CHAPTER FOUR


Summary: Finding herself one thousand years back in the past and in the legendary Kingdom of Camelot was something Hermione had never seen coming. But with no possible way back to the future and being stuck in the past, Hermione had no option but to form a new life for herself, and hopefully without changing the timeline. Unfortunately, matters of the heart cannot be controlled and she finds herself entwined in the lives of Prince Arthur and the great and powerful sorcerer, Merlin. Hermione x Arthur pairing.

Disclaimer: I do not own canon events and characters, they belong to J.K Rowling and the creators of Merlin, and the BBC. I am not making a profit from writing and posting this fanfic. I'm also making some big changes to the Merlin plotline so don't be surprised that nothing matches with canon. If I'm being honest, it's been years since I last saw the series, so I'm mostly going off what I remember and episode reviews and notes. And I've decided Arthur won't be dying.


Page count: 7


Hermione couldn't help herself; she'd always been nosy, a trait she'd gotten from her mother who was always one to sneak a peek out the window or door whenever there was an argument or drunken fight on the street.

As such, she couldn't stop herself from knocking on the baker's door and pushing it open, stepping inside before she'd been given permission to do so. She raised an eyebrow to the sight of William arguing with another man as they stood opposite each other with a table in-between them.

From her position leaning against the door frame, her arms folded over her chest, she took in the features of the second man. He had dark hair, a shade between brown and black and skin that wasn't quite pale but not quite tanned either. He stood tall, towering over William and she thought that he was actually taller than Prince Arthur, too. From her positioning, she could make out his dark blue eyes and she noticed that his ears were a little too big for his head. There was something about him, she thought. He wasn't handsome like Prince Arthur, more...Goofy, but in a cute, adorable way, much like Neville had been even before he came into himself and grew more confident. Remembering him on the battlefield, one thing was certain, puberty had been kind to the clumsy wizard.

She realised the arguing had stopped and she shook her head, looking back to the two men. William looked to be angry with the man but amused at her presence and current lounging position of leaning against the door frame, whilst the man, he was staring at her with slightly wide and curious eyes.

"I didn't barge in," she said, holding her hands up in surrender and then crossing her arms once more. "I knocked, but given the noise coming from inside here, I'm not surprised you didn't hear me. Are you trying to wake the dead?"

William's mouth twitched. "Only if it's your Grandmother."

"Hmmm, best not, as much as I loved her, she was terrifying," she shivered and he snorted at her. "Well, I was heading to see Elisa, I promised another reading lesson and it's best I keep the children distracted for the time being. But you know me, I can't help myself when there's arguing."

"You are rather nosy," he nodded in agreement.

"Blame my mother," she responded, her eyes darting to the second man who looked both amused and confused by their conversation.

William, seeing their gazes being locked, found himself raising a curious eyebrow as his eyes darted between the two.

"Hermione, this is my friend, Merlin..."

Hermione froze. If Prince Arthur was here then...He was the Merlin. God give her the strength to get through the day without passing out. She was stood in the same room as the most powerful sorcerer to have ever existed. She couldn't believe it. How much more could her heart take before she keeled over and died?

Looking at him, Hermione realised that he was quite young, probably around her age. Merlin hadn't had the time to expand and learn, which meant even if she had considered going to him for help and she'd been able to find him, she was sure he'd have no idea how to help her. She'd given up the hope of going home a long time ago.

"...Hunith's son. Merlin, this is Hermione..."

Hermione shook her head, Godric, as if, Hunith's Merlin was the Merlin. She felt like fainting but thought better of it, not wanting to frighten William anymore than she already had that day.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Merlin," Hermione smiled, truly meaning her words, after all, how many witches could say they'd met Merlin? "Both William and your mother have spoken of you fondly."

He blinked in surprise. "You know my mother?"

"Yes, she's a lovely woman. She showed me kindness and offered help when I had nothing to give in return. But now she sometimes helps me with my duties."

"She's the village's physician," William piped up, looking to Merlin amused when a look of surprise crossed his face. "She's quite brilliant, too. She teaches the children to read and write."

"I only do what I can to help them and give them happier lives," Hermione interrupted.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember you..." Merlin trailed off.

Hermione smiled. "I don't believe you would. I arrived in Ealdor after you left; I have been here a year now. Now, if you don't mind my asking, what are you arguing about?"

William's face darkened and he glared at Merlin. Hermione sighed, knowing instantly.

"William, please be kind and try not to fight and argue. I believe the Prince is here to help the village. I have spoken with him and I can see he has a kind heart."

"Hermione..."

"You know I'm an excellent judge of character," she interrupted his tirade before it could begin. "I truly believe he is what this village needs. If it weren't for him, Kanan would still be here and I would be dead."

"You should've stayed out of it."

"You know that is something I cannot do, William," she said softly. "Elisa was almost trampled by a rider and their horse, and Tobyn was threatened and held hostage. I don't regret my actions and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I understand how hard this is for you, but I need you to put that aside. This is not about you but the village and the children. We need to do what is best to ensure their safety."

"He just made Kanan angry, he'll be back to kill us all," William argued.

"I've known men like Kanan and they don't stop hurting others unless they are forcibly stopped. Kanan would've continued to terrorise Ealdor regardless of what transpired this day. It is time we stopped cowering and fought back."

"We'll die!"

"Perhaps, but I would rather die fighting for what I believe in, than die a coward," she responded.

Her eyes blazed in a way that reminded him that she'd been through a war and tragedy, she'd faced this before and wasn't afraid. William wondered if she ever feared anything.

"Don't fight with the Prince, William. We need him and such fighting will only cause distraction and we don't have much time as it is. We all need to put our differences aside and work together for the survival of the village. Now, if you'll excuse me, I best be heading off to Elisa, I wouldn't want the little one searching the village for me and getting lost. Just remember what I said before you make a decision. It was a pleasure meeting you Merlin," she smiled at the sorcerer before turning and leaving out the door, closing it behind her.

Merlin blinked slowly, staring at the place she'd once stood. "What just happened?"

William ran a hand through his hair. "She tried to knock some sense into me."

"And has she?" Merlin asked curiously.

"No, I love her, but I just...Can't."

Something inside the young sorcerer twisted painfully and he didn't know why.

"You...You love her? Are you courting?"

William looked to him, his gaze cautious. "No, we're not. And, yes, I love her. It's my fault we're not together. I knew she cared for me, more than she did the others and I cared for her, too, but I didn't believe myself good enough for her and I waited too long. Her feelings for me became that of a friend and I resigned myself to the fate. Now, I see her as a sister and friend, someone I know I can trust with my life and secrets."

Merlin nodded slowly, unable to explain the sense of relief that settled within.

"She's right about Arthur..."

And another argument ensured.

~000~000~000~

A knock on the door had Hermione moving away from her workbench, picking up a cloth and wiping her hands and crossing the room to the door. Pulling it open, she blinked when she saw that stood towering before her was Merlin.

"Merlin?" She questioned, giving her head a light shake and a smile pulling at her mouth. "How can I help you?"

"Erm...Arthur sent me here," he said, lifting his left arm up and she looked down at it, seeing the blood that had soaked through the sleeve.

"Goodness," she shook her head. "We best get you seen to, come in and hop up on the table for me, I'll be right with you," she said, gesturing to the table with a tilt of her head.

Merlin smiled as he stepped into the hut, his eyes searching his surroundings as he crossed to the table and perched on the edge of it. She was stood before him moments later, a bucket of water and some cloth being carried in her hands and she set them down on the table beside him.

"Let's take a look shall we?" She smiled, holding her hand out expectantly and he raised his injured arm, placing it in her hold.

She lowered her head and bending slightly at the waist, she brought her other hand to the sleeve, carefully seeing if the fabric was stuck to the wound. Thankfully it wasn't so she pulled his sleeve out of the way, her eyes latching onto the open wound only slightly bigger than William's had been that morning.

"It's any easy fix," she assured him, reaching for the cloth, wetting it and making a start on cleaning the wound. "How did this happen?"

"Sword," he answered.

She let out a sigh. "I expect I shall be seeing many injuries over the coming days and I'll be kept rather busy. But I would rather the people learning to defend themselves over their continued suffering."

"Arthur told me what you did."

"I'm sorry?" She questioned, briefly looking to his dark blue eyes. She could admit they were beautiful.

"You risked your life to save the children and defend the village."

"Well, when I see something that is wrong, I find it hard to stand back and allow it to happen, and as such, I find myself in some rather precarious situations."

"You've made an impression on Arthur. It's not often I see him respond to a woman the way he has you."

She blinked slowly. Oh God no! She hoped that didn't mean what she thought it did. Arthur was to someday marry Guinevere; he couldn't be falling for her. Godric! She shouldn't have been so nice to him but it wasn't in her nature to treat people badly.

"I don't believe I've done anything to receive such a response. I merely patched him up, which only seemed right as he saved my life," she replied. "If you don't mind my asking, how do you know Arthur?"

"I'm his manservant."

Hermione stilled in her movements. The great and powerful Merlin was a manservant! What was the world coming to? But she supposed, if Merlin was to be King Arthur's most trusted advisor, he'd have to start from the bottom and earn his trust, and it would allow the sorcerer to remain close to the Prince and protect him.

"And how does he treat you?"

"Arthur is..." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "Arrogant, bossy, sometimes rude..."

Hermione blinked in surprise. He was? She hadn't witnessed those qualities in him, but then she didn't spend every day watching and caring for him like Merlin did.

"But he is a good man and a good friend."

"I'm glad to hear that," she said sincerely, giving him a brief smile when he winced as she tended to the wound itself. "A man I once knew used to say, if you want to know what a man is like, look at how he treats his inferiors and not his equals. It will tell you of kindness and compassion or selfishness and cruelness."

"He's a wise man," Merlin commented.

"Yes, he was," she said, him picking up on the past tense term she'd used. "Well, wise or insane, a little of both actually," she smiled and he laughed. "But sometimes it is hard to distinguish between the two."

She set the cloth aside and knowing healing paste wouldn't work on such a wound, she left his side to retrieve the sutures, tweezers and needle and then returned to his side.

"I'm not going to lie, this is going to be rather uncomfortable," she warned him. "But the wound should heal rather quickly so long as you don't rip it open. Given the size, it shouldn't take me too long to have it patched up," she spoke as she disinfected with needle and tweezers with a splash of alcohol and she threaded the needle. "So, you let me know when you're ready and I'll begin."

"Now," he said, seeming to want to get it over with as he didn't even take a moment to brace himself.

Stepping closer to him, she brushed her hair out of her face and bent over the wound, making a start on the stitches. He hissed as she threaded the first suture and then clamped his mouth shut.

She realised that being so close to him, she could feel the magical power radiating off him. His magic, it was almost as if it was reaching out to hers, brushing against her softly like a summer's breeze. It was comforting, she admitted. Looking to him, he gave no reaction that he felt the same. She could usually tell when she was surrounded by magical folk or muggles, so why couldn't Merlin feel she was a witch? Surely he'd say something if he knew.

"How is William?" She asked, wishing to distract him.

"Angry," he answered.

"I'm not surprised," she nodded. "I understand his dislike for royalty given the circumstances, I only wish he could see that this is what is best for the village. My defending Arthur may affect our friendship but I only did what I thought was right. I know he will calm down eventually and we shall deal with things once that happens."

"How did you become friends?" Merlin asked curiously.

"He found me," she answered and feeling his eyes on her, she looked to him. "I was injured in the woods and he found me and carried me to the village. Your mother healed me the best she could and once I woke I had nowhere to go, so I stayed, and here we are a year later. William was my first friend."

"What happened to you?"

"My Kingdom was in times of war and I was forced to leave. Our enemies chased me through kingdoms and realms until they caught up with me," she answered, her voice sad but calm.

Merlin's insides twisted painfully at the thought of her being harmed. He didn't know why, he'd only met her, but she felt familiar to him somehow. He watched her face as she focused on his arm, her pretty features relaxed and with him being so close to her he could count the freckles on her little nose. She was beautiful, it was the first thought that had come to mind when he'd noticed her standing in Will's doorway, lounging against the door frame lazily and watching them amused. He'd known she'd been in a world of her own as she seemed to snap back to attention when the arguing had stopped.

He watched as she worked carefully but efficiently, threading the needle through his skin and the wound being pulled closed in such a way he'd never seen before. At least, he'd never seen Gaius use such a method of treatment and he made a mental note to bring it to the attention of the older man, knowing he would appreciate it. It was certainly less gruesome and painful than cauterising the wound.

He could see why Will had fallen for her, why Arthur was so taken with her...Well, maybe not taken but most certainly interested. When he'd been helping the Prince to gather the villagers and make a start on training, he'd seen the Prince watching the pretty young woman when she crossed the field and headed into a hut with a large steaming pot in her hands. He'd seen the way his eyes would flicker between the hut and the villagers, waiting for her to exit and move to another hut. She'd visited ten and Arthur had watched her each time.

Though Arthur did appreciate the beauty in women, Merlin knew first hand that Arthur wanted a woman that had more to her than her appearance. In the time Merlin had been at Camelot and Arthur's manservant, he'd born witness to the number of noblewomen and Princesses that had travelled far and wide with the wish of marrying Arthur. No matter of their beauty or the alliances it would bring Camelot, Arthur had taken one look at them and told King Uther he would not marry them.

Merlin could understand Arthur's predicament. He wasn't just in need of a wife, but a Queen. He wanted a woman he could trust, a woman he knew would care for Camelot and its people with the same intensity he did.

From the little information he'd gathered on Hermione from Arthur, Will and some of the villagers, he'd come to understand that Arthur was looking for someone like Hermione. Not only beautiful, but kind, caring and intelligent. She had risked her life to save the children of the village, she was both a physician and an educator and no one in the village had a bad word to say against her, they showered her with praises. But unfortunately for Arthur, his father, King Uther, would never allow him to marry someone of Hermione's status, no matter how kind and intelligent she was and no matter how much Arthur would wish it so.

But there was something about the pretty young woman. He wasn't sure what and he couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he knew he'd be seeing her again once they left Ealdor. He had a feeling that like himself and Arthur, Hermione had a destiny of her own and if it brought her to Camelot, he wouldn't complain and he was sure Arthur wouldn't either.

"All done," she interrupted his musings and stepped back from him.

He looked down at his arm, surprised to see the only sign of the injury was a neat column of stitching, similar to what would be seen on clothing. He ran his fingers over it, feeling the raised skin and it stung a little but it was nothing he couldn't handle.

"That's incredible," he commented.

"Thank you," she replied. "It took me a while to perfect it but it is very useful, especially with the children when they injure themselves. They'd much prefer this method than cauterisation. Just be sure to be careful and try to keep the area dry for forty-eight hours. With a wound such as yours, the stitching should be removed in five days. Seeing as you may not be here that long, I will explain how to do it before you leave. Okay?"

"Understood," he nodded, smiling at her.

"Excellent, now, you're free to leave. Do be careful, I'd hate to make a habit out of this."

Chuckling, he stood from the table and exited out the door, stopping to glance back over his shoulder and seeing her humming to herself as she cleaned the table and then moved over to a workbench, crushing and adding ingredients into a pot with such practised ease, she made Gaius look like a novice.