A/N So to make the Merlin storyline fit with my story here, I had to go back and just add a teeny little scene to Merlin Season 1 Episodes 5: "Lancelot."

Chapter 8: Noble Peasant Knight
The truth about Lancelot's mysterious past and parentage comes to light.

**Merlin Season 1 Episode 5: Lancelot**

Merlin perched anxiously on the bench next to Gaius, who was examining the unconscious man lying on the cot, propped up by thick pillows.

"The wound itself is superficial. The fever will pass," Gaius remarked. "He should be fine by morning."

The man, whose name was Lancelot, had fought off a griffin that almost killed Merlin earlier that day, and sustained a piercing wound in his lower abdomen. He seemed restless despite the tonic for pain Gaius had given him and his forehead was beaded in sweat. Lancelot's eyes cracked open slightly and he started trying to get up, "Wh-where am I?"

"Lie down young man. You mustn't irritate your wound," Gaius gently pushed him back down. Lancelot's eyes widened as he stared at Gaius, and grabbed the older man's arm.

"You're here, Maester…I must be in Camelot," he lay back, recognition upon his face. Merlin glanced at Gaius quizzically, who shrugged and pulled the covers over Lancelot.

"Must be the fever talking," he surmised.

Indeed, Lancelot's eyelids were now drooping again, and his mumbling trailed off, "Dreamt of coming here…since you told me…when I was a child. Knights of Camelot. My life's ambition…"

Arya laughed as Mycah screamed like a little girl, "Well don't scream like that, it'll make her more excited! She won't hurt you." But the poor butcher's boy would not be convinced that Arya's new pet wolf wasn't going to rip right into his chubby cheeks.

"Arya! That is no way for a lady to behave! Call your wolf off that boy at once," a plump elderly woman huffed angrily.

"She's not a wolf, she's a direwolf," Arya grumbled, "and she's just playing," but not wanting to test her governess's temper any further she gave a little whistle. "Come here Nymeria."

"Your mother will not be pleased to hear about this young lady. Now come inside, we need to get you washed up and begin prepping for the feast tomorrow," the stern governess intonated.

"I have to grab some herbs for the maester," Arya yelled back as she bolted from the campsite.

"You most certainly do not!" But Arya had already leapt off dirt path into the grassy fields, Nymeria coming hard at her heels. Why should she be bothered to wash up when she was just going to get dirty again anyway?

Upon reaching the banks of a river, Arya did actually see the white-haired maester gathering medicinal herbs. Noticing her, he chuckled lightly, "Oh my sweet little wild child, what trouble have you gotten into now?"

"Gaius, the other day when we passed the Neck, I counted thirty-six flowers I never saw before, would you believe it?" Arya grinned. Nymeria gave a friendly bark and wagged her tail excitedly, in sync with her master's playful energy.

"Thirty-six? That's more flowers than years in you," he gazed fondly at the little girl. Ten years ago he had found himself transported from Camelot to the middle of nowhere, a barren northern landscape, by a mysterious yellow-eyed man, who instructed him to seek out a position as maester for the Stark family, ruling house of the Kingdom of the North. [1] I've provided the appropriate forged papers, attesting to your background, medical training, and ability to provide mentorship to Lord Eddard Stark's children. With your now youthful body, you should reach Winterfell in less than a day's walk. Indeed, Gaius discovered his physical body had reverted back about ten years, though his memories still carried up to the last thing he was doing. "Where is King Uther? What have you done with him?"

"Serve the Starks well; they are a noble family led by an honorable man, unlike your foolish simpleton king Uther, though he mayn't be beyond salvation yet, we must see how it all plays out. Remember to give Arthur my message. He will appear on eighth year after the birth of Lord Stark's second daughter." And so Gaius went to serve the Lord Stark at Winterfell. Sansa, the eldest daughter was already three when Gaius arrived. Two years later Arya was born. Gaius looked after them as well as Lord Stark's three sons. There was also a bastard boy who lived at the castle, one of Lord Stark's sons from before he married the Lady Stark. They were each of them sweet children, whom Gaius had come to care for dearly.

"—didn't have any place to put them, I mean, besides my pocket, but I thought they be useful," Arya clutched in her hands a raggedy bunch of purple and yellow flowers.

"They're beautiful Arya, thank you," Gaius hugged her. The energetic, mischievous little girl held a special spot in his heart.

"This one's rue right? With the feathery leaves? [2] I've never seen these purple ones before!"

"Those are violets, my dear, they can be a helpful treatment for coughs and muscle pains. Now, do you remember what I taught you about rue?"

Arya cocked her head to the side, "Um, you said…it's helpful for making a nervous person calmer and…and for stomach troubles, or maybe-maybe for making someone throw up, if they were poisoned?"

"Hahaha, that's very correct young lady," Gaius beamed, "but I also taught you that rue can cause rashes." Arya looked down; now that he mentioned it, her arms were starting to feel intensely itchy. Dropping the flowers, she hopped over closer to the river and began rubbing mud on her arms. Chuckling, Gaius bent down to pick up the dropped herbs. Nymeria trotted over to fetch Gaius's basket and move it closer to him. Setting it down at his feet she looked at him expectantly. Ruff! Lord Stark had found five direwolves a couple weeks ago while out hunting with his sons—an unusual discovery, as direwolves so rare they were considered near-mythical. Now each of them had been assigned to one of the Stark children. Some thought the direwolves were an omen.

Currently the House Stark was travelling south on the king's orders, as Eddard Stark had been called to the capital to serve as hand of the king. Tomorrow they would meet the King's party, who had decided to ride out and meet them on the King's Road. Robert Baratheon wanted to spend some quality time with his old-friend before being tied down by the burdens of council, it seemed. "Arya don't stray too far!" Gaius strained his eyes as he spotted her outline moving further down the river banks. Nymeria suddenly started growling and bounded after the girl.

Arya turned around just in time to see Nymeria leap into the air and tackle a man. Pinning him on the ground she started snarling. "No! Off girl!" Arya ran over, hair tangled all over the place and arms dripping with mud, looking somewhat like a bog monster herself. Five more men emerged from the bushes, but she barely noticed. The man on the ground was just beginning to sit up when the force of Arya's embrace nearly sent him toppling over again.

"Brother!" she exclaimed happily, with her arms wrapped tightly around Lancelot's neck.

By this time Gaius had made it over, and his jaw dropped open. "Merlin! Prince Arthur!" Then he looked down at Lancelot.

"I made it to Camelot, Gaius, I made it to knighthood," Lancelot's voice was thick with emotion. Gaius knelt down and joined in the hug.

"Alright someone needs to explain what's going on here before Princess's head breaks," Gwaine joked. Merlin, Arthur, and Elyan were looking quite perplexed, as they viewed the scene before them.

Arya slowly loosened her grip, and Lancelot stood up, straightening his back, "I am Sir Lancelot, a knight of Camelot, a member of the most noble army the world has ever known. I am also Lancelot, bastard son of Eddard Stark, head of the House Stark and Lord Paramount of the North. I may not have my father's name, but I have his blood, and I shall live a life of duty, honor, and chivalry."

[1] The Kingdom of the North is one of the seven kingdoms of Westeros, ruled by Robert Baratheon, who resides at King's Landing (the capital).

[2] Rue (Ruta graveolens) was mentioned in Season 5 Episode 8: The Hollow Queen, when Merlin asked Daegal to fetch him herbs for a cure.

A/N Rather than stating it outright, I'd hoped my writing was clear enough to show that Gaius had met Lancelot many years ago, as a young boy in Winterfell, and convinced him to seek knighthood in Camelot. This is why Lancelot recognized Gaius in Camelot, but since Gaius at that time hadn't travelled back in time yet, he didn't recognize Lancelot. I'd really appreciate some feedback on this! Especially if it wasn't clear.