You Again? (Merlin)

[Caitrin de Archer]

Though her children were only a few days old, Caitrin felt more tired now than she had done after the birth. A few days with hardly any sleep at night had left her completely drained. At the moment she just wanted to go back to the estate, and rest, because at least there they wouldn’t be disturbed by the comings and goings of everyone in the castle. At home the servants could just be told to leave them alone, but to tell every servant in Camelot to comply with them would take forever, and Caitrin didn’t have the energy. She gave a gentle yawn as she laid her daughter down in her crib as she was drifting off into sleep, and she gave a gentle sigh and sat down on the bed. She didn’t often get peaceful moments anymore, when she wasn’t tending to her twins, she was with her husband. Just because they had their children now didn’t mean they could neglect each other’s needs of course. Griff at the moment had gone to ask after their lunch, which as usual was late. Caitrin ran a hand over her face, at some point she would have to ask for fresh blankets for the twins, as there was still a bit of a chill in the air, and she didn’t want either of her children to catch a chill so early after the birth.

Arthur stirred softly in his sleep, and groaned slightly. Caitrin held her breath for a moment, hoping he wasn’t about to wake. If he didn’t wake she could just go back to sleep. If Griff came in and saw they were all asleep he’d either join them or just leave her alone for a while. Yawning into the back of her hand, she relaxed as Arthur stopped stirring, and settled once more. Caitrin pulled the blankets over him and Esmae and lay back on her bed. She had only been there a matter of moments before there was a loud knock on the door. Caitrin inwardly cringed and straight away, Arthur began to cry softly. She swiftly spun off the bed, and scooped her son up into her arms, supporting his head with her hand. She rocked him gently up and down, already cursing whoever was at the door. Arthur’s cries weren’t as ear piercing as usual, which was disappointing in a way, Caitrin wanted whoever had dared to bother her and her children to understand why she was so annoyed. “Enter.” She finally said curtly, she would have been more pleasant if she’d had more sleep, and if she didn’t keep being interrupted, but that was just the way it was.

Tags: Merlin
Timleine: Series 4
Setting: Caitrin and Griff Aubert's guest chambers
Time of Day: Afternoon

[em]

Before returning to his duties for Arthur that afternoon, Merlin had a tonic that he needed to stop off and deliver to Lady Caitrin. She had requested it just the previous evening, and with Gauis as busy as he was - it had been left up to Merlin to make it and deliver it. Not that he minded those tasks of course, but to Lady Caitrin - oh no, now there lay the problem. Ever since she'd caught him with her jewellery and had managed to somehow get it into her head that he liked to play dress up?!
That had gone down well, and thankfully Merlin hadn't had much to do with her since then. It was only now he was dreading this little meeting once and for all.

He came to the door of the guest chambers where she was staying, following the delivery of her twins just a few days earlier. With a hesitant hand, he finally knocked on the door - hearing the familar voice calling for him to enter.

Merlin opened the door quietly and poked his head round. "Im sorry to disturb you and the children my lady, but you requested a tonic?" he apologised politely and waited for the signal to come in more. After all, he didn't want to disturb her recovery, nor her time bonding with her babies.