This story is an AU of Merlin, with a female Merlin instead. I don't own anything you recognise (Like Merlin) and I am not getting any profit from this whatsoever.
Summary: When Princess Merlyna has to hide her identity and gender in order to be safe while her father hunts down the enemy, she runs away to Camelot to hide. Getting on the wrong side of the Crown Prince, then saving said prince and being rewarded by becoming his manservant is not the best way to stay inconspicuous, especially with the fact that the girl has another secret, she has magic. On top of all this, she has to not only protect the Prince, Camelot and her destiny, but also keep herself from being killed by assassins until her father is able to kill them. And to think, Merlyna only wanted to have a normal life like every common-born female in the land.
Please read and review.
Chapter 1
Once upon a time normally results in a story about a princess in trouble, being rescued by Prince Charming and then living happily ever after. This Princess, however, didn't need a Prince to rescue her, she could rescue herself.
"Father?" a young feminine voice called out, the voice hitting the harsh stone walls and echoing back, giving the girl a young, vulnerable feeling. The empty room echoed with the girl's footsteps.
Her father was sitting in his chair, holding his crown within his hands, staring at it with a heavy look on his face. He looked like he was holding the entire world up on his shoulders.
"Father, are you OK?" the girl asked, rushing forward to the man and kneeling at his feet, grasping his hands in her own.
"My daughter, you are not safe here, not anymore." The King told her, stroking her cheek softly. "My little angel, my sweet daughter, I can no longer protect you here."
"I can protect myself, father. You and my brothers saw to that. And the Knights, and the servants, everyone has looked after me, I will be fine." The young tried to reassure her father.
He shook his head adamantly. "There are men after you and we have a spy in the household. There have been several attempts at killing you in the past week. You need to get to Camelot, in disguise. You need to stay there until I send for you. These men will not stop until they have you, I cannot be worrying about you while trying to capture them and run the Kingdom."
The girl's eyes flashed in annoyance at being sent away like a helpless woman but bit down on her tongue. "I promise father. I'll leave tonight, and stay there until I am sent for again. I won't reveal myself to anyone ever, not even King Uther unless it is the difference between life and death. I swear." She promised, grasping the man's hands and squeezing them reassuringly.
"Thank you my dear, I know it is not easy for you to do what you see as running away, but I need to keep you safe. When you arrive at Camelot, seek out Gaius, the court physician, he is your Great Uncle and will take care of you. Uther will explain to him not to ever mention your background, even to you yourself." The King explained, stroking the girl's face once again, his crown still residing limply in his other hand.
The girl took the crown and placed it atop of his head again. Placing a kiss on his forehead, she then squeezed his hands once more before dropping them, and walking out the door to get ready for her journey.
Walking out of the Throne Room, her footsteps echoing behind her, the Princess held her head high and kept her face neutral, despite the excitement, anticipation and nerves running through her. She had always wanted to run away and pretend to be someone else. Now she could do that. She didn't need to be married off to some suitor for the good of the kingdom. She needed to learn who she was, and this journey was going to do that. Whether she liked who she became or not was the question.
The princess looked back over her shoulder. The night's air was cool, allowing her to wear her thick winter coat with the hood up without looking suspicious. She drank in the sight of the castle she grew up in for the last time in god-knows-how long and imprinted every detail to her memory. Each tower, number of windows, cracks, crevices and niches that only a child is able to find growing up. Turning around to face down the path, she set off down her path, and destiny. She would go to Camelot, live there and be normal before her father called her back and married her off. She would have that taste of freedom and she would savour every moment and take every opportunity. She would show the world that she could look after herself.
TBC, Please read and review
