[Closed]

[dragonspeak]

Who: Merlin (dragonspeak) & Mithian (burping)
What: Two friends spend some time together
When: Day 187
Where: The Citadel (then all around the city)
Rating: PG


Thwak! Thwak! The sharp sound of arrows hitting their target filled the open air. Merlin lowered his bow and studied the target with a frown of concentration. One of his arrows had lodged itself surprisingly close to the center, but the rest of them were scattered across the outer rings. Another couple had missed the target completely.

Merlin sighed, plucking at the bowstring absently. He'd improved--he would hope so, after all that practicing--but he knew he could do much better. He set his equipment down on the nearby rack. As he reached for the water bottle to take a drink, he paused.

Had that been someone in the doorway he'd seen?

Comments

/pets

[dragonspeak]

"Then," Merlin said, with a light touch to her arm. "I hope the man you eventually marry is one you can come to love."

Before Camelot, Merlin never would have guessed there were so many complications to being royalty. What caught your eye at first sight was the finery, not the duties that came with all of the riches. It was sad that Mithian believed she could not marry for love.

"Come on." Merlin stood up abruptly. "Enough of all this depressing talk, why don't you show off your archery skills a bit?"

<333

[burping]

"Thank you," she murmured with a tiny smile before nodding at his suggestion. She stood up with him, walking towards where he'd been shooting. "I would be glad to."

<33!

[dragonspeak]

Merlin restrung the bow with deceptive ease--just because he could get that part right didn't mean he was that great of a shot--and handed it off to the princess.

"How long have you known how to use the bow?"

<333

[burping]

"Since I was young. My father does not have any sons so he taught me instead." She moved to pick a stance, pulling on the bow to get a feel for it before she aims and shoots. She hits the target and almost the center, just the outer ring.

[dragonspeak]

"Well, I guess that makes sense. He'd want someone to share the experience with."

Uther had Arthur, though he also seemed to give Morgana a lot of leeway when it came to those things as well.

Merlin watched Mithian prep, then applauded enthusiastically when the arrow buried itself in the target. "Wow. You weren't joking. I can hit the inner area sometimes now, but it took me a while even do that."

[burping]

"I'm a little out of practice considering I used a crossbow during the battle," she murmured with a smile as she offered him the bow. "I can teach you to shoot if you'd like."

[dragonspeak]

Arthur would probably never let him hear the end of it, but...

"I think I could use some pointers," he said sheepishly, taking the bow back and unstringing it. That was enough practice for one day.

"You should come by the Citadel more often and practice with me. Arthur might make some noise about it at first, but I think he even he can see that everyone needs to fight in some way."

[burping]

"If it's a matter of pride, you can always say you're teaching me," she laughed a little with a shrug. "I was trained by the best, afforded the opportunity, there's nothing wrong with learning from a woman."

[dragonspeak]

"If you'd seen how terrible I was in the beginning, you'd know I have no pride left already." Not that he had much to begin with.

He set about collecting the arrows, smiling. "I don't mind learning from a woman. Gwen was the one who explained all the armour parts to me when I first got to Camelot, and Morgana probably could have taught me a thing or two about swordsmanship then, too."

[burping]

"Then you are truly a rare specimen," she teased, moving to help collect arrows herself. "And I applaud you for it."

[dragonspeak]

Merlin laughed, holding the quiver out so she could slip the arrows in.

"Not really. Us commoners just have it much more simple, you know. The womenfolk in my village helped as much as the men did, and we didn't have the time to worry about all the proper court stuff."

[burping]

And slip them in she does with a smile. "That is a trait I hold dear, to be sure."

[dragonspeak]

"It gets tiring, dealing with all of that expectation, doesn't it? I know you're raised with all of it, but..."

Once Merlin had gathered everything, he slung the bow and quiver over his shoulder. He nodded his head toward the door.

"I'll put these away, it'll only take a second," he said, slipping into the storage room and then back out minutes later. "Was there anywhere you wanted to go?"

[burping]

"It may grow tiring but I do not let it show when it does, it's my obligation, as you have yours, I have mine." Basically, it's just the way things are even if she might long for simpler things from time to time.

She waits for him patiently, fingers tracing the target before she straightens and turns towards him. "I am not sure."

[dragonspeak]

"Well, you're here, and I'm not doing anything. It's been some time since I showed you around any part of the city."

Merlin smiled at her winningly. "There must be something you've been thinking of."

[burping]

"What is your favorite part of the city, Merlin?"

[dragonspeak]

"Me?" He asked with some surprise.

"I guess...the park in Baldr. There's a lot of us in the house, and it's nice to get a bit of quiet."

[burping]

"I can only imagine it's been chaotic, with so many coming and going."

[dragonspeak]

"A good kind of chaotic," he assured her. "In the beginning, it was just me an' Morgana around. All of us living together, it feels like we're...closer."

He bit his lip. "We haven't seen much of you in the house. You know you're welcome to drop in or stay with us any time, don't you?"