Ealdorian Rescue

"And this is the- Morgana! Are you listening to me?" Morgana glances up from where she was absentmindedly twisting the Claddagh ring around her finger. "Hmmm? Yes. They do have spectacular grass in these parts."

Sir Urien frowned. Though Morgana was pleasing in looks, she was too much of a dreamer. How Uther expects him to marry her is impossible to comprehend. He did like her fiery spirit, though. "I was talking about the town. As I was saying, the town we are about to pass is the town of Ealdor. Since the King wanted you to experience the different regions, I thought you would least need to know some of the town names." Urien sneered.

Morgana perked up. Ealdor. Why does that sound familiar? She felt a memory of a small boy with bright blue eyes appear, but when she tried to grasp it, it fell away.

"Morgana, this is the second time today that your attention has drifted!"

Morgana glared. "How am I supposed to pay attention to anything with you prattling on about towns and admiring yourself in every puddle we pass by? We've been riding since sun up and it's almost sun down. We should find a place to rest." Seeing that he was about to argue, she added. "Unless you want me to tell Uther about that little thing with your seneschal's wife. That doesn't seem very honorable to me, so I'm sure that Uther will share my views."

Closing his mouth, Urien relented. "Fine, we'll stay in Ealdor. Hopefully, they'll give us shelter after we helped them with that bandit problem."

Morgana smiled sardonically. "Why, that's a splendid idea! Why didn't I think of that before? Well come on then we better get a move on. We don't want to be rude by expecting them to let us stay on too short of notice." She dug her heel into her horse and road away.

Urien shook his head and followed her.

Merlin dropped the bucket of water. "Can't I have a job like Samuel's or the other boys? Or at least have someone to work with?" He looked to the hill, where many sandy-haired children were resting after a long day of picking. But though they had to work longer than Merlin did, after, they got to play with the rest of the harvesters. Merlin, being the only water gatherer, had no one to play with. Even Will seemed to be more interested in playing with the other harvesting boys than with Merlin.

"You know why. You're still impulsive with magic. Every time you trip while carrying the buckets, you catch the fallen water with magic. Though our King has no open threat against magic, Uther would find it too dangerous to have you hanging around a village so close to Camelot's border. He would send someone to kill you." Hunith explained as she poured the recently fetched water into the clothes tub."Besides, we need someone to get water. And all the men that could have done it died in the bandit raids. The rest are either too old or too young. So it is up to you to get the water for the town."

Merlin pouted, opening his eyes wide for the classic puppy dog eyes. "Well since I have to fetch the water on my own, can I at least use magic?" He asked Hunith innocently. "I mean, if no one fetches water with me, no one will see the buckets float on their own. I'll carry them when I get close to the village."

Hunith just looked at him.

Merlin looked away and said sheepishly. "Or I can just fetch the water and carry it all the way?"

Hunith smiled. "That's my boy. Now go outside and play for a little. Gods know when you'll be able to again until after harvest."

He forced himself to smile. "Thank you, Mother."

Hunith, seeing it as genuine, quirked her lips and ruffled his already mussed up hair as he walked towards the door. "Just be back by sunset."

Merlin waved dismissively as he walked out the door and towards the wooded area next to his home. As he reached the edge of the wood he felt a sharp pain on the back of his head.

"Hey, dolt! Are you to good to play with the harvesting children? My father was the head of the village before the bandits killed him. That makes me better than you. What did your father do? Oh that's right, he left you and your mother when you were born. He couldn't even stand the sight of you." Samuel laughed cruelly joined by the other kids. The only one to refrain from the laughter was Will. But he did nothing to stop the cruel words pointed towards his friend.

Merlin said nothing, having gotten used to the verbal abuse. If he stayed quiet long enough, then they would eventually tire and move away.

"Aren't you going to answer me, twit? Or are you as dumb as you are ugly." He prodded Merlin, trying to coax a response out of him. Merlin stayed silent, sure it was like any other day.

Unfortunately, this was not a normal day. Instead of leaving as he usually would, Samuel kept at it.

"If I was your father, I would have left you too." Samuel said, running out of insults as his anger rose. "Well?! Aren't you going to say something?"

Merlin couldn't hold it in anymore. "Well at least I'm not a prick, who picks on the odd man out to make himself feel better. You should work on your daddy issues." He smirked as Samuel turned red.

"I'll teach you to insult me, worm." Samuel snarled as he raised his fist in the air. Merlin closed his eyes and waited for the impact.

"Oy! What are you doing?" A voice rang out. Merlin, opened one eye and then the other; behind Samuel a girl in a red robe stood. All that was visible under the hood was her mouth

Samuels glared. "Who the hell are you?"

The girl continued as if he had never spoken. "If you value your ability to produce any pig faced children, I suggest that you leave this boy alone." She lifted her head defiantly, daring him to question her. Of course, he wouldn't. They could tell she had abilities they had never seen before. Cunning and the ability to bend a man to her will.

"Fine." Samuel said through gritted teeth. "I was just going to leave anyway." He gestured to the rest of the group. "Let's go."

The children all scurried away from Merlin, Will doing so more hesitantly, whispering about the identity of the hooded girl.

The girl waited until the kids had disappeared before turning back to Merlin. "Well you got yourself into a load of trouble. How did you manage that?"

Merlin was dumbfounded. "Thanks for saving me, I really appreciate it, but if you don't mind me asking, who are you?

The girl smirked before pulling back the robe to reveal long, wavy dark hair, sharp cheekbones and light green eyes with flecks of light.

Merlin's eyes widened as he let out a breathy, "Morgana?"

Morgana smirk turned into a genuine smile.

"Why, hello Merlin. Fancy seeing you here."

This is the first part of their second meeting. Sorry for any OOCness. And isn't Samuel's a little psycho? I know he seems harsh, but I know some kids that would be even meaner. I blame reality television.

I'm not going to force you to review or threaten you by withholding a new chapter if I don't get a nth number of reviews. I dislike when others do that. Just try to be nice if you do review. Or tell me how you would like Merlin and Morgana to meet again. I haven't decided if this is going to be AU or not. It could even be present day!