A/N: I'm really enjoying the feedback! Seeing what you guys have to say - er, type - about the story really makes it worth it! And obviously, there's a billion things that could happen to Lena and Merlin here... there's no definite ending... so I love seeing guessing about what might happen. :) Thanks to all those who reviewed.

~Chorus, romance says goodnight, close your eyes and I'll close mine.~

Chapter Six: Not The Hunter, Not The Marked

It was Lena's second day at work, and she didn't feel like night had ever come and gone so quickly. She realized, as she got dressed, that she hadn't seen Merlin at all the previous day.

Well, of course not, Lena, you were in the scullery. And it looks like you'll be there for a while.

She smiled to herself. The scullery was bad, but the girls that worked with her certainly weren't. And they had said she would get used to the smell and feel of it as time went on. Maybe Morgana and Morgause would forget about her.

She shoved the green dress they'd given her into a bag, just in case… she really did want to look nice if she had to be in front of blue bloods.

As she entered the castle, she saw Guinevere come running up to her.

"Lena!" Gwen called.

"Gwen, what is it?" Lena frowned as she saw the distraught expression on Gwen's face.

"A whole lot of the maids have gotten sick, and we're having trouble keeping the castle in order, what with all the refugees from outer villages…"

Lena zoned out for a second. No wonder the city had seemed so crowded. You're so naïve, Lena chastised herself. What in the world had happened to this kingdom?

"…So the cleaning has gotten really hard, and since we're not sure how the maids got sick, well… do you think you could help?"

Lena wasn't an idiot. She was able to put two and two together and come up with four… clearly this was the work of Morgana and Morgause. A sudden sickness that made it so Lena had to work in the castle, where she would, as Gwen had mentioned, undoubtedly run into Merlin? Surely it was no coincidence.

"Of course I can," Lena nodded. Gwen sighed in relief.

"Thank you, Lena."

"Oh, and Gwen? Um…" Lena pulled her green dress out of her bag. "I – I haven't ever tied a dress like this, and I thought I was going to be in the scullery today, you know, and not in front of important people… so, um, could you help me?"

Gwen smiled kindly at her. "Sure." Lena thanked her and slipped into the nearest supply closet. When she had changed, she ushered Gwen in to help her lace up the front and back of her dress.

"You've really never worn anything like this?" Gwen asked as she looked over her work.

"No. Why, does it not look okay?" Lena self-consciously looked over herself as best she could.

"Oh, it's fine, don't worry. It's just this is a pretty standard dress... either way, it looks nice on you."

Lena exhaled sharply. "Sorry, this is sort of nerve-wracking for me. So much has happened in the last couple of days, I…" Lena shook her head and tried to smile. "Sorry. Just, er, never mind. We should probably go."

"…Right."

"So, where should I begin?" Lena asked, smoothing down her hair, which she knew had to be a little messed up from changing so quickly.

"Do you think you can fully clean five rooms by midday? Go two flights up, take a left, and on the right side, if you can, try to do those rooms. I'll meet you back here for our lunch break." Gwen smiled. "Good luck!" she chirped.

To Lena, it didn't seem like Guinevere saw her glass as half empty or half full, instead, it was overflowing.


As she made her way up the flights of stairs that led to the rooms she was supposed to clean, Lena felt oddly confident. Sure, she was just a serving girl carrying a mop and broom, but…

Oy. Maybe the dress had been charmed. She decided to just pay attention to the first part, since that was the more logical bit of what she'd been thinking.

She turned the corner, and whether by fate, coincidence, or the work of two twisted sisters, Lena saw Merlin coming out of one of the rooms on the left side. She managed to smile at him.

"Merlin. How've you been?" she asked. He smiled back at her, and she felt a little bit of warmth deep in her stomach.

Anatomy, I would like it if you stopped that.

"Fine. How's your father?"

"Better - he started work today. The physician must be a miracle worker; my father actually seems better now than he was before." Lena rested her hand on Merlin's forearm. "Thank you," she said, lowering her voice as she added, "for everything."

"It's, um, nothing really." Merlin's cheeks flushed, and Lena's smile grew slightly.

"Well, either way, I am very grateful. I will see you later." She took her hand off of his arm, running the very tips of her fingers quickly on his bare skin, for the sleeves of his blue shirt were rolled up above his elbows.

Merlin had to look after her for a minute as she walked off.

Lena grinned to herself. Ivienna had taught her how to do that when they were fifteen-years-old.

"Lena!" Merlin called out. She paused, and turned around slowly.

"Yes?"

"Um…" Merlin looked nervous. "After work, um, how about I walk you home?"

Lena smiled sweetly. "I'd like that." It would be the perfect opportunity to put herself in potential danger, which, if all went well, Merlin would rescue her from, using his powers.

"Great. I'll, um, meet you in the courtyard around sunset?"

"Sounds good. See you then." Lena turned her back to him once again, making sure her hips swayed ever-so-slightly as she walked into the first room on the right side of the corridor. She glanced discreetly over her shoulder and saw Merlin's eyes glued to her. The minute he caught her gaze, he blushed fiercely and left quickly. Once she had closed the door behind her, Lena laughed.

Ivienna would be proud.


Lena had to rush the last one, but she managed to finish all five rooms by midday. She hurried to the supply closet where Gwen was waiting for her. The two women went down to the residential area, and Gwen offered to have Lena at her house for lunch.

"You know, if you hadn't told me otherwise, I would think you and Merlin were good together," Lena remarked. "You're both so kind to people you hardly know." Gwen only smiled, and Lena began to look around a little. "You have a beautiful home."

"Thank you." Lena didn't mention that, living alone, there was no way a castle maid could afford it. Clearly, the glances she'd noticed between Gwen and the prince were more significant than she'd first thought. Once she got to know Gwen a little better, Lena decided she would ask her about it. It seemed as though there was clearly something between them; they just didn't flaunt it.

Well, how could they, with the king probably breathing down the prince's neck? Lena considered.

"So I was working today, and I heard some of the conversation of a few young women. What… what happened here that caused so much damage?" Lena sighed, realizing what she was asking. "What I mean is… oh, God, I am so sorry if it feels like I am prying, and if you don't want to answer it is okay…"

"No, it's – it's fine." A dismal look came over Gwen's face. "It was only a month ago. I assume you've heard tales of the Lady Morgana?"

Lena's eyes widened. Why did she feel like she knew how this story went already?

"Um… yes," she breathed uncertainly.

"Well, she used to live here… in the castle. She was the king's ward. I was her maidservant."

Lena was too frozen with shock to speak.

"A month ago, she and her sister – half sister – Morgause declared war on the kingdom. Their army was immortal… so many people died." It was clearly hard for Gwen to talk about, but Lena wanted – no, she needed to know more. How dangerous were here new-found "bosses", and should she fear them?

"Who ended it?" Lena urged Gwen on.

"The prince," Gwen nearly whispered.

"H-how do you kill an immortal army?" Lena asked shakily, biting her lip. Gwen sighed.

"I don't know."

"Wow." It was all Lena could say. "Does... does that sort of thing happen a lot here?"

Lena wasn't comforted by the look on Gwen's face.

"More than you might think."

After that, Lena got them off the topic of the destruction of the city, and they took a little time to finish lunch before they had to go back to work. The whole time, Lena was inwardly panicking. Clearly she'd underestimated the power of her opponents. Anyone that could do what they did to the whole kingdom would not hesitate to hurt her and her family.

Lena and Gwen went back to the castle, where Gwen went to work in the kitchens. Lena was assigned to run and get water, blankets, and whatever food she could find for the refugees. Once they were strong enough, they could help with the reconstruction of the city. Lena found that, to her enjoyment, Koureena and Kayla, the twin dishwashers she'd worked with, were running the errands with her. They made the day pass a little more quickly for Lena.

At last, it was sunset. Lena checked her reflection one last time, and when she was satisfied with her appearance for Merlin, she went out to the courtyard to wait for him. He came rushing out a few minutes later, smiling when he saw her waiting.

"Sorry I'm late, how long have you been here?"

"Not long at all, it's fine," Lena assured him. She smiled softly and gestured to the path, where many of the other workers were heading for their homes. "Shall we?"

"Sure," Merlin grinned.

"I have to thank you for offering to walk home with me. It's nice to have some company," Lena said, trying to sound as innocent as possible.

"It's nothing." They were quiet for a minute.

"So, your job must be exciting…" Lena began.

"What, working for the prince? No, it's not as great as you might think," Merlin told her. "He's really just a royal pain."

"Really?" Lena had a hard time believing that. She'd passed by the throne room that afternoon, and the conversation she'd heard involving the prince had astounded her.

Arthur was having a row with his father, and even though she knew it was wrong, Lena hadn't been able to resist eavesdropping. She hid behind a pillar as she listened to the argument play out in a deserted corridor.

"I cannot believe you promised them a house in the city!" the King growled. "When we have so many people here already with no where to go!"

"Father, soon their houses will be rebuilt, and they can return home. Those from the outlying villages haven't suffered too many damages, and they'll be able to go back-"

"There are still damages to be fixed here!" In a softer voice, Uther continued, "I know you want to help them, but sometimes taking people in when you really shouldn't gets to be worse as it goes along."

"The girl's father knows a trade; one he can teach his son. We need a blacksmith. The two girls will be able to help in the castle. One already is, and she's not doing a bad job."

The fact that the prince – who, for some reason, she felt didn't like her – was defending her family had shocked Lena. And Merlin said he was a pain?

"Well…" Merlin seemed to be re-thinking his description of Arthur. "When he's asleep or eating, he's okay."

Lena laughed. "You make him sound so charming."

"You don't know the half of it," Merlin chuckled. His laugh died in his throat as he looked at Lena, and saw the setting sun behind her. The golden light shone on her hair and surrounded her whole frame, making her look almost ethereal.

Seeing Merlin's eyes on her with his gaze so focused, Lena nervously rubbed down the back of her hair, making sure none of it was sticking up some place she couldn't see. After another second or two, he stopped looking at her, and she wondered what had caught his attention.

"So, um, how's your family settling in?" Merlin asked, desperately willing the blood that rushed upwards to his face back down.

"My sister Olive's enjoying the city a lot. During lunch I saw her with some other kids her age; that's something we didn't have before. All the kids had already grown up, and they were all my age."

"What about your brother?"

Lena was surprised. She hadn't expected Merlin to remember she had a brother.

"Adam? Well, he's discovered the wonders of girls his age," Lena said, shaking her head fondly and smiling. "I saw him running around with another boy, which is good, because…" Lena stopped herself from saying anything else. Why was she telling her target all this? She had to re-gather her thoughts. "It's good because… I just think he should be around some kids his age, as well."

"What about you?" Merlin inquired. "You've told me about everyone except yourself."

"Um, well, my job is different than what I am used to, but… it has been going well. I just cannot believe what happened here a month ago," Lena said, once again trying to get a handle on his reaction. But it was hard; apparently he was better at keeping secrets than Lena had first thought.

"You heard about that?"

"Yes," Lena confirmed quietly. "I – I cannot even imagine…" She pretended to sigh sadly, ran her fingers through her hair, and turned away from the topic. She was getting the feeling she wasn't going to get any decent answers.

"Anyway," she continued, "tell me about yourself. I'm sure you've been listening to me long enough."

"Well, what do you want to know?"

Merlin's voice was laced with caution, which Lena quickly picked up on. And, of course, she knew exactly why he sounded that way. As she thought of her question, she realized they were coming up on a flight of stone steps. There wasn't really anyone around, so thinking quickly, she began to distance herself from Merlin a little. It was just enough to make sure he wouldn't be able to reach out and save her from falling that way. Then, praying she wouldn't kill herself by accident, she pretended to trip and fall at the very top of the steps.

She felt the magic Merlin used the minute it started. It grabbed her and pulled her back. Lena chanced a look over her shoulder, and saw Merlin's eyes glowing an amber color that was utterly hypnotizing.

No one saw, that much she knew. Lena was pulled back upwards, and she whipped around and stared at Merlin as soon as she didn't feel dizzy anymore. Was that was magic was going to feel like every time? If so, she wasn't sure she wanted to use it. Ever.

"What did you do?" she demanded, acting as though she had no idea.

"I… I didn't… it wasn't…"

"You used magic," she hissed.

"Please, Lena, you can't tell anyone."

Lena pretended to think it over for a minute, before sighing as though she was giving in, and giving him a look.

"Fine. But you will have some explaining to do… tomorrow," Lena told him as they approached her house.

"That's fine with me." Merlin looked relieved at the news that Lena wasn't going to turn him in. "Thanks, Lena."

She gave him a small smile. "Well, what kind of person would I be if I outed my escort?" She opened her door and stepped inside. "Good night, Merlin."

"'Night."

Lena locked the door, and fell back on it. She felt… alright. She hadn't killed herself falling, at least. And she did have a plethora of questions for Merlin.

But that, she decided, could wait until morning.