Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and rights belong to original creators.
The next morning came much more quickly than expected. The sun rose on the horizon and sent out its' warming rays on the sleeping kingdom of Camelot. The people stirred and dressed for the day, all hurrying to complete their list of chores and gather needed supplies.
Up in the lone chamber of the Royal Physician's home, Merlin was still asleep, ignoring the morning light that steeped in through the open window and cast warming beams onto her back.
For a moment, she looked completely at ease and content in the setting. Her face was smoothed of any stress and a small smile on her lips. But then her eyebrows furrowed and her smile turned into a uncomfortable grimace. She shifted closer to the edge of her bed and buried herself deeper into the blankets.
Merlyn...
Merlyn...
The raven nose's wrinkled and she groaned as the voice echoed through her skull.
Merlin, come to me!
With a sharp intake of breathe, Merlyn awoke and immediately searched the room for any intruders. When she found none, she ran a hand through her hair and slipped from bed, choosing to put the incident behind her instead of pondering on it.
Stripping from her gown, she searched through the drawers for clothes.
With the fear of traveling alone as a woman in mind she had not thought to pack any of her dresses from home. Instead she had sneaked some tunics and pants from Will. Her childhood friend hadn't been in when she stole them, though Merlin suspected that that would only make him angrier at her when she returned.
'Then again when isn't he angry at me?' She thought with a smirk.
So Merlin slipped into a pair brown pants and a blue shirt with ease. She tucked her feet into her dirty boots. Swiping the cap off the floor, she placed it on her head and tucked in her hair. Then, she exited the room.
Gaius was already awake when she entered. He was bustling around carrying vials and muttering words underneath his breathe. He didn't seem to notice Merlin until she coughed to get his attention.
"Ah, there you are," Gaius started without turning away from his work, "Breakfast is on the table. Eat up quickly and don't forget to wash. I put water in the basin since you didn't last night. After you finish, I'll send you out with your chores."
"Chores?" Merlin questioned as she started towards her seat. She looked skeptically at the watery slug she supposed was porridge. It didn't look appetizing, but Merlin had eaten worst.
"Yes, chores," Gaius replied curtly, "You didn't think you would get a free pass here, did you? You are under my care and as such you will now be acting as my apprentice."
"And that entitles what exactly?"
"Taking toxins to patients, helping with cures, making daily runs for herbs, and learning all that there is to becoming a physician, of course," Gaius said. He turned to her for the first time and stopped short with his next words. He blinked once and then again.
"My dear child, what are you wearing?!"
Merlin looked at him oddly. Gaius' face had scrunched up into a one that looked both disbelieving and outraged.
"They're called clothes," Merlin said through a spoonful of porridge.
"Those, my dear, are not clothes to wearing outside," Gaius snapped.
Merlin dropped her spoon and swallowed. She crossed her arms and said, "Well would you prefer for me to walk around naked as a babe."
"Where are your dresses?"
"It's dangerous for a woman to be traveling alone. I wasn't taking any chances. Besides, it wasn't such a big deal at home."
"Well, you will find here in Camelot that things are different," Gaius' voice turned stern as he pointed a finger at her, "Ladies such as yourself are expected to wear dresses not pants."
"Well, what am I supposed to do?" Merlin threw her hands up exasperatedly, "I only have a nightgown and shirts and pants. I didn't bring any dresses."
"Then I'll have to send you to buy some then," Gaius nodded in decision.
"Well, that'll be great," Merlin retorted sarcastically as she turned back to her bowl.
Gaius chose to ignore her, and instead, walked up to the table and casually bumped a water vase off the perch.
As he expected, Merlin noticed it from the corner of her eye and swerved her head towards it. Her eyes flashed gold and the vase and water froze in mid-air.
She and Gaius shared a wide-eyed looked of shock.
Merlin blinked and the vase fell to the floor in a puddle of soapy liquid.
"Amazing," marveled Gaius, "How'd you do it? Did you chant the incantation in your mind?"
"No," Merlin stood from her seat with her head rapidly shaking left to right, "I don't know any spells."
"Then what did you do?"
"I-It just happens," Merlin deflated into helplessness, "M-My instincts take over and it just occurs. I can't control it."
She turned and went to grab a mop from one of the walls while Gaius looked at the mess.
"Well, we better keep you out of trouble then," he said, "I need not remind you what punishment is entitled to those practicing sorcery."
Merlin nodded, feeling her stomach churn at the memory of the public execution she witnessed yesterday.
"So, your chores," Gaius grabbed two vials and held them out for the young teen to take. "Hollyhock and Feverfew for Lady Percival, and this is Sir Olwin. He's blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once."
"Right," Merlin set the mop aside and grabbed the vials. "You wouldn't mind telling me where they are, would you?"
"Just ask the first guard and/or servant you come across. It's past sunrise so undoubtedly they're already milling around."
"Okay," Merlin tucked the vials into her pockets and started for the door.
"Oh and Merlin," Gaius stopped her and clasped her shoulder, "Stay safe and out of trouble. Return straight here once you're done."
"Alright," Merlin said with a smile. She left out the door, starting down the endless steps and stepping in the sunlight of a hopeful new day.
Merlin tried her hardest to avoid looking at execution block as she walked through the courtyard. The scene from yesterday was as vivid as ever in her mind and the mere thought of looking that way made her stomach churn.
As Gaius had predicted, servants and guards were out and about in the morning light. They bustled about with arms bulging with clothes and heads looking straight forward as they marched. One particular woman was balancing a basket of gowns on her head and a tray of breakfast on her hip.
Merlin watched as a servant boy rushed past the woman, knocking elbows with her and causing her to lose her balance.
Luckily, the woman managed to catch the tray without spilling anything at the last minute. But the gowns fell to a heap on the ground, fluttering gently in the light breeze. The woman seemed to stared at them mournfully before sighing and going to retrieve them. It was pretty obvious she was having trouble making sure the tray wouldn't tip over.
Merlin bent down to retrieve a gown of dark purple that landed near her feet. She rose and stepped forward, gathering all the gowns she could from the ground.
"Thank you," the woman breathed as Merlin helped her place the gowns into the basket once more, "Really."
"It's fine," Merlin sent the woman a smile before saying, "I couldn't exactly leave a damsel in distress."
The woman let out a light laugh. She straightened and balanced the basket on her head again.
Merlin watched her for a moment before blurting out, "I'm sorry if I'm being a bother, but can you help me?"
"Of course," the woman replied, "What is it that you need?"
"I'm new here to Camelot and I have to find Lady Percival and Sir Olwin. Can you show me the way?"
"Oh," the woman replied, "Well Lady Percival lives in the northern corridor of east wing, and Sir Olwin can be found in the housing for the knights. I would go with you, but as you can see, I'm a bit full at the moment," she looked towards the pile of fabrics in her arms.
"Thanks alright," Merlin waved her off, "You can just give me the directions."
And the woman did. She pointed out were each of them were and asked Merlin if she needed anymore help.
"No, thank you. I best be on my way."
"Good-bye then. And welcome to Camelot!"
Turns out, even with directions, Merlin still had to stop and ask two or more guards. Lady Percival was a kind woman that reminded her much of her own mother in appearance. Sir Olwin was just as blind as Gaius had said. When he opened the door, he stared right over her shoulder and welcomed her with glazed eyes. Merlin placed the medicine in his hands firmly. She turned to leave, but stopped at the last moment.
"Oh, Gaius said not to dr-" she stopped as she saw that the elder man was in the middle of drowning the vial completely, "I-I'm sure it'll be fine."
With a nervous smile, Merlin darted away into the castle corridors, hoping for a quick look around the city before returning to Gaius' side.
It was easy to get lost in the architecture of the kingdom. It was nothing like Merlin's village, and everything she saw made her stop still and stare.
Children rushed between the legs of passing adults, giggling and laughing without a care in the world. Spices and the bitter scents of fruit hovered in the air. The streets were impossibly fuller than the day before, much more stifling with voices yelling and hisses in the passing ear. Every time Merlin stopped there was a sharp shove in her sides as the people pushed past her.
Slipping through an opening at a nearby alley, she got away from the busy crowd and stepped into a wide, quiet yard where only a rare few wandered.
The yard was covered in a sea of green with archery targets and straw filled dummies placed this way and that. Stands holding gleaming swords, bows, daggers, and wooden staffs hovered just outside of the twenty yard area length of the field. Just in the middle, standing out promptly in capes of scarlet red and armor of silver, was a group of young knights.
Merlin's eyes lit up at the sight of them.
Like every child in her village, Merlin had grown up hearing tales of gallant knights and their chivalrous deeds. But she's never seen any knight up close before!
She edged closer to the group, an excited smile growing on her face. Maybe she could speak to one of them, if only for a moment!
"Put up the target," boomed the voice of one of the knights. From where she stood, Merlin could see that the knight was a handsome man who looked to be around his 20th winter. His hair looked golden in the sunlight and his build was sturdy and strong. His stance was pure confidence.
"Here sir?" Asked the servant boy he was speaking to. This male was around Merlin's age, with mousy brown hair and scrawny limbs.
"Move it out of the sun," replied the handsome knight.
The servant looked confused at his master's words. Merlin could see why. It wasn't that bright and a few gust of clouds blocked out the harsh rays of the sun. The knight should be able to see perfectly in these conditions.
"But it's not that bright," the servant pointed out.
"A bit like you then," snarked the knight. The others around him let out booming laughs. The servant flushed and lifted the target, making his way further right. "Watch this," Merlin heard the knight say to his companions.
Merlin's eyes widened as she watched the knight draw a dagger from his side and throw it towards the target the servant had yet to put down. It hit the inner rim with a solid 'thunk'.
The servant started. He looked at the knight and squeaked out, "Hold on, I haven't put it down yet!"
The knight waved him off. "Keep going!" He barked with a grin. "Don't stop."
Merlin wasn't smiling anymore. She glowered as the knight continued to terrorize his servant, throwing daggers at the moving target and aiming low on purpose the frighten the poor boy. The others wandering around did nothing but look the other way, like this behavior was normal and in any way acceptable.
The servant boy tripped in his haste to get away. The shield went flying, rolling across the ground and stopping at Merlin's feet. The boy went to grab it again, but stopped as Merlin stomped on it.
She tried to give the serving boy a warm smile, but it came out more like a grimace. Her eyes abruptly went back to the bully, and she said coldly, "That's enough, don't you think."
The knight and his buddies looked towards her as if noticing her presence for the first time. He said, "Excuse me?"
"You've had your fun, my friend. Now it's time to grow up."
The blonde man looked startled by what she said. He looked her up and down and met her gaze before tilting his head with a raised eyebrow. "Do I know you?"
"No." Merlin replies shortly.
"But you had called me friend."
"My mistake," said Merlin thoughtfully, "I would never be friends with such an arse."
Offended, the knight sneered at her and said importantly, "Do you know who I am?"
Merlin smiles oh-so-innocently. "Of course I do. You're an arrogant prat who apparently thinks he can do whatever he wants to servants like that boy here" she gestured to the servant boy who now stood to the side watching their interaction.
At this point, the confrontation had gathered attention from the bystanders. They froze in their tracks, watching from the sidelines with baffled faces. The other knights were watching as well, their faces equally baffled. The blonde knight pointed at Merlin and demanded, "What's your name, boy."
"Merlin."
"Well, Merlin, tell me, have you ever walked on your knees?"
"No."
"Would you like to learn how?"
Merlin scoffed "Oh please, you wouldn't dare."
"And who is to say that I won't," demanded the knight sourly.
"I do." retorted Merlin.
"And I suppose you believe you could defeat me?"
"As a matter of fact, I do."
This time it was the knight who laughed, and the others around them joined in.
"Really now," the knight said through laughter. With a smirk he spread his arms wide and said, "Well then. Come on! Let's see you do it."
Merlin pursed her lips and eyed the crowd around her. Thee was no way she could attack the knight with magic. But she couldn't ignore a challenge.
Clicking her tongue, she balled up a fist and threw a punch.
The knight caught it and twisted her arm behind her back, applying enough pressure on it for Merlin to clench her teeth. Back pressed against the knight's ironmail, Merlin heard the knight hiss in her ear, "You know I could have thrown into the dungeons for that."
"Who do you think you are, the king?" Merlin spat.
"No, I'm his son, Arthur."
"Shit." Merlin cussed as her eyes went wide.
Prince Arthur tossed her to the ground carelessly, and his knights moved forward, two of them grabbing Merlyn by the arms and dragging her away.