A Womans Ire, Breathes Fire

"Merlin your going to be late." I groaned curling up around my cramping stomach. Whimpering in pain as my babyless body took its revenge. I know I should be heeding Giaus warnings but at the moment the thought of moving seemed a lot more deadly than one annoyed prat.

"Merlin what ever is ta..." Giaus began only to freeze midsentence as he caught sight of my pitiful state. Not sure if it was the constant Whimpering being emited every few seconds, or the revealing blood stain on the back of my night dress. Ethier way, Giaus took one look at me, sighed and disappearing from the room, returned moments later with a vial.

"Sorry my dear this is the best I can do for you. I wish I could say to just stay in bed, but we both know how Arthur will feel about that." I grimaced at that. Not really looking foreward to listen to his whining today.

"No I will be fine just... give me a moment. " Downing the tonic in one go I winced at the awful taste and slowly pried myself from my bed. Rummaging through my pitiful selection of clothes and pulled out the shirt Will gave me before i left, (Which is slightly 2 sizes to big but super comfy.), and one a skirt. So what if the colors and styles clash. As long as its comfy I honestly could care less.

Once dressed I slowly made my way to the kitchen wishing for death to claim my soul every step of the way.

"Hello merlin how are you today?" Please please just go away Gwen. I so can not deal with your peppyness today. I thought, plastering a smile on my face and slowly turning to face the energizer bunny.

"Hello Gwen, heading to Morgana's?" I asked ignoring her question.

"Yep she definitely keeps me hopping." She laughed her green eyes twinkling.

"I can imagine. Well I really should be going. Would hate to be late for the prat. See ya Gwen." I forced my dead voice to become more lively. I was just about to make a quick retreat when I felt her thin cold fingers clasp around my wrist. Holding me in place.

"Are you sure your ok? You seem a little upset?" Breath Merlin. Morgana won't like a maidservant without a head. Just breath. I silently calmed myself struggling to hold back the temptation to rage. Swallowing my temper I threw a forced smile over my shoulder at her.

"Of course just busy as a beaver. That prat doesn't like me sitting idle." I fake laughed breaking from her grip and quickly making my exit.

"Ok I guess I will see you later. Bye Merlin." She cheerfully called after my retreating form. A hint of confusion in her voice.

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"Up." I snapped tiredly, yanking open the bedroom curtains before puttering around his room. After a moment of silence from the prince, and cramping to cause even a dragon to cry, I decided to forego being nice. Going straight for his ned I yanked off his covers and pulled him ungracefully from the bed. Leaving him in a pitiful heap on the floor.

"MERLIN!!" He screeched tossing a goblet at my head. Which promptly smacked me in the head. As I was too tired, and in too much pain, to try to dodge. Tense, earth shattering, silence fell across the room as I slowly turned to face the prince. Eyes blazing in barely suppressed fury, I glared down the suddenly frightened prince. An internal debate rahed in my head. After a moment I turned away deciding it would take far to much energy to kill the prince.

"Hurry up your breakfast is getting cold." Pure unfiltered relief spread across his blue eyes. As if knowing he barely escaped with his life. Quietly getting to his feet. He compliantly sat down at the table and began to eat. He must have sensed he was walking a very fine line, because for the rest of breakfast he stayed silent.

Only once we arrived on the training field, (with tons of witnesses with sharp pointy objects.), did he begin pushing his luck again. By making me the target.

"Come on Merlin. You can do better than that. What can't hadle a little training?" He teased wacking the shield I held with his sword. Over and Over again. I yelped, startled, as he swept my feet out from under me with the handle of his sword. Groaning from both the impact and the cramping I slowly rolled over onto my knees as the prst cackled aragontly above me.

Glaring up at him I was just about to throw caution to the wind and scream at him when I noticed he had stopped laughing. Adopting instead a look of horror as he gazed at the ground behind me. Glancing back I frown at the bright red blood adorning the grass. I freeze wanting immediately to disappear as I realised my makeshift rag pad no longer held back my blood. Letting it smear the back of my skirt, and now the grass.

"Why didn't you tell me you were on your bleeding?" He asked in a strangled horrified voice. Rolling my eyes and getting to my feet I placed my hands on my hips staring him down.

"Its fine prat. Its not the end of the world. Let me go change really quick and I will be back to serve you lunch." If anything that only served to horrify him more.

"WHAT! NO WAY! YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO WORK DURING THIS... THIS THING!" He practically yelled panicked. Frantically waving his hand in the air.

"Honestly Arthur its not a big deal. Its just a little blood. Its not some contagious disease." I sighed folding my arms in front of my chest.

"Just a little blood!? Are you nuts! You could practically fill a lake with that much blood. Just... take the rest of the day off. In fact take the week off. I'll have George take over your duties while you are... indisposed." He awkwardly coughed avoiding my eyes.

"But..."

"No. Until you are no longer... Ahem. Anyway you are dismissed." With that he swiftly turned away from me and headed inside the Palace. Leaving standing there utterly baffled by his reaction.

"O...k.." Turning toward home I slowly headed back to Giaus. Upon entering Giaus glanced up from the herbs he was geinding and gave me the eyebrow. I could tell he wanted to know why I was back so soon. Sitting down in the chair across from him I sjrugged my shoulders just as confused as him.

"Arthur gave me the week off. Ok more like ordered me to take the week off."

"Oh and why did he do that?"

"Bleeding."

"Ahh. He always has been a bit squimish about that. He nearly past the first time morgana had it, and accidentally walked around the castle unaware that she had bled through. Poor boy went into a panic thinking Morgana was bleeding out. Anyway since you don't have anything to do...." I groaned already knowing where this was going.

"The leech tank has been needing a good scrub." Yep knew it. I think I prefer the prat.