**Author's Note**
Welcome to my stab in the dark to writing a Merlin story that won't bore you to death! I watched Merlin when it first aired for a little while and couldn't get into it ... I know, I know ... So I decided to re-watch it just to see if I could get into it and I loved it. So this happened, I was in the middle of a tattoo consultation and this happened!
I'll try update this as well as my Days of Future Past story - which I know I have abandoned but I'm back to the world of writing from now on - and my new Once Upon a Time story which should maybe be up sometime next week!
This chapter is my way of kind of testing the air to see what the loyal Merlin fans think of my writing and meddling into their fandom, so please let me know what you think ... Just don't be mean - I have a cuddly dragon toy with scary beady eyes on stand-by for that!
**IvyEnthusiast**
"If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be;
and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger"
The people of Camelot were gathered once again, not to celebrate, but to bare witness to yet another example of the repercussions of practising sorcery. Yet another men, that held no proven guilt on his head, was forced down to his knees in front of the King. The Royal Executioner stood poised behind the man waiting for his orders whilst the people who shared equal looks of sheer dread, hidden out of the way behind the blockade of the Royal Guard stood who crowded the palace steps, Clarissa stood quietly her hand gripping around the reigns of one of the Knight's horses as she peaked out from the thick brown hood that fell over her brows.
"Let this serve as a lesson to all, this man Thomas James Collins is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic." King Uther spoke, his harsh voice echoing around the crowd of people as he stood upon the balcony above them. "And, pursuant with the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned on penalty of death." Clarissa's gaze dropped to the floor feeling the pleading gazes from the crowd around her, "I pride myself as a fair and just king," Many scoffed, "-but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass."
"How can he be so content with slaughtering innocent people?" She whispered leaning over as far as she could to whisper to Sir Leon. She had stood at the Knight's side time in and time out as Uther demanded another execution that nobody apart from the King himself truly wanted to see, yet here they stood.
He simply frowned to her question. "I'm afraid I do not hold the answer to that," He didn't want to be seen speaking ill of his King, though to her, he would attempt to speak his mind. "Would you not me more comfortable indoors My Lady?" His lips quirked up as she scrunched her face up in annoyance. She was never one for titles.
"What have I told you about formalities?" She shot back, her eyes trailing up to one of the many windows of the palace to see the Lady Morgana peering out as Uther continued to prattle on about how those who practiced such evil corrupted the good name of Camelot. Both women had long grown accustom to such ramblings.
"Not to-" The Knight simply grinned, however as the colour began to drain quickly away from her face, his grin fell. An eerie silence fell over the courtyard as the man in the middle of the square had fallen limp and the young woman beside him could not tear her eyes away. He frowned knowing it was foolish for her to be outside, after all, the King had placed her under not only his but the Knight's protection. "My Lady-"
"Leon-" She whispered, her voice having grown hoarse, wishing that she had simply stayed back at the stables. She arched her brow as an old woman stumbled her way towards the square, her wails echoing through the crowd.
"-Let the celebrations begin!"
"There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic!" She wailed. Clarissa felt her heart clench, the man had been her son, and Uther had just announced celebrations in his place. "It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance! You took my son! And I promise you, that before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears," Clarissa's grip on the leather reigns tightened uncomfortably as the woman spoke. She was implying the death of Arthur, something she did not take lightly. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," She panted, "A son for a son."
"Seize her!" Uther growled, outrage clear in his voice as the guard moved into arrest the woman for such treacherous claims.
Before they were even able to lay a finger on her tattered cloak, the woman gripped a pendant that hung around her neck chanting wildly before she disappeared in a whirl of wind and smoke leaving the people of Camelot in awe, Clarissa stood with her lips parted, the woman had magic.
"My Lady-" Sir Leon spoke seeing her frozen on the spot, her eyes fixated firmly on where the woman had once been. "Clarissa-" He tried, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips as he roughly took the reigns from her hands before he tried to address her again, "Clara," Her eyes shot to him, "The King has you under my guard," She grumbled under her breath, "You can grumble all you like but I must escort you back to the stables."
"Fine." She replied, following the Knight and the brown mare back through the crowds towards the stables. Her eyes locked on his back as he walked ahead. She couldn't rid herself of the threat the elderly woman had made, it worried her beyond belief, if the woman had magic then Arthur's life truly could be in peril. She huffed to herself at herself, only causing Leon to stop to look over at her.
"My Lady-" She looked up at him with a look that was less than impressed, he chuckled, "Clara," He corrected, "I nor your Knights will allow any harm to come to Arthur,"
She found herself smiling at his words, "I am aware," She replied, "I just hope the King is aware of the bounty he has just bestowed onto that prat's head.."
Having allowed herself some peace and quiet Clarissa had spent the remainder of the afternoon attending to the Knight's horses, although now she sat with her legs lazily tucked beneath her as she perched on the back of one of the younger mares. The book of herbs and remedies that had been borrowed from Gaius, many weeks ago, resting on her knees as she gently ran her fingers through the detangled blonde mane. She kept a trained eye on the small mare just over the wooden fence from her knowing her work wasn't truly done for the day, although she needed a distraction from the less than honourable behaviour of her King.
"My father wishes to know why you have refused to attend the feast?" The voice questioned from behind her causing her to smile slightly. "-any of them.."
"I don't think that the death of our people is an appropriate reason to celebrate Arthur," She replied not lifting her eyes from the book as she blonde appeared in her line of sight. She had already suspected that it would only be a matter of time before he was sent to collect her. "Did your father send you to enforce your prattish wisdom?"
Arthur chuckled at her, "I hope you're aware that I would have someone thrown into the stocks for addressing me like that," He propped himself up against the wooden frame of the stables as she finally lifted her gaze properly to look at him.
"But Arthur-" She grinned setting the book aside as she swung her leg lazily over the side of the mare's back to stand - only to the Prince's shoulder - with a smile. "That is one of the many privileges of having you as my friend," He rolled his eyes at her chuckling as she curtsied at him. "Beck and call remember," She was right of course, for as long as either could remember he had been taking her insults and always throwing them back, more often than not resulting in some sort of battle.
"Is there anyway that I can persuade you to attend this feast without condemning Sir Leon to dragging you?" He questioned as she quickly glared at him. He smirked knowing that if anyone was going to have to drag her it would be him, and he would pay the price for it. "Clary.." She groaned looking up at him, the nickname had quickly become her Achilles heel ever since they had been children since Arthur had been determined to out-do everyone on giving her a name that he found easier to pronounce, although she didn't think her name was difficult at all. "My father has requested your presence as a Lady of Camelot to greet the Lady Helen upon her arrival." She huffed, "Which at this current moment you do not look like- Ow"
She glared up at him as he rubbed the back of his head where she had just whacked him. "Is that truly how you would address a Lady no less My Lord?" She questioned almost teasingly, although he could see there was something about his statement that had bothered her. He was right in a way, she stood in front of him with her arms crossed over her corset covered blouse that she managed to wear whenever she hadn't been coerced into a gown, and a pair of tight fitted black breeches that were covered in tiny splodges of mud from when she had been tending to the horses.
"My Lady," He bowed flashing her another smile as she moved to whack him again only to have him press his palm against her head preventing her from reaching him. "You truly are tiny Clary,"
"You truly are a prat Arthur," She huffed as stretched out of the crouch he had forced her into. They both knew that the other enjoyed being around each other out of the watchful eye of the Kingdom, they were free to be themselves, no titles and no pretenses.
"Yet you still grace me with your presence," He protested as she brushed down her knee-high boots, knocking off the hay knowing that the maids would be none to happy with her trailing hay around their halls.
She pursed her lips slightly as she rolled her eyes at him, "My Lord, we both know that you couldn't survive a day without me," She told him as she scooped her satchel up from the ground along with her cloak, "Why does he require my presence anyways?" She asked, "Surely Morgana is more fitting to such events?"
Arthur raised his brow at her, she had all but confirmed that there was something indeed bothering her, "Why would she?" He questioned as he took the satchel from her hands to swing it up onto his shoulder. She just sighed with a meek shrug, however Arthur wasn't prepared to let it go, he clasped his hand around hers causing her to stop. "You are just as fitting to the event as the Lady Morgana" He told her, "If you were not he would not have requested you,"
She smiled at his lazy way of paying her a compliment, "Thank you Arthur,"
"But of course," He bowed with a smirk on his face happy that he had managed to force a smile out of her as they continued to walk across the grounds back towards the palace building. He bumped her shoulder with a grin, "What if I brought you tea for the remainder of the week would you come to the main feast?" She rolled her eyes at him playfully, "Pl-"
"I'll think about it..." She drawled as she bumped his shoulder back, although it was more like his arm. "Would you really bring me tea? Fully brewed with milk?"
"If you go yes.." He bargained as she huffed folding her arms across her chest as they continued to walk, the promise of freshly brewed tea and making the Prince of sleeping in get out of bed early seemed greatly amusing to her - but it meant she would have to go to the feasts.
A shrill scream sent Clarissa flying forward in her bed with a fright as her eyes shot around the room, quickly coming to her senses she threw her legs over the side of her bed grabbing her robe by the ribbon as she sped out of her chamber barefoot flinching as her door shut with a slam possibly waking those around her. "Morgana?" She yelled as she ran in through the already open door. Gwen, just as startled, stood on the other side of her Lady's bed trying to rouse her from whatever had plagued her dreams for yet another night. "Is she alright?" Gwen shook her head as she continued to shake the dark-haired woman. "Morgana! It's only a dream,"
"Clarissa?" Morgana panted startled as her eyes finally flew open scanning around the room before looking up at her maid in relief. "Gwen,"
"My Lady, are you alright?" She questioned as both women moved to sit on either side of her, she simply shook her head as she tried to catch her breath. "Perhaps we should go fetch Gaius?"
Clarissa nodded softly, "I will go to him at first light," She offered noticing how Morgana's eyes grew heavy she reached out to rest her hand across her forehead, her eyes flashing a subtle haze of gold as Morgana's once clammy forehead became cool whilst Gwen sat naive to the change. "I am sure she will be alright for the rest of the night,"
Both women stood from the bed as Gwen reached over to blow out the candle that lay at the side of her bed, before leaving the chambers to silence the door now firmly shut behind them. "Sleep well Lady Clarissa," Gwen teased with a gentle smile as she picked up the edges of her own nightgown heading back to the antechamber for the night.
"Goodnight Guinevere," She called after her with a sly grin as she turned off in the opposite direction heading back to her own chambers, a silent yawn escaping her lips as she went.
Her bare-feet padded against the cold marble floor as she finally reached her chambers without disturbing the other inhabitants around her, she let out a soft sigh moving to push open the door that stood between her and her be, only to be startled by a hand being clasped down on her shoulder causing her to let out a scream only to have the hand move to cover her mouth.
"Why are you out of bed?" Arthur questioned looking down at her angry form, she had her hands curled around his fingers that covered her mouth trying to pry them away. He would have chuckled at her but she would probably have tripped him up. He suddenly grimaced feeling her tongue swipe across his palm quickly moving his hands away. "Really?"
"You covered my mouth," She glared, her eyes flickering away from his face to see he hadn't thrown on his shirt when he had left his chambers. "I was checking on Morgana," She told him looking back up at him to see he had done the exact same thing, she scrunched her robe up in her hand knowing she stood in the hall in her soft nightgown. "Why are you out of bed?"
"Your door slammed as you ran to her rescue," He replied suddenly shy as he rubbed the back of his neck. He had woken with a start knowing where the noise had come from, it wasn't hard considering his chambers were a mere corner away from her own. "I came to make sure you were alright,"
"Oh-" She spoke her eyebrow raised slightly at his confession although it wasn't unusual for her to double-check he was alright considering he would yell at Morris for leaving his window open and would often trip over something in the dark but not often was it the other way around, "Well I assure you I'm fine, she simply had another nightmare and I went to check on her." He nodded, "I'm sorry I woke you My Lord,"
"It's alr-" He paused with a frown wondering why she had addressed him like that, normally when she did it was a joke but now she seemed sincere in it. "Clary, you know you don't have to address me that way." He told her, "I don't care that you woke me up, I just wanted to make sure you were alright,"
She laughed slightly making Arthur arch his brow at her. "And I told you Art I'm fine," She gestured to her door pushing it open, "Now if you'd excuse me I'd quite like to get some sleep before having to tend to your horse again,"
"O-Of course," He stammered slightly, "I shall see you tomorrow?" She nodded as he cracked a sly grin, "Then I bid you a pleasant evening Lady tiny-"
"You too Prince prat," She winked with a grin before closing her door and retreating to her bed that seemed to be calling her with it's warmth, leaving the Prince outside the door with a soft blush across his cheeks, much to his annoyance, he shook his head as he retreated back to his own chambers.
Like she had promised, Clarissa found herself climbing the short set of stairs that led to Gaius' chambers as soon as she woke that morning, she yawned softly knocking on the door wishing she was able rid herself of the headache that she had woke up to.
"Good morning Gaius, I hope I have not in-" Her voice faltered as she was met with a face that was far too young to belong to their court physician, the man in front of her was taller than Arthur with messy dark hair, he smiled at her nervously. "Oh my apologies!" She smiled, "I didn't realise Gaius had guests,"
"Nonsense," Gaius greeted seeing the young woman standing near the door, "Please do come in Lady Clarissa," Merlin's eyes widened as they shot back to the woman as soon as Gaius addressed her. She didn't look like a Lady, she was carrying a bridle and some brushes making him think she was a stable hand dressed in more manly clothing. "This is my ward Merlin," He gestured to the man, "He arrived yesterday from Ealdor,"
Clarissa turned to him with a bright smile, that only seemed to cause Merlin to smile as well, it seemed infectious. "It is lovely to meet you Merlin," She told him, "Gaius told me about your visit," Merlin cast a weary glance over to said man who simply shook his head to the unspoken question, "I'm Clara,"
"It is an honour to meet you Lady Clarissa," Merlin bowed clumsily in front of her as Gaius and said woman laughed to themselves as he straightened up. "What?"
"Clara here may be a Lady to the Kingdom," Gaius explained smiling warmly at the brunette beside him who crossed her arms across her chest, "But she's spent the last few years of her life running scared from dresses and mucking out stables,"
"I don't run from dresses," She protested, "I merely hide under my bed or in the cupboard until Gwen gives up and leaves," Merlin chuckled slightly, "Now, I do need a favour from you Gaius-" She peered over at the table to see the two untouched bowls of oats waiting, "I can come back if you are busy?"
"Not at all," He smiled.
"The sleeping draught you've been preparing for Morgana," She sighed, "They don't seem to be working anymore, Gwen and I had to try shake the living daylights out of her to get her out of another night of screaming," Both men frowned at the thought, "I was wondering if there was anything else we could try?"
"I will look into it for you my dear," He promised frowning as she flinched moving to rub her head yet again, "Headache?"
"I woke up this morning with it," She frowned politely refusing Merlin as he went to offer her a seat at their table, "I could have sworn I heard voices this morning," Merlin raised his eyebrow as she spoke wondering if there was even the slightest chance they had heard the same voices, "It was rather strange," She laughed, "Must be the headache taking it's toll,"
"Take this," Gaius instructed handing her a small red coloured vial only to pull it back at the last moment as he eyed her warily, the physician was all to aware that she sometimes forgot to eat before running off after the horses, "After you have eaten something."
"Understood," She smiled at the fatherly gesture as she tucked the vial in to the small pouch she had slung over her shoulder. "Shall I stop by to collect Morgana's draught later?"
"I will have Merlin bring it to you later on today if that is alright?" He questioned to which she nodded, "Which reminds me- Merlin," He handed him two vials, "Until you can find paid work," She peered over to look at the two vials out of interest, she had been learning about healing from him. "Hollyhock and Feverfew for Lady Percival and this is for Sir Olwin, blind as a bat so make sure to warn him to not take it all at once,"
"I'll accompany you if you wish Merlin?" Clarissa offered with a smile, feeling that having been in the city only one day he may fair a bit better if he was not stumbling around lost. "Consider it an official welcome,"
"That is very kind Lady Cla-" She arched her brow at him almost challengingly as he blushed, "Clara,"
Clarissa smiled as she continued to point out the various bits and bobs around the palace to Merlin, showing the new resident all of the secret passageways and alleys that she had found during her childhood, in case he ever needed to make a quick getaway. Stepping out under the archway that led towards the training grounds she gestured to the large stretch in front of her with a large grin, "This is my favourite part it leads right to the-" She frowned noticing the familiar blonde, dressed in Camelot red and his chain-mail. "You've got to be joking."
"Where is the target?" Arthur questioned standing with his hands on his hips, surrounded by the group of men that he seemed to call his friends as they watched his latest servant stand confused in front of them.
"There Sire?" He replied unsure. Clarissa rolled her eyes as she stood not too far way beside Merlin with her arms crossed across her chest. She could feel her distaste bubble under her skin, Arthur always seemed to act like a show-off when he was around them.
"It's into the sun," Arthur complained.
"It's not that bright," Morris protested.
"A bit like you then?" Arthur insulted as he chuckled.
"I'll move it to the other side then shall I Sire?" He offered attitude thick in his voice as he picked up the clearly far too heavy target before dragging it across the ground with it barely secured in his arms.
"This will teach him," Arthur chuckled before throwing a dagger across then empty space before embedding it in the wood. Clarissa let out a startled shriek before she could help it as Merlin put his hand on her shoulder careful not to scare her anymore. Morris peaked up over the target staring at his master bewildered, "Don't stop. Run."
She shook her head as she watched Arthur continue to lob daggers at the poor boy, not once considering what would happen if he threw one and if perhaps Morris was to drop it, as if by fate, the manservant stumbled over his feet dropping the target as it rolled to their feet.
"Hey-" Merlin spoke up as Clarissa rested her heavy boot on top of the target before extending her hand out to Morris to pull him up from the ground, "That's enough," Arthur raised his brow at the man in front of him, even more so when he took in Clarissa beside him helping his servant up, "You've had your fun my friend,"
"Merlin." Clarissa warned gently, "Just walk away.."
"Do I know you?" Arthur questioned walking towards the pair as she took a small step forward to position herself between the two men, just as a precaution.
"I'm Merlin," He offered holding out his hand to the blonde.
"So I don't know you?" Arthur concluded as Merlin muttered a quiet no as he dropped his hand back to his side. He looked down slightly to see Clarissa's gaze darting between the pair of them. "Yet you call me friend?" He arched his brow sure he had heard the woman in front of him mutter something under her breath.
"That was my mistake," He replied with a small smirk. Clarissa looked up at him confused, wondering what he could possibly be thinking that didn't resulting him being thrown in the dungeons or his head landing in a basket.
"Yes." Arthur agreed, "I believe it was."
"Yes" Merlin nodded, "I would never have a friend who could be such an ass,"
Clarissa's eyes widened amused as she looked to Arthur who surprisingly looked quite amused as well. Merlin gave a firm nod before turning on his heels as she went to join him only to have Arthur's hand clamp down on her arm keeping her in place as he stepped around her. "Nor I one so stupid," He commented, "Tell me Merlin-" Merlin turned, "Do you know how to walk on your knees?"
"Arthur enough," Clarissa warned as she eyed the trainee-guards that had surrounded Arthur move in to circle around them, as much as she hated to admit it she almost wished that Sir Leon had been on duty to try knock some sense into them. She gripped his arm, "I mean it,"
"Would you like me to help you?" Arthur offered completely ignoring her as she dropped her hand from his arm.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Merlin warned, wondering to himself why Clarissa was trying to separate them, he wasn't blind that the man across from him wore the Royal Crest but that didn't mean he shouldn't defend himself - or her for that matter. They seemed friendly, but the brunette didn't look to impressed to being man-handled.
"Why?" Arthur asked amused, "What are you going to do to me?"
"Merlin," Clarissa tried once again moving to try step in between the pair, "I know that he is being a prat but it isn't worth it-" She was spun round to face the prat himself before she could even continue to speak. "Arthur-"
"Clary-" He answered her in the same tone causing her to frown. He stepped slightly closer to her so he was towering over her. She looked up at him with her eyebrow arched wondering what he was playing at, if anything she was too embarrassed to be angry. "I suggest you move aside and let me deal with this My Lady,"
Her frown deepened as she looked up at him, the hurt now evident on her face, never once had he spoke to her like that before as if she was nothing but a Lady there to be told what to do. She had experience that from some of the Knights, from the King but never from him. For a moment she swallowed her pride, wishing that she could wipe that stupid smirk clean off his face, yet instead she simply nodded at his demands before shooting a small sympathetic smile at Merlin, who eyed her warily, before retreating off into the crowd. She now had one more reason to avoid the feast, an arrogant prat named Arthur.
**Authors Note**
This chapter of course is the opening to Merlin itself however I wanted to use it as a way for you to get to know the Clarissa before we get into the grit of the story. There will be a more thorough explanation in the next chapter to who she is in terms of being a 'noble in disguise.'
Be gentle with me I bruise like a peach
Next Update (Depending on how this goes, should be Sunday/Monday)
**IvyEnthuiast**
