A/N: My first ever fanfic so please be nice! This story takes places between series 4 and series 5, so Arthur doesn't know about Merlin's magic… yet! Plz review :D
Disclaimer: Sadly, no matter how much I wish it was, Merlin is not mine.
The Secret Princess
Prologue
In the dream, Morgana was alone. Her secret had grown too big for her to hide and it weighed her down like she had never imagined was possible. Her whole body was heavy; everything was an effort. She barely moved except to find a little food and relieve herself.
Then the dream changed. Morgana was still alone but this time she was in pain. She screamed as the agony ripped through her like fire, but deep inside her she knew it would be worth it in the end… she just wished she could remember why. She wanted desperately to curl into a ball and sob but she couldn't – her body wouldn't let her. She moaned again as the pain engulfed her. It seemed endless. Then, for just a moment, Morgana heard a shrill sound break through the air and she felt perfect joy ripple through her like a wave of sunlight –
And then she woke up. It was cold and the sky was still dark. Morgana shivered with the unpleasant realization that the dream had not been a dream. She had been having visions like this ever since she was a small girl and she had been unable to do anything except beg for a sleeping draught from Gaius, the court physician of Camelot. Until her sister Morgause – Morgana's heart twinged with pain at that thought – had given her a healing bracelet of the Old Religion which kept all but the strongest visions at bay. Sighing, Morgana dropped a hand to her stomach and caressed the small bump there gently. It had been a mistake to do what she had done, but there was little she could change about it now. And despite herself, Morgana had grown to love the child inside her. A little prince or princess of Camelot, she thought with a smile. Such a child would be a useful weapon against her brother and his serving girl queen – she was sure, if she did things right, her child could help her to gain the throne of Camelot for herself as she rightfully deserved. But still… Part of her regretted that moment of weakness. She had been so alone and broken when the young druid man had found her in the forest. She had cried in his arms and he had stroked her hair gently, not speaking, just waiting and ready to listen. She had been sure he knew who she was and what she had done, but all she felt from him was comfort. Then, one thing had led to another, and that night… Well. Anyway. When she awoke, he was gone, and it was not until a few weeks later that she realized what had happened. With another sigh of regret for times gone by, Morgana rose and left the cave where she now lived, walking out to greet the dawn.
Many months later, both visions had come true. Morgana lay on the dusty floor of the cave crying with pain. Pain that clouded her thoughts and misted her vision. It seemed endless. And then, a shrill sound broke through the air and Morgana felt perfect joy ripple through her body like a wave of sunlight – that was the only way she could describe it. Reaching downwards, she gathered the tiny child in her arms. A girl, she thought, the first smile of months breaking over her features. The secret princess of Camelot. Reaching sideways, she wrapped her daughter in a roll of cloth that she had bought a few weeks ago.
"Welcome to the world, daughter," she whispered, then a frown crossed her face. A name. She needs a name. After a second's thought she smiled again, and raised the little girl to see the sunrise for the first time. "Faye. I name you Faye."
A/N: Once again, please review! Should I carry on? What do you think? Please tell me! :D