Flower Power (Merlin)

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin de Archer was getting sick of constantly feeling in pain. More and more she’d regretted trying to do something daring, and going out to see the dragon, and the havoc it was causing. It had been reckless and stupid, and she had been practically bedridden for a week. Her Uncle had come to see her on occasions but she knew he was a busy man, and their estate was a half hour ride away. She couldn’t expect him to make that journey every day. However, Caitrin was now feeling a little better. She still had bandages on her ankle, but she could hobble around on it now, which left her with an unattractive limp, but in her opinion it was better than staying in bed all day. She still had the burns from the dragon as well, but they too were healing, and today they were concealed by her blue fitted dress. Now she was up and about she at least wanted to look presentable. The castle was still recovering from the attack, but Caitrin was determined to get over her own personal battles first. She had worried so much about everyone else when the battle against the dragon had still been waging, but there was almost an uneasy calm now. No one quite knew what was going to happen next. Of course all attentions were now directed at finding the Lady Morgana. Caitrin did feel so worried for her, she knew how dangerous it could be for a woman out on her own, especially as she had been kidnapped. Caitrin wondered if they would hear of a ransom soon. It wouldn’t surprise her.

It was these thoughts which guided her along her way as she had decided to pay Gauis a visit that morning. She did get some herbs from his supplies occasionally, as she was a herbalist herself, but this time she just needed some pain relief. Whatever she had been given wasn’t really working, and she needed something a bit stronger, and she was sure he would know how to help. She knew that if she stopped trying to force her ankle into motion her pain would probably decrease significantly, but Caitrin was a stubborn woman, and if she had decided to walk she was going to walk. She’d twisted her ankle before and survived, this would be no different. If this experience had taught her anything it was that going up against a dragon was not advisable. In bed she had had a lot of time to think, and she wondered if she would have been able to help if her sorcery had been more powerful than it actually was. Then again, Caitrin’s main element of control was with fire, and what good was that when you were up against a dragon? Caitrin winced as she shifted her weight onto her good foot and knocked loudly on the door but got no answer straight away. She frowned, she hadn’t hobbled all the way down here for nothing. Knocking on the door again she then slowly prised it open, and called round it, “Gaius? Are you in there?”

Tagged: Merlin
Timeline: After the dragon attack
Location: Gauis’s quarters
Time of Day: Morning[/color][/size]

[consultingwarlock]

It was a few weeks after Kilgharrah sought his revenge against Camelot, and things were slowly returning to some semblance of normality. The west section of the castle was on its way to being rebuilt, with numerous servants tasked to help quicken the process. The majority of buildings in the lower town, which weren't as sturdy of those in the upper, also had to be rebuilt. Even now, there was evidence that the Great Dragon had wrecked havoc upon Camelot; with rubble still in piles along the sides of the street, and scorch marks adorning various surfaces around the city. Despite this, the people were rejoicing, for word that the beast was slain by Prince Arthur was spread like wildfire around Camelot City and the surrounding area; Arthur being heralded as a hero. Merlin was happy for Arthur to take the credit, after all, if people knew the truth then he wouldn't be walking freely around Camelot. He just wished that it was his father, not himself who had stopped Kilgharrah. He had hardly gotten to know his father before he was taken away from him, and although he knew what Hunith did was only to protect him, Merlin found himself wondering what it would have been like had she told him sooner.

But these thoughts were at the back of his mind at that moment; thoughts of which herbs to collect were at the forefront. Gaius had been sent out to the outlying villages to check on the state of the populace, as the dragon had a far bigger reach than just Camelot City. Although many of the towns and villages had their own physicians, there were those whose healers were killed in the fires or too badly injured to be of any use. And as Gaius had already treated those in Camelot to the best of his ability, his services were being sent to those in need. Arthur was also being put to good use; the Prince was constantly on patrol, the search for Morgana ever expanding. This meant that Merlin was left with a lot more free time as Arthur was away; and before he left, Gauis had noticed this fact, prompting him to pass over his duties to Merlin while he was away.

Which was why the young warlock was now making his way back into the castle, arms laden down with numerous bunches of herbs to replenish the stocks with. He had gone out earlier that morning to fetch them, having no need to wake Arthur up today as the Prince was on a night patrol. Rounding the corner to the physician's quarters, he noticed the door slightly ajar and frowned. Walking up to it slowly, he peered around the corner and saw a young woman in a blue dress standing in the middle of the room. Not wanting to startle her, he knocked on the door lightly with one hand, the other full of herbs. As he did so he called out, "Hello? Can I help you with anything?"

[Caitrin de Archer]

Caitrin felt like she was in a better mood now simply because she was up and about. Being bedridden didn’t really suit Caitrin in the slightest. She had hated the past few days, while she had been recovering. Of course Arthur had come to visit her, to see how she was faring, but even he had known how much she hated being cooped up. She would much rather be out with her mare, or even taking a stroll than being confined to her guest chambers. However, that was the price of her stupidity. She had run straight into the thick of the fighting and this was her punishment. However, her burns were healing, and her ankle was the only thing ailing her now. More and more Caitrin was starting to wonder about sorcery, and creatures of magic. Caitrin herself was a sorceress, and she had always assumed that other sorcerers would be like her, and only want to use their gifts for good. However, it felt like the longer she spent in Camelot the more that view was being changed. In Mercia sorcery had not been frowned upon, but that wasn’t to be thought of now, Caitrin was never going back to Mercia. Camelot was her home now, even if she had to forever hide this part of her.

She was still standing outside the door, and eventually she thought to open it, “Gaius?” She called out gently again, and then realised he mustn’t be in. Pressing her lips together, she stepped into the workshop, still trying to decide what to do. She wondered if Gaius would be annoyed to find her trespassing in his space, but she really was just looking for him and some pain relief of course. Gaius always seemed to be in good spirits anyway, so she was sure there would be no harm in waiting here for him. She was silly to think that he would be in here really, after all, she supposed he must have plenty of people to tend to after the dragon attack. Really, she had got off lightly compared to many of the others who had suffered during the attack.

She was occupying herself, looking at the books and potions on the shelves when she heard someone come into the room as well. She was expecting to see Gaius when she turned to face the voice, but instead there was a man standing in the door way. Caitrin had seen him before, but couldn’t quite recall where exactly. After all, the castle did hold quite a lot of servants. “Oh, hello. I was just waiting to see Gaius.” She smiled softly at him, “Are you waiting for him as well?”