#myficssneekpeek

[the-pen-pot]

Trick or treat!! 🎃 (Merlin please) Note: I am dressed very clearly as the millionth “Barbie” you’ve seen and still proud of my costume.

A very good "fic-reader barbie"! Some Merlin for you, all right - a teensie bit MORE King & Court 😁 from later in the story.

'Arthur. Good. We have had reports of raids on our northern border with Mercia. I need a small force to find if there is any truth to the matter, and if so whether it is bandits, or Mercian men at fault. I thought it an ideal opportunity to test your new knight.' 'I will ensure he is a member of the party,' Arthur replied, his voice clear and, on the surface at least, unconcerned. Merlin didn't believe that for a minute, and he shifted the bucket, easing his way carefully around the edge of the room so he could at least take in Arthur's profile. At first glance, he looked as relaxed as he sounded. There was no tension in his jaw or narrowing of his eyes, but Merlin could see the tell-tale impassivity of a controlled expression. Whatever Arthur truly felt, he hid it neatly behind a mask suitable for a royal court. 'This must be done discreetly, Arthur. Even a modest force approaching the border could inflame tensions with Mercia, which are already challenging after the incident with King Bayard.' Merlin grimaced. The memory of the Morteus flower and his own prominent role in it was still fresh in the minds of the court. He felt the weight of more than one staring eye upon him and tried valiantly to ignore it.  'Your new knight and one other, Arthur. No more.' A murmur went through the crowd, soft, like the wind blowing long meadow grass. Merlin couldn't say he was surprised. A normal patrol was at least half-a-dozen knights. For one made of half that number was almost unheard of. 'Nor are you to wear Camelot colours. The less there is to give away your origins, the better. I am not expecting you to engage with whoever you find troubling our villages. You are merely to report back what you find. Do I make myself clear?' 'Yes, Sire.'