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Cera was a mite bit apprehensive.
Fuck that, she was fucking terrified. Her aunt worked in the big city and had been harping on her for years to come and work there. She did not want to leave her home but there was nothing to do there - unless you married, but she did not want to do that.
But then, her aunt Mary sent a message that there was an opening in the castle kitchen, and as she knew some cooking she should come and work there. So…. She was going to work in the big scary city across the forest and she was terrified.
At least she did not have to go alone, old man Donald was going to the neighboring town with his son and he would drop her off near the city gates.
But she was terrified, she had never been away from home, from her father and mother. But needs must.
Anyway, the day of departure came, she wished it was a little later but she had already pushed back her date of going at least 10 days in order to go with someone, she was not getting more.
They set out early in the morning, Cera had said all her goodbyes the day before. She watched sadly as her village got smaller and smaller in the distance before it was fully swallowed by the forest.
Old man Donald and his son were not very talkative and it was too early for her to talk, so it was a quiet trio that appeared at the gates of Camelot 2 hours past sunrise.
"Well lass", said old Donald, " here is where I drop you, we will be taking the route around Camelot and not going into the city proper."
Cera thanked him for getting her this far, and that she would find her way inside herself. She also wished them a fruitful journey. Then she took a deep breath and forced herself to move towards the citadel in the distance.
As it was morning, the market was in full swing and she passed by more people than she had ever seen. Really, all her village could have fit into the market itself. It was loud, chaotic, expansive, and very thrilling as well.
She made it to the citadel in an hour, as she paused to watch at various points. But now she was lost... where should she go? To the kitchen for her job under the cook or to find her aunt? Where would her aunt even be? She was starting to panic when she heard someone call out, " You okay over there?" She started and turned around to see a cute guy standing there looking at her with concern.
" I am fine, just a little overwhelmed!" Cera said. The guy smiled and introduced himself as Merlin. "I know, first time in the city? You have that look about you."
Cera shrugged and said, " I am not sure where to go from here, my aunt asked to come for a job in the castle kitchen but I do not know where to go now that I am here."
"Ah you must be Cera then, I already met the other new girl, Violet. Come with me, I will show you to where you need to go to set up and then to the kitchen area. Okay?"
Cera was a bit taken aback, " you know where I will sleep????"
Merlin laughed, " I know where everyone sleeps, it is my job. Come."
Cera was embarrassed but Merlin was so sweet & good-natured that she soon felt at ease. He did show her where to put her stuff and introduced her to the Cook. She would start bright and early tomorrow.
When she went back to her sleeping area, she found another girl on the bed next to her.
"Hi, I am Cera, here to work in the kitchens." She introduced herself.
" Hi I am Violet, in the kitchens as well", the other girl said.
Cera remembered that Merlin had mentioned her. She asked, "Do you know Merlin? I think he mentioned you."
Cera was hoping they were not an item as she quite liked Merlin.
Violet laughed, "I am actually the cook's daughter. I stayed with my mum previously since I just helped out on the feast days but two of the kitchen helpers got married and moved to their villages so I have now come in for the permanent position. I have met Merlin several times and we have known each other for years. How do you know him?"
Cera blushed and answered," Oh I was just staring at everything and panicking about where to go and then he appeared to direct me where to go. He knew my name though which was somewhat odd...". Cera was fishing for information and not even sorry about it.
Violet laughed again, " He knows everyone who comes into the castle, he has to sort out their accommodations."
Cera was amazed, " is he not too young to be the steward?"
Violet laughed so hard that she started gasping. "Oh my, now I know why he put us together, you need some help. Merlin is not the steward, he is the manservant of the Prince... Reagent. Sorry I keep forgetting the Reagent part, I have known the prince since he was flinching honey cakes from the kitchens himself rather than getting Merlin to do it."
Cera was still confused, what had being the manservant got to do with assigning sleeping areas? But she nodded. ( to be fair, being a manservant had nothing to do with the accommodation selection, being Queen however.... even then servants were handled by servants but since Merlin was a servant too.... it was a bit muddy.)
Cera thought she should learn the lay of the land before the start of the work tomorrow and it was just gone afternoon now. She considered and then asked Violet if she knew the main areas and if she could show her. Violet agreed so they went on their way to check the main rooms.
Violet showed her the main dining hall for feasts, the smaller hall for smaller parties, the way to the kitchen from both, and the area where the servants ate. She also showed her the washing area and the way to the water well.
At that point, they ran into a grumbling Merlin. He was saying something about a prat? Anyways Cera called out to him," Hey Merlin all okay?"
Violet was shaking her head but Cera did not care, she liked Merlin and she would not back away from him for another girl if there was no understanding between them.
Merlin started, he was usually not called unless something was wrong. He started looking around and Violet interjected, "Everything is fine Merlin, new girl just wanted to say hello."
Merlin relaxed," Oh thank heavens I do not have time to be handling any other crises. Hello Cera and Violet, I hope you have had a good day?" He asked politely.
Cera was charmed," Oh we are good, just learning the lay of the land."
"Great idea, wish someone had thought of this when I came, I would have had such an easy time..." Merlin sighed. " Anyways, you carry on, I cannot be late otherwise the prat is going to be a grumpy cat and we just can't have that." Merlin waved goodbye and left on his way.
Cera sighed and looked forlornly after him. Violet coughed and said, ' I would suggest you not do that, it will end in your tears…"
Cera was offended, "why am I not good enough for him?"
Violet scoffed, "You mean how you have been here just a day and are to be hired as a common kitchen maid while he is the Prince's manservant and beloved by all in Camelot? I am telling you Cera don’t be too overt in pursuing him. Everyone loves Merlin and you will have a very bad time if people see you bothering him. And I am not talking about the servants either, the knights are very protective of him as well."
Cera indignantly replied, "Just because you want him as well…."
Violet laughed, "I do not, he is like an older brother to me, to most of us who know him actually even when he is younger than some of us. The fact that I am trying to get through your head is that he is important and you have just come today. Think of it like this, he is the king's right hand. He knows a lot of stuff, you may be a spy for all anyone knows. They will hound you relentlessly."
This part Cera got, she said, "I am sorry, I am just worried that I know no one here and he was so nice and…."
"I understand that, no problem. Just be sure to first learn the lay of the land" Violet said and suggested that they leave for the day. She wanted to talk to her mother.
Cera went back to the servant's quarters and Violet went to the kitchen to find her mother, she was a little bit miffed. "Mother, the new girl is an idiot. Well not quite but she has fixated on Merlin of all people and accused me of wanting him to myself when I tried to dissuade her" she ranted. Her mother just smiled and said, "Give it a month dear she will get what all of us have already realized. What did you tell her?"
"That the knights will have her head since he is the king's right-hand man."
"Good girl, that will keep her subtle, and Merlin won't notice a thing."
Violet grinned and said," Only the best for our Merlin ma!"
The cook's words were prophetic, within a month and with a few encounters with the entity that was Arthur and Merlin, Cera was completely over her infatuation with Merlin and joining the rest of Camelot in banging their heads because of two stubbornly blind idiots.