I race through the castle, as fast as I can. I turn a corner, and literally run right into Merlin. We both fall. I land on top of him, and I start laughing. "Sorry Merlin, but I wanted to make sure you were alright. You were very upset during dinner," I tell him.
I cannot move. She is on top of me, and I'm afraid that if I so much as breathe she'll jump away. Why is she apologizing? She pushes her small hands against my chest, so she can look at my face. I know that it is bright red, but she is still smiling at me. I feel my lips smile back at her, but I am still very aware that she is straddling my hips.
"Yeah, I'm alright I was just a little angry at the way the prince was touching you," I tell her.
"What's the matter don't think I can take care of myself?" she asks.
"I know you can. I kind of wished you would have smacked him or something," I tell her.
Suddenly her face turns red, and she looks around. Looks like she finally noticed the position she is in. "I am so sorry Merlin. I should have noticed sooner," she says quickly before getting up. I get this silly urge to pull her back, but I refrain from doing that. I sit up, and face her as she is sitting across from me.
"I am glad you were worried for me though," I tell her quietly. She blushes a bit more, before standing up.
"Well we should get back. Gaius will be worried, and it's getting pretty cold out," she says, as she offers me a hand up. I take it, and we walk back to Gaius's room. "Oh Merlin, did you know who that witch was in the forest?" she asks me.
"Yeah we used to be friends, but she is bent on using her magic to get the thrown from Uther. He might have looked lively, but he is gravely ill. It was a show he put on for you, and Arthur," I explain.
"So that explains the smell," she mumbles.
"Yes, since Morgana left he has been declining very fast. There is nothing Gaius can do to help him," I tell her. She looks a little sad. I lightly touch her arm, and she looks up at me. "Don't feel bad," I tell her.
"It just means that Albion is closer than ever," she says proudly.
"Where did you hear that?" I ask her.
"Emrys, I have heard many prophecies and legends about you and the once and future king," she says simply, before looking away.
"And?" I ask her.
"What?" I ask him back. I can see his slightly frustrated face out of the corner of my eye.
"Am I what you expected from the legends and prophecies?" he asks me.
I face him fully, and study him from head to toe. I walk around him in circles, and tut the entire time. I stop in front of him again, and shake my head. "I'm sorry Merlin, but you are nothing like what I imagined," I tell him. He looks sad. I step up close, so I can whisper to him. "You are so much more than I ever thought the great Emrys would be," I whisper, before taking off down the hallway. I can hear him chasing me, but I make it into the room safely. Gaius would never let Merlin into the room at night with me.
I stare at the door that leads to my room. I glance momentarily at Gaius who is looking at me curiously. I shrug and head to my temporary cot.
I stare at the sleeping form of Gawain, and frown. He's hurt, so I can't just kick him out. I peek out from the door, and see that Merlin is curled up on his cot. Gaius is awake, and working on a healing potion. I can smell the ingredients. I pad over to the table, and sit down opposite him.
"What was the hurry?" he asks me quietly.
"I said something really embarrassing. I was hoping to not deal with it tonight," I tell him. I watch him for a few more minutes. "You shouldn't add that yet," I comment simply. He raises an eyebrow at me.
"Why should I wait?" he asks.
"If you wait a few more minutes to add the yarrow, then the potion will be a tad more effective," I explain.
"How do you know all this?" he asks me curiously.
"In my pack we use the herbs around us. We are taught at an early age all the different potions for healing. Also in a shifter pack, knowledge is passed down through the generations mentally. It can be implanted the moment we are born. That is usually how it is done, that way it is less time the adults have to spend teaching us," I explain to him.
"Why would they not want to teach you?" he asks me.
"It takes time away from crops, and hunting, and other important pack things," I tell him.
"What other important pack things do they do?" He asks.
I glance over at Merlin for a moment, before looking back at Gaius. "Well once a shifter hits puberty, they tend to be a lot like bunnies," I say simply. I know my face is red, but it is an embarrassing topic.
"I see," is all he says. "Have you reached puberty yet, Raven?" he asks me. I feel my face start to really burn.
"No, I still have a year, before I will be able to pick a mate. I was honestly hoping to avoid bonding with a wizard. It makes mating a very hard thing to do," I tell him with a sigh.
"Why is that?" he asks.
"Because, where would I find time to mate with another shifter while I'm protecting Merlin? I certainly cannot mate with him standing a few feet away. Besides from what I saw a bonded shifter stops being able to reproduce," I explain with a sad sigh.
"Do you regret bonding with Merlin?" he asks me.
"No, but I do regret not being able to raise my own child. I had always wanted one, but I was too young before the great purge," I explain.
"I am sorry to hear that," Gaius says.
"It's alright. I have Merlin," I tell him.
"Are you only able to reproduce with another shifter?" he asks.
"I was never told if I was able to reproduce with other beings. I know it was frowned upon to be intimate with anyone other than a shifter," I tell him.
"I will set up another cot for you," Gaius says, before standing up.
"Thank you for talking to me," I say quietly.