Hello :)

First Merlin fic, so I'm quite excited in a sad way... oh well :D

So, bit of background: This is set in Series 3; I'm not sure if Morgana is evil or not yet, so we'll have to see, however she does know about Arthur and Gwen; Arthur and Gwen have their little wishy-washy-totally-love-each-other-but-deny-it-even-though-its-pointless thing going on; Arthur just avoided getting married to Princess Elena (sp?) so he's a bit meh with Uther. Got it all? :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

The buzz around Camelot was becoming unbearable in Arthur's opinion. His failure of a marriage had gone from highly classified royal news to old wives' gossip and the whispers and stares he received from all around the castle were almost as annoying as... well, as Merlin. He would've snapped pretty soon if it hadn't been for the thought of Gwen; her soft smile as he passed her once Elena had left, the teasing banter they'd exchanged...

Arthur was broken from his daydream by a clang. He glanced up to see Merlin, smiling sheepishly, with various pieces of Arthur's armour scattered around the floor at his feet. Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Honestly, Merlin!" He growled, getting up and snatching his chainmail up off the ground. He shook it accusingly in Merlin's face. "Are you so weak you can't even carry this anymore?" He shoved it into his servant's hands, sending him stumbling back slightly.

"Sorry," Merlin mumbled, holding back from letting out a remark. He knew Arthur was troubled by all the stories about him; he didn't think it was necessary to tease him so much at the moment.

"While you're polishing that-"

"I've already polished it."

Arthur gave him a look. "While you're polishing that again try find time to clean my good boots; my father has invited another Lord and his daughter to stay the week and I'm to make a good impression." In one of the rare moments, that admittedly he rather enjoyed, where he opened up to Merlin, he added "I think he's trying to bring as many Ladies and Princesses to Camelot as possible, hoping that I'll fall in love with one of them."

Merlin glanced up at him from the floor with a sympathetic expression. "Why don't you just tell him about Gwen?"

Arthur glared down at him. "There is nothing to tell him about Guinevere."

Merlin tilted his head to the side. "No. Of course not." He gathered the rest of the armour to his chest and stood up. "Anything else?"

Arthur shook his head. "Just hurry up Merlin; our guests will be arriving this afternoon."

The castle was decorated in blue to welcome the guests, as it was their colour. The blue clashed slightly with Camelot's red, but no one seemed to care too much; or at least, dared not point it out to the King who seemed to be on tenterhooks with either nerves or anticipation. Blue flags fluttered from the battlements and blue drapes hung from the front windows, waving in the breeze. These were joined with red twins, trying to show come sort of alliance between Camelot and where ever it was the Lord and his daughter were from.

To Arthur from the front steps, the whole castle looked like Merlin had dressed it.

He noticed Gwen checking the drapes were secure at one window and waved. She ducked her head in acknowledgement, but smiled at him as she turned back into the room.

"Who was that?" Arthur jumped at his father's voice. He turned quickly.

"No one." He answered shortly.

"You waved at someone," Uther answered, equally sharp.

"I thought someone was taking down the drapes from Morgana's window; I was checking that they weren't." Arthur snapped back.

Uther scanned his son's face. "Very well then."

Arthur swallowed down his annoyance and turned to face the gate, fiddling with his jacket. Uther pulled his cloak on tighter. An awkward silence descended.

"Arthur, I did not mean to-"

"It doesn't matter." Arthur interrupted.

"But I-"

"Where are guests coming from, Father?"

Uther sighed at the obvious subject change. "Lord Markus

and his daughter Lara are coming from Lake Brenna, near the mountains."

Arthur nodded. His sword belt slipped down from his waist and he let out a growling sigh. Merlin had been rushing this morning, trying to help Gaius with something and so had helped Arthur dress in a hurry; now he was late. If he wasn't in time for the arrival of Lord Markus, he would be in serious trouble.

"Arthur, I am placing you in charge of Lady Lara during her stay here. You are to take her our and show her around Camelot. In fact, offer her a tour of the castle when she arrives today – I do not want to hear any reports of her getting lost or into trouble, do you understand?" Uther instructed.

Arthur rolled his eyes. "Yes, Father, I understand." Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Gwen exiting the castle and hurrying across the courtyard in front of them.

"Good." Uther nodded approvingly. "Lord Markus would be a valuable ally to us, with so much water at his dispense."

Arthur caught Gwen's eye as she passed and she sent him a hesitant smile with a nervous glance to Uther. "Not everything in life is about allies, Father."

Uther turned to him, incredulous, but before he could speak, Morgana came up behind them, dressed luxuriously in green with her raven hair spilling over her shoulders. She smiled at the Pendragons, seemingly not noticing their harsh exchange.

"A lovely day for a welcome, isn't it?" She asked cheerfully.

"Lovely." Uther agreed, never taking his eyes off Arthur.

"Wonderful." Arthur glared back.

Morgana's smile faded as she felt the tension between the two. "Have either of you seen Gwen? I asked her to join me in the welcome party," She tried to change the subject. "Is that alright?" She added to Uther, with a secretive glance at Arthur.

"Of course, my dear," Uther's icy exterior melted as he pulled Morgana into his arms, although his eyes remained hard as he watched Arthur over her head.

"Oh wonderful – here she comes now," Morgana pulled away to step down to Gwen, who rushed to them with a bunch of flowers clasped in her hands.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, my lady," she began. "I almost forgot to buy flowers for the guests as you asked and just had to hurry and get them."

"It isn't a problem Gwen," Morgana smiled fondly at her friend. "Come, we're just waiting for them to arrive."

"Arthur, where is your servant?" Uther asked.

"Yes, where is Merlin?" Morgana asked, looking up from admiring Gwen's flowers.

Arthur sucked in his cheeks, ready to make an excuse, when the trumpets blared from the gates.

Uther straightened up. "They have arrived." He announced.

Gwen tucked some of Morgana's curls behind her ear, reassuring her that she looked beautiful. Uther rested a hand on his sword.

The gates swung open, four horses pulling a majestic carriage behind them. It was blue, and beautifully decorated with white swirls, curling up from the bottom to the top, intensifying around the door area. The carriage came to a halt at the foot of the stairs, and the horsemen stepped down to open the door and let down the stairs.

The Lord stepped out first; he was around Uther's age with a thin layer of silvery hair dusting his head. He was dressed in black, with a deep blue cloak wrapped around his shoulders and a sword tied to his waist by a belt. When he reached the ground, he turned holding his hand up to help his daughter. Lara's slender hand gripped her father's tightly, her other arm hooking her long skirts so she wouldn't trip over them. Dark hair fell past her shoulders in a tangling curls, ending just above the cut of her deep purple dress. Her eyes were dark brown, large and soft, but with a hint of sadness, despite the smile on her face.

Morgana walked down to greet them first, curtsying neatly before hugging Lara gently. "Hello, my Lady," she said and Lara returned with a soft smile. "How curious, I used to have a dress just like that!" She laughed.

Lara's face held a fleeting sheepish look before she laughed along nervously.

Morgana held out an arm to Gwen as Lord Markus talked to Uther. "This is my servant and friend Gwen," She introduced. Gwen made to curtsy, but Lara hugged her before she could attempt. Gwen looked shocked, but pleased.

Lara held her at arms length. "Do not worry," she said softly. "I used to serve too," The sadness in her eyes grew for a moment, before ebbing away as she let go of Gwen who thanked her, confused, but smiling.

Arthur watched the meeting with a smile, until Merlin appeared behind him, panting.

"Where have you been?" He hissed at his servant.

"Helping Gaius," Merlin sputtered. "Sorry I'm late - who are they?"

"They're a witch and a wizard we're executing - really Merlin, who do you think?" As Arthur growled at him, Merlin looked over at the Lord and his daughter. Lara turned her head just as Merlin glanced to her and their gaze met.

Merlin's breath hitched in his already heaving chest. Lara's eyes widened, as her mouth opened but no sound came out.

"Merlin, please try and behave normally and welcome Lord Markus and his daughter, Lara; The Lord and Lady of the Lake."

Please review with anything you'd like me to improve on, or anything you liked :)

Also, Lara means something along the lines of 'Water Lady' - no guessing who she is then? hehe

-Esme :)