Alexia was running from the men following her, she reached a cliff.She glanced back and saw the four men standing few feet away from her." Alexia, come back now." Mark said with a smirk.Alexia shook her head violently, her whole body shaking with fear." No! YOU ALL ARE MONSTERS! I WILL HAPPILY CHOOSE DEATH OVER YOU." she screamed in rage and turned to the cliff. And without a second thought, she jumped, accepting her death.
Alexia screamed and sat up with a jerk.
" No. No, no, no, no!" Alexia screamed thrashing around.
Merlin was awoken with the screams confused and then found Alexia screaming and crying.
He rushed to her.
" Alexia! Alexia calm down! You are safe." He said. Alexia quickly grasped him with her arms around his waist and started crying.
Gaius entered the room quickly. He saw the girl crying and Merlin consoling her.
Merlin glanced at him with sadness filled in his eyes.
Gaius returned the look.
" Alexia, calm down, see it's Merlin. Don't worry." Merlin said.
Alexia calmed a bit.
Merlin helped her lay back.
" Sleep Alexia." He whispered.
She nodded a bit while her eyes still filled with tears and fear.
Soon she was sleeping.
" I will be outside. If you need anything, just give me a call." Gaius said and went out.
Merlin was about to go back to his place when he felt a pull. He turned and saw his hand was in her grasp.
He sighed and sat beside her bed on floor. He stroked her hair and then fell asleep with his head on the bed.
At dawn time, they heard a voice.
" Merlin!" It called.
" Alexia!" The same voice called.
They woke up and Alexia saw that Merlin was beside her their hand entwined.
She turned a bit red embarrassed.
Merlin woke and saw her.
Before he could say anything they heard the voice again.
" Merlin! Alexia!" The voice called again.
Merlin was about to react when he felt something his hand warm. He quickly placed his hand on her forehead.
" You are burning!" He exclaimed.
" Lay back! I will call Gaius." He said and before Alexia could protest, he was out.
Alexia looked at him, a small smile forming on her lips, but it soon fell back as a headache striked her.
Minutes later, Gaius entered with his bag.
And after few minutes Alexia was forced to lay down after gulping a foul medicine.
Merlin got ready and said his goodbye to Alexia.
" Today you must rest. Okay?" He asked.
Alexia nodded.
" Please take care." Alexia said.
She wondered if she should tell him about Arthur, but decided against it. There first meeting shall go same.
Merlin stumbled out his cabin into Gaius's. "I got you water. You didn't wash last night." Gaius said, pointing to the bucket of water balanced precariously on the edge of the table.
"Sorry." Merlin mumbled, wandering over to the table and sitting down.
"Help yourself to breakfast." Gaius said, and put down a bowl of watery porridge in front of him. Merlin scooped out a spoonful and dropped it back into the bowl, his face slightly put off by the sight of the food.
Trying to be inconspicuous, Gaius slowly slided to the bucket of water, and knocked it off of the edge of the table. With a gasp, Merlin's eyes burnt gold, and the bucket of water freezed in midair. Gaius and Merlin looked at each other, and then Merlin lets it go, water splashing all over the floor.
"How did you do that? Did you incant a spell in your mind?" Gaius asked, exasperated and curious.
Merlin shook his head. "I don't know any spells."
"So what did you do?" Gaius asked. "There must be something."
Shrugging, Merlin disagreed "It just happens." He said, grabbing the mop before starting to clear up the water.
Shaking his head at the enigma of a young man before him, Gaius says, "Well, we better keep you out of trouble. You can help me until I find some paid work for you. Here." Gaius set a small sack and bottle on the table in front of him. "Hollyhock and Feverfew for Lady Percival, and this is for Sir Olwin." He said, holding up the bottle. "He's as blind as a weevil, so warn him not to take it all at once."
"Okay." Merlin replies, nodding his understanding.
"And here." Gaius said, handing him a plate with a sandwich on it. Merlin smiles as he takes the sandwich, which Gaius returns.
"Off you go." Gaius said, nodding towards the door. " And Merlin!" Gaius called after him. "I need hardly tell you that the practice of any form of enchantments will get you killed.
Merlin ate his sandwich as he walked down the Physician's Corridor and through the Square to deliver the medicine. He knocked on a door and a squinting old man answers.
"Erm, I brought you your medicine." Merlin says, holding out the small bottle.
Sir Olwin blindly held out his hand, which Merlin put the medicine into. As he turned away, the aging noble pops the cork and starts drinking it.
Remembering the rest of the instructions, Merlin turned back to say, "Oh, and Gaius said don't drink it all at..."
Before he could finish, the noble finished the medicine and smiled at him.
"I'm sure it's fine." Merlin said, smiling and nodding, before quickly turning and rushing away.
Alexia was currently staring at her room ceiling. Fever was always worst. You can't even get up from your bed without a headache. Alexia decided to close her eyes and sleep. After few moments, Alexia was seen sleeping peacefully
Meanwhile Merlin continued to roam around the place. As Merlin walked though the town, he heared a loud voice exclaim, "Where's the target?"
As he walked across the bridge, he saw a group of knights standing and looking at a poor servant who was carrying a heavy looking target. "There, Sir?" The servant asked, motioning.
"It's into the sun?" One of them with blonde hair pointed out.
"But, it's not that bright." The servant replied
"A bit like you, then?" The blonde haired taunted cruelly. All the knights behind him laughed.
Merlin frowned.
"I'll put the target on the other end, shall I, Sir?" The servant said. At blomde's nod, the serving boy begins carried the target toward the wall.
"Teach him a lesson. Go on, boy." One of the knights said.
"This'll teach him." The blonde laughed
"Yeah."
"Ha-ha. Teach him a lesson."
The blonde threw a dagger at the target as the servant was still moving.
"Hey! Hang on!" The servant argued incredulously.
"Don't stop!" The blonde yelled, still laughing slightly.
The poor soul takes a few steps back and positions the target. "Here?"
A girl was shaking a curtain out an upper window. She looks over the scene with a disappointed expression.
"I told you to keep moving!" The blonde yelled at the servant before throwing another dagger at the target. "Come on! Run!" He ordered when the servant gives him an incredulous look.
The servant shuffles his feet along trying to carry the large target across the training area as the blonde knight threw more daggers.
"Do you want some moving target practice?" The blonde knight taunted
And the poor servant finally trips and drops the target and it rolls along until it falls at Merlin's feet. Merlin puts a foot on it so he can't pick it up.
"Hey, come on, that's enough." Merlin admonished, his tone and face friendly.
The blonde looked quite shocked that someone was talking to him that way. "What?" He asked.
"You've had your fun, my friend." Merlin said, shaking his head slightly.
The blonde looked over this intruder with a raised eyebrow. "Do I know you?" he asked
"Er, I'm Merlin." Merlin says, holding out his hand.
"So I don't know you." The blonde replied, ignoring the outstretched hand.
"No." Merlin said, slowly dropping his hand.
"Yet you called me 'friend.'"
"That was my mistake."
"Yes, I think so." The blonde agreed.
"Yeah. I'd never have a friend who could be such an ass." Merlin taunted before turning to walk away.
The blonde knight scoffed before calling after him, "Or I one who could be so stupid." Merlin stopped walking but didn't turn around. "Tell me, Merlin," he continued, "do you know how to walk on your knees?"
Merlin shook his head. "No."
"Would you like me to help you?" The knight offered.
Merlin shook his head. "I wouldn't if I were you." He tried to warn him.
The knight laughed slightly at the thought that a mere peasant could actually hurt him. "Why? What are you going to do to me?"
"You have no idea." Merlin replied in a mysterious voice.
"Be my guest!" The knight offered, holding his arms out wide in invitation, while Merlin just looks around at the growing crowd. "Come on! Come on! Come on." He taunted
Looking at the crowd once more, Merlin took a quick swing at him and the knight twisted Merlin's arm behind his back.
"Whoa." One of the knights replies
In the castle window, the girl cringed in surprise.
"I'll have you thrown in jail for that." The knight hissed in Merlin's ear.
"What, who do you think you are? The King?" Merlin taunts.
"No. I'm his son, Arthur." Arthur informed him before taking him out at the knees.
Guards escorted Merlin down the stairs and threw him in one of the dungeon cells. Merlin put his head in his hands and looked slightly freaked out.
At night, Alexia woke up and came out from her room. Only to spot Gaius looking stressed.
" Gaius?" Alexia called.
" Ah Alexia, how are you feeling my girl?" He asked.
" I am fine, but you look stressed. And where is Merlin?" She asked.
Gaius sighed.
" That idiot managed to get himself into trouble on his very first day. It was difficult to make Arthur agree on releasing him. Now he has to spend the night in dungeon." Gaius said.
Alexia realised.
" Ohh and what did he do to go to dungeons?" She asked, while she already knew the answer.
And then Gaius recounted what happened there, but Alexia could tell that some things were in Arthur's favour. He manipulated the story a bit.
She nodded at the end.
" Thank you Gaius for saving him. You won't regret it." She said with a small smile.
In return she got a smile back.
" Now you shall eat your dinner. And then your medicine." He said.
Alexia nodded.
In the castle courtyard, 'Lady Helen' and her entourage finally entered Camelot. One of the knights helped Lady Helen off of her horse. As she walked towards the castle entrance, she looked in a puddle, and the reflection of her old self looked back.
Double doors are thrown open and Lady Helen entered the throne room, dressed in a deep purple gown. She walked down the long room, heels clacking as she walked. Lady Morgana and her maid Guinevere were standing on the side with the other courtiers, while Uther sat on his throne.
As soon as she was close enough, Uther got down off of his throne to greet her. "Lady Helen. Thank you so much for coming to sing at our celebrations." He said jubilantly.
Mary Collins, as the Lady Helen, curtsied low. "The pleasure's all mine." She smiled.
"How was your journey?" Uther asked
Helen sighed dramatically. "Oh, the time it took, Sire." She said, bringing a hand to her forehead in a dramatic show of weariness.
Uther grabs both of her hands and kisses them. "Well, it's always worth the wait." Uther replied with a smile.
Lady Helen fingers the chain around her neck. "It will be." She replied, her voice turning slightly cold at the end.
When Alexia woke again, it was nearly noon.
She quickly woke up and got ready in her boys attire, which was kept on the side of the cot, with a note signed by Gaius.
She wore a tunic, with a trousers and high boots, along with a jacket and a beanie type hat.
Smiling at herself, she got out and saw Gaius.
" Alexia, I was going to see Merlin in stocks. Want to come?" He asked.
Alexia nodded. And they went.
They went in the town and saw Merlin in stocks. He was pelted with fruit by children.
"Oh, no." Merlin smiled before lowering his head to the flying fruit.
Alexia shook her head. How can someone enjoy stocks? Oh yeah! the answer was simple. Merlin!
Gaius laughed as he approached and passed by, causing Merlin to smile and laugh as well.
"Thanks!" He called after his uncle.
Alexia came near him.
" One day! Just one day. Like how can someone invite trouble on the very first day Merlin?" Alexia asked.
Merlin gave her a cheeky smile.
When the children ran away to find more fruit, the girl from castle window approached.
"I'm Guinevere, but most people call me Gwen. I'm the Lady Morgana's maid." Gwen said, introducing herself.
"Right. I'm Merlin." Merlin said, awkwardly holding out one of his hands for Gwen to shake. "Although, most people just call me Idiot." Merlin joked.
"No, no, no. I saw what you did. It was so brave." She said.
Merlin shook his head.
"It was stupid." Alexia interfered in her manly voice.
" Oh! By the way, I am Alex." Alexia said forwarding her hand. Gwen shook it.
"Well, I'm glad you walked away." Gwen looked at him and told Merlin. "You weren't going to beat him."
Merlin snorted. "Oh, I...I can beat him."
"You think?" Gwen asked, tilting her head slightly. "Because you don't look like one of these big, muscle-y kind of fellows."
Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Thanks." He said in a flat voice.
"No! No, I'm sure you're stronger than you look." Gwen said, quickly. "It's just, erm...Arthur's one of these real rough, tough, save the world kind of men, and...well..."
"What?" Merlin asked.
"You don't look like that."
Merlin motioned for her to move closer before looking around and whispering, "I'm in disguise."
Alexia deadpanned.
He truly was idiot.
Gwen was confused for a moment before she started laughing, Merlin joining in a moment later. "Well, it's great you stood up to him."
"What? You think so?" Merlin asked.
Gwen nodded. "Arthur's a bully, and everyone thought you were a real hero." She said, her tone of voice showing she was very impressed.
Alexia rolled her eyes.
"Oh, yeah?" Merlin asked, looking happier.
Gwen nodded and smiled. "Mm-hmm."
As the children approached with more rotten fruit, Merlin got Gwen's attention. "Oh, excuse me, Guinevere. My fans are waiting." He said, pointing behind her. Gwen quickly turned and left before Merlin was pelted once more with fruit.
Alexia was now cracking a smile. Soon he was free and they were walking back to their chamber.
" Someone got some crush!" Alexia said in her sing song way.
Merlin looked at her.
" What do you mean?" He asked.
Alexia just gave a grin.
" Leave that. Just be prepared for Gaius. He is not going to leave you soon." She said.
Back in Gaius' quarters, Merlin is sitting at the table, while Alexia was reading a book. "Do you want some vegetables with that?" Gaius asked, pushing a bowl towards him.
Merlin laughed before looking up at him. "I know you're still angry with me." Merlin said.
Gaius just replied, "Your mother asked me to look after you."
Merlin nodded and poked at the food in front of him. "Yes." He said.
Gaius fixed Merlin with a studying stare. "What did your mother say to you about your gifts?"
"That I was special." Merlin shrugged, going back to picking at his food.
Gaius nodded his agreement. "You are special. And Alexia... it's like she too have some of your qualities. You both are different. The likes of which I have never seen before." At this Alexia looked at him.
Merlin looked up, interested. "What do you mean?" He asked.
Gaius took a deep breath before saying, "Well, magic requires incantations, spells. It takes years to study. What I saw you both do was...elemental, instinctive. Like you just need to command from your brain." Alexia stared at him shocked.
This was never in the show. How can she be like Merlin!
"What's the point if it can't be used?" Merlin questioned.
"That I do not know. You are a question that has never been posed before."
Merlin gave Gaius an appraising glance and looked at Alexia. She was in some deep thoughts. "Did you ever study magic?" He asked suddenly.
"Uther banned all such work twenty years ago." Gaius replied
"Why?" Merlin asked, looking confused.
"People used magic for the wrong end at that time. It threw the natural order into chaos. Uther made it his mission to destroy everything from back then, even the dragons."
"What? All of them?" Merlin asked, shocked.
"There was one dragon he chose not to kill, kept it as an example. He imprisoned it in a cave deep beneath the castle where no one can free it. Now, eat up. When you've finished, I need you to take a preparation to Lady Helen. She needs it for her voice." Gaius finished, picking at his stew.
Merlin and Alexia walked up Spiral Stairway across the Balcony Corridor and entered Lady Helen's guest chamber. Merlin put the potion bottle on the vanity table and turned to leave when he noticed the poppet and a special book.
He shared a glance at Alexia. Alexia acted to look confused.
Lady Helen walked across the Balcony Corridor when she stopped and looked ahead of her with a curious glance. Alexia heard her coming and signalled Merlin to put the book down, trying to cover up the evidence that he was snooping. As the pair turned to leave, Lady Helen enters the room.
"What are you doing in here?" Lady Helen asked harshly, looking at the table behind him.
Alexia knew Merlin would stutter.
" We were asked to deliver the medicine you asked. My lady!" Alexia said with a bow.
Merlin picked up the small medicine bottle he had left on her table and gave it to her. Mary's reflection was revealed in the half-covered mirror behind him. Not noticing the reflection in the mirror, Merlin hands her the bottle and then quickly leaves.
Alexia followed him, but she saw the figure.
Merlin and Alexia, in her Alex form, walked through the lower town, they passed Arthur and his gang who are walking the opposite direction. Seeing Merlin pass by, Arthur turned to taunt him.
"How's your knee-walking coming along?" Arthur yelled after Merlin. Merlin just kept walking and refused to answer. While Alexia glanced back at him to have a look.
" Oh! So you got a new friend!" He taunted again.
Alexis frowned.
"Aw, don't run away!" Arthur taunted
Merlin stopped in the middle of the road, but he doesn't turn around. "From you?" He asked. Alexia turned to them and shook her head.
Arthur sighed and said "Thank God. I thought you were deaf as well as dumb."
"Look, I've told you you're an ass." Merlin said as he turned around to face Arthur, "I just didn't realise you were a royal one."
" Merlin! Gaius will chop your head off." She whispered to him.
" Listen to your scrawny friend Merlin!" Arthur taunted with a smirk.
"Oh, what are you going to do? Get your daddy's men to protect you?" He said.
Arthur just laughed and took a step forward, "I could take you apart with one blow." He said.
"I could take you apart with less than that." Merlin retorted, his voice full of confidence.
Alexia deadpanned.
Each and everything in the show was true. There stupid banter too!
" I have been trained kill since I was born!" Arthur warned him mockingly.
" Wow and how long have you been trained to be a prat?" Merlin retorted cheekily.
Alexia's eyes widened. Now the only thing missing was mace.
Arthur scoffed and gave him an incredulous look. "You can't address me like that."
"I'm sorry. H-How long have you been training to be a prat, My Lord?" He asked, giving a wide and mocking bow.
A loud ' ooh ' was heard.
Alexia looked at the knights standing behind Arthur.
" I think you must leave us my lord!" Alexia said and turned around holding Merlin's hand and turning to leave.
But her plans were failed as Arthur called again.
" Who are you?" He asked with his brows furrowed.
" I am Alex. Merlin's friend." Alexia said in her manly voice.
" Never thought Merlin here would have friend." Arthur mused.
" Oh, and who is saying? The one who have his daddy's men as friends?" Merlin retorted.
" Merlin!" Alexia whispered.
" I don't need them! I am enough for the likes of you." Arthur said.
For some reason Merlin flinched a bit at the phrase.
Alexia noted.
" Come on! Come on Merlin! Show us." Arthur cheered mockingly and threw a mace at him.
Merlin tried to catch it but failed. But he noticed Alexia staring at the mace. He was about the pick it but Alexia beat him to it.
" What are you doing?" Merlin whisper yelled.
Alexia just shrugged.
" Sending your friend to fight now?" Arthur asked.
" Alex!" Merlin said.
" Let me Merlin." Alexia replied and ducked the mace that Arthur swung at her.
As Arthur attacked again, Alex stopped the attack and then swung it downwards attacking his leg.
For few seconds Alexia was shocked.
How did she manage to do so?
She never practiced mace work before.
Before she could comprehend, her arms rose again and blocked another attack Arthur fired. Arthur attacked again when she was confused, Merlin's eyes flashed gold and Arthur's mace was stuck in a basket. Alexia paused giving him a moment to free it. He did it quite quickly. Ducking each and ever mace, Alexia finally made Arthur fall by pulling his leg by her foot.
Before the fight could go, gaurds held her.
Merlin moved forwards trying to free her when two other gaurds restrained him too.
"Wait." Arthur called, making the guards pause for a moment. "Let them go. They may be some idiots, but they are quite brave ones." After giving Alexia a critical look for a moment, he says, "There's something about you, Alex. I can't quite put my finger on it. And you too Merlin." He said and went away.
Alexia stared at him shocked.
Merlin looked at him, wanting to murder the prince.
Alexia turned and grabbed his arm.
" It's fine Merlin. He was defeated." Alexia said with a cheeky grin. This cheered him up.
" But it was you who did it. It should have been me." He said returning the grin.
Alexia laughed.
" Let's get back." She said.
As they entered the chambers, Gaius gave them a hard look.
"How could you be so foolish?" Gaius yelled once the door has closed.
Merlin's hands formed fists as he answered in a guarded tone. "He needed to be taught a lesson."
"Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good! Not for idiotic pranks!" Gaius admonished.
"What is there to master?" Merlin exclaimed, rounding. "I could move objects like that before I could talk!"
"Then, by now, you should know how to control yourself!"
"I don't want to! If I can't use magic, what have I got? I'm just a nobody, and I always will be. If I can't use magic, I might as well die."
Merlin yelled and stormed to his chamber.
Alexia sighed.
" Alexia I thought that you could be mature. But..." Gaius said.
" No Gaius. This time Merlin is right. Arthur needs to be taught few lessons. Or else he won't be an ideal king." Alexia said and went behind Merlin.
" I will talk to him." She said and closed the door.
Gaius just stared at the pair.
" Merlin!" Alexia said sitting beside him.
" What you did was great! Thank you very much. You saved me." Alexia said.
He glanced at her.
"You don't know why I was born like this, do you?" Merlin asked softly.
"Not right now. But maybe in future we might." Alexia admitted.
"I'm not a monster, am I?" Merlin asked, his tone joking but his face serious.
Alexia looked at him.
" Then it must go same for me too!" Alexia said.
Merlin's eyes widened.
" No! Not at all." He said quickly.
Alexia smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder.
" Then the same goes with you too. If you have this gift, it must be given for a purpose. And I am sure we can find our purpose soon." Alexia said.
Merlin smiled and nodded.
" Never think that you are a monster Merlin. You are most kind and pure soul I met. Just within these two days, you showed me the care and... Uh.. that no one ever did for my entire life." Alexia said looking at floor.
Merlin looked at her surprised, but happy.
He gave her a smile while Alexia gave a slight squeeze on his shoulder.
Meanwhile, Uther and Lady Helen were eating together, with only a servant helping to serve them dinner. "Will you sing for me tonight?" Uther asked.
"You will have to wait, Sire." She replied in a teasing voice.
"You will not deny me." Uther said in a disappointed tone.
"I am saving myself for my performance tomorrow. Will everyone be there?" She asked.
"Who would dare to miss it?"
"How about your son?" Lady Helen asked, reaching for some of the food.
"Well..."
"It seems a shame not to have met him."
"That's Arthur." Uther said dismissively.
"Poor child." Lady Helen murmured.
"Hmm?"
"Poor child." The Lady spoke louder. "It can't have been easy to, to grow up without a mother."
"No." Uther agreed.
"Hmm. That bond between mother and son, it's so hard to replace." Lady Helen's voice became slightly bitter.
"Hasn't been easy." Admitted Uther
"I'm sure." Lady Helen agreed. She gave him a broad smile and Uther smiles back.
"Perhaps if you found someone...If you remarried." Lady Helen said, laughing brightly. "I'm sure you'd have the pick of any maiden in the kingdom."
"Well, perhaps I'll find love again. But I'm afraid it's too late to replace Arthur's mother."
Lady Helen's voice took on a knowing and ominous tone. "Yes. It's certainly too late for Arthur."
As Merlin and Alexia were laying in bed that night, they heard their name once again called.
Finally deciding to see what it was that was calling them, the pair sneaked out of the room, pausing briefly to adjust Gaius' covers. They headed through the castle, crossing the courtyard, before making way deep into the bowels of the castle as their name was called once again. "Merlin! Alexia!"
Merlin and Alexia descended the Wrought Iron Stairway and saw a pair of guards sitting at a table. Wanting to get them out of the way, Merlin distracted them by rolling their dice off the table and into a nearby corridor. While the guards chased the dice, Merlin grabbed a torch, lighted it, and headed down the Tunnel Stairway, with Alexia following him.
As they came to the bottom of the staircase, the passageway opened into a enormous cavern. Merlin and Alexia looked around, Merlin searching for sound while Alexia searching for the great dragon, laughter rebounds from all around them.
"Where are you?" Merlin yelled.
As they watched, the Great Dragon flied in to land on a large outcropping of rock in front of Merlin and Alexia.
Alexia gasped in shock and surprise seeing the huge dragon in front of her.
Merlin too was having similar reaction.