A/N: So, it's been a while... nearly a year... God, I'm a horrible person! I'm so sorry! And it's a really short chapter too. Y'all have an anonymous reviewer, Sarah, to thank for me updating.

Anyway, I've been so busy writing my Arrow, Flash and other femMerlin fics, and I just started nursing school, and I have exams in January, so I don't have a lot of time left to write, but I do try. For everyone who is still following this, thank you so much! Unless it says 'abandoned' in the summary, you can be certain that I'm still working on this, it's just very slow going. Especially because I now have another FemMerlin fic that is a lot better, because I've gotten better as a writer. Still, thank you so much for sticking with me! You're the best!

Chapter 17: The Lady of the Lake – part 2

Previously:

"You can have a few hours to yourself, Merlynn, I'm to entertain the ladies of the court today."

"Thank you, milday," I said automatically, though I was surprised.

Morgana smiled. "Just make sure my room is tidied up before I return." She got up, leaving half of her plate untouched and made her way out the door without another word. I stared after her, but finally got up after a few minutes. I didn't care what the Dragon said, how could anyone believe that Morgana was evil? Aside from Gwen and my mother she was the most kind-hearted person I knew.

Arthur POV

Today was not a good day. Arthur had expected to be awoken violently by Merlynn, throwing open the curtains or pulling the sheets down, but was instead met with a polite cough.

When he'd opened his eyes, he hadn't seen his maidservant – who was scheduled to start working again that day – but instead, George had been standing there, as he had for the past few days. Arthur had rolled out of bed, allowed George to help him dress – even though he had been able to do that by himself since Merlynn had started working for him – and had sat down at the table.

"George, where's Merlynn?" he'd asked as he dug into his rather large breakfast. Merlynn usually made the cook limit his morning meal to some bread, meat and fruits, but George had a tendency to let the cook go overboard. He couldn't help but note the little things that set Merlynn apart from anyone else, and he found he disliked having it done any other way.

"Haven't you heard, sire? She requested to be transferred to the Lady Morgana's care, while the Lady's former maid, Guinevere, has applied for an apprenticeship with the physician," the servant replied dutifully.

Arthur had dropped the bread he'd been about to eat and had shouted at George. "What?"

The other man looked taken aback. "I'm sorry, sire, I assumed you were made aware."

"No, I was not made aware!" he had snapped, suddenly not hungry anymore. "Take this back to the kitchen, I need to find Morgana. And when I get back, my chambers had better be spotless, my armour polished, my sword sharpened and my stables mucked, do you understand?" he'd shouted.

George, by now white as a sheet, had nodded meekly.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Arthur had been aware that he was taking his anger and surprise out on someone who had nothing to do with the matter, but right then, he hadn't cared. He'd stormed to Morgana's chambers, only to find it empty.

A guard had then told him that the Lady was entertaining the other courtiers at the other end of the nobles' wing.

Of course, Morgana was no help at all. "Maybe she'd just grown tired of your big head, have you considered that?" she asked sarcastically. He had a feeling she was enjoying this a little too much.

"You already have a maid!" he protested angrily, ignoring her jibe as he usually did.

Morgana narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, clearly no longer amused. "Gwen wanted to be a physician, a calling I wholeheartedly agree with, and Merlynn told me she had personal reasons for requesting the transfer. If you're so desperate to know, I suggest you ask her!"

He ignored that. "You're the lady of this house, you're the one who oversees the household, you could have said no!"

"And I already told you that she claimed personal reasons! Has it ever occurred to you that maybe you did something wrong, and that's why she doesn't want to be anywhere near you anymore?" she shouted back. Without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and marched down the hall, ignoring the door to the parlour where she'd been entertaining the other Ladies.

Arthur growled angrily, running a hand through his hair. His frustration was mounting, and with Morgana gone and Merlynn nowhere to be found, he had no outlet. Before he could decide on the best way to deal with the situation, a guard approached him. "Sire, the King has requested that you lead the search of the lower town."

Arthur frowned at the man. "What search?" he asked, completely confused now.

"The missing druid girl, sire? The King wants her found, and soon."

Sighing, Arthur followed the guard and rounded up some of his knights. Leon was already helping with the questioning of the villagers, so he would go door to door, searching the homes of his people for a girl who had probably already left the city…

/*/

Merlynn POV

They were searching the lower town. Everyone going in or out of the citadel had to be inspected by that disgusting Halig figure. My heart was in my throat. If he recognized me, I was dead. I did my best to appear nonchalant, but I wasn't sure I succeeded. Either way, he gave me a once over and let me go. I breathed a sigh of relief and dashed off towards the closest entrance to the abandoned tunnels.

I walked as quietly as I could and kept an eye out for sounds of pursuit, but no one had followed me. Freya had curled up into a ball and was sleeping in a corner. She looked so exhausted I hesitated to wake her, but she needed to eat.

As soon as I touched her shoulder, Freya shot up, startled. "Hey, it's alright, it's just me," I said gently, holding up my hands. She looked so frightened. A surge of anger went through me, and I was surprised at the intensity of it. I was furious that this could happen to someone so innocent and young. My soul ached to make the pain go away, but all I could do for now was be there for her, and hide her from those that wished to harm her. I handed her the food I'd smuggled out of the castle, and she immediately stuffed herself. She must have been starving.

After finishing two slices of bread and some cheese, the girl looked up at me sheepishly. "It's alright," I said gently, smiling at her. "You don't ever have to be embarrassed in front of me. Eat up, it's fit for a princess," I said. After all, I'd gotten it from Morgana's plate.

Setting down some candles I'd brought with me, I waited until her attention was on me again, before waving my hand and lighting the candles by magic. Freya's eyes lit up. She reached out for the flames, and I could see a symbol tattooed on her lower arm. "Is that a druid symbol?" I asked curiously.

Freya pulled back her arm and nodded. She was still shy, but I got the impression that she was a lot more comfortable now. "Were you born a druid?" I asked.

Freya looked at me like she wasn't sure what to say. "I'm sorry, it's just, I know what it's like to keep secrets. You can tell me," I assured her, gesturing to the candles.

Looking from the candles to me, Freya seemed to come to a decision. For a girl so young, she was awfully mature. In some ways it was horrible. She should be a child, playing in meadows and running around carefree, not hiding in abandoned tunnels, fearing for her life. For a moment, I felt the familiar anger flare up inside of me. If only the King wasn't such a horrible person, this wouldn't be happening. I could be helping this girl out in the open, not hiding her away down here.

"I wish I was like everybody else, but…" she said, her voice a little hoarse. I felt a little bad for not bringing a skin of water, and resolved to do that next time.

"You always know deep down that you're not. I know how you feel."

Freya looked so heartbreakingly sad. "It's because I'm cursed."

"Freya, don't say that," I said, concerned. I couldn't imagine what it must have been like to grow up, being told by everyone that she wasn't human, that she was somehow less than everyone else. I'd always had my mother, who made sure I had as normal a childhood as anyone, but Freya… she didn't have anyone. No, she had me now, and I wouldn't let her believe nonsense like that. "Magic doesn't have to be a curse, it can be a gift."

Freya looked down, obviously not believing me, and kept eating. I sighed. And then something occurred to me. "Look," I whispered, and then turned to the candles. A murmured spell made the flames leap off the candle wicks and float up into the air. At Freya's delighted look, I grinned, and made the flames dance around, forming patterns in the air. "Beautiful," she sighed.

Gently, I let the flames descend back to the candles, where they continued to flicker peacefully. Freya looked at me. "Thank you," she said, and I couldn't help myself, I scooted forward and slowly put my arms around her, enveloping her in a hug. "You're very welcome sweetheart," I whispered.

I wished I could stay with her and entertain her with silly magic tricks all day, but Morgana would need me soon enough, and I still had to smuggle some more food down here, Freya was still far too skinny.

I promised her I'd be back before she knew it, and made my way back to the castle, leaving my torch near the entrance of the tunnels. As I stepped out into the sunlight again, I was more determined than ever. Nothing would happen to Freya, and she'd be happy again, if I had anything to say about it, consequences be damned.

A/N: Please leave a review, they're what keeps me going, and what reminds me to keep working on this!

Sarah: thank you so much for inspiring me to post this chapter, and I know you said you weren't very hopeful, but here it is. Consider it a Christmas miracle :p

To my Spanish-speaking anonymous reviewer: I don't speak Spanish, but I put your review through Google translate, and I think I got the gist of it. Thanks!