It was like any other day in Camelot. Merlin had been Arthur's servant for a little while after the incident with knight Valiant and things have been rather calm. It was a dull day like any other in which Merlin was forced to witness one of the councils purely because Arthur didn't want to sit in on it alone in his boredom while the King debated with his advisors on food and taxes and the like. Lady Morgana was present and sitting idly across from Arthur, barely concealing her disinterest in the proceedings.
So it came as no surprise, really, when the monotony of the day was suddenly broken up by a man bursting into the council chambers unannounced with murder in his eyes. The knights immediately jumped up to defend the King, Arthur and Sir Leon front and centre, while the rest of the courtiers scrambled for the exit. Merlin flattened himself against the wall next to Gaius, trying to keep the prince prat in his view and stay unseen at the same time.
"Uther Pendragon!" the man raged, waving his arms around frantically, his eyes flashing gold – a force field erupted around him closing off a good space in the middle of the room, preventing the knights from reaching him. "Too long have the oppression of magic continued and today I will make sure Camelot falls!"
Merlin rolled his eyes at the predictability and subtly prodded the shield to see if he could get through it. Gaius gave him a sideways look and Merlin shook his head in disappointment – there was nothing he could do this time.
While Merlin was busy, the man had yelled other equally unoriginal things all centred on Uther's evilness and oppression of magic before things suddenly got very interesting.
The sorcerer began a spell that had all present shrinking back in fear, but to their immense surprise it had nothing to do with them; instead some kind of window opened mid-air and the sorcerer reached in promptly pulling out a girl partly by her hair. She landed on the floor with a painful thud and a yelp, regaining her feet with surprising speed and a few colourful curses.
She was fascinating. She wore clothes Merlin had never seen, dressed in a fashion he'd never even contemplated a woman could. Her fitted trousers showed off her long legs, her tunic also very form fitting and lacking sleeves. Her barely shoulder length light brown hair were a little messy and she glared at the sorcerer so darkly Merlin involuntarily swallowed – he could only imagine how scary it was for the man.
"What is going on?" Uther demanded furiously, looking between the newcomer and the sorcerer.
"Yes, please enlighten me," the girl spoke sharply with a very strange accent. "What in the blazes is going on? Where the hell are we? Oh, and do introduce yourself, while at it, eh?"
Somehow, Merlin wasn't sure how, she managed to make all her questions sound like demanding orders more impressive than Uther in a fit, making it painfully clear that she was not amused. And if the answers were not given… well it won't end well.
The room erupted into a bit of chaos as everyone spoke all at once. Uther was sputtering about sorcery and death sentences, the sorcerer was yelling about Camelot's demise when he killed the girl he's dragged into this mess, Gaius' eyebrows had all but climbed off his head and Merlin was beginning to feel a terrible migraine starting.
The girl looked rather bewildered by everything being said. Merlin felt sympathy flair up as he watched her absorb the happenings with gritted teeth and sharp eyes, her posture so tense she was like a taunt bowstring. He wasn't looking forward to the moment she snapped if her thunderous countenance of supressed fury was any indication.
"Silence!" The command was so sudden and so forceful that everyone in the room, including the King stopped what they were doing, effectively freezing on the spot. The girl took a deep breath and stared down those present in turn. "Let me get this straight. He," she gestured to the sorcerer who was suddenly very pale, "magically brought me back to the past; to Camelot, which is a myth where I am from by the way, and by killing me he somehow thinks he will defeat you," she gestured to the King. "What a load of bullshit if I ever heard one!" She finally exploded. "You," she pointed at the sorcerer that wisely stepped back, "are raving flipping mad, and if you don't send me back home this instant, there will be hell to pay!"
For a long moment, no one moved or spoke. Then the sorcerer seemed to regain himself and that murderous glint entered his eyes again.
"No," he cackled madly. "Once you die, the future of Camelot will die with you! Even Emrys will not save you!"
"You make no shitting sense!" the girl shook her head throwing her hands up, obviously hanging onto control by fingertips. Merlin was hoping she would introduce herself – it was strange continuously calling her girl in his head.
Offended by the comment, the sorcerer chanted something and threw a ball of energy at her, which she just barely dodged, crashing into the barrier on her way. Three more were evaded before finally one connected – Merlin winced, expecting her to drop dead, but she just looked at her shoulder in confusion where the magic hit her. The entire room stared at her in fascination as she studied her unblemished shoulder in confusion.
"Impossible!" the sorcerer threw spell after spell at her, but they all frizzled out into nothing as soon as they reached her.
"Remarkable," Gaius commented having come closer to the King. "She is a Shield."
"A what?" the girl asked looking completely baffled. She was distracted from answers when the sorcerer screamed in rage and came at her with fists flying. She cursed and ducked away, until she had nowhere to run – a look of determination entered her eyes and she dodged his outstretched arm to grab at his shoulders and kneed him hard. All men present cringed at where her knee went, as the sorcerer howled in a strange slightly strangled pitch; the girl wasn't done though, as she proceeded to send him to the floor with a sloppy punch to the nose. There was a crack and the man went down boneless, while she rubbed her knuckles.
"You were saying?" she turned to Gaius completely ignoring the keening man at her feet.
"A Shield is a very rare being. They can resist all and any magic cast at them, or someone they stand in front of. They are also impervious to the effects of magical amulets and the like," Gaius explained patiently. She nodded jerkily.
"Right," she ran her hand over the barrier between her and the room. "You seem to know a lot about what is going on, so…" she gestured to her prison. "How do I get out?"
Merlin had long since moved out from his hiding place and came forward to inspect the barrier. "It's so solid," he murmured, attracting her attention for the first time. She glanced at him curiously, her dark eyes turning out to be hazel – brown with green and golden specks throughout. It was the first time she'd looked at him and her gaze was rather scary – it felt as if she could see right into his soul, reading all his secrets in his eyes.
"Since you are resistant to all things magic," Gaius instructed, standing next to Merlin, "concentrate on pushing your hand through."
She gave him a sceptical look, but put her hand on the barrier and frowned. After a few moments of tense silence, her shoulders dropped in defeat. "Nothing. Although I can sort of feel it thrumming," she said thoughtfully. "There are layers in there."
"Can you?" Gaius was watching the girl with interest as she poked at the barrier. "Most interesting."
"Gaius," the King called tersely.
"I believe there is no other way to break through than for the sorcerer to take the barrier down," Gaius said in his unimpressed tone. "As to the young lady, we can safely conclude that she is an innocent victim in all of this who is in dire need of assistance in her bid to return home."
"Grand," the girl in question rolled her eyes. "How do I make him drop it?"
"Kill him," King raged instantly. "Sorcery shall never be tolerated in Camelot!"
The girl stared at him with disbelief. "Right. I've never harmed anyone before and I'm in no hurry to change that. Why don't you do it yourself?"
Gaius somehow managed to keep the King from lashing out at her and Merlin hid a smile. She was a spitfire.
"I will not be deterred," the sorcerer slurred from the ground, reminding everyone that he was in fact still there and a threat. "You may resist magic, but you will succumb to a blade!"
He stood rather unsteadily, pulling out a dagger from his robes and Merlin saw the girl pale rapidly. She pressed her back to the barrier and it so happened that Merlin was right on the other side.
"I don't know how to fight," she mumbled with wide eyes as the man advanced at her. Merlin searched his brain and magic for any way he could help her, but came up with nothing. The Knights had circled the barrier, obviously looking for a way in, but it was all down to her.
"Trip him and then grab the knife?" Merlin suggested weakly. She glanced over her shoulder at him momentarily and whatever she saw seemed to give her determination she needed. She was tiny, Merlin thought worriedly, a head shorter than him and almost as skinny. She's got no chance, he realised.
The sorcerer, whose name still remained a mystery, finally reached his target and with a wild yell attacked her. She locked her jaw and ducked, barely missing the blade and tried to tackle the man; they went down in a heap, the knife falling next to them. He rolled them over, pinning her to the ground and grabbed the knife going for her neck. She caught his arm, but wasn't strong enough to oppose his full strength and weight combined. Finally she lost the struggle and the knife found its way between her ribs. She groaned in pain, her eyes opening even wider as the man grinned madly, standing in victory. The girl remained on the floor clutching at the handle of the knife, making no sound but still breathing.
"Gaius!" Merlin called frantically, watching her struggle with each breath.
"Behold how the saviour of Camelot dies!" the sorcerer cackled. "And now you shall follow!" he stood straighter, ready to cast a final spell. His eyes started glowing and everyone in the room stepped back as he chanted; Merlin was the only one who was still watching the dying girl on the floor and was stunned to see her force herself to her knees and using the barrier for support to stand. She wobbled, pale as snow, but regained her feet and lifted her head, her eyes fixing on the sorcerer. She pushed off the barrier, drawing the attention of more and more people, who were too stunned or scared to give her away, and made her way to her intended target. Once right behind him, she gritted her teeth and pulled the dagger out, involuntarily crying out in pain; the sorcerer turned back to the noise and was met with the dagger slashing up his throat and sliding into his head with no resistance.
They stood facing each other for a long moment before death caught up with the sorcerer and pain with her and they both fell down. Merlin had been almost leaning on the barrier and was first to discover it gone as he all but fell to the floor next to them.
Instantly the room erupted into a flurry of action; the knights went for the dead sorcerer to make sure he was truly dead, Gaius started fussing over the girl on the floor and the King stalked around the room in anger.
"She is alive," Gaius' suddenly declared loudly, stopping everyone in their tracks. "I also have reasons to believe she may be able to recover from this."
"Just reasons to believe?"
Everyone looked down to see the girl still conscious, watching them with amusement. She moved slightly and gritted her teeth, instantly stopping.
"Don't move, young lady," Gaius ordered sternly, examining the wound. "But do try to stay conscious."
"My name is Elena," she ground out with annoyance, tempered by fatigue. Merlin smiled and grabbed her hand, trying to distract her.
"It's a very pretty name," Merlin commented, blushing as she directed her undivided attention to him. She gave him a weak smile in response. "I'm Merlin, this is Gaius. He's the Court Physician. He will fix you."
She chuckled at him and promptly winced. "I'm sure he will try his best, Merlin. Nice to meet you, by the way."
"We must bring her to my chambers, she needs treatment and rest," Gaius interrupted in his no-nonsense tone.
"Sir Leon," Arthur called, stepped through the crowd easily. The knight followed him instantly. Under Gaius' strict supervision, they lifted her carefully and followed the physician and Morgana, who finally managed to pull out of her frightened stupor, out of the room. Surprisingly enough, the King followed right after them, after giving a few orders on the procedure.
They crowded into the physician's quarters momentarily, before Gaius ordered everyone out forcefully, sending Merlin scrambling for this and that, letting only Morgana and Gwen stay to help. The entourage ended up outside the door and soon even Merlin was kicked out.
"Arthur," Uther finally spoke. "After what Gaius had said, I believe it will be most beneficial to Camelot to have her stay. Lend Gaius your servant, to ensure her recovery – it was a grievous wound. Once she is recovered we will see how her talents can be of use to the Kingdom."
"Yes, Father," Arthur bowed his head in acknowledgment as the King strode off. "Merlin, you are to help Gaius until evening meal – then you will bring my dinner and report on Elena's condition. Next morning you bring my breakfast and give me any further information as it arises. Clear?"
"Yes, sire," Merlin bobbed his head, for once not arguing at all and the prince gestured for Leon to follow him as he left his servant with the physician.
To say Merlin was intrigued would be a major understatement. He didn't miss the familiarity in her face when he introduced himself and that slightly worried him, although at the same time, he felt that he could trust her. Deciding he was more useful actually doing something, Merlin resolutely went back inside to see what he could help with. He found Gaius carefully stitching Elena's wound, while Gwen was going through the vials on the shelf and Morgana was holding Elena's hand and talking nonsense clearly trying to distract her.
"Done," Gaius declared, taking a vial from Gwen and imploring Elena to drink it. The girl was a little hesitant, but complied and swallowed it in one go.
"I hope you recover soon," Morgana said, patting Elena's hand.
"I hope so, too, Morgana," Elena smiled faintly. "Thank you for staying here. Helping a complete stranger."
"I have a feeling you'd have done the same," Morgana smiled.
"You should rest," Gaius gently interrupted. "It had been a long day."
"Gwen and I will come by to visit you tomorrow," Morgana promised Elena and stood. "Rest well."
"You too," Elena waved weakly. "See you two tomorrow."
Once the women departed, Merlin found himself occupying the stool Morgana was previously using.
"So, Merlin," Elena said suddenly, drawing Gaius' attention. "If this is Camelot and that blonde pillock that was so annoyed at having to carry me was Arthur, does that make you the most famous warlock of all time?"
Merlin chocked on air, already stuttering out denials and realising quickly that he was digging himself a deeper hole with each word he said, started backing away from the bed, only to be stopped mid-word by cool fingers on his wrist.
"Breathe, I have no intention to tell anyone that. I was just curious," Elena seemed genuinely worried for his reaction. "I didn't know magic was real; never mind all the rest of this mess."
"You will keep my secret?" Merlin asked wide-eyed. Elena smiled at him almost shyly.
"I have no intention to send you to your death, Merlin. Which is why I am mentioning this now, when the rest of the congregation had left. So, are you?"
Merlin found himself largely unable to deny Elena any answers she wanted and before long was telling her everything – from being born with magic to how he saved Arthur's life at the Tournament just recently. Anything magic fascinated her, and she asked a barrage of questions that he was all too happy to answer; Gaius had found a few moments to butt in, explaining the rules of Camelot, the traditions, the customs.
Right before Elena finally succumbed to exhaustion, she managed to get a promise out of Merlin to show her his magic and introduce her to the dragon (the last was a whispered since Gaius was none the wiser that Merlin had discovered that one).
Both Gaius and Merlin were left in a shell shocked silence when Elena was asleep, until Merlin smiled widely at his mentor. Gaius chuckled quietly at his excitement in finding a new friend and waved the boy off to go and get dinner for the Prince.
Once Merlin was out of the room, Gaius turned back to the girl on the spare cot in his chambers. He was rather worried about her condition, which he did not let on while the youngsters were present. The wound was bad, deadly in most circumstances and no matter how healthy and strong, Elena's chances of survival were slim. Another thing that worried him was the complications that he knew were coming; he was tempted to have Merlin heal her, but healing was complicated and too much for his fledgling abilities and she was a Shield besides. No magic was going to work on her, of that he was certain.
It was going to be a long night.