"There is an uncertain presence of a new entity in this realm."
The warlock groggily stared at Kilgharrah, rubbing his eyes to resist the strain that was pulling them closed. "Is this something I really needed to wake up in the middle of the night for?" Merlin scratched the nape of his neck from his itchy nightwear, still with disheveled hair and loosely fitted boots.
"Do you, young warlock, want to still seek my advice when this entity disrupts yours and Arthur's life?" The dragon narrowed its eyes, clearly feeling his words being undermined. Kilgharrah, now agitated and angry, shifted on the large rock, stretching his wings from the his enclosure.
Merlin let out a breath which was then shortened to a loud grunt of annoyance. He pitched the bridge of his nose and transitioned to running over his dark eyebags. "Let me guess," Merlin begins. "This thing wants to kill Uther? Kill Arthur? Kill me? Or somehow wants to kill you?"
The dragon remained silent with these names causing Merlin to raised his eyebrows. "Don't tell me you called me here, darkest of the night, not knowing what it wants or even what exactly it is?"
"I know not what 'it' is, but I know enough that this is not a presence that should be trusted."
"Well can this 'thing' kill Arthur before his three hour training tomorrow?" Merlin yawned, clearly not fazed with this development, the warlock finds sleep to be of the essence. An assassination is a tomorrow problem, for future Merlin. "Then I would consider it a favor."
"Do not get gloatful young warlock, you may have saved the prince's life twice, but many have fallen victim to a swollen head." Kilgharrah lowered his neck for Merlin to get a better eye view to see his scrutinizing expression.
Merlin rolled his eyes at Kilgharrah's suggestion. If there was anyone that has fallen victim to the "illness" of a swollen head it would be prince Arthur. That prat wouldn't know humbleness if it slapped him in the face.
"Okay, I get it…but what do you suggest? I'll keep my eyes peeled…however, your lack of clarity makes my task rather difficult." Merlin lifted the torch with his gestures.
"Whoever they are would have something to gain with a connection to the throne. Any new visitors or suspicious onlookers…you need to properly read them and gauge them of their hidden intentions. They won't outright tell you."
Merlin rubbed his hand against his tired eyes again, before the dragon spoke once more.
"Don't even think of revealing your powers in hopes of intimidation to this person. Come back to me with your findings."
Merlin simply nodded, wanting this skull session over, but also noting how this 'entity' was now called a 'person'.
"I can't promise anything, considering I have nothing to go by, but I'll be on the weary end of things."
When Merlin would walk away from his winged friend's 'advice' he would expect his new confrontation to have the caliber of a power sorcerer, a magical fea, or perhaps a prideful but revengeful knight. What Merlin didn't expect to face was an injured girl who seemed more confused than anyone of her situation, an interesting fear of nobles, and solutions to the most unexpected problems.
Taryan
The shock of the cold water made Taryan jerk her head forward only to find herself still submerged. Bubbles escaped her breath and she saw a light piercing through the water surface. In a panic, she swam upwards breaking the water surface and breathed air in her burning lungs.
"Well that definitely made me sober," Taryan said between breaths of coughing water. "Thanks for the help Fay."
Fear crept into her when she heard no response.
"Fay?" She quietly spoke and swirled around in the water to look around at the new surroundings. "Oh I am definitely not sober."
It was now pure darkest around Taryan, the previous light posts that illuminated the sidewalk were nowhere to be found leading to a thick blanket of black around her. She reached her arms forward to push through the water, ripples arriving at her chin. Reaching the lake bed on a slippery slope, Taryan drunkenly attempted to get to her feet, boots sinking a few times and getting stuck in the hungry mud. She visibly cringed reaching up the grassy patch, feeling everything wet against her body, her squishy socks taking the top tier of uncomfortableness.
Taryan leaned back on a nearby tree truck in the grass match she slumped to, slapping at the thirsty mosquitos craving any open skin which was easy with her legs exposed. Unzipping her boots, she tilted them upside down, hearing the splattering of water from nearby leaves. Taryan then tucked her legs underneath herself to be less exposed to the flying pests that were likely drawn and created from the muddy pond.
"I knew that lost shot was a mistake." She rubbed her head, somewhat grinning at self humor before she slapped a mosquito against her cheek. Nothing was funny now, not a single thing.
Taryan ran a finger along her temples as awareness of her situation started to kick in.
I am wet, lost, and drunk. A combination for disaster. She thought.
She leaned her head against the rough and shagged tree bark.
This doesn't look like the lake outside the pub at all…I swear I was submerged for mere seconds before resurfacing. Did I somehow hit my head?
Seriousness of her environment started to engulf her.
If that's the case…I'm lucky to be alive?
She looked around before realizing her own stupidity. She had the same luck as a newly blind person to navigate her surroundings. She irritatedly slumped back down against the trees, stretching the fabric over her cold knees.
I will just have to wait till it gets lighter to know exactly where I am…as by the looks of…or sounds of it…I am not familiar with this place at all…
She finally closed her eyes (like it made much of a difference) and confided to her fate of the night and fell asleep to frogs croaking and crickets making their presence audibly known.
…..
"Declare yourself!" The angry voice of a man awoke Taryan causing her to jolt, startled. Taryan frantically turned to the voice facing the early morning sun with puzzled questions immediately surfacing in her mind.
It was what Taryan was assuming, a family of four. This included a father, a mother, and two small boys. The parents were shielding them in a protective manner. Taryan then realized they all looked fearful of her.
"Ah I'm sorry," She leaned up, using the tree she slept next to as leverage to help her up. When she got sturdy on her feet then faced them, giving a shy smile. "It seems I have lost my way. I'm sorry if I happen to step on your property, I swear I mean no harm," She spoke while slipping on her boots that were still damp from her unconventional and unexplainable midnight water dip. "Would you mind pointing me back where I can find the pub? It was near the intersection crosswalk… of…well," Taryan's words dwindled when she noticed the unwelcoming father tightened his grasp on a sharp wooden spear.
After a brief pause the parents looked at each other in a terrified but also confused manner and their boys behind them held on to each other. She finally noticed their clothes. It seemed to not just be 'old fashion' but quite literally 'pre-dated' with tunics shirts tied with strings at their necks and all of them with loose brown trousers with the exception of the mother in a hem blue skirt.
"Are you guys heading to a medieval festival? It's a bit cold in the year for that though? But I mean that kinda sounds fun, I don't judge. Well now that I'm thinking about it it's really not cold at all right now…. really what is going on with me…haha." Taryan laughed bitterly, desperate for a pleasant reply back but received even harsher confused stares.
"We know your kind evil witch," The mother spat out. "Go back to wherever you came from witch or drown yourself in the lake for all I care. God knows we need less of your kind."
Taryan let out a huffed gasp. "Look I'm going to be real with you," She gestured her hands between them in the least threatening way possible. "I'm sorry if I trespassed but I'm honestly just looking to find my way home," Taryan glanced at the spear again "And in my defense I am weaponless while that looks like it can kill me." She nodded at the spear.
The father only lowered his spear slightly, not nearly enough for comfort but Taryan was scared to press more. She kept a side eye on them as she slowly crept into the forestry area beside the lake and heard one of the small boys crying. She continued walking, but overheard.
"Don't worry she is leaving now, she won't hurt us." the mother cooed.
""She…she…just..," the child breathed sharply between words "Looks… so scary…why is she…covered in blood?"
Taryan then looked down at her own clothes and nearly collapsed in shock. The young boy wasn't lying. Bright red was stained all around her chest line and there were clear stains that showed it dripped down all the way to the front of the dress causing splatter spots to appear. She moved her hair to investigate some unknown wound when the culprit was immediately found. She gripped the red hair, instantly connecting the dots.
"I knew that damn stylist was cheap. I should have just done it at home like I usually do." She brought her hair all to one side, but soon gave up trying to tie it up as the damage was long gone to her dress. As Taryan mourned her now ruined outfit, the father's shouting could be heard.
"You best understand that you are to never come back! And if you don't heed our words I promise you, I will not hesitate!"
Taryan never turned around but imagined the father swinging around his spear in stabbing motions. She waved her hand, still not facing them.
"Yes yes, now I will be taking my leave now. No thanks in the form of help with directions from you people is needed." She threw their clear apparent lack of help at them.
"Where you're heading towards is a good place for you! Camelot knows what to do with witches like yourself!" The woman yelled back.
Taryan did pause at these words before a small laugh came over her. "Camelot? ahuh…I'll hand it to you guys…you stick to your parts well. Do you cabin dwellers also know that off the coast of Camelot lies the fallen city of Atlantis." She reached the forest and started swatting at sharp branches and walking to get away from the dreaded lake and psycho family. A pointy stick scraped her cheek, blood curved around her jaw, a heavy drop fell straight on her dress.
She thinned her lips in replace of a frustrated screech.
Great, and just when I thought things couldn't get worse. My dress is ruined, my head is pounding, and I have the appearance that makes children weep. And seriously why Camelot? From the Arthurian legends? If they truly wanted to prank me then they should have mentioned a kingdom that was actually real? Wait, was Camelot real?
After multiple bug slapping and mud pools filled with soggy leaves, Taryan finally made her way to a clearing of a dirt road. She looked back and forth, half relieved that the medieval dress up family didn't follow her, but also half-scared that this road didn't look familiar.
"Why are there no tire tracks from cars? It seems like an abandoned road?". She then noticed horse footprints embedded in the mud. Tilting her head she looked at the very long road ahead and signed. Her cheek let out a single drop of blood that perfectly landed on the knee of her white dress in mid stride, matching well with the hair dye stains.
I really don't know where I am…and just a moment ago I was drunk crying to Fay about a stupid coworker. I can still picture me acting out that dumb scene between me and my boss then lossing my footing. I remember seeing Fay's hand trying to reach out which proved fruitless as I clearly landed in the water. I was actually looking forward to the laugh we were going to have when I would emerge…this is definitely not how I imagined it.
Rays of light broke through the trees blinding Taryan every couple seconds. She brought her hand up to shield the sunlight from her eyes and two squirrels came dashing out on the mud road. They chased each other before stopping to sniff each other's noses then continued running and went out of view.
Taryan looked at them in wonder.
Is this a dream? It's super realistic if it is. What if I try something…
She abruptly stopped walking and squeezed her eyelids shut and balled her fists to her sides as she willed herself to fly, holding her breath. She felt a wash of embarrassment come over and and grudgingly walked forward.
Okay not a dream…hmmm…ha…don't tell me I'm still at the bottom of that lake or something…and this is some type of…weird purgatory or…is actually…
She pulled her red dye stained hands down her face, stretching skin around eyes.
Jumping to conclusions is the last thing I need right now.
….
"I am certainly in hell cause only Lucifer himself could think of something as horrendous, cruel, and down right a pain in the ass as this!"
Taryan's patience thinned and now fear was replaced with annoyance and exhaustion. Her hair was no longer moist thanks to the hot air, but her clothes still stuck to her body with an uncomfortable clingy warmth.
I have no way of contact either…my phone was in my jacket which I was holding when I fell in the lake. So it is either ruined at the bottom of the lake I emerged from or gods nowhere. If there is a gas station at the end of this road there better be a payphone…on second thought…I have no money.
Taryan thoughts broke when heard faint horse tracks. She paused and soon realized they were growing louder meaning whoever they are is on this path and coming toward her. She went into a mental mindgame to hide or to flail her arms in distress for help. Taryan chose the first option and quickly swung behind a tree off the path. The horses slowly trotted and she was able to make out the voices of women.
"My lady, we diverted a bit from our course. It would be best to think about returning soon," one of the ladies spoke.
"Oh come on Gwen, our lovely king can certainly wait. God knows he needs to learn some patience and unpredictability on our part." the other girl spoke nonchalantly.
Taryan felt thankness in feeling they were safe and stepped forward breaking a fallen branch on the ground. The horses moved backward in response, alarming the women.
"Who goes there!"
She stepped towards the path and heard gasps. In truth, Taryan forgot about her appearance so in her mind it was likely a reasonable reaction. One of the women immediately departed from their horses and ran towards her. It was then Taryan felt them being recognizable.
What is familiar about them? I…I can't exactly place it.
The women with black locks braided back gripped Taryan's side and steadied her stance, gripping her arm.
"You poor thing… you can barely walk, Gwen get some water in my satchel."
Taryan looked at the striking women, still feeling confused on where she recognized her from, it was beginning to eat at her along with the women beside her, who apparently was named Gwen which further her agony of recognition.
"Morgana, this is all we have." Gwen handed the small water pouch to the women, with the new added name, all the pieces started to click in Taryan's mind.
Morgana…Gwen…the way they look…it seems oddly familiar…or exactly how that book series described…have I officially gone mad?
Morgana, but kept her eyes on Taryan surveying her appearance before she gave the satchel of water. Taryan held it and tried to open it, looking it over trying to figure out how to unlatch the top. Gwen and Morgana shared glances.
"Here let me, I apologize I should have done this for you." Morgana loosen a strap near the top. When Taryan brought it to her lips she greedily gulped which is likely expected when walking in raging heat for hours.
"Gwen, prepare the horses. We have to get her to Gaius immediately." Morgana spoke promptly, taking her eyes off Taryan's and to Gwen's.
"My lady, I suggest you should think about this. If people were to catch sight of her it might cause panic." Gwen said.
"So we're just supposed to leave a blood soaked woman at the side of this path?"
"We don't know anything about her, my lady." Gwen then pulled Morgana into a whisper which Taryan could barely make out. "She might be an enchantress..look at her hair…do you know an explanation for that?" Morgana looked at Taryan worriedly after Gwen's words, making Taryan wipe the excess water from her lips in nervousness. "We have to think of our safety my lady."
Morgana undid her cloak and swiftly wrapped it around Taryan, pulling up the hood to cover her head and dyed strands.
"Miss, tell me your name, and what happened to you?" Morgana softly asked.
"I…um…"
Wait, I need to think about this. What the hell am I supposed to say? That I fell in a lake, almost got killed by a village family, I am actually not bleeding to death, and I recognize all of you from a book series that isn't real?
Taryan looked back at Morgana, black dots rising in her view ahead.
"I-I don't know…I just…I can't seem to remember." Taryan finally responded.
Morgan took her arm off of Taryan and turned to Gwen who returned a sympathetic look. Taryan started swaying, blinking her eyes to stay on her feet.
"Gwen, I know I am asking for a lot, but please help me get her to Camelot where she can be treated, I can't consciously leave a girl in this state by herself in the middle of the woods." Morgana practically pleaded.
Gwen simply nodded after her words which formed a smile on Morgana. Taryan felt her knees buckle and more blackness started creeping up in her vision. A soft ringing also slowly started in her ears.
"Should we go through the back way of Camelot? There is a secret door in the armory?" Gwen proposed.
Morgana shook her head.
"That will take too long and if we are caught it will look more suspicious. It's best to just go through the center and try to not be noticed. Uther has council and Arthur has training. Nobody should question us."
Gwen and Morgana then turned to Taryan, concern engulfing them.
"Miss? Are you alright?"
Taryan's vision now grew completely fuzzy and saw Morgana and Gwen's outline figures dart towards her as darkness enclosed her vision.
Merlin
"Not only did you wake me up late, but you also half-assed my breakfast and now I am going to be late for training," Arthur said while walking down the center stairs.
"Sire, if you woke up when I asked you to then we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Arthur stopped mid-step and looked up at Merlin. "Yes, I suppose I should be thanking you. Now that I have gotten more rest means I can get more target practice after sword training."
Merlin realized that the certain shine in Arthur's eyes after he said the word 'target' would only mean one thing. He would be the target.
Merlin let out a hefty sign as he continued down the stairs as Arthur's sword bounced at his side.
I wonder how many of Arthur's servants have been tempted to use the sword to strike him with sense… no Merlin…it would be treason.
"Well I suppose this punishment is fine. Honestly thought it would be worse,"
Arthur glanced at Merlin.
"I mean a king throwing a pillow at his servant for the inexcusable way of opening up a bright window…well…I would say a good hatchet to the neck is the only worthy punishment." Merlin smiled after finishing preparing himself for a kick to the side or snarky comment, but he felt and heard nothing he opened his mouth to question, "What? Don't tell me you-"
"Shut up Merlin." Arthur quickly commanded, but Merlin took notice that the tone of his voice was lower than his usual snaps and he also noted Arthur had stopped descending the steps and his eyes were drawn ahead. Merlin leaned close to his head while a step above him.
"I'm confused, what are we supposed to be looking at?" Merlin asked before he was rudely shoved away from Arthur grasp to remain their distance.
"Is it just me or is Gwen and Morgana trying to carry a dead body off a horse?"
Surely enough when Merlin looked forward he saw what appeared to be a lump of a body covered with a cloak being hoisted down from a horse. Gwen and Morgana took the person's arms to link them over their shoulders.
When Merlin continued his questionable stare at them Arthur suddenly grabbed his wrist to pull him down the rest of the stairs of the right side. They crouched beside a nearby wagon to hide from Morgana and Gwen and Merlin waved and gave a meek smile at the confused servants bustling to their duties.
"What are you doing? Can't we just ask them instead of creepily watching?" Merlin whispered harshly, utterly embarrassed at the idea of stalking his friends.
When Arthur didn't respond to him, Merlin followed his line of sight to see Gwen and Morgana slowly bringing the person to the left side of the square shortly off of the left side of the grand stairs.
"They are probably going to Gaius, perhaps they found someone injured after they rode out this morning?" Merlin proposed.
Arthur clicked his tongue against his teeth. "No…something doesn't make sense…why would Morgan not just go get a guard to help her? I clearly saw her wave one off and double checked to see if he stopped watching her when she helped the person down off the horse. Believe me, I know when Morgana is hiding something."
"Well I didn't see anything..." Merlin responded, hoping it would bring the end of it.
Arthur looked unsatisfied before facing Merlin and grabbing the sword clean out of his hands.
"I have to go to training, but follow them and tell me what happened and report immediately back to me." Arthur spoke while pointing his finger from Merlin back to his chest.
Merlin gave a questionable stare to Arthur, not being able to wrap his head around the need to investigate seemingly out of nowhere.
"Who will put on your armor for training?" Merlin asked.
"You're not the only servant in Camelot." Arthur responded and carried on to the training field.
Merlin gave a silent apology to the unfortunate servant taking his place and continued to Gaius's. His boots skimmed the ground to a halt when he saw a wagon of food arriving. Two male kitchen servants started unloading an arrangement of freshly caught fish, baked bread, and picked fruit. Merlin's stomach hurt in remembrance of his lack of breakfast this morning due to Arthur's rage.
Merlin rubbed his neck, weighing his options.
A big load of food like this means it's going to the palace kitchens. I can easily say I need a bit for a sick patient Gaius has. And it's not like I would be lying. If they happen to give me some extra…we'll I'm sure I can figure out something.
"Here, let me help." Merlin quickened his pace to the wagon.
….
Merlin walked through the corridors biting off grapes from a short vine while his other held a hefty piece of bread. He reached his and Gaius's chambers and using a shoulder, nudged the door open only to find it didn't budge.
"Who's out there?"
Merlin heard Morgana's nervous voice.
"Ah…it's just me." Merlin responded with slight hesitation as questions started bubbling in his head.
What exactly are they doing to warrant the door to be locked?
The door finally opened after multiple scuffling sounds, revealing Gwen who looked side to side in the hallway. "What is going on?" Merlin asked before Gwen pulled him in.
"Tell me Arthur isn't behind you?" Morgana asked.
"No, but he was curious about…I…is she okay?!" Merlin pointed to the table that was completely cleared and held a blood-soaked woman.
"Oh Merlin, it's good that you're here." Gaius spoke but never looked up to Merlin entering and instead, steadied his small glasses seemingly inspecting the girls hair.
Merlin approached the table, setting down the grape vine and bread in passing. When he looked at the unknown girl to address a wound he felt himself being distracted by such an odd appearance. She had dark black hair that drastically contrasted to a strange bright red, clearly unnatural. She wore a lace white undergown that left the majority of her legs exposed. She also had dark black boots tight against ackles. And if Merlin thought that wasn't odd enough, she had a small loop of silver through one of the sides of her nose. As Merlin continued to study her he finally addressed the most prominent thing which was seemingly a blood splatter at the rim of shoulders and chest. He approached her collar that held the most red and pulled back the fabric and to his surprise he found no blood or injury.
"I don't see a wound?" Merlin asked, raising his head.
"That's because there isn't one well at least not where you think," Morgana came forward with a blanket covering her lower half with help from Gwen.
"She hit her head when she fell in front of us." Gwen added.
"Fell? Wait…" Merlin slightly shook his head trying to follow "I need you to start at the beginning." Merlin said and went on to notice more small wounds on the girl.
"Gwen and I were doing early horse riding when we found her on a path and we were clearly alarmed," Morgana gestured at the girl. "We gave her water and she shortly fainted after." Morgana finished.
"Did she happen to say her name?" Merlin left Morgana's eyes to the closed ones of the girl's.
Gwen and Morgana's remained silent for a couple seconds.
"She said…" Gwen started "She doesn't know…as in like no memory it seems."
Merlin rubbed the stained fabric between the pads of his fingers, "So this is not her blood?" He pondered.
"Indeed, but I'm afraid it's not even blood," Gaius stirred a piece of her hair in a clear tube and the water slowly clouded in a light red tint. Gaius proceeded to sniff the top of the tube. "Something is strange though…I smell ammonia and other chemicals."
"Gaius, I don't mean to be rude, but I feel like our patient would appreciate more treatment than just an inspection of her hair?" Merlin asked.
Gaius lowered his glasses at Merlin, not pleased at his comment. "She fainted due to dehydration and should wake up shortly. I don't see any serious head trauma, but we can only be certain of that when she wakes up." Gaius set down the vial and got up to his wooden cabinet, pulling out a jar. "Here, you can put this on her cheek. She has a decent cut there."
Merlin brought the small glass jar in his hands and uncorked it. With his free hand he pulled up a wooden stool towards the table.
"So is her hair the work of magic?" Morgana asked, acting nervously at the door.
Merlin lifted a brow at Morgana before the pieces clinked in his mind.
Magic? Oh, now it makes sense. This is why Gaius was adamant about studying her hair strands…her appearance certainly doesn't help her defense…not to mention all of us would be royally screwed…aiding a sorceress.
"No, it's not the work of magic, but I fear it's something else entirely." Gaius put down the vial.
Merlin pulled out a medicine application brush from Gaius's set and rubbed the green ointment in the jar and smeared it gently across the unconscious girl's cheek. He glanced at her eyes for any movement, but saw nothing. In Merlin's brief pause a drop of ointment from the brush landed on her chin. He brought down his neck handkerchief to quickly wipe.
"I'm sorry to interrupt Gaius, but Morgana. I think it would be best to leave. We left your horse in the middle of the square and people might begin to question if you aren't seen returning it to the stables like you normally do." Gwen finished.
Morgana glanced back at the women on the table seeming conflicted.
"Gwen makes a good point," Merlin added. "Arthur is already suspicious of this whole situation and if he noticed then it's fair to say anybody did."
"Speaking of Arthur, Merlin shouldn't you be out at the training field with him?" Morgana asked.
Merlin stood up abruptly causing the stool he leaned against to scratch along the hard floor. Gwen and Morgana took a minor step back at his sudden movement.
"I forgot Arthur asked me to immediately-"
The door came flying open and everyone except Merlin brought their focus to the entrance of Gaius's work space. Merlin remained still and very well knew who exactly was at the door frame, especially when he heard the jiggle of armor.
Arthur came storming, clearly just leaving the field and perhaps not even begun training.
"What does 'report back to me' do you not understand…" Arthur paused as he laid eyes on the girl. "I'm guessing this was the dead body I saw you carrying?"
Morgana slapped his unarmored side. "She's not dead!"
"Then why is she covered in blood? Arthur responded.
"Once again, it's not blood." Gaius said as he grabbed a long pair of silver scissors and took a section of the girl's hair in his hands and sharply cut it. Arthur remained silent with his mouth slightly agape as he only just noticed the girl's peculiar hair.
Morgana came forward to him. "Shouldn't we wait for her to wake up? If someone were to cut my hair in my sleep I'm afraid I would make them my sworn enemy."
Gaius shook his head. "I don't need another person giving her cautious eyes due to her hair. I'll apologize later, but this is for her safety. People might suspect her of being a sorceress otherwise."
"Sorceress? Ha…" Arthur interlocked his hands behind his back from clear frustration. "So let me get this story straight."
Merlin thinned his lips as Arthur shifted his stance towards Morgana.
Here we go…is there a way I can still make a break for it?
"You find a random hurt woman in the forest and decide to help them and only hope for the best that they didn't have ill intent with such a strange appearance. You then strapped them to your horse and went on your merry way. And then! Proceeded to sneak your way here to get her treated?"
"If you were here earlier Sire, then you would have known that I believe this person has no intention of magic." Gaius set another section of hair on the table, as he continued cutting the girl's hair. "I believe this person is of noble blood."
Merlin raised his eyebrows at Gaius's words "Well she certainly has had a rough morning."
When Gaius didn't return his chuckle Merlin quieted himself and let him continue.
"One thing is the fact she is barely tanned from the sun indicating she primarily spends her time indoors. The clothes on her are of high quality. I have not seen such precise stitching in all of my life. She also looks primarily well fed with being at standard height and weight of someone of class like Morgana." Gaius then moved her hair out of the way of her ear. "I made my final conclusion when I saw this."
They all leaned forward and saw the bright ruby red jewel at the side of her ear.
"What about her hair?" Gwen asked. "You said you feared it was something else not tied to magic?"
Gaius tightened his lips for a few seconds. "I believe this girl is or was a victim of the slave trading and managed to escape. I heard they have made new methods of marking women to not damage their bodies and dyeing hair seems like a reasonable conclusion."
Morgana simply shared sadden glances and Arthur shifted his stance and was clearly uncomfortable with Gaius's prediction.
"Well…we will do anything we can to reunite this girl with her family again." Arthur said.
"About that…when Morgana and I found her she knew nothing…where she was from or even her own name." Gwen spoke hesitantly.
Arthur pulled his blonde hair in a stressful manner. "So you're telling me we very well might have an kidnapped noble, but we have no way to prove it or even learn of her background?"
Arthur looked around at the group and signed when he received nothing. "Morgana and Gwen, bring your horses back to the stables. It is only a matter of time before someone reports it to my father or outright steals them. And Merlin, stay with the girl and help Gaius. Report back to me when she wakes up." Arthur froze for a number of seconds "Report back to me immediately got that?"
Merlin crossed his arms, irritated at Arthur's lack of faith due to this morning. "Yes Sire."
"And I will try to see any recent records of nobles going missing." Arthur said.
Everyone nodded in Arthur terms.
"Before you go Arthur, can you help carry the girl to Merlin's room? I have other patients coming and a bed would likely be more comfortable than a table." Gaius asked.
Arthur carefully brought his arms under her back and the bend of her knees while letting the blanket drape over her. Merlin held his door open for Arthur to walk in and he promptly sent her down on his bed. Gwen and Morgana fixed the sheets and blankets for her.
"Well Merlin," Arthur laid his hand on Merlin's shoulder. "This would be the first and last time a girl will be on your bed." Arthur smiled.
"Wha- why would you even think of that?" Merlin stuttered out, even embarrassed at the pure idea that thought entered Arthur's mind.
Morgana calmly walked over to Arthur before smacking the back of his head.
Merlin let out a subtle smile at the corner of his mouth.
I'll have to remember to thank her for that later.
Eventually, everyone slowly shuffled out of the room with Morgana and Arthur bantering on the way out. Merlin glanced at the girl again to find one of her shoulders exposed. He quickly walked over to pull the blanket to cover her completely. Merlin caught himself starring at the girl as stared Kilgharrah words from last night resurfaced in his mind.
"There is an uncertain presence of a new entity in this realm"
Merlin paused before approaching the door, letting his eyes wander in thought. "I hope whatever she came across out there… wasn't the entity Kilgharrah was referring to."