A Warlocks' Disguise {ArthurxFem!Merlin}

Chapter 20 - Merilyn

Two months had passed since Merilyn had sparred with Arthur using her new weapons, and life in Camelot had settled back into its usual rhythm. The weight of her swords and bowstaff, though comforting, had stayed in her chambers—after all, it wasn't proper for a servant to walk around armed in plain sight. Arthur had his training, and she had her duties, though today was an exception. Gaius had requested her help with an urgent matter, and Arthur, in a rare moment of leniency, had allowed her to step away from her duties.

She found herself in the lower town with Gaius, the air thick with the usual scent of wood smoke, livestock, and the bustling lives of Camelot's common folk. But today, the atmosphere felt heavier. They stood over a lifeless man, a victim of an unknown pathogen. His skin was pale, his eyes stark white and clouded. It sent a shiver down Merilyn's spine, though she tried to hide it behind her usual stoic expression.

"Are you scared?" Merilyn asked, her voice quieter than usual as she glanced down at the corpse.

Gaius, ever the calm and collected court physician, barely paused as he examined the body. "Of what?" he replied, his tone as steady as always.

Merilyn hesitated. "That you might catch whatever it is."

Gaius straightened up, wiping his hands on his robes as he looked at her. "I'm the court physician, Merlin. This is part of my job. Most of the time, there's nothing really to be scared of."

As if to challenge his own words, Gaius turned the man's face toward them. The sight of the man's white, dead eyes, staring unseeing at the sky, made Merilyn's stomach turn. She swallowed hard.

"You were saying?" she muttered, her discomfort evident.

Gaius frowned, covering the body with a sheet as if to shield it from prying eyes. "People mustn't see this. They'll panic."

Together, they worked quickly to load the body onto a cart, pushing it toward the castle to perform a more private examination. The wheels creaked loudly over the cobblestone streets, and Merilyn did her best to remain focused on the task at hand. But just as they approached the castle drawbridge, a familiar voice called out to them.

"Merlin! Gaius!"

Merilyn's heart leapt in her chest as she turned to see Guinevere approaching, her arms full of delicate flowers, likely meant for Lady Morgana. The sight of Gwen, with her warm smile and the brightness in her eyes, was like a balm to the unease that had been growing inside her all morning.

Gwen tilted her head curiously, glancing at the cart they were wheeling along. "What are you doing?"

Merilyn fumbled for a moment, her mind scrambling to come up with something that wouldn't raise suspicion. "Er... just moving something," she said, her tone a little too casual.

Gwen stepped closer, peering at the cart with a playful grin. "Looks heavy."

"Erm..." Merilyn shifted uncomfortably, her hands gripping the cart's handle a little tighter. "It's nothing, really."

For a moment, there was a small, awkward pause, until Merilyn, in a desperate attempt to shift the conversation, noticed the flowers in Gwen's arms. "Did someone get you flowers?"

Gwen blinked, then let out a soft, embarrassed giggle. "Oh! No, no," she said, shaking her head. "These are for Lady Morgana. Would you like one? A purple one. Purple suits you." She hesitated for a second, a slight blush rising in her cheeks. "Not that I'm saying red doesn't suit you."

Merilyn's breath caught in her throat as Gwen extended one of the flowers toward her. She could feel a strange warmth creeping up her neck as she accepted the blossom, a soft purple flower that looked oddly delicate in her calloused hands. "Thanks," she muttered, unsure of what to say as she awkwardly tucked the flower into her scarf.