500 Days of Freya (Merlin)

Care

Chapter 6

Warning/s: None really.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

A/N: Hello, guys. Thanks for your prompts – keep them coming!

Prompt from masterthiefstone – "Freya has to look after Merlin after he was captured and tortured"

Freya paced her room restlessly, twisting her hands together as she rolled her shoulders back and forth. Guinevere glanced up from her paperwork and sighed at her. "Sit," she said commandingly, indicating the empty, oaken chair beside her.

Freya huffed and threw herself into the chair with such force that it rocked backwards, and she had to grab the table to pull herself back. The legs hit the ground with a resounding echo and Gwen winced as Freya started drumming on the table.

"Freya, he's coming back," she said gently to the agitated woman. Freya looked at her and nodded.

"You're right," she said, taking her hands from the table and laying them on her lap. Gwen sighed in relief and resumed her working.

"They'll be back soon enough, mark my words," the older woman murmured, signed her name with a flourish at the bottom of a page.

"I hope so," Freya responded, drawing her legs up to her chest, smoothing her long, lilac dress down over her knees.

Night was falling and they still hadn't returned.

Freya was sitting in Gwen's chambers, both of them by the fire, wine in one hand and nibbling at various meats and fruits with the other. Freya had been anxious and tense all day, but with the aid of Gwen's jokes (and wine) had relaxed considerably.

Gwen spluttered with laughter and sprayed wine over the floor from her mouth. Freya laughed hysterically as Gwen attempted to cover her mouth and recover her dignity, neither with any real success.

When their laughter had died down, Freya took another sip from her glass and swallowed happily, the luxurious, thick liquid slipping easily down her throat. "What are you and Arthur going to do when they get home?" Freya asked, her eyes glinting mischievously as she nudged Gwen with her bare feet.

"Much the same as you and Merlin probably," Gwen giggled. "Stay in bed all night and then all the next day!"

Freya burst into hysterics again, even though she wasn't exactly sure why that comment was so hilarious. "You two can't, you have duties to fulfil!"

"Ah, yes. The struggles of being queen," Gwen sighed, in mock dramatics, and then giggled again, taking another sip of wine.

Freya opened her mouth to retort but a messenger burst into the room, looking rather confused as he saw the Queen and her First Lady rolling around on the floor in fits of laughter, several bottles that used to contain wine scattered around the room.

"Sorry for bursting in, my ladies, but I have an urgent message," the messenger blurted out. "The King and his companions have returned from their quest."

Freya and Gwen sprang to their feet, setting the wine aside. "Shall I tell them you are coming to meet them?" the messenger asked politely.

"Yes!" Gwen yelled, pulling her shoes back on, and hurrying to collect her shawl.

"Arthur!" Gwen shouted joyously as she and Freya pelted down the steps leading into Camelot's courtyard. The King looked up and his face broke into a large smile as he saw his wife.

Freya searched the group anxiously. "Where's Merlin?" she asked, wondering whether he had retreated to the stables to attend to his horse himself, instead of the groom.