Merlin heard the Prince stop in his tracks, "The red death? Are you sure?"

"There was an epidemic in my village five years ago. I know what it looks like" Merlin replied. He knelt down to the girl and felt her forehead, "She doesn't have a fever yet, we might have caught it just in time"

"Caught what? You're not suggesting that there is actually a cure for it?"

"I'm alive, aren't I?" Countered Merlin.

Arthur shook his head, "It is honestly a miracle that you are alive Merlin and I understand you wanting to help her, but we don't know where we are. Even if we did, we can't bring her into Camelot. What if the sickness spread?"

"There has to be some way. Look, why don't you ride ahead? Just head East and keep heading East, even if you have to leave the path. I'll follow behind with the girl and if you find help, send it."

"Well, I don't think we have any other options. Good luck Merlin." Arthur swung back onto his horse and galloped away in what Merlin prayed was the right direction.

Merlin looked at his new charge. She was a tall, slender woman with brown hair. Her dress was covered in mud and she looked like she had been sleeping on the ground for several days. As he lifted her into his arms she moaned in pain and clutched his shirt.

"It's alright. My name is Merlin and I'm going to try help you. Don't be afraid" He had no idea if she could hear him.

Merlin used magic to get them both on the horse, cradled the girl in his arms and set off in the same direction as Arthur. Hopefully, help would come.

Darkness began to settle in. A cool wind whistled through the trees. Merlin realized that it was probably no longer safe to continue forward. He noticed a large tree with above ground roots that would provide a small amount of shelter and slipped off the horse with the strange girl still in his arms. Using magic he started a small fire and did his best to make his ward comfortable. What would Gaius do? He wondered. His mentor would try to relieve the pain from the rash of course, but Merlin had no idea what to do. He had no supplies and no real knowledge of medicine.

He felt her forehead again. It was now extremely hot. Forcing himself not to panic, Merlin quickly found a spare cloth, wet it, and placed it on the girl's brow. He chanted a simple spell that would keep the towel cool and damp throughout the night. Hopefully it would alleviate her temperature.

Grabbing his canteen, Merlin gently lifted the girl's head and poured some water in her mouth. Unexpectedly, the liquid revived her. Merlin was startled as dark green feverish eyes suddenly blazed up at him.

The girl grabbed Merlin's red kerchief, "Who… where…" she gasped.

"Don't worry, you're safe. My name is Merlin and I found you in the woods not far from here. You're very sick but I'm going to try to get some help for you."

She didn't seem comforted by his words and began to struggle to sit up, "Get… off…stay away!"

"No, it's alright! Just lie down, let me help you!" Merlin wrapped his arm around the girl's shoulders and gently lowered her into his lap. Her head finally relaxed against his chest. Her eyes locked with Merlin's again, "I'm…" she struggled to get the words out, "…Jenden.

The next morning was bitterly cold. Merlin worked quickly to clean up camp so that he and the girl could be on their way. He had just finished when she suddenly sat up. Merlin rushed to her side.

"How do you feel? Are you hungry?" He asked, feeling her forehead. To his astonishment the fever was gone.

"Actually I'm starving," Jenden shyly responded. "I haven't eaten for days. Would you be willing… that is… could I have something to eat?"

Merlin smiled, "Of course. I'm Merlin by the way…" he handed her some bread and dried meat, "…and here is some water too. But I don't understand, how are you better already? When I had the red death I was sick for days and I nearly died. But you… you were burning with fever last night and now you're perfectly fine."

"The red death? I don't have the red death!"

"You don't? But your face, the rash…" Merlin reached toward Jenden's face but she turned away.

"A few days ago I came into the forest to… pick some berries and… a tree branch cracked above me and fell on my head. It must have knocked me unconscious and I must have scrapped my face when I fell." She did not meet Merlin's eyes as she spoke.

"What village are you from? Where does you're family live? You're alright now so if you want I can take you home."

A dark look crossed Jenden's face, "That is not possible. I have no home and my mother and father are dead. I've been working as a maid for the past several years for the Duke of Westlor. But I would rather not go back there…"

It was then that Merlin finally got a better look at the side of Jenden's face. What he saw nearly broke his heart.

The mark on the left side of her face was not a rash, but neither was it a scrape that she had received from falling, it was a large bruise in the shape of a hand. Overnight it had turned a sick purple and blue.

"You were beaten." Merlin whispered.

"Yes, I was" Jenden replied, "But I won't cry about it! It's over and done and I'm never going back there again."

Merlin paused. He though about asking who had beat her, but instead asked, "Where will you go?"

"I don't know yet. I have no money and no food. All I know is that I want to go East, as far away from the Duke as possible."

The idea came to Merlin instantly, "Come with me back to Camelot! I work for Prince Arthur and I know I could find you a job at the castle. You'll be safe and very far away from you're the Duke of Westlor."

Jenden hesitated, "I've never been to Camelot. I've heard stories about it all my life but I never dreamed that I'd be lucky enough to live there."

Merlin smiled, "Well now is your chance."

"Alright, Merlin. Let's go!"

And moments later they were both on the horse, on their way to Camelot.

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