Chapter 31: A/N I do not own Merlin.
"Good morning, Gaius! Merlin!" Cassie called into their chambers, hearing Gaius yelling at Merlin for not keeping his room tidy.
"I want you to get me some herbs: henbane, wormwood and sorrel. And deliver this to Morgana. Poor girl's suffering from nightmares." Gaius said, turning to walk out and throwing more clothes at Merlin as he did.
"Cassie! Is that breakfast?" Gaius asked, hoping she didn't hear about Merlin's magic.
"It is Gaius!" she replied happily, the news that she would have many children keeping her extremely happy. "I need some herbs, too, I could collect the sorrel for you."
"Thank you, Cassie. But Merlin has to learn sometime. Now's as good as any. Give him a list of what you need, I'm sure he'll pick them for you." Gaius said, taking a bite out of the sandwich she brought up.
"Gaius, you said, henbane, woodworm and sorrel?" Merlin asked, putting on his jacket as he came out the room.
"On second thought, you wouldn't mind going with him, would you Cassie? I'm afraid he really will bring back some woodworm." Gaius said worriedly.
"Not at all. Meet me in the Lower Town in ten, Merlin. I need to finish my morning duties. I'll be quick about it." Cassie called over her shoulder, then turned back around and said to Merlin with a stern look and a raised finger: "Don't get in any more fights today Merlin!"
"She's worse than my mother!" Merlin complained with a mouthful of food to Gaius who just laughed and continued with his breakfast.
Cassie went to Morgana's room quickly and told her she would be helping Gaius with Merlin today.
"Someone has to keep that boy out of trouble! And Gwen just gets all flustered around him, so…" Cassie said to Morgana.
"Seems to me you're spending an awful amount of time with him. Won't Owaine be a bit jealous?"
"Owaine. Jealous. Of Merlin?" Cassie asked with incredulity.
"Why not? He isn't ugly if Gwen likes him."
"No. he's not ugly, but he's Gaius' nephew. And Gwen likes him. I wouldn't do that to a friend." Cassie explained, Leaving Morgana's hair down today.
"Besides, after last night, I wouldn't trade Owaine for anyone! Not even if he were Paris!"
"Well, Helen. Do tell. What happened last night!?" Morgana asked, curiosity burning in her eyes.
"Not that, though we did get very close to it. His squire interrupted." Cassie answered flushing a bit at the memory of last night.
"If not that, then what?"
"He showed me just how much he really loves me." she answered, thinking about his words and his acceptance.
"How?" Morgana asked, the curiosity growing brighter.
"A girl is entitled to her secrets." Cassie answered surreptitiously. "Also, if I start now, I'm liable not to stop speaking for another six hours. And Gaius and I really need those herbs."
"Fine! Go. But when you get back, you're telling me and Gwen EVERYTHING!" Morgana said, brokering no arguments. I'll help you pick out a dress for tonight while I tell you guys everything." Cassie agreed, already thinking of how to say it so it's not a lie.
"What will you wear?"
"Owaine had a dress made for me, I haven't seen it yet, but I'm wearing it tonight!" Cassie said excitedly, a smile gracing her features.
"I want to see it. We'll get ready here?"
"Sure, d'you think Gwen's going to dress up?"
"She rarely ever does. I think she hasn't got many fancy dresses, so she saves those for truly special occasions. Like your wedding, for example." Morgana said with a knowing smile.
"I'm getting her a dress!" Cassie decided. "I really have to go now, Merlin's most likely waiting for me in the Lower Town."
"Gwen's at the market, I've run out of oils for my hair. Perhaps she's found Merlin and they're talking." Morgan said, knowing very well that Gwen had seen Merlin out the window and ran up to meet with him.
"From what I've seen of their interactions, 'Gana, Gwen either likes Merlin too much, or she just is hopeless at flirting!" Cassie laughed as she went to the window to check.
Morgana looked at her once and said, " She just likes him too much. Probably not like Owaine was with you when you first got here, but she definitely likes him. I've seen her flirt with some of the stable hands, and she's rather good at it."
"I should get going. I've run out of the ingredients, and I've to make the ante-natal potions for Elli and a few other women. It's nearing the time they should take it."
"Go on, Cassie. Gwen'll be back as soon as you and Merlin leave to tell me everything. I'll make sure of that!" Morgana said, giggling.
"Bye, 'Gana!" Cassie called as she left.
"Come on, Merlin. We've to collect those herbs. Bye Gwen!" Cassie called, dragging Merlin by the cuff of his sleeve.
They spent the formar half of the morning collecting herbs, and when they got back to the castle, Cassie asked Merlin to leave her herbs on the worktable in her chambers before saying goodbye and turning towards the training yards.
"Cassie." Owaine greeted, sending his squire off to run the length.
"You really are cruel, you know. Making him run the length of that twenty times." Cassie greeted, shaking her head in bemusement.
"Hey, make me do it fifty times! I'm going easy on the kid. I'm in a good mood this morning." he defended himself, smiling at her.
"Really? Whatever for?" she feigned surprise and curiosity.
"Well, there is a slight possibility that my mood has something to do with my beautiful wife-to-be. Or it could be because I had a good breakfast and a great sleep." he answered, smiling teasingly down at the girl.'
"Hmm, well mine has to do with the dress you commissioned for me." Cassie told him matter-of-factly.
"What dress?" he asked, confused.
"The one I'll be wearing tonight, of course." Cassie said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"And who made the dress? In case anyone asks, you know."
"Well, it was really made in Narbonne, but you'll have to say that you bought it from the...uh… the Western Isles! Yes that's far enough away, right?"
"Could say I bought it off a merchant that came from the Pictish lands far north. Wærteras I think it's called. It's not often we find a Pict this far south, they tend to stay up North. And speak Celtic, not English."
"I could say that I know exactly where and what you're talking about. But that would make me a liar. So I'll just go with 'he bought it from a foreign merchant' and be done with it. I don't think I'll be able to remember that name." Cassie said, giving him a quick kiss.
"Oi! No lounging around, Owiane. You have to train! Stop flirting with the pretty Lady, you're already engaged." Bruin called, walking over to say hello.
"Seems you're doing the same, Bruin." Owaine replied, noticing the flirty eyes he'd been making at Lady Caelia. "And you're already married." he added as an afterthought.
"Whatever, get back to training!" he said sternly, giving Cassie a hug and winking at Lady Caelia.
"Hello, Lady Caelia. Lady Ellie. How are you today?" Cassie greeted politely, walking up to where she and Lady Ellie were standing.
"Very well, Cassie thank you. And you?" Ellie replied
"Marvelous" she grinned, looking at the knight's training with a dreamy expression.
"Well we know what's got you in such a good mood." Caelia joked.
"Yes. Have you told? About… you know." Cassie vaguely asked Lady Caelia.
"I told Bruin last night! And Ellie this morning, but no one else." Caelia answered happily, sharing a look with her best friend.
"It's so exciting isn't it! I personally can't wait until me and Owaine have our own." Cassie chattered on.
"Yes, well, if last night was anything to go by, I should think you two didn't." Ellie said knowingly, causing her soon-to-be sister-in-law to blush deeper than ever.
"Oh. You heard. Seems we're not as quiet when we talk. I've collected fresh herbs this morning, I should have the potion ready by tomorrow. Is it best for me to get it to you in the morning?" trying to keep her voice steady and change the topic, and failing miserably.
"Big family, huh?" Caelia asked.
"You'll just have to start trying right away." Ellie said, teasing the girl with Owaine's words at the same time that Caelia spoke.
"I was the youngest of eleven children. Six boys and five girls. I suppose I want a big family because of that." Cassie said, shrugging her shoulders and ignoring Ellie's teasing.
"You want eleven children?" Caelia asked incredulously, she had heard from other women how much giving birth hurt, she couldn't fathom doing it eleven times.
"Maybe not eleven, but I do want a big family. At least four" Cassie replied.
"Two of each?" Ellie asked.
"Ideally." Cassie replied." It seems your husbands have their break now. I should go, duties and all." Cassie sighed as she smiled at Bruin and Pellinore before leaving.
"Cassie," the two nodded in greeting.
"Hello, boys." she said as she walked away.
She made it to Morgana's chambers when she saw Merlin staring at Morgana as she went behind the screen.
"You know, I've been thinking about Arthur. I wouldn't touch him with a lance pole. Pass me that dress, will you Gwen?" Morgan asked from behind the screen while she slid her dress down her body. Merlin looked uncertain before he grabbed the dress and laid it over the screen, crouching down to not be seen
While Merlin walked over with the dress, Morgana continued with her conversation.
"I mean the man's a total jouster. And just because I'm the King's ward, that doesn't mean I have to accompany him to the feast, does it?" she asked, Merlin just crouched there, uncertain what to do.
"Well, does it?" Morgana insisted. Merlin responded in a high pitched voice, shaking his head in negation
"Mm-Mmm"
At this, Cassie had to hold her hands over her mouth to stop from laughing out loud, she crouched low and let Merlin continue making a fool of himself. This was just too funny for her to interrupt.
"If he wants me to go, then he should invite me, and he hasn't. So do you know what that means?" she asked, ignorant of the boy looking around frantically for an escape.
"Mm-Mmm." Merlin said again in a high pitched voice, shaking his head.
"Where are you?" she asked.
"Here." Merlin said in the high pitched voice, holding up Morgana's blue cloak to hide behind. Cassie had to grab her side by this point from stifling her laughter.
"It means I'm going by myself." Merlin looked through the neck of the cloak. He put the cloak down and turned to leave.
"I need some help with this fastening." Morgana said, much to Merlin's horror. He was about to admit to not being Gwen, and this made Cassie double over on the ground rolling in laughter. At that moment Gwen showed up and looked at Cassie in concern before she saw Merlin in Morgana's room.
"Gwen?" Morgana asked.
"I'm here." Gwen said, understanding why Cassie was on the floor. Merlin spun around in relief and read Gwen's lips when she asked what he was doing there. Merlin answered motioning that she needed help with the fastening. He mouthed thanks before leaving the chambers where he found Cassie on the floor trying to stop laughing.
"I hate you." Merlin said when he realized she had been there the whole time and that's why she was laughing on the floor.
"Oh, don't hate me, Merlin! I just couldn't stop you from making-" Cassie said, succumbing to the giggles once more.
Merlin just rolled his eyes and walked away. Cassie scrambled to her feet and went after Merlin. She caught up with him at the entrance to the Griffin landing and stopped him.
"Merlin, I'm sorry, but if you had been me, what would you have done. It was pretty funny." Cassie apologized good-naturedly.
"Okay, you're right. I would have let you make a fool of yourself." he admitted and smiled at the thought.
"Good. Friends again?" Cassie asked hopefully, holding out her hand.
"Friends." Merlin agreed, taking her hand and shaking it.
"We should make a handshake. The knights grasp their forearms, it's rather dull I think, but I suppose it does." Cassie said, rambling on.
The two made their way to Gaius' chambers talking about everything and nothing. They seemed to be really good at that. Cassie had lunch with him and Gaius that day, chatting incessantly. Gaius made a point of showing how annoyed he was with the two by storming out after lunch, mumbling something about patients. Cassie and Merlin just looked at each other and laughed.
"One of these days, Gaius is going to snap and yell at us. I can tell."
"Sooner than you think, Merlin. It took me about a week before my non-stop chattering drove him mad. Although, it might have been that and the fact that I wouldn't stop switching languages. I still do it sometimes, though not often."
"Was it hard to learn?"
"At first, it was. But Morgana and Gwen helped a lot. And the knights, too. Gaius was a tad busy teaching me as his apprentice to bother with the English. He knew my chats with Morgana and the knights would help me more than just talking with him. He's a good man. Took me in when I had no one. You're lucky to have him as an uncle."
"You never did finish telling me, what happened?" Merlin asked, not sure if they were good enough friends yet, but taking a shot.
"They were attacked. Where I lived, these monsters stole into the city and slaughtered every man, woman, and child they could find. Bled them and used their blood for whatever ritual it is they do. It was terrifying, waking up on the battlements where I had fallen asleep to find everyone dead. I packed up and ran. Arrived here around seven months later." Cassie said softly.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what to say." Merlin said, looking down at the table.
"It's okay, Merlin. I lost one family to gain another one. I miss them, but I'm happy again." she said with a watery smile. "Now, I have to go and get ready for the feast tonight."
"You're going? At least I'll know you and Gwen."
"Oh, you'll know Arthur and Morgana too." Cassie said, teasing the boy.
"Yeah, yeah."
"Besides, you'll most likely be working, I am going with Owaine. As a guest."
"Tell me if the food's any good?" he asked as she got up
"I'll torture you with every glorious detail, Merlin!" Cassie said, acting dramatic and kneeling by the table after a quick twirl. Merlin rolled his eyes at her antics.
"Bye Cassie!" Merlin said with a snicker.
Cassie went to her chambers next door and used her magic, it really was becoming a habit of hers, to open the trunk and bring out her favorite dress and the matching shoes. It was this cream-colored silk dress with beads sewn onto the hem from the knees down and bodice and sleeves, leaving the midriff in the silky material of the dress. Whenever she twirled and danced, the skirt would twirl with her like a fan and sparkle in the candlelight. She also grabbed one of the less festive dresses to give to Gwen as a present for tonight. It was a lavender blue dress with a bateau neckline, sheer sleeves, a laced up back, and a slightly darker satin sash at the waist with embroidered flowers on one side that used to belong to her sister.
She squealed in delight and made her way to Morgana's chambers to help the lady get ready. She couldn't wait to see everyone's reaction to it. She knocked on the door when she arrived at Morgana's rooms and entered when Gwen opened.
"So Owaine had bought two gowns, but this one was rather long on me, I kept tripping over it." Cassie told her friend as soon as she walked in, holding out the lavender dress.
"I can bring the hem up a bit. This dress is truly beautiful. It would look gorgeous on you." Gwen said.
"Take the hem up? Whyever would you do that?" Cassie asked, tricking Gwen into thinking she was truly confused.
"So that you can wear it to the next feast." Gwen answered slowly, thinking maybe she was speaking too fast for the foreigner. True, her English was much improved, but she still got tongue tied and mixed words up-quite often and quite comically.
"But then you couldn't wear it!" Cassie cried, enjoying Gwen's reaction. Her eyes went wide with wonder and she began shaking her head.
"Oh, no,Cassie. I couldn't possibly accept this. It's too much!"
"Nonsense, you can and you will accept it Gwen. Just like the two of you made me accept the lovely blue dress and purple cloak when we first met. Well, try it on!" Cassie urged, as she turned to greet Morgana with a kiss on each cheek.
"Now, 'Gana. How will we be doing your hair? Up, or down?"
"I was thinking up. You didn't help us decide on the dress. Now that I see the dresses you two will wear, we will definitely give them a night they'll remember." Morgana said with a twinkle in her eye.
Cassie had Morgana sit down while she pinned her hair up and left tendrils out to frame her face and graze her shoulders. She tied the ruby diadem and secured it in place, then proceeded to help with the Lady's makeup. She put some light brown eyeshadow, mascara, slightly outlined her eyes, and put a tear just under her right eye. Her lip paint matched her rouge in a light red that perfectly complemented the deep burgundy sleeveless dress she was wearing. It hugged her every curve and showed enough skin that would leave the men openmouthed and guessing and had a gold neck and a leaf-shaped belt at the waist. She had a matching stole that she would be wearing at the feast later that night.
"It's a bit loose around the chest and hips, but how do I look?" Gwen asked, stepping out from behind the screen after finally finishing the laces.
"Beautiful!"
"Gorgeous! I can tie up the laces a bit more at the top, it might make it less loose." Cassie said, smiling. The color really did complement her skin.
"Thank you." Gwen said, tears shining in her eyes at the gift. "I'll thank Owaine, too."
"No need, Gwen." Cassie replied with a smile, walking up behind Gwen and re-doing the ties, tighter at the top and looser at the bottom. "How's that feel? Too tight?"
"No, it feels great! Thanks Cassie!" Gwen thanked again, taking her friend's hands and squeezing them.
"You look stunning Gwen!" Morgana said with a wide smile. "Now. How are we going to do Cassie's hair?" Morgana said with a twinkle in her eye.
"Let me change into my dress while you two think up the hair and Gwen does her makeup. I've brought some I bought the other day, Gwen, we could share tonight."
"Cassie, you are too kind!" Gwen said happily.
After Cassie finished changing into her dress she went over to Morgana's vanity and sat down as Gwen did her hair and Morgana her makeup. She had a coral red lip paint and a light pink rouge on, with barely lined eyes and mascara, and pale pink and blue eyeshadow. Her hair was plaited loosely to the side in a five strand braid and adorned with glass pins Morgana had lent her. She was wearing the ruby earrings Morgana had gifted her when she got her own chambers, and the engagement ring and signet ring. She left the necklace figuring it was too much for the beaded bodice.
Post chapter A/N Cassie's dress is inspired by the dress Ginger Rogers wore in Top Hat when they danced the Piccolino, and Gwen's dress is inspired by the lavender blue dress that Grace Kelly wore in High Society. Recently I saw it on TCM. I LOVE TCM. It's my favorite channel when there is absolutely nothing new to watch, I'd rather repeat those movies than watch spiderman one more time. I am tired of superhero movies, and that's all they do where I live. Either Marvel or stuff like the equalizer or sicario, and those aren't' my type of movies (usually). I was planning on doing the whole feast in this one, but I got a bit wordy and carried away with the dresses and descriptions. No worries, on to the next chapter!