Hey guys! I'm back and I just want to say thank you all so much for reading and voting on Chapter 2! I enjoy the spam, honestly, even though my notifications died in hospital a while back. There was nothing they could do. RIP notifications.

Anyway, I always give a best comments award and this one has to go to PackWolfLegolas for the poem on Ye Olde Pheasant:

"There's nothing so pleasant,
As Ye Olde Pheasant
Come out of the cold
Our drinks never get old
Don't be such a wuss
Come, DRINK WITH US!"

Also please check out Definitely-Lost 's book of random memes about these characters! They're amazing!

Again, don't worry about correcting mistakes - I don't bite (usually).

Enjoy!

"I hope everything goes to plan." Callahan whispered, his breath stirring her hair and a smile playing over his lips.

"Me too. I mean, what could go wrong?" She smiled reassuringly. They had spent most of the day organising this, Callahan and she. Everything was in place, just one more thing to do. Then everything would be ready.

Evelyn was desperate to make Lady Teodora feel more welcome. She could tell her mistress felt slightly at odds with everyone here, and what better way to get their favour than to dine with the king himself? She couldn't think of one, and from Callahan's enthusiasm, he couldn't either.

They had wine, left from the knighting ceremony last week, and the kitchen staff were all informed and preparing special food. It was all perfect. Once they had informed Lady Teodora, all they had left to do was surprise the king.

"I'll go and check on the kitchen staff, make sure everything's fine. You go and tell Teo." Both figures nodded and went their separate ways, both thinking ahead to tonight. Secretly, both looked forward to it more that they really should, considering they wouldn't be there, so Uther would have no idea it was their plan. But they wanted both royal and noble to be happy, so they looked forward to it just the same.

———

Callahan nearly crashed into the very Lady he was looking for when she exited her room hastily, just as he was entering. She gave him a curious look and was about to continue on her way when he put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Teo?"

"Callahan?"

Her eyes widened in surprise at their interaction, and he didn't blame her. Neither knew the other particularly well, nor were they particularly close to each other, so her reaction was fairly mild considering his hand was on her shoulder. He removed it hastily.

"Your serving girl, Evelyn, and I, have, well, been organising something today..."

He paused, not sure how to continue, and Teo spoke. "Oh?"

"We have arranged for you to dine with the king tonight, in order for you to become better acquainted with him. Evelyn felt that you had distanced yourself from us and we just wanted to help make you feel more welcome-"

He was interrupted as she threw her arms around him. "Thank you, Callahan." She whispered, her words as full of gratitude as her eyes were of unshed tears. "Thank you."

He explained their plan to her, how Uther was not yet aware that he would have company tonight, how she would arrive and request to dine with him... every detail of details was planned out to perfection. Teo beamed as she listened and nodded. "Of course. And thank you again, Callahan."

With one more nod, he left her alone and resumed his daily routine. Until tonight then.

———

Tiv was bored. Amber was still with Gaius so he had nothing to do, no one to talk to. He had done all his chores and had even gone and helped Merlin and a few other servants with theirs, but the desire to do something was coursing through him like it was in his blood Itself.

He stood and paced Lady Amber's chambers again. His boots made a soft 'clack' on the floor every time he took a step, which had been so recently cleaned that he could see a shimmering reflection of himself in the elegant swirls and ribbons of pearl embedded in the marble.

Then he remembered that Evelyn had told him that Teodora was dining with the King tonight. Finally, something to help with. Standing, he made his was as quickly as possible to the kitchens, where steam billowed through the air and clung to him like glue, cloaking everything in shimmering droplets of water. Making his way through the crowd, he found Amelia, Lord Callahan's servant, furiously rolling dough. She looked excited and panicked and nervous all at once and Tiv immediately went over to her.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry." Her words were quick and flustered. He put a hand over hers to stop her rolling.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Really?" He raised and eyebrow in disbelief. "I don't believe you."

Frustratedly, she pushed him back and continued with her work. Tiv was surprised; Amelia never usually acted like this. He was even more certain that something was wrong when she followed it up with a "Go away, Aestivus."

His full name was never a good omen. In fact, it was an 100% bad omen. "Now I know something'a wrong!" He spoke almost triumphantly. "Tell me."

Amelia pushes stray hair out of her eyes. "The king's servant's sick."

Tiv was confused and his expression said as much. "Tragic. How does this concern you?" His sarcasm was ruined slightly by the worry in his voice.

"I'm stepping in. I have to serve him tonight, at the... it's a disaster! What am I going to do?"

"You could try taking a deep breath and relaxing?" He smiled. "It'll be fine."

She looked at him anxiously. "You think so?"

"Course."

A relieved look was all the reply she gave him before she resumed her rolling, although, luckily for the dough, slightly less aggressively than before.

———

Lady Teodora looked over the edge of her glass at Cedric and smiled as he continued to perform, River right alongside him. Opposite her, Uther barely watched the pair, but she could hardly take her eyes off them. Never in her life had she seen such wonderful stunts performed, and she said as such to the king. He simply smiled but said nothing.

Cedric caught her eye and nearly dropped one of the balls he was juggling, but River, by some unknown feat, managed to catch it again before it could fall, and threw it high, only for it to join in the endless circle with the others that the jester was performing with.

Smiling at Cedric, she turned to her host. "My Lord, I would like to thank you for welcoming me here to Camelot. I propose a toast." At a gesture, Amelia came forwards to full each of their goblets with wine, Uther's with red and hers with white.

"A toast," she continued, "to Camelot and it's well-being, may it stay this way for many long years to come."

Uther raised his own glass. "I shall certainly toast to that, My Lady, should it please you. We wish only to make you feel welcome here."

"Thank you my Lord." It felt good to belong. But anyway, the toast...

Their glasses clinked together, scarlet droplets flying over the edges like miniature pools of blood and seeping into the tablecloth.

Blinking, she shook the thought away and drank deeply from her own glass, closing her eyes for a moment and letting the peacefulness of the moment sink in.

When she opened them again, the king slumped onto the table, the wine goblet still grasped in his motionless hand.

Cliff hanger! Sorry this chapter is short, and doesn't have much description in, but I did write quite quick! Only 1328 words :(

I hope you enjoyed and are interested to find out what happens next!

Don't forget to comment and vote.

Until next time!