A/N: This is my first attempt at a Merlin fanfic, so bear with me. Whenever I read a femMerlin ff, I like them except for a few details that annoy the hell out of me, soI said to myself: If you're so sure you can do it better, than go ahead and write one! So I did!

Full summary: Same summary as the actual Merlin series, though you don't have to have seen them to read this. Female Merlin=Merlynn. So far no pairings other than Merlynn/Will and later Gwen/Arthur.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, only the name Merlynn and some OC's in later chapters. I also want to say that I might have (subcontiously or otherwise) stolen some ideas off other stories (mainly the one about Merlayna, Merlinna and Merlyn) So hereby I say I'm sorry, I didn't meen to (hence the mention of the stories)

I might add some episodes in between simply because I want to ^^

1 The dragon's call – part one

Merlynn. She was a simple peasant girl, nothing special. At least, not until you look a little closer. The girl, no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, walked with slightly hunched shoulders and kept looking around. To a passer-by this might be interpreted as looking at the beautiful land that was Camelot, and the hunch could be explained by the backpack she was carrying.

All in all, not very special. She looked ordinary enough, with her plain, dark blue dress and long black hair, tied together in a braid that hung over her shoulder. The only exceptional thing about her, were her eyes. The most amazing, large, deep blue eyes you would ever see in your life. They seemed innocent and youthful, yet old ancient and wise as well.

You see, this young peasant girl had a secret, a secret so dangerous only three people knew about it; Merlynn herself, her mother and her best friend Will. She was a sorceress, and she was about to do the most stupid thing a sorceress could possibly do: She was heading for Camelot, the place where people with her gifts were executed, burnt at the stake.

But even with all this hanging over her head, the cheerful girl had a skip in her pace and a smile on her face that would make you think she was just like any other girl, heading home to her family.

Just to clear things up; that girl is me.

I made my way through the capital, seeing a lot of new faces and the beauty of this city. I finally arrived at the courtyard where I knew the court physician's house was.

An executioners block was set up in the middle of the courtyard and a lot of people gathered around as a young man was led towards it by two armed guards. I wasn't exactly sure what was happening until the King spoke.

"Let this serve as a lesson to all. This man, Thomas James Collins, was found guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. Pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practises are banned on penalty of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king, but for the crime of sorcery there is but one sentence I can pass."

I was only now starting to realize what I was getting myself into. Looking around, I could tell this occurred regularly. I gazed at a beautiful woman looking on through a window, a pained expression on her face. She was most likely a lady of the court, but for the life of me, I couldn't fathom why this woman would be sorry for this sorcerer's death.

The king motioned for the executioner to carry out the sentence, while the lady looked away.

As the axe came down, I felt sick, and not a bit afraid that one day I might end up there myself.

"When I came to this land this kingdom was mired in chaos, but with the people's help magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival to celebrate twenty years since the great dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin!" the king concluded.

I was just about to ask a guard where I could find the physician when an old woman's cries sounded loud over the quiet courtyard.

"There is only one evil in this land and it is not magic!" the heartbroken woman called out to Uther. "It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance. You took my son!" the woman sobbed. I felt sorry for her, but there was nothing I could do, not unless I wanted to end up like that woman's son. "But I promise you, before these celebrations are over you will share my tears! An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son!"

"Seize her!" the king ordered. But the woman had come prepared. She grabbed her necklace, muttered an incantation and in a strong gust of wind she was gone. I was not so impressed now, revenge was never the right thing to do.

While everyone made their way back home, I was left looking around, trying to find the court physician. I walked up to a guard standing next to a small doorway to the side of the courtyard.

"Excuse me, could you tell me where I can find Gaius, the court physician?" I asked.

The man didn't answer, but pointed to the door he was guarding. I nodded in thanks and walked though it, following the arrows all the way up to a small wooded door.

I knocked on the door and looked inside. "Hello?" On the tables were all sort of herbs and concoctions. "Hello?" I asked again. No answer. I walked a little further in the room until I noticed him on a balcony, looking at a book. "Gaius?" I called out. He looked around, but lost his balance and fell through the wooden railing.

I acted on instinct alone, slowing down time with my magic. Looking around for something to catch his fall, I noticed his bed and moved it silently under him with just a look with my now golden eyes.

The old man landed safely, though his bed might need repairing. I sighed in relief, what an entrance I would've made if the court physician had broken his neck only seconds after I'd entered.

"What did you just do?" the man asked. He didn't sound angry per se, but he wasn't pleased either, though there was a note of curiosity in his tone.

"Euh… Euhm…" Panic was taking over now. I had only just seen a man being decapitated fot thinking about using magic, what penalty would I face?

"Tell me!" Gaius demanded. I stuttered some more, before the man interrupted me again. "If anyone had seen that…"

"No! That was… That was nothing to do with me, I-"

"I know what it was, I just want to know where you learnt how to do it." The man said, the anger now almost completely gone.

"No, I-" I tried to explain again, but Gaius stopped me again.

"So how is it you know magic?" Curiosity and confusion were the only things in his voice now.

"I don't!" I argued, trying desperately to convince the man.

"Where did you study?" he asked gently now, noticing how upset I was getting. Unfortunately, he was a little impatient. "Answer me!" he shouted.

"I… I never… I never studied magic, or been taught." I answered quickly.

"Are you lying to me, girl?"

"What do you want me to say?" I asked, a bit desperately.

"The truth!" he said resolutely.

"I was born like this-"

"That's impossible!" I didn't know how to answer, so I kept my mouth shut, until the man realized he didn't know me. "Who are you?" he asked.

"Oh, euhm…" I took off my backpack and searched for my mother's letter and handed it over.

"I don't have my glasses." He said.

"I'm Merlynn." I smiled, glad the subject had changed.

"Hunith's daughter? But you're not meant to be here 'till Wednesday."

"It is Wednesday." I answered. I found it hard to believe this man used to be a friend of my father, and, even more unlikely, my uncle. Of course, I'd never known my father, but I always imagined him more… well, more.

"Ah, right then, you better put your bags in there." He said, pointing at another small door in the room.

"You won't say anything about… Euhm…" I trailed off, looking at the broken balcony.

He shook his head. "No." Relief washed over me as I mad my way to the door. "Although, Merlynn? I should say thank you." I smiled, but didn't answer and went to put my things away.

I went over the events of the day while I put my clothes in the only cupboard. Even though I had never felt at home in Ealdor, this place was making me miss my home and my mother, and Will. I sighed as I thought about him. We had been seeing each other, stealing the occasional kiss when we knew no one was watching. How I missed his embrace now. We had agreed to become friends again, as I was moving to Camelot, and we wouldn't see each other anymore.

My head was pounding, so I decided to lie down, just for a little while. Before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

I woke up early the next day, to someone who was calling my name, though I sounded more like it was in my head than out of it. I shook it off as a remnant of the dream I had that night. It had been full of images, flashes of what had to be someone else's life.

I got dressed quickly, hearing Gaius prepare breakfast. Seeing as I hadn't eaten the previous night, I was starving.

"I got you water, you didn't wash last night." He said as I entered the room.

"Sorry," I'd been too tired and too preoccupied at the time.

"Help yourself to breakfast." He said.

I sat down and looked at the watery porridge I was supposed to eat. I considered skipping it and getting some food later, but my stomach didn't agree with that. Luckily for me it didn't taste as bad as it looked.

Gaius was walking around behind me when he suddenly pushed over the bucket of water that had been standing next to me. Acting on instinct again, I got up quickly and froze time around the water, causing it to stand still in mid air.

Gaius gasped and looked from me to the bucket, until I undid the enchantment and let the water fall.

"How did you do that?" he asked, much calmer now than he had been the day before. "Did you incant a spell in your mind?"

I shook my head hastily. "I don't know any spells."

"So what did you do? There must be something?" he was merely curious, I could tell, but it still made me feel uncomfortable.

"It just happened." I said, I couldn't explain it, I'd been like this ever since I was born.

Not knowing what to do with the silence that had just fallen, I got a mop and started to clean up the mess.

"Well, we better keep you out of trouble. You can help me until I've found some paid work for you. Here, these are medicines for Lady Percival and this is for Sir Olwin, he's as blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once."

I had stopped my mopping and took the vials from him. "Okay."

"And here." He handed me a plate with bread and meat. Not a lot of commoners could afford to buy meat. I smiled in gratitude, the feeling of uneasy from last night completely gone.

"Off you go." He dismissed me and took the mop from me. I walked cheerfully toward the door, until Gaius called me back.

"And Merlynn?" I turned around to face him. "I need hardly tell you that the practise of any form of enchantments will get you killed. I nodded gravely, remembering the terrified look on the executed man's face.

I encountered a few troubles on my 'mission'. Number one being finding the way, again I asked a guard. Number two was when I realized Sir Olwin must've been deaf as well as blind. When I wanted to warn him not to drink it all at once, he was already downing it.

I pulled the bottle from his hands. "Not all at once!" The man nodded and I handed over the vial again.

Number three, the most disastrous one: I was heading back to Gaius' chambers when I noticed a few men, probably nobility, picking on a servant.

"Where's the target?" the obvious leader asked of the man.

"It's over there, sir?" he answered, unsure of what the other meant.

"It's in the sun." the leader clarified.

"It's not that bright." The servant replied.

"A bit like you then?" the leader quipped. His friends laughed, but I was not amused. The poor man didn't even defend himself.

"I'll put it on the other end, now shall I sir?" the man offered.

The blonde leader just gave him a look, to which the servant put his basket away and carried the target to the other end of the range.

"This should teach him." I heard the leader tell his friends. He took one of his daggers and threw it at the shield, hitting it very near the middle. The servant stopped and looked at it.

"Hey! Hang on!" he exclaimed.

"Don't stop!" the blonde said, clearly enjoying himself. The servant composed himself and walked a little further. "Here?"

"I told you to keep moving!" the leader ordered, before throwing another dagger, this time hitting the bull's eye.

The servant had only been just in time to hold it in front of his face. He looked scared now.

"Come on! Run!" the nobleman said. He threw his next dagger while the poor man kept running. "We want some moving target practise." The leader joked, while his friends were laughing their asses off.

The servant kept running from side to side, until he stumbled and the shield came rolling in my direction.

I stopped it with my foot and looked at the leader. "Come on, that's enough." I said mildly.

"What?" the leader asked, as if offended by my simple question. 'Retarded as well as mean?' I wanted to say, but instead I went for the less offending: "You've had your fun, my friend"

"Do I know you?" the nobleman asked as he walked toward me. I tensed, but answered anyway.

"I don't think so."

"So I don't know you." 'Really? That's what I just said!' I thought.

"No." I replied.

"Yet you call me 'friend'?" I raised an eyebrow at that.

"That was my mistake, I suppose." I answered.

"Yes, I think so." he said, clearly thinking I was just going to let this go.

"Yeah, I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass." I quipped. Sometimes I really hated my temper.

I started to walk away when the blonde spoke again.

"Tell me, do you know how to walk on your knees?"

I should've seen this coming, and I should've just walked away, but I didn't. "No." I answered.

"Would you like me to help you?" the blonde said in a fake friendly voice.

"I wouldn't if I were you."

The man laughed at that. "Why? What are you going to do to me?"

"You have no idea."

"Be my guest." He challenged me and took a small step back.

"Come on!" He spread his arms as if to hug me.

He repeated himself another three times before I got sick of it and took my knife from between my skirts and pointed it at his throat, but he twisted my wrist and held it behind my back, forcing me to drop my weapon.

"I'll throw you in jail for that." He said smugly.

"Who do you think you are, the king?"

"No, I'm his son, Arthur." Just my luck. The one man I get into a fight with is the one with the authority to lock me up.

I was roughly escorted by two guards to my cell where I was to spend the night. I held my wrist, the prince had twisted it forcefully, and it hurt. But that was not the worst, the worst was that he had kept my knife, hanging it on his belt as I was dragged off.

My mother had told it had belonged to my father, though she had kept it safe until I left for Camelot. "You might need it." He had said.

I missed Ealdor more than ever now, being alone in this cold cell, so I closed my eyes and replayed one of my happiest moments there. In fact, it had not been too long before I left.

I was sitting by the river's edge, a little way into the forest, when I heard a twig crack.

"Who's there?" I called out, hoping it wasn't some kind of wild animal.

Suddenly two hands covered my eyes. "Guess who?" A cheerful voice said in my ear.

"Will! You scared me!" I complained. His hands left my eyes and my grinning boyfriend stepped into my sight.

"I'll make it up to you. I've got a birthday present for you!"

"Will, you shouldn't have! You need the money!" I protested.

"But I wanted to do this, I'd do anything for you. Besides, you mother and I coordinated. Close you eyes." He told me. I obliged and felt him putting something in my hand. When I opened my eyes, I couldn't believe what I saw. A carved wooden butterfly hung from a plain leather band.

"I made the butterfly myself, and your mother paid for the leather string." Will explained as he hung it around my neck. His fingers trailed it to the edge of my shoulders before he gently pressed his lips to a tender spot at the base of my neck.

"Will," I breathed, "what if someone sees us?" I turned around to see his beautiful smile and kind eyes staring into mine.

"I love you so much." He whispered, pushing a stray lock out of my eyes.

"I love you too." I whispered back.

"Then marry me!" he said enthusiastically.

"What?" I hadn't seen that coming.

"If we love each other, then why not marry? You're sixteen, I'm seventeen, I can get a job as a carpenter in a bigger town, and you could weave, or be a maidservant… We could be happy!" He said it so convincingly, but I didn't know if was ready to be a wife yet. That and what my mother had asked of me the day before.

"Will… I don't… I mean… I'm not ready for that… Can't we just be… for now?" I asked hopefully.

He pulled me in for another sweet kiss. "Anything for you." He murmured against my lips.

It had only been the next day that I had had to break his heart and tell him my mother wanted me to move and live with my uncle in Camelot.

We didn't speak for two days until I was ready to leave. He came to me and asked me one last time to marry him. I said no, and he said we should go back to being friends. We hugged one last time and then I left.

I knew I wasn't safe in Ealdor anymore, people were starting to notice odd things happening when I was around, and it was only a matter of time before one of the villagers went to the authorities. But for my mother to send me here, right under the Uther's nose? The very person who would gladly kill him with his bare hands if he found out I had magic, my mother must've gone insane…

Putting that aside, I lay down and tried unsuccessfully to get a good night's rest. In my dreams a voice kept haunting me, a voice that came from within my head.

A/N: So, what did you think? I really need reviews to know what I'm doing wrong, so even if you hate it, tell my why.

On another note: not all chapters will be split like this and not all chapters will have flashbacks.

Review!

grtz

A-L