Chapter 52 [Early Afternoon]
Fresh off of the morning's victory, the palace moved slowly almost warily back into its normal routine. The castle staff set to work on a feast for Arthur's reinstallation as monarch. The most trusted of Camelot's knights swept the royal bedroom, council chamber, throne room and banquet hall for potential traps and other insidious devices left behind by Morgana, Morgause or Meleagant.
In the guest chambers, the maids and servants insured that their royal guests had the best accommodations possible. They inspected the bedding, tidied what they could on short notice and awaited the guests' needs.
In such ways, Life returned to Camelot…seemingly as before…but not in all things….
[Royal Bedchamber]
Merlin primped the royal pillows carefully. As for much of the previous decade, he made sure that Arthur wouldn't find them satisfactory. He'd changed the linens out and replaced the covers since he couldn't know if Morgana or Meleagant had slept there. He'd swept the floor and straightened the floor coverings. He'd polished the looking glass on Gwen's table across the room.
In short, he'd brought everything back to normal….
Then he glanced at the laundry basket behind the door much to his chagrin….well almost everything….
You think he'd figure out how to do his own clothes. Then again, you can't ask the Prat to do that. He reached for the wooden bucket as Gwen entered the chamber. "Oh! Terribly sorry, Gwen. I meant to have the laundry done before either Arthur or you returned."
"It's quite all right, Merlin," she assured him with a helpful smile. She walked about the chamber admiring his other handiwork. She inhaled deeply of the once-more familiar scent of her favorite lavender in the air. "You do splendidly I have to say. Don't worry about the laundry. I will have that attended to."
"Oh? Arthur needs his clothes pressed and hung out for tonight. Doesn't he? What else is there to be done?" he queried.
"Here? You've done everything with your usual aplomb. George can take it from here. I believe however that Princess Mithian is waitingfor you to attend to her needs?" she supposed with a warm sparkle in her eye.
He quirked an eyebrow at her. Even as his heart skipped a beat at the thought of spending time with his beloved, he knew Arthur would have never allowed it. "George was assigned to them, I thought."
"He was. I swapped you two out. Persephone is attending to the housekeeping in there so you won't be doing so much. Call it being the good hostess. I have a feeling that you'd be the perfect valet for them, Merlin, while we're working out the other details," Gwen explained allowing a mischievous glint and smirk as she did so to her features. She took the pillow from him and set it on the bed. "There now! It looks perfect as I see it. Now do run along."
He bowed his head but managed a smile. "Gwen, thank you for this. I wish I could repay…."
She shook her head. "You've repaid us so many times over the years, Merlin. It will be all right. Have faith. Arthur is the only one now who refuses to see the truth. Let me work on him. Now…I'm making it a royal order. Enough of the King. Mithian's chamber. Now." She motioned with her head toward the door.
"My thanks." Merlin grinned while bowing deeply both in respect and gratitude to her.
"My pleasure," she assured him. After he'd departed, she chuckled anticipating Arthur's reaction to the new arrangements. "This will take some getting used to. Mmm….hmm. George?"
On cue, the properly gaited young man stepped into the room. As always he stood straight and tall with perfectly pressed clothes and an eaget attitude. "Yes, Milady?"
"The King needs his laundry done. I would also need his clothes for tonight pressed and boots done. Can you do this for me?" she requested.
"At once! I will do this at once!" He grabbed the water bucket and hustled off to fulfill her order.
Yes I think *everything * is under control, Gwen supposed while awaiting Arthur's reaction. Almost everything….
[Mithian's Chamber]
Mithian glanced out the window toward the forest beyond. In the past, she might have requested a royal hunt in honor of her father's visit. Still, given the circumstances, it didn't feel right to celebrate anything at the moment…
…not with Prince Kay lying in state downstairs….
…not with the planning for repairs to Camelot….
…and certainly not with that magnificent bore, George, toddling about her chambers and prattling about the brass and silver….
She rolled her eyes. She had recalled how Arthur had dissed the poor man during the aborted courtship years earlier. It isn't his fault that he's the way he is. George tries hard. It's just he *isn't Merlin*. That thought made her sigh deeply. Her heart ached at the thought of being separated from her warlock again. It isn't fair! He's done enough to be freed and raised to noble status!
"Everything to your satisfaction, Milady?" Persephone cut in primly from the door. She set a picnic basket down on the floor. "The Queen requested that be brought to you."
"Did she?" Mithian quirked an eyebrow. What is she up to? "Yes, I do believe that will be all for now. I'd appreciate if you could check on King Rodor please."
"At once, Milady. Thank you," the maid curtseyed before departing the area. Passing Merlin in the passage toward Rodor's chambers, she eyed him carefully. As with everyone else, she knew of his magic but didn't know what to make of him. "Good afternoon, Merlin."
"Good afternoon, Persephone. The Queen sent me down here. Kind of odd to separate me from Arthur," he wondered.
The maid shrugged uncomfortably. In addition to the magic, rumors of Merlin's affair with Princess Mithian had mutated into tawdry tales around the palace. "Yes, I suppose. Do take care around her chambers, Merlin." She departed quickly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" He stared aghast at the turn in the hall around which Persephone had disappeared. He frowned and shook his head. "Don't worry about that." He walked up to the door. Mithian?
Merlin! She grinned at the sound of his voice over their link. I suppose you need some help doing Arthur's laundry? I *could* sneak over there and give you a hand.
Yeah well…It's funny. Queen Guinevere "arranged" for a trade in duties. George is assigned to Arthur. And somehow I ended up as your personal valet. Funny how that works… he cracked.
Gwen, you're so transparent! Mithian rolled her eyes before resuming the conversation over the link, Then I'm ordering you to my chamber now.
On cue, a rapping came at the door.
How's that for efficiency? he quipped saucily.
You can come in, Merlin. Thank you though for being a gentleman, she advised with more than a bit of mirth in her voice.
He slipped in and shut the door behind himself. "I imagine everyone's talking about us. Persephone just made a comment about me taking care around here."
"Yes well between us being revealed as sorcerers and then our relationship, I'm prepared for such talk," she assured him. "I can speak to her."
He squirmed uncomfortably. "That'll make things worse. Once word gets around about my duties being changed, the stories will be flying around the castle to be certain. I don't care. If they can't deal with me being with the Perfect Princess, then it's their loss."
She snorted. "Perfect Princess? Why, Merlin! You wouldn't be trying to butter me up, would you?"
"Maybe." A mischievous grin spread across his face. "I'd like a kiss, Milady."
"Oh really?" She almost pranced toward him. She pulled him close and locked lips with his. For almost half of a minute, she kept this up sending her desire and energy into him. Then she released him. "How's that?"
His heart still soared above the clouds. He breathed contentedly. He had an almost dreamstruck grin on his face.
"I thought so," she teased. "Maybe you might help me deal with something now?"
"Like what?" he queried expectantly.
"Like this picnic basket perhaps? The Queen had Persephone bring it from the kitchens. Now I wonder why?" she inquired pointedly.
He rolled his eyes at how Gwen had set them up for the afternoon. "Guess we have an outing? That is if you wish to order me to accompany you, Milady?"
She shrugged. "Yes, Merlin. You are to accompany me for a ride through the forest. Perhaps we might have some lunch as well?" Her eyes sparkled warmly at him.
"Then it will be my pleasure to serve," he quipped as they departed from the chamber and headed for the stables.
An outing into the forest, it seemed, was indeed in order….