Chapter One
The Entrance
Camelot. The great kingdom of all the realms with a king that hates magic. The entrance to Camelot was crowded with people buying things and trying to get to their homes. She moved through the crowd looking for Gaius the Court Physician asking anyone that she could, after a few she found the place she was looking for. She knocked and waited then knocked again, no one answered.
"Are you kidding me?" she asked herself as she entered the chamber, books were scattered everywhere and elixirs were being boiled. "This is a mess!"
"Tell me about it," Gaius said as he moved past her trying to move his things.
"You blame it on Merlin don't you Gaius," he looked at her as if he had not seen her face before.
"Vita?" he questioned the girl.
"Hello, Gaius. It's been a long time," she embraced her uncle as she smiled. "Where's my big brother?"
"He's tending to the prince," he went back to his work.
"Arthur? Pendragon? Are you joking?"
"No, he's his servant,"
"When will he be back?"
"Soon hopefully, he needs to get some beartroots," the door started to open as she stood there waiting. Merlin moved around her like she was just another customer.
"I'm back, it was rough,"
"I bet it was, brother," Vita said as she smirked.
"Vita?" again another hug from a family member. "What are you doing here?"
"It was getting boring back home without you brother,"
"I bet it was," Vita, Merlin, and Gaius caught up with everything that happened back home. Honestly, Merlin missed his younger sister but he never showed it.
"Merlin!" Arthur Pendragon ran through the door pushing past Vita. "You have work to do! You need to polish my boots, clean the stables, polish my armor, sharpen my sword, and get me my lunch!"
"Pardon my lord but it seems that you have been working my brother too much, I'm not trying to speak out of hand sire," Arthur turned around to see who addressed him.
"And you are?"
"Vita Geoffrey, my lord, Merlin's younger sister, sire," she curtsied and let her head fall.
"Merlin's sister?" Vita looked at her brother trying to get him to say anything.
"Yes, she's my younger sister," Merlin confirmed, Arthur looked bewildered he couldn't believe that Merlin had a younger sister that he never known about. Not even when he went to Eledor to save them from Cainen, he didn't see the brunette anywhere not in the farms, not in the houses nowhere. His mouth remained slightly open in confusion an awkward silence grew thicker as no one spoke.
"How come I never knew about this!" Arthur yelled at Merlin looking back and forth from Merlin to Vita. More silence filled the room even Gaius started to leave the room. "Merlin? Anything?" Merlin didn't answer.
"I've been away for awhile so when you fought Cainen I couldn't have been of assistance to you sire," she bowed her head.
"You couldn't have been assistance to me, you're a girl, and girls can't fight," he looked even more confused.
"I am extremely handy with a sword,"
"I highly doubt it," Vita just smirked and looked at Merlin who avoided eye contact with Arthur.
"Is that I challenge I hear?" she looked at Arthur looking him up and down, Arthur cocked his head to the side.
"What no?"
"So be it then," she moved past the prince to set down her things, sitting down on a wooden stool she was still smiling. "I didn't think princes backed down from a fight," Vita looked at Merlin who still avoided eye contact.
"We don'- why would you think that?"
"Well it's just that I heard you fought Morgouse even though she is a girl," she walked around the chamber looking at every book title, every paper. "You never forfeited from a fight, why now?"
"Fine, when shall it be?"
"Will tomorrow be of suffice?"
"Yes, Merlin you still have work to do," Arthur stormed out of the chamber still pointing at Merlin who smiled. Vita needed to say no words, Merlin just chuckled. The best times were the ones where Vita's sassiness came out, many times she sassed her mother and even one time she sassed a knight and got thrown in jail for it. But it's like she didn't care at all.
Next Day...
The next day came and the duel was announced, Vita was excited as moved her stuff around she grabbed her sword and headed out. Arthur was in full armor while Vita was in simple clothing.
"No armor?" Arthur asked with confusion in his voice.
"I don't need it, but you do," she smirked and glanced at him. Once everyone got settled in the duel began, they both readied their swords.
"Sure you don't want to back down? It's not too late,"
"Not a chance," and with that, she took her first swing at the prince, Arthur dodged and swung at her she blocked it and backed away.
"Is that all you got, prince?"
"Nope," again he swung.
*time skip*
Vita put her sword back in her scabbard and smiled at the prince, she reached out her hand to lift him up; she grabbed her hand and she pulled him to his feet.
"You fight nicely," she patted his back and walked away, "Good game,"
"Wait," Vita stopped and turned around, "would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"
"Dinner? Is the king allowing it? Of course, I don't want to interrupt any family business,"
"He offered it,"
"Sure, why not?" she shrugged, "See you there," she smirked and walked off. Merlin watched her walk off proudly. Merlin didn't know how she got so skilled with the sword, she had left when she turned 16 and no one had heard from her. Merlin thought she was dead before rumors had started saying she was traveling around the kingdoms being a thief. She had changed since she'd left she'd become more confident, ignorant, and stubborn. No one knew where she had been or what had happened but all they know is that she changed, either for better or for worse.
Vita got back to Gaius' place and sighed, her shoulder blades hurt like crazy. She heard Merlin and Gaius behind her and she moved out of the way.
"Impressive Vita. I didn't know you could fight like that," Gaius said as he sat down on a stool.
"You learn a thing or two when you're traveling throughout the kingdoms," Vita went over to her bag and pulled out something then shoved it into her pocket. "Well I got to get ready to feast with the king, that means I have to find a dress," she smiled and went out to the market to look for a dress.
"She seems different doesn't she?" Merlin looked at Gaius with a confused look on his face.
"I guess so, traveling must have done some things to her," Gaius looked at Merlin, "we don't know what she's been through,"
At the dinner…
"Thank you for having me Uther," Vita said as she sat down with the royal family for dinner.
"No, it's our pleasure. You challenged my son and you won. It's the least we could do," Uther looked at Vita with a smirk.
"Arthur, how does it feel to be beaten by a girl?" Morgana teased as she picked at her food, Arthur scoffed and Vita chuckled.
"So Vita, where'd you learn to fight like that? You obviously had some training,"
"I was self-taught," when she said that Arthur spat out his wine and started coughing.
"Self-taught? How'd does one teach themselves to fight like that?"
"I've traveled throughout the kingdoms fighting and taking back what it rightfully other kingdom's things like," she reaches down into her boot and grabs something and holds it out to Uther. "I believe this is yours," Uther takes the item and stares at it with great awe.
"Ho-How did you get this?"
"I stole it from Oden when I was in his kingdom, it was an easy swipe," she looked at Uther feeling like she had crossed a line.
"Are you a thief?" Arthur asked as he looked at her, she met his gaze.
"No, I was just taking back what didn't belong to them, it's different from thieving," Nor Arthur or Morgana said anymore during the dinner, Vita barely ate anything nor did the others.
"Well, I should be heading home. It's getting late. Thank you for the dinner, Uther," she quickly bowed before leaving the Royals to it. As she walked through the castle corridors the torches flickered as she went past like wings were gently moving past. She heard footsteps fast behind her.
"Vita! Vita wait!" it was Arthur.
"Yes, Arthur?" she turned around and faced the prince.
"I was wondering if you'd like to join me for the knight's training tomorrow,"
"I-I don't know, will I be participating?"
"If you want to, I'm sure the others would like to show off to you,"
"I'll come as long as I get to beat my brother," she smirked.
"Then I'll see you there," Vita nodded her head and walked down the rest of the hall till she got home. Gaius was sleeping soundly and Merlin was in his room. I forgot I have nowhere to sleep but on the floor. She sighed and grabbed her bag and laid her head on the bag. Again her shoulders ached and it was just her shoulders nowhere else.