Chapter 2: Back to Work

When Gwen walked into the staff dining room, the first thing she saw was Eira sitting at the head of the table about to light a cigarette.

"Take that outside, Eira," Gwen said. "There's to be no smoking in here."

Eira stared at Gwen with a blank face. "Cook said we can smoke where we want as long as it's not the kitchen."

"And I said take it outside."

"You're not housekeeper, and you're not the boss of me." Eira stuck her nose up.

Gwen pulled a set of keys out her apron pocket and held up one from the ring. "This is the key to the door. Go outside to smoke, and when you're done, see if the door's still unlocked. If it is, you still have your job."

Eira turned red and marched out the room; she pulled Kara, who was passing her, with her.

Gwen went to the sink. Rolling up her sleeves, she began washing the dishes left over from last night. Merlin joined her moments later, drying as she washed.

"You know you'd be doing us all a favor if you fired her," he said.

Gwen sighed. "For a girl like that, it's service or the streets." She passed a plate to Merlin. "What happened to the last housekeeper?"

Merlin dried the plate attentively. "Eira and Kara ran her off," he muttered.

Gwen gripped the edge of the sink and bowed her head, letting out a bitter laugh.

Cook interrupted them. "His lordship's breakfast is ready." She was referring to Uther.

Merlin was going to take it, but Gwen offered instead.

Nowadays, Uther Pendragon preferred to have his meals in his study at a small table next to the window. Gwen knocked before entering; announcing herself even though Uther wouldn't acknowledge her. He was already sitting at the table, staring vacantly out the window.

"Your breakfast, my lord," Gwen said as she put the tray down. When she was done pouring his tea, he grabbed her wrist.

"Rose?"

Gwen stiffened at the mention of her mother's name. "No…my lord, I'm Guinevere, her daughter."

Uther turned slowly to look at her. "The little girl who followed her and Ygraine?"

"Yes, my lord," she confirmed.

"Sit," he ordered weakly.

Gwen obeyed, folding her hands in her lap.

"Where is Rose?"

"She died, my lord," she said quietly.

Uther looked back out the window. "Like my Ygraine," he said just as quiet.

Gwen remembered the night Ygraine Pendragon died of Spanish flu. Her mother had taken care of her until Ygraine's last breath. Days later, Rose succumbed to the same fate, following her lady to the afterlife.

"And you were Morgana's maid. Ygraine and Rose…Morgana left, and you—you left, too, did you not?"

"I did, my lord."

"But you came back. Why?"

"Your son asked me to."

"Arthur," Uther said. "My son asked for a maid's help?"

"I am no longer a maid, my lord. I am a governess," Gwen said firmly.

Uther looked at her sharply. "My son does not have children, and I do not require a nanny."

"I'm here as a temporary housekeeper."

"So why did you bring my breakfast? Why not one of the footmen?" Uther challenged.

Because there's only one footman and one butler and their both busy. "The downstairs is very understaffed, and I've taken on duties to help alleviate the stress until I have employed more staff."

"Ygraine would help the staff," Uther sighed. "You probably saw more of my wife than I did. Tell me about her."

Just as she exited the study, Arthur and Mithian were coming down the hall. She rubbed her eye and pretended not to see them and headed for the stairs.

"Guinevere."

She stopped and turned around. Arthur looked back and forth between her and the door of the study. Mithian just looked at her concerned. Gwen remembered the kiss she shared with Arthur the night before and immediately felt guilty.

"Has my father said something to upset you?" Arthur asked.

Gwen smoothed out her apron and composed herself. "No, we just talked."

"That must have been some talk," Mithian commented.

"We talked about your mother, my lord." And mine.

Arthur didn't have a chance to respond as Gwen changed the subject.

"I'm going into town to do interviews for more staff. I'm taking Merlin with me," she said.

Arthur crossed his arms. "You're not asking, you're telling me."

Gwen gave him a stern look. "That's right, I am. I'm sure you can a few hours manage without him." With that, she went downstairs.

Mithian looked impressed. "She works fast."

Arthur smiled. "She's Camelot's finest."

They had commandeered the local pub. Gwen had underestimated the response to the advertisement. The line was going out the door.

Gwen and Merlin split the work, she took the woman and he took the men. Gwen looked over to Merlin's table. He was laughing with an applicant who had bought a pint while waiting in line. A girl sat nervously in front of her, drawing Gwen's attention back to the job. The girl was meek and all Gwen could imagine was Eira bullying her.

"My father is sick," the girl said while keeping her focus on the table and her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "I don't have much of an education, and I need the money. I know the advertisement said to come with references but I don't have any, but-but if you give me a chance…"

Gwen gave the girl a sympathetic smile. "Determination and drive, I can see you have it. It's a cherished quality to have in the service industry."

The girl looked up and Gwen with questioning eyes and Gwen winked. That questioning tuned to hope.

Gwen feared she would hear more sympathetic stories. The kindness in her heart wanted to help everyone. She couldn't even fire Eira. She looked back over to Merlin as the applicant with the now empty glass was leaving. Merlin caught her gaze and gave her a thumbs-up. She smiled in return and waved the next female applicant over.

The new servants stood around the staff dining room table in their uniforms. Two maids, two footmen, and a driver.

"Right," Gwen clapped her hands together. "Sefa, Freya, with me. Lance, Percival, with Merlin. Gwaine, sit tight and George will be with you in a moment to show you around the garage."

They all adapted quite nicely and were very diligent in their work, even Gwaine, who hadn't been needed yet found himself in Cook's good graces and helped in the kitchen. The first conflict came between Eira and Sefa, just as Gwen feared.

It was the end of breakfast upstairs and Eira and Sefa were beginning to clear the table as Arthur and Mithian were discussing the upcoming gathering. Sefa had the plates and cups on a tray when she turned and Eira bumped into her. Scraps of food and broken tableware littered floor.

"You clumsy idiot!" Eira exclaimed.

Sefa was quick to the floor, picking up the pieces and putting them back on the tray. Mithian rang the downstairs for more assistance, and Arthur helped Sefa pick up the pieces.

Gwen and Lance came in and made a beeline to the mess.

"Ah-!" Arthur cut the side of his hand on a shard of glass. Gwen quickly grabbed a napkin and pressed it against the cut the bleeding. They held each other's gaze longer than necessary, unnoticed by everyone but Lance, who cleared his throat as he kneeled next to them picking up the shards.

"Pardon me, my lord."

"Uh…right," Arthur said. He stood up, regretfully taking his hand out of Gwen's. "It's not deep, so there's no need to call Gaius."

Gwen nodded. "We have it under control. You may go."

With that, Arthur and Mithian left the room. Halfway down the hall Mithian stopped.

"Did she just dismiss us?"

They had indeed taken an order from the governess. They laughed and Mithian took Arthur's hand in hers to look at his cut. Arthur wished it was Gwen's hands again and shook his head trying to stop thinking about her.

"Are you okay?" Mithian asked. "I don't remember you saying that blood made you woozy," she teased.

It's not the blood, Arthur thought. It's the governess.

A/N: So we have some knights, Sefa, and Freya. Maybe some freylin in the future? Some ArthurxGwenxLancelot to go with the GwenxArthurxMithian? It'll be more like Arthur just being jealous of Lance being close to Gwen.

The "It's service or the streets" came from Upstairs Downstairs...I think? The line was something like that.

anywho

THANKS FOR READING!