Chapter 5
Honestly! Never a moment's peace!
I huffed in loud annoyance and threw the parchment to the desk, apparently startling Merlin out of his thoughts as he readied my night clothes.
"Damn it all. He's coming. I knew they all would but I didn't think they'd pounce on us quite so soon." I answered Merlin's questioning eyebrow, "Alined's successor." I rubbed my tired eyes. Next thing I knew, the letter was tugged from beneath my elbows and Merlin was reading it as though it were his business.
"What's the problem?" he asked.
"He's coming to look us over and see what weaknesses he can detect. Thank goodness the battle didn't take place here! We're recovering slowly enough as it is."
"Mmm," he said, "At least you'll have plenty of knights to put on a good show of strength. Opening up the knights' trials to commoners is a brilliant way to rebuild the ranks, but it means we could be short-handed in the fields this harvest. Still, I'm sure it'll be alright. Camelot is strong in spirit, Arthur. You've given us that. It'll be enough."
"It's not enough! We can't afford to look weak! We must project wealth and strength! They have to see it wherever they turn!" In a sudden stroke of brilliance, I found an opportunity to work on my pet project and turned to look at him. "And you!"
"Me?" he frowned.
"Yes, take you, for example. You look like a bloody scarecrow. There's not a piece of clothing you own that doesn't look as though it came from the rag pile! My own manservant looks as though he won the war single-handedly and hasn't had a meal since. You've never stopped to think that your appearance reflects upon me, have you!"
"Arthur, I'm just a servant. You can't seriously.."
"You are the personal manservant to the King!" I reminded him. Sometimes he could be infuriatingly slow. "Look, appearances matter. They send a message. If you're stood there at my elbow looking like only skin and bone in rags and tatters, I can talk all day about the prosperity of the kingdom, but it's you they'll be measuring with their eyes and accounting me a liar."
I reached into my desk and flung a bag of coins at him that he hurriedly caught against his chest. "Go get yourself something better, and do it soon. We've got little more than a week before visitors show up and I want everything spit shined and in order -including you!"
He grimaced. "No need to get so worked up over it." He tossed the clinking bag onto the desk. "I have my own money. I'll take care of it."
"Tunic AND trousers!"
"Fine."
"And neckerchiefs, if you insist on wearing them!"
"Okay!"
"At least two pair of each."
He wrinkled his nose.
"New ones, not just patched and laundered," I shot at him.
"New ones," he agreed with a long-suffering sigh.
"You're sure you don't need a loan?"
His chin came up in offense.
"You'll see a tailor tomorrow," I ordered.
"Tomorrow," he grumped.
"Promise?"
His annoyance was palpable as he rolled his eyes and left.
I grinned.
When Guinevere, my beautiful ally, arrived minutes later, I shook the little coin bag at her and said, "Two questions: First, are you busy tomorrow? and second, how good are you at stealth? Merlin needs following." She must've detected my enjoyment at the thought of my plans. I was thoroughly delighted by her deliciously conspiratorial smile.
—-——-
Days later, I strode out early to put another facet of my plan into effect. This was quite possibly the first time I ever purposely chose to begin my day well before sunrise without the prompting of patrol duty. I was relying on Guinevere's intimate knowledge of the inner workings of my household to begin laying foundations and to set my plans in motion. As I approached his door, I could hear the steward dishing out assignments to the staff. There would indeed be an audience, just as Guinevere had said.
Perfect.
My knock halted the proceedings. I pushed through the door without invitation.
"Good morning," I greeted the steward.
"Sire!" The man bounded to his feet behind his desk.
I smiled around at the servants who looked absolutely dumbfounded to see me there. Several directed their eyes to the floor and began doing their best to mimic the furniture which gave me painful pause. But things would be better. What I was beginning now would also benefit them.
"I apologize for disrupting your morning. I can wait until you're finished, if you'd like."
"No, no, your Majesty. I was just making assignments for the day. How can I be of service to you?"
I cleared my throat.
"It is a matter of supplies. I will soon be heading out on patrol again and I want to see a change made in provisions. I've noticed some deficiency."
The man looked anxious, as though greatly fearing he'd committed a grave error but also uncertain as to what that error might be.
"Beg pardon, Sire, they are the same provisions you've been riding out with all these years. I thought that since you'd deemed them sufficient thus far.."
"Yes, however, I find that I have been unobservant in regards to one of my men. My servant, Merlin, will require a far better bedroll than the scraps of rags he's made do with. His rations should also be increased. I don't think he's ever had a decent meal while on patrol with the knights even though he works equally as hard. I swear he gets bonier every time we leave the castle," I groused and heard a few appreciative snickers. "I would appreciate it if you would personally see to his provisions in future. He doesn't give his own a second thought and that's not good enough. Here is a list I've made of items he will be carrying and it will not be subject to his whims unless he sees fit to add something. He may still see to my supplies, however, as they have always been satisfactory." I handed him the parchment.
"Yes, Sire!" the steward replied smartly. I noted the glow of appreciation in several servants' eyes. I felt a pressing need to let them know that I saw and valued them all.
"I just want to say.. to all of you," I hesitated, waiting for more to look up before continuing, "I truly appreciate your hard work. Conversations with Guinevere -and Merlin- have opened my eyes to how lucky I am to have such good people working around me. I want you to know that you have my respect. We rely on you to keep things running smoothly here and I'm sorry I haven't said this enough: Thank you."
—-——-
When Merlin came bustling through the door later, I noticed a definite change. It looked like the tailor in the lower town had followed my instructions to the letter. I'd never seen Merlin look like this, not even for my coronation or wedding. The obviously freshly scrubbed face and finer, well-fitting clothing absolutely transformed him. I do believe he may have even found and used a comb! Doing my best to squelch any surprise in my expression, I deliberately frowned, conjuring up some expected irritability.
"You're even later than usual!"
"Sorry, I had trouble in the kitchens."
"Trouble? What trouble?"
Merlin flushed an interesting shade. "Not trouble per se.. actually, you know what? It was nothing."
"Did you get any breakfast for yourself yet this morning?"
"What?"
"It's a simple enough question. Have you eaten yes or no?"
"I had an apple."
"Not good enough. Grab a roll while I get ready. I've got a couple of things to discuss with you."
His wary look as he reached for the bread was hardly flattering. Why was everyone always so shocked when I tried to be kind!
Guinevere walked in, "What a morning! Apparently there was quite a dither in the kitchens… oh! Merlin! Oh my! Don't you look handsome! Now I see why the girls had words. Those new clothes are very flattering, I must say.." She circled him while he stood, turning steadily redder.
"Gwen, please.." he moaned.
I ducked behind the dressing screen and waited until absolutely certain I had my grin under control. When I had smothered it as best I could, I put on my most prattish manner and emerged, shaking out my sleeves.
"New clothes, eh? Well it's about time. The others were on the verge of disintegrating. It's a wonder they didn't simply fall off you." I gave him a cursory examination. "You do look somewhat less likely to harm my reputation now, thank the gods."
"This isn't what I ordered! The fabric is too fine! They'll be ruined in a week," he grumbled.
"Boohoo, Merlin. Your old clothes were new once...possibly. You're just used to looking like an old scarecrow. Don't worry, I'm certain that you'll be comfortably tatty again in no time. Just try and hold off on that a bit until our royal visitors have gone. Now," I ignored his obligatory glare and slapped a chore list down on the table beside him, "see that this is done before the council meeting at midday. I'll need you to attend me."
"Yes, Sire," he grumbled and stuffed the last of the roll in his mouth. He squinted at the list.
"Wait. This? This is my chore list?"
"Yes, so stop dawdling and get on with it."
"But, but.." His mouth hung open a moment, his jaw working like that of a freshly landed fish -definitely a gratifying reaction. "There's no laundry, no floor scrubbing, none of my regular duties and they all need doing."
I gave him a hard look.
"My priorities are the items on the list. Do you have a problem doing this work?"
"No, Sire. It's just.."
"What? You won't be able to use your magic to cheat at them?"
"Of course not!"
He actually sounded offended at the very suggestion. I could have laughed.
"Then get on with it."
"But.."
Lords he was stubborn.
"Look, I can get anyone to scrub floors but what I need right now is someone with a brain who can read and write proficiently to do some research for me. I need that information before the council meeting. Is it too much to ask?"
"You think I have a brain?" he fired at me out of habit, expecting a teasing insult as per our usual pattern.
"Yes."
He blinked, taken aback. I met his gaze steadily. He blinked a second time, registering my respect for his intelligence and his eyes softened in surprise -another very satisfying reaction.
"Will you do this for me?"
He blinked again, realizing I had formulated my words as a request, not a command.
"Yes, Sire."
"Then hop to it and don't be late. The deliveries can wait until after the meeting if you run short on time."
I had to get rid of him before the moment became awkward. He resisted being honored or recompensed and I needed to distract him before he sussed out my plan to do just that. I turned away in dismissal, completely ignoring him in favor of inviting a kiss from my smiling Guinevere. Finally I felt his gaze leave my back and heard his retreating footsteps.
Merlin, I realized, was far too clever. Building a foundation to repair the soul behind the smile would take time and subtlety. Good thing I was a master strategist. Very soon, Merlin would come to a few realizations of his own, namely that his chore list would never again include emptying chamber pots, scrubbing floors, sweeping fireplaces, mucking out stables or doing laundry. There would be more bookwork, research, council meetings, speech writing and revising of laws in his future. If I had my way, those new clothes would never reach the same state of disrepair as their predecessors.