Lost in Albion 3 (Merlin) - Completed

Chapter 10: Festival Gifts

Chapter 10

Weeks pass by as Camelot rebuilds itself as Autumn arrives. The efforts of the people rooted in the victory and the city even had small celebrations to rejoice and thank the dead for their sacrifice. There is one large festival though, a Harvest Festival, to celebrate the end of the harvest year and the preparation for the soil for next year's production.

Mix in the usual hype of the celebrations with the joyful nature that Camelot is already in led to Uther declaring a week-long celebration. A local jousting and melee tournament for the Camelot knights is being held.

The influx of wheat means that there is no bread shortage and before you even walk through the lower town markets, you can smell the freshly baked bread. Farmers delivered it to the bakers and other food business and everywhere you go, there's a new bread from the harvest. Some with berries mixed in, others serving special sandwiches.

As I walk the town with Merlin, I grip his arm, almost tugging it off as I move through the streets, wanting to smell every scent and view every sight.

"I will never get tired of Festivals," I say, munching on the bread that Merlin brought for the both of us.

Music plays, some type of flute and lute being played by travelling musicians along the main path. Children run around, tugging at their friends' arms to dance in the middle of the street. I laugh, resting for a moment as we watch them.

"Me either," Merlin agrees.

"Thank you for taking me out. The Knights are all training for the melee and Gwen and Morgana have been with Uther for the past few days. Even Arthur couldn't spare the time."

"Glad that I'm your first choice," he drawls out but the laughter at the end keeps my guilt rising to high.

"Sorry," I chortle. "That's not what I meant at all. I love spending time with you and I'm glad Arthur gave you some time off today. That's very unlike him." Merlin grumbles under his breath something I don't quite catch. "What was that?"

"Oh, just that I'm glad that I'm here too. I don't feel like it's been just the two of us in ages," he says.

"No, there always seems to be something going on when there is as well. I'm just praying that at least the next few days fly over smoothly."

"Then it will truly be a celebration," he choruses, and I can't help but agree.

I wave to Esme who is dancing with a young girl in the small crowd of dancing children, a few adults joining in as well. I look up at Merlin, a sly grin pulling at my cheeks. He double-takes me, his head pulling back in suspicion.

"Why are you looking me like that?"

"Let's dance!" I shriek, tugging his arm into the sea of dancers. There's no set routine or type of dance. Just people moving their feet and arms about, swinging around to the upbeat melodies. Merlin only resists for a few seconds, but the atmosphere does its job and soon we laugh, gripping the other's wrist as we swing about uncoordinated. My head falls back, letting my untied hair be blown by the wind by the late Summer, early Autumn breeze. The perfect weather.

We dance until our feet hurt, Esme joining us for a short time before another kid pulls her away. Merlin beams as we walk away, our arms looped, and our bodies still swaying to the music. I let Merlin lead, who seems to have a pre-determined destination in his mind and I'm too happy to really care where we end up.

We end up near the tournament grounds, taking a seat on top of a grassy hill that looks over the arena. Merlin pulls a small sack of berries out of his pocket and we dig into them, not caring about the colour stains on our fingers. From our view, we can see the knights training for the melee coming up in a few weeks. It's a little difficult to see who's who from up here but once they take their helmets off you can somewhat recognise them.