Twelve; Leap of Faith
Lynette could feel the stress building in Camelot as she walked along the busied corridor. All the servants were set about doing their duties while sending kind smiles out in greeting to the young woman. Lynette replied kindly and did her best to be courteous and move out of the way. However, just like everyone else, she was busy with her chores. On her hip, she carried a large basket full of calming herbs she had gathered just that morning to make a calming drought for the royal family.
Lynette could only imagine how Arthur felt after Uther received Lord Bayard of Mercia earlier that morning. Although the prince had asked her to be present at the proceedings, she had declined, explaining she had other things to attend to. When the blonde was out in the forest collecting the herbs after their exchange, Lynette began to feel guilty about her response. Never once in her years of knowing him had she declined any of his requests, nor he to hers.
In front of her, Lynette could see Gaius approaching her with Merlin in tow, both looking to be in deep conversation. Gaius caught her eye first and raised an eyebrow at her troubled expression. Lynette quickly hid it with a pleasing smile, although she knew she couldn't fool her father. However, the girl was determined to at least keep her inner turmoil of Merlin—someone who looked about as miserable as she felt.
"Why do I always get landed with the donkey work?"
Gaius looked over and answered pointedly, "You're a servant, Merlin. It's what you do."
Merlin looked over at Lynette, who just shrugged at his exasperated expression, "At least you're building muscle."
Merlin snorted, "My arms will be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside."
"That's the spirit!" Lynette said, her encouragement earning her a glare from her cousin.
Gaius shook his head, "It's character building. As the old proverb says, hard work breeds a harder soul."
"There is no way that's a proverb. You just made that up." Merlin accused.
"No. I didn't."
"Well, if it wasn't one, it is now," Lynette replied, effectively shutting down the argument before it could escalate further.
Merlin didn't seem phased by Lynette's blunt reply as he grumbled about the weight of all his chores. Lynette paid less attention to her cousin's rambling as she forged ahead, only to stop as she caught sight of Arthur. He was standing next to Sir Leon at the end of the corridor, his chest heaving after coming in from training. Lynette watched as Arthur swept his hand through his blonde locks, tossing them about as he looked over a document Leon was holding. He had yet to notice her; at least he would have missed her entirely if not for the sudden commotion behind her.
A maid carrying a basket full of laundry had fallen in front of Merlin, causing the prince to look in their direction. His dark blue eyes caught her own as he watched her brown eyes flicker to the floor in an attempt to hide. Lynette knew her attempts to avoid the prince were in vain as she moved behind her father. Gaius watched the awkward exchange with a frown but did nothing to move as he blocked Arthur's view of his daughter. Merlin seemed oblivious to the entire thing as he reached forward to help the young girl on the ground.
"Sorry." The maid whispered as she scrambled to pick up the white sheets.
"It's alright," Merlin replied as he helped her.
The maid appeared flustered as she muttered back, "Excuse me."
"Let me give you a hand with that."
Merlin crouched beside her and grabbed one of the pillows that had fallen out of her reach. Lynette moved to help before stopping abruptly when the young girl's eyes met her cousins, and she suddenly felt uneasy. Her eyes were the most transparent blue Lynette had ever seen, and her hair was pulled back in a red scarf. She appeared to be one of Bayard's servants, but the maid didn't have the Mercia accent. To Lynette, she sounded like she was from Camelot, perhaps even Cenred's kingdom, but not Mercia.
"Hi." Merlin greets her as he takes her hand to help her, "I'm Merlin."
"Cara." The maid replies, bows her head to hide a smile, " You're Arthur's servant. That must be such an honor."
"Oh, yeah. It is. Well, you know, someone's got to keep the place running." Merlin said as he puffed his chest out slightly.
Cara laughs softly, "Thank you, Merlin."
Lynette watched as Merlin fumbled some more in front of the pretty maid as he handed over the pillow he was holding. She had never seen her cousin so enamored by someone, not even with Gwen. The maid blushed, took the pillow from Merlin's hand, and walked away with her fully loaded basket. Lynette watched her turn the corner and felt her senses relax now that she was no longer present. However, she could still feel the eyes of a certain prince, who had yet to make his way to his chambers.
The blush on Merlin's cheeks didn't fade as Lynette poked his side. Merlin jumped slightly before whipping to stare at her, "What?"
"Just checking to see if you're still with us," Lynette said with a smile.
Merlin sent her a pointed look, "Shouldn't you be checking on your prince?"
Lynette looked down, feeling less than happy with Merlin's response, and the boy immediately felt confused at her indifferent posture. Usually, using Arthur's name would cause the young girl to squirm with bashfulness, not grow stiff and awkward. Gaius noticed how Lynette showed visible discomfort at Arthur's name, yet he had to know what could cause this change in demeanor. It seemed that the events of the Afanc had led her to reconsider her feelings about the prince.
"Shouldn't you be busy running the place?" Gaius said with a pointed look at his nephew.
Merlin groaned as he left to prepare Arthur's things for the greeting with Bayard. Lynette watched him go with a fond look, only to feel rigid when she turned to find her father with a raised eyebrow. The blonde knew better than to lie to his face, but Lynette wasn't ready for the advice she needed to hear. Instead, the girl whirled around with her basket and approached the physician's chambers. Where she hoped she would remain undisturbed.
Lynette was less than pleased when Merlin burst into her room just as she finished stirring the calming drought. The loud bang of the doors caused her to jump as she whirled around, ready to smack him with her ladle. Fortunately, Merlin's reflexives have improved since he first arrived in Camelot as he ducked underneath her swing. Lynette let out a string of apologies as she moved to check him for injuries. Merlin found the whole thing hilarious as he doubled over laughing, making it difficult for Lynette to check him properly.
"You've got a mean swing," Merlin said between puffs of air.
Lynette turned red as she allowed her golden curls to shield her face and mumbled, "Next time, don't put your face near my ladle."
"What?" Merlin asked with his signature grin.
Lynette shook her head and said, "Nothing. What did you need?"
Merlin's grin dimmed slightly from his teasing as he answered, "Not me. Your prince would like a word with you."
Lynette silently cursed in her head as she let out a long-winded sigh. Instead of giving her cousin the pleasure of seeing her worked up, she left him to stir the cooling draught. As she made her way across the castle, she could feel herself working into a frenzy. A frenzy of longing, disappointment, and anger at the lack of restraint Arthur was showing. She had tried to set boundaries since the Afanc business, but it appeared he had other ideas.
Lynette copied Merlin's actions earlier as she burst into Arthur's chambers, except the prince's response was far more reserved. He was sitting at his desk with his hands holding his head, a look of boredom on his handsome features. The afternoon light was casting a shadow over the mountain of paperwork before him, and Lynette could only imagine the headache it would induce after he was done. It was a sight that she had seen repeatedly, but it never got any easier.
The only reaction she received was a glance up and no words before he looked back down at his document. Lynette waited for Arthur to realize who was standing before him, and after a moment, the prince was on his feet and rushing over to her. Lynette barely had a chance to blink and process what was happening before she found herself in his arms. A feeling she had missed desperately, although she would never admit it.
The golden-haired servant froze underneath his touch as he buried his head into the crook of her shoulder. She could feel his breath on her collarbone as his arms brought her safely to his chest. She didn't dare move or breathe for fear once she held on to him that, she would never let go. The blonde had contemplated running to him since he returned from defeating the Afanc. The moment he had saved Gwen.
Arthur pulled away first, holding her at arm's length yet never daring to release her from his grip. Lynette knew she had hurt him by not responding to his hug. A gesture that was rare to receive and something that was reserved for her and her alone. Lynette looked down as she cleared her throat, pushing on his chest to create more space between them. She could feel his breath hitch as his grip tightened over one of her hands, preventing her from retracting it.
"Arthur-" Lynette began but was cut off by the prince.
"Nanet," Arthur said as he hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her eyes to meet his. "I can't do this anymore. I have tried to respect your space and your need for me to stay away, but I can't. I have been sent on long patrols and fought in intense melees and tournaments. The weight of an entire kingdom rests on my shoulder, but nothing compares to this last week. This has been the hardest thing I have ever done, and it's because of you. Because I couldn't be near you or see how your nose crinkles when you smile or bend over when your belly laughs. You are my best friend, my person, and I just can't do this anymore. Please don't ask this of me, Nanet, please."
Lynette couldn't hide the tears that filled her eyes as she choked out, "Arthur, we know how this will end."
"Do we?" Arthur asked as he inched forward, slowly closing the distance between them. "I'm willing to take a chance on this. On seeing where this will go. I need to know if you will take that leap of faith with me."
Lynette stared up at him. She let herself memorize how his eyes were alight with hope, and his eyebrows were crinkled with the worry of rejection. She let herself be brought in by the possibility of happiness. The chance that Arthur might have the power to alter their fate. The girl stepped forward and reached upped on her toes to kiss his cheek tenderly. A motion that the prince leaned into heavily as he pulled her hand closer to his chest and gripped it tightener.
When she returned to her usual height, Arthur grasped her hand and brought it to his lips. She immediately flushed as his head dipped further, practically teeming with anticipation as his lips almost grazed hers. It appeared they had both been waiting for this moment, and Lynette could hardly believe that Arthur had felt the same way. However, the sound of Merlin coming through the double doors caused them to separate as quickly as they had come together.
Lynette watched in amusement as Arthur sent his servant a death glare, unamused by his antics. Merlin appeared oblivious to what had transpired between the two as he set a large stack of Arthur's clothes on the prince's bed. When he leaned forward to inspect the clothes, he reeled back from the smell and placed his hand over his nose to staunch the stench. Lynette laughed at his reaction as Arthur watched her fondly, while Merlin looked less than amused.
"When's the last time these were cleaned?"
Arthur didn't hesitate to answer, "Last year sometime. Before the Feast of Beltane."
Lynette pulled a face at the memory as she said, "Not my favorite guest of Camelot."
"Did it end in a food fight?" Merlin asked, both in disgust and mild curiosity.
"Don't all feasts?" Arthur asked in jest.
Lynette shook her head as she placed her hand on Arthur's forearm and explained, "Ignore him, Merlin. It was the one feast that wasn't in his honor. It was being held for a famous knight of a neighboring kingdom. I recall the youngest son of King Pellinore, a man named Percival."
"Well, that makes sense about that one feast." Merlin conceded but sent a subtle nod to the reconciliation between the two. "Although I wouldn't know. The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me."
"Not after tonight; they won't be." Arthur decrees as he walks away toward his wardrobe.
"I'm going to be at the banquet?"
"Not quite," Arthur answered. "You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry. If I have to sit through Bayard's boring speeches, I don't see why you should get out of it."
Lynette shook her head, "His lordship's speeches are probably the shortest out of everybody who visits."
"True." Arthur laments before throwing a red leather jerkin toward Merlin. "Be sure to polish the buttons. Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?"
"Won't this do?" Merlin asked, looking at his usual attire.
"No," Arthur said with a shake of his head. "Morgana is dressing Lynette and her maid for the feast. Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot."
The atrocious attire Arthur held up for Merlin to see caused Lynette to laugh. Merlin looked less amused as he replied, "You can't be serious."
Lynette left the boys to the debate over Merlin's 'ceremonial robes.' Arthur's comment reminded her she was running late for her girl's evening with Morgana and Gwen to dress for the feast. The girl knew better than to make Morgana wait, especially when the King's ward picked the outfit. She quickly stopped in her chambers to retrieve the calming drought before leaving. Excited to see what Morgana had in store and happy that she and Arthur understood what the future held. They had hoped, and they had to pray that would be enough.
The feast began with the signing of the treaty as Lord Bayard and his knights entered the hall from the left while Camelot entered from the right. Uther signed first before handing the quill to his new ally, who signed with little enthusiasm. To outsiders, it appeared as if everything was going smoothly, but Lynette knew better. The blonde watched from beside Gwen as the two kings clasped hands, cementing their new allyship. The hall erupted in applause as knights from both kingdoms cheered for their respective lords.
Lynette clapped along with the rest of the staff, but her eyes remained solely on Arthur, who sent a small smile in her direction. Lynette blushed as she fidgeted with the pale yellow, an almost gold dress that Morgana had forced upon her earlier that evening. The ward had tied her golden locks up with the ribbon from Arthur's mother, claiming the girl would be a vision. Lynette just shook her head as she focused on putting flowers into Gwen's hair, not amused by Morgana's tactics.
"Is this really necessary?" Lynette asked as Morgana walked around inspecting her.
"Yes."
Lynette sighed as Gwen finished getting ready, "It's been a while since we've been able to dress up. She just wants us all to look our best tonight."
"Exactly," Morgana said with a smile.
Lynette shook her head, knowing that was far from her reason, but she didn't want to give Morgana any more reasons to doll her up. Together the girls looked beautiful, but Gwen and Lynette were very proud of Morgana and her attire that night. Gwen had picked out a beautiful purple dress, one of the first she'd made when she was training to be a seamstress. She had gifted it to the King's ward to thank her for the time off. It was one of Morgana's favorite dresses when Camelot had special guests.
As she walked along the halls and checked the various decorations, Lynette felt she had to commend the palace staff. The throne room was bathed in a warm hue as the tables revealed the finest silverware and flower arrangements. She moved slightly to the right at the King's table to move a glass slightly but was stopped by someone taking her hand. When she looked up, Lynette almost received a mouth full of green feathers as Merlin moved his head from side to side.
"I can't believe he made you wear that." She commented. "It's just mean."
"I can," Merlin said as he began to mess with his clothes.
Lynette led him to a corner of the room to help, doing her best to tame the mess of feathers and frills. However, it appeared their efforts were in vain when they heard a snorting sound from behind them. The two turned to find Gwen standing behind them, holding a steel pitcher full of wine and an amused grin. She wore a finer version of her red and white peasant garb with simple brown slippers to match. Her dark tresses were in soft curls with white flowers pinning pieces of her whisps back, helping frame her face.
"Nice hat." She said, half in jest and half in kindness.
Lynette bit her lip to hide her growing smile as Merlin thanked her. Although she could tell he wasn't sure if it was a compliment, he tried to be polite while secretly plotting revenge against the prince. As Gwen and Lynette fell into an easy banter, the two were surprised when Merlin began to fix his appearance more briskly, starting with removing his hat full of feathers. When Lynette scanned the room for the reason, she found the same handmaiden from before.
Gwen seemed to follow Lynette's gaze as well as she said, "She's pretty, isn't she? For a handmaiden, I mean."
"She's pretty for a princess, let alone a handmaiden," Merlin replied, not realizing how bold his response had been.
Lynette could tell Gwen was slightly hurt by the loss of Merlin's attention and moved to be closer to Morgana. Lynette wanted to scold her cousin but thought better of it. Now wasn't the time to create a scene, especially with everybody becoming situated and ready to begin the speeches. It seemed Bayard would start with his own words on the new treaty, and Lynette listened intently for what he had to say.
"People of Camelot, for many years, we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia." The king began. "And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them."
Lynette left Merlin's side as she approached her father, who smiled fondly at her. She situated herself between her father and Sir Leon, both happy with her appearance. The knight stood upon her approach to pull her chair out. Lynette softly offered a thank you before leaning over to kiss her father's cheek in greeting. Gaius patted her hand as they listened to Lord Bayard's speech.
The crowd watched as a serving girl from Mercia brought out a wooden box ordained in gold leafing and embossed leather. Cushioned on a plume velvet pillow sat three goblets of fine silver, each decorated to suit a royal family member. Uther's cup was a darker silver with a carving of the pendragon crest set on one side. Morgana's was much more refined silver with decorations consisting of leaves and vines that winded around her goblet. Arthur's was reasonably similar to Uther's but was less flashy and looked to be of a more rigid metal than the silver that the king and Morgana had received.
Bayard makes a show of taking his cup out and toasting to Uther and his family as he claims, "As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last."
Lynette applauded with the rest of the group, hoping this peace would last just as much as the people outside the palace. Camelot desperately needed more allies, and it wouldn't be long until some came with their daughters for Arthur to wed. The blonde pushed the thought from her head, not wanting to think about something that may or may not happen. Instead, she wanted to enjoy her small hope with the prince, even if it was in vain.
The girl glanced over to check on Merlin only to find the handmaiden from earlier, Cara, leading him out of the room. It appeared she wasn't the only one to watch them go, her father squeezing her hand and subtly gesturing for her to follow. Lynette did so with minimal disruption and followed Merlin and Cara to a smaller corridor. Upon arrival, she only caught the tail end of the conversation, but Cara's tone suggested left much to be desired.
"Bayard is no friend of Camelot. He craves the kingdom for himself." Cara explained.
"Cara...Tell me." Merlin said. "What has Bayard done with the goblet?"
"Goblet?" Lynette asked, announcing her presence.
"Who are you?" Cara asked, her voice holding more malice than Lynette had anticipated.
A feeling of uneasiness settled between them as Lynette touched Merlin's arm. She had never experienced such hostility from a new ally, especially when it came from the staff. Typically the servants were the first to make good on any treaty, with the knights and nobles following suit. There was an understanding between those less fortunate, and it was rare to encounter someone who thought themselves above the station they were in. Lynette raised her head as her eyes narrowed, wanting to know precisely what would transpire.
"It doesn't matter who I am," Lynette answered. "If you know about a plot against Camelot, then you need to tell us."
The girl looked hesitant to speak further, and Lynette felt guilty momentarily. It was hard enough to speak up about a potential threat, especially if one's master was the ruthless Lord Bayard. Perhaps Cara didn't know enough to accurately explain the danger and who it was intended for. The girl may not know anything more than what she told Merlin. However, now that Lynette knew something was amiss, she needed to get to the bottom.
Lynette was about to leave and watch Bayard's movements more carefully when Cara suddenly admitted, "He believes that if he kills Arthur, Uther's spirit will be broken, and Camelot will fall."
"What has he done with the goblet?" Lynette asked as fear coursed through.
Cara turned her piercing eyes toward the girl, "I saw him putting something in it."
"What?" Merlin urged, just as worried as Lynette.
"I shouldn't! He'll kill me!" Cara said as tears filled her eyes.
"Cara, if you know something, please tell us," Lynette spoke, her voice graver than before. "We need to know how to protect the royal family!"
"Please, tell me! Was it poison?" Merlin pleaded.
The nod of Cara's head confirmed one of Lynette's greatest fears. As she follows Merlin's lead in returning to the Hall of Ceremonies, both know they must stop what is happening regardless of how it may look. As she rounded the corner, Lynette went deaf to the rest of the world for a moment. All she could think about was the threat against the royal family, against Arthur. Lynette had just begun reconciling their friendship and what it could mean for them going forward. She dreaded to think of death separating them so soon, at such a young age.
