chapter sixty-one
061. sweet dreams

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    TODAY WAS a momentous day. 

    After months of dreary winter and rain, the clouds finally drifted apart. They revealed glorious, warm sunlight down onto the grassy slopes, mountain ranges and thick green forests of the Kingdom of Camelot. Flowers were continuing to bloom▬now more than ever▬and all the many colourful butterflies, buzzing bees, and singing birds fluttered from petal to petal. The bright, golden sunrises that gleamed around the towering stone turrets of the castle, over the pointed roofs of the Upper Town extravagant homes and the city wall towers finally returned to coax the beautiful, sweet Odette from her slumber with soothing, warm caresses on her cheeks. Every morning recently, the young handmaiden found herself waking up at the crack of dawn. She climbed the stairwells of her home to her favourite windows to watch the sun rise above the city, and in the many troubles she has faced recently, the warmth of light reaching out to her gave her some solace from her nightmares. 

    She often found birds nesting on the stone crevices just outside the windows, and sometimes, if she dared to open the shutters and reach out her fingers, some birds even let her run her fingers gently across their feathers. It was as though they knew the true intentions of her heart and understood that the darling Odette Mason was inherently good. They saw right through her, to her soul, and saw someone who was kind and caring, no matter the cruel things she faced▬even if, sometimes, she did not always believe it herself. 

    Such beautiful weather graced Camelot today, too▬and it was weather they had all pleaded the heavens for on such a momentous day. When the dawn brought clear skies, warm sunlight and a flock of bright-feathered birds overhead, it became clear to Odette that the outcome of the week to come would be one of peace and not war. 

    Today had been months▬even perhaps years▬in the making. All rulers of the Five Kingdoms were expected to arrive for a week of banquets, diplomatic discussions and signing treaties. For the first time in history since Bruta Pendragon, all five kingdoms desired peace, not war. If all went well, for the first time in history, an alliance would be forged across all these powerful kingdoms as a front line against the growing Saxon threat, Vikings, and other ambitious tyrannical Kings. 

    For all of his faults, his hatred for magic and his stubborn mind, there was one thing Odette would always (however reluctantly) praise King Uther Pendragon for: his quest for peace across all of the Kingdoms. His ambition for peace was instilled in his son, and this day would not have arrived if it weren't for the King of Camelot's ongoing diplomatic visits, treaties and determination to end the ongoing wars. 

    She could see the lines and lines of men upon horses▬Knights and servants following the mighty stallions of Kings she had only ever heard of and never seen. For leagues, did they stretch on along the pathways until all she saw were dotted, miniature blurs in the distance.  

    Odette stood by the windows on the fourth level of the west wing, peering directly down into the courtyard as the first guests arrived. Her eyes were fixed on the deep purple and white banners held by my knights with burgundy and blue crests on their grey tunics. The coat of arms was that of a mystical creature with the head, glorious mane and tail of a lion, but the limbs and hooves of a donkey. 

    The mystical coat of arms belonged to King Alined of Deorham. The Kingdom Of Deorham was south of Camelot, shouldered by Odin's Kingdom and the glorious, wealthy Kingdom of Nemeth with oceans crashing the rocks of shores both north and south of its lands. The magical Labyrinth of Gedref straddled the borders between Deorham and Camelot, where winds from the Seas of Meredoc howled. Nightmarish stories told of evil sorceresses who had died horrible, violent deaths at the hands of Roman soldiers had returned to haunt and unleash their wrath on all those who dared approach those waters at night. (Arthur, of course, always told Odette that those stories were simply tales told to frighten children and that ghosts were not real). 

    Odette had heard horrible tales about King Alined as well. She tilted her head, watching a man who might be a few years senior to Uther dismount a dark brown gelding wrapped in a saddle and stirrups adorned with gold. He let his lavish fur cloak fall to the ground, revealing a man of short stature in heavy chainmail and grey-blue tunic bearing his crest. Jewels fell from his neck, and an iron crown sat upon his greying and balding head. Even from her sanctuary behind the castle walls, she felt a chill down her spine▬and it told her that her dramatic imaginings of a merciless stare, a cold set of bushy brows, and a vicious clench of King Alined's jaw were very much true. 

    He turned to his manservant and jester who had taken the trip from the back of a mule, and Odette heard his furious shouts even through closed windows. "BOY!" he shouted, livid at his cloak fallen in a heap on the dirty ground. "Is it too much to ask that you might anticipate my needs?"

    King Alined's servant was not a boy but a middle-aged man even shorter than him. He rushed to dismount and hurried to his master's aid, scrambling to pick up his fallen cloak. He was dressed in attire suitable for many court jesters▬a ridiculous, flamboyant red doublet with many frills thrown over a striped tunic and trousers. His shoes jostled with bells every time he moved. Odette winced when King Alined raised his foot and kicked his poor jester in the backside to get him moving. 

    Around them, Knights and many servants dismounted their steeds▬the entire courtyard was filled with Alined's men. Odette searched the many faces and did not see his young Queen nor their five-year-old son▬it was likely they had stayed at home to avoid the long, tiring, and dangerous journey.

    She watched King Alined approach King Uther Pendragon at the foot of the stairs leading up to the castle's entrance. He stood accompanied by the Knights of Camelot draped in a cloak of scarlet with the golden Pendragon crest flaring its wings and baring its teeth mid-roar on his back. Chains and pendants hung from his neck underneath dark leather jackets with silver clasps and a deep blue tunic. The ruby-encrusted crown he wore only for ceremonial events, hung low over his brow. 

    Prince Arthur stood behind his right shoulder, watching silently as his father and King Alined shook hands. He looked handsome▬as he always did. Odette couldn't help but admire the regal sight of him in his ceremonial robes. His long scarlet cloak fell at his ankles over his rich, royal blue doublet and tunic. The sunlight adorned him better than the jewellery on his fingers and the pendants that fell from his neck, making the diamonds on his royal band gleam and his yellow hair as golden as the rolling pastures surrounding the villages. 

    Odette gazed at the filled square, admittedly excited despite it all. She was so captivated by the travellers that she did not realise someone had approached her until she heard a loud, "Odette!"

    The young handmaiden gasped and spun around, hands covering her mouth to muffle her startled squeal. She scowled and stamped her foot when she saw who had disrupted her peaceful curiosity. "Merlin!" she scolded. 

    Arthur's manservant was too busy being doubled over in his laughter to consider her tone. He waved it off, taking a few deep breaths to wheeze air back into his lungs. "Sorry!" chuckled Merlin eventually, holding up his hands in surrender. "Sorry▬it was too great of an opportunity to miss, I am afraid."

     Odette set her scowl onto her friend, though it softened at his smile. She rolled her eyes. "You are lucky I did not hit you."

     "Yes," mused Merlin as he moved to stand at her side. He glanced down at the square over her shoulder. "And such damage you would have inflicted, too."

     At his sarcasm, Odette jabbed her elbow backwards, catching him in the stomach and causing him to gasp for breath once more. But her attention quickly switched the moment she spotted Sir Bedivere standing amongst his brethren. She gasped and grabbed Merlin's arm. "Look! Look at him! Our dear Sir Bedivere looks so noble in his cloak, do you agree?" 

    Merlin rolled his eyes. "He looks just like any other Knight."

    "No, he looks better than any other Knight," corrected Odette proudly, grinning down at her friend even though he would not see her. 

    The young warlock rolled his eyes yet again but smiled nonetheless▬he would not admit it, but he was happy to see that their friend was growing quickly into his new position; Sir Bedivere very much deserved it. Merlin peered down at the two Kings at the base of the steps. "So, I am guessing that is King Alined?"

    "Yes," whispered Odette conspiratoringly. She glanced up at Merlin. "You know, I heard from the servants down in the kitchens that King Alined tortures animals for fun at banquets. And that he killed his last wife because he could not get their marriage annulled by the Pope."

    They were alone in the corridors with no one to hear the rumours Odette was telling Merlin▬so she feared little of what she said. Besides, she was not the only one to have heard (and believed) such horrible conspiracies over the ruthless King.

    "Did you know," she continued, her soft voice animated as she kept glancing back and forth between Merlin and the courtyard below, "that he has had six wives in total? And five of them have all died under mysterious circumstances."

    Merlin made a face. "And you listen to every scullery maid's tale?"

    "Others say he turns into a bloodthirsty beast at night▬I would not dismiss them so eagerly," she added at the soft scoff he made. "King Alined is known to be a tyrant and a warmonger. I am surprised he agreed to this."

    "Well, with Saxons closing in from Kent and Odin growing more and more powerful," murmured Merlin, "I am not surprised he would turn to Camelot for help."

    At Odette's indignant huff of disbelief, he nudged her and drew her away from the window. "Do you not have more guest chambers to prepare instead of spying?" he jested.

     She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "I am not spying; I simply wish to see who is arriving at a safe distance."

    "So ... spying?" She shoved him and Merlin chuckled. "Come on," he pulled her close under one arm and practically dragged her from her observation post to walk with him down the hallway. "Since Arthur will be stuck out there greeting every party that arrives, I can help you prepare these guest chambers. I hear Princess Vivian's taste is rather pedantic."

    Odette groaned softly to herself when Merlin reminded her of who she would be working for during this week. "Oh, I am dreading it."

    Throughout the day, more and more parties from the Five Kingdoms arrived. After King Alined, the first to arrive as the wise and gracious King Godwyn of Gawant. His Kingdom was just southwest of Camelot and known for its plentiful mines, navigation and fishing trades. King Godwyn was an aging man with a kind heart and a kind, wrinkled smile▬a widow who had refused to remarry and the sole parent of his only child and daughter, Princess Elena. Tales told her to be gracious and beautiful, though she did travel with her father for the peace discussions. Odette briefly caught a glimpse of his Knights in yellow, bearing a coat of arms depicting a mighty lighthouse▬representing the many lighthouses that dotted the shorelines of their kingdom. 

    Following his arrival was the Prince of Dyfed. All Odette had heard of the small Kingdom that bordered Gawant with Camelot, and their elderly King, was tales of storm-ridden rocky shorelines and even darker castle corridors where their King rarely showed his face. Much like Gawant, Dyfed had a strong navy and fishing industry, but Odette had also seen their delicate trade in sea shells and shell jewellery▬Morgana had been gifted a few over the years, and some merchants sold them in the Camelot markets. Recently, Dyfed has faced an ongoing war with the ambitious Kingdom of Caerleon, and it was no surprise the elderly King would send his son, Prince Aelius, a man who was only a decade or so younger than Uther himself, in his stead to forge an alliance against Dyfed and Camelot's common enemy.

    The last to reach the city was one of Camelot's oldest ally Kingdoms. While throughout their history, Camelot had faced wars against every other crown in the Five Kingdoms, for multiple generations, the dynasty of rulers of the Kingdom of Gwynedd had been a close friend to the Pendragons. King Olaf, in his youth, had provided an army for Uther to reclaim the throne of Camelot after his uncle, Vortigern, had usurped it. The Knights of Gwynedd were infamously called the Bears, both in reference to the coat of arms they wore on their tunics but also their traditional, brutish warfare tactics. Other than Camelot, Gwynedd was the wealthiest land in all the Five Kingdoms despite their small size. They had rich, plentiful lands and mines, thriving fishing industries and trade with the Kingdoms across the Great Seas of Meredoc. 

    As Odette finished dusting the guest chambers she had been assigned, she glanced out of the castle windows. King Olaf had visited Camelot multiple times before when she was younger. He was a tall, muscular man who towered over most. He shook Uther's hand with vigour, his hair starting to grey and lines beginning to form on his forehead. Much like his Knights, he was dressed in a tunic of royal purple, and many jewels worthy of his Kingdom's wealth weighed him down. 

    Also joining King Olaf was his daughter, Princess Vivian. She was as beautiful as the poets described▬Odette's age with long golden curls and sharp, pointed features that had her resemble the Greek Aphrodite statues of old. Through the open window, Odette watched her pull her gorgeous, white mare to a stop in the courtyard, dressed in a stunning turquoise gown. Arthur held her down from her saddle, taking her waist and gently placing her on the ground. She barely glanced at him, taking the hand he offered and peering up at the castle before her with her nose upturned. As beautiful as she was, Odette remembered when she visited as a child▬she was spoilt, arrogant, mean and sharp in her insults. 

    (And Odette would have to cope with her behaviour all week. Perhaps she had changed in the years since her last visit▬but at the way she scoffed at the castle before her, Odette had a feeling she had not). 

    She tried her best to make the room seem adequate enough for Princess Vivian's taste. With Merlin's help, Odette dusted every crevice and corner of the chamber, fluffed out the pillows and folded an extra blanket at the four-poster bed's end in case the nights grew cold. She aired out the room and even prepared a tray of an assortment of fruits, picked flowers to place in the vase on the table and had the pitcher filled with fine wine. 

    Arthur walked the Princess up to her chambers himself, leading her through the winding castle hallways and attempting to keep up some light small talk and chatter▬though she was having little of it. Her sharp hums and indignant shrugs as she frowned at the tapestries they passed made Arthur grit his teeth and take sharp breaths through his nose to keep himself calm. 

    They quickly fell into awkward silence, and he was pleased when they finally arrived at her guest chambers. One of the more luxurious ones overlooking the menagerie and castle gardens. It was well-lit, spacious and fit for a travelling princess. 

    "I hope everything is to your satisfaction," the Prince forced himself to give the Princess a polite smile as she swept about the room, inspecting every surface for even the slightest speck of dust. Even though it had been many years since Vivian had last visited, she still had the same upturned nose whenever she was displeased. 

    "It is ..." she shrugged, feeling the curtains of her four-poster bed. Princess Vivian made a face, brushing something off her fingers with a sigh of dismay. "Adequate."

    Arthur rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, trying hard not to scowl. "Most of our guests are extremely happy here. I am sure you will be, too."

    He heard her let out a short chuckle and watched her frown over the choice of flowers Odette must have gone out of her way to arrange to brighten up the room. Princess Vivian looked at the beautiful assortment of primroses and tulips as if they were merely weeds. Arthur clenched his jaw and took another sharp breath. He hid it well and forced another smile on his face when Vivian glanced back at him. "I am not most of your guests."

    Arthur faltered. He sighed and sent prayers to the heavens. "Indeed..."

    He heard footsteps behind them, and through the open door, Odette Mason returned. Arthur spun around, and his breath hitched softly. The handmaiden caught his gaze and sent him a little, subtle smile in greeting. She had weaved white fabric through her hair today, twisting her blonde strands off her face and letting her waves tumble down her back. Arthur noticed her mother's hair clip resting at the centre of the back of her head▬her most precious possession. Compared to Princess Vivian's silk gown, her white woollen dress and red bodice were plain and simple. To Arthur, she looked as stunning as the dusted oranges, yellows and reds that gleamed across the horizon during a sunrise. 

    Arthur smiled at her and stepped aside to allow her to come closer. "May I present Odette," the Prince introduced the beautiful handmaiden to Princess Vivian. She glanced around, arching a sharp brow at the way Odette had chosen to do her hair for the occasion. The handmaiden curtsied dutifully. "She will be looking after you for the duration of your stay. You will want for nothing. She is truly Camelot's finest."

    Princess Vivian bit back her laughter. The sound turned into soft, disbelieving giggles. She took one last look at Odette's attire and said to Arthur, "Then I fear for Camelot."

    Arthur could not hide his displeasure after that. His smile dropped, and his hand clenched tight around the hilt of his sword, doing his best to suppress his anger. He couldn't help but think▬How dare anyone speak in such a way to Odette?

    He glanced at her once Vivian's back was turned. Odette's eyes went wide with silent judgment before the two of them left the room.

    Odette gently closed the door behind them and the two of them stood alone in the castle corridor. She clasped her hands in front of her dress and shyly peered up at the Prince, biting back her shocked amusement. Arthur met her gaze, he held a mischievous glint in his eyes. 

    In the end, neither one of them could keep it together, and they burst into laughter. 

    Odette covered her mouth with her hands, trying her best to stifle the sounds of her incredulous chuckles▬not wanting Vivian to hear. Her heart was light in her amusement, leaning into the Prince to hide her face. But when he simply laughed out loud with no care for who would hear, it was hard not to match his joyful sound so rare, and yet so treasured by her ears. 

    "I should not laugh," she said once their chuckles faded. At the look on his face, she giggled once more. Odette quickly caught herself. "I should not!" she said again. "Stop it▬" She reached out and smacked him when he made the same dubious frown, and she wasn't sure whether he was making fun of her, or Vivian. 

    "I am not doing a thing!" the Prince let out and she narrowed her eyes at him.

    "Yes, you are▬" his brows furrowed into the silly expression once again, and Odette hit his arm. "See!" she pointed at him. "There it is! I bet you she has heard us, and it will be entirely your fault."

    "Please," scoffed Arthur, a gentle look softening in his eyes as he gazed down at the handmaiden looking at her shoes, still trying to settle her amusement. "I fear Princess Vivian has her nose stuck up so far into the clouds, not even shouting her name as loud as you possibly could, could bring her back down."

    "Arthur," gasped Odette, shocked by his insult. She lightly smacked him again when he chuckled. 

    "I am just saying good luck," he did not even try to hide the way he smiled▬there was no way he could battle how Odette lifted his spirits. "Seems like you will need it."

    "Thank you, My Lord," she muttered sarcastically, and his smile brightened. 

    Odette noticed his smile, and her heart fluttered. She hesitated, lost in the tender look in his eyes Arthur always seemed to reserve only for her▬without his anguish, without his troubles and any expectation weighing him down. He looked free of it all, and it made warmth swell in her chest. She wanted to say something else▬but what is there to say? So much, she knew, but she could never seem to take that courageous leap to tell him everything she wished to say. The thought of leaping and falling into the chasm with him not there to catch her because he was so far away on the other side terrified her. As much as he wanted to▬as much as she wanted to▬there was no way Arthur could close the gap between a Prince and a servant. It would only leave them heartbroken. 

    Arthur seemed to realise what she was thinking about. His smile slowly fell, and that edge to him returned▬a stiffness he always carried on his shoulders. He cleared his throat and stood taller. "I need to prepare for the feast."

    Odette watched him march away, and her heart squeezed painfully. She pursed her lips and sighed, closing her eyes and rubbing the ache between her brows. 

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    ARTHUR DIDN'T GET NERVOUS. 

    But if he were to get nervous, it would be about the feast tonight. Tonight he would be helping his father host a banquet for the rulers and their knights of kingdoms in just the last few decades, Camelot had been at war with. If even the slightest thing went wrong, these peace treaties would be forever doomed, and all the work his father had put into creating a time without war and a unified front against the Saxon threat would be for nothing. Camelot had to make the finest impression they could to please the likes of Alined, and Olaf, and everyone in between. They had to ensure no arguments broke out between royalty and their Knights, certain people weren't seated together and had to make sure not even an ill word was spoken. It was a heavy responsibility▬and one that has made Arthur's father lose multiple nights of sleep. Even though every King and spokesmember who attended in their ruler's stead came willingly, the air was still very tense and very grave. 

    And Arthur had to make sure he was looking his best in front of the judging eyes of the rulers of the Five Kingdoms. 

    Which meant the undertunic Merlin threw at him was unacceptable. It was one of his old white ones he often wore underneath his armour for training with the Knights. The moment Arthur put it on, his thumb went through a hole in the sleeve, and he gritted his teeth.  

     "Merlin," he stepped out from behind his screen, watching his manservant dust down his jacket for the banquet. "What kind of impression do you think this gives?" he held up his hand.

    Merlin stared at the hole in his shirt. "Uh ... That we have moths?"

    The Prince rolled his eyes and disappeared behind his screen again. "Fetch me another."

    His servant rolled his eyes as well before making his way to Arthur's wardrobe. He opened the doors and searched his many tunics for one that would be appropriate (even if no one would actually see this tunic with everything else the Prince had to throw on over the top). Merlin found a nice navy blue garb and threw it over the top of Arthur's screen. "And who might you be trying to impress, Sire?"

    "Well, let me see," Arthur pulled off the moth-eaten tunic and chucked it aside. He grabbed the new one. "Perhaps the four Kings and Prince sitting in the banquet hall below."

    "Oh," mused Merlin as the Prince pulled the dark blue tunic over his head. He grabbed the first tunic off the floor and threw it onto Arthur's bed. He went back to dusting down his jacket. "Not the King's daughter, then? The Princess Vivian, she is very beautiful..."

    Arthur barked out a short scoff of laughter. "Anyone trying to impress Princess Vivian does so at extreme peril. "Olaf would have their head in a vat of hot oil before they would have the chance to say hello."

    He stepped out from the screen, pulling his tunic at his sleeves to better adjust it. "Besides," continued the Prince in a grumble, "she is not my type. She may be beautiful, but she is incredibly rude. You should have heard what she said to Odette!"

    Arthur grabbed his overtunic and slipped it on. Merlin rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, "Anyone insulting Odette should do so at extreme peril..."

    But the Prince heard him. "What?"  

    The young manservant hunched up at the scowl on his face. "Nothing," he quickly said, a little bewildered by Arthur's hostility. "I just know how you feel about her, that is all. That is, if your feelings have not changed, as I presume to be true."

    Arthur continued to scowl at him as he threw on his doublet. "I do have my own vat of hot oil, you know."

    But Merlin simply laughed the moment he noticed soft pink dust across the Prince's cheeks. He pointed the brush at him. "You are blushing!"

    Arthur went still. He hurried behind the screen. "No, I am not."

    "What is wrong with Odette?"

    At Merlin's question, the Prince rolled his eyes. "Nothing," he said through gritted teeth.

    "I think she is very worthy of your love." 

     "Indeed," the Prince tied up the strings of his doublet and strode over to Merlin, "were it so."

     "Which..." he held up the Prince's jacket, "... it is."

     Arthur narrowed his eyes at him and stepped into the sleeves of his jacket. "Merlin."

     "Yes, Arthur?"

    He shrugged the jacket on and spun to Merlin. "Get out."

    The feast was extraordinary, even by Camelot's standards. The banquet hall had been transformed into a spring delight. Bushes of white roses and dafodils hung down in weaved pots from the ceiling, scarlet and red tapestries decorated the walls▬telling tales of Camelot's history from its foundation. Tables covered with white cloth wrapped around in a 'U'-shape, stretching from either side of the vast hall. Wreaths decorated with freshly picked roses, their stems wrapped with string, swept around the side of the tables. The rulers of the Five Kingdoms sat at the head of the tables, each on a throne respectful of their status. Behind them, banners of their crest draped from the ceiling. The most extraordinary being the golden dragon that fell right behind Uther's mighty throne, taller than the rest. 

    In the centre of the hall, entertainment left the Knights and diplomatic advisors laughing and applauding with awe. Every one of them looking noble and courageous in their robes and chainmail. Light-hearted music played from the stage. There were servings of pigeon, venison, beef, chicken, and a whole boar. Colourful citrus, grapes, pomegranates and apples filled luxurious platters. There were jellies, servings of cheeses and pies, and warm broths of strews. So much food that half of it would end up going to waste, thrown aside once the night was over.

    Camelot was eager to impress her visitors, and impress them she did. 

    Odette was in absolute awe and pride at how the preparations finally came together. She stood next to Guinevere, wearing one of her best dresses in the glowing light of the candles and torches of the banquet hall. It was her favourite▬a dress made of a light, pretty blue fabric with yellow sunbursts Guinevere had stitched along the neckline. The handmaidens hovered behind their mistresses. The Lady Morgana, Lady Adelynn, her mother, Lady Elayne and Princess Vivian were seated together on the left-hand side of the Kings, at the beginning of the long stretch of Knights that hollered and clanged their goblets together. Across the entertainment, was Prince Arthur with his Knights, and Merlin standing over his shoulder. Ronyn sat beside the Prince, sipping his mead and making a face at whatever Arthur said▬most likely judging the acts of King Alined's Jester. Odette risked a wave at Merlin and Sr Bedivere, who sat on Ronyn's other side. 

    Trickler, Alined's Fool was prancing from stone square to stone square, bells singling from his Jester's hat and off the tips of his pointed shoes. He made faces and did stupid tricks that sent the Knights and the royals into joyful laughter. 

    Odette chuckled when he did a rather dramatic spin before purposefully falling over. The Knights down the table roared with laughter. 

    She reached over and topped up Vivian's chalice with wine as Trickler bowed before the Kings and Prince. When she stood back up, Odette's eyes caught the gentle blue stare of Arthur across the room. 

    She remembered their awkward encounter earlier today, and her breath hitched softly. But she couldn't find herself able to look away▬how could she not, when Arthur looked so handsome? Her heart pounded against her ribs, keeping her in a state of flustered surprise, not quite able to decipher the heated look in Arthur's eyes at this very moment. Something that seemed to pain him so much Odette couldn't bear to look any longer. She forced herself to tear her gaze away, swallowing a hard lump down her throat. 

    Odette knew his eyes continued to watch her, even after she adverted hers. She could feel it burn right through her defences and making her heart race behind the bars of its cage▬desperate to be free and to reunite with him. Oh, did Odette wish for that more than anything. She truly did. No matter how many times she turned the other way, no matter how many times she left, no matter how many times she tried to convince him▬no, convince herself▬they could never be under any sunrise ... she still came running right back to him; to his arms, to his smile, to the sound of his voice alone in his chambers▬to feel his comfort, his care, to hear his laughter brighten even her darkest of days, and for a moment let herself believe and pretend they were equals, living the life they both dreamed of, and sharing it. 

    But this here, this was their reality, and they had to grow from their childish adventures. They weren't children anymore. And the chasm between where she stood with her pitcher, and where he sat with his goblet of ale could never be closed. 

    Guinevere glanced at Odette beside her, lips pursed into a troubled line the moment she recognised the frown on her face. She quickly understood and reached out to rub her back▬understanding better than anyone the pain in Odette's heart right now, for she, too, couldn't look away from Lord Vecentia beside the Prince who was currently throwing faces at his sister across the room. Adelynn, who smiled in her thanks as her maid, Claudia, handed her a plate of an assortment of fruits she had picked up in a turn around the room, noticed and subtly poked her tongue out at him when their mother didn't see.

    "You are stunning, tonight," Gwen whispered Odette in hopes of lifting her spirit▬and she managed to get a little shy smile out of the younger handmaiden. 

    "So are you," she mumbled a sweet reply. Guinevere was wearing a dress made of lavender▬a colour no other servant would own, but whenever she did wear it, truly showed how beautiful the blacksmith's daughter was. She attempted to cover it with her dusty white servants' apron to not draw too much attention to herself, but she did not want anyone to see it other than the man sitting beside the Prince across the room. And Ronyn hid his smile to see Guinevere wearing the dress she had made out of the fabric he bought for her and had to do his best not to stare. Oh▬how did he wish he could take her by the hand and lead her in a dance; to love her for everyone else to see. But for now, the lavender dress was enough. 

    Guinevere leaned in closer to whisper to Odette. "And do not think I have forgotten that in a few days' time, you will be nineteen."

    "Shh," Odette whispered back, elbowing her friend at her teasing. "You know I do not wish to make a big deal about it."

    "A girl turns nineteen only once in her lifetime," went on her friend and the young handmaiden rolled her eyes with a smile. "We must celebrate."

    "You say that every year."

     "And every year I am correct."

    "Is that conspiracy over Odette's nameday, I hear?"

    Merlin's voice joined them and both girls gasped. They glanced over their shoulders and Odette smacked him for frightening them. "No, it is not," she tried to push the conversation along but Guinevere would not let her.

    "Yes, it is," she said in an over-dramatic posh tone, clasping her hands in front of her skirts. "And we shall be celebrating no matter what dear Odette says."

    Morgana overheard them and looked over her shoulder. She tilted her head with a curious smile. "What is this I hear about celebrating?"

    "Nothing," Odette huffed and Merlin crossed his arms.

    "Odette is nineteen soon."

    "Are you?" gasped Adelynn, her smile brightening. She then frowned. "Why did you never tell me your nameday?"

    "Because I do not wish to make a great deal about it," stressed Odette, hearing the soft exasperated sighs from her fellow servants. 

    "You say this," Merlin arched an accusing brow at her. "But last year, you threatened to beat me with your slippers if I did not get you strawberries as a gift."

    "That is different. You always promise me strawberries▬that is a deal within our friendship."

    "Ah, I am glad our friendship is so genuine to you."

    "You are welcome."

    Morgana smiled at their bickering and picked some strawberries off of her platter. She subtly held them out behind her for the servants to take without anyone seeing▬let alone the prim and proper Princess Vivian sitting beside her who, despite being near their conversation, was not paying attention to any of it. 

    Odette grinned and reached out for them. "Thank you!" she chirped happily, handing out the strawberries to Merlin and Guinevere. Her mood reached the clouds at that. It had been an old tradition for Morgana to steal strawberries and other delicacies from the feast plates for her servant friends. Recently, she hadn't been so inclined to do so, but today she seemed in good spirits, and Odette didn't realise how much she missed Morgana's playful mischief until she saw it again▬even if it were so brief.

    Their conversation reached a halt when all of a sudden, Trickler doubled over. Odette's eyes widened and there were hitched gasps from them all when flames coughed out and billowed from his lips. He blew alight the candles in front of the royal table. 

    There was applause and laughter▬everyone was delightfully surprised and impressed by King Alined's Jester. He smiled and bowed to the room. As the applause died down, he spoke up in a cheery, light voice. "But it is not enough to please just the gentlemen of the Court. Now, I have a spectacle for the ladies."

    He turned to the Princess and the noble ladies sitting to his left and brandished his arms. Odette's breath hitched softly when beautiful, blue butterflies fluttered out from Trickler's costume. There were gasps of awe, and chuckles, and applause. Her smile brightened, watching as the butterflies flew up into the air and surrounded them. Princess Vivian was giddy in her seat, clapping her hands and giggling when the beautiful creatures circled around her. There was no one to notice the way the beautiful young handmaiden behind the gorgeous Princess smiled so wonderfully that even the butterflies were entranced by her. 

    But there was one who noticed. Prince Arthur's breath was taken away when he saw the light in Odette's eyes and the smile on her face. Every trouble seemed to lift off her shoulders with that smile, and his wonder became something soft and tender when one of the butterflies got close enough to land on her fingers. And sweet Odette chuckled, holding it up and letting it flutter away with a touch so gentle and caring, it made Arthur's heart flutter, too. 

     Suddenly, Trickler gasped. "Oh! But what is this?" he approached their table, and their smiles fell, not sure whether to be curious or worried when he leaned in closer to the Princess. "Princess Vivian..." Trickler reached out to grab something behind her ear. She frowned, startled, until he pulled back and there, on his fingers, was another butterfly. Princess Vivian's face lit up and she gasped with awe, watching it flutter away. "It has mistaken you for a beautiful flower."

    No matter how rude and spoilt the Princess Vivian may be, in this moment, amongst the applause and gushes over such a sweet moment, there smiled simply none other than a sweet, young girl▬and there was truly a beautiful soul, underneath every snarky comment, she would grow and mature into one day; there was never any doubt.

    But the true beauty▬the true beautiful flower, with her gorgeous heart, her warm smile and sweet, caring nature, was the forgettable Odette Mason. But to Arthur Pendragon, she was far from forgettable; to him, there was never any doubt. 

    And thoughts of her consumed him all night long, and his sleep was filled with wonderful, sweet dreams.

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    THE NEXT MORNING, Merlin was surprised to see Arthur already awake. Even with such bright sunlight coming through the open curtains, indicating a beautiful day ahead and agreeable weather, after such a late night and multiple cups of ale from the feast, Merlin expected the Prince to be a nightmare to get out of bed so early. Instead, as he entered his chambers with a morning platter of fresh grapes and apples, he found Arthur standing by the window and gazing down into the courtyard below. 

    "Er▬Good morning, Sire?" muttered Merlin, rather perplexed as he set the tray of food down on the Prince's table.  

    "Never have you been more right, Merlin!" said the Prince with a tone far too chirpy at this hour of the morning. His manservant froze and stared at him, bewildered and estranged. Arthur did not glance back at him, continuing to gaze wistfully out the window. And as if the smile on his face wasn't strange enough, he was already dressed! "It is the sunniest, the most fragrant, the most beautiful morning I have ever seen in my life."

    Merlin stared at him, horrified. "You are dressed."

    Arthur frowned and faced him. It settled Merlin's worries▬because if the Prince didn't scowl at him at least once and mutter something sarcastic, Merlin would surely believe he had somehow woken up in some fantasy land. "I am the future King of Camelot, I do have some skills, you know."

    "Indeed," muttered his manservant. "You are very skilled at getting people to do things for you."

    The Prince rolled his eyes and turned back to his view outside the window▬his view of a beautiful, gorgeous lady in the square. The most beautiful, the most stunning, the most unforgettable flower in all the many Kingdoms in the land. "That is your job. But today," he murmured, "my job is to woo."

    Merlin froze again from where he went to pick up the Prince's clothes he had thrown onto the floor. He slowly stood up. "To what?"

    The Prince spun around and had the most peculiar look of determination on his face. He marched over to his manservant. "To woo," he declared once more. "I wish to make a proclamation of love!"

    The young warlock blinked. It took him a moment to comprehend what Arthur had just said. He watched him skip past him about the room, in higher spirits than he had ever seen him before. But soon, as he slowly began to understand, a little happy smile made its way onto Merlin's face▬a warm happiness for his dearest friend who had captured the heart of the Prince of Camelot. Still, he was hesitant. "Really? I thought you wished to keep your feelings secret?"

    Arthur made a face and shrugged. "Why would I want to do that?" 

    Merlin's frown returned, gravely concerned. "Er..."

    He did not get to express his many reasons as to why, for the Prince walked up to him and grasped him by the shoulders. "By the end of today, I will have won my lady."

    "You▬Your lady?" Merlin reached out and fixed Arthur's jacket which was sitting slightly unevenly on his shoulders. "Right... Well, what will you tell your father?"

    Arthur scoffed and leapt past him gleefully. "What does my father matter?"

    Merlin stared after him, growing more and more concerned by the second. "I▬well, I suppose that is one way of approaching things..."

    "So!" then said the Prince, snapping his fingers at his manservant. "I need your help in ..." he shuffled back and forth on his feet, clasping his hands together as he tried to put together the right words, "... expressing my feelings..."

    The young manservant huffed an exasperated sigh, not surprised. "Of course," he muttered.

    Arthur stared at him expectantly. The Prince leapt on the spot, snapping his fingers and waiting for Merlin to continue. The servant frowned at him, bewildered by his actions. When he didn't say anything, Arthur gestured to him. "How do I express my feelings?"

    "Oh! I see..." Merlin huffed, finding himself stumped as well. "Erm ... feelings ..."

    "Feelings..."

    "Girls..." 

    Arthur cleared his throat, sounding quite terrified at the prospect, "Girls ..."

   Merlin snapped his fingers with an idea and grinned. "Flowers?"

    The Prince's face lit up and he clapped his hands together in victory. "Flowers! Excellent!" He clasped Merlin's shoulder. "Find some. Oh! Perhaps, you should also send a note."

    The young warlock smiled. "Brilliant idea!"

    Arthur spun on his heels and gestured out to the space of his chambers. "Something moving," he murmured. "Something from ... the heart. Something like▬" he held his breath, and then sighed, "▬you know. And how about ...?" Arthur brandished his hands dramatically, but didn't finish. He paused, trying to think, but then waved off-handedly back at his servant. "You will think of something!"

    He pranced off back towards the window, and Merlin was stunned into absolute silence. He started to wonder what they put into that ale last night. 

    Merlin was bewildered by the Prince's sudden change in behaviour. It was as though he went to bed a grumpy ox, and woke up an overzealous, energetic colt. So much so, that Merlin wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to do with it. He went about doing as Arthur asked, however. He went to the gardens and picked the best flowers he could find before the keeper noticed him▬an assortment of Odette's favourites: hyacinths, daisies and delicate primroses. He tied them up with some string and decided to top off the arrangement with some strawberries he found in the kitchen. Some part of him couldn't help but feel wrong▬he shouldn't be the one doing this for her, it should be Arthur. And if he cared so much for the handmaiden in question, then would he not go out of his way to express his care for her and not ask Merlin to do so instead? The Prince was many things, but he genuinely did care for Odette and has shown it himself on multiple accounts without help from his manservant. What made this time different?

    (Many things made this feel different▬Arthur waking up so peculiar and energetic, for one). 

    After he had finished, he carefully made his way down to the servants' quarters. Merlin stopped outside Odette's door and gently knocked on the wood. "Odette?"

    When there was no answer, he carefully unlocked the door with a charm whispered under his breath and stepped inside. He closed it behind him, gazing upon the simple chamber no larger than the dungeon cells. Somehow, Odette had managed to make four plain stone walls look homely. Her collection of dried flowers hung off the wall with rope, she had sewn some fabric from one of Morgana's old curtain drapes into a nice drape to partition the room where her chest of clothes sat comfortably behind it. There was a table with an old candle in the centre of the room and a stool to sit on. Pushed up against the opposite corner was Odette's bed, sitting right underneath the soft haze of sunlight that glowed down onto her thin woollen sheets. Another candle in a holder sat on a second, smaller chest beside her bed. 

    It was cramped but cozy▬and Merlin couldn't help but smile. Odette always seemed to turn even the dullest parts of her life into something worth living, and it was truly admirable.

    He sighed and walked over to the small table in the room. Merlin carefully set the bundle of flowers on its surface with the strawberries on a small wooden bowl beside it. Out of his pocket, he fished the letter he had written on Arthur's behalf. Merlin had tried to write something simple▬because he figured Arthur wouldn't be one of many words. He wanted to make it as believable as possible to Odette that Arthur had gone out of his way to give her these things ... Though Merlin wasn't sure how long it would last. But he hoped they would▬the last thing he wanted was for Odette's feelings to be hurt, yet again, by Prince Arthur. 

    Merlin opened the note and went over what he wrote last minute:

       Odette,

            The barriers that keep us apart are nothing compared to the power of
                    true love.
                          Arthur.

    (It was pretty romantic if Merlin did say so himself...).

    He carefully set the note in front of the flowers, perfectly folded so it sat up for Odette to see the moment she'd walk through the door. Even though Merlin had reservations, he couldn't help but smile. Because he truly desired Odette to be happy, and when he wasn't being an absolute prat, Arthur made her happy. Merlin couldn't begin to understand what she saw in him, but somehow, the Prince was also better for it. They deserved this▬to feel what they did for each other without the rules and expectations of Camelot weighing them down and pushing them apart. And Odette deserved love more than anyone Merlin knew. She deserved someone who would fight for her, dote on her, and give her everything she desired.

    And so, he truly did hope this would work. He hoped that whatever had caused Arthur to be so courageous and open about his feelings paved the way for something beautiful▬brought light into Odette's life; the sunrise she truly cared for and searched for every morning. 

    He left her chambers and raced back towards the centre of the castle. With all the newcomers and guests, the hallways were far busier than usual. Knights in not just scarlet robes were talking obnoxiously as they walked past, servants from all ends of the Five Kingdoms rushed to appease their mistresses and masters, and nobles in every colour doublets upturned their noses as they spoke freely to each other within the castle corridors. 

    Merlin ducked around them all, choosing to take a shortcut through the servants' hallways towards the council chambers. There, the rulers of the Five Kingdoms and their diplomatic advisors would be stuck every day for the entire week▬droning over documents, possible treaties, arrangements and profits from territory they would be inclined to sell or give up in the name of peace to their fellow royals. 

    The young manservant slipped out of the ajar servants' door into the room, hidden by the shadows. He saw plenty of chainmail shoulders and the back of crowned heads, and their many nobles and scribes seated in the wooden chairs at the long table. King Uther Pendragon sat at its front, with his son on his right-hand side and the honourable Sir Geoffery of Monmouth to his left, scribing the claims spoken and agreed to word by word on his scroll of paper. 

    Arthur glanced up from where he had been frowning over piles and piles of parchment. The moment he saw Merlin, he sat upright in his chair. Thankfully, his father didn't notice the heavy thud his knee made in connection with the edge of the table. 

    Merlin subtly nodded to the corridor outside and the Prince hitched his breath.

    As soon as he could sneak out of the council chambers with some excuse to his father about needing to relieve himself or get some more food or his quill ran out of ink▬he had forgotten what he said already▬the Prince raced to meet his manservant in the hallway.

    They waited until they were alone, stepping outside the castle in the bright daylight. Marching together down the open corridors underneath the parapets that wrapped around the courtyard, Arthur turned to his servant and asked urgently, "Did you do it?"

    "I left them in her room," answered Merlin with a breathless grin after being dragged all this way by Arthur. "I thought that would be better than a public display."

    The midday bells tolled overhead, echoing and bouncing off the stone walls of the castle. Arthur fixed his long leather coat so he wasn't trampling on it with his boots. "Are you sure she got them?"

    Merlin couldn't help but smile brighter at the nervous excitement hidden in the Prince's tone. He remembered how pedantic he had been when preparing Odette's dinner that one night while he had been staying at Guinevere's for the jousting tournament▬that same man stood almost sweating at Merlin's side, down-right flustered with nerves. "I am sure she will get them."

    Arthur sighed, nodding as some relief softened the anxiety in his chest. He smiled. "Good," he nodded. He cleared his throat and propped his hands on his hips. "I suppose all we can do now is wait."

    His gaze drifted off, and something caught his eye▬or someone. Arthur sighed a dreamy sigh, slumping in wistful desire at the pair of beautiful ladies walking past. The Princess Vivian's voice could be heard even from here, loud and pointed as she complained about the stablehand she encountered during her morning ride to Odette. The handmaiden followed her with apprehensive, uneasy chuckles, though the moment the Princess would not see, her eyes shot up to the ceiling in frustration. 

    "Oh, but heaven has blessed me," Arthur's voice was light and breathless with yearning. Merlin arched an incredulous brow. "She is even more beautiful than before, you agree?"

    Merlin ... supposed. If he were to be honest, all he felt these days when Odette walked past was the dull ache in his shin where she had kicked him just yesterday because he called her out to Gaius for accidentally breaking one of his spare jars. But apart from that, yes, Odette was always beautiful. "Yes ... Erm, I▬I am surprised to hear you talk so openly."

    Arthur seemed to be off in another world as he watched the women pass. "Nonsense! I wish to tell the world▬I wish to shout it across the Kingdom!"

    Merlin chuckled nervously. Something wasn't feeling right▬something was really off about Arthur. Never had he acted like this before when it came to Odette and his feelings. He was guarded and stubborn, not some lovesick fool. He understood the repercussions that would befall Odette if even a gossiping servant overhead his words right now. "A▬Are you sure that is a good idea? I▬I understand your feelings, of course," he added, careful of how unpredictable the Prince was being right now and not sure how he felt about the way Arthur bit his bottom lip as he continued to admire Odette from a distance. A bristling, overprotective annoyance surged up in Merlin's chest, wanting to smack that look off his face. "But▬but other people may object."

    "Object?" Arthur glanced at him, his voice light. Then, he chuckled and nudged Merlin knowingly. "To what?"

    The young warlock gritted his teeth. "Well, you are the future King of Camelot," he tried to keep his tone even, "and she is just a lowly serving girl▬Albeit, a very nice serving girl▬"

    Smack!

    Merlin held his hand to his cheek, staring at Arthur with eyes wide and his jaw slacked in gobsmacking shock. The Prince just slapped him! He was so surprised he didn't even react to how much it hurt. 

    Arthur pointed an angry finger under Merlin's nose. "Princess Vivian is of royal blood▬a future Queen. I will have your head if I hear such insolence again!"

   The Prince stormed off, but Merlin didn't follow. He stood there, frozen in horror as a terrible realisation sunk low in his stomach. His gaze snapped back to where Odette and Vivian had left. The Princess Vivian?

    Merlin had made a horrible, horrible mistake. 

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    a/n: this episode is somehow equally as hilarious as it is angsty. i've tried to like match the tone of this episode cos its really very different to a lot of the other episodes, which is why there is a slightly more dramatic tone to it. it makes it more fun and just helps pay homage to the original tv show and hopefully makes you guys feel immersed in the world of bbc merlin through a fanfic.

    i've been in a huge swan princess and ardette mood (mostly cos i finally got up this episode hehe) - be prepared for a wild ride lol i've already prewritten the rest of this episode. 

    also trying to make the princess vivian be less of a character who is two dimensional and instead make her a bit more three dimensional while still keeping her canon character/attitude. like girl has been sheltered or like is probably acting out cos her dad is a controlling, overprotective baffoon. 

  (enchanted!arthur core here we come...)

   once again i've added my own little bit of lore to merlin that's not actually canon to the show (nor rly the legends or actual history either), i just want to add more to this show and the worldbuilding so my fanfic makes sense <3

    arthur is channeling his inner derek again. 

   (minimal editing)