Chapter 3: Explanation

AN: I don't own anything just the OC's and the story plot. Please read the AN on the next chapter it's IMPORTANT!

Back with Arthur, Merlin and Gwen, who was being carried by the two men, they had reached Albi's door and were about to knock then enter before Gwen jumped free then blocked the way.

"Okay before you both go barging inside remember she only woke up a short time ago and is in a fragile state so no loud noises and none of your squabbling! It's bad enough when a healthy person hears it I don't want to think what it could do to someone in her condition. Particularly since she doesn't even seem to know where she is or how she got here."

"Gwen, even Merlin has enough sense to know not to do that. Now let me in."

With Arthur having said this Merlin had a perfect example of a 'you say what now' expression on his face but he didn't voice this because he knew the outcome would hurt.

Opening the doors carefully Gwen entered slowly signalling the boys behind her to wait a moment longer. "Albi, the Prince and his aid wish to see you. I'll let them in they both want to apologize to you."

Turning her head to get a better view of the door Albi saw Gwen step inside followed for a rather tall blonde haired boy wearing a burgundy tunic and black trousers then another boy entered slightly shorter than the first.

Seeing Albi try to get up on her own again, Gwen rushed to her side to give assistance and support. "Apologize? For what? It's not like it was you guys who shot me." laughed Albi lightly.

"Actually it was them, specifically the Prince Arthur." The lady-in-waiting whispered in her ear.

With widened eyes, Albi turned back to the boys in front of her, carefully. "Prince Arthur?...The Prince Arthur... ~mumbling~ that can't be right...can it?"

Looking a tad uncomfortable Arthur addressed the girl still in her bed.

"I don't particularly think my name deserves a 'the' in the front of it but yes I am Arthur, Prince of Camelot. I wish to give you my most sincere apology for striking you with an arrow thus causing your current condition." Getting down on one knee, Arthur bowed low to the girl causing immense shock to pass through Merlin, Gwen and Albi, all of who's jaws dropped at his show of humility.

"I err...I'm still dreaming aren't I? This can't be happening, I can't be here! I must be dreaming! Too many stor...OWWW!"

Albi's head had suddenly started throbbing like mad so, she was bending over which Gwen promptly corrected by laying Albi on her back again with a damp cloth on her head.

When the pain had subsided, the wounded girl looked back at the prince and his aid, who both had inched forward at the sound of pain from the girl

"Well I...I don't understand how this can be happening but I do forgive you, if that makes you feel better but you can get up now, you kind of look silly bending like that and it doesn't look all that comfortable either."

Now it was Albi's turn for the looks of shock. She obviously didn't understand what Arthur had just done and how much ridicule he was going to get later for it. The amount of pride he had to swallow was probably enough to fill the lake outside the castle walls, but at least he knew when he was in the wrong.

After the shock had worn off Albi was questioned, just as Gwen had warned her, however she didn't mind really.

"Well I was taking a walk with my older and younger brothers around near our home then suddenly a light came out of nowhere and the next thing I know I'm in a lake, and I can't swim that well if at all. I saw something shimmer in the murkiness of it all, then I somehow made it to shore when I realised that I wasn't anywhere near my home since we don't live near a lake that big of a size."

Arthur and the others all nodded having given Albi their undivided attention. "What happened afterwards Lady Albi?"

They all could see that Albi was extremely uncomfortable with the title she had been given but she continued nonetheless.

"I made a small fire, just like my elder brother had taught me and started drying my clothes before going to sleep.

"The next day I was very on edge realising that it hadn't all been my imagination and started walking, I'm not sure to where but then I heard horses, and during the night I had a dream that told me to run from oncoming horses so I did, I ran and ran as fast as I could but I could only hear one voice, even though there were so many horses... I think it was a woman. It was half an hour of running and hiding before I finally lost them.

"About an hour or so later I heard them again, this time I could hear many riders, load and clear.

"I began running again but this time the horses were getting closer and closer, I then tripped and took refuge behind a bush, obviously didn't do me any good since after that all I remember is searing pain then waking up here with Gwen. I believe it was your hunting party Your Highness." To which Arthur nodded in agreement to.

Now she was finished with her recount of her side of the story everyone was silent, all of their minds working to figure out how it had happened.

Arthur stood up from the floor and went to Albi's side, lightly placing his hand on her shoulder to comfort and reassure her that she was now safe in the palace.

"I think it best to keep this from my father. He may think you are a threat to Camelot. However I can tell you are just as confused on this subject as we are. It's possible that magic was used to bring you here but not you who used it, so please do not think we will harm you in any way for these events. You are now under our protection, once you are well we will see if we can solve this riddle." Squeezing her shoulder once more Arthur asked if he could talk to Gwen outside for a moment, leaving Albi alone with Merlin.

Moving towards the bedridden girl, the warlock proceeded to introduce himself again.

"Hello I'm Merlin, Gaius' apprentice and Arthur's personal servant. I'm the one who found you after the arrow hit you."

As he spoke Merlin held out his hand which Albi took with a smile, looking the young man straight in the eye.

"It's very nice to meet you Merlin." Suddenly lightning seemed to strike inside Albi's head, which whipped around to look out the closest window.

"What time is it Merlin?" she could feel a wave of nausea coming on quickly from her sharp head movement.

Cocking his head to the side at the girl's sudden antics, Merlin thought for a moment.

"I'd have too say around dusk, you were out for a few days. Why?"

The noise that emanated from Albi's stomach answered that the second Merlin stopped talking.

"I don't think I've eaten in three days. Is it possible for me to have some food I'm starving!" Albi replied with bashful laughter.

Merlin answered in kind. "That is absolutely no problem, anything particularly you would like?"

"Do you have chicken. Chicken is my favorite, so it would be amazing to have some right now."

"One chicken dish on it's way. I'll be back in a bit so try and get some more rest, you still look very tired." Merlin moved away from the bed and headed out the door. But not before hearing Albi's whispered thank you as she fell into a light sleep.

AN: so what did you think?

What do you think of Albi?

You know the sort of questions we ask.

Review please.