Chapter 2

Warning/s: Little bit of a theme of rape; don't worry, it's not even mentioned but it's suggested.

A/N: I made up a kingdom called Eglesgott in here because I had a random dream about it last night.

Sorry for any mistakes. I'm really not well and even after writing this my brain is super tired. So I didn't check it over properly.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, or Colin Morgan (but I wish I did).

Merlin frowned at herself in the hanging mirror. In the looking glass, she could see her head and the upper half of her torso; and what a flaunting upper torso it was.

The dress was very low cut, and the bodice underneath pushed up breasts she wasn't really aware she had. The gold and black complimented her pale and flawless skin; her hair was still in a messy bun but a strand or two had fallen out and lay across her shoulder, the contrast like coal against snow.

Her lips were slightly chapped but somehow ere even more beautiful with that feature. They were a rosy pink, the bottom larger than the top, and Merlin ran her tongue over them nervously.

Two sparkling blue eyes grinned at her. Don't worry, they seemed to say, it'll be fine!

"Merlin? Are you stuck?" Gwen called from the other side of the changing screen.

Merlin snapped back into the world that everyone else inhabited, and out of hers. "No, I'm fine. Just a second!"

With one final adjustment, tugging the bodice up and the skirt down (the two actions immediately cancelled each other out) Merlin stepped out from behind the wooden screen.

"Perfect," was all Gwen said.

Before the serving girl had a chance to react, the queen had zipped over and was fussing around her, humming like a bee in a comb.

"Gwen…?"

"Who's going to be at this feast?"

"Oh, the visiting dignitaries from Eglesgott," Gwen replied.

"Where?"

"Eglesgott – they're a magic-loving kingdom," Gwen explained. "Arthur wanted to get to know them a little better, and as long as they use no magic in Camelot they're welcome."

Merlin's throat went dry, "W-why…Surely Arthur doesn't want to meet sorcerers?"

"I think he's warming to magic a bit, actually, you know," Gwen said thoughtfully.

Merlin processed this bit of information slowly, mulling it over in her intelligent mind.

The clomping of boots signalled Arthur's return. Covered in mud and sweat, he grinned, still breathing heavily from the exertion of training, and greeted both of them. Then he paused, staring at Merlin for a period of time that was long enough to be incredibly awkward.

"What?" Merlin finally asked, feeling self-conscious and resisting the urge to look down at the dress.

"You look…like a woman," Arthur said slowly and tactlessly.

"Arthur!" Gwen scolded.

"Sorry." Arthur corrected himself with a shake of the head, "You look beautiful Merlin."

And indeed she did – two strands of her hair had been pinned back, even on each side, and the rest was loose down her back, slightly wavy from the bun.

Gwen had even managed to get her to wear heels.

"Well, the feast starts in an hour; do you think you can manage not to mess anything you're wearing up until then?" Gwen asked Merlin, with the air of a mother trying to explain to her child why they shouldn't hit the dog with a chair.

"Yes," Merlin said determinedly.

The feast was actually interesting; Arthur was slightly on guard with the monarchs of Eglesgott, but apart from that it was a lot of fun. Merlin was slightly surprised at the admiring glances she was getting, both from the men and the women, but focused instead on serving Arthur and Gwen with wine. Fortunately it was not a job that needed doing too frequently, so until she was needed she could slink into the shadows and creep round to talk to the knights, seated at a side table.

It was on one such occasion when Merlin realized Percival was beckoning her over.

With a slight skip in her step, she bounded over and bent down so Percival could talk to her easier, unknowingly presenting him with a view all the way down her top.

He coughed uncomfortably and whispered, "Is it just me, or does that visiting lord look a little…sneaky; like he's up to no good."

Merlin cast a glance towards the 'up-to-no-good' lord. He reminded her of a horse; he had a rather long face and pronounced nose, and true to Percival's word, he was rather shiftily looking around. Merlin could almost see the cogs in his brain, whirring around and plotting how to sneak out without drawing attention to himself.

"It's not just you, I can see it too…oh well, I should really stop judging people. He's probably just got that look around him."

"You're probably right. Oh, I think Arthur's wine's run out," Percival said, indicating the king, who was in comfortable conversation with the horse faced man.

"Bye!" Merlin hurried back to Arthur's side and carefully tipped the jug she was holding to fill up his goblet once more. A little splashed onto the white tablecloth and Merlin winced as it spread and spread. Oops.

Gwen sniggered behind her hand as Merlin discreetly pulled a platter of graphs over the stain. "You saw nothing," she hissed to Gwen on the way out.

"I trust the feast went alright?" Thomas asked snootily, sniffing disdainfully as he did. The candlelight threw their flickering shadows on the wall as they walked through the castle.

"It did, actually. It was a lot of fun, even though I was only on the sidelines."

There was a small pause as Thomas opened his mouth but said nothing. He closed his mouth and seemed to ponder something. Then, finally, just as the silence was about to become awkward, he quizzed, "Merlin, do you believe in position?"

"I'm sorry?" Merlin asked, a little surprised by the seemingly random question.

"Sorry – let me clarify that. Do you believe that people are born with positions and should stay in those positions?"

"Well, no – for one thing, look at our Queen. Born a servant. I think there are boundaries that need to be stuck too but apart from that people should be free to live their life."

"I was hoping you'd say that…"

"Why?" Merlin asked suspiciously; Thomas had a gleam in his eye, and it wasn't a good one.

"Servants are meant to act with dignity at all times, and be proper in public."

"Y-eeees. Your point?"

"And to be proper and dignified, would you say a strict servant to servant relationship is required at all times in public?"

"Yes. But it's not, because of what I said earlier. Can you get to your point? All this is making my head hurt."

"My point is – servants should be allowed to kiss is public, do you agree?"

"Wha – yes." Before Merlin had time to question the randomness of that statement Thomas grabbed her wrists.

"Thomas, what are you doing?"

Her only response was his lips pressed against hers, and his force driving her back into the wall. She had no time to struggle before his arms circled her waist and held her captive to him. Merlin resisted the urge to kick Thomas somewhere very hard where it would hurt very much and instead tried to prise his hands from her waist.

He drew back off her, breathing heavily. "Sorry – that was very rude. I bid you good night."

"Thomas!" He had already scampered round the corner. Merlin slid down the wall shakily and hugged her knees. She thought he was going to – no, stop it, Merlin. Thomas would never do that…right?

"Merlin?" There was a gentle knocking at her door, accompanying the familiar voice.

"Percival?" Merlin asked groggily, standing up and wandering over to the door.

"You're late," was the greeting.

"Good morning to you too," Merlin groaned. Then it hit her. "I'm late?"

"Arthur's getting impatient," Percival said. Then, with a questioning look, "Are you alright?"

Merlin froze like a deer in headlights. "Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

"You're still in your dress from last night. Get to bed late?"

"You could say that," Merlin muttered, reaching behind her to try and undo the laces. "Percival, could you…?"

'What? Oh, of course…"

The tension in the room was tangible. Merlin blushed as Percival came up to stand beside her and deftly undid the laces. His warm fingers brushed her back for a fraction of a second and she shivered at the unfamiliar touch. "Sorry," he said quickly."

"It's fine," Merlin replied, equally fast.

Percival finished his fumbling and strode out of her room, closing the door behind him to allow her modesty.

"I think you jest, Sir Knight," Merlin grinned.

"I think I do not jest, Lady Merlin," Percival replied.

"I'm not a lady," Merlin laughed, "I'm only a servant."

"But to me, you are a lady," Percival said seriously.

"You flatter me, Percival," Merlin smiled.

"There is so much about you to flatter, my lady."

"Like what?"

"Your beauty."

"I certainly don't feel beautiful right now," Merlin grumbled. Her hair was back into its normal bun and she was wearing her usual brown trousers; but this time she had combined a purple shirt and a grey neckerchief, and the combination looked strangely becoming.

Her horse skirted sideways and she calmed her with a, "Shh, Katriona." Resuming normal riding, she turned her head to look at Percival.

They were both at the back of the procession. In the lead were Arthur and the visiting dignitaries. Behind them, a line of knights. Following them came beaters. Then, right at the back of the hunting line, were Percival and Merlin. Merlin didn't mind being at the back, actually; no one could hear them talking and they were free to walk while the others trotted, giving their horses a break for a few seconds.

"Canter," yelled Arthur from the front.

"Let's not," Percival said to Merlin. She laughed, patting her horse.

"Don't worry, girl – we'll take it easy for a while.

"I can't believe we got lost."

"In all fairness, they were cantering and we were walking, making it pretty hard to keep up," Percival pointed out.

"You're annoyingly right. Oh well. What's the worst that could happen?"

"A mythical creature kills us both?"

"You're right, I supp – aargh!"

A griffin blinked at her with a beady, irritated eye. It stood, stretched and cawed angrily. Its vision focused on Merlin with laser intensity.

"Uh, Merlin?"

"Yes, Percival?"

"Maybe we should gallop?"

Neither waited for a reply. The griffin reared and both horses took flight. It was all Merlin could do to hold on as Katriona took a flying leap over a tree trunk, clearing it with two feet to spare.

To her left, she could see Percival drawing his sword. Damn. Damn damn damn damn DAMN, Merlin thought, sighing.

Presently they both arrived in a clearing; Percival slid off his mount and Merlin did similarly, preparing for the griffin.

It charged in with a noise like a stampede of elephants; Merlin muttered a spell and hoped the noise would be enough to cover it up.

Percival appeared not to have noticed the noise. He did, however, notice how his sword had turned an icy blue colour and was literally writhing with magic.

With no time to question the source of such a thing, Percival stabbed the griffin once, twice.

It fell to the floor, limp, the sword still intruding in its body.

Percival turned to Merlin. Her world turned shaky and black and white. She felt like she needed to sit down but there was nowhere she could that would allow her to make a quick getaway.

"That was you, wasn't it?" Percival whispered softly. "You have magic?"

"Yes. I was born with it. So go ahead. Kill me for something I can't help." Something broke inside of Merlin and a solitary tear dripped down her cheek. It landed on the mossy floor and quickly became insignificant to the world.

Percival stared at Merlin; Merlin stared back. Not defiant, not angry; but scared, like a little lost girl.

And, Percival realized, that was what Merlin was. A girl with magic, lost and isolated amongst those who scorned it. And to her, he was one of those people.

Percival had never felt more monstrous in his life.

A/N: Right, so...little complaint.

I got like 50 follows, and 20 favourites...and 8 reviews.

WHAT?!

Come on, guys, I love reviews! I even reply to them, even though I'm really socially awkward and find it hard to talk to people I don't know! COME ON!

To make it easier for you this time, I even prepared things that you can copy and paste into the review box! you know, if you're in a rush or have blisters on you hand from playing the double bass for seven hours straight when you're only meant to practise for an hour maximum. But anyway.

a) This chapter was awesome, I cannot wait for the next one.

b) Yeah, this chapter was all right. There were a couple of things I didn't like, though.

c) Not a brilliant chapter, but you know. I like the storyline.

d) This chapter was terrible. I HATE YOU.

e) I wish to make you read Hemingway for the rest of your life to make you feel the pain I felt when I read this.

Yeah, I don't like Hemingway.

f) How did I even get here?

But it would be awesome if you could make up you own.

And, if I don't update before the 25th, Merry Christmas, guys!