The Begining
It was a spring day when Merlin was stuck on a hunt with Arthur and the knights when he heard a small shout of help. He must have been the only one to have heard because the others showed no signs of hearing it. He walked in the direction he heard the small voice a short distance from where he was standing he saw a frail young girl slumped against a tree. As he approached her he heard the snap of a branch under his foot he looked up, cursing his clumsiness, and to his surprise saw bright eyes looking at him. They were more than bright they were golden.
"I do not suggest you do that, it is to dangerous with the king so close," he chided as he edged closer maker sure not to frighten the girl. Her eyes slowly but surly faded into a deep delicious brown.
"Who are you? Why do you warn me so? You work for the king don't you? You want to turn me in don't you?" her fragile voice that had a subtle hint of the same accent he had became more and more urgent as she asked her questions. She tried to run but Merlin caught her by the arm. "let go of me your going to have me executed" she yelled
"Calm down or you're going to do that yourself, I'm not going to turn you in" he said softly. She stopped struggling and fell back to the ground Merlin got to his knees beside her. "I will not hurt you I want to help you"
"How can I trust you" she said in a pleading voice. Merlin looked at the young lady in front of him. She looked around 15-16 years of age he was staring at her dark almond shape eyes that suited her perfectly. She had dark curling hair pulled back away from her face it could not have been a little bit longer than shoulder length he thought to himself. Her dress was tattered and she was bare footed. He had a strong urge to help her but didn't know how to gain her trust. Then he got an idea. "You can trust me for I have magic also; now you must keep this a secret for me please do you understand?"
"You hide your powers from the king, is this why it is a secret?" "
"Yes."
"Then I trust you." she allowed him to help her up and she leaned slightly against him. As they made there way back to Arthur they had a small conversation. "What is your name?" he asked politely
"Caelyn, and what is yours?"
"That is a beautiful name, my name is Merlin."
"You know I was told by the druids that I was to help and to be helped by a man some what like me, I think you are him even though your name does not resemble the name they gave me"
"What is the name they have told you?"
"A man named Emerys."
"Well then you have found him for that is what the druids call me." she looked like she was about to say something but was cut off by the familiar voice of Gwaine.
"Ah Merlin there you are," he said cheerily "we've been..." his sentences dropped off as he saw the girl leaning against Merlin for the first time "I see, been out courting girls Merlin."
"Ha ha Gwaine very funny" Merlin retorted sarcastically.
Gwaine laughing hard called out behind him that he had found Merlin and tried to keep a straight face as the others approached noisily telling each other jokes. They all saw the girl immediately and became quiet until Arthur had joked "new girlfriend Merlin?"
"do they always act like idiots" Caelyn whispered in Merlin's ear. It took all of his will power for him to not laugh. Arthur approached a couple of feet closer to the young lady still at Merlin's side and asked her her name. To Merlin's surprise she hid her face in his shoulder and whispered "I do not wish to answer him."
"Why?" he whispered back curiously "I do not want to insult him about his stupidity, so will you please tell him my name?" he chuckled lightly at her whispered response only he could hear."
"What is so funny, Merlin" Arthur asked impatiently
"nothing sire its just she's afraid of talking to you," he half lied to the king "her name is Caelyn." she removed her head from Merlin's shoulder gave him a look of I will get you back later for saying I am afraid and listened to the knights introduce themselves with a slight smile on her face. Arthur noticing her fatigue told Merlin to ride her back in to Camelot. They soon where on their way to the physician's chambers to see about her cuts and to talk about magic.
"Who is this Merlin?" Gaius inquired the boy as he helped get the young girl settled. As Gaius cleaned her cuts Merlin told the story of how he met Caelyn. "that was a kind act that you preformed Merlin I am proud" Gaius said with a smile that then faded to a concern look as he saw the young sorcerer with his head resting on the table with a slight look of pain on his face. "Merlin what is wrong you look pained." the physician asked worriedly after finishing cleaning Caelyn's wounds.
Merlin waved his hand as if dismissing gaius's concern and answered "it is only a slight headache probably from tromping through those woods all afternoon. The real concerning thing is the druids telling Caelyn to find me." he looked up at Caelyn and then decided "well you cant go around in a tattered dress I'll go find Gwen and ask about a new dress for you," the young man looked lazily out the window and added, "besides Arthur will be back soon and will be irritated if I am not there to listen to his stories." he got up uneasily on his feet and left. Caelyn looked puzzledly at Gaius but he simply just shrugged his shoulders.
It didn't take long for Merlin to find Gwen."Hello Merlin" she greeted pleasantly
"Hello Gwen I was wondering do you have an extra dress for the young woman we fond in the woods earlier?" he replied
"Sure Merlin we can go get it now and bring it to her" after they brought Caelyn the dress Caelyn the dress and Gwen did her hair , she was more beautiful than before. Caelyn asked Merlin to thank Gwen nicely and said that she was deathly tired. As Merlin helped her get comfortable in his bed for he was to sleep on the floor he saw the contemplative expression her face.
What is it?" he asked
"I have withheld one secret from you Merlin and do not know if I should tell you it"
"Well if I am to help you I need you to be truthful to me," He said softly looking into her eyes.
She smiled "I will think about telling you as soon as I know I can trust you" her smile faded as she saw the crestfallen expression on his face as he got up and left the room.
The next day Merlin woke up earlier than usual because of how uncomfortable the floor was when he noticed Caelyn staring blankley out the window just before sunrise.
"What is the matter?" Merlin asked sleepily as he came up beside her.
"Nothing it's just I finally made the decision to show you my secret. I know I can trust you because you hsve been nothing but kind to me even when I was about to blow you back into the tree with magic. But we have to go in the forest for me to show you" she said glumly.
"I think I can arrange that" Merlin said as he left with a mischievous smile.
He got to Arthur's chambers early, put the breakfast tray down loudly, as usual, and walked over and opened the curtains. "Merlin" Arthur groaned "what in the world are you doing this early in the morning?"
"Nothing I just thought I would start my chores early" Merlin said cheerfully. Arthur knew better.
"What is it you want, Merlin?"
"Just to have the day off, sire." Merlin said quickly. Arthur sat bolt up right to this.
"What?" Arthur yelled incredulously
"W…w…well it's just that Gaius wanted me to go out to the forest to get more herbs and roots for his supply." Said Merlin stuttering. He wasn't lying Gaius did ask him to go out and collect herbs last week but he never had the chance to do it.
"And he can't go out and do it himself?" Arthur asked.
"Well he wanted to me to take Caelyn along and she still won't talk to anyone besides me, sire," Merlin said simply. "And he is getting a bit old, but don't tell him I said so," he added hastily. Arthur chuckled lightly.
"You can go and collect your herbs when you are done polishing my armor" Arthur replied to the request.
"Thank you, sire," Merlin said and excused himself from the room.
After Merlin polished Arthur's armor he rode Caelyn out to a clearing in the forest. They dismounted and stood face to face in the clearing. She sighed and closed her eyes and an incandescent silvery glow flowed around her. In a second she shot up in to the air. This is when Merlin saw the strangest sight he will probably ever see. A silver streak flowed in front of him and a loud thud sounded. He saw Caelyn rising from a kneeling position on the ground wearing a gold breastplate with a gold plated skirt to match. She had gold dusted leather roman style sandals laced up to her knees. Her dark curling hair, which had a reddish tint to it in the sun, framed her face. She had a long glowing swoard in her hand. Her eyes were glowing silver that looked the exact opposite then the gold their eyes turn when they use magic. The most stunning change was she had soft feathered angel wings sprouted from her back.
"I am Angelus the youngest daughter of the havens I have been sent to heal, aid, guide, and protect young Emerys in his destiny to aid king Arthur. Let me warn you not take me for granted young warlock for I am older than I seem." She said in a soft low whisper.
"How old are you?" Merlin asked softly in a hushed tone. She laughed lightly and it sounded as a bubbling brook, her eyes filled with mirth.
"If not for your curiosity and the fact I am not a regular mortal you are lucky you have not been smacked for such rudeness," she said amused. The confused look on his face slowly turned to that of regret and apologetic.
"I am sincerely sorry"' he mumbled looking down with embarrassment.
"It is okay young warlock it mortal years I appear to be fifteen years of age but I am probably older than this earth," she said kindly her silver eyes growing dimmer. They kept growing dimmer and dimmer until the silver glow around her body flashed one last time and she turned back to the normal Caelyn.
