Merlyn - Arthur x Female Merlin [1]

Chapter Five: Lady Morgana

Gaius had been up for a while and had been making breakfast and concoctions for his patients whilst waiting for Merlyn to get out of bed. But it seemed the young witch was going to sleep all day – unbeknown to Gaius she had been up all night. Having left Merlyn as long as he could, Gaius made his way up to Merlyn's chamber. As he opened the door he noticed the state of Merlyn's room. There were dirty boots, a cloak and clothes everywhere. Gaius sighed. He always had kept the room tidied – he had often lent it out to his patients that needed to stay the night for observation. Picking up a piece of clothing off the floor, Gaius shouted

"Oi!"Merlyn immediately woke up. Her eyes wide and confused. She sat up her hair sticking it all directions as her eyes settled on Gaius. She narrowed her eyes at him, obviously annoyed at being woken up.

"Have you seen the state of this room?!"Gaius asked.

"Sorry ... it just sort of happens" Merlyn replied tiredly, yawning behind her hand. Gaius couldn't help but wonder why Merlyn was so tired; she had slept most of the morning away.

"By magic?" Gaius questioned. Merlyn smirked and shrugged her shoulders. "Yes. Well, you can clear it up without magic."Gaius threw the clothing he had picked up at Merlyn, hitting her directly in the face. Merlyn groaned as she pulled back the covers and swung her legs out of the bed. "And then I want you to get me some herbs: henbane, wormwood, and sorrel. And deliver this to Morgana. Poor girl's suffering from nightmares" Gaius finished handing the bottle to her before, leaving Merlyn to her room. Merlyn couldn't help but think of her own 'nightmares' and how she was never going to get out of them.

~8~

With the sleeping draught in hand, Merlyn made her way towards the Lady Morgana's chambers. Merlyn had heard plenty about the Lady Morgana, how she was beauty, a true Lady worthy of being a princess. The people gushed over her. As Merlyn entered Morgana's chambers she saw the beauty in person and realised that the people of Camelot had not been exaggerating. Her hair fell down her back in long black waves that shone in the light and her beautiful (clearly expensive) dress highlighted just how beautiful the young maiden was. Unfortunately, Morgana didn't realise that Merlyn was the one who had just walked into the room and she moved behind her changing 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?" Morgana asked. Merlyn froze. Gwen was nowhere in sight. Morgana had mistaken her for Gwen and Merlyn had no idea how to react. Merlyn had never been around royalty before and she was probably breaking every rule in the book. Uncertainly, Merlyn spotted the purple dress on a divan and picked it up. Merlyn admired the dress for a moment, it was beautiful like everything else in the gorgeous room – Merlyn had not been wrong when she thought that the royal chambers would be glorious compared to Lady Helen's.

"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?" Morgana continued as Merlyn draped the dress over the screen. She was finding herself in a real pickle.

"Well, does it?" Morgana asked again. Merlyn was slightly surprised by Morgana's attitude towards her chambermaid. She spoke as if she was speaking to a friend.

"No My Lady but I-I do believe you have mistaken me for someone else, I-I came to drop off your sleeping draught from Gaius" Merlyn said realising if she let it go on any further she could be in a heap of trouble. At the unusual voice, Morgana stepped out from behind the screen, her dress hanging slightly awkwardly as she had redressed in the same dress she had just been taking off. Merlyn wasn't sure what to expect. "I'm sorry."

"That's quite alright" Morgana replied a smile gracing her face, "It was my mistake. Who are you? I don't recognise you."

"Oh, I'm Merlyn" The young witch was surprised by the look of shock on Morgana's face.