Cade: Now this chapter took you even longer then the last one.
Me: Not my fault 'Catrin' took up more of my time. It's more popular then this story, apparently.
Cade: You can still write this one, you know.
Me: *rolls eyes* I know, now shut your mouth for at least 5 minutes or you'll regret it.
Chapter 4: A New Life Begins
Cade POV
Cade couldn't stop smiling. She was finally off the streets, not that she had complained, and was now living with the Pendragons as well as Merlin Emrys. Frankly, Cade couldn't quite believe how lucky she was. All the same, there was one thing that repeatedly nagged at the back of Cade's mind: she still felt like she'd known Merlin even before he became famous. She felt like she had some sort of connection with him, but she just couldn't figure out what that connection was. It was maddening.
One morning, Cade woke up to the sound of loud arguing. Curious, she got out of her bed and crept down the stairs. As she got closer to the kitchen, the arguing grew louder. When Cade about to turn the corner, she was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders and yanked back around. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as her heart pounded against her chest. A voice hushed her. "It's okay, Cade," it said. "It's just me." Turning her head, she looked up to see Merlin's bright blue eyes looking down at her.
'Merlin?' she mouthed, one eyebrow raising in confusion. Merlin nodded.
"That's Arthur and Uther." he explained. "Just before you woke up, Arthur told Uther about you living here. Let's just say he isn't too awful pleased. He barely allows me to stay here." Cade nodded in understanding and looked back towards the kitchen. Merlin released his grip on her shoulders and looked in the direction of the kitchen.
"Arthur, please listen to reason." Uther begged. Arthur groaned.
"Reason?" he exclaimed. "You're asking me to turn a girl with nowhere else to go out into the streets. That's something I can't do, father." Uther rubbed his eyes.
"The Emrys boy was one thing, but this? Are you out of your mind, Arthur?"
"She can help in the museum. She's a talented artist just like Merlin. She can help you!" Arthur shouted.
"Arthur, she's a mute." Uther said.
I'm also very sickly. Cade thought.
"Even if she's talented, she won't be able to communicate with anyone at all!" Uther continued.
"Father, she needs us and Merlin has really seemed to have become attached to Caden." Arthur said.
"Morgana and yourself as well, I presume?" Uther questioned. Arthur nodded defiantly and Uther sighed, defeated. "Very well, Arthur, the girl may stay, but she is the responsibility of you, Morgana and Mr. Emrys." Arthur nodded and left the room, turning the corner and running directly into Merlin and Cade.
"How long have you two been standing there?" he asked.
"Long enough." Merlin said. "Although, Cade was here before I was. The yelling I think confused her." Cade nodded. Arthur sighed.
"On the bright side, my father has agreed to let you live here, Caden, given you create works of art for the museum." Arthur explained. Cade's jaw dropped.
'You're kidding right?' She signed excitedly. 'I'll actually get to put my art in the museum?' Arthur and Merlin grinned and Arthur nodded. Cade's face broke out in a wide smile, one that easily topped her smile the night before. 'That is amazing! I've always wanted my art to be in a museum, namely your museum.' She signed vigorously.
Arthur gently grabbed Cade's shoulder. "Calm down, Caden," he said calmly. "You won't be able to concentrate if you're bouncing all over the place."
'Sorry, I'm just excited!'
Merlin chuckled. "Maybe, if you're lucky, Mr. Prat here will display your artwork next to mine." Cade's green eyes shone with even more excitement then what could have been possible. She jumped, a fist punching the air above her.
Merlin POV
Merlin laughed as Cade ran around the room in her excitement. Had it not been for her telling him her age, he would've thought she was ten instead of seventeen. She ran to her room and came back with a large sketch book in hand. Merlin and Arthur looked curiously at each other as Cade handed Merlin the book. She backed away slightly, hands clasped behind her back as she glanced up at the two men.
Merlin held the sketch book where Arthur could see it as well. As Merlin flipped through the pages, he and Arthur marveled at how skilled the black-haired teen was. There were sketches of nearly every kind of scenery imaginable, from the bustling city streets complete with light sketches of the people themselves, to open fields with few trees dotting the horizon.
"This is spectacular!" Merlin exclaimed. Cade blushed and looked down at her feet. Arthur nodded in agreement.
"When you said she was an artist, Merlin, you certainly didn't exaggerate." Arthur said. Cade's face turned an even deeper shade of red at Arthur's words, a red that masked the dark circles that had previously been under her eyes and stood out against her pale skin. "She certainly deserves a spot next to you, Emrys."
Cade looked up at the last sentence and a smile, wider, if possible, then her last one, crossed her face and she suddenly embraced Arthur, squeezing him as tight as she could. Arthur patted her back awkwardly and then Cade moved on to embrace Merlin, who took the hug with a little more tact then Arthur had.
"The museum has definitely earned another amazing artist." Merlin said. Arthur nodded his agreement. Cade's green eyes shone with immense happiness and pride at Merlin's words. Merlin grinned and ruffled Cade's hair affectionately. "You're going to be alright now, aren't you, Cade?" Cade nodded vigorously.
Please read and review! I need to know if I'm doing a good job on this one or if I should just scrap it.
