Answer to XSunnyxstar's review: Thank you so much! It means a lot that you share your thoughts :) Just out of interest, how long would you like the chapters to be? This one is a little longer... Hope you like it!


After a fortnight spent in Paris, Jocelyn and her close friend Ayami find themselves on a train to the countryside. Jocelyn can't hide her excitement as the young ladies walk up the stony road to Chateau de Pierrefonds. The castle stands on a hill like it's growing from the ground and sunlight reflects in its windows.

"Wait! I have to take a photo!"

A dozen photos, to say the least. Ayami is patient, but after 20 minutes she has had enough of posing for one day.

"Let's see the rest of the place." she says and Jocelyn gladly shuffles on.

There isn't a cloud in the sky and several people are dressed in medieval costumes, to Jocelyn's delight! There's a market leading all the way to the courtyard entrance.

"Look, those men are dressed as guards!" Jocelyn exclaims and points at a bunch of men wearing chest mails and the seal of Pendragon. "And that's..."

Her gaze freezes on a tall man with red hair and a long, red cloak.

"Sir Leon?"

Ayami doesn't follow.

"Who?"

The thoughts inside Jocelyn's mind multiply. Are they filming another season of Merlin?

"Ladies."

Sir Leon smiles politely before he makes his way towards the inner courtyard.

"Let's follow him!"

Jocelyn takes another photo and hurries after the knight. Ayami is busy checking her Snapchat and doesn't see her leave. Jocelyn behaves like a total fangirl as she runs, in a safe distance, after the knight! As if every step takes her closer to a world she loves even more than her own… A world of possibilities and, best of all, MAGIC.

The castle is even whiter on the inside and her heels clap when she walks up the stone staircase. She is greeted by brown walls and cold floors, but Sir Leon has disappeared. Great. I suppose I can check out the corridors until I find someone else...

She soon finds herself in a cooking area. It smells roasted chicken and newly-baked bread. The staff are dressed in costumes, too. Only then, Jocelyn realizes that she's lost Ayami.

"What a lovely café!" She turns to a large woman and tries to call her friend on the phone. "I'd like two chai lattes to-go, please."

"We're not gonna have nothin' til the King's had his lunch!" the woman shouts out of distress. "Who are you, anyway?"

"My name's Jocel..."

"Are you the new baker? Cause if you are, it's about time to show up! We were expecting you this morning!"

"Sorry, I just didn't find the way to..." Jocelyn tries to explain, actually enjoying this role play. The cook watches her with a stern eye.

"No time for talkin'! Here, chop these vegetables and I'll find you an apron…"

Jocelyn does what the woman says and puts the phone on speaker. It goes directly to Ayami's voice machine.

"...you won't believe what's happening here... I'm actually in a play or something!"


Jocelyn's t-shirt and black jeans are covered in flour.

"Keep on workin', girl! No breaks until I say so! The knight's shall be hungry by the end of the tournament today…"

"There's a tournament?"

Maybe that's where Ayami is?

"Can I use the loo?"

The cook is busy yelling at another girl. Jocelyn takes her chance to escape. She closes the door and turns around in such a hurry that she bumps into someone! Metal falls to the floor and she meets a pair of familiar blue eyes.

"Oh my!" she exclaims.

"Are you alright?" Merlin asks.

Jocelyn just stares at him, which makes him feel a little more awkward than usual when meeting a pretty girl.

"You're him!"

He raises his dark eyebrows.

"Who?"

"Colin Morgan!"

He smiles as he picks up the armor he has just spent several hours polishing.

"I don't know who that is. Sorry."

Merlin takes a moment to observe her face. It seems to be lit with some sort of inner glow. Her cute, slightly upwards nose is decorated with tiny freckles and her smile creates one deep dimple on the left cheek.

"Who are you?" he asks, intriguingly.

Her way of dress is a little strange, though! Merlin can't help but wonder about and admire the trousers she is wearing. They look a little too tight for comfort.

"Jocelyn."

What a beautiful name! He reaches out his right hand and smiles widely.

"I'm Merlin."

"Wow! This reenactment is so cool! But seriously, you can't be filming another season, right?"

What is she talking about? Merlin tries to grasp this stranger, but his thoughts are still on the snake on Sir Valiant's shield. He is trying to convince himself that it did not wink at him.

"This has to be a special event!" Jocelyn continues.

"People do seem to make a lot of fuss about this tournament." Merlin confesses as the weight of Arthur's armor is pressing on his arms. "Not that I understand why… Do you work here?"

Jocelyn does not care to answer.

"Can I take a picture of you?"

The phone flashes in front of Merlin's face. He gets taken aback and blinks repeatedly.

"What... What was that?"

Jocelyn giggles and figures he's a terrific actor.

"Magic!" she jokes.

Now he gets even more confused. Why would a real sorcerer be open with who she is? In Camelot of all the places!

"You have magic?"

Jocelyn gives away a laugh. She enjoys playing this game with him.

"As have you."

Merlin turns paler than he already is, not knowing what to believe. Who are you? The fear that creeps up inside him doesn't allow him to think of an answer. He looks down at the silver helmet and imagines Arthur's angry face in it.

"I don't know what you mean…" he finally says. "I have to go. Prince Arthur is expecting me."

Jocelyn tries to call Ayami again.

"Ayami, where are you? You won't believe who I just saw! Apparently there's a tournament going on… I'll meet you there!"


As she walks over the wooden bridge, out of the courtyard, she sees Merlin and a grey-haired man in a long tunic. Gaius. They are looking out at a grit rink. A fully armed Arthur is receiving loads of applause.

"Is it my imagination or are you beginning to enjoy yourself?" Gaius asks Merlin.

Merlin exhales and tries to hide a smile.

"... It isn't totally horrible all the time."

Jocelyn inhales raptly, making them both turn around. She's seen this before! Many times. Her knees start shaking. Is somebody playing an enormous trick on her? No, her instincts tell her there's something else going on… Season 1, episode 2. But what happens in that episode? The shaking stops her from remembering.

Merlin had almost forgotten about her when he helped Arthur get dressed. Now, he once again feels uneasy in her presence and lowers his head.

"Are you quite alright, my dear?" Gaius asks her.

Without answering, Jocelyn runs pass them and out on the field in panic! She stops to take in her surroundings. Ayami is nowhere to be found and everyone else look like medieval citizens. There's Arthur fighting, Lady Morgana and Uther watching… This has to be real! I'm in Camelot! Or I've finally lost it.

"… She said she knows I have magic, Gaius." Merlin explains. "But I have never seen her before in my life!"

"Well, she can't just stand there! She might get hurt. Fetch her, will you?"

Merlin hurries to her side and dares wrapping one hand around her wrist. The touch snaps Jocelyn out of her thoughts and she meets his gaze.

"Come with me." Merlin says, calmly.

I would follow you anywhere, Merlin. But this time he only leads her to the knights' tents. After Arthur has won his battle, he joins them.

"What was that all about? She looks like she's seen a ghost."

Merlin gives her some water and can't disagree.

"She's in shock, but I believe she will be fine." Gaius ensures.

The crowd cheers violently. A knight dressed in yellow, Sir Valiant, is left standing.

"Valiant has defeated Ewan!"

"Valiant?" Jocelyn utters. It suddenly hits her. Season 1, episode 2: The fake knight who uses an enchanted shield to cheat in the tournament!

"I think he's badly hurt." Merlin says to Arthur.

"Merlin," Gaius orders. "help the girl to our chambers. We'll take Sir Ewan there, as well."