A/N: This is my first story and I want to thank my beta Ulura for helping me! Please R & R. Constructive criticism is welcome! Hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Merlin...unfortunately...

It was turning out to be a rather boring patrol to the western borders. Reports had come in saying that slave traders had crossed into Camelot and they were rumored to be sorcerers. The king tolerated magic users as long as they didn't practice the Dark Arts of it or use to harm any of his people. Those who did were put to death immediately. And so if these slave traders were using magic they would killed where they stood.

So for this patrol the king decided he would accompany them to reinforce his law on this matter. However, they had been riding for nearly 3 days now and not a single sign was found of the slave traders and Uther was quickly losing his patience over the matter. He was just about to order for the party to return to Camelot when the sound of twigs snapping and leaves crunching reached the patrol.

They all immediately dismounted and drew their swords. As the sound grew closer they all tensed and lifted their weapons when they saw a young girl, no older that 12, come running out of the woods caring a screaming bundle in her arms. She was covered in small scratches and bruises and was barefoot. Her medium brown hair was full of twigs and dirt and her face was covered in dried blood. She continued running towards the knights and king, she obviously hadn't noticed them yet, and glanced down at the bundle in her arms before running into Uther himself.

She fell back with an "oomphf" as her breath rushed out of her and the bundle in her arms screamed even louder.

Uther looked down at the girl and was better able to see her injuries, she had a large bruise that was suspiciously in the shape of a hand on the left side of her face, which made Uthers blood begin to boil, and a cut on her upper arm that looked fresh and was still bleeding. The king shoved his sword into the dirt beside him and knelt down in front of the girl. The girl began to sit up, trying to catch her breath while calming down the baby she still held.

When the infant had quieted down some she looked up to see she was surrounded by large men and one of them was kneeling in front of her. She immediately jumped up and tried to bolt but Uther caught her gently around the waist. She started kicking and screaming for him to let her go. She only stopped when she saw the crown on his head and then dropped to her knees and went silent. She knew what was going to happen to her, the king would have her put to death for attacking him. But she didn't want that to happen to her baby brother.

Uther was unsure why she stopped kicking so suddenly like that. He hoped he didn't harm her or scare her even more. It was obvious to him that the girl was frightened of him and his men. He got his answer when she spoke,

"I'm sorry my lord, but please spare my brother. Don't make him suffer for my mistake. He has done no wrong. I will take his punishment as well. Please, please spare him" she whispered the last part eyes still down cast.

Uther froze. Spare her brother? Take his punishment? What did she think he was going to do? Kill her for running into him? He glanced back down at the girl who had placed her brother before him and had clasped her hands behind her back as she leant forward, her hair falling of her neck and exposing it. There was an audible gasp from the knights and the king himself as they realized what she was doing.

She positioned herself to be beheaded like prisoners of war when they were killed on the field. Uther only stared down at the girl and baby before him. His mind was in a whirlwind. She thought that he would kill her for simply running into him and trying to defend herself from men she didn't know. She was clearly distressed and so it was only natural that she would try and defend herself.

Finally able to gather his thoughts he said, "No child, you will not be punished nor will your brother. Neither of you have done wrong. Rise."

The girl slowly pulled herself up but did not lift her head or move to take her brother back.

"But my lord, I attacked a royal and my father says that is an offence punishable by death. But my baby brother did no such thing. Please spare him."

Clearly this girl was still frightened, but she was no longer shaking and what surprised him even more was how educated she sounded when she spoke. Maybe she was from a noble family? Then why would her father tell her such a thing, Uther thought.

"Pick up your brother and look at me."

She did and the baby seemed to burry himself further into her arms. When she looked up at him he could see the fear in her eyes but the rest of her features were schooled to be expressionless

"Child, you and your brother are not in trouble. You are clearly in trouble and were only defending yourself when I held you back. Neither of you will be punished"

He could see her relax some and continued "Now, will you tell me why such a young girl and her brother are out in cold weather with no adults or provisions?"

She gave a quick look around the knights and sighed,

"We are running away from our father. About a year ago our mother died giving birth to him, indicating her brother. She nearly took him with her but he survived. Shortly after her funeral something happened to our father, he changed…" her voice trailed off and her eyes began to well up with tears but she swallowed and continued "He would go off to "do the kings business" he would say and not come back for weeks or months at a time."

At this Uther bristled clearly their father must be a knight or noble of some kind. What kind of man would abandon his young children and with no protection. He vowed he would hunt this man down and make him suffer just as he made his children suffer. His thoughts stopped when she continued,

"He returned about a week ago from his longest time away yet"

"How long was this trip?" a knight asked.

"3 months" she said.

"So you mean to tell us that you have been on your own and caring for your baby brother for the past 3 months?" another knight asked, he continued "How did you care for yourselves? How old are you even?"

"I am 12 years old and there were a few people in my village who would help me but most often I would go out and help in the fields or tend to livestock or whatever else people would have me do for food. I took him with me since I didn't have any other choice."

Uther immediately felt his blood boil and could feel the anger and hate for these children's father rolling off his knights.

Good? Bad? Should I continue? Let me know! Thanks to all in advance!