The Royal Scandal *Book Two*

Flowers and Threats S2 E3

After speaking to Gaius, Merlin had pulled me aside and had actually asked if I would mind if he gave Morgana some Get-Well-Soon flowers. Of course, I didn't mind that but I just found it funny how he thought he needed to ask.

So, we then went our separate ways and I ended up, once again, having to stay beside Arthur on my father's orders. I believe his reasoning was 'there is a dangerous sorcerer in Camelot. You must stay with Arthur so I know that you aren't adding to the trouble." Sexist pig!

I had been trailing behind Arthur for a couple of hours before we saw a familiar face.

"Merlin, I need you to..." Arthur began when he saw Merlin but stopped when he saw the suspicious expression on Merlin's face. "What are you hiding behind your back?"

"Nothing," Merlin said before showing us his empty hands. "See."

"What are you up to?" Arthur asked, starting to walk round Merlin causing Merlin to walk in the opposite direction towards me, keeping his back away from Arthur.

"Nothing, honestly," Merlin assured him.

Arthur kept trying to look behind Merlin, where I could see he had tucked the stem of the flowers into his belt. Not wanting Arthur to get any ideas, I decided to help him out.

"Arthur... isn't that window supposed to be locked?" I asked, pointing over at the window behind him.

He turned around to look so I gently grabbed the flowers and hid them behind my back instead.

"I'll get a guard to sort that out in a minute," Arthur said before turning back to face us.

"Arthur, I would never lie to you. I respect you far too much for that," Merlin continued, making me smile subtly. "You wanted me to do something?"

"My chainmail needs cleaning," Arthur told him, but I could tell he was still suspicious.

"Well, I'll see to it right away," Merlin told him, giving him an innocent smile.

Arthur went to leave but stopped when he saw Merlin still smiling.

"Come along, Chelsea," Arthur then said, starting to walk backwards.

I began to follow him and as I went passed Merlin, I handed him back the flowers. When Arthur had turned around, I turned back and gave Merlin a smile and a wink causing him to smile back.

"Why did Merlin have some flowers?" Arthur muttered to me.

"I have no idea what you're going on about," I replied.

"He was holding some flowers," Arthur insisted.

"It was probably just a trick of the light," I assured him.

"You're hiding something," Arthur said.

"Is that so?" I smiled.

"I am going to find out what it is," Arthur continued.

"Well, that's going to be difficult to do as I'm not hiding a thing," I lied.

"Hmm," Arthur muttered, giving me a side glance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night, I was finding it difficult to sleep so what do you do when you can't sleep? You read. So that is what I did. I picked up my book on magical remedies from my secret room and started to flick through it.

About twenty minutes had passed when there was a knock at my door. I looked over at my clock and saw that it was half twelve already.

Wondering who would be up at this time, apart from me, I got up and hid my book under a nearby cloak. I then walked over to my door and opened it.