CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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.
Q&A
Meldz – Way ahead of you on that reincarnation thing...
SorrowfulAngel – Most of your questions will either be answered shortly or in future chapters. As for recommendations, there aren't many completed HP x Merlin fics, or that have been written if I'm honest, which is why I wanted to do one to add the short list. I can only think of one off the top of my head and it's by an author named Emma Winslow, I believe it's a trilogy, so if you're to read them, be sure to read them in the right order otherwise it would make no sense, though last I checked, the third instalment isn't yet complete. It's a Hermione x Arthur pairing. I'll be on the lookout for more and let you know.
Page count: 11
What was she going to do?
Hermione had no idea why the King of Camelot would wish to seek an audience with her, but when Arthur had arrived at Gaius' chambers first thing in the morning to see her awake and eating breakfast, he'd given her a dazzling smile and sat opposite her at the small table she occupied.
He'd inquired about her condition and he'd been surprised when he'd witnessed her walking, albeit with a slight limp, which was a massive improvement compared to the day before. Gaius hadn't been there, in fact, she had no idea where he was, or Merlin for that matter, so she'd discharged herself from his care and Arthur had accompanied her to the throne room, slowing his pace so she may keep up with him.
She hadn't seen her wolf since she'd woken up either but she'd known he was there the previous night. She remembered being partially awake and feeling the cold nose of her wolf pressed against her hand, so given his disappearance, she assumed he'd gone for a wander of the castle grounds or he was maybe hunting a rabbit or two.
"You shouldn't be nervous," Arthur commented after noticing how she was fiddling with her fingers as a distraction.
"For a reason, I'm unaware of, your father, the King, wishes to speak with me. Not only am I not prepared for anything he may wish to discuss but I'm not presentable enough to stand before a King," she responded, bringing attention to the clothing she'd been wearing for the last couple of days, of which were dirty, had blood stains and one or two tears. Her hair had been pulled back from her once more and tied into a knot on top of her head, her face uncovered by her wild curls.
Arthur supposed she had a point and though he knew her clothing wouldn't distract from her beauty or personality, he realised that he should've visited with Morgana earlier that morning and asked if she'd lend Hermione a dress until more could be acquired for her.
"There is nothing for you to be worried about, Hermione. Just be yourself and be honest to anything he may ask of you and it will be over before you know it."
"That's comforting," she muttered. She knew his intentions had been to calm but he'd actually done the opposite and made things worse.
They approached large doors which reminded her very much of the great hall doors at Hogwarts and just before they came to a stop before them, Arthur's hand reached out, slipped around hers to stop her from fiddling with her fingers and he gave her a comforting squeeze and then he released her hand before anyone could see.
Hermione knew she really shouldn't encourage any behaviour that would allow him to believe she welcomed his touch, especially when she ought to be figuring out why Arthur and Gwen weren't falling for one another like they were supposed to and as she tried to nudge him in Gwen's direction, but right now, his actions did give her comfort and she was appreciative of it.
The two guards clad in their uniform tipped their heads in greeting, chorusing a "Sire" and bowing as they pulled open the doors, revealing a large room that held stone walls and high arched ceilings. Peculiarly, the floors were wooden, torches littered the walls and had yet to be lit as the huge arched windows allowed plenty of natural light to fill the room, and the Pendragon red and gold tapestries hung from the ceilings and walls.
What drew her attention were the three chairs at the end of the room, sat on a raised platform and looking out over the rest of the room. The chair in the middle was by far the largest and made with what looked to be red velvet cushioning on the backrest and seat and the throne itself looked to have been painted with a bronze-gold finishing. The second chair on the right, although slightly smaller, was still quite impressive and the third and final chair on the left was the smallest yet and looked to be more bronze than gold.
Her eyes quickly darted about the room, taking in the number of exits and how many people there were present, by her count, no more than twelve including herself. There were eight guards positioned in the room, two by the great doors, two at the back of the room behind the raised platform and two stood against the walls on either side of the room positioned in the centre. The final three bodies were Merlin who was stood behind the second-largest chair and he gave her an encouraging smile and a thumbs up that was so quick she nearly missed it, Arthur who was walking beside her and the final man sat on the largest chair, the throne. King Uther.
She could see he was handsome, even as age was beginning to show itself with wrinkles and greying-brown hair. His dark blue eyes observed her carefully and quietly as she approached, his darkly gloved hands either resting on the armrest of his throne or being positioned over his mouth as though he were thoughtful. He wore a combination of browns and reds with cashmere coloured boots, wide silver cuff bracelets and a chain hung around his neck with a large circular pendant hanging down. Fastened and clasped around his neck was the same red cape she'd seen Arthur and the Knights wearing. He was imposing and regal and despite there being similarities with his mouth and nose, Hermione thought Arthur most likely had inherited his mother's genes, with the blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
Hermione felt a gentle tug on her shirt and she stole a glance to Arthur seeing that his attention was focused forward but she'd known it had been him, there was no one else close enough to touch her, and but a few seconds later, Arthur came to a stop a short length from the thrones and she did the same, realising he'd covertly warned her so she wouldn't have kept approaching.
"Father," Arthur greeted with a tip of his head. "This is Hermione," he introduced.
Taking a breath, Hermione readjusted her stance, straightening her back tall and proud and standing with good posture, her head held high and her hands delicately clasped before her body.
If she could ride a dragon, survive a war and stand before a giant and Voldemort, she could stand before King Uther. He was far less frightening, she told herself.
"Hermione, this is my father and the King of Camelot, King Uther Pendragon."
"It is a true pleasure, Your Grace," she said with a polite, friendly smile and she gave him the best curtsey she could manage.
Rising to her full height, she caught a glimpse of Arthur trying to suppress a smile so she assumed she'd done fairly well, though it helped that Arthur had told her how King Uther preferred to be addressed before they'd arrived.
Arthur left her side and approached the platform, climbing the steps and stopping before the right and second-largest chair, a throne, too, she realised. Merlin stepped around the chair with a red cape in hand and he quickly fastened it around Arthur's neck before reaching for a gold crown that sat atop a velvet pillow and he placed it on the Prince's head.
Hermione blinked slowly for a few moments, it being the first time she'd seen Prince Arthur with a crown of his own.
Once the crown was in place, Merlin stepped back into position and Arthur took a seat on his throne, looking more regal than she'd seen him despite the fact he was comfortably lounging in the chair whilst King Uther sat tall and straight. Sending Arthur a quick glance, she realised that day he wore clothing of dark blue and black, the colours complimenting his skin tone and making his eyes stand out more than usual.
Her eyes fell back to the King, seeing the way his eyes seemed to be darting back and forth between her and Arthur, a glimmer of amusement shining through his otherwise blank expression.
"Arthur tells me that you are a physician and that you have methods of treatment he has never before seen," he said, his tone holding no emotion despite it being clear he found the thought of her, a woman, being a physician ridiculous.
She reminded herself to be as honest as possible, she'd always been a terrible liar and if she was caught in a lie now, she might be executed for it. She knew King Uther had no qualms about such a punishment.
"Yes, Your Grace. I was the physician in my village. As for my methods of treatment, I was raised surrounded by young men and they had a habit of injuring themselves and I took up the mantle of treating them the best I could. Their mother, although a lovely woman, was quite frightening and the boys did not wish for her to know how or why they had been injured, and so they would come to me. As you can imagine, I grew to be quite good at caring for the injured and I learned to experiment and create my own forms of treatment."
"And you taught children to read and write."
"I did, Your Grace. I see no reason why children should suffer due to a lack of education or resources, so I took it upon myself to educate them the best I could and their parents didn't seem to mind as I taught them, too. Now that the children are capable of such skills, I believe they will have a better chance of finding employment should they age and decide they wish to leave the village."
"That is rather generous of you, to give your time and energy to others without asking for anything in return," he commented.
"The smiles on the children's faces when they read a sentence correctly or were able to mimic the sentence I wrote, was more than anything I could have asked for, Your Grace. The children of my village were happy and that is all that mattered to me."
He made a slight humming sound and shifted in his seat, presumably to get more comfortable.
"But it is not your village, correct? Arthur informed me that you arrived at the village but a year prior, and that you hail from another Kingdom."
"Yes, I was raised in the Kingdom of Hogwarts."
This is where he sat tall in his chair, both arms and hands resting on the armrests as he kept his gaze locked with hers. This is where she knew he was waiting to catch her in a lie; she had to choose her words carefully.
"I have not heard mention of your Kingdom."
"I would be surprised if you had, Your Grace. My Kingdom is not a neighbour of Camelot, rather it is a three month's journey south to reach the border."
From what she could remember, Arthur was said to have been born in what was known in modern times as Cornwall, and with Hogwarts being in the Scottish Highlands on the other side of the UK, she would be highly surprised if he had heard of a such a Kingdom, not due to it being hidden rather due to the distance that separated them.
"I am to assume your Kingdom has a King?"
"Your Grace, that question is a little more difficult to answer. You see, unlike most Kingdoms who only have one royal family and King or Queen sitting on the throne, the Kingdom of Hogwarts has four."
"Four, you say?" He replied, sharing a surprised look with Arthur.
"Yes, I said four, Your Grace. My Kingdom is divided into four cities and each city has a ruler, but collectively they reign over Hogwarts together. If a decision should be made about one specific city then that decision lies with the corresponding ruler, but if a decision should be made regarding Hogwarts in its entirety, the decision must be made collectively and unanimously."
"That is...Usual," he responded, looking truly surprised.
"I believe to others it would seem so, but for my Kingdom, it has always been the way," she smiled. "Hogwarts was founded by four of the most powerful, intelligent and influential people that has been seen, we refer to them as the Four Founders."
King Uther's brow furrowed in thought, his lips pulling into a thin line.
"I believe that is a term I have heard before."
Hermione blinked slowly and tried to mask her surprise. How had King Uther heard of the Founders? There was no clear indication as to when Hogwarts had actually been founded, only that it was around the time of Merlin himself. For all she knew, Hogwarts may have only been open a matter of years and it could still be in its founding stage, or it could've very well been founded decades ago, there was no way of knowing unless she went in search of it and she highly doubted she'd be able to find it given how well hidden it was.
"What are the names of your royal families? What do they bear on their crests?"
"King Salazar Slytherin resides over the Slytherin territory, his crest is that of a serpent and his colours are green and silver. Queen Helga Hufflepuff resides over the Hufflepuff territory, her crest is that of a badger and her colours are yellow and black. Queen Rowena Ravenclaw resides over the Ravenclaw territory, her crest is that of an eagle and her colours are blue and bronze. And finally, King Godric Gryffindor resides over the Gryffindor territory, his crest is that of a lion and his colours, like your own, are red and gold."
Hermione wasn't sure how to feel when the King and Prince shared a quick glance before the King reached down behind his throne and pulled back with the Sword of Gryffindor in his hand. Her breath caught. How had she forgotten to ask Arthur were the items where? She'd have to be especially careful.
"This sword is unlike anything I have seen. The quality of the craftsmanship is truly a masterpiece. This is a sword for a King and I believe it is inscribed with the name of your King Godric," King Uther spoke, his gloved finger gently trailing down the blade and over the inscription, his eyes slightly narrowed and suspicious.
She chanced a glance at Arthur, surprised to see that he did not look suspicious, rather he looked hopeful, excited even. Her eyes then moved to Merlin, seeing his slightly wide-eyed expression.
How the hell was she going to get out of this one without losing her life?
"Please explain to me why you, of all people, would be in possession of a sword that belongs to a King."
Hermione took a subtle calming breath, not wanting to alert them to her sudden anxiety as it would instantly give her away.
"I was given it to protect, Your Grace."
"Why?"
Godric, what was she going to do? The only way he'd believe her was if she could successfully convince him she was a member of the royal family. Did she want to do that? If it all came crashing down around her and he found out she was lying, then he'd have her executed. But then if it didn't, he'd likely invite her to stay at the castle which would not only mean she wouldn't have to search for accommodations whilst she was in Camelot, but she'd have close access to Merlin and she could help him control his magic, but she might also be able to nudge Arthur and Gwen towards one another, too.
But what if he tried to contact Godric Gryffindor to corroborate her story and ensuring she wasn't lying? Then again, she didn't think it would be an issue. The chances of him being able to get a message to Hogwarts was about as slim as Hermione returning home.
Well, here goes nothing.
"I am a daughter of Godric Gryffindor."
It wasn't a lie, not really. Anyone who'd been sorted into Gryffindor was a child of the Founder, the portrait hanging in the common room had said so many times before. But then, she would be too young to be his daughter. Even when Hogwarts had been founded –which she still didn't know the accurate timing- the Four Founders hadn't been young. She knew Godric had a son and that he'd died young, it would be easy enough to say she was his Granddaughter, much more believable than a daughter, at least to her it would be. King Uther would never believe that a King would allow his daughter to live in a poor village.
"His daughter? You are King Godric's daughter?" King Uther asked, still eyeing her suspiciously but less so, even as he took in her clothing and appearance.
Arthur on the hand, had sat up tall in his throne, his hands resting on the armrests and his fingers flexing as he gripped tightly, his eyes as wide as Merlin's and his expression just as surprised –and happy-, too, as they darted between her and his father, a smile pulling at his face.
"No, Your Grace. I am not the daughter of King Godric, I am the Grandaughter. The sword you now hold is the sword that belonged to my father. It is a replica of my Grandfather's sword. They share a name and my Grandfather was so incredibly proud of his sword that he had another commissioned for his son."
"If what you say is true, you would be..."
"Hermione Gryffindor, the Princess of Gryffindor, yes, Your Grace."
"You are a Princess?"
"Yes, my father was Prince Godric Gryffindor," she answered. Well, she'd always been referred to as the Gryffindor Princess, she thought wryly.
"Then might I ask, why you are in possession of your father's sword, and how you came to be in a small village?"
That was easy enough, she thought. She just had to tell the truth but be cautious of the words she spoke.
"Your Grace, for that last two decades, my Kingdom has been at war with another. When I was a young child, my Grandfather sent myself, my mother and my father away for our protection, to keep me safe. My mother's pregnancy and my birth were kept hidden so no one would know of my existence, and I was raised in secret. I had a quiet, happy childhood until I didn't. Upon my eleventh birthday, my existence was made known to our enemy Kingdom and I was forced to grow far too fast for a child and I had to fight for my survival. Two years ago, my parents were killed by our enemies," she explained and it wasn't a lie, they'd been murdered by Death Eaters. "And my friends and I were forced to run and we suffered many a trial during those dark times. When news reached us of the Final Battle approaching, we all knew we had to fight for our Kingdom and so we did. We fought in the battle and we won."
"I was separated from my friends by a group of enemy Knights and they chased me from my Kingdom and home, they chased me for months until they caught up with me. I was found in the territory of Ealdor by a young man that would later become my best friend. He carried me to the village and I was tended to the best I could be given their lack of supplies. I was told I was unconscious for days until I woke and later fell unconscious again. When I woke, I realised I had nowhere to go. I wasn't sure how my Kingdom had faired after the battle, I wasn't entirely sure who had survived and who had not. I couldn't bear the thought of returning home to Hogwarts and seeing the damages and changes, and so, I stayed in Ealdor. I built a life for myself, I helped the children and the villagers. I kept them safe the best I could as repayment for the kindness they showed me."
Arthur stared at her with sad, horrified eyes, Merlin with sad, wide eyes and King Uther, his expression was blank.
"I lost my parents, the future King and Queen of Gryffindor. I know that once my Grandfather passes, I shall be expected to sit on the throne but my Grandfather has a brother who I believe the people of Gryffindor would much prefer. I am their Princess by birth, but the majority of them do not know of my existence and I know they will be more comfortable with him taking the throne and ruling over them. There are people in this world that need help and I can do so far better on the streets than I can sitting on a throne. I kept my identity a secret not only for my safety but it reminds me of what I was forced to face in my past, and those memories will forever haunt me."
"Are you capable of providing proof that supports your words?" The King asked her and Hermione bit her lip thoughtfully.
"Other than my father's sword? I have a letter that was written by my Grandfather to myself, on my eleventh birthday. In my Kingdom, the important ages of celebration are eleven and seventeen."
"May I see it?"
Oh, Merlin!
"Of course, Your Grace. If you would allow me a moment, I have always kept it close to me and I would appreciate it if your guards were to look the other way whilst I retrieve it."
His eyebrows rose high on his forehead and in other circumstances she may have well laughed at the reaction, as well as Prince Arthur's who seemed to be mimicking his father's surprise and Merlin's cheeks had flamed red.
King Uther cleared his throat and nodded to the guards, each of them turning to look at the walls behind them and Hermione nodded in thanks and then turned her back to them, sparing a quick glance to make sure no one was looking.
She slipped her hand beneath her sleeve and pulled her wand, quietly and quickly conjuring a piece of parchment and muttering an Illusion Charm that would make it appear older and to have a very specific message, signature and Gryffindor crest before she slipped her wand back up her sleeve and turned to face forward once more, an aged scroll held in her hands.
"May I approach, Your Grace?" She asked.
"You may," he replied.
Hermione, hoping to God that her charms held up long enough for him to read the scroll, be convinced that it was written by a real King and return it to her, approached slowly but as confidently as she could manage.
She climbed the steps and stopped at the one before him, holding out the scroll in offering for him to take. Once he took it from her, Hermione climbed down the stairs and returned to her previous spot, seeing that the King's eyes were held firmly on the scroll before him and both Arthur and Merlin appeared to be trying to read it, too, as they both leaned closer to the King. She almost laughed at the sight but didn't wish to bring attention to herself.
The scroll was lowered and the King's eyes sought hers. "Forgive me for my questioning of your words, Princess Hermione..." He started and Hermione held in her sigh of relief that she wasn't going to be executed or imprisoned. "But I had to be sure you are who say you are."
"I understand, Your Grace, and I take no offence. You only wish to ensure the safety of those in the castle and Camelot," she replied.
"May I ask why Arthur found you in the woods after being attacked by bandits?"
"I once promised him that I would visit Camelot, I have heard tales of the beauty of the city and wished to see it with my own eyes. I have done all that I can for Ealdor and I have spent the last two months training two apprentices to take over my duties as village physician and to prepare the village for my leaving. They no longer require my help and services and I thought it time to make good on that promise I made. It was luck that he, Merlin and the Knights found me when they did."
"And what are your plans now that you are in Camelot?"
"I'm not entirely certain, Your Grace. I have no idea how long I wish to stay, only that I would like to see the city and help as many people as I can whilst I am here. No matter how beautiful or prosperous a city may be, there will always be those that are in need of help, of food, shelter and medical care."
"You have a big heart, Princess," he commented, his suspiciousness of her seeming to fade and an almost kind look entering his eyes.
"I have seen a lot of bad things over the years and I have suffered. I wish to prevent others from suffering, too. I have the means to do so and it would be selfish of me if I were to turn a blind eye to such suffering when I can help."
"For your safety and comfort, I insist that you remain at the castle for however long you plan to remain in Camelot. You will be given a bedchamber of your own, a handmaiden to attend to your needs and you shall dine with my family."
"Thank you, Your Grace, that is incredibly gracious of you," she responded, curtseying and then clasping her hands together in front of her body.
"Arthur tells me that your belongings and clothing were taken and destroyed by the bandits, is that correct?"
"Yes, Your Grace. I understand that you have laws preventing the practice of magic in Camelot." She saw him stiffen and his hands gripped the armrest of his throne tightly. "I only mention this because it is the opposite in my Kingdom. Magic is celebrated, only those that practice dark magic and those with the intentions of using such magic to cause harm are punished. On my eleventh birthday, I was gifted a bag by my father which he bought from a young sorceress. This bag allows me to carry and safely hide away any items of importance or value. When the bandits stole my belongings, they only stole my bags which contained food and clothing. My valuables were safely hidden away."
Both Merlin and Arthur eyed her curiously whilst King Uther looked torn between being curious and demanding she dispose of such an item.
"Do you require clothing?" He finally asked.
"Yes, Your Grace, but I believe I shall find somewhere in the city I am able to buy such items."
"There is no need, I will ensure the royal seamstress visits your chambers and has more appropriate clothing made for a Princess," he replied, deliberately looking over her clothing in displeasure.
"Your Grace, if I might ask, do you have a pillowcase, too?"
He raised an eyebrow but reached behind his throne once more and the tied pillowcase dangled from his fingers.
"I have not opened it despite my curiosity. If I may, what is inside?"
Hermione took a breath and gestured in question of approaching and he gave permission. She climbed the steps and took the pillowcase from him, once more holding it with the tips of her fingers before she returned to her spot, untied the rope and tipped the contents of the pillowcase onto the ground, the items clattering against the floor.
The King, Prince and Sorcerer all leaned forward slightly to get a better look at the golden chalice, silver and emerald locket and the silver and sapphire diadem. They were each disfigured and covered in a black paint-like substance.
As she stared down at them, memories of her time being a fugitive flashed through her mind. She remembered the fear, the suffering, the hunger, the arguments, the nightmares and sleepless nights. She didn't know why she'd kept them, maybe to stop them from falling into the wrong hands until they could be properly disposed of, maybe it was to remind her of the past, maybe it was because despite what had been done to them, they were still important pieces of history.
"Princess Hermione..."
Her hand snapped up, spying Merlin's worried frown, Arthur's concerned face and King Uther looking at her expectantly.
"I am sorry, Your Grace, these items hold bad memories for me and I'm afraid my mind was suddenly flooded with them," she gave her head a light shake and sighed. "The Four Founders of Hogwarts each had an item that belonged to them, something they were known for having, something of great importance and value. My Grandfather has his sword, King Salazar his locket, Queen Helga her chalice and Queen Rowena her diadem."
"What happened to them and why are they in your possession?"
"They were stolen and destroyed by our enemies. As I said, they were highly valued and considered incredibly important, they were kept hidden and under guard. They were stolen and destroyed not only to deal a blow to the Kings and Queens, but to show that they were capable of stealing them, of breaking through their defences and that caused panic amongst the people. I tried to prevent them from being destroyed but they were always one step ahead and I was always too late. That is why I have them. I had thought of returning them to their rightful owners, but I doubt they would wish to see their most treasured items in their current forms, and despite that, I cannot bring myself to dispose of them giving what they stood for and what they meant. I'm unsure if my Grandfather's sword faired the same but he always carried it upon him, so it is likely he still has it," she answered, reaching up to brush a fallen curl out of her face and behind her ear. "Are there any other questions you wish to ask, Your Grace?"
"No, I believe I know all I need to. Tonight we shall have a feast in your honour."
Oh God, no!
"That is not necessary, Your Grace," she replied, fiddling with her hands nervously. That meant food, dancing, poufy dresses and all eyes on her. It sounded like a nightmare.
"You are a guest of the Royal family of Camelot, a Princess. It shall be an honour to introduce you to the noble families of Camelot."
She couldn't think of anything worse.
"I shall have the seamstress sent to your chambers as well as a handmaiden. She is yours and you may do with her as you please."
"You are too kind, Your Grace," she said, tipping her head.
"Arthur?" He said.
"Yes, Father," the Prince replied, tearing his eyes away from her and to his father, speaking for the first time since he'd taken his seat on his throne.
"Have your manservant escort the Princess to her new accommodations, I believe the chambers directly above yours will suit her well."
"Yes, Father," he nodded, sending a look to Merlin over his shoulder and he nodded before stepping out from behind the throne and slowly approaching her.
"Your Grace, might I have my father's sword now?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, of course," he replied, looking a little surprised that he still had it resting in his lap.
After quickly putting the destroyed items back in the pillowcase, she approached the King and took the scroll and sword for him.
"Thank you for your kindness," she said.
"We shall see one another later this evening. I will ensure you have a suitable dress for the occasion."
"Your Grace," she curtseyed before turning and following Merlin out the room, only she stopped when her name was called. "Yes?" She questioned, turning to face the King and Prince.
"Last night, Arthur issued a warning regarding a wolf," it was a statement, not a question but she still understood what he was trying to convey.
"Yes, the wolf's name is Akela. He is rather protective of me and should he believe me to be in danger or under attack, he will protect me. As long as no one approaches him or does anything he perceives as threatening, he is harmless. He is able to feed himself, he is house trained and he only leaves my side when he is hunting, which is what I believe he is doing now. He shan't hurt anyone unless he believes I am being threatened."
"I shall inform those working in the castle," he nodded.
She curtseyed once more before turning and leaving out the room, the sword, scroll and pillowcase in hand as she followed after Merlin.
