The Ward 3/?
Title: The Ward 3/?
Author:tudor_rose445
Rating: Pg-13
Characters/Pairings:Arthur, Guinevere, Morgana, Uther, Igraine, Merlin, Gaius, Arthur/Guinevere, Igraine/Uther, Morgana/Merlin?.
Spoilers: Seasons 1-3
Disclaimer: I own nothing. BBC owns "Merlin".
Summary: AU. The life of Guinevere, daughter to Sir Thomas of Camelot, has seemingly changed over night. After the death of her father and brother she is sent to the court of King Uther to become his ward. There she grows amongst the two royal children, Prince Arthur and Princess Morgana. Her time with the Pendragons will have a large influence on her life, and help to shape her into the queen of legend.
Chapter 2:
Gwen is staring to adjust to her life with the Pendragons.
Author’s notes: Beta-ed by the awesome Guardian Izz .
Day by day, slowly Guinevere settled into her new life and the daily routines that came with it. Each morning she would rise and dress with Batilda's help. After being prepared for the day she would accompany the royal family to mass held by the elderly bishop. Gwen found this morning ritual to be rather peaceful. Halfway through the service she would finally be able to blink all of the remaining fatigue from her mind. She hadn't been sleeping much due to her nightmares and Batilda hadn't been able to do much to ease her charge, hoping that time would heal the mental wounds. Though she was beginning to have doubts.
She tried to stay quiet through the entire service and not to fidget, but it proved easier said than done. There were hallways for her to explore, gardens for her to run through; her little legs were itching to explore them all. The royal children for their part were rather well behaved. Morgana never uttered a word but could be seen to shift her knees from time to time. Arthur was more obvious in his movements; it was clear that he wanted to run out to the training field, yet one glance from Igraine caused all three children to sit up a bit straighter.
Gwen enjoyed observing the queen at moments such as these. With her serene face inclined down to her folded hands, she was the image of piety. Gwen would sneak glances at her from time to time to attempt to mimic her. She was so intent on forming herself after Igraine that she failed to notice the small smiles flickering on the woman's face at being mimed.
After mass the children would retreat to their own chambers with their breakfast. After finishing her meal Gwen would accompany Morgana to Igraine's chambers where the queen would oftentimes go over her daily lesson with them. Although the two young girls had nowhere near the education that Arthur had received, they did know how to read and write. Igraine would often expand on these skills with them before then moving onto their stitch work. Gwen found herself enjoying the praise received from the queen over her stitches, although Morgana more often than not threw down her embroidery hoop with a huff of frustration.
The midday meal was a family affair. Each child updated the king and queen on their morning activities before returning to their lessons. Arthur would go to his tutor while the two young girls would continue their etiquette lessons. Then, twice a week around two in the afternoon the girls would join Arthur on the training grounds. Much to Gwen's surprise Uther insisted on Morgana knowing how to defend herself. Now that Gwen had arrived, she too was included in the lessons. She was normally given free time after this, which often included Morgana.
She took her evening meal with the family where plans for the days to come were discussed, and then each member took their leave for the night. On occasion little Guinevere would attend vespers with the queen at the chapel, but lately she had been missing the service in order to get a head start on that night's sleep. It took her longer than ever to fall asleep as she knew once her eyes closed she would see her father and brother, bleeding lifeless upon the battlefield. After a night of broken sleep and tears the cycle would start over again.
A few weeks after her arrival Batilda had finally reached her wit's end. Without Gwen's knowledge the nurse had chosen to bring the child to see the court physician. It pained the woman to see her young girl struggle with something so upsetting at such a tender age.
Instead of accompanying Gwen back to her chambers Batilda steered the little lady down a different corridor after the midday meal. Gwen opened her mouth to question the woman but was silenced as they paused beside an open door. A white haired man stood inside of it surrounded by a table full of vials and various other glasses. Random piles of books littered the room along with other strange objects, some that Gwen had never seen before. Had she not been schooled in proper behavior of a noble lady she might have run about the chamber to explore it and the oddities it contained.
She was broken from her reverie by Batilda gently squeezing her shoulder.
"This is Gaius, milady" the woman began, gesturing to the now smiling old man. "He is the court physician."
Guinevere felt herself pale at the word. She had hated going to the physician's ever since she could remember. She had often gone at lengths to keep Batilda or her father from noticing a slight cough she had developed or a sore leg from a fall. Back in Cameliard their physician with his ill-tasting potions and rough grip had always terrified her. It was now quite obvious that Batilda's hand on her shoulder was placed there for more than just comfort, serving as a precaution to keep Gwen from bolting out of the room.
Gaius paused before her, lowering himself slightly to be on her level. "I am honored to meet you, milady," he said, smiling softly.
She noted that he seemed almost grandfatherly and not at all like her father's old physician. She blushed slightly before nodding her head in thanks.
He made to stand up, taking a moment longer than perhaps the king or any of the guards would. It only struck her then that such a position on his older limbs must have been rather uncomfortable, yet he had chosen to greet her on her own level despite that.
"What seems to be the problem, lady Guinevere?"
Batilda gently prodded her forward.
"I...I can't sleep," she managed to get out, looking around with a rather embarrassed expression written across her face. The whole situation was embarrassing after all; even babies could fall asleep by themselves. They didn't need potions to fall asleep.
Discretely, Batilda mouthed the word 'nightmares' over her head. Gaius wordlessly nodded before taking Gwen's small hand in his larger one.
"I'll have a remedy for you before the day is out, milady. You have my word."
And she didn't doubt him in the least.
O0O0O0
That afternoon Gwen and Morgana joined Arthur for their sword-fighting lessons. The idea of using a sword hadn't interested Gwen in the slightest at first, but after her first lesson she had quickly changed her opinion. The feeling of the metal in her hands, the song that it seemed to emit as it sliced through the air … she could finally understand her brother's love of it now. She had only been permitted a swing or two with an actual sword on her first day, just to feel what it would be like. Her instructor, the 21 year old sword fighting prodigy Sir Leon, allowed her only to practice with a broomstick at first. He had explained his concern for her safety, although Gwen had managed to tune him out once he mentioned that she wasn't to pick up a real sword for some time. It made her all the more dedicated to master the movements now with the broomstick so that she would be able to pick up an actual sword again.
Morgana, having had a full years training already, was allowed to use an actual sword. Gwen hid her jealousy as best as she could although she was rather sure her new friend knew exactly how she felt. Arthur, for his part, wasn't as subtle. He made a show of taking his sword from his scabbard on a number of occasions just to rile the brown-eyed girl up.
Sir Leon often sparred with her with a broomstick of his own to help her, but most times he pitted her against Morgana. At first Gwen had failed miserably, but as time went, day by day she had gained ground and more confidence. It was only earlier that very week that she had managed to knock the broomstick from her new friend's hand, much to the delight of their teacher.
This particular lesson pitted Morgana and Gwen against each other again. The prince watched them lazily, leaning against one of the posts of the training ground fence. He laughed out loud as Morgana nearly was 'cut' by Gwen's broomstick.
"She's new to this, sister … I'd think you with a year worth of lessons could hold your own ground against a novice."
The ridicule in his voice caused both girls' anger to simmer.
"Jab right! Dodge left! Morgana move!"
Morgana threw down her broomstick in annoyance, startling Gwen in the process, before stalking over to her brother: "If you think you can do a better job, you spar with her!" came his sister's retort as she pushed him aside.
Arthur glanced over at Sir Leon for approval, catching the man's reluctant nod, before picking up his sister's discarded broomstick.
"I would ask you to be...delicate, your highness," the knight suggested, watching his youngest pupil with a thinly veiled anxious expression.
Arthur laughed as he took up a fighting stance.
"There's no need to worry; she'll be on the ground in a moment anyway."
His comment made the young girl's face flame with annoyance. How dare he? She almost didn't react in time to his first jab due to her seething. She dodged it in time, noticing that he was clearly slowing himself down because of her. In response she directed a quick prod toward him causing him to quickly step back.
For a moment surprise registered on his smug face before it was quickly wiped away.
He picked up the pace, which caused Gwen to take a few hurried steps back as she attempted to parry his blows. It only took a few more stabs for him to knock her over with his broomstick. She felt to the dirt with a thud, glancing up at him as he flexed the broomstick in his hand. He turned his head to Sir Leon, smiling smugly.
"See? What'd I tell you?"
He moved to walk back to Morgana when Gwen seized her chance and quickly stuck her foot out in front of his, watching as the unsuspecting arrogant prince tripped straight into a pool of mud. She stood up quickly, jumping up onto his back to keep him down before resting the edge of her broomstick against the back of his neck.
"Now who's in the dirt?"
The prince beneath her was uncharacteristically silent as Gwen basked in Sir Leon's praise and Morgana's enthusiastic clapping.
Leon tried to withhold a laugh as he helped Gwen stand, allowing Arthur to pick himself up.
"You must always be vigilant, Prince Arthur. Just because a man is down doesn't mean he isn't still able to attack you," Sir Leon instructed as his eldest pupil dusted off his jacket with a pout.
Morgana came to stand beside Guinevere, grinning at her friend's victory over her big brother. Arthur allowed his broomstick to hit the ground, giving Guinevere a blank look.
He said: "You fight alright … for a girl", as if the very words pained him.
Gwen thought that he should humble himself more often. He didn't seem as much of a prat when he did.
o0o0o0o
That night, for the first time in weeks, Guinevere managed to sleep through the night without any nightmares to torment her. Instead of seeing her father and brother mangled, she saw herself triumphing over the same cocky prince sleeping a few doors down.
It would take time, but she was starting to like this place.