I’d Look Better in Red (Caitrin)

[em]

Another Wednesday that was just like the rest. Get up, run down the corridors whilst getting dressed on realisation that he was late, fling open windows and tell Arthur to rise and shine, get bossed around and have things thrown at his head, go back to Gauis, get bossed around some more, be sent out for herbs, then back to the castle to run more errands. It was like a vicious circle.
On this particular day Gauis had instructed Merlin to deliver a headache remedy to one of the visiting nobles in the castle. He’d also warned Merlin not to further the lady’s headache. As if he would? Merlin had better things to do like read his magic book and wash socks.

Merlin had never heard of Lady Caitrin de Archer. Then again any visitor to the castle was new to him (and some of them very strange for all the wrong reasons indeed – as he’d found out numerous amounts of time). He headed in the direction of the guest chambers – coming to a stop outside the door that Gauis had given him direction too.

KNOCK KNOCK

“Lady Caitrin?” Merlin called

No reply.

He opened the door and peeked round. The room was empty with the only life being that of the flame of the torch on the wall that was slowly dying out. “Lady Caitrin?” Merlin called again, “I’ve brought you your tonic?”

She wasn’t there.

Merlin set the tonic down on the dresser and looked at the numerous items of jewellery that were laid out neatly. One box in particular caught his eye. Merlin opened its latch – inside revealing a pretty circlet that he took out and studied. Whoever this Caitrin was she certainly wasn’t short of them, because there were another two at the end of the dresser.

Merlin turned the circlet over in his hands. It looked like it could cause a headache itself. With its pointy leaves and vine-like features. He put it on his head to see whether this theory happened to be correct and looked in the mirror.

Wow! If he were a girl he’d be a pretty good looking one! Perhaps he could give Arthur one of these as a birthday present, should another neck scarf be thrown back at him (like it had been in the past – Merlin thought that Arthur would look VERY manly in it, but of course it wasn’t to be).
He hummed a little tune to himself as he looked in the mirror again. He could be a prince! But with a manlier circlet – Merlin didn’t do leaves or flowers, unless he was bribing Gwen to do something for him.

Straightening himself out, he gave his refection a regal look. “Prince Merlin of Ealdor” he told it, “Sir Merlin of Camelot” he said, making his voice go a little deeper. Hmmm not bad. Perhaps this whole nobility thing wasn’t that hard to do, and if for some reason being Arthur’s servant didn’t work out – then he could always pass for one.

Tagged: Caitrin de Archer
Timeline: Season 2 – just after EP 10
Setting: Guest Chambers – late afternoon
Muse Song: Merlin OST – The Substitute Knight [/color]

[Caitrin de Archer]

Even though Caitrin had arrived in Camelot last night to spend a few nights, she still had the headache which she had left her Uncle’s estate with. He had been shouting at her about some suitor she had fought off until he had withdrawn every comment about her and had left her life altogether. She didn’t care, she wouldn’t have married him anyway, which was her point to her Uncle who obviously hadn’t seen it that way. She therefore, because they both needed their space, had sought lodgings at the castle for a few nights. She was always welcome in Camelot so it hadn’t been that much of an inconvenience.

Caitrin had been down in the markets all morning seeing what they had to offer. Although she enjoyed the ride from her Uncle’s estate from Camelot it was a small relief to know that she could just go up to her room instead of travel anywhere further. She had a book up in her room she was intending to finish off this afternoon, well that was the plan anyway. She hadn’t actually purchased anything at the markets, she had hoped that the fresh air would have dampened her headache; it hadn’t. She had already sent a servant to ask Gaius to prepare something for her headache that morning, so perhaps it had already been delivered.

She hitched her skirts as she climbed the spiral stairs to her chambers. Today she was wearing her long blue dress which showed her to be every inch the noblewoman. She had left her jewellery in her room, it was secure enough there; or at least she hoped it was. As she reached her room she stopped as she noticed the door was slightly ajar. She was certain she had closed it. She had her small dagger at the belt at her waist so she wielded it tightly in her hand as she inched the door open slowly. Poking her head around the door she saw there was someone stood with their back to her, looking in the mirror. She faltered, what on earth was he doing? “Who on earth are you?” She demanded, still gripping her small dagger and pointing it in his direction. She was looking in the mirror to see if she could spot who it was but then she saw something more disturbing, “Hang on, are you wearing my circlet?”

[em]

“Who on earth are you?”

“Ah!!!” He quickly jumped and spun round. How long had she been there anyway? Long enough to see that he was wearing her jewellery anyway! Uh oh. She looked angry too.

“Hang on, are you wearing my circlet?” Oops, he’d forgotten that her headgear was still on his head.
Merlin quickly whipped it off and hid it behind his back. “No…” he shook his head and looked innocent.

This was almost as embarrassing as the time that Gwen and Arthur both caught him on different occasions with a dress of Morgana’s that he’d taken for Freya. If this happened anymore he’d gain a reputation for all the wrong reasons around Camelot. “Im Merlin” he introduced himself, “im Arthur’s servant – Gauis sent me to give you your tonic…” he quickly put the circlet back on the dresser, “which…is…here!” he retrieved the bottle that he’d been given earlier.

“Well it was nice meeting you my lady, I guess I’ll be on my way” he quickly put the bottle down and walked towards the door. “Things to do, prats to serve!” he laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck.
He needed to get out of here and fast before he was quizzed anymore as to why he was wearing women’s jewellery. If this got back to Arthur then he’d never hear the end of it.

[Caitrin de Archer]

The man in front of her looked suitably surprised as he spun around. Well she hadn’t intended her entry to be particularly friendly. Her eyes looked to his hands straight away; he wasn’t wearing a weapon so he wasn’t robbing her, or if he was he was very bad at it. So what on earth was he doing here?! She stepped towards him and closed the door behind her, he wasn’t going anywhere until his intentions became clear. Was he trying to rob her? At least he had taken her circlet off, now at least she could take him seriously. She didn’t want to laugh but she couldn’t help a small giggle, “You were, what on earth were you doing?”

She stepped in front of the door again but didn’t lower the knife. He was introducing himself, he was Arthur’s servant? She did lower the knife, as she was sure that if he was truly Arthur’s servant then he meant her no harm. However it was still in her hand; just in case. She looked to her dresser where there was a small vial which hadn’t been there before. She replaced the knife at her belt, he couldn’t have known that she had asked for the tonic unless he had been bringing it, so she felt more at ease. She bobbed her head, “I am Lady Caitrin de Archer.” She replied softly to his introduction and held out her hand for the small vial he now clutched in his hands. She needed to get rid of this headache desperately.

She stood back towards the door as he started to leave; oh no, he didn’t think it would be that easy did he? She raised her eye brows at him and folded her arms, “Did you just call Arthur a prat?” She asked carefully, half laughing, who did this servant think he was? He probably didn’t know the close friendship she had with the prince, but she was sure there was some explanation. “I assume he doesn’t know about your fascination with women’s jewellery?”

[em]

He felt like such an idiot now. His cheeks reddened slightly when she made it clear that she’d seen him. “I…err…was, trying it on?” he admitted, “it looked a bit painful to wear”. At least she was seeing some funny side to it; he just looked sheepishly at her now – unable to say anything without making it sound even dodgier than it already was.
Oh well, at least she’d put down the knife. Merlin bit his lip and looked at the floor. Awkward? Err, yes it really was. He looked up at little when she introduced herself and smiled. “Pleased to meet you – err…. my lady”.

Great. Now she was going to go and tell Arthur about what she’d seen – then he wouldn’t hear the end of it.
Merlin groaned inwardly and nodded at her question. “Well” he started, “when I say prat…” he trailed off, not knowing what else to say. “Sooo – this is your jewellery eh?” he changed the subject then mentally kicked himself again. He threw his hands up in defence “honestly, I don’t do this all the time – going into lady’s rooms and trying on their jewellery, I was just curious because it looked so…so…pointy.”

Merlin’s eyes then went back to stare at the floor again. There was no way that he could get out of this one easily. His last statement hadn’t sounded too convincing either. “Anyway!” he quickly gestured to the door, “got to get going!” she was blocking the exit still so now hopefully she’d let him break free.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin found herself more and more confused at this servants behaviour as the conversation went on. She furrowed her eye brows at him, still obviously blocking his path to the door. Her headache wasn’t getting any better but how often did you walk in on a servant, especially a male one, trying on your jewellery? The opportunity was too good to miss really. She folded her arms and took a step towards him, “You were trying on my jewellery… because it looked painful?” She repeated, and no, it didn’t make any more sense to her when she said it, so she was sure that whatever this Merlin said to her would make little sense either.

He was trying to leave, naturally, but Caitrin was having too much fun to just let him off that easily. This was probably the weirdest situation she had ever been in with a servant before, which was saying something really. Well, at least he addressed her correctly after her introduction, “I’m sure the pleasure is all mine.” She gave a small kind of smile, but one that was also mischievous as she was sure there was fun yet to be had in this situation.

She wasn’t going to let him off with insulting her friend so lightly. After all, he was a servant and should do well to remember his position. Now she thought hard on it, she had seen him bobbing around court, usually running after Arthur in some way or another; it was that scarf which made him stand out. Merlin was talking again and Caitrin had to stop herself laughing at him. “Yes, funnily enough this is my jewellery.” She raised an eye brow as he insisted he didn’t usually do this kind of thing and she stepped closer towards him, but so that she was still blocking the door, “Well, did you satisfy your interest in how… pointy my jewellery is?”

He was still trying to leave and she took a step back to fully block the doors. Her arms were folded again and a smug grin swept across her face. “You can’t leave just yet.” She insisted, gesturing to where the rest of her jewellery was laid out. “You cannot have satisfied your interest in just how ‘pointy’ my jewellery is, perhaps you should try on some of my other pieces to see how they compare.”

[em]

Merlin really couldn’t dig himself out of the massive hole that he was now sinking into. Caitrin wasn’t going to believe a word he said either. “Well it just looked…well, like it would dig into your head” he held up the circlet and pointed to the leaves. It really did look like some kind of torture instrument. “And I…well, I just wanted to see if I was right”. He shrugged this statement off as though it were no big deal.

She wasn’t going to let him leave. Great. Merlin was sure that Caitrin was enjoying this, and that she’d run and tell Arthur everything. Then he’d be in hell for the rest of his life where the Prince wouldn’t let him forget the whole thing. Still, comments were made about the time he was caught with a dress. Merlin had tried to convince Arthur that he wasn’t some cross dresser in his spare time, or had a dress fetish – it wasn’t really worth it though, as he was just wasting his breath.

Merlin was a little surprised at her comment on trying on some more jewellery. “Err… dressing up really isn’t my thing” he told her, “and I have a lot of socks to wash…really smelly ones if that’s any consolation”.
Arthur’s socks were dreadful, not that dreadful but bad enough for him to want to get them all washed. “And Arthur wouldn’t like it if I didn’t finish all of my jobs today”.
He’d most likely receive flying bowls to the head if he didn’t muck out the stables or polish the beloved armour. “Arthur’s armour is his pride and joy – if he finds one little dent or mark then he won’t be happy, and I wouldn’t want to deprive him of shiny armour.”

There was a lingering and uncomfortable silence. Had it been between him and Arthur then Merlin would’ve insulted him at this time. “So…can I go now?” he asked hopefully.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin watched as Merlin held up the circlet, explaining his reasons for picking it up in the first place. She frowned slightly, the circlet did sometimes dig into her skull but it was a necessary pain as it looked incredible with the right dress. “What did you think? Is it ‘pointy?” She asked curiously, but also with amusement. He’d tried it on, he might as well tell her what he thought of her jewellery, it wasn’t as if he could look like a bigger fool than he already did.

Caitrin folded her arms and raised an eye brow at the young serving boy. She was even inclined to laugh as he said that dressing up wasn’t his thing. “You say that dress up is not your thing… yet I caught you dressing up with my circlet?” She asked, taking a step towards the boy, just because she could. She crossed over to her table, it was only a short distance away and she was, for the most part, still blocking the exit from the room. She picked up the middle circlet that she had laid out, it was her most expensive, and therefore most exquisite piece of jewellery and a smile pulled at her lips. She looked across to Merlin then crossed over towards him and handed him the circlet. “That is my best piece of jewellery. This one will give you a feel of just how ‘pointy’ my jewellery is.” She then gave him a small smirk and pushed the circlet into his hands; waiting for him to try it on.

Caitrin waved his concerns about Arthur away as quickly as he spoke them. She had known Arthur for years, and although she didn’t know how long this boy had been his servant, she was sure Arthur would not punish him if Caitrin explained he had been with her. She did, after all, not wish to cause any unnecessary trouble, and this was proving to be an effective headache cure. “I will tell Arthur where he has been, I am sure he can do without you for ten minutes.” She pointed out and settled herself, waiting to see if he would actually try the jewellery on or not.

[em]

Ok, this was seriously scaring him now. Lady Caitrin seemed to want to play dress up with him rather than letting him go. He’d rather have Arthur throw various objects at him than be made to try on a dress. “I wasn’t dressing up – I was just feeling how uncomfortable it was – or at least how it looked” he replied a little anxious as to how she’d take that.

No. No he didn’t want to try on anything else, he wanted to wash some socks, muck out some stables and get yelled at – and that sounded far better than this, even when it really wasn’t. He watched as she crossed over to the dressed and produced another sparkly item from her drawer.
With a new circlet now pushed into his hands, he merely looked down and stared at it. “Err...I’ll pass – but thanks anyway” he put it down on the dresser; “I really don’t want to feel your jewellery” he stressed to her and shifted uncomfortably. Why on earth did he have to be so inquisitive??!!

She was going to tell Arthur where he’d been? Oh no – that would be the worst thing that Lady Caitrin could possibly do. “Or I could tell Arthur myself and spend that ten minutes changing his sheets?” he asked hopefully, and to miss out the details on the dressing up session Lady Caitrin had demanded with his manservant.

[Caitrin de Archer]

The small vial Merlin had brought with him was still sitting rather uselessly on the dresser. Keeping one eye on Merlin, to ensure he didn’t leave prematurely, she grabbed the vial from the dresser and drunk the liquid within it quickly. It tasted vial, as these things usually did and she gave a small cough before replacing the vial on her dresser; hopefully it would cure her headache at least. She looked back to Merlin and gave a soft smile, “Tell Gauis thank you for the remedy, I shall visit him soon.” Soon, but not today she was sure of it. It was not late in the day, but she was going to have a lie down after she had had enough of tormenting Merlin as she was sure that that would also help her headache somewhat.

To say Caitrin was amused at Merlin’s little ramble about how he was just interested in her circlet, rather than wanting to play dress up with it, was an understatement. She pressed her lips together, not sure whether or not to believe him. Had he not seen a circlet before? Surely he had seen them in other noblewomen’s chambers if he did these sorts of deliveries for Gaius on a regular basis. “Have you just always been interested in circlets then? Or did mine take your particular attention?”

The panic in his voice was amusing and Caitrin was almost inclined to laugh, but didn’t. Instead she let out a small smile and looked over Merlin. He certainly was confident for a servant, perhaps that was why he lasted in Arthur’s company; who knew. She was still giving him a small smile, even when he stressed how much he did not want to play dress up. Well this was all going smoothly wasn’t? She noticed how uncomfortable he was, which showed her that when he said he wasn’t playing dress up he was probably telling the truth. Perhaps he had just had a moment of interest. Even if that were true, it was hardly going to help him now, after all, Caitrin had caught him red handed or so to speak, and so she was going to exploit it as much as she could.

Caitrin knew that Merlin probably wanted to be as far away from here as possible, she probably would if she were in his position, but she wasn’t so she could enjoy exploiting it for the moment. She set her jewellery back down on the dresser and crossed her arms about her body, it wasn’t a threatening gesture, it was more of a quizzical one. Now what was she going to do about this one? He certainly wasn’t giving her the respect, or title, that she deserved as she was well above his rank, however if he was Arthur’s servant she did not want to chastise him too much as she didn’t want to offend her friend.

Eventually she thought of something and unfolded her arms and leaned on her dresser with a small smirk caressing her lips, “Perhaps we could go and tell Arthur what you have been up to together.” She gestured to the door, she was sure Merlin had no intention of telling Arthur what he had been up to in her bedchambers, so it was obviously up to Caitrin to either tell Arthur herself, or further humiliate the boy in her own company.

[em]

Inside Merlin’s head he was screaming. He was stuck in a woman’s room with a lunatic who was insisting that he try on her clothes! He shouldn’t have let curiosity get the better of him and mentally kicked himself for not listening to his conscience at the crucial moments. He wouldn’t be doing anything like this again that was for sure!! “I’ll tell him” he nodded, “and if you have any more headaches, just go to him or come and find me – I’m usually around somewhere” . Yes, when he wasn’t off killing griffins, fighting witches and talking to dragons.

Oh great the conversation was now on headgear again. He just shook his head, “Really, I was just curious, that’s all” he told her – not wanting her to attack with more dresses and jewellery. He fiddled with his scarf and readjusted it a few times. Who knows what she would do next. She certainly wasn’t letting him go anytime soon, that was for sure. “You have Lotsof them” this came out slightly strained as he realised he’d now said the wrong thing, and she’d think he was interested when really he wasn’t in the slightest! “So…” he decided to change the subject, “How long do you plan to stay?” he asked.

“No!” he quickly moved forward but then restrained himself, “I mean, no…we don’t really need to tell him” he said calmly, “I mean, Arthur’s not really into dressing up” the casual shrug of his shoulders told him that he was slowly getting this under control, “he likes armour though, and he wears that a lot!”

Great he was rambling now and couldn’t stop. “I keep that armour nice and shiny – and dent free – unless he’s fighting then in which case I can’t.” SHUT UP MERLIN!! He thought to himself. “So yeah….dent free….the shiiiinearmour…” he kind of trailed off the last sentence in some lazy drunken sounding slur, as he realised he sounded ridiculous!

Merlin knew that he would never enter another noblewoman’s room again.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Why was it so hard to get anyone to do what she wanted anymore? Caitrin was a lady so surely Merlin, as a servant, should comply to her wishes? However, he was Arthur’s servant, and he wasn’t being disrespectful so she thought better of scolding him. She did however nod at his words. She knew Gauis’s methods and treatments were more effective than the herbs that she herself could put together. That was why she always turned to him in times of need, he was always willing to help so who was she to complain. “I shall hopefully not be stricken by headaches anymore, but I shall consult either of you if I do.” That was pleasant enough wasn’t it?

She let herself laugh now, as the situation was one of the more odd she had come across in Camelot. “You are a most odd servant to find women’s jewellery interesting.” She was quick to point out, but she did at least stop herself laughing. His next comment however was rather curious. “What of it if I have a lot of them?” She asked, slightly defensive. She wasn’t quite sure what Merlin was getting at by his comment, but she was a noblewoman, she had to show herself off in some way, and her circlets were just one more way of doing just that.

Merlin’s hasty change of topic did not go unnoticed but she was rather glad of it in a way. She crossed over her room, so she was no longer blocking the door and sat down on the side of her bed. She shrugged softly, “Until I am finished being annoyed with my family, or until my Uncle sends for me; whichever comes first.” She joked softly, but really it was quite serious. She had come to Camelot in anger and to seek some sort of refuge from her Uncle as he had been trying to suggest suitors once more, and Caitrin was firm in the mindset that she would not marry. Or at least if she did marry it would be to a man of her choosing, and not someone her Uncle or father selected for her.
Caitrin smiled slightly at Merlin’s reaction to her suggestion that she went and told Arthur everything. “He doesn’t have to be into dressing up to be amused at your…interests.” She pointed out with a slight shrug, she was sure that she would enjoy Merlin’s reaction when she eventually told Arthur; which she would. Even if it was not today, Caitrin would make sure that she did tell Arthur everything.

She furrowed her brows at Merlin somewhat, he was a bit strange to say the least. Now he was going on about keeping Arthur’s army shiny, well wasn’t that his job if he did serve Arthur? “Has anyone told you that you’re a bit…different.” Yes, that was the right word.

[em]

Yes, the comment was most likely an odd one to Caitrin’s ears, but Merlin really wasn’t worried about that. Most of the visitors to Camelot thought he was weird and he’d grown used to being thrown in the stocks for all the wrong reasons. He’d defiantly end up in them if Caitrin told Arthur that he was wearing her jewellery.

He was curious as to why she was annoyed at her family, but chose not to question this, as he’d end up saying or doing something incredibly stupid. “ah…right…” he replied a little awkwardly, still a little unsure on what to say in a situation like this. “Your uncle lives in Camelot then?” he asked. Surely that wouldn’t hurt. Had he even met her uncle? If he was a friend of Uther’s then he might vaguely recognise him. Then again – many people who came in and out of Camelot were either out to get him or Arthur in some shape or form.

“It wouldn’t surprise me – the only reason why he keeps me around is to wash his socks and entertain him” Merlin grinned, “anyway, Arthur has seen worse.” Morgana’s dress incident came flooding back into merlin’s mind.

His eyes fell on Caitrin again, as a small knowing smirk ran across his lips, only replying, “Every single day” as his answer.

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin wondered what would actually happen if she told Arthur that his servant had been wearing her jewellry. To be honest, she didn't want anything to happen to him, apart from giving her the satisfaction of knowing she'd put him temporarily in an awkward position. If Caitrin knew Arthur as well as she thought she did, she was sure he would not let Merlin forget this incident, and that was what Caitrin was aiming for really.

She hadn't expected him to question her words, he was a servant, they were taught not to inquire or be nosy, even though in Caitrin's experience that did not stop them. She gave Merlin a small sort of smile, just to break the awkward silence she had managed to create more than anything. At his question she nodded, "I live with him on his estate, it is not far from here; on the road to Mercia." She used her hand to gesture in the general direction which was a completely useless gesture in effect, but it didn't matter.

Caitrin raised her eye brow at Merlins words but now she was curious. Had Arthur truly seen his servant in a more awkward situation than the one Caitrin had caught him in? Surely not. "Worse?" She repeated, "What could be worse than discovering you wearing my jewellery?" This was a story she had to know about of course and she would not let Merlin go until he had enlightened her further. Then again, she was quite enjoying conversing with him for the time being, even if he were a servant. She was right in thinking he was a bit different; everything about him really went against the conventions of being a servant. Perhaps that was what Arthur liked so much about him.

[em]

Merlin nodded as Caitrin explained about her uncle. Mercia. So she was Mercian then? Merlin had already run into trouble sometime back when he’d first started working for Arthur. Lord Bayard, a poisoned chalice and Nimueh were key things that he wouldn’t forget, especially as Merlin had been the one to drink the poison intended for Arthur. Still things never changed. People, creatures and anything that life could throw at them were out to get Arthur and Merlin – even if the Prince didn’t exactly know it. “Oh…right” Merlin nodded awkwardly.

Why couldn’t he just keep his big mouth shut? Why did he always have to say the wrong thing. Now Caitrin was question what could be worse than jewellery and merlin didn’t exactly want to tell her of how he came to be in possession of one of lady morgana’s dresses, nor the fact that Arthur and Gwen had seen him with it, not IN it. “Err…nothing” Merlin shrugged it off cheerfully, “just a little misunderstanding that Arthur and I had” he scratched the back of his neck nervously and looked around the room.

“Nice bed, and are these…” he mock gasped, “Pillows!”

He knew that it wasn’t helping his situation any further, but he needed to change the subject now. All this talk of dresses, jewellery and fashion was giving him the headache now. What next? Caitrin demanding that he try on her shoes for size? He needed to get out now, or at least bring up something far more interesting to talk about

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin looked up at Merlin, this wasn’t exactly the way she would usually be conversing with servants. It occurred to her that she had never really spoken to any servants in the castle before like this. She was quite enjoying the situation, Merlin was quite friendly despite their rather unconventional introduction. She wondered if he knew anything of Mercia, he was only a servant she supposed but it wouldn’t hurt to ask. “Have you heard much about Mercia, or it’s people?” She asked softly and rather curiously. It always interested her how people perceived Mercia, as they could only guess but she had a firsthand account.

Now she was curious, and when the flame of curiosity had been lit it was a dangerous thing where Caitrin was concerned. She didn’t rise from the bed but she leant forwards towards Merlin, one hand steadying herself on the bed, raising one eye brow, “I’m sure it’s nothing. You could tell me, or I could ask Arthur myself.” She gave Merlin a sort of confident satisfied grin and kept her confident stance, hoping Merlin would actually make this easy and just tell her what he had done.

She let out a small laugh as Merlin tried to change the topic of conversation, of course it wouldn’t work, and she wasn’t about to let him away with it that easily. Plus, she was enjoying Merlin’s company in an odd sort of way and was not about to let him slip away quite so easily. She didn’t stand up but she watched him closely, “Have you always been a servant?”

[em]

Merlin wasn’t about to launch into the full story of how Bayard had wrongly been accused of trying to poison Arthur, and instead chose to cut out the best bits. “Lord Bayard came to Camelot once, but that’s about as much knowledge that I have of Mercia” he shrugged, “I’ve never been there myself – in fact…I’ve never really been anywhere”. That was partially true, apart from the odd trip to the Isle of the blessed or somewhere to save Arthur; Merlin found that he hadn’t really travelled as such. He'd certainly done a lot more since he'd become Arthur's servant, that was for sure.

Once again she was questioning him, anymore of this and he was sure that he would be chained to a wall until he answered. “Really, it’s nothing” he chuckled. There was no way he’d be telling her about the dress!

Merlin leant back against the wall casually and folded his arms. It looked as though he was going to be there for a while so he’d best make himself comfortable. “Since I came to Camelot, – I used to live with my mother in Ealdor” he told her, directing a similar question her way. “Have you always been a noblewoman?” On realising what he had just said he mentally kicked himself, “I mean…have you always lived in Mercia? With your uncle?”

Hopefully this little question session would bide him some time and spare him the embarrassment and torment of Caitrin and Arthur (well, when Caitrin blabbed about Merlin’s antics to the Prince anyway).

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin remembered the events from Baynard's visit all too well. Her Uncle had been furious at the proceedings and had let Arthur know his exact feelings on the matter. Of course Caitrin had wanted to make her feelings known to Arthur as well but her Uncle had sent her back to the horses before she could crash the meeting. "I have only been to a few places myself." Caitrin said softly, "Here, Mercia and Sorelia." Of course her visit to the latter place she wanted to swiftly forget. She preferred it here in Camelot and she wanted to remain here to live out her days.

Getting any information out of Merlin seemed to be like drawing blood from a stone. It was simply an impossible task. She sighed slightly and cocked her head to the side, "Fine, I shall ask Arthur next time I see him what exactly you have been up to." Perhaps that would tempt him to tell her. She was sure he would rather tell her than let it fall to Arthur to enlighten the young noblewoman.

She nodded at the history he gave her. It seemed like a simple enough life. Caitrin had figured he had not been born into servitude as he was far too outspoken for that to be a possibility. Caitrin could not help but laugh as he asked her if she had always been a noblewoman, but his latter comment distracted her somewhat. "Oh I live with my Uncle in Camelot." She put in quickly, she supposed she had not been exactly clear when she had been explaining about her background before. Perhaps now she could offer Merlin more clarity. "I was born and raised in Mercia, but my father sent me to live with my Uncle in Camelot a few years ago." She shrugged softly as if it were nothing, but it was quite the opposite. By coming to Cameot she had had to deny her magic, but she had saved herself from another arranged marriage, and that was enough to make the sacrifice.

[em]

This was not good. If Caitrin went straight to Arthur and told him of what she'd seen, then he would never hear the end of it. Merlin couldn't deal with a lifetime of Arthur lecutring him about what a man did in his spare time. He'd had that before when he'd been caught carrying Morgana's dress! "He won't tell you." he swallowed and shook his head with some innocence. Both he and Caitrin knew that he was wrong and that Arthur would most likely blab all to her. "Because I haven't done anything."

She lived with her Uncle? Merlin wondered whether he'd seen him around or at court. "Who is your uncle?" he asked, "I might have seen him." Anything! Anything to draw her away from the subject of his 'hobby'. "I was born and raised in Mercia, but my father sent me to live with my Uncle in Camelot a few years ago." Just like him, only his mother had sent him.

"My mother sent me here" he smiled slightly, "thought that it would make me become something...I suppose being a manservant compensates" he gave a small smirk. He hadn't wanted to be Arthur's servant in the first place but now, as time had gone on he'd grown to secretly enjoy it. Arthur hadn't been as bad as he thought he would be and Merlin was learning never to quickly judge books by their covers. "Why did your father?" he asked and then looked embarassed, "sorry - I don't mean to pry."

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin raised her eye brows at Merlin. She was sure she could get Arthur to tell her whatever stupid antic Merlin had got up to. But did she really care that much to take time out of her day to inquire about it? She wasn’t sure, but implying that she would go to the ends of the earth to figure out the secret was, was certainly getting on Merlin’s nerves. Caitrin was enjoying his reaction too much to stop now. “Well if you haven’t done anything then you won’t mind me asking him.” She shrugged rather smugly and folded her arms at Merlin. He really was quite amusing.

The quick change of topic didn’t go unnoticed for Caitrin, but she found herself sucked into his topic anyway. Mainly because she would feel rude if she didn’t answer him. “His name is Lord Rouland de Archer.” She doubted that Merlin had ever seen him around court, mainly because her Uncle was quite reclusive, and tended only to be in Camelot when he needed to. Even then he never wanted to be out in society, he just hated other people really, but Caitrin accepted that, “He’s never at court though, so I make up for his absence.” She said rather brightly. He would never get any news if she wasn’t as active in court as she was.

Caitrin had no idea of the ambitions of those who had not been born into the nobility. Perhaps being a manservant was the best one could hope for. She was rather naive about these things, but she supposed serving the Prince of Camelot was quite the honour, or it would be to other people. She personally wouldn’t count it as an honour, but she wasn’t born into that way of life was she. “Do you enjoy your work?” She asked softly with a gentle smile. She brushed away his concern, “It’s fine.” She assured him, it wasn’t come big secret after all, and he had told her his story, she felt like it was just customary after all, “My father couldn’t look after me at home, so he said I could live with my Uncle, or he would arrange another marriage for me in haste.” She shrugged, she didn’t need to indulge Merlin in further details, because she was here, and clearly unmarried.

[/blockquote]