Riding on her white horse through the green and luscious forest, Ashton felt her heart pound with every gallop the horse made and her bags hitting the horse with every move. For two days now Ashton has been traveling all the way from her home village in the mountains. She dodged two cold nights, and managed a pain resistance from falling off her horse… twice. Her tailbone was in pain, but Ashton chose to ignore it until she reached her destination: Camelot.
She has never been to such an active kingdom before, nor did she ever leave her village for any reason, weather it was because of an attack or flood, the village known as Wilden, was home. Twenty minutes later, she spotted a hill and rode uphill for logic of where she was. She commanded the horse the stop at the top of the hill and looked at the view. It was just turning into afternoon and she saw it, the giant castle of Camelot, home to King Uther Pendragon. She smiled and chuckled to herself at the journey she had accomplished by herself. She put the cloak hood down and let her pale pink hair down her back and flow with the current of wind that blew from the east. "Come on, let's pay Gaius a visit." She nudged the horse and the ride started again.
Gaius walked about in his chambers with a cup of tea he just brewed. "Merlin! Breakfast!" he shouted for the young man. Merlin popped out of his room and smelled the oats that was prepared for him. He sat down and started eating. "We have a meeting this morning Merlin, we need to get to the council chambers very soon my dear boy!" he took a sip of his tea.
"What for?" Merlin asked with a mouth full of morning food. "The talk of a new sorcerer is bouncing around Camelot." Gaius answered, "You need to be careful about of magic boy." He reminded him. The two gentlemen walked up together to the council chambers to start the meeting.
Ashton rode into town on her horse and slowed her walk. She jumped down and fell once more. A few people noticed and laughed. She brushed the dirt off her clothing and mumbled rude things under her breath. As she let her hood down once more, the small crowd noticed and stopped laughing. One little girl was fantasized by Ashton's long pink hair and went to touch it. Ashton let her play with the long light pink hair as if it was gold. No one asked about it, probably thinking it was magic. "Why is your hair like this?" asked the little girl. Ashton smiled. "Because, if it wasn't pink, it wouldn't be fun." she grinned. "I have to go now, bye bye." she waved to the little girl and tied her horse to a post, grabbed her bags and started her walk straight to the castle.
People stared constantly. But Ashton smiled.
Looking around the town was a site to behold. Shops everywhere, and small hotels. She noticed people running around, going through their busy lives as usual. Was it always like this she wondered?
She reached the main entrance of the castle and stopped for a brake. All the walking and falling off her horse a third time wore her out. As she approached the entrance, she saw guards looking at her. "Halt." said one. Great now what she thought.
One guard checked her from head to toe to take in every detail of the young lady. He noticed her pink hair, which almost reached her lower back, emerald green eyes and grew bright when the light hit it perfectly. Short for her age, and wore a white corset her aunt Jezebel made for her. Ashton stopped smiling as the guard made circles around her. "Tell me miss, have you ever practiced magic?"
Ashton gave the man a dirty look, "Is it because my hair is pink?" she sighed. "Listen boys, I was born this way and I'm also not around from here, I'm just making a friendly visit to the court physician, and an old friend." she finished.
The guards looked at each other and nodded, and stepped aside for Ashton. Ashton picked up her bags, nodded a thank you and walked. "Don't let me see you in trouble miss, alright?" Ashton turned and nodded with a goofy smile, "Got it!" and walked across the drawbridge to the castle's main square.
"Wow." was all that she could say. People everywhere were walking, everywhere and all throughout the square. "How the hell am I going to find Gaius with all these people?" she shook her head and decided to ask a guard near one of the main doors.
The guard gave her a few directions to go to the castle tower and off Ashton went.
She climbed more stairs and more pain came through her tailbone and she had to stop walking. She huffed and puffed and kept walking without getting in any of the maids way. When she reached the staircase that the guard was talking about, she grew nervous. She took a deep breath and exhaled with a smile. She grew closer and closer to the door and opened it.
"Hullo?" she called out. No answer. She rolled her eyes and let herself in. "Gaius? Hellooo!" she called. The room was a bit cluttered with many peculiar objects like vials, stones, and a rabbit mask. Ashton walked over to the mask and examined it. "I don't even want to know what he does with this." She then noticed a door in the back of Gaius's chamber and grinned. "He must be sleeping then. That man loves his sleep." and dashed to the door. She hoped on the steps, flung open the door and yelled, "GOTCHA-."
The moment was short lived as she discovered an empty room. The room was fairly simple. It had a few drawers, cupboard's and a small bed, the bed not made. She looked in the cupboard's and noticed that belonging where tucked into the selves inside. Who is this she wondered. She left the small room and sat on one of the chairs near Gaius's window.
She placed her bags on another chair and sighed. She didn't travel all this way for an empty room. "Hm, maybe I can explore this castle myself." She grinned. "Gaius has to be here somewhere." She trotted off to the door and left
Her first stop was the Banquet Hall. She opened the door and noticed maids and servers getting a feast ready for tonight. She cleared her throat and asked, "Excuse me!" she shouted over the noises of plates and table's being moved. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing to notice a girl with pink hair interrupting schedule. "I'm looking for the court physician, has anyone seen him?"
Mumbles of people filled the room, but ended with one man. "He might me with the king in the council chambers for a meeting, check there. You'll need to take two flights of steps and make a right."
Ashton smiled and giggled with excitement. "Thank you." she bowed and left the hall. Some of the servants were confused. "Who was that girl?" asked the head maid.
Ashton dashed through one of the main stair cases and watched out for others in her way. She dodged plates of food, and water pitchers being lead to the banquet. She looked for stairs after stair. She nearly cracked her head open when she almost fell head first down one more flight. She followed a few people heading to the council chambers and somewhat eavesdropped on a conversation. She overheard two knights talking about a sorcerer disturbing the kingdom and that's why this meeting was called.
The two knights and Ashton arrived at the council chamber. The two knights were let in, but the doors closed as Ashton approached them. "Sorry miss, you can't come in here. Secret meeting with the king." said a guard. "No no no please someone is in there that I must see!" she tried to convince the men. "Name the knight." "It's not a knight I come looking for, but a court physician." she stared at the guards. One guard shook his head and sighed. "Stay here."
He entered the room. Ashton heard voices and the guard talking. "Gaius." Was all she could hear. A minute later the guard returned and looked to his fellow guard. "Be prepared to enter the presents on the king miss." Ashton brushed out her corset and entered the room.
An enormous about of people looked to the big doors and they were very confused on why someone wanted Gaius now. She stood there as everyone observed the new face. "I'm looking for Gaius, has anyone seen him?" An old man pushed his way through the crowd of knights and Merlin was so confused. Ashton smiled to the sight of Gaius and walking to him. "Gaius!" she yelled happily and ran toward him "Ashton? Is that really you?" he called with a smile.
Ashton flung into his arms and hugged the old man. "Oh Ashton, it has been too many years. I've missed you." The two let go and smiled greatly at each other. "And your hair is still pink; I'm glad." Ashton turned toward the council and bowed. "My Lord, I apologize for my interruption."
There he was. Uther Pendragon. He stood up from his chair and walked over to the two friends. "Gaius, would you introduce me to this young lady?" Gaius smiled and brought Ashton in front of everyone at the council. "Great council, this is Ashton, one of my old friend's daughter. I treated her as a child and, she is somewhat like a daughter to me." he held Ashton's hands who turned to Gaius. "I can't believe you're actually here- but right now I have something to take care of, would you please wait in my chambers my dear? Help yourself to any food or water. You must be starving." he said with a wink. "Not a problem Gaius." she nodded, bowed to the council and before the king and left the room.
Before she left and noticed Prince Arthur and Lady Morgana; looking more confused of the meeting being interrupted. She smiled to the crowd once more and left the halls. As the meeting was about to begin, Merlin tapped on Gaius's shoulder. "Who is she? The girl with the pink hair?" he giggled. Gaius gave a scolding look to Merlin, saying to knock it off and pay attention to the meeting.
She headed back the tower where Gaius's chambers were and sat down on a chair. She wasn't sure how long the meeting would take, but as long as she got to see Gaius, she didn't care. She took his advice and headed towards the food storage where she could find a loaf of bread. Instead, she found some strawberries and blueberries and decided to munch on them until her belly couldn't take it anymore.
Merlin and Gaius made their way up the stair back into the chambers. Merlin had so many questions about this girl. Why was she here? How could she know about Gaius? And why on earth was her hair pink? Ashton heard the door open and smiled at her old friend. "Well now, have you made yourself at home? I see you enjoyed the berries?" he took the empty bowl away. "Freshly picked my dear." he chuckled.
Merlin walked over to Ashton and introduced himself. "Hullo," he extended an arm to Ashton and Ashton shook it with a smile.
"Ah Ashton! This is Merlin, my assistant and nephew." Merlin released her hand. Gaius sat across from her and smiled at her. "Now my dear, what brings you to Camelot at this time? How is everyone back home? Jezebel? Penelope? What about Rose and Maxwell?" he chuckled. Ashton weakly smiled.
"Well, actually that's why I'm here.." She trailed off and looked at Merlin, then back to Gaius.
Gaius gave a worried look and patted her hands. "Is everyone alright?" he asked softly. Ashton shook her head yes, holding back tears. "I know when you're lying to me." He rubbed a thumb on the top of her hand. Tears filled her eyes and she started to hold her breath. "Ashton what happened?" he persuaded. She sighed and saw the cheerless tears drip off her emerald green eyes. Merlin wanted to comfort the new girl. He kneeled beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Ashton started telling the true reason of her appearance in Camelot.
It all happened so fast.
Jezebel, Ashton's auntie and Gaius's old friend, passed away four months ago due to an illness that she had been fighting with for almost six years. When Gaius left his hometown for Camelot, the disease cleared up and Jezebel was able to take care of her goddaughter again. But four months have passed and Penelope, one of Ashton's best friends requested her to seek Gaius for guidance. Ashton started weeping in her hands that covered her face. Merlin felt sad for the girl, knowing the feeling of losing a parent. "She was hiding her illness Gaius; I didn't know what to do!" She wailed. Gaius tried shushing her to calm her down.
"You didn't know my dear, you would of have never spotted symptoms if she was hiding it." He said. Ashton shook her head. She yelled about how she was disgust in herself and how she let her aunt down. "Jezebel would never say such a thing. She is very proud of the woman you've become." He comforted. Ashton sniffled and looked to the young man rubbing her shoulder. Merlin's blue eyes looked into hers. Merlin smiled; to let her know that he was here.
"Gaius and I are here if you need anything." Merlin offered his kindness.
"Thank you Merlin." Ashton said quietly.
"Well, how long are you planning to stay in Camelot?" Gaius asked. Ashton didn't really have a due date to leave to head back to Wilden. How long did she need Gaius's "guidance?"
"Not sure really, but I can leave tomorrow if you'd like?" Gaius shook his head.
"Heavens no, you just got here!" This made Ashton smile for some odd reason, she then chuckled; which caused Merlin to smile. He didn't like seeing girls sad, in fact; he didn't like seeing anyone sad. "Well tonight is important, a festival in the kings honor." said Gaius. "We'll need to make you a bed for tonight, you and Merlin will have to share his room." The two nodded.
A knock came on the door and it was Guinevere with a dress in her arms. "Because of the festival tonight, the king asked me to bring wardrobe for your lady friend?" Ashton turned to Gwen.
"That's me I do believe." Gwen smiled and introduced herself.
"Hello, I'm Guinevere, but you can call me Gwen."
"My name is Ashton." She smiled.
As Ashton tried to stand up, she immediately sat back down in agonizing pain. Ashton felt her eyes water as the pain traveled throughout her lower back. "Are you alright my dear?" asked Gaius, who he and Merlin rushed to her side.
"Let's just say, me and the horse, didn't really get along this whole trip here." she held back screaming in pain. "Merlin, we've got some work to do."
Author's Note: Hello! Well I hope this is alright for a first chapter, 9 pages! I love Merlin, A LOT and This summer, I'll have more opportunities to write my stories until July. Please favorite and review 33