Amelia's Story (BBC Merlin Story)

Chapter 35: Gwaine

Amelia's POV

Amelia, Merlin, and Arthur ride to a hill overlooking a small Village. They had just finished a long day of hunting. Amelia had enjoyed herself as she had been able to take a break from the emotionally draining performance she has to do in front of Morgana. To explain why she would go anywhere willingly with Merlin, Amelia had lied and said Arthur had insisted, not herself, and it would be suspicious to deny him.

"You know what you need after a hard day's hunt?" Arthur asks.

"Sleep," Merlin replies.

"Shower," Amelia mumbles to herself so the other two can't hear.

Arthur ignores Merlin. "A nice cold tankard of mead." He rides towards the Tavern.

Merlin is unimpressed. "Mead?" He looks at Amelia.

"It is nice to be refreshed." She offers. Merlin rolls his eyes and the two of them follow after Arthur.

——

Amelia, Arthur, and Merlin dismount and tie their horses up in the small Village.

"No better place to measure the mood of your people than the local Tavern," Arthur remarks.

"This is one of those moments where I tell you something is not a good idea and you ignore me, isn't it?" Merlin admonishes and Amelia sniggers.

"You are learning, Merlin. Slowly, but you are learning." Arthur replies with a quick reproachful look in Amelia's direction. "Now, remember, in here you are not my servant, I'm just a simple peasant like everyone else." They finish tying the horses up and walk towards the Tavern.

"Simple part's right," Merlin mutters as they walk side by side.

"What?" Arthur asks.

"He said, the sun is very bright." Amelia covers, hiding a smile.

"Yeah. Yeah, it is."

——

They walk into a busy Tavern and quickly take their seats. As they walk over, Amelia notices a man with long brown hair staring at them. She feels something niggling at her brain as if she should remember. Is this man important? Either way, Amelia admits he isn't bad looking. A woman soon walks over to take their order.

"Afternoon. What'll it be?" She asks.

"Er..." Arthur looks around, presumingly to figure out what others are having.

"Mmm... You're a handsome fellow." The woman says. Amelia looks away from Arthur and back to the woman, feeling curious.

"Well, you wouldn't be the first to say it," Arthur says cockily. Amelia rolls her eyes and Merlin huffs annoyed.

"Oh, no, sorry." The woman apologises. "I was talking about your friend here." She gazes appreciatively at Merlin. Merlin looks at her surprised. Amelia giggles, glad someone wasn't stroking her cousin's (it still feels weird when remembering that the two of them are related through their birth mothers being sisters) ego.

Arthur is stunned. "Him?"

Merlin's expression turns pleased. "Thank you."

Amelia laughs. "Yes, he has a lady friend who would agree."

"Mmm... lucky her and a shame for me." The woman responds. The women share a laugh while Merlin blushes.

"Three tankards of mead, please!" Arthur says abruptly. The woman gives Merlin another smile before walking away.

"I was wrong, coming here was a great idea," Merlin remarks.

"I still do not understand why Anne likes you," Arthur grumbles. It was just before the Goblin incident when Arthur had learned that something was going on between his servant and Amelia's and he hadn't stopped complaining about it.