Chapter Eleven – Discovered

There was a loud knocking sound, why was there knocking? Merlin had been sleeping quite peacefully but was awoken by this insistent knocking.

His eyes fluttered open and he found himself in a room which he didn't recognize for a moment, then he realised. He was in Lauretta's chambers.

He sat up suddenly, at this she woke up.

'What's going on?' she murmured her voice still weak from sleep.

'Someone's knocking to come in, if you don't answer then they'll get the guards, I'm not supposed to be here I'll get into trouble!' Merlin said, as soon as she realised what he meant she hurriedly got out of bed and snatched up her dressing gown, she kicked her travelling cloak under her bed and hissed at Merlin to hide before sprinting over to the door and opened it just as Merlin slipped into her wardrobe. Gwen stood outside her fist poised ready to knock again.

'Gwen!' Lauretta grinned.

'My lady,' Gwen smiled faintly entering as Lauretta opened the door further. 'I have your breakfast.'

Inside the wardrobe Merlin was cursing in his head, he was supposed to be giving Arthur breakfast, maybe he could slip out without Gwen noticing? But, his shoes, they were by the side of the bed, a few meters away from where Gwen was standing, setting out Lauretta's breakfast. Panic began to rise in his chest, what if Gwen found the shoes? How would she react, what would she do?

No, Gwen was their friend; she'd help, not tell on them. He could probably just pop out, get his shoes and go quickly and Gwen would probably both give them separate lectures on how to deal with situations like these but she would be kind and supportive.

He turned his ears back onto their conversation. Lauretta hadn't even noticed the shoes were lying there.

'May I ask why you weren't answering the door my lady?' Gwen asked.

'Please Gwen, I've asked you a hundred times to call me Lauretta; I prefer a more informal relationship with my friends. And it took me a moment to find my dressing gown…' she said confidently.

'I'm sorry my la- I mean Lauretta.' Gwen smiled putting down the breakfast tray and turning around to make the bed, she nearly tripped on the shoes, picking one up gingerly she turned back to Lauretta who was watching, her eyes wide with shock.

'Whose are these?' Gwen whispered, but it wasn't an accusing or menacing whisper it was a kind and playful whisper and Merlin saw Lauretta relax as she realised she wasn't going to be reprimanded for this.

'Err, well…' Lauretta began but Merlin just walked out of the wardrobe. He didn't care.

'They're mine, thank you Gwen!' he said, taking the shoes off her before striding confidently out of the room. Leaving the two women speechlessly staring after him. About a minute after he left Gwen turned slowly and looked at Lauretta who shrugged innocently in return. She knew that the following conversation was going to be difficult.