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An Invitation

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Nerissa sat at a table in the physician's quarters buried by book upon book of medicine and science. With Merlin off as Prince Prat's servant, Nerissa had taken it upon herself to become Gaus's right hand. There weren't many positions available to women that she fancied herself working in Camelot. So, she felt an immense burden to prove herself useful to Gaius, to earn her keep. Hence, the pile of books that surrounded her.

She was trying to study up on illnesses and medicines that her mother hadn't trained her for back in Ealdor. There were a lot of them. While she was thankful that her mother had taught her to read, unlike many girls across Camelot, her head was spinning from all the information she had forced upon herself. She supposed such a hasty pace likely wasn't the best course of action, but she didn't want to disappoint Gaius.

The auburn-haired beauty rested her head on a pile of books and groaned as Gaius entered the room. He took one glance at his niece and chuckled. "It looks to me like you could use some fresh air," Gaius told her.

Nerissa groaned once more from atop the stack of books.

"I overheard one of the guards saying that Prince Arthur would be training for the tournament...with Merlin."

Nerissa quickly perked up, nearly falling off the bench because she sat up so quickly.

Gaius chuckled. "I thought that might get your attention." He chuckled again. "I also thought you might enjoy witnessing the blessed event, so I took the liberty of asking young Lukas to accompany you. I hope you don't mind."

As if on cue, Lukas knocked on the door to the physician's quarters and stepped inside. He grinned as he ran over to Nerissa and hugged her. "Gaius got me out of chores today. He told my mother you needed me."

"Did he now?" Nerissa asked Lukas, looking at her uncle, who nodded. She smiled at the boy, one of her first friends in Camelot. He was very much like a little brother to her. Nerissa had always wanted a little brother, but it seemed it was her lot in life to only have an older one. "Well, Gaius was correct. I do believe we have a training session to watch."

Lukas furrowed his brow. "You want to watch Prince Arthur? I thought you hated him?"

"I do hate him," Nerissa said matter-of-factly, holding her head high. "But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy watching him beat up on Merlin, does it?"

"Suppose not," Lukas responded with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

"Shall we then, my prince," Nerissa asked, attempting an awkward curtsy before holding her arm out to Lukas.

Lukas grinned eagerly and bowed toward her, but instead of accepting Nerissa's arm, he wrapped her arm around his shoulder and his arm around her waist. The two of them slowly and awkwardly made it down to the area Prince Prat was training with Merlin. It was a sight Nerissa didn't wish to miss.

Just as she suspected, Nerissa was thoroughly entertained at Merlin's expense. Lukas helped Nerissa sit down on the grassy hill above the flat area where Merlin and Prince Prat were about to begin. Lukas sat down beside her as they prepared for the show. Prince Prat was the first to look in their direction. He nodded in their direction while speaking to Merlin. Merlin then looked over his shoulder and didn't look very amused to see her sitting there.

Nerissa grinned and waved at her brother. Merlin rolled his eyes and groaned. Prince Prat seemed amused by the exchange, or so she thought by the smile on his face. Not that she cared. She just found him annoying. One of the most annoying people she'd ever had the displeasure of meeting.

Merlin finished putting on his armour and Prince Prat got in position. Nerissa grinned, knowing the beating Merlin was about to receive. Back in Ealdor, Nerissa often tried to save Merlin from such a fate, but this was a different situation. It was now Merlin's job to suffer such a thing. Besides, he deserved what was coming to him because he hadn't yet told her why he had started acting so weird around her. It was like he was avoiding her or something.

Nerissa bit her bottom lip in excitement and looped her arm through Lukas's as Merlin drew his sword. "Arthur usually knocks 'em out on the first blow," Lukas told her, eagerly rubbing his hands together. "Especially the new ones."

That made Nerissa laugh.

Prince Prat then went for his first strike, but a bit to Nerissa's dismay, he shouted to Merlin the direction the blow was to come from. Body. Shield. Body. Shield. Not that the instructions helped Merlin very much. Without using his magic, his reflexes were a bit sluggard. Nerissa knew she would have been much quicker against Prince Prat. If only he weren't such a prat, she might ask him to teach her. But from the little she knew of him, he was one of those rough, tough save the world type of men that didn't need a woman's help or input. Nerissa already pitied the poor woman who Prince Prat coerced into marriage.

A snort escaped Nerissa's lips when Prince Prat struck a blow to Merlin's head, which caused her brother to wobble a bit. Perhaps that blow would loosen her brother's tongue into telling her whatever it was that he wasn't.

"Come on, Merlin! You're not even trying!" Prince Prat shouted before tagging Merlin in the back.

Merlin roared back at Prince Prat, although Nerissa wasn't sure if it was from surprise or pain. They began another round, Merlin definitely looking a little worse for wear than when they had begun.

"Someday I'll spar with Prince Arthur," Lukas said as they continued to watch.

"You want to be a knight?" Nerissa asked.

Lukas sighed. "Can't. Knights of Camelot are only of noble blood. My mum's a servant."

"What about your father?"

He shrugged. "Dunno who he is."

Nerissa sighed understanding the boy's pain. She knew what it was like to not know anything about her father. To know what it was like to grow up without one. Nerissa looped her arm through Lukas's arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "How do you plan on sparring with Prince Prat then?"

"Prince Prat?" Lukas chuckled. "That's a good one. Surprised no one's already coined it. But someday if I'm still a servant, Arthur will pick me. I practice in the stables when no one is watching so when it's my turn I'll be ready. But don't tell my mum. She'll yell. And scream. Or worse."

Nerissa chuckled softly before she gave his arm a reassuring pat. "Your secret is safe with me."

Prince Prat wailed once more at Merlin's head, this time knocking him completely off-kilter. Merlin toppled backwards and his helmet rolled from his head, lying a few feet away in the grass. Nerissa then began to clap and shout bravo for the show they had just given. Lukas joined her with great gusto. Prince Prat looked in their direction, but thankfully they were sitting with their backs to the sun, so thankfully he couldn't see them that well.

Even from his spot on the ground, Nerissa knew her brother was rolling his eyes at her. Served him right. Maybe next time he'd learn to be truthful with her. Prince Prat then pulled out a mace and began to swing it over his head as he stood towering beside Merlin, who still lay on the ground.

She smirked, understanding the significance of the mace. While she hadn't been there when Merlin and Prince Prat had their skirmish in town with maces, she had certainly heard tell of the tale. But Merlin had only managed to hold his own thanks to his magic, something that wouldn't currently help him. Since they were out in the open there weren't any objects for Prince Prat to get his mace caught on or other objects for him to trip on. This fight wouldn't be the least bit fair.

Merlin slowly got to his feet to prepare himself for what was about to come, when Nerissa spotted Lady Morgana and Gwen walking in the garden. They waved at Nerissa and motioned for her to come by them. Nerissa chewed her bottom lip, a bit sad to miss the show, but it was Lady Morgana calling her. She couldn't just ignore the king's ward.

Nerissa stood. Lukas stood to help her, but Nerissa held her hand out to stop him. "Stay," she told him. "When I get back, I want a play-by-play in great detail of everything I missed. Got it?"

Lukas grinned. "I can do that."

With that settled, Nerissa slowly hobbled toward Morgana and Gwen. Although she did look over her shoulder several times to see what she was missing. She was thankful she got to see Prince Prat nail Merlin once.

When she reached them, Morgana motioned for Nerissa to sit on the bench beside her so that she wouldn't have to stand on her injured ankle. Gwen sat down on the other side of Morgana.

"Watching the boys?" Morgana questioned curiously.

"More like making sure Merlin doesn't run off on his first day," Nerissa teased, making both Gwen and Morgana laugh.

"Arthur certainly does know how to scare away his manservants."

"That he does," Gwen offered. "Merlin's the third one this month."

"I think the longest one lasted, what was it Gwen, a year?" Morgana turned to look at Gwen.

"Almost a year," Gwen corrected, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "We were going to celebrate if he lasted that long."

"That's right," Morgana said nodding her head. "A pity we didn't get to have our celebration."

Gwen smiled. "Perhaps Merlin will last the year and then we can celebrate."

"What do you think, Nerissa?" Morgana then turned toward Nerissa. "Think Merlin can make it a year with Arthur? After the things I've heard, I don't know if they'll last a day with each other."

Nerissa pondered the question and grinned. "I think the better question is can Arthur manage a year with Merlin? Merlin might scare him off first."

That made Morgana and Gwen laugh. When their laughter subsided, Morgana took hold of Nerissa's hand.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you what a lovely job you did singing at the feast. You'd already left when I got a moment away. You have the voice of an angel," Morgana said with a genuine smile on her face.

Nerissa blushed. She wasn't that good at accepting compliments. "The pleasure was mine," Nerissa said lightly.

"I hadn't heard that song since I was a girl," Morgana offered. "I so enjoyed hearing it."

"As did I," Gwen added. Gwen had already sung Nerissa's praises when she had helped Lukas escort, Nerissa, back to the physician's quarters. Nerissa had blushed the entire way back between the two of them complimenting her.

"I was hoping to ask a favour of you," Morgana said. "As you probably know by now, the tournament is nearly upon us. Lady Helen was supposed to sing for the opening and closing feasts. But as you know..." Morgana cleared her throat and raised her eyebrows, gently signalling the problem. "Well, she obviously won't be able to perform and I suggested to Uther that you ought to take her place."

Nerissa's eyes widened in shock. She looked over Morgana's shoulder to see Gwen nodding in approval with a big smile on her face. She then looked back at Morgana as she continued.

"Uther was keen to accept my suggestion, especially when I told him he could always ask Lady Jessamine of Gaeafel instead."

Nerissa's brow furrowed at the mention of Lady Jessamine which made Morgana chuckle.

Morgana then dropped her voice to a whisper. "Uther only tolerates Lady Jessamine for the sake of the friendship he holds with her brother Lord Nyall. Jessamine has been after Uther for years to marry her. He's getting rather tired of avoiding the subject. Lady Jessamine does have a beautiful voice. I much prefer her voice to that of Lady Helen, God rest her soul, but yours might even be more lovely than Jessamine's."

Nerissa was too stunned for words, still trying to process all that Morgana had said. Gwen caught sight of the look on Nerissa's face and giggled.

"Before you make your decision, which I hope will be yes," Morgana continued. "Know that if you offer us your services, you will be my companion for the entirety of the tournament." Both Morgana and Gwen eagerly looked at Nerissa.

"I-I don't know what to say," Nerissa gasped. "I-I..."

"Say yes!" Gwen and Morgana said simultaneously.

"Okay, yes!" Nerissa couldn't help but grin like a fool as she responded which made both Gwen and Morgana squeal with glee.

She had always hoped something like this would happen one day. It was part of the reason she had wanted to come with Merlin to Camelot, but she had never even dared to hope that she might be recognized for her vocal talents so soon. While she had never dared tell anyone, Nerissa wanted to be a singer, much like Lady Helen. If she could continue to impress King Uther, then maybe, maybe she might be able to see her dreams come true.

Nerissa stayed to talk for a few more minutes until Lukas came running their way. "Nerissa! You don't want to miss this!" Lukas called frantically. He was running so fast that he was unable to stop himself before he fell onto Lady Morgana's lap, who managed to brace herself and catch the young lad.

"Lukas," Gwen chided as she helped him from Morgana's lap. "Apologise."

"Sorry Lady Morgana," Lukas mumbled, hanging his head, but still looking at Morgana will sad, puppy-dog-looking eyes.

"No harm done, Lukas," Morgana said with a smile, gently rubbing the young boy's arm which made Lukas smile softly. Nerissa mentally noted that their smiles were almost identical.

"Would you mind terribly if I took Nerissa?" Lukas asked. "Arthur wants to practice with a battle axe and then the crossbow."

Morgana chuckled and turned toward Nerissa. "Go ahead."

Lukas helped Nerissa to her feet and then he slowly helped her back to their place on the grass to continue watching Merlin get beat on by Prince Prat as Lukas gave her that play-by-play she had been waiting for.

By the time Merlin returned to the physician's quarters, Nerissa was preparing dinner. She had managed to convince Gaius that she should cook and he agreed as long as she stayed off her feet. So, she sat on a stool near the fire cooking a stew as Gaius worked on several tonics.

With each step Merlin took, he lost a piece of his armour. Nerissa and Gaius exchanged a look and chuckled. "So, how was your first day as Arthur's servant?"

Merlin pounded at his head. "Do you hear clanging?" he asked.

"Only from you," Nerissa snorted, nodding toward another piece of armour that had fallen from Merlin to the floor.

Merlin rolled his eyes at his sister. Nerissa rolled her eyes right back at him. He then slowly stumbled his way over to a stool, dropping his remaining armour as he walked. "I'm not picking that up," Nerissa muttered to herself as she stirred the stew.

Somehow, Merlin managed to lower himself onto a stool. Gaius then set to work massaging Merlin's shoulders to help relieve the pain. "Ah!" Merlin groaned when Gaius hit a sore spot. "It was horrible!"

"Not from where I was standing," Nerissa teased.

"Yeah, thanks for that by the way," Merlin grumbled. "Arthur found that very amusing and wouldn't let me hear the end of it. Wanted to know if you were going to come to work with me every day." Merlin's eyes widened in horror for a moment, as something had suddenly struck him, but that moment was quickly gone when Gaius hit another sore spot.

But Nerissa noticed. "What was that look about?" she asked her brother.

"Nothing."

Nerissa's brow furrowed. "You know something you're not telling me."

"Yeah, what it's like to be wailed on with a sword, mace, and battle-axe. Not to mention that I need to learn all about tournament etiquette by morning. You should worry about that stew because I'm starving." Merlin muttered a spell and his eyes glinted gold, sending a book that was on the other end of the table in his direction. It then magically opened up and unfolded.

"Oi!" Gaius shouted before he slapped the back of Merlin's head, which made Nerissa chuckle. "What have I told you about using magic like this?"

Merlin groaned and looked over his shoulder back at Gaius. "If I could actually feel my arms, I'd pick the book up myself."

"Never mind your arms. What do I do if you get caught?" Gaius looked serious. Nerissa could only imagine the price might also be steep if one knowingly harboured a person who used magic.

Merlin's brow furrowed. "What would you do?"

Nerissa was also curious to know Gaius's answer. While so far, she had been much better about not using her magic, she knew that she was likely to slip up at some point. She hoped that it wouldn't be in front of anyone, but she wanted to know what her uncle would do.

"Well, both of you make sure it doesn't happen, for all our sakes," Gaius responded.

It wasn't the answer Nerissa had been hoping to hear from him. But it also wasn't the answer she had been dreading to hear either. It would have to do, for now, she supposed. Nerissa took a quick taste of the stew. It was ready and seasoned to her liking. She dished up the stew while Merlin went back to reading his book and Gaius continued to treat Merlin's shoulders.

Merlin groaned as Nerissa set a plate of stew in front of him. He mumbled his thanks and reached for a fork with his free arm. After several quick bites, he looked at his sister and mouthed the words much better to her. The compliment made her smile. But Merlin could eat almost anything.

Nerissa sat down at the table with a plate of her own food. "I have some news," she said lightly. "Lady Morgana, on behalf of King Uther, has asked me to sing for the opening feast and closing feast of the tournament. She also asked me to be her companion for the tournament."

Merlin groaned once more. "I save Arthur from being killed and I end up as a servant. She sings a song and ends up a member of the court. How is that fair?"

"I'm not a member of the court," Nerissa snapped.

There was something in Merlin's look Nerissa didn't quite understand. It was almost as if he had let something slip. "Well, you might as well be," he said, trying to cover his mistake.

"What is wrong with you? There's been a stick up your butt ever since..."

"Enough, you two," Gaius chided.

Nerissa and Merlin both muttered an apology, but they continued to glare at each other as they both took a bite of stew, mirroring each other.

Gaius sighed. "Now, I'm not sure fairness comes into it, Merlin. But you never know, it might be fun."

Merlin scoffed before he took another bite of stew. "You think mucking out Arthur's horses is going to be fun? You should hear my list of duties."

"We all have our duties. Even Nerissa. Even Arthur."

Merlin groaned. "It must be so tough for him with all the girls and glory." Merlin then made direct eye contact with his sister. She wished she could read his mind because she could tell he was thinking something about her, but she hadn't a clue what.

"He's a future king," Gaius said.

"You don't have to remind me of that."

"Or me," Nerissa added, which earned her a look from her brother. She raised her eyebrows at him as he scowled.

Gaius ignored their additions, pressing hard on Merlin's arm. "People expect so much of him. He's under a lot of pressure."

"Ah! That makes two of us," Merlin groaned.

Nerissa sighed. "Can we not talk about Prince Prat any longer? I'd like to enjoy my meal without cause for indigestion."

Both Gaius and Merlin nodded. They then changed the subject to the upcoming tournament as Merlin read aloud from the book on etiquette, asking Gaius questions.

When it was finally time for bed, Nerissa followed her brother upstairs, hoping to corner him into finding out why he was acting so odd. He was about to shut his door, but she told him to wait. With a sigh, Merlin did as she requested and turned to look at his sister.

"What?" Merlin asked.

"When are you going to tell me what it is that is bothering you?" Nerissa asked her brother.

"Hopefully, never."

"Merlin, we always tell each other everything."

"Not this. I can't tell you."

Nerissa's brow furrowed.

"Now, if you don't mind. Some of us have to be up early for work. Good night." With that Merlin closed his door on his sister's face.

Merlin's response, however rude she did find it, didn't hurt her. Instead, it made Nerissa even more determined to figure out exactly what it was he was hiding. She would find out what he was hiding. It was only a matter of time before she wore him down enough and he told her out of pure frustration.

Nerissa then made her way to her room. But she was far too excited about the tournament and more singing opportunities to sing. So, she carefully climbed up on her window sill and sat, watching the stars and the beautiful sight that was Camelot. Softly she sang the song she had sung for the feast, hoping that back in Ealdor, her mother was looking at the same stars and singing the same song.

Constant as the stars above, always know that you are loved...

A HUGE thank you to my commenters from the last chapter

Also, if you haven't already - go read misshiraeth98 's Merlin fic A Servant's Friendship, it's what inspired me to watch Merlin and then write my own fic.