The Three New Knights
Gadiena was momentarily surprised to wake up in a bed the following morning until she groggily remembered that Merlin had offered her the use of his room. By this point she had gotten used to sleeping on hard surfaces or on forest floors, or up in trees. It made for a rather pleasant change. Gadiena did squint her eyes as the sunlight hit her face directly, causing her to shield her eyes. Curiosity killing the cat, the young warlock got out of bed and padded over to the chair and desk and carefully used them to boost her up so she could open the window and have a look at the view her cousin enjoyed.
Gadiena hated to admit it, but it was one to die for. She could hear everything from bird song to distant hustle and bustle to horses neighing to guards complaining about their rather erratic schedules ever since the recent attempt on King Arthur's life. It seems that keeping voices down was not really a thing in Camelot.
Out of the corner of her eye, Gadiena noticed a raven watching her intently. She smiled goofily at the bird and, following her more juvenile and playful nature, decided to sing an aria to the bird to see how it would react. The corvid was perplexed to say the least but then it recovered and cawed right back at her, attempting to hit the same notes as she did, only failing miserably. Gadiena didn't mind – the raven was trying its best. Gadiena tried again, this time with a bit of a lower tune. Once more, the raven attempted to copy her and actually managed to do it quite well this time.
"Well done, Mr. Raven," Gadiena giggled, clapping.
The corvid squawked indignantly at that, which surprised the warlock quite a bit. Fortunately, Gadiena had spent enough time with animals to know why the bird was upset. "Sorry. Mrs. Raven," she amended.
Gadiena was so preoccupied with the bird that she did not notice the door to the bedroom opening. "Cousin!"
"Daaaaaiiii! Merlin!" Gadiena huffed, jumping five feet into the air, practically out of her skin. "Haven't you learned to knock yet?"
"I usually remember," Merlin reassured with his infuriatingly bright grin.
"Well, please remember with me," Gadiena stated, folding her arms indignantly.
"Been singing to the birds again, cousin?" Merlin continued teasing.
"A raven. I think she wants singing lessons," Gadiena grinned.
"Well, maybe if you have time today you can tell me what the horses want," Merlin joked.
"The same as any horse I wager: give me food, change my bed, brush me and 'for the love of the gods change my shoes'!" Gadiena answered.
Merlin snorted.
Gadiena then frowned. "Why did you burst in here, cousin? Is there a fire?"
"Huh? Oh! No, Gaius has breakfast ready," Merlin's beaming grin was back. "After that, we will dress and you will shadow me for the day. Is that OK?"
"Absolutely!" Gadiena lit up. "Will I meet some of your servant friends as well as your Knight friends? Not that I don't want to see them today; they looked like a really nice bunch of people yesterday. Never thought I would say that about Knights of Camelot!"
"I think you will meet most of my friends today," Merlin reassured lightly as they joined Gaius at the breakfast table. It was pickled herring, cheese and bread for breakfast today as well as an apple each.
"Ah, so Gadiena will join you today," Gaius smiled brightly. "Just be sure to warn her if Arthur is in one of his moods."
"I will," Merlin reassured, shaking his head.
Gadiena's eyes widened a little. "His moods?" she repeated apprehensively.
"He likes to throw things when he gets stroppy," Merlin answered bluntly, looking exceedingly happy to spill the beans. "Mostly his pillows but he will also throw cups and pots and whatnot, so just make sure to dodge."
"Wonderful," Gadiena commented with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. "Does the Queen have any bad habits I should be warned about as well? Other than the fact she has some seriously dark energy around her?"
This made Gaius and Merlin exchange a look, and one that Gadiena more than recognised. After popping some cheese into her mouth, she leant back in her chair. "All right, out with it. What is going on with the Queen of Camelot, and don't you dare lie to me."
There was another look shared between her uncle and cousin before they turned towards her more fully.
"Not too long ago, Gwen was kidnapped by Morgana," Merlin began. "Do you know who Morgana is?"
"Obviously. She was the talk of Helva and everywhere else I went," Gadiena answered bluntly. "Some supported her but others fiercely condemn what she has been doing. Why?"
"Well, Morgana took Gwen to the Dark Tower," Merlin continued and Gadiena's eyes bugged out once more. "There, Morgana … she did something to Gwen. We have no idea what – we don't even know what kind of spell or ritual was used – but whatever it did, it has taken hold of Gwen's mind."
"The Queen is a puppet to one of the last High Priestess left," Gadiena summarised for herself in shock. "And why in the name of everything good and holy are we not taking this information to the King?"
"Because it is our word against hers," Gaius answered gently. "Plus, we have no proof."
"People here only care about proof when it comes to those of high rank," Merlin informed with a slight tone of hurt and bitterness. "Anyone else can be flung into a dungeon and left to rot with no evidence."
"Merlin!" Gaius stated warningly, shooting him a look.
"I am going to dress," Merlin shot to his feet, took his bread and cheese with him and escaped to his room, Gadiena watching him with a look of concern.
She turned back around when her cousin slammed the door. "What was that about?"
Gaius sighed. "Because of Morgana's enchantment, Gwen poisoned the King," Gadiena gaped at this, "and blamed it all on Merlin."
"What?!" the warlock scoffed. "And people actually believed that stupid accusation?"
"Yes," Gaius nodded his head, looking grave. "A limit has been reached with Merlin."
"Surprising no one!" Gadiena commented, shaking her head. "Or at least, it shouldn't."
"Indeed, although it has to be said that the Knights are … not always aware of how Merlin is actually feeling, or even take it into account at the time," Gaius confessed. "They do care for him, a great deal. That isn't in doubt but they are-"
"-as thick as three piles of planks when it comes to empathy?" Gadiena finished bluntly.
Gaius gave her a pointed look but, crucially, did not argue that point. It was at this point Merlin returned fully dressed. Gadiena was secretly rather thankful that she had been given a moment to ponder some things for herself as she changed out of her nightwear into one of her work dresses. It wasn't anything too special, after all she did make it herself and her sewing skills were not that good, but it would do. Merlin had even left a neck scarf out for her, which made Gadiena grin. Back in Ealdor, she and Merlin were well-known for wearing them; it had become their unofficial family moniker.
"OK, first order of business for the day: get breakfast to King Prat before he wakes up too cranky," Merlin stated as the pair left the physician's quarters.
"And starts throwing things," Gadiena added.
"Exactly. Morning Sir Escanor, Sir Gaheris!" Merlin stated brightly as they passed the two guards standing guard by the entrance.
"Good morning, Merlin," both guards answered, both smiling softly as they did so.
Gadiena regarded her cousin with a look of amusement as they walked across the square, earning nods of greeting from passing patrols and 'good mornings' from other servants. "Do you know all the guards by their names?" she could not help but ask.
"A few. Mostly the ones who are stationed outside the quarters on a regular basis," Merlin grinned. "Escanor and Gaheris are there most often."
"I see," Gadiena grinned.
"Why that tone?" Merlin inquired with a slight nervous chuckle.
"No reason! I just … find it funny that you put so much effort into knowing the guards who stand outside the physician quarters," Gadiena answered simply. "It doesn't surprise me, because it is who you are, but I still find it funny."
"And I find it funny that you sing to plants and animals – now we are even," Merlin could not help but quip.
Gadiena mock-scowled at him but didn't argue. Her cousin was soon distracted by another boy dressed in a very similar style to Merlin and a serving girl with her blonde hair up and wearing a pretty blue dress. "George, Ettare! Wait for us!" Merlin called as he and Gadiena hurried to catch up to them.
George and Ettare slowed their pace. While Ettare greeted Merlin with a bright smile, George maintained a neutral expression, though Gadiena saw a sliver of a smile on his lips.
"Good morning, Merlin!" Ettare greeted brightly. She turned her attention onto Gadiena. "So this must be the cousin I have been hearing about?"
"Gadiena," the warlock gave a small bow of the head. "Pleasure to meet you."
"I am Ettare, and this is George," the girl introduced, pointing to herself and the boy, who bowed his head curtly to Gadiena in greeting. "So, you will be joining Merlin in his duties while you are here?"
"For today. We will see if Uncle Gaius needs me tomorrow," Gadiena replied as the group set off.
"Well, if he doesn't I may ask to borrow you. How well do you sew?" Ettare wanted to know.
Gadiena flushed. "Not very well…"
Merlin scoffed. "No, that is not true. You were responsible for making my clothes, Mother's clothes and your own!"
Ettare lit up. Gadiena huffed. "I swear every time I pick up a piece of cloth, I prick my fingers; I am not a seamstress! Needles hate me."
"I'll only bring one or two garments," Ettare bargained. "Please? Pretty please?"
Gadiena grumbled internally as began to cave under the maidservant's attempt at a puppy dog face. "Urgh. Fine! One or two I can survive."
"Thank you!" Ettare exclaimed in elation, looking set to hug Gadiena in relief.
"Ettare, compose yourself," George stated as he noted them receiving looks from servants, guards and nobles alike. "You are attracting attention."
"Pffft, lighten up, George," Ettare replied dismissively. "We're friends with Merlin; we should be used to odd looks now and again!"
"Hey!" Merlin snorted.
Gadiena chuckled at his expense. "I take it that my cousin has made quite the impression at Camelot then?"
"Oh my dear, you don't know that half of it!" George actually exclaimed dramatically. "We shall start with the fact that your cousin thinks it is appropriate to feed the King a muffin and nothing else as breakfast and has to be instructed to give His Highness a proper breakfast!"
"He was gaining too much weight!" came Merlin's swift defence. "The diet has been working."
"Shouldn't you have given him at least an apple to go with his muffin?" Gadiena asked, eyes dancing with amusement.
"I suppose I could have but most of the time it didn't even cross my mind," Merlin readily admitted with a grin.
George and Ettare shook their heads at him; though George was giving a pointed look, Gadiena could also see fondness on the stoic servant's face. Ettare was so obvious that Gadiena barely paid it too much mind.
The fondness for her cousin wasn't just something shared between these two particular servants. It was a sentiment also shared by the kitchen staff, including the stern and militant Cook. Everyone's faces brightened when they saw Merlin and happily gave him – and Gadiena – a morning greeting.
"Who are you then? I don't recognise you," Cook had stated rather bluntly as Gadiena helped Merlin make the Royal breakfast tray.
"This is Gadiena," Merlin introduced with a smile. "She-"
"-is Merlin's cousin!" piped up one servant.
"-is staying for a bit in Camelot!" added another.
"-might have to kick Sir Gwaine in the shins to stop him flirting with her!" was another rather blunt answer.
Gadiena had flushed bright red. She really had not been expected to be the talk of the entire city, let alone the palace!
Cook gave her a once over before narrowing her eyes a little. "Yes, I thought I heard something like that. Ever cooked before?" she asked curiously. "We may have a banquet coming up soon and I could use an extra pair of hands if that happens."
Gadiena flushed. "Yes, I can cook. Had to, given I grew up in a small village with my aunt and Merlin."
Cook nodded approvingly. "Good to know! Welcome to Camelot."
"Thank you, ma'am," Gadiena replied politely as she followed Merlin out of the kitchen.
Cook barked a laugh. "Ma'am! Now that is more like it. I like her already!"
The two warlocks hurried through the corridors towards the Royal quarters. Gadiena had not the foggiest idea where she was going – she was following Merlin on blind faith – and was astounded that her cousin even knew which paths to take. The place was labyrinthine to the girl who had spent most of her time in small houses or in the woods. She would have laughed at the guards dodging out of their way had she not been focused on making sure that she was keeping up with Merlin.
Gadiena knew she would not live it down if she was late with the Queen's breakfast!
"OK, after we have the King fed, I will pick his clothes. I am sure Ettare would appreciate it if you picked an outfit for the Queen already – Ettare never knows what to pick because all Gwen's dresses are so stunning. Then we need to clean His Royal Pratness' rooms-"
"I can hear you, Merlin! You're not being very subtle!" came the disgruntled, slightly woozy call from inside the room.
"-after that we polish his armour. We may have to join him for a training session-"
"Yes, you do!" came the firm confirmation from the King as Merlin opened the door with an amused grin. "Gaius and his errands be damned! You are not missing a second day, especially when we have new Knights to test."
"New Knights?" Gadiena repeated and immediately grimaced to herself when she noted that she spoke out of turn.
However neither the King nor the Queen reprimanded her for it; the King simply answered her. "Indeed. Some good ones, if I do say so myself. They will be put through the final test to see if they are ready to take the oath," the King grinned. He lit up as Merlin and Gadiena put the breakfast trays down. "Ah! No mere muffin again! Wonderful! Is this your doing, Gadiena?"
"I think it was more to do with the fact Cook was watching him," Gadiena confessed with a grin.
"Yes, that would do it," the Queen giggled. "No one wants to test Cook's temper."
Merlin and Gadiena set to work preparing the Royal outfits for the day. Gadiena quietly could understand why Ettare had such a hassle picking a good dress for the Queen: there were many of them, all as stunning as the last, and would suit Her Highness very well. Gadiena eventually settled for the deep red velvet one.
"Gadiena, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself?" was not the statement she had been expecting from the King.
It took her aback so Gadiena spent a moment processing that the King of Camelot was showing an interest in a mere peasant girl. "Erm … I do not know what you would like to know. I am just … me."
"Anything will do," the Queen answered with a sweet smile.
"Well, OK. I grew up with my Aunt Hunith and Merlin in Ealdor. My mother lived elsewhere in Cenred's kingdom but she gave birth to me under Aunt Hunith's roof – when my mother died giving me life, Aunt Hunith raised me as her own," Gadiena pursed her lips for a moment. "I like to sing. I love music. I love animals and nature. I can cook a little – don't ever ask me to sew unless you want to hear me swear for a good few hours. I … am rather ordinary."
"I am sorry about your mother," the King stated sincerely, sympathy in his eyes and voice. He then perked up a little. "How are your skills with a sword? I noticed you had one yesterday."
"I am decent, but I am sure your Knights would put me on behind quite quickly, Sire," Gadiena answered honestly.
"Well, I for one would love to see how well you do against a few of them," the King informed with a bright grin. "Merlin isn't half bad with a sword when he isn't hiding behind a tree on the battlefield."
Merlin rolled his eyes at that statement while Guinevere giggled. Gadiena had honestly no idea how to react; it was probably a good thing that Merlin dragged her along to move onto the next task for the day. Which meant getting buckets of water and some cloths.
"I see what Aunt Hunith said about him liking you," Gadiena found herself bluntly stating. "Your relationship with the King is definitely not a normal one."
"You can definitely say that again," Merlin chuckled.
"He cares about you," Gadiena continued, regarding her cousin closely. "I don't think he would have wanted to know anything about me if I were not your family."
"Arthur cares for all his people," Merlin tried to dismiss.
"You most of all," Gadiena wasn't fooled.
"He wouldn't if he … knew," Merlin sighed.
Gadiena scoffed. "You don't know that!"
Merlin looked set to answer when there came a call from behind them. "Ah! Would you look at that? Just my lucky day! I run into Merlin and who I wager is the girl everyone has been talking about."
As if Gadiena still had the ability to be surprised, a different Knight of Camelot suddenly walked in step with the pair of them. He was handsome, quite a bit older than herself and Merlin, with blonde hair and eyes that held a sadness in them that was unmistakeable. Lines and scars marred his face but didn't make him an eyesore.
"Hello, Tristan," Merlin greeted with a bright smile. "Gadiena, this is Sir Tristan. He is a former smuggler turned Knight who helped us retake Camelot from Morgana during one of her attempts to take the throne. Tristan, this is my cousin, as you might have heard."
"I have. Gwaine likes to talk," Tristan stated with a sigh. He then smirked a little. "Will you be going to training today or will you be doing another physician's errand?"
"We are joining the training," Gadiena answered. "King's orders."
"Pity. I would have offered the pair of you to come with me to Isolde's grave. I am taking some time off to visit her," the Knight stated.
"So you will not be attending the final test for the new Knights?" Merlin guessed with a wry smile.
"Watching the King and some of the Knights of the Round Table knocking a couple of young bucks about who have no idea what life is actually like is not high on my priority list," Sir Tristan answered bluntly. "Don't worry. The King knows I won't be attending."
Gadiena regarded him with silent fascination.
"Will you be back in time for dinner?" Merlin wanted to know. "Offer to join Gaius, Gadiena and me still stands, you know."
"I think I might take you up on that," the Knight smiled wryly. "Thank you, Merlin."
The Knight splintered from them when two other Knights called him over. Gadiena could not help but chuckle to herself in disbelief. "How does a smuggler become a bloody Knight of Camelot?" she voiced out loud.
"Through learning that not all nobles think that their servants are dispensable and that some actually have earned the loyalty of their people," Merlin answered with a nostalgic smile, which turned sad quite quickly. "It came at a cost though. His beloved, Isolde, lost her life saving Arthur from being cut down by Helios, Morgana's lieutenant. You would have liked her, I think. She was a tough nut."
Gadiena watched Tristan's retreating figure before following Merlin down towards the well in the citadel square.
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Merlin had been more than a little relieved that he and Gadiena had finished cleaning King Prat's chambers in record time between them, and without the use of any magic! It meant that they had more than enough time to polish Arthur's armour and then prepare the training ground for the Knights' final test. Merlin hoped that Arthur had not put these Knights through the same set of tests as he had done with Lancelot. True, Arthur had been suspicious of Lancelot being a nobleman but that was beside the point.
The two warlocks soon found themselves humming the same tune in their heads, which soon spiralled into singing.
# There once was a Wolf and a Raven,
They say one was never without the other,
Though preferring the shadows, they were not craven,
Indeed, they mostly went unnoticed, ignored.
When bored, they would talk,
"How long do you think it has been, Raven?"
"Long enough for the rivers to change course and the forest to disappear."
"Do you think they have forgotten us yet?"
"They have for now. Until the time comes when they suddenly remember."
Wolf and Raven,
Never one without the other,
Though most try to forget, they are soon reminded,
Wolf and Raven,
Never one without the other
"They always try to run."
"Let them, Raven – it gives us all the more fun!"
#
Wrapped in their song and their work, the two cousins didn't notice that people had entered the armoury. They were only knocked back down to Earth by the sound of clapping; Merlin and Gadiena's heads shot up in unison to see three Knights – well, they assumed since they were dressed in chain mail – who were observing them with fascination. Well, they assumed at least with two of them; the third, who was the youngest, had been the one to clap with a wolfish grin on his face.
The Knight on the left looked a little older than Merlin and Gadiena. He had dark blonde hair and some startlingly dark eyes that made both warlocks feel a little uneasy. The middle Knight was perhaps around their age, had blonde hair and blue eyes that appeared grey in certain light and green in others. Gadiena audibly gulped at this, but it was the third Knight who really put her and Merlin into fight-or-flight mode. The Knight was perhaps their age or a little younger but he was by no means docile looking – those piercing blue eyes danced with a ruthlessness that Merlin had seen in the eyes of Sauthrons.
Instinctively, Merlin and Gadiena sensed that these three Knights had something off about them.
Cousin, who are they? Gadiena telepathically asked urgently.
Not a clue, came the answer Merlin did not want to give.
"I have never heard servants singing before," the third Knight commented in a musical lilt that sent a chill up the spine of the warlocks. "You must really like polishing!"
Neither Merlin nor Gadiena made any effort to answer him. Their apprehension was clearly noted by the other two Knights because the one on the left gave his compatriot a stern look. "Melion, behave yourself."
"Oh, I am sorry, are you used to hearing your servants sing, Marrok?" the Knight, Melion, quipped with a smirk.
"Well, I have never heard that song before," the middle Knight stated calmly and he turned to the two warlocks with a kind smile. "Is that a Camelot classic?"
"No, it is a family song," Merlin was the one who was brave enough to answer as he and Gadiena exchanged a quick look. "It was a song we sang regularly as children. My mother taught it to us."
"Was she a former bard?" Melion asked with interest – at least, it seemed – as he cocked his head to one side.
"No," Merlin answered simply.
"Well it is certainly unique, and the pair of you do have good voices. Are you the King's bards?" Marrok inquired curiously.
For whatever reason, that made Gadiena inadvertently snort with laughter but she quickly composed herself and pretended to cough. Merlin also had to bite the inside of his cheek. Did these Knights genuinely have no idea who he was, and who she was?
The answer was yes, because all three started frowning. Well, Marrok and middle Knight frowned – Melion scowled at them.
"What's so funny?" Melion demanded, eyes flashing dangerously.
"We are not the King's bards," Gadiena plucked up the courage to answer.
"No? What are you then?" the middle Knight wanted to know.
The answer came in the form of Arthur Pendragon himself. "Merlin!" came the echo of the King's shouting.
Merlin couldn't help but grin widely. "That's me, Merlin! I am the King's manservant, and this is Gadiena. My cousin," he gestured to her with his head. "She is staying with me for a while."
The offense and the hostility in the three Knights dampened a little as they physically relaxed.
"Have to make sure he doesn't get too many jugs thrown at him or becomes more doo-lally than he already is," Gadiena had found her courage.
"Jugs thrown at him?" Marrok repeated with a tone of amusement.
"He likes to use me as target practise when he is angry," Merlin clarified.
"MEEEEERRRLLLIIIIIIN!"
"Like now," Gadiena stated with a sigh.
"Indeed," Merlin agreed also with a deep sigh.
Marrok, Melion and their compatriot all blinked in shock while the two warlocks got to their feet and gathered the Royal armour together.
"We must be late with the armour. The King is holding the final exam for some new Knights," Gadiena stated as she strained a little with the pieces of armour she had been working on.
"Oh, really?" the unknown Knight's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Well, we had best not keep you then. Good luck!"
"Hope you don't get too much thrown at you!" Melion added as they left.
Merlin and Gadiena shot him a quick smile before making their escape. As soon as they were out of earshot of the armoury, both warlocks let out a huge sigh of relief.
"Those three are terrifying," Gadiena stated bluntly.
"You sensed it too?" Merlin exhaled sharply. "I thought it was just me!"
"Are you kidding? They stink of magic and problems," Gadiena shook her head. "There is something off about them."
"Agreed," Merlin pursed his lips. "I say we keep an eye on them."
"I thought that was already a given."
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Oh boy, our warlocks have already bumped into Marrok, Biclarel and Melion. How will they react to these three being the new Knights to join King Arthur's side? What will these three Knights learn about these two strange servants? How will they react to the weird dynamic between Arthur, Merlin and the rest of the Knights? Stay tuned to find out!
I don't know about you but I am getting really excited to write the next chapter already. The song Merlin and Gadiena sing is one of my own creation, inspired by a few songs about wolves and war wolves I have heard on YouTube.
I hope you guys are already enjoying yourselves; please let me know what you think!
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