Chapter Text
Merlin is the centre of Camelot, a fact that everybody knows. So why does he always wear the same ratty old clothes?
It was that thought that led Gwen to Arthur's chambers, checking to make sure that Merlin was off to gather the Prince's meal. If Gwen had also made sure to ask the Cook to stall for as much time as possible, nobody would ever tell.
She knocked loudly enough that he would be able to hear her through the thick doors, waiting for a response while doing her best not to attract the attention from the Guards at the end of the corridor.
A lazy voice rang out, and as soon as she heard it, she pushed into the room, a bit too forcefully to be just any other servant. She’d never presume her position, of course, but she knew that Arthur was quite unlike his Father, in the fact he’d listen to her plea.
To say that Arthur was surprised to see her would be an understatement. He stood up sharply, knocking a pot of ink all over his breeches and the desk he was sitting at, the quill still sitting between his thumb and finger
'Guinevere! what... what brings you here? Merlin hasn't spilt my dinner on the cook again, has he?' She tried to hide her smile as he dabbed at the ink, before abandoning the cloth to the floor for Merlin to retrieve later. No doubt she’d hear Merlin’s whines as he protested about having to remove the ink from his clothing later.
'Sire, I came out of concern for Merlin.’ She had to be careful in the way that she phrased this, she realised, taking a slight step forward. While Arthur was a kind and caring man, he was also the Prince of Camelot. To presume he would care more for Merlin would be a mistake, if only because the Prince was stubborn in his emotions.
‘What’s the idiot done now?’ Arthur’s brown furrowed, but from the quirk of his lips, Gwen knew the concern was welcome
‘It was the state of his clothing, my Lord. The weather’s catching a chill, and I was just wondering… does he not spend the coin you give him?’ She used a tone of voice that had slight hints of motherly scolding, annoyed despite the title given in her question. Arthur, for all his claims to be observant, didn't really seem to notice that she had talked to him as if he was a child.
'I give him money, it's up to him what he spends it on.' It was clear that Arthur’s view on the subject was set, clearly baffled at the thought that Merlin wasn’t spending his coin. Or, perhaps, it was more confusion over why he should worry about what he did use his money for
Gwen sighed, seeing that there was no point in trying to explain to Arthur the importance of money for a servant, compared to a person of nobility. As much as Arthur had changed during his years (especially with Merlin at his side, not that anyone pointed that out), there was only so far an entitle-born man could see.
She left just as quickly as she came in, bobbing a curtsey to the Prince before closing the door, much more gently as she did so. It was on her way down the corridor that the idea came to her, flashing through her mind so quickly that she couldn’t believe that she hadn’t thought about it before.
Gwen made dresses for both her and Morgana, had perfected the art of making clothing for a low amount of her income. If she could do such a thing, then why could Merlin not do the same?