Title: Freya's Brother, Percival
Description: Freya doesn't die. Instead, Merlin hides her in the woods. And Percival is her brother. Basically a sibling reunion story. OR When Merlin first meets Percival he knows that he is Freya's brother. He's just like she described him. He just couldn't help but open his big mouth. "You're Percival!"
Word Count: 1,798
Part 1/1

"You'll be safe here Freya."

"Thank you Merlin, for all you've done for me."

"I promised I would protect you. I'm not going back on my word now."

She smiles up at him.

"You'd better get back to Camelot, I'd hate to keep you longer than I must."

Merlin hesitates.

"Are you sure? I can stay a few more days if you'd like-"

"No, Merlin. Besides, I'd hate to think what destiny would do to me if I kept you away from the prince for too long."

"Alright, but I'll be back, I promise."

He stands up and strides towards the door of the cottage. It was the same one he'd used as Dragoon's home to fool Arthur. He's simply added a shit-ton of protection enchantments around it to keep his lover safe (and keep unwanted people out) while he was gone. And also to keep her in. Only while in her Basset form, and only until they found a cure. Because they would. He'd make sure of it.

Sending Freya one last glance, he exits the cottage and makes his way towards Camelot.

"I take it that rockfall wasn't an accident?" Arthur asks, looking at Lancelot.

"This is Percival." Lancelot replies, "It was his strength that brought them down."

"Your highness," Percival greets Arthur warmly.

"Arthur."

Arthur goes to shake his hand, noticing just how strong this man really is.

"Arthur it is," Percival agrees, accepting the prince's handshake.

"What were you doing here?" Arthur asks Lancelot finally.

Merlin gets up from where he was sitting and replies, "It was me, I sent for him."

"Well, we owe you our lives. Thank you."

While Arthur and Lancelot (and Guinevere) exchange a very uncomfortable and awkward few glances, Merlin studies Percival.

He's a very large man; lots of muscle. Merlin knows for certain he's never met him. Yet, everything about him screams familiarity. It only takes him a second to realize just how he knows him though.

"You're Percival!" Merlin exclaims suddenly, catching the attention of everyone, not just the man in particular.

"Yes Merlin, I believe Lancelot just introduced him," Arthur rolls his eyes.

"No, not that you clotpole, I meant, you're Freya's brother!"

Merlin remembers all sorts of stories Freya would tell him about her family, and life, before she was cursed. She recounted several adventures she went on with her brother, Percival. While he's sure the man has worked hard for his muscle, Freya always described his natural strength.

~~This is where the alternate path the story could have taken starts (it's written at the end of the story)~~

"Freya? How do you know her?" Percival asks.

Merlin, not wanting to explain in front of the others, (minus Lancelot because everyone tells him like literally everything) hesitated. Luckily Percival caught on and figured that story had something to do with her curse.

"How is she?" he finally asked after a brief uncomfortable silence.

"She's doing as good as she can, considering. I'll explain more later under less threatening circumstances. But, she's safe right now. I can guarantee nothing will happen to her. Or to others for that matter."

The large man nods, and everyone puts this at the back of their minds.

"Merlin?"

Percival's voice rang though the armory.

"Percival!" Merlin greets, looking up from the armor he was polishing.

"You want to know about Freya," Merlin states, after Percival couldn't find the words to say.

"Yeah."

"I was going to see her tonight. You should come see her with me."

"Tonight?"

"Don't worry, we won't be there late."

"I would love to," he continues, "But, Merlin, if she's still cursed, why hasn't she attacked anyone?"

"I- Uhm, that's a little harder to explain inside Camelot's walls. Why don't we discuss everything there? Or even on the way."

Percival nods, "Of course."

"Okay. Meet me at the kitchens at 9-o-clock."

"The kitchens?"

"It's strawberry season! I wanna snag some for her before we leave!"

Percival's eyes brightened at the thought of Merlin caring about his sister. Not just words, but actions too.

"Of course, I'll be there."

"Good. I'll see you then," Merlin smiles.

"See you then," Percival confirms again, returning Merlin's smile.

Percival walks towards the kitchens, planning to meet Merlin as they had discussed earlier. When he arrives Merlin is there, waiting, just as he had promised with a basket of strawberries in his hands.

"Are you sure you should have taken those?" he questions.

Merlin only shrugs, "They aren't likely to be missed. The cook will probably blame it on the staff's children who sometimes have to go to work with them."

Percival only nods and they walk towards the gates, careful not to be seen.

"You do this a lot I see," he notes as Merlin skillfully distracts the guards.

"Yeah, it gets pretty easy after a while. And I've been doing this a while," he laughs.

The rest of their journey doesn't take to long. They hold a light conversation, but they don't talk about the things Percival is dying to hear about, as they agreed it would be better to wait and talk with Freya as well. When the finally arrive at the cottage, Merlin knocks on the door three times (another enchantment) before opening the door.

"Freya?" he calls and his voice rang throughout the house.

"Merlin! You're finally back! I was worried something had happened to you. Especially after that letter you sent abo-" she stops when she finally sees Percival.

"Percival!" she yells, running to greet him with a big hug.

"Freya! It's been so long," he exclaims.

"Too long."

"Wherever did the two of you meet?" Freya asks.

"You remember Lancelot?" Merlin asks, but continues when she nods, "Well, I sent him a letter asking for help to take back the castle and he was traveling with Percival, so he came with him."

"You know, I was wondering the same thing," Percival says, "So, how did you two meet each other?"

"I was captured by a bounty hunter, Halig, but Merlin saved me and has helped me ever since. We're so close to finding a cure for my curse too!"

The three of them talk for a few more hours, mostly telling stories. But, Merlin also reveals his magic, and Freya tells Percival that they're in love. Soon enough, it's time for Percival and Merlin to leave, for their safety as well as hers. With a few promises of helping to find a cure (and visiting again soon) Percival finally agrees to head back to the castle. They walk for a short while and talk before they part ways in a corridor of the castle to go to their respective rooms. Both fall asleep with smiles on their faces—one's that Freya put there—and sleep soundly all night long.

The End

This is an alternate path the story could have taken that I didn't finish and don't plan to currently. It's still a fun read though, it just made the story into more of a crack-fic than I wanted it to be. I recommend rereading the beginning before starting this, because it starts in the middle of a conversation.

"Freya? Where is she? Is she okay? Is she still-" he fades off, stealing a nervous glance at Arthur, not caring to finish that sentence in front of a Pendragon.

"She's fine, and nope, she's all cured!"

While the rest of the group stared at the two in confusion (minus Lancelot because everyone else literally tells him everything), Percival's eyes widen.

"You mean... She's not-"

Merlin simply shakes his head in reply, a large grin evident on his face.

The two men, who were seemingly lost in their own world up until now, were brought back when Arthur questions just who this Freya might be.

"Oh! Umm, well she's Percival's sister." Merlin stutters out

"I know that idiot, I meant how do you know this girl I've never heard anything about!?"

"I do have a personal life you know." Merlin states, trying to shift the conversation, just a tad.

"You? Have a personal life? Ha! I find that hard to believe." Arthur jokes, "But seriously, how come I've never heard of this girl before?"

Merlin curses under his breath. His hopes of directing this little chat elsewhere have been crushed.

"Well it's a little hard to bring up considering you almost killed her."

Everything stopped.

He had not meant to say that.

Arthur's eyes went wide as Merlin clamped his hands around his mouth. The group stared at the three in shock, no one knowing what to say.

When Arthur glanced at Percival, he definitely didn't expect to see a look of... understanding? settle on his face. Arthur looked back at Merlin, whose hands were slowly uncovering his mouth.

"Uhh, I didn't mean to say that."

"What do you mean I almost killed her!" Arthur yells, his feet frozen in place

"I- Uhh, I mean you did? But it's fine though, no one really blames you, you didn't know."

"How can you just say it's fine that I almost killed some innocent girl!"

Merlin did not expect his day to go like this.

"Well, I mean like I said, you didn't know and it wasn't anyone's fault really, okay, except maybe Halig, and those druids, and that man and his mother, oh and maybe Uther too, but point is, it wasn't your fault and-"

"Halig? The Bounty Hunter?"

Merlin froze.

"You mean to say that FREYA is the druid girl that escaped and YOU'RE the one that set her free?"

"Ummm... Basically?"

"Right, and this all happened around the same time as the Basset was running free."

Well shit. What a great time for Arthur to start connecting dots.

And connect the dots he did.

"So... Freya, was the Basset, and I didn't kill her, but I almost did and she's not a danger anymore because why?"

"I- Well, damn how did you figure all that out so fast?" Merlin quickly responds saying, "But yes that's all about right and I umm found a way to cure her. So I did."

"Using..?"

"Uhmm, cough*magic*cough"

"I'm sorry?"

"I- uhh, well, you know the usual way a guy like me would go about healing a magically cursed girl like her."

Lancelot coughed, almost as if he were laughing.

Yeah, "a guy like me". Like a -oh I don't know- warlock?

"And which way would that be?"

"True love's kiss."

Obviously, he meant it as a joke. He didn't actually cure her with true love's kiss.

"You mean she's your lover!?" Arthur stood agape

"What? I mean yeah, but I was just joking about the whole "true love's kiss" thing-"

"You know what, I can't do this right now. We're continuing this after we defeat this immortal army."