This my first Merlin fanfiction. Reviews are greatly appreciated! Thank you!
"Isabella, father forbids that you do this."
"Elsa, this village is starving and thirsty. We have been under attack for years and still King Uther is blind to our troubles. We are as much a part of Camelot as the castle he lives in", Isabella explained angrily to her younger sister as she saddled her horse.
"He will not listen to villagers plea. Father has tried and Uther still refuses to send aid. What makes you think he will change his mind for a woman?" Elsa asked, frantic to make her sister stay.
"I will not be as accepting of his refusal to help as father has been", she stated, her mothers iron will seeping into her voice. Elsa sighed as Isabella tightened the girth of the saddle.
"I fear that your fearlessness will only bring you trouble", she said quietly. Isabella turned and put her hand on her sisters shoulder.
"Elsa, if I am to be locked up for requesting help then this kingdom has fallen to a tyrant", she said, with a small squeeze to Elsa's shoulder.
"I wish you would not do this", Elsa whispered pleadingly. "What if he can sense that you are a witch?"
"He will not. I will not use my magic within the walls of Camelot. You have nothing to fear Elsa. Now, I must be on my way if I am to get there before the sunset", Isabella said with finality. She turned, putting her foot in the stirrup and pulled herself up onto the family's black stallion named Shadow.
"I will come back", Isabella assured her sister. With a reassuring smile she urged Shadow into a gallop and out of the barn. It would take her all day to get to the city of Camelot. Leaving at daybreak was her best chance at getting away without her father trying to stop her. There was no doubt in her mind that her sister would tell her father the moment he awoke for the morning chores. She also had no doubt that he would be quite furious with her when she returned.
The cold autumn air cut through the large green cloak she wore. The hood blew back, leaving her long striking red hair to cascade down her back as Shadow galloped on. Her emerald green eyes scanned the landscape around for any thieves or bandits as well as any soldiers from the nearby villages that longed to take over her own village in the valley of the eastern mountains.
She knew the reason her sister feared for her life. She knew the reason her father would be furious when she returned. She knew the read question would be if she returned. She and her sister had gained their mothers rich, red hair and unnaturally emerald green eyes. They were almost the definition of witches in the stories of old she had heard as a child. Along with the eyes, hair, and prominent bone structures they had also inherited their mothers gift of magic. In their village it was an accepted ability yet everyone had heard the stories that came out of Camelot. The only gift that magic could bring you in Camelot was a swift execution. She could only hope that she would not be seen as a witch and that she could ask for help as forcefully as possible without getting herself into trouble.
Merlin sat up in bed and stretched. He could smell the breakfast Gaius was preparing beyond the door of his small living quarters. Rolling out of bed he looked at his usual red and blue shirt, deciding which he would wear today. After choosing the blue with his red neck scarf, he opened to door and sat at the table where Gaius was already eating. He glanced up at the boy.
"You have slept late today, Merlin. Arthur will not be pleased", Gaius warned and took another spoonful of soup. Merlin nodded as he began to eat the soup that was prepared at his place.
"I know, but it wouldn't be the first time. He'll be fine for another few minutes", he said and began to eat. Suddenly the door to the castle's apothecary swing open loudly. Gaius turned to look and Merlin raised his head from his bowl. Arthur stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest.
"Or not", Merlin muttered, earning an amused glance from Gaius.
"You know, I awoke this morning and thought to myself, it would be lovely to have my clothing laid out and my armor polished before I have to use it today. Then, I suddenly realized that my servant had simply not done his duties this morning", he explained in quite an annoyed tone. Merlin pushed aside his breakfast and stood.
"I will get right on that my lord", he said sarcastically, quickly ducking past Arthur before he received a slap to the back of the head by his master. The was an awkward pause as Gaius looked after the boy, Arthur still in the doorway. Arthur cleared his throat.
"Good morning Gaius", he said with a nod before walking after Merlin. Gaius chuckled to himself and turned back to finish his breakfast.
"Merlin, I was supposed to be in my fathers court ten minutes ago. Are my clothes ready yet?" Arthur asked impatiently. Merlin stood and walked towards the prince with a handful of freshly washed clothes. He handed them to Arthur, a proud smile on his face. Arthur glared at him.
"Why are you smirking?" he asked impatiently as he pulled his shirt on over his head.
"That has got to be the fastest I have ever cleaned your clothes for court", he stated almost happily. Arthur continued to glare at him until his smirk fell.
"If you had been up earlier you would not have had to clean them so fast", he stated. Merlin sighed and gestured towards the door.
"Well, we should be on our way to the court if you don't want Uther to be any angrier with you."
"Its King Uther to you, Merlin", Arthur said, stalking out of the room. Merlin followed him out.
"My lord, there is a young woman from one of our outer villages here requesting permission to speak with you", a man from the king's guard informed the court. Uther Pendragon, sitting upon his throne, looked at the man an nodded his permission to let the woman enter. The man stood from where he was kneeling in respect and turned to open the wooden doors at the end of the large hall. When the doors opened, a young woman with a long, dark green cloak strode confidently past the other people in the court and stopped before the king. Merlin leaned forward to get a better view. Arthur regarded her with suspicious eyes. She did not kneel. Her face was hidden by the hood of the cloak that was pulled over her head just far enough to shadow her face.
"King Uther, I am here on behalf of the village of Greenwood", she said, her strong voice echoing as confidently as her stride through the hall. The king looked at her with amusement.
"Take off your hood and reveal yourself woman before I consider the answer of the question you intend to ask", Uther said with authority.
The young woman pulled back her hood fearlessly. Long, deep red hair fell to her waist in soft waves. Merlin could not see her face but knew if must have been striking because of the way Arthur's expression turned to one of surprise.
"I request your help. Our village has been under attack by the nearby kingdom of Wenrick. They have burned our crops and stolen our livestock. We ask for protection as we are just a part of Camelot as this very castle is", she continued boldly. Uther regarded her curiously.
"What is your name?" He asked simply after a long pause. Arthur noted ehr change in body language as she stiffened.
"My people are starving to death as well as being murdered. I hardly think my name is relevant to the situation", she answered. Uther's gaze hardened.
"Your name", he commanded this time. The young woman glanced up at Arthur then back to Uther.
"Isabella Greenwood", she responded.
"You must be Philip Greenwood's daughter. Last time he was here I understood that his village was defending itself well enough without my help", he said.
"Things have changed", Isabella answered. Merlin could hear the hint of anger in her voice.
"They certainly have if Philip has reached the point of sending a woman to ask for help when a man should hold that duty", Uther said, condescendingly. Arthur glanced at his father. Why was he so strongly against helping this young woman?
"I came against my father's wishes. He did not know I was coming", she argued.
"You would disobey your father to ask the king for help?"
"Yes. I cannot just stand by and watch our people die when it is you who should be protecting us", she spat. Her anger towards the king was evident in her voice now. The amusement left his face and he now looked at her in annoyance.
"You should show more respect for your king if you ask for help", he seemed to scold her. Arthur saw the woman growing livid.
"What is your answer? Will you help your people or will you let us fall to Wenrick, your own enemy?" she asked quietly. Uther let the anticipation hang in the air as he thought. Finally, he leaned forward.
"Give me a week to decide. My ward, Morgana, has a maid with whom you can stay until then", he resolved. Arthur watched as Isabella's emerald green eyes seemed to burn with anger. "Arthur, show her to Morgana's maid. Or have your servant do it."
Arthur nodded and stepped out from behind his father to lead the woman out. He motioned to Merlin to join him. He saw the look on the woman's face and gripped her arm to lead her out.
"Were you about to spit at my father, the king of Camelot?" he asked her when the three of them had stepped out of the hall.
Merlin finally got to see her face as he walked next to her. She had unnatural green eyes that were burning with anger. She had high cheek bones and a thin body structure, yet something told him she could hold her own in a fight.
"Its the only kind of respect he deserves", she hissed angrily in response to Arthur's question. He swiftly pushed her back to a wall.
You will show the proper respect to your king. I will expect better behavior the next time you kneel before him. If you do not I will see to it myself that your village never receives the help of Camelot", he warned her seriously. She glared back into his blue eyes, her green ones piercing. Merlin could almost feel her anger filling the space around them.
"Very well my lord", she responded finally. Only Merlin caught the sarcasm within her tone the he himself had used just that morning. The difference was that coming from this woman, Isabella, the hostility in her voice was strong enough that Merlin wondered what had happened for her to come here at all.
As they made their way to Morgana's chambers to find Gwenivere he watched her. If Merlin was sure of one thing, it was that there was something about Isabella that seemed almost off. He had a week to unravel the mystery that was Isabella Greenwood. It hardly seemed like enough time.
Authors Note: Thank you for reading chapter one :). Please leave feedback and reviews and such. If you liked this story then a review is the only way it will continue! So, leave those comments, thank you for reading!
Loves,
PorcelainHeart