Chapter 6: A/N I do not own Merlin. This chapter starts off in the council room with King Uther, the court physician, and the King's most trusted advisors as the King askes Gaius about the girl..
"Gaius, have you any news on this girl?" Uther asked of his old friend.
"Casiopea is no spy from Caerleon, she comes from Hispania and left there for reasons undisclosed. I will try to find out why, and let you know, my Lord." Gaius lied easily. "In the meantime, I was considering naming her my apprentice, my Lord. She has shown some propensity towards the healing arts. Sir Owain can attest to that, my Lord."
"Has she learnt our language? She is of little use if she cannot speak with the people. Gaius. Hold off on naming her apprentice until she can at least talk with them." Uther dodged this appointment.
A court physician is privy to many goings-on of the court, an apprentice has the ability to get just as much information and possibly more. Something was off about this girl, and until he knew, he would not allow her to roam the citadel free.
"Yes, Sire. I was planning on doing that." Gauis bowed.
"And once her break heals, she is to be with someone at all times. Is that clear? We cannot risk Camelot and her safety if the girl is not who she says she is." Uther declared.
"I would have it no other way. I will always put Camelot first, Sire." Gaius said, gravely.
"Yes, I know Gaius. This council is dismissed."
When Uther uttered those words all of his councilors knew better than to stick around, each bowing out respectfully. As Gaius was heading towards his chambers the Lady Morgana caught up with him.
"Good afternoon, Gaius. How are you today?" she greeted politely.
"Quite all right, my lady. And you? Have you been sleeping well lately?" He queried as they continued on their way.
"I was going to ask you if there was a stronger sleeping draught. The nightmares have returned with a vengeance and I haven't been able to sleep a wink. Please, Gaius?" she begged him, anguish clear in her emerald eyes.
"I will increase the concentration, Morgana, but there's only so much you can take before it starts affecting other aspects of your life and health. Would you like me to send it over later, or do you want to wait for it?"
"I will wait, Gaius, thank you." she replied sweetly.
When they arrived at the physician's quarters they found Casssie there, with the book in her lap and repeating all the words and Sir Owain correcting her where needed while he waited for Gaius..
"Keep that up, and you'll be speaking better English than half of us in no time! Obviously, the half that wield swords and don't wear dresses." Morgana greeted with a teasing smile.
"Cassie, this is the King's ward, Lady Morgana. Morgana this is Casiopea, the girl who Sir Leon and company brought in a few days ago."
"My lady, so...good...to see you." Cassie greeted, slowly so as to not forget the words, with a smile brighter than the sun.
"My lady." Owain inclined his head as Morgana curtsied.
Morgana sat down next to her and went about teaching her more words, which Cassie dutifully wrote down, while Gaius was checking Owain's side.
"Yes, two broken ribs. You'll have to rest from training for a month, Sir Owain. I've wrapped them, but be sure to breathe deeply. If there's too much pain, let me know and I'll give you a potion to help" Gaius told him.
"Yes, Gaius. I'll do just that. My lady, Cassie" Owain said goodbye, directing a coy smile to Cassie.
"Someone seems to have an admirer!" Morgana teased.
"Maybe, the feelings go both ways, see her flushed cheeks!" Gaius said while Cassie just stared after Owain.
"Haha! There just might be some truth to that!" Morgana agreed. "Would you like to have lunch with me, Cassie? Cassie?" Cassie finally snapped out of her daydream at her name, having ignored what they were saying, seeing as she couldn't yet understand.
"¿Perdon? Que me decian?" She said, clueless about their previous interaction. Both Lady Morgana and Gaius burst out laughing.
"I was asking if you'd like to have lunch with me."
"Oh, of course, my lady. It would be my pleasure. How do you say pleasure in English, Gaius?" She asked and wrote his answer down. "Would you like me to prepare something before for later?"
"I managed before you came along, I can do so today." he said jokingly.
"Bye, Gaius." They both said after collecting the sleeping draught.
As the two girls made their way up to Morgana's tower they ran into Arthur and two of his knights laughing raucously at some thing or other. .
"Arthur, care to join us for lunch? I was just showing Gaius' new apprentice around." Morgana politely said.
"Morgana, and why would I do that? I have duties to get to and I'm not in the mood for your snarky comments. Besides, I've just had my lunch." Arthur bantered with her. "I thought she couldn't speak English anyway. How are you gonna converse?"
"Pointing and miming, what do you think Arthur? I, unlike some uncultured swine, can speak Latin. We have plenty to talk about anyway." she said with a trenchant glare.
"When did you learn? I've known you since you were nine."
"At the same time, and from the same person, who taught me to wield a sword." Morgana said snarkily.
At this Arthur played right into the trap Morgana had set for him, she seemed to do that quite often, and he gave a mighty huff-enough to blow the house down- and stalked away, muttering angrily.
"You really speak Latin, my lady?" Cassie asked, recognizing some of the words Morgana said, namely Latin.
"Yes, my father, Gorlois, taught me. I taught Gwen, my maidservant, to speak it as well. She's been my maidservant since we were little. We have plenty to talk about. Come, my rooms are not far." She said teasingly.