Chapter 26: A/N I do not own Merlin.
Cassie walked through the lower town winding her way to the training yards for the outing she had planned with Owaine.
"Cassie! I was starting to think you weren't going to come." Owaine teased by way of greeting.
"Well, there was a slight possibility I wouldn't have. I was with my favorite man." Cassie teased back.
"What man?" Owaine asked in mock suspicion.
"Why, young Alex! You know, he's much better at cuddling than you, amor." Cassie said mirthfully.
"Yeah, I'll give you that. Why were you watching him?" he conceded.
"Mary's pregnant, again. At least that's what I think. We need to wait for the wheat and barley test. But she has to be at least four months pregnant. Anyway, she asked me to watch him while she told her husband. There any food? I'm hungry."
"You'll have to forgive me, I got hungry waiting after training and ate most of our picnic."
"Oh." Cassie said deflating.
"There's still some bread and cheese and wine, I can go down to the kitchens again and see if Audrey will spare us some." Owaine added hopefully.
"Not you. She doesn't like the knights, 'always stealing my food!' she'd say." Cassie replied chuckling. "She likes me. I gave her a great recipe from Hispania for a stew. And I helped her out when she hurt her hand a few months ago."
"Fine, you go. Do what you must." Owaine replied, sighing heavily , in jest.
"Meet me in my chambers."
"Where we will continue our discussion on husband and wife?" Owaine asked, holding out a ring.
It was a beautiful gold ring with a pear cut garnet in the middle and beautiful whitesmith designs on the shank of the ring that resemble an elegant knot in a pave setting with rose quartz. Cassie could only stare in wonder at the craftsmanship and beauty of the ring, not even bothering to hide her surprise.
"So?" Owaine asked, getting nervous.
Cassie looked up at him and squealed, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply, forgetting all decorum.
"C'mon you romantic are watching! You too Owaine, Mother taught you better." Pellinore jested, walking past them and winking at Cassie. He spotted the ring in his brother's hand and walked back over, putting a hand on his shoulder and saying gaily, "You finally did it! So, how'd he propose, was it worthy of my future sister-in-law?"
"Haha. Hardly." Cassie said, with a tinkling laugh. "First he ate my food, then when i said i'd go to the kitchens to get some more and told him to meet at my chambers for lunch, he just said 'so we can talk about husband and wife, and showed me the ring!" Cassie said, knowing Pellinore would make him come up with something more romantic, and seriously wanting another proposal.
"No. You two are not yet engaged! Owaine, you need to come up with something else! If you just need help, I can help you." Pellinore started, putting his arm around his brother's shoulder and steering him away, while talking about ideas, and getting Eleanor's approval for them, and then talking about how he proposed to Ellie.
Owaine just looked back at Cassie and scowled at her, clearly saying 'I will get you back for this!' Cassie gave him the brightest smile, before waiting for them to round a corner and rushing to Morgana's rooms.
"Owaine just proposed!" Cassie said, not bothering to knock and with the biggest smile on her face.
"No! Finally!" Morgana squealed
"He has got some sense in him!" Gwen said at the same time.
"Well, not officially. All he said was 'husband and wife'' then he pulled out the most gorgeous ring I've ever seen! And Pellinore showed up, and I got him to make Owaine come up with an actual proposal, because, come on! That was not a proposal." Cassie rambled on excitedly. Not even taking a breath.
"Oh, Cassie! I'm so happy for you!" Morgana said and went to give the girl the biggest hug ever.
"I'm making your wedding dress. I will hear nothing of it! Now, will you be wearing white?" Gwen asked suggestively, making Cassies cheeks grow red.
"Guinevere!" she cried flustered.
"Oh, screw propriety, Cassie. Now tell us!" Morgana said.
"Actually, she should just screw Owaine." Gwen smirked, eliciting a response from Cassie.
"Just for that, I won't tell you two when we do do it!" she humphed and turned around to go.
She actually made it to the door before turning around and saying, "That was such a lie! You'll be the third to know, behind me and Owaine, Gwen."
"Hey! What about me?"
"Well, I always come to your rooms, don't I 'Gana?" Cassie said with a grin.
"You'd better." Morgana fake-scowled.
"Have you two had lunch yet?" Cassie asked her arms going around her midriff as her stomach growled.
"I was about to go down to the kitchens for some." Gwen said.
"I'll go with you. I should get back to my chambers, I have more work to do." Cassie groaned.
"You wouldn't if you were my hairdresser." Morgana sing-songed.
"Bye 'Gana." Cassie said, ignoring her friend's teasing and going with Gwen to the kitchens.
Once they got food from Audrey, a smaller portion in Cassie's instance due to obvious reasons, Gwen and Cassie parted ways.
"Gaius!" Cassie greeted as she opened the door to her chambers.
"Hello, dear Everything all right? You took longer than I expected to come back."
"Well, Mary's pregnant! And then I met up with Owaine, then Morgana and Gwen, so…" Cassie trailed off.
"There's something I havet to talk to you about." Gaius began, unsure how to continue.
"Whatever it is, Gaius. You can tell me, I won't get mad. Did something happen?"
"Well, you know Merlin is due to come, right. And he's going to need work." Gaius continued. "I was thinking of naming him my apprentice if it's okay with you. I won't give him any of your patients, and you'll still have your chambers and can treat them here. I haven't spoken to Uther, yet but I doubt he'll prohibit you from treating anyone.
"Gaius. I completely understand. He's your nephew. Your family. I can get another job. Really." Cassie said smiling softly at the man.
"Really?" Gaius asked in wonder at the girl's selflessness.
"Really, Gaius. I'm quite excited to meet him. I just hope he's as good an apprentice as I was. Make sure you have him clean that damned leech tank, though." Cassie said with a sudder. She hated cleaning it.
"Oh, you can count on it!" Gaius said chuckling. "I'm sure he'll even let you boss him around every once in a while." Gaius laughed.
"That's no fun. It's much better to get him to do something without him realizing it wasn't his idea in the first place!" Cassie deadpanned.
"That's called manipulation, dear." Gaius pointed out.
"No, that's called having my own personal dogsbodies, without them even noticing! Take Arthur, for example. He doesn't have a clue, but Morgana and I can get him to do anything!"
"It's still manipulation."
"A rose by any other name, Gaius! Besides, it's not like I do anything bad." Cassie answered back, knowing full well what it was. "Stay for lunch?"
"I have some rounds I didn't get to this morning, Cassie. Maybe tomorrow. Thank you again for understanding. About Merlin."
"Of course, at least I have proper notice so I can find another job!"
"Bye Cassie." Gaius called as he turned and walked out of the room.
A few hours later, after going on her night rounds, Cassie returned to her chambers empty vials and flasks in hands. She was about to wash them all when she heard a throat clear behind her. Cassie startled and dropped all the glassware to the floor.
"Owaine!" Cassie said, taking a shaky breath. "You scared me!"
"Sorry. Need help picking up the glasses?"
"No, treigian" Cassie said, with a glow of her eyes, and the glass all mended. Owaine went over and helped pick them up off the floor.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, Cassie. But magic is seriously cool" he whispered so no one could hear them talking through the walls.
"Is, um, that your proposal?" Cassie asked with a quirked eyebrow.
"No, I wanted to dine with you tonight." Owaine said, holding his hand out to her. Cassie took his hand and let him lead her over to the table at the far end of the chamber near the window.
Just then, there was a knock on the door and both people rolled their eyes. 'Typical. Someone always interrupts us in one way or another.' Owaine thought. 'Es en serio? Porque no me dejan tranquila un segundo?' Cassie thought exasperated.
She made her way to the door and opened it to see Lady Eleanor waiting.
"Ellie! Come on in. Is something wrong?" Cassie said, moving over for her to enter.
"Oh. Hi, Owaine. No, I just wanted to speak with you, but I can come back some other time." she said, not wanting Owaine to know why. If he knows, his brother will know. And Pellinore couldn't find out until his wife was certain.
"Hi, Ellie. It's no problem, stay, talk. I'll just wait in there." he said, pointing to the door that led to the bedroom and turning to go in.
"Oh, no. It's just…" Eleanor started, nervously twisting her hands, hoping Owaine would get the hint.
"Right, well I suppose I'll see you tomorrow, Cassie. My lady." Owaine said, bowing to each as he left the room.
"Bye Owaine!" Cassie called out.
"Thank you." Eleanor whispered before she turned to her companion and nervously started speaking.
"Y-you won't say anything, will you?"
"Of course not, Ellie." Cassie said with a friendly smile taking the woman's hands. "Anything you say remains between us."
"I believe I might be with child." Eleanor said softly."
"Let me get you a dressing gown, you can change behind the screen over there while I lock the door." Cassie told her kindly.
"Why not go to Gaius? He has more experience than me. And he is the Court Physician." Cassie asked while taking her pulse.
"I've already lost a child. I'm afraid of what Gaius would tell me." Ellie answered in a small voice. "And It's more comfortable for a woman to examine me."
"I can understand being more comfortable around me. Now, I can't be sure until you take the barley test. There must be something in the water, you're the third I've seen today that might be pregnant." Cassie said light-heartedly, trying to change the mood.
"The cold. The fire helps, but how else do we keep each other warm." Ellie said, teasing her future sister.
"Oh." was all Cassie could say, her cheeks flaming.
"If I may ask, what happened? With your last pregnancy." Cassie asked timidly
"My father had passed away last year. Maybe four months before you arrived, and when I was on my way for the funeral when my carriage turned over. I was almost five months along, but I lost my baby. The physician at my parents' lands told me I shouldn't have a problem conceiving another child, but I've been so afraid that it would happen again." she responded tearfully.
"Oh, Ellie. Something similar happened to my eldest sister maybe seven years ago. She fell down a flight of stairs when she was six months pregnant and lost her baby. But a year later she got pregnant again and had a beautiful baby boy. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you have a healthy baby, if you are pregnant." Cassie answered softly, lifting Ellie's chin with her hand and looking in her eyes.
"Wait here, I have a book that may have a potion that will help you." Cassie said.
She ran up to her room and shut the door. There was no way she wouldn't do this. Ellie deserved to be happy, to have a healthy baby. So did Pellinore. She took the miniature trunk off the chain she had around her neck and placed it on the floor. She grabbed a pin and pricked her finger, running the blood over the trunk and whispering the words to unlock it: "Be min æðeling, geopene ond forþgelæde"
She stepped back and let the trunk grow to its original size, and open. Once open, Cassie rifled through it and took out the book her old mentor, Edurne, had given her. She opened it tanderly to find the page she was looking for.
"Found it!" Cassie called out, closing the trunk and locking it. She would return it to its original size later.
"Okay, let's see. Aha! Here it is! Yes, I believe Gaius has all of these ingredients. I'll pop over early tomorrow to brew it for you, Ellie." Cassie promised.
Alone the potion worked to keep the mother nourished while nurturing her baby, but with the help of magic, the womb would be protected from harm. All she had to do now was explain where the tome had come from.
"It's not in English? How would Gaius know…?" Ellie started confused.
"I've been teaching him Spanish. He's not the fastest learner, but he can read!" Cassie answered.
"Pellinore would know, if I took this in our chambers." Ellie started awkwardly, thankfully Cassie understood where she was going with it.
Cassie went over to the cupboard and grabbed a bowl, giving it to her patient and instructing her on where to put it, making sure it was out of sight.
"I'll leave you some privacy, Ellie. I'll just go over to Gaius' and ask for some of the herbs. I'll make the potion and give it to you every month until you give birth." Cassie said kindly, turning to go out the door. Once in the hall she made her way to Gaius' rooms just down the hall and knocked.
"Cassie, come in," Gaius said.
"I need some herbs, Gaius. I'm making a potion for Mary, so she's nourished. The healers in Reccopolis used them for the mothers until birth and I don't have any." Cassie finished sheepishly. "Could you spare some?"
"Of course! I was actually thinking, would you mind taking care of the pregnancies? The ladies of the Court would rather prefer a woman to take care of such things, and the villagers all love you." Gaius asked, feeling bad for giving Merlin her job.
"Of course, Gaius! Although, would you mind accompanying me for the more difficult births, I'm still not very experienced." Cassie asked, happy that she would still be able to help out.
"Whenever you need help, Cassie, just come to me. I'll speak to Uther about this change in title. I'm due at his chambers in a little. Court Midwife? How's that sound?"
"The Franks call them accoucheuse, I prefer that name. Midwife sounds so….Sexist I think is the word. Morgana says it quite often." Cassie offered
"I'll talk to Uther, but I can't promise that word. I can't even pronounce it." Gaius said, gathering his medicine bag.
"Thank you, Gaius. I'll just collect the herbs I need." Cassie said as the old man walked out the door.
After grabbing what she needed, Cassie returned to her chambers in time to see Owaine around the corner.
"Is Ellie still here? What's wrong with her?" he asked, concerned.
"Don't worry. We just talked, Owaine. That's all. I hope you didn't tell Pellinore." Cassie said, worrying her lower lip.
"I don't know where he is. Are you sure nothing's wrong?" he asked, eyeing the herbs in her arms.
"Positive, I'm practicing my potion-making skills. Are you going to come in?"
"Yeah, dinner's still warm, hopefully."
Post chapter A/N They always keep interrupting them! Just when it might be getting good too. The spell reads: By my royal blood, open and grow. Or something like that, I know, not very creative and I don't really know how to translate into old english correctly. I can sort of do Latin, but only latin to english for some reason. As for the trunk, think Mad-Eye's trunk in Goblet of Fire, but Arthurian looking with brown wood and brass clasps and that stuff. It's also enchanted to hold more than it normally would like Hermione's bag in Deathly Hallows. It's the same necklace that she kept grabbing, in case you were wondering where it came from. Next chapter, Merlin gets here!