Queen of Camelot ~~~ON HIATUS~~~

Chapter Thirteen (IV)

"Nevermind that I need you to clean my uniform for the feast." Artura slapped down the clothes as she did her best not to breath in.

Merlin took a nice deep woof of the thing before nearly gagging to death. Artura couldn't blame him and so she didn't shout at his rudeness. "When's the last time these were cleaned?"

Artura's eye leaped from the clothes to Merlin. "Last year some time. Before the Feast of Beltane." She shrugged.

Merlin looked so disgusted and ready to puke it was almost funny. He better pray he didn't actually vomit for he would have to clean it up and most likely spend some time in the stakes. Especially since she knew it was from the clothes and not him being sick.

"Did it end in a food fight?" Merlin weazed his face going a little pale from lack of oxygen.

Artura chuckled, "Don't all feasts?"

Merlin gaze found the floor as he shrugged. "I wouldn't know. The airs and graces of the court are a mystery to me."

Artura allowed a flash of a frown to cross her face before she slapped Merlin's shoulder harshly as she grinned. "Not after tonight they won't be."

Merlin's eyes raised up to her. She wasn't certain why but her stomach did a little jig. "I'm going to be at the banquet?" He sounded so excited and in a weird brotherly sort of way it was a bit cute.

"Not quite. You'll be there to make sure my cup doesn't run dry. If I have to sit through Bayard's boring speeches, I don't see why you should get out of it. Be sure to polish the buttons. Do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?" Artura raced through that part now excited to show the young man the honor he would be wearing.

Merlin frowned pulling at his everyday clothes. "Won't this do?"

Artura suppressed a giggle doing her best to turn it into a more evil laugh. "No. Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot."

She raced to her dressing screen pulling out the dirtiest costume ever. She often pondered on why they would make anyone wearing such an ugly outfit. It now made sense it was most entertaining thing when the speeches got dull.

"You can't be serious."

--

All watched as King Bayard signed the treaty allowing you'll be a witness of this crucial event.

As everyone was cheering and app losing Gwen giggled as she made her way the friend, Merlin.

"Nice hat." She commented swatting at the feather that fell into his face.

He gave her a sour look as he pushed it back. "Thanks."

He opened his mouth to say more, but he found himself distracted by the angel from earlier, Cara.

Gwen follows his gaze searching for what could leave in such awe. She spotted the most beautiful girl she had ever seen. There was a small pain in her chest as she muttered, "She's pretty isn't she? For a handmaiden, I mean."

Merlin eyes didn't even flicker towards Gwen. "She's pretty for a princess, let alone a handmaiden." He said his voice but a whisper.

Gwen couldn't help but role her eyes. "Mmm." She hummed as Uther finished signing the treaty as well.

Once again the room erupted into applause as the two shook hands selling the treaty. Gwen took this time to slip away from the love struck puppy.

As the cheers died down Bayard raised his glass for a toast. And began as Arthur had described as a long and dull speech. "People of Camelot, for a great many years we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them."

He gestures to the left of him and a girl with her eyes cast downward shuffled towards him holding a box of goblets.

"As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship, I present these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last." Bayard explained cheerfully.

Uther sent him a bright fake smile.he wishing the man would just shut up so that they could celebrate.

Merlin's whole body went on alert as he felt a presence standing next to him. He turned to face Angel...er Cara.

" Merlin, I need to speak to you." She said nervously. Her gaze jumping around and sending the anxiety to Merlin as well.

"The wounds we received in battle..." Bayard continued not getting the message from Uther.

"What is it?" Merlin breathed his eyes scanning the crowd searching for danger.

Tears started to sprout from her eyes and she squealed out. "Not here, please. I don't know who else to tell." Merlin does his best to give a comforting smile as she gives her a nod. He handed his jug to a servant passing by and gently lead the girl out of the room.

--

Artura sat there boredly doing her best to drown out the boring speech. She loved the eating part of feast but she had to agree with her father that the guest they invited always felt the need to speak for just about way longer then is never necessary. Het father stood by those words and when they went to another kingdom he was sure to keep his speech short and yet long enough to be respectful.

Bayard and no such manners. Artura signalled for Merlin to come over to 1. Fill her cup back up and 2. So she could complain to him about how lame it all was.

Sadly, some other servant came forward so she only got her drink refilled. "Where is Merlin?" She thought, knowing she was going to make him pay for ditching her.

Merlin wasn't only gone the beautiful maiden Merlin had been speaking to moments before was gone as well. Merlin had left her for a girl! Oh man Artura was going to give him a run for his money, but first she had to find away through this blasted speech.

She turned to the only one she could complain to now, her father. "When is he going to finish?" She muttered. He smiled brightly patting her shoulder before taking the goblet from the terrified maid.

Artura did her best to come off the least amount of threatening as she took her own goblet. She looked over at the golden one wishing it had been hers but it was not worth making a scene over so she said nothing.

-- -- -- -- --

A.N: That took so long and I'm so very sorry. 1000 (1k) views oh man I'm so happy and it all thanks to you beautiful wonderful outstanding people and there isn't an easy enough way to express how grateful I am. Ugh I love this book so much and just love playing around with characters. So now onto the book. So I doubt Merlin had that big of a crush of Cara but I did think it was cute since I didn't realize who she was at first. Oh and while this chapter is being published I won't get to the others until some other time. The next section should be out with Thanksgiving so look forwards to that then it should be all done during fall break. I also want to release the Fifth episode during winter break as well. That chapter will hopefully have Alice and maybe more Artura Merlin moments. That bring me to another point I just want you all to know I love it when you vote so thank you guys and if O don't reply it doesn't mean I'm not listening or don't care I just am blown away and am unsure how to respond but I am listening and will do my best to intertwine all the comments in. I love you guys so much (I'm so sappy)!

Issue # 13: The biggest problem I'm finding in this episode is whether Artura would do to find the flower as Alice or Arthur. However because you got the whole Merlin helping him thing I think it needs to be Arthur but if you got an amazing solution that I could use and of course give you credit for please, I need help.

Just like to point out that normally I release the whole episode together but because school exist I just want to give out, even if it's a small amount of the book so that you will look forward and now you can have more say in this chapter.

*okay one last thing. So I don't know about you but I don't exactly want to write each episode out. I'm happy to do so if you want but I'm not complaining if your happy with less of the chapters. If this is done I might make up a different adventure instead. I will keep all episodes that play an effect later of course. So please state you option and if you don't mind some being skipped let me know which one I should skip or which one I should even think about skipping. I am here to please so give me feedback.