Harmony (Merlin)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Warning/s: Little bit of a theme of rape; don't worry, it's not even mentioned but it's suggested.

A/N: I made up a kingdom called Eglesgott in here because I had a random dream about it last night.

Sorry for any mistakes. I'm really not well and even after writing this my brain is super tired. So I didn't check it over properly.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, or Colin Morgan (but I wish I did).

Merlin frowned at herself in the hanging mirror. In the looking glass, she could see her head and the upper half of her torso; and what a flaunting upper torso it was.

The dress was very low cut, and the bodice underneath pushed up breasts she wasn't really aware she had. The gold and black complimented her pale and flawless skin; her hair was still in a messy bun but a strand or two had fallen out and lay across her shoulder, the contrast like coal against snow.

Her lips were slightly chapped but somehow ere even more beautiful with that feature. They were a rosy pink, the bottom larger than the top, and Merlin ran her tongue over them nervously.

Two sparkling blue eyes grinned at her. Don't worry, they seemed to say, it'll be fine!

"Merlin? Are you stuck?" Gwen called from the other side of the changing screen.

Merlin snapped back into the world that everyone else inhabited, and out of hers. "No, I'm fine. Just a second!"

With one final adjustment, tugging the bodice up and the skirt down (the two actions immediately cancelled each other out) Merlin stepped out from behind the wooden screen.

"Perfect," was all Gwen said.

Before the serving girl had a chance to react, the queen had zipped over and was fussing around her, humming like a bee in a comb.

"Gwen...?"

"Who's going to be at this feast?"

"Oh, the visiting dignitaries from Eglesgott," Gwen replied.

"Where?"

"Eglesgott – they're a magic-loving kingdom," Gwen explained. "Arthur wanted to get to know them a little better, and as long as they use no magic in Camelot they're welcome."

Merlin's throat went dry, "W-why...Surely Arthur doesn't want to meet sorcerers?"

"I think he's warming to magic a bit, actually, you know," Gwen said thoughtfully.

Merlin processed this bit of information slowly, mulling it over in her intelligent mind.

The clomping of boots signalled Arthur's return. Covered in mud and sweat, he grinned, still breathing heavily from the exertion of training, and greeted both of them. Then he paused, staring at Merlin for a period of time that was long enough to be incredibly awkward.

"What?" Merlin finally asked, feeling self-conscious and resisting the urge to look down at the dress.

"You look...like a woman," Arthur said slowly and tactlessly.

"Arthur!" Gwen scolded.

"Sorry." Arthur corrected himself with a shake of the head, "You look beautiful Merlin."

And indeed she did – two strands of her hair had been pinned back, even on each side, and the rest was loose down her back, slightly wavy from the bun.

Gwen had even managed to get her to wear heels.

"Well, the feast starts in an hour; do you think you can manage not to mess anything you're wearing up until then?" Gwen asked Merlin, with the air of a mother trying to explain to her child why they shouldn't hit the dog with a chair.