After spending so much time in the peace and solitude of the forests, the people and the wagons in the market place were nearly deafening to Drea. Though her father smiled and talked to those who spoke to him-he seemed to be enjoying himself. But that was her father-able to adapt to any situation.

Drea couldn't tell if today was a particularly busy day, or if everyday brought his much commotion. People yelled their wares in the streets, wagons grinded by on the cobblestone, horses neighed and pranced by-noise surrounded her on all sides.

"How can these people stand all this chaos?" Drea felt like she had to scream to talk to her father.

Of course he only laughed at her. "Come now Drea-it isn't that bad. Can you feel all the energy in the air around you-it's exillerating!"

"And it's giving me a headache," she mumbled to herself. "Are you sure no one is going to recognize you?"

"It's been over twenty years since I last stepped foot in Camelot, Drea. Age has given me a natural disguise..." He trailed off as a woman stopped him in the street, asking him if he would like to buy a scarf.

"Oh father-we don't have time or money to waste on scarves!" Drea tried to pull her father away-they had more important things to focus on, like speaking with Gaius and getting the hell out of Camelot as soon as possible.

"Just give me a moment, Drea." He apologized to the scarf seller as he dug a leather pouch from beneath his cloak and shoved it into Drea's hands, leaning down to whisper into her ear. "Go find some water-by the time you get back I'll have a beautiful new scarf for you."

She was about to open her mouth to protest some more when her father pushed her gently away, turning back to talk to the woman whose arms were full of brightly colored, ornate scarves.

She signed, looking around herself for some source of water. "I don't want a scarf-I just want to get out of this place," she said lowly to herself. They didn't need water, her father only wanted her out of his hair for a moment. She couldn't really blame him, however.

She clutched the leather pouch to her bosom, looking around herself once more for some sort of water source-perhaps a well. She walked over the cobble stoned street, her deep green eyes darting from one side of the street to the other.

How was she supposed to find water? She had no idea where she was going in this place! A scowl crept across her face as she almost made it to the end of the street, and still she had seen no well.

A thought slipped into her mind-if she scooped up a handful of dirt she could draw water from it. But that would take the use of magic-which her father had sternly warned her about. Still, it wasn't completely out of the question...

Merlin strode across the cobblestone street, taking his time to look from one stall to the other. The market was brimming with people, even though the sky looked about ready to drop within the hour. He surely didn't want to pass the rabbit stall by accident.

He was nearly at the end of the street, and still there was no sign of rabbits. He cursed in his head and turned, hoping that maybe he had missed it and wouldn't have to walk any further.

Unfortuantely he turned a bit too quickly, and walked right into another figure. His foot never quite met the ground, causing him to fall back and knock whatever it was the figure was carrying to the ground.

"Oh I-I'm sorry," he stuttered out as he reached for the object on his knees, which appeared to be a leather watering pouch.

"Here you-" his breath was suddenly caught in his throat as he looked up into the eyes of the figure...and the rabbits were forgotten. She was a woman, a woman with piercing green eyes and a mane of fiery red hair that coiled around her shoulders like a serpent. He had never seen her before in Camelot.

"Thank you." She said the words curtly as she snatched the pouch from his hand and rushed by him, the bottom of her cloak billowing in the breeze behind her.

"W-wait-miss!" Merlin stumbled to his feet as he called after her. He shuffled around a few people that stepped in his way, getting a few grunts and curses thrown his way. He just mumbled his apologies as he struggled to keep her in his sights.

"Miss!" He called out to her again, and noticed that she sped her gait up just a bit. Was she running away from him?

When there finally was a lull in the crowd, Merlin took his chance. He darted forward, until he was walking briskly along her side, trying to speak to her though it was clearly evident that she had no intent of stopping.

"I-I just wanted to say-"

"I know, you stumbled into me and I'm fine, really. Now just let me on my way." She cut him off without even turning her head to look at him. Why was this strange boy following her?

He laughed nervously as he shook and tried to speak again, this time without being interrupted hopefully. "Um...no, I was just going to ask your name?" His tone made it sound more like a question.

"My name is none of your concern." She flipped her hood up, thinking that maybe she should use her magic to turn this fellow into a pigeon. Too many witnesses, she thought dismally.

"Well I'm Merlin." He volunteered his name, matching his steps with hers. "I've never seen you around here before. Are you coming to visit someone in the upper town? Are you lost?" He normally didn't ask such questions of people, but he couldn't help himself. The questions spilled out of his mouth like a water from a pitcher.

She stopped so suddenly in the street that Merlin nearly walked past her. "Listen, Melvin, all I want is to get some water in peace." For the first time she turned her head to stare directly at him, which made him look down stupidly at the ground.

When he did look back up, there was a silly grin plastered on his face. "Well I can tell you that you won't find any water that way. We've already passed the well...and it's Merlin."

Merlin. Hmmm...that name sounded a bit familiar to her, but she was sure she had never met this silly boy before. She had never even stepped foot inside the walls of Camelot until this day.

But those weren't the important things-the important thing was that this boy knew where to find water, then she could find her father and they could be on their way to visit Uncle Gaius.

Without him, she thought to herself of Merlin.

"Alright then, Merlin," she spoke, putting more emphasis on his name. "Lead the way."

He smiled and nodded to her, pleased that she was at least speaking to him now. "Come with me, then." His voice was full of confidence as she started off, trying to walk slowly so that he was walking beside her instead of walking in front of her.

"You never told me your name..."

"I'd prefer if we walked in silence, please." Though her tone was serious, it was evident that Merlin didn't pick up on that...or else he didn't care. Either way, she felt this trip to the well was going to be a long one.

"Oh come on. That isn't going to be any fun." He suddenly stepped quickly in front of her, holding out his hands so that she was forced to stop. She was about to lose her patience when he spoke up, looking her straight in the eye. "Please? All I ask is your name, miss."

The way he looked at her, with that silly, goofy grin almost drew the faintest hint of a smile from her. He did look quite silly after all, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing that he gave her just the briefest feeling of amusement.

"Dierdre, though most call me Drea." She figured she at least owned him that much-even though he was being a bit of a pest he was leading her to water.

Besides, what danger could a silly boy like this pose to me if he knew my name?

It took him a moment to wrap his tongue around her name. "Dierdre...it's a beautiful name."

Drea shoved past him, laughing at his words. He wouldn't say her name was beautiful if he truly knew what her name meant.

"What's so funny?" He turned and caught up with her, confusion evident in his voice as he asked his question. It was true-he did find it to be quite a beautiful name.

"Nothing. Now, where is this well?"

Merlin pointed to an arched entry way that was just up ahead. "It's just past that entryway. Are you visiting someone in Camelot, or just passing through?"

She flashed him an irritated gaze. "I thought you just wanted my name?"

"I did just want your name, then." He shrugged his shoulders. "But now I want to know where it is you are going." In the back of Merlin's mind sat Prince Arthur and his rabbits-he knew he was going to get it when he got back, but as long as he got to talk to Drea, he felt oddly fine with his punishment.

"I'm here visiting relatives." Her tone was flat and uninspired. Perhaps if she just gave in and told him what he wanted to know, he would grow bored and leave her alone.

As they passed underneath the entry way, she was relieved at the sight of the pumping well. Now she could get her water and get back to her father as quickly as she could.

"Would you like me to pump it for you? Sometimes the handle can get a bit stuck..." Merlin reached out for the watering pouch, only to have Drea snatch it away from him.

"No Merlin-I think I can handle it." She twisted the top from the watering pouch and held it under the spiggot, clearing her cloak out of the way as she lowred herself to the ground.

Unfortunately, when she grabbed the handle and pulled down, it wouldn't budge. She looked up, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth to keep from screaming out of sheer frustration.

Merlin leaned on the wall on the other side of the well, resting the palm of his hand against his mouth to keep from laughing, but it was difficult. As she strained to pull the handle, he had to look away to keep her from seeing him as he tried to contain his smile.

But of course she knew what he was doing, which only served to infuriate her even more. She dropped the watering pouch and grabbed the pump handle with two hands, pulling it as hard as she could.

"Would you like some help with that, Drea?" Merlin tried to swallow his laugher, but it wouldn't go down easily. "I'm sorry, but it's just you look like you're having some difficulty there."

"I've got it!" She growled up at Merlin. He held his hands in the air and backed a step or two away. He'd just wait until she got tired of struggling with the handle, and then she'd ask for his help.

But Drea had an idea of her own. Her green eyes darted around them in a wide circle-no one would be able to see them. Everyone was busy hocking their wares. She leaned down as as close to the handle as she could. If she was quiet enough Merlin wouldn't be able to hear her, and she wouldn't look like a fool.

"Aquas berva", she whispered as silently as she could, and suddenly the handle slammed downward with such force that it nearly broke off, sending a torrent of water from the spiggot, and splashing the both of them.

It startled Merin so fiercely that he nearly fell back. He had seen it...right there in front of his own eyes, even though she had tried her best to hide it. There was no other explanation for it.

Magic.

He leaned down beside her and grabbed her around the shoulder, turning her sharply to face him. "Drea, you can't do that here-not in the middle of the market place!"

"And just what are you going to do, Merlin? You going to run and tell King Uther?" She twisted the top back onto the leather watering pouch and pulled away from him. She was done here, or so she thought...

Merlin wasn't ready to let her go. He grabbed her elbow and pulled her back, though it was a little rougher than he intended and she fell back on him, twisting just in time for her to fall on his chest.

She looked up with a glint of anger in her eyes, meeting his own for a split second. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" She hissed in anger. She pushed off of his chest and tried once more to leave, but this time he held her tight.

"Of course I'm not going to tell Uther, Drea. Do you know what he'll do to you if he finds out?" He didn't realize how fiercely his tone sounded as he whispered to her, keeping one eye out to make sure no one could hear them.

"I knew what the risks were coming here, Merlin. Everyone knows of your pathetic king's hatred of magic-the many people he's murdered." She spat the words at him.

"Then you know he'll kill you...and I don't want to see that happen." His voice suddenly dropped, as he let go of her.

He thought she might take the chance to leave, but instead she stared oddly at him. "You don't even know me, Merlin. What do you care if I die or not?"

"Well, I...", his voice trailed off a bit as he looked away for a moment. "I was hoping to get to know you better during your stay here."

Though she was still furious at him, she could help but laugh at his stupid words. "You don't know what you're saying Merlin, really. Now just go, please. I don't need any friends in this place."

"Oh everyone needs friends, Drea, even you." His smile was bright, and Drea felt herself unable to move because of it. Under all the layers of frustrating, annoying, and cheerful, she could see something likeable in him. If not for the circumstances, if not for the fact that she could never be herself in this place, she might even have considered friendship with Merlin.

But no-that wasn't possible.

Merlin opened his mouth to say more, but was interruped by a long haired man wearing a green scarf who seemd to sneak up on them without his noticing. He draped his arm around Drea, making her nearly jump out of her skin.

"Drea!" The man spoke with an unbounding energy, gesturing toward Merlin. "Who is your young male friend here?" He laughed and squeezed his daughter's shoulders.

"He isn't a friend, father. Just someone who helped me find the well." She hit her father in the gut with the full watering pouch, giving him a glance that said she didn't want to wait around anymore.

But of course, he ignored that look in her eye. "Hello there, son. The name...is Vik. I can see you've already met my daughter." He hesitated a moment as he held his hand out, not wanting to reveal his real name.

"Yes sir. She said you were in Camelot to visit some relatives." Merlin took Vik's hand, and suddenly saw his opportunity. "If you tell me who you're here to see, I'm sure I can take you to where to need to go," he said slyly, without even looking over at Drea. He figured he knew what the look on her face would be.

"No-I'm sure we can find it-" Drea tried to protest, but her father held out his arm to her. "Don't be so silly Drea-if the boy is willing to help us then by all means we should let him."

He turned from his daughter to look back at Merlin. "Actually, we're here to see the court physician Gaius."

Merlin's eyes lit up as soon as Gaius' name left Vik's mouth. "Yes, Gaius! I know him!" He cried enthusiastically. "He's my guardian, actually. I can take you to where we live."

At that moment Drea felt she could be run through with a sword and her day still wouldn't get any worse. What were the odds, out of all the people in Camelot, that she would run into the silliest, most foolish boy in all of Camelot, and it would be Uncle Gaius' ward?

Her father's next words literally left a sour taste in her mouth-the only comfort being that she would get to see her Uncle Gaius soon.

Her father patted Merlin's shoulder with a beaming smile and stepped out the boy's way with a wide sweep of his hand. "Lead the way, boy."