Arthur's Sons (Book 1)

The Dragon's Call (Part 2)

Arthur was furious that he'd been show up by a woman and a peasant woman at that but there was something familiar about her that Arthur couldn't quite place. He paced the length of his room several times trying to remember where he'd seen her before, he growled in frustration and flopped onto his large, soft bed. There was a sudden knock at the door and Arthur sat up tiredly and call out for them to come in. Gaius the court physician and Arthur's second father shuffled in bowing respectfully before speaking,

"Sire I've come to ask you a favour."

"What is it Gaius?" Arthur responded formally.

"I had heard that earlier today yourself and my new ward got into a fight and she has subsequently been locked in the dungeons, her children are worrying as to her whereabouts and i'm far too old to be caring for two young children. I'm here to ask for her release before her children tear apart the castle to find her." Gaius waited expectantly, Arthur was taken aback, the woman he met couldn't have been more than a year or two younger than him and was apparently already a mother. Arthur considered a moment.

" I'll release her on one condition. Tell me her name." Gaius looked surprised by this.

" Her name is Merlyn." Arthur froze, that name, he knew that name. It couldn't be the same Merlyn he met all those years ago. He stiffened as he suddenly remembered the hint she'd given him, he looked down at his leg, the one he broke. Memories flooded back and he was suddenly moving grabbing the keys to the cells.

"I'll release her now, you may go." Arthur hurried passed Gaius before he could hear the physician's thanks and almost ran all the way to the dungeons. He hurried past the guards who bowed at his passing and found the only occupied cell, Merlyn was curled up on a thin pile of straw shivering in her sleep. Arthur quickly opened the cell and knelt by her side gently shaking her shoulder, Merlyn stirred and blinked blearily up at him. Her eyes widened and she scrambled back against the wall fear flickering in her eyes. Arthur winced and held his hands up in a calming gesture, Merlyn watched him suspiciously.

"Why are you here?" Merlyn voice was thick from sleep and she took a moment to clear it.

"I remembered you... Hello Merlyn." Arthur gave her one of those soft smiles that she had sorely missed and she gasped.

"You lied to me you know, all those years ago, you told me you were a knight not a bloody Prince." Merlyn commented idly picking up a piece of straw twirling it between her fingers, Arthur flinched then turned to her, his eyes full of remorse.

"I know, I'm sorry. If someone had of found out and word got back to Cenred, we both would have been dead." Arthur uncurled to his feet and offered his hand. Merlyn wanted to be angry but knew he spoke the truth, besides it's not like she told him she was a witch. Merlyn sighed and took his hand climbing to her feet, she followed him out of the cell and up the stairs.

"Thank you." Merlyn said, Arthur glanced at her and smiled.

"Don't thank me, Gaius asked for your release. Something about two little children being worried and prepared to tear my castle apart to find you." Merlyn stiffen and felt a flush of embarrassment creep up her neck.

"So... Did you marry?" Arthur asked quietly, Merlyn shook her head and looked away embarrassed. They walked across the courtyard in silence then Arthur spoke up out of the blue,

"You still have the neckerchief I see." Merlyn nodded absently thumbing the material.

"It was the only thing I had left of you." Arthur blushed and turned away causing Merlyn to smile sadly. They made their way to physician's chambers and Merlyn stopped at the door,