially at feasts that celebrated the fall of magic, but Uther was insistent. No one said no to the king.
Speaking of which, he and Arthur were coming into the hall, followed my Morgana (who was looking spectacularly stunning in her daring red halter dress). After a few moments, Uther was introducing Lady Helen. My alcove was situated above and behind the king's seat, and as soon as she began singing, my vision flickered again. I could see the magic streaming from her in amber waves with her voice. My curse generally made me less susceptible to certain magics (one of the only good things), but this was powerful, ancient magic, and I could already feel my eyelids getting heavier.