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In the morning after the arrival of the King Bayard of Mercia Merlin had to help the other servants to prepare the enormous that would be happening at noon. And with a large bag full of Arthur's armour that he had to polish for today.
« Why do I always got landed with the donkey work? He asked Gaius
« You're a servant Merlin, that's what you do.e
« My arms lol be a foot longer by the time I get this lot inside. »
« 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 as a servant passed between them
« I didn't » started gaius but was interrupted by the young woman falling letting all the laundry she had in her hands.
« Sorry » she apologised to both Merlin and Gaius
« That's all right » replied the young man
« Excuse me. » she continued as she slowly pick up her items from the ground
« Let me give you a hand with that » Merlin replied shouting a weird look at gaius before crouching down helping her. But when he looked up and catch her eyes, Merlin couldn't help but admire her beauty. She had incredible vivid blue eyes. As they both stood up. Merlin could only smile like an idiot at the young woman, missing the scolding look from Gaius.
« Hi » he greeted quietly. « I'm Merlin » he continued
« Kara » she replied shaking his hand « You're Arthur's servant » she acknowledge, but not asked « That must be such an honor. » she continued
« Uh, yeah, it is. Well someone's got to keep the place running. » Merlin replied and looked at Gaius for a few instant who had a disapproving look on his face
« Thank you Merlin. » she replied sweetly
« Hmm? Oh! Here yeah!. Uh, no problem» he replied handing her the little pillow he had picked up a few moments ago.
« It was nice meeting you. » Merlin could only nod completely lost at her beauty.
« Shouldn't you be busy running the place? » Gaius mocked him as Merlin couldn't take his eyes off the woman walking off.
Merlin shook his head at Gaius and went back to his work, and walked toward Arthur's room. There, he took out the clothes to prepare The Prince for the feast.
« Oh! » he exclaimed covering his nose with his arm from the smell emanating from the clothes. « When was the last time there were cleaned? » he asked the Prince.
« Last years sometime, before the feast of Beltane. » he replied
« Did it end in a food fight? » he asked putting the red vest on Arthur.
« Don't all feasts? »
« I wouldn't know. The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me. »
« Tonight they won't be. »
« I'm going to be at the banquet? » Merlin asked excited
« Not quite » Arthur replied, bringing all Merlin's hope for a festive night without being a servant down. « 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 » he said taking off the vest and hand it to Merlin so he could wash it. « Be sure to polish the buttons. »
« Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight? »
« Won't this do? »
« No » he replied grinning. « Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot. »
Merlin was still smiling thinking he would have something with a little bit more luxury than what he had everyday. But that was before he saw what he really had to wear
« You can't be serious. »
-
Weeks have passed since I've been healed and everything went back to normal, or at least practically to normal. I was back at work with Lydia, who went directly to come see me after the lockdown was lifted. And we both decided, that for the both of us we needed to find another seamstress to help her. I knew I couldn't fulfil my work correctly with all the things that happened recently in Camelot, and my intuition told me it won't be long before something else happened. And her being practically at term means she needs all the help she can have to run the shop.
Merlin and i were still bickering every other day, and I think this near death experience just made our bond stronger than it was already.
But one or two things have change. The sickness that spreads around Camelot made me realised that apart from Gaius there was no physician in the city or even people being able to prepare antidote for a simple flu. So after a long discussion with him and the King we decided that I would officially be back as his apprentice, part time for the moment, until I found someone for Lydia's shop. And the other thing, Arthur... I don't really know were we stand at the moment. We had a very long open heart conversation were he apologised for what he said, and I knew i couldn't hold a grudge on him for loger so I accepted them. I think we're back to being friends, I think, i don't really know actually, since then, we didn't really talk much...
Today I was helping Morgana to get ready for the feast The King had organise for the arrival of King Bayard of Mercia, and the signature of the peace treaty between the two Kingdom.
He didn't take long for her to notice the absence of interaction between me and Arthur
« Tell me the idiot did apologise » She said as I was doing her hair.
« Arthur? » I asked looking at her through the mirror in front of us, she responded with a pointing look like asking who else?
« Yes of course he did »
« Then why is there still this tension between you two ?» she asked
« there's no tension » I denied
« oh there is, you could cut it with a knife » she insisted
« How could their be any tension if He's avoiding me? » i snapped surprising the both of us, I stopped what I was doing and sat down on her bed « sorry it's just... I don't know what's going on. I think it was easier before he apologised, at least I knew why he was avoiding me, now I'm just lost. »
« Men are stupid, and they don't know what they lost after is too late. » she said going to her wardrobe, pulling out a red dress « Maybe he just need to see that you're doing fine without him, and he'll come crawling back to you. Because that's what men want, to be the reason you smile. »
« Gwen told me the dress for the servant were absolutely hideous » I said running my fingers on the beautiful dress.
« Well let's say if I want my plan to work, it's not going to be with the original dress designed for this type of event. »
« And what is your plan exactly » I asked as she dragged me behind the folding screen so i could change.
« You need to make him jealous » she replied as a matter of facts.
« Why would I need to make jealous? » I asked completely confused as why this had to do with any of it.
« I just need if my theory is correct »
« I assume you're not going to tell me what this theory is right » I sighed knowing how much she like mysteries
« Not a chance... » she said, looking at me as I came out from behind the screen.
-
In the room where the feast will be served in a few instants the Kings were signing the Treaty of Peace. I was next to Gwen, when merlin approached us with the most ridiculous hat. I have no doubt Arthur was behind this.
« Nice hat » complimented Gwen, and apparently I wasn't the only one who found Merlin ridiculous as she she tried not to laugh at him
« Thanks » Merlin replied but you could hear the sarcasm in his voice . And as I had predicted, when Arthur turned around from where he was, he quietly laugh at Merlin, but for a fraction of second he look at me and his expression changed, like he was in a trance. I smiled awkwardly at him , and waved my hand like an idiot. Before I could overthink my gesture I was interrupted by Gwen.
« She's pretty isn't she... for a handmaiden » she softly said to Merlin. The way she said it make me think she was a little insecure, because of whom I don't know... I was to focus on what I could do or say to make things back to normal, without the awkwardness with Arthur.
« She's Pretty for a Princess, let alone a handmaiden. » he replied. And clearly I didn't have to know who it was to know that my brother was an absolute idiot.
« Ow » he whispered yelled after I nudged him in the ribs. But it was a bit to late and Gwen went to stand next to Gaius.
« Can you hold your tongue for at least for 5 min » I asked him
« What did I do? » he asked completely confused
« Men... » I mumbled before joining Gaius and Gwen making sure she was okay
The two kings just finished the treaty of peace and sealed this alliance by shaking their arms. Everyone who was seated, stood up and applauded, as the king sit down in his throne.
« People of Camelot for a great many years we have been mortal ennemies » The king of Mercia started
« The blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them. » he continued as one of his servant bring a wooden chest to him. « As a symbol of our goodwill and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets » he explained taking them out the chest. « To you Uther, and to your som Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last. Tonight we toast a new beginning for our peoples. »
« Where is your brother going? » Gaius quietly asked me. When I looked where I left him there was no one but I could see him sneak out from the throne room with someone, I couldn't see her face but I imagined it was the person both him and Gwen where previously talking about.
« He's being an idiot again... » I said quietly making sure Gwen didn't hear any of this.
« We look towards a future free from the toils of war. » The king of Mercia continued his long speech but I wasn't paying attention anymore and was slowly dozing off . But after a few minutes Gaius nudge me a little as I was practically falling asleep on his shoulder.
« And may the differences from our past remain there. To your health Uther... » everyone around the table stood up including the king and Arthur.
« Arthur... » thinking the toast was over Arthur tried to drink but was interrupted by King Bayard. « The lady Morgana... the people of Camelot. » he tried once again but was also interrupted this time by his own father. I had to hold back my laugh at his face, being completely done with this speech.
« And to fallen warriors on both sides. » the King said. Now he could finally drink.
« Stop it's poison. Don't drink it ! »