So How You See The Things Here?! (Merlin)

[Princess Polyxena]

King Uther Pendragon had invited King Magna of Graecia for a visit to Camelot to renew the peace treaty. When Princess Polyxena heard the news she got very excited because she hadn't been to Camelot for quite a few months. King Magna, for some reason, didn't want his daughter to come along, but Xenia was determined and after asking him a lot, he finally agreed. Xenia, with the help of her maid, began to pack some clothes as they were to stay at the castle for some days.

The next morning, her and her father started their journey to Camelot. As always, Xenia looked out of the window of the carriage to enjoy the wind, which was blowing in her face. King Magna was very busy looking over documents to see how he could strengthen their ties with Camelot.

When they arrived, King Uther, along with Prince Arthur, were waiting and greeted them a warm welcome. The two Kings were happy and began discussing the meeting and their politicans. While Prince Artur, with his great charm, welcomed Princess Polyxena and accompanied her to show her her chamber, where she will be staying for the next few days. The Castle was the same as she remembered it. Her room was big with a good view of the city. She was also given a good maid to attend to her and her needs.

Xenia suddenly started to cough. Oh no, Xenia remembered, she forgot to bring her medicine with her. Though, this was very bad, she thought that this was a great opurtunity to see Gauis. So she left her room and went to find Gauis, the physician. She knocked on the door, but no one answered. So Xenia decided to open it by herself. As she opened the door the room was as she remembered it. But it was empty. Xenia looked around, but still nothing. She decided to shout out a little louder in case he didn't hear her come in,

"Gauis, are you here?"

Tags: Merlin
Timeline: Series 1
Place: Chambers of Gauis[/blockquote]

[youngwarlock]

"...And I need you to fetch me some devil's claw root" Gaius had said immediately after declaring that Merlin go and fetch him some water. He was in the lower town, treating a poor fellow for joint pain, and Merlin for the life of him didn't have the foggiest idea what devil's claw root looked like, he was counting on it being labelled when he got back to the chambers.

Taking a bucket with him, he set off, weaving in and out amongst the townsfolk on his way to collect the water. After doing so, he headed back to Gaius' chambers and upon reaching the physician's court, found that the door was already ajar.

Puzzled by this, Merlin set the bucket of water down on the floor and silently moved closer. He was certain Gaius would have closed the door behind him like always as they were leaving, infact Merlin was sure he could remember him doing so, yet here it was, open...just like any other open door... of course, its a door how else would it look? Mentally silencing himself Merlin listened as he paused at the doorway, almost jumping out of his skin as the sound of coughing startled him. Ok someone was definitely in there!

He boldly peered through the door and gazed at the figure that met his eyes, his mouth falling open and his lips forming a circular shape as though he were about to speak.

The figure was that of a woman, an extremely beautiful woman, Merlin thought, and most certainly royalty judging by her attire. It suddenly occured to him that this could be one of the royal guests that Arthur had spoken of just yesterday. He had mentioned something about a king visiting Camelot but hadn't said too much about it, only that he would be accompanied by his wife or daughter, Merlin couldn't remember which, especially not at this particular moment.

"Oh..." He finally spoke the only word he could manage, his mouth remaining open as he slowly moved through the doorway, eyes fixated on the young woman. He swallowed nervously and braved a few more words. "Can I help you?"

[Princess Polyxena]

As Polyxena waited for a reply from Gauis, she suddenly saw a tall guy approaching her before he stopped and stood opposite of her and greeted her kindly but a bit silly. The young man was looking a bit silly just staring at her. After staring at her for a few moments, he finally asked her what she wanted. Xenia smiled at him and did a scan of the young man. He was tall with brown hair and green eyes. He was very thin, though, and from the clothes it seemed like he was a servant. A servant to Gauis? Maybe, she didn't remembered hearing that Gauis had a servant.

She was never rude nor hostile with the servants, or maids and nor would she begin now. She was just feeling a little upset and startled, but slowly she started to smile to the guy who was smiling to her and told him, "Um I was looking for Gauis. Do you know where he can be found?" She asked him kindly, before she started coughing again. She looked around the room and as always it was a mess. The tables were covered with bottles and different medical equipment. There were also a lot of books everywhere and the herbs hanging from the grate from the ceiling were giving off a special scent into the air.

Xenia looked back to the young man and smiled. He looked friendly enough. She coughed again, but this time more loudly. The trip here had tired her and she badly wanted to get ready for the celebration tonight. But she wouldn't be able to attend the celebration if she could not find Gaius to give her some medicine. She coughed again and again but this time more grimly for the idea of not being able to attend the celebrations was damping her spirits. Also, she didn't want to be afraid the young man.

[youngwarlock]

"I'm sorry... my lady, I don't know when he'll be back" Merlin replied, addressing her properly this time as he took in the extent of her beauty. She really was quite something and most definitely of royal blood.

"Here, sit down" He continued, growing concerned as her coughing persisted and seemed to worsen. He clumsily led her in the direction of the bed Gaius always rested his patients on, knocking a medicine bottle from the edge of a cluttered shelf as he did so and letting it fall. He couldn't use magic to save it infront of this woman, she'd probably have him executed.

The bottle smashed on the stony floor, releasing the deep blue liquid within. "Sorry" he apologised, feeling like a complete idiot by now. Maybe Arthur was right about that after all...

"Has Gaius treated you for this cough before?" He asked hopefully, not knowing wether she had even met Gaius before, nevermind been treated by him. Perhaps she knew the name of the remedy. Merlin would never be able to prescribe a medicine himself, he didn't have a clue what kind of substances lay within the hundreds of bottles in the room. Most of them weren't even labelled, making him wonder how on earth Gaius managed sometimes.

[Princess Polyxena]

The young man showed her to the bed and advised her to sit there, as her cough was very awful and pesky. But the worst part of the story was that Gauis wasn't there and if she was unable to get her medicine, she won't be in a fit enough state to attend the celebration later that night. Although she sat in the bed and nodded her head to the boy in thanks, she preferred not to talk for a while, because talking was making her cough even more.

While she sat there, she watched as the boy, searched with his thin fingers amongest some bottles. A lot of bottles... When suddenly a little bottle fall onto the floor. It broke immediately and the blue liquid poured all over a small part of the floor. The young man immediately apologized for his clumsiness. She searched for something in her pocket and when she found it she pulled it out. "Here! You may need it. Be careful not to hurt your hands." She told him kindly, though she was still exhausted. It was a very beautiful silk scarf in a beige colour.

She coughed again, "Yes Gaius has treated me for this cough." She answered, before she paused to breath a little. This annoying cough was allowing her to breathe very well. The room was very busy, containing a lot of things and a bit small and in all honesty making her feel a little closed in. So much so, she decided she was going to leave the room and go back to her chambers, which was bigger. But she didn't want to leave him in this way. So she decided to stay a bit longer. "I don't know what the medicine is called, but I know what it contains!"

[youngwarlock]

"Oh, no, I couldn't...really, its fine." Merlin protested as he stopped to admire the beautiful silk scarf Polyxena had just offered him. He was immensely flattered by the gesture but he couldn't take such a gift from her. He hoped she wouldn't think him rude not to accept but such an item would only get soiled and ruined in his possession. "Thankyou though, thats very kind." he added before busying himself once more, searching through the potion bottles. A useless task since he had no idea what to look for, especially now that Polyxena had declared not knowing the name of the medicine. What should he do? Even if he knew of its contents, there was no way he could mix the tincture himself.

He paused momentarily as an idea struck him. "I think I remember where Gaius keeps the cough medicine!"

Positioned across the otherside of the room, was a smaller shelf occupied by yet more potion bottles, some of which were empty... yes, very empty indeed. Merlin grinned to himself as he stepped closer, glancing behind him to make sure the woman was still seated on the bed at the other end of the chamber. He looked on with concern as she continued coughing. It really did seem quite bad.

Making sure she wasn't watching, Merlin snatched up an empty bottle and focused carefully, whispering his incantation so that the woman would not hear... "Bræcdrenc..." A golden glow flitted over his eyes as the bottle began to fill up with a vibrant purple liquid. The spell had of course been one for cough medicine.

Feeling proud of himself, Merlin spun around to face the woman, holding the bottle in mid air. "I found it!" He declared with a smile before sprinting over to her and offering her the medicine, hoping she recognised the colour of the liquid.

[Princess Polyxena]

Polyxena was disappointed a little bit by his behavior. She wanted to give him this small scarf, because he was very friendly and treated her kindly. She tried to insist, but he did not accept it, so finally she pulled back and kept it in her hands. She pressed it towards her head, because her stupid cough made her cry. She didn't want to, but she could not control it as her eyes filled with small, hot tears. But she changed back to her previous position and managed to stop the drops from falling onto her cheeks. Suddenly, she got upset by the idea that the young man could had seen her tears. But she took a look at him and saw that he was busy searching for the right medicine.

When she heard the young man say that he had found her medicine, she instantly felt happy. At least she would feel good and fine again and she could go back to worrying about what dress she would wear for tonight's celebration. As the man went to the other side of the room, she remembered that she didn't ask him his name or why he was there. So she coughed again and asked him very kindly, "What's your name? You must be new here, because I didn't see you around a month ago." Her eyes were focused on his back, and she waited for him to turn around and answer her.

He turned and walked his way over to her. He showed her the bottle to see if he had found the right bottle. The colour looked right, but something looked odd. She took it from his hands and she re-visioned it. "It looks fine! But it look a bit, hmm magical. You think that Gauis put some fairy dust in here?" She was looking at the bottle and before she looked him in his eyes. Her eyes was brightening at the idea of the fairy dust, because she was sometimes like a little girl, believing in the fairies and other magical creations.

[youngwarlock]

Merlin hadn't heard Polyxena ask his name, since he'd been far too focused on conjuring up a special cough medicine that would probably put Gaius' own tinctures to shame. Smiling as the woman took the bottle from his hands, he waited for her to try the liquid inside. Instead, she gave him such a shock he almost couldn't believe what he was hearing! Did she just tell him the medicine looked magical? How could it look magical? Well obviously it was magical, but how could she possibly know?! Merlin was trying desperately not to panic, although his heart was racing as he stood, completely tense and staring blankly at the young woman. He imagined all the colour must have drained from his face by now and he only hoped she didn't notice.

"You think that Gauis put some fairy dust in here?" She said.

Fairy dust? Gaius?! Merlin's expression suddenly became one of bewilderment as his mouth formed a slight and very tense grin, his eyes wide with disbelief. Was she serious? Wait, did she have magic? No, he couldn't sense anything magical about her. Perhaps she knew about Gaius practicing magic many years ago. Merlin decided not to ask just incase. Besides it was highly unlikely, she looked far too young to have known Gaius that long. One thing was for certain though, she appeared very hopeful at the idea of the remedy containing fairy dust. So hopeful infact that it almost made him want to confess just how magical the medicine really was.

At that moment, Merlin realised he was staring as he found her eyes gazing back into his own. Blinking he discreetly wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers and feigned a look of genuine surprise.

"Ffff...airy dust?" he said, coming across more confused than anything else, or so he hoped. "Oh. No!" He exclaimed with a short burst of laughter. "I don't think Gaius practices any form of magic. Infact..." he continued, growing more serious now "Magic is banned from Camelot, you won't find any fairies around here...or anything else magical for that matter."

[Princess Polyxena]

Polyxena held the liquid, while the young man was thinking over something. She was joking. She knew very well that Gauis has stopped using magic a long time ago. Uther was very strict with the use of magic and unfortunately her father was going in the same direction. She didn't want this. She wanted things to be like when she was younger and their kingdom was free for all people who used magic. But this would mean war with Uther, the King of Camelot. And Camelot was too powerful in comparison with her kingdom. So if she was going to help someone, she was going to do so secretly from her father.

A cough then reminded her that she had yet to take her medicine. "Oh, oh. Sorry! Just sometimes, I think of what it was like when I was a little girl." She laughed and then proceed to drink the medicine. "Yes, unfortunately magic is not allowed here." She said with a tone of sadness in her voice. When suddenly she thought what she told the young man, whom she has only known for some minutes, that she is agreed with the use of magic.

She stood up, feeling the medicine doing her some good already and looked to him in the eyes, and begged him. "Oh forgot what I said. Please don't tell to anyone about it!" he smiled sweetly and hoped that he was not going to tell anyone what she had said.

It was time for her to leave and go back to her bedchambers. She hasn't seen the Lady Morgana yet and she wanted to. "I have to go. Thanks for your help with the medicine! But before I go, please tell me your name and what are doing here in Camelot?"

[youngwarlock]

"Oh, oh. Sorry! Just sometimes, I think of what it was like when I was a little girl."

The young warlock tilted his head curiously at these words. Had this beautiful young woman of noble blood grown up in a fair and just land surrounded by magic? Only for it to be ripped away during the time of the great purge? Merlin desperately wanted to find out but he felt he was in no position to pry. Instead he watched as she drank the enchanted medicine before surprising him further as she spoke again, a tone of sadness in her words. This woman was not against the use of magic!

Had he heard right? He must have, for she seemed to grow nervous all of a sudden, and moments later Merlin was surprised to find her practically begging him not to tell anyone how she felt about the situation! "I won't say a word, I promise!" The warlock blurted out, wanting to say so much more to her! Wanting to reassure her that he had a destiny to fulfil, and that it meant he would do everything in his power to make sure that one day magic would return to these lands.

Instead he stood helplessly, his heart racing and his mouth open as though he were trying to find the words to replace the ones he wanted to speak. There were none. He watched sadly as the woman turned to leave, pausing only to inquire about who he was.
"I'm Merlin" he replied with a sad smile. "I'm prince Arthur's manservant." He hated admitting that. It was certainly going to take some getting used to.

"I hope you start to feel better this evening" he added, giving her a polite bow of his head.

[Princess Polyxena]

Xenia smiled at the fact that he would not tell anyone about her thoughts. It will be a great disappointment for her father and a big shame to learn that his lovely daughter agrees with the use of magic until now. She could agree when she was a little girl, but not now. It was hard for her to hide her love for the people with magic, so it will be harder for them as well. They have it in their veins, and must keep their true self from everyone. This fact was really sad.

Polyxena had made her decision to leave, but when he heard that Merlin is Arthur's new servant, she stayed there and wanted to learn more. "Arthur's manservant? Oh that would be difficult. Arthur has been a bit hard with his servants, until now." She didn't want to be afraid of him, but that was the truth. Arthur was stubborn enough. "And you are sleeping here, in Gaius’s chambers?" she asked full of worry, because when she came here he was there, before her. So he was living here, he was sharing the same room with Gaius, or the prince was ill and came to get for him a medicine.

[youngwarlock]

Merlin's stomach seemed to tighten at her words. Indeed he was already having a hard time with Arthur and it was no surprise to learn that he had treated his servants badly in the past. The prince was a rude and arrogant ass.

"Yes" he said, in response to her question, glad to be changing the subject for a moment. "Oh I'm Gaius' apprentice" he continued, realising that this may confuse the young woman. It may have seemed like an odd arrangement but it was one that worked very well. Infact Merlin dreaded to think where he might be right now if Gaius hadn't been here. "He's teaching me how to make medicine." The boy added with a friendly smile.

[Princess Polyxena]

Gaius' apprentice??!! Didn’t he say that he is Arthur's manservant? Now, she was confused. She was waiting for an answer like "I'm here to get something for Arthur." She wasn't ready for this answer. She coughed again. "That must be interesting!" said a bit confused, but trying to smile as always. "But when you find the time to make prince Arthur's jobs and to learn and for medicine. That must be hard!" added with a sweet tone in her voice and a worry about him. He has to be careful, not to overdo it.

Oh how the time has passed! Their chat was interesting, but sure the fact that she was there and speaking all this time with a servant, wasn't going to make her father happy. She also has to go and visit her lovely friend Morgana. They have to do so many things, and she was waiting for her. "Have you met Lady Morgana?" she asked polite. She was sure that he had, but she just asked. Ok now she really had to go, but she wanted to chat with this young man, who seemed like a very interesting person.

[youngwarlock]

"Yes" Merlin agreed in response to her first question with a shy smile. It was indeed hard to find the time to do anything except chores these days. If the young boy wasn't running around after Arthur, he was running errands for Gaius. It seemed never ending and the young servant had no time for himself anymore. He suddenly found himself blushing a little as the young woman spoke to him, sounding concerned for him despite the fact that he'd just revealed being a servant. It seemed he had also revealed the extent of the young woman's kindness.

Her next question would be far simpler to answer. "Yes I have" he replied with a slight nod of his head. "I take it you two are friends?" Merlin could have kicked himself for asking this. Not only was it wrong of him to pry considering his position as a servant in the royal household, but he also realised it was probably a ridiculous question. It seemed rather obvious that Polyxena would be friends with the lady Morgana and the young warlock found himself feeling rather awkward as he awaited her response.