Chapter 2

The paper the old man gave me was two things, a letter and directions. He basically told me to not talk about anything of my old life without seriously thinking first- no one could know I was from the future. He told me that a man name Gaius wasn't exactly expecting me, but he'd take me in during my stay in the kingdom. I walked down the cobbler stone streets and I saw men pushing carts of food and a few men carried swords. I went to a man in a shop making swords and I got his attention, he was darker skinned, had ash on his face and he looked really hot because of the fires burning around him. The sword smith was tall and lean, dressed in brown boots and a brown tunic and pants.

I smiled a little, nervously, "Sorry, um- can you tell me how to find a Mr. Gaius?" he smiled at me and came outside, he smelled like sweat, iron, and fire smoke.

He pointed towards the castle, "You may have to ask a few more people, but it's near the castle. Gaius if the court physician, are you alright miss?"

I nodded, "He's a relative." I said and he bowed at me slightly and returned to work. I asked three more people, a man in armour and two women; they were dressed very nicely so I bowed at them as I approached. "I'm sorry to bother you, I just arrived here- can you tell me how to find Gaius?"

They nodded and pointed towards a tower and I saw another soldier standing there, he didn't move as I walked past him. The walls were lined with tapestries and I stared at one for almost ten minutes before a boy came past me, we bumped into each other. "Sorry," we said as the same time. He was carrying a stack of metal armour and it looked heavy, I took off arm guards and a leg guard, now we had the same amount- give or take a couple pounds.

"Thanks," he smiled a crooked smile. He wasn't handsome, but he wasn't ugly either- he just had a nice face. I liked him already.

"Show me the way and maybe you can help me, I'm looking for someone."

He nodded, "Sure of course. I just have to drop this off first at my place."

"You live here in the tower?" I asked him.

He nodded, "I came her a few days ago. I live with a friend of my mother's," he said and we walked up some stairs and down a hallway. More tapestries caught my eye and I promised to go back and look at every single one. "What do you need in Camelot?"

I frowned, "I don't really know." I admitted, "I was brought here against my will- I guess you could say. The man who brought said- or I think wanted to say I'd be safe here."

He looked back at me, "You have enemies after you."

"Not that I know of, but that's just it. I don't know why he brought me here at all, I have no enemies- as I said, that I'm aware of. Thank you."

"For what?"

I smiled at him when he looked back at me again, "For listening and not teasing me." I said and he did that smile again and I giggled, "You have a very crooked smile," I said kindly. "I like it." He blushed and I did too. We entered a large room with tables and a bed against the wall, vials and bottles of green, blue, yellow, and pink were in them as were almost every colour in the world. Old books were piled onto a large round table; tunics in greens and browns hung from the ceiling and a ladder went to the second floor which was the library. "Wow, it's amazing."

"Thanks, but I just live here with a friend," he said and he led me into a small room with the smallest bed I've ever seen. I couldn't help but giggle at the sight of it, he looked at me and I shook my head. I saw a book lying on the floor and he stared at me, "That's nothing. Just some old thing," he sounded nervous. He set his armor on the bed and took mine to set it down as well.

"I love to read too," I picked it up. It had a beautiful emerald design on the cover and the spine was worn out, I opened it to the first page as he turned around and I heard his breath catch. "The spine is wearing away," I looked up at him. "My father was a book binder; he fixed them for a living. I can help you fix it," I offered. I ran my fingers down the spine, I knelt down to the floor and opened to the last page; he knelt down beside me. "It's actually very easy, I can teach you."

I noticed then what he wore, olive green pants and a scarlet short that tied below the neck- the fabric was loose on his upper body. He didn't look very strong but since he carried that entire pile of armour, he had some muscle. "Thanks, but I have to clean that first."

I looked back at the large pile, "It looks bigger then before." He made a face- he was nervous about something, "I'll help you, if you like. I have to find this man, I'm not going to be busy- I hope." He smiled and closed the book, I moved my hand away from it, "What is it about?"

"Magic… magical people." He said quickly.

The door opened and an middle aged man appeared, he saw me and his eyes grew wide, "Hello."

"Hi," I smiled and we stood up. I noticed his eyes when he noticed the book, the boy shook his head when I looked away and I picked up my bag and strung it over my head onto my other shoulder.

"Um, this is… sorry, we didn't exchange names."

"Leonette Graceson." He came into the room and extended his hand.

"Pleased to meet you, sorry my nephew… is so rude."

I turned to his nephew, "Merlin." He said and I smiled at him as I had before.

"Nice to meet you," I said and he laughed a little.

"You too Leonette."

"Leo, is fine Merlin." He nodded and he took my arm and pulled me from his bedroom, "What were you doing with the armour anyway?"

He smiled shyly, "I'm the prince's servant; he wants me to polish everything."

"The prince? Wow. That must be a really nice honour Merlin, do you like it?"

"Not really, but it's my duty to protect the prince." I touched his shoulder, he glanced back at me. We left the apartment and began doing down the hall, "So who are you looking for? I know almost everyone here in the kingdom."

"Some man named Gaius. I was told he'd take me in for a little while, hopefully not too long though."

Merlin laughed and we turned around, "His place is back this way."

When we returned to his home, I thought we forgot something- Merlin's guardian turned around. "Forget something Merlin?"

He shook his head, "She's here to see you Gaius. Didn't ask right away, we were at the bottom step when I found out." Gaius chuckled and brushed his white hair from his eyes, "Leo this is Gaius- Gaius- Leo."

I went forward and we shook hands again, "Nice to meet you Ms. Graceson."

"You to Gaius," I smiled and he had Merlin take my bag to another room and we sat down. They both looked nervous about something though, Merlin brought out the armour and began polishing it as Gaius and I talked. I told him that I was told to come see him and that he'd understand. "I was given this letter; it had your name on it." I handed it over to him; he pulled on glasses and read it slowly mumbling every word too low for us to hear him.

He finally looked up, "You'll be safe here Leo. Perhaps you can help Merlin."

"She already offered."

Gaius looked at me and I nodded, "Anything secretive you need to tell me?"

I shook my head and went into my new bedroom; it looked a lot like Merlin's. It was small and cramped with a bed and small cupboard; I pulled out my notebook and the pens. I dropped them on the bed and pulled out all the clothes the old man packed away and hung them on hooks in the closet. I turned when I felt someone behind me; Merlin came in and sat down. My turn for us to be in my room together.

"Wow you really can pack can't you?"

I laughed nervously, "Yeah- well, actually someone else did it for me. Um, are there rules here?"

He nodded, "Pretty much be kind and don't let he prince or the king or anyone for that matter catch you doing magic." I spun to face him, "Not that I'm saying you do." He eyed me, his eyes narrowing, "Do you do magic."

"No. You?"

He shook his head, "No. It's banned here Leo, if someone would be caught, they'd be killed. Uther is afraid of magic."

"Uther?"

"Pendragon, the king of Camelot. He's a good king but he needs to trust people a little more, his son Arthur- he owns that large pile of armour in my room." I must have had an odd look on my face because he suddenly stood up, "Are you alright?"

I nodded, "I think so." I grabbed the cupboard door and held onto it, he took me around the waist and had me lay down. I felt my head and I smiled, "I'm fine Merlin, you just surprised me. I've heard about Arthur, but not much is known on Uther," he chuckled and I sat up. "I can finish later, I'll help you clean the armour." He mumbled a thank you and I giggled, I took his arm by linking them and we went to his room and I sat with my legs crossed and he leaned against the wall as he sat at the head of the bed. We talked almost all night, I asked him about his home and he told me it was a small village- his mother sent him here. He told me that it was his destiny to protect Prince Arthur. I smiled and considering telling him that his destiny was much greater then that.

Disclaimer, obviously my only character is Leonette and her family that is or will be mentioned-
the Knight on the Black Horse- who arrives in a few more chapters is owned by someone else as well