I'm back! No one missed me, of course, but who cares! I do. Oh, well.

DISCLAIMER: When I become a multi-millionaire and buy the rights to Merlin, I'll let you know. For now, I'm a twenty-five dollar-onaire and I own the rights to… and evergreen tree in my front yard.

Chapter 2: She knows, and he doesn't

Courageous

Katie watched Merlin as he moved about the room. He was very jittery. "Merlin," she said sharply. He looked up. "Oh! You're awake." He strode over to her. Katie stared into his eyes. "Merlin," she repeated, more firmly this time. "I know."

He looked confused. "You know about what?" Katie almost laughed at his expression. He looked so clueless, but she knew he had more sense of what was going on than her. "You are quite the actor, Merlin. My sister used to act." Katie's eyes clouded. She silently cursed herself. She had gotten off topic again! "Anyways, your secret's safe with me."

He wasn't as confused now. "Er, which secret would you be referring to?" he said slowly. This time, Katie did laugh. "Emrys, of course! What did you think?" Before he could open his mouth, she spoke again. "Oh, and obviously Emrys would be a warlock, right?" He stared hard at her for a minute. "You shouldn't have come here."

Katie crossed her arms, shooting an undisguised glare at Merlin. "If you think I wanted to, then Camelot is doomed." Merlin looked at her as if she had grown another head. "What?" Katie sighed exasperatedly. "Camelot is in the hands of Emrys," she explained. She hopped out of the bed. "You are right, though. I need to leave."

Merlin shook his head as if trying to clear it. "No! I need to talk to you first."

"You just did," Katie pointed out. Merlin sighed. "I knew you were a Druid." He blurted. "When I was cleaning your wound, I saw the Mark on your arm." Katie was silent for a moment.

"Thank you… for not telling anyone, I mean," she said quietly. Merlin shrugged. "I couldn't betray one of my own." Katie nodded, and sat down on a stool. Merlin stared at her again. "Why were you all wet when we found you?" Katie looked up from her hands, startled. "I… er…" A faint trace of pink appeared in her cheeks. "Well, I had just finished washing! Don't any of you ever do it?" And with that, she walked out the door.

Truth

Katie looked down. "I never cry. Anymore." Gwen tried to ignore this, continuing to brush Katie's hair. "Are you going to stay in Camelot for a while?" asked Gwen hopefully. In the three days that Katie had been recovering, she had been making friends all around the castle. She was quite popular.

Katie shook her head. "I have to go away." Gwen knew she shouldn't, but her curiosity had always gotten the better of her. "Where do your family live?" Katie was silent. Hours seemed to pass before she replied. "In a village. On the edge of the Five Kingdoms." Gwen nodded. "What's your family like?" she asked.

She could see Katie's reflection in the mirror take on a small, sad smile. "I have an older sister. She's my best friend," Katie said. "I have two little brothers, and my uncle lives with us." Gwen nodded. Katie was silent. She didn't seem to want to say more. Gwen understood, and decided not to say anything else.

She heard someone walking forward. She turned around and saw Arthur. "How long have you been standing there?" she demanded. Arthur shrugged. "A while." He turned to Katie. "I heard what you said about your family. Don't worry, we're going to get you back to them. Why were you out in the woods alone?" he asked. Katie looked away. "Stuff," she mumbled.

Arthur must have decided not to say any more, for he turned around slowly and walked out of the room.

At that moment, a little pang of sorrow echoed inside Katie's heart. Too bad he doesn't really know.