500 Days of Freya (Merlin)

Awkward

Chapter 27

Warning/s: None

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

A/N: This is such a good prompt and I've so not done it justice ugh

Prompt: Nicely Nicely's little sister - "the knights have noticed a new servant girl and are busy building up the courage to approach her, when Arthur comes over and breaks the truth to them."

"She must be new," Leon said thoughtfully. "I have never seen her before, and I encounter all of the servants at some point or the other."

"I wonder what brings her here," Elyan added, sharpening his sword. The new maidservant was pretty, with long, dark hair that matched her eyes and a deep red dress. She was carrying a basket of freshly laundered cloaks across to them, and had only just stepped out of the castle.

"I wonder if she's available," Gwaine said, as if that was the most important thing in the world. The other knights groaned but secretly, they shared the sentiment as well.

"One of us should go and welcome her to Camelot," Percival suggested, but nobody moved. They were all too intimidated.

"She looks a little lost," Leon pointed out, as the girl looked around her before seeming to gather her bearings and heading in the right direction. "Maybe we should assist her?"

"That basket does look rather heavy," Elyan agreed, and the other knights murmured their assent.

"So, who's going to do it?" Percival asked, all of them staring at the maidservant still. She hadn't noticed their staring, seemingly too wrapped up in not tripping over her own feet and going in the right direction.

"You go, Gwaine," Leon said. "You're used to this kind of thing. Go and say hello, and then introduce her to us."

"Alright then," Gwaine said, though he didn't sound as confident as he usually did when approaching a maiden. He made as if to walk towards her, but then stopped himself. "Arthur's coming, it's too late now," he said by way of excuse.

The others nodded their agreement and turned to face their king. "What are you all looking at?" Arthur asked as he got closer.

"That serving girl," Leon said, nodding towards her. "We were wondering if she was new; we have never seen her before, and Gwaine in particular seems to know every maiden in this city."

Arthur laughed. "She is new, you are right. I don't think she would be particularly interested in you, though, Gwaine. Her name is Freya and she moved here to be with her betrothed."

"Oh?" Gwaine said, far too casually to actually be casual. "Who's that?"

"My idiot of a manservant," Arthur grinned. He was looking over at Freya again, and when the knights followed his gaze, they saw that Merlin had joined her, and had taken possession of the wicker basket. The two chatted as they made their way over and once they reached the small group of knights, Gwaine wolf-whistled.

Merlin merely rolled his eyes whilst Freya flushed a bright red. "This is Freya," he introduced. "We're to be married."

"When did this happen?" Leon asked incredulously. He had known Merlin longer than the others and had never heard Merlin express even an opinion on women.

"About four years ago," Merlin said casually. "It's complicated." Freya smiled shyly, and then curtsied to them all. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Knights."

"The pleasure is ours," Gwaine replied, with slightly too much innuendo in his voice. Arthur kicked him inconspicuously and gestured for them to carry on making their way across the field.

Once they were out of earshot, Arthur glanced round at all of his men. "Right, being with Freya is the happiest I've ever seen Merlin, so treat her like a fragile piece of glass, alright? If she got hurt, Merlin would be destroyed." The knights nodded, a little surprised by Arthur's blatant affection, but before long the usual king was back and barking orders at them to get ready and do their practice drills.

A/N: so much homework *cries*