For the Ones We Love (Merlin Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twenty-Five

“You were gone quite a while,” Audrey murmured pointedly as I walked back into the kitchen. I hadn’t seen her look up from the vegetables she was chopping, but somehow she knew I had just entered. After my encounter with the knights, I had gone back to refill the buckets I’d dropped. “I’m not paying you to run around the kitchen.”

You’re almost not paying me at all, I thought. “I’m sorry, Audrey,” I replied aloud. “The knights--”

Her face changed. “Say no more. Those… those hooligans!” she hissed.

I held back a smile. Audrey seemed to hate everything that wasn’t her kitchen, but some things—the knights—she hated more than others.

“Just get back to work,” she said, shooing me away. “Those dishes won’t clean themselves!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

After cleaning the supper dishes, I found Gwen. I helped her sort through Lady Morgana’s freshly laundered clothes.

“These are beautiful,” I murmured, holding up a long, deep green dress.

“Aren’t they, though?” Gwen agreed. “Although, they’d be much too long for you.”

I looked down at the hem of the dress, the last two inches scrunched up on the floor. Gwen and I both laughed. “I’ve never seen her—Lady Morgana,” I told her.

“Oh, she’s wonderful,” she replied. “And beautiful. She’s a lovely friend.”

I nodded. “She sounds magnificent.”

“She is.”

                “Who is?” asked a new voice.

                Gwen and I looked over our shoulders to see Merlin approaching us.

                “Morgana,” Gwen answered.

                Merlin said nothing in response. “Cleo, you’re still here?” He took a seat on a nearby stool and eyed the dresses we were arranging.

                “Is that such a bad thing?” I asked, only half joking.

                “No. Not at all.” He said it with such sincerity and looked at me so deeply, it caused me to squirm. His eyes were so fiercely blue. I suddenly wished Gwen wasn’t with us. I suddenly wanted to know exactly what he was thinking.

                No, I chided myself.

                “Gwen,” I murmured. “I think I’m going to head home if that’s okay.” My eyes  shifted to Merlin and I saw some emotion flash in his eyes and a slight twitch of his brow. He didn’t want me to go. I wondered if he now thought I was still upset with him.

                “Go on. I’ll be finished here soon.”

                I nodded, biting my lip. After a moment, I gained enough courage to fully face Merlin. “Would you mind walking with me or do you have something better to do?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gwen smile. I wondered if Merlin had told her what happened in the woods the day I left and if he hadn’t, I wondered if she knew anyway.

                Merlin stood with a certain eagerness that made my heart warm. “No, I don’t have anything to do.”

                I smiled at him. “Okay, then. Come on.”