Chapter 17

I'm sorry for the random update but I've recently found a new train of thought for this story! I hope you all enjoy the twist and please give me any feedback you have, whether it be good or bad. - SnowandStark

2 weeks later

Robb hadn't killed his mother for treason, that would have been a bit insensitive, he had put her in prison and took away everything she had. I did kind of feel sorry for her because she was only trying to save her children. It had been pretty uneventful since Jaime's escape and I was beginning to wonder if anything was going to happen in the near future. Robb had gotten married to Talisa in secret and had gone against the vow he had made to Walder Frey. I was happy for him but I couldn't shake the feeling that he was going to regret his actions. I still couldn't shake the feeling that someone was trying to contact me through my mind but I brushed it off as being tired. I was just falling asleep when I felt someone shaking me awake. I mumbled a 'go away' and rolled over covering my head. I heard a chuckle and the shaking continued. This time I opened my eyes to try and see who was disturbing me. Jory stood there in full armour smiling at me. "Why are you waking me up at this ridiculous hour?" Jory laughed again and said

"There is a large host of men approaching the camp and Robb had requested your presence." I sighed and climbed out of bed, "Have I got time to change or shall I just put a dressing gown on?" He looked at me and shook his head. "Just put the gown on quickly, we need to go." Jory put a hand on my back and led me to where Robb was waiting. My dragons had woken up by now and they were following us. We made it to Robb in a few minutes. I was shivering by then as it was freezing outside and I was only wearing a night dress. One of the men around us noticed that I was cold and he offered me his cloak. I thanked him and secured it around my shoulders feeling warmer straight away. "So what so important that you had to wake me up at this ridiculous hour?" Robb looked down at me and he looked so happy it took my breath away. "The banners, they show your family crest. There from Camelot Kay." I looked at him, my mouth open.

"How?" Was all that I managed to say.

"I don't know Kay but their definitely Pendragon banners." Tears started to fill my eyes at prospect of my home being safe. Before I could ask anything else a young man ran up to us and told Robb that the majority of the army had stopped and a small group was making their way towards us. I looked to Robb and a large grin spread across my face. My dragons walked about restlessly, wanting to know who it was. I had a thought that it might be my brother coming back for me but I soon got rid of it, reminding myself that I watched him die. I put a hand on Emrys' back and looked at him, hope evident in my eyes. "I wonder who it is." His deep voice rang across the field, they had all started to talk a few days ago. It was hard to get your head around but I was starting to get used to it.

"I don't know Emrys, I'll just be glad if they are actually from Camelot." He nodded his large head at me. Hooves could be heard ahead of us and I took a step forward trying to see who it was. The group crested the top of the hill and stood there for a second taking us in. After a few seconds they started to walk towards us. It felt like time had slowed itself to make me more impatient. They stopped a few metres away from us and started to dismount. I started to step forward but I was held back by Robb. The main rider stepped forward and lowered his hood revealing a very familiar figure. I gasped as I realised who it was. "Merlin." Robb looked at me and saw the recognition on my face. Merlin stepped forward at looked straight at me smiling his trademark smile. I shoved Robb's arm aside and ran to Merlin. He grabbed me in a tight hug and spun me round slightly, laughing as he did. Tears of relief were falling down my face now. I pulled back and punched Merlin in the arm. "Owww, what was that for?" I laughed at his face, God's I had missed his face so much.

"Where have you been? I thought you were all dead." His expression sobered,

"After the attack there was only ruins left of Camelot. The people that survived fled the city, trying to get away from the huge dragon. We lived in the hills for a long time and foraged for food. A few years later when we knew that Camelot was completely safe again, we took a small group to try and start rebuilding. It took us a long time but we managed to rebuild Camelot from the ground up. It was then that we started to rebuild the army and knights started to be trained. Then by the time we had done that we heard of the war that had begun and decided that we should come and assist and hopefully find you. We were contacted by a man in Kings Landing who told us where to find you, he said that we had to protect you at all costs because you were meant for great things. That man was killed by the new King because he found out that he wasn't a legitimate heir." I broke in

"It was Ned who sent you here?" Merlin frowned and nodded, continuing with his story.

"Yes it was. The man that raised you as his own. That's why he sent you away when he did. He was trying to protect you. Then we managed to find the camp and here we are." I looked at Merlin and said "Why didn't you come for me sooner I could have helped you?" Merlin sighed and looked into my eyes. "We decided to leave you where you could start a new life and grow in a safe environment. We all decided to leave you with Lord Stark until you were the right age to take up the throne." I sighed and hugged him again, "I'm just glad that your here." I looked behind me to see everyone looking slightly worried. I waved them all over and they started to make their way over to where we stood. Robb was the first to reach us followed by Theon and Jory. My dragons came forward but stood slightly to one side. Robb stepped forward and shook Merlin's hand. They started to talk and I took the opportunity to look at the men that Merlin arrived with. There were six of them, all dressed in chainmail with red capes around their shoulders. My family crest present on all of them. The first man was very large. He had short chainmail on that showed off his well defined arms. The next man was rather young, probably not much older than me. He had brown unruly hair and he looked like he was constantly on the lookout. I could tell that he possessed magic, I had always been able to tell if someone I came across had magic. The next man had dark skin and a well trained eye. The man after him also had brown slightly curled hair, he had kind eyes and seemed to radiate comfort. The next man I recognised straight away, Sir Leon. He was one of my brothers most trusted men. Before I could look at the last man I felt a nudge from behind me. I turned around to see Emrys behind me. "What's wrong?" He looked at me for a second and tilted his head in Merlin's direction.

"Can you introduce us to Merlin, I'd like to meet my namesake." I smiled at him at put my hand on his back. "Come on then." I smiled and led him over to where Merlin stood. I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around. As soon as he saw Emrys his eyes lit up. "You have a dragon!" I laughed at his excitement. "I actually have 5." His mouth dropped open even more, I called over my other dragons and Merlin looked like he was about to faint. "Their magnificent." Emrys spoke up "You must be the one that I am named after, I am Emrys." Merlin blushed and a huge grin spread across his face. "You named him after me?" I smiled at Merlin and nodded,

"You are and always will be one of my greatest friends." Merlin grabbed me for a hug and held me tight. "I've missed you Merlin." He rested his head on my shoulder

"I've missed you too Kayla." Robb stepped forward and made his way over to us, I quickly introduced Merlin to my other dragons before Robb started to speak. "Come now, you have obviously travelled a long way. Let's get you some warm food and a place to sleep." He led Merlin and the knights away and to the large feast tent. I followed a ways behind the main group of people, deep in thought. When I finally arrived at the tent the tables were covered in food of all kinds. Robb came up behind me and led me over to my seat, he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and proceeded to sit in his own chair. I looked around me and saw that all of the knights and Merlin had been sat at the top of the table, as honorary guests. People were already tucking into the mountains of food so I joined in. I could see Merlin talking to Robb, they were laughing, probably at my expense. My eyes wandered around the table and I found myself looking at the knights again. They were all laughing and talking to the people around them. My eyes landed on the man that I was unable to see before. He was sat with his head down, eating quietly. His brown hair was quite long and was slightly curly. He was very well built and had strong set shoulders. I carried on looking at the man and picking at my food. "Not hungry Princess?" I turned and saw that I was next to magical knight. I smiled at him, "Not really, this was a lot to take in." I looked down at my hands and felt a hand on my back. "I know exactly how you feel, I thought that all of my people were dead but I was so wrong." I looked up at him and gave him a quizzical look.

"You're a druid aren't you?" He suddenly gained a shocked expression,

"Ummm...w-welll." I quickly cut in.

"Don't worry you're not the only one with magic. There is no need for us to fear magic anymore." His face softened and a broad grin spread across his face. "You have magic too?!" I laughed at his excited expression. "Yep, and I've had to hide it all of my life. Let me tell you now, I'm tired of hiding." All of a sudden he pulled me into a tight hug, I hugged him back because he was warm and comforting. "This is going to change everything, my people won't have to hide anymore." I smiled into his cloak and murmured my affirmative. He let go of me and I could see that he was ecstatic. That made me feel better, so I carried on eating my supper. I felt a large head come under my arm and saw Draco stood there looking at me. "Hello Draco, are you okay?" He nodded his large head, he had to be careful because a large pair of horns were starting to grow out of his head. "I just thought that I would come and make sure that you are okay." I smiled at him and stroked under his chin.

"I'm fine Draco, just a little overwhelmed." He nodded his large head and closed his eyes enjoying me scratching him. A loud shriek of laughter could be heard from the head of the table and I turned to see who it was. Robb was sat there tears of laughter streaming down his face and Merlin had his face on the table, small hiccups of laughter coming from him. I smiled at the two of them and laughed to myself. Trust Merlin to befriend the King in The North. A large yawn came over me and I realised that it must be rather late at night, almost daytime. I started to get out of my chair when I heard Robb shout my name. "Where are you going Kayla?" I sighed and walked up to him, still wearing the soldiers cloak around my shoulders. "I'm off to bed Robb, I'm exhausted." He frowned at me, "But the feast has only just started. I thought you'd be happy to see all of your people again." This made me a little angry, "Of course I'm happy to see my people Robb, I just need to sleep and try and get my head around the whole thing. So if you're finished then I shall be leaving." With that I gathered up my cloak and strode out of the tent followed by Draco. Just before I could leave the feast tent I heard a familiar voice shout out my name. I turned around expecting Jory but I came face to face with someone that I thought I would never see again. The man stood before me didn't look much different than the last time I saw him, he was more muscled than before and his hair was slightly shorter. A covering of stubble spread across his jaw. "Gwaine?" My voice was so quiet, I hardly recognised myself. He smiled at me and took a step closer, I took a step back. "What- How are you here?" He frowned at my moving backwards and let out a loud sigh.

"I survived the attack and decided to help Merlin rebuild Camelot. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't miss you Kayla." I frowned at him and said,

"Then why didn't you come for me Gwaine? I've spent all these years thinking that the one person I love the most is dead!" I quickly put my hand over my mouth realising what I had just said. Gwaine's mouth had dropped open and all of a sudden a huge grin spread across his face. He took another step forward, this time I didn't move. By now he was so close I could hear his heart beating. He placed a large hand on my face and stroked his thumb across my cheek. My eyes fluttered closed, enjoying the sensation. Gwaine placed his free hand on my waist, heat seeming to radiate from it. I opened my eyes and looked up at Gwaine, he looked the same yet different. His jaw was strong, a line of stubble covering it. His mouth was still the same, and so were his eyes, even if they did look sadder. He pulled me to him and I gladly obliged, wrapping my arms around his neck, breathing in his familiar scent. We stayed like that for a long time, lost in each other's presence. I felt him pull back slightly and I looked up at him with a frown. Before I could ask him what was wrong, his lips were on mine. He was firm but soft at the same time, his lips ghosting over mine, like a promise. We finally broke apart for air, I looked into his deep brown eyes and smiled. For the first time in years I actually felt loved. As if reading my thoughts Gwaine spoke up "I love you Kay. I never got chance to tell you before the attack, from now on I will never let you out of my sight." I smiled up at him and answered "I love you too Gwaine." There was a loud cough behind us and I peered over Gwaine's shoulder to see Robb and Merlin staring at us, a look of anger and surprise on both of their faces. Before either of them could say anything I gathered my cloak and ran to my tent, securing the door behind me. I sunk down, my back to the entrance of my tent and cried. I heard someone come up to my tent. They could obviously see me sat at the door and they walked away with a loud sigh. When they were gone I stood up and made my way over to my bed, not even bothering to take off the mucky cloak and cried myself to sleep.