Chapter Two! Yay. Also I am actually going to graduate. Although I've been told my script writing is best suited for screenplays. My Scripts are abstract for a reason!
A big thank you to Frostivy for being the first reviewer!
Just a quick note, I will use some references during this story from books etc. I shall put any references after the chapter for you to read at your pleasure.
Also I'm setting the story in the 6th Century as was the T.V. Show.
Sorry for the large amounts of dialogue and for any grammatical and spelling errors.
Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin nor the original writings of King Arthur.
Awakening
She hadn't realised she had fallen asleep until she awoke, refusing to open her eyes and face the possibility that the dull thud in her head was not a hangover and that she was indeed, stuck.
She lay still, trying to keep her breathing calm in an attempt to appear to still be sleeping.
"When is she going to wake up Gaius?"
The young woman stilled, hoping to hear them remove themselves from the room, so she could at least try to get out and find a way home.
"Merlin, Your faith in my abilities is refreshing, but the young lady in question received a rather nasty head wound and we do not know the ordeal she had before she arrived here."
She almost choked upon hearing the mythical name but remained resolved with her quickly thought out plan, deciding that the name Merlin must be a common one in this place.
"I know but the whole kingdom is on about her! The mysterious sorcerer slayer from other world!" The young man took a breath. "You really don't know who he was?"
"No, nor is there any word from the town either. Whoever he was he seemed to want to use the girl as a sacrifice for the destruction of Camelot."
With the word Camelot, her eyes flew open as she sat up, her mouth slightly ajar with shock, her plan was as hastily forgotten as it was created.
Camelot was a land of fairy tale and now she was expected to believe this was where she was imprisoned. She was also quite aware that two pairs of blue eyes were staring at her, they were surrounded by books and vials containing liquids and powders of a variety of colours, she looked from the elderly man, to the young man next him.
The elderly man wore a robe of dark blue with a red tunic underneath, in his hand he held an open book, and a small pair of half-moon spectacles adorned his nose. The beaming young man with prominent high cheek bones wore a cotton blue shirt accompanied by a brown jacket and a red scarf.
No one spoke, her mouth still ajar and the thud had become a throbbing in her head. Her eyes began to widen if she really was in Camelot then that Merlin could intact exist.
"Merlin?"
She looked towards the older gentleman assuming the description from the legends to be true, albeit there was no long white beard. He seemed to realise she was talking to him but it was the young man who answered.
"Do I know you?"
The man answering to Merlin now looked very puzzled, it didn't help that the young woman in surprise burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Merlin and the old man exchanged a look before they realised the laughter had subsided into sobs. The injured woman held her head in her hands.
"This is madness. This can't be happening! Camelot! Merlin!" She gestured to him. "You're just a boy! This is a farce! The all-powerful wizard! Where's the pointy hat!? I refused to believe this is real! It wouldn't bloody surprise me if you started talking about Excalibur and King Arthur!"
"Well I don't know about Excalibur, but there is Prince Arthur, heir to the throne. His father, King Uther rules Camelot." The elderly gentlemen moved closer, picking up a carved cup containing a black liquid.
She flopped back into the makeshift bed, her arm covering her eyes, trying to protect from her now full blown migraine.
"Lord give me strength!" She peaked one eye to the Elder now sitting beside her. "I'm dead aren't I? That's the only logical explanation! I'm dead and in Hell. Or Insane I can't tell the difference anymore."
"I am quite certain you are very much alive and in surprisingly good health, apart from the head wound and bruising on your legs." He lifted her shoulder as a signal to sit up. "Now my dear, drink this it should help with the pain, and then I believe introductions are in order."
Taking the cup she sipped and hoped it wasn't poison, or made of frogs eyes. Holding her nose she swallowed, and was surprised by the floral taste. Merlin moved a stool so he could be a part of the conversation.
"Seeing as you seem to know Merlin, I am Gaius, the Court Physician."
"Emma."
"A pleasure, so Emma," Gaius took at breath as if to weigh up the question he was about to ask. "You seemed to believe Camelot is fictional, why?"
The migraine began to fade, while Emma considered an answer that did not seem like the ranting's of a crazy woman.
"Honestly." She sighed. "All this is known as a fantasy. No one knows where Camelot was. The story has changed that many times over the centuries I don't know which one to follow."
Merlin perked up.
"Centuries?"
"Yeah, I mean it is the year 2013. The time of Camelot is always being debated by scholars."
Emma waited for a response but Gaius and Merlin were trapped in a stunned silence. She began to get even more worried.
"Erm... Guys?" Emma waited for a response but received none. A pit started to form in her stomach.
"This is 2013 right?"
Bile began to rise in Emma's throat. Gaius was the first to break the news.
"I hate to tell you this but it is the year 563."
How Emma never fainted she would never know, she did not realise she was hyperventilating until Merlin gave her a drink. The possibility of time travel was a shock to the trio of different eras, anger bubbled within Emma, and the hope that this realistic dream was a fantasy was extinguished. Lost and trapped, Emma was an emotional wreck.
"You're meant to be a wizard right. You can send me home." She looked Merlin straight in the eye, pleading.
"Magic is illegal in Camelot. I think you've got the wrong Merlin."
Emma fell back in the bed, numb.
"I was always told this place was magical. I suppose that was a lie. But then again there is no magic in my time."
Emma closed her eyes and leant into the pillow feeling completely overwhelmed.
"Leave her to rest, Merlin."
She could smell food that was for certain, and the resounding grumble from her stomach answered its call.
"Hungry?"
Gaius was stood next to an open fireplace stirring a large suspended pot. The room was now dark and lit with candle light, Emma stretched and relaxed.
"Starved." She looked around. "How long have I slept this time?"
"A few hours, that's all."
"Where's Merlin?"
Gaius started to dish up the boiled liquid into three bowls.
"Finishing his duties, he's Arthur's manservant."
Emma tried to move from the bed to sit at the now uncluttered table which had been prepared for the meal but Gaius stopped her.
"You are meant to be resting. Here." Handing her the bowl with a wooden spoon, she sniffed it and eyed it suspiciously.
"This isn't cow tongue or sheep's brains is it?"
"I don't know what they teach you about us in your time but no, it's vegetable soup."
Pleased with his answer, she took the first bite and felt the hot soup caress her throat.
"Sorry Gaius, but all they call this age the Dark Ages because they haven't found much evidence of the type of life here, especially in writings. But I'm pleased your food is normal."
She ate with Gaius discussing the little knowledge she had of the times as well as answering a few questions about the modern day, especially about science and medicines. It wasn't long before they were joined by a very weary Merlin, who didn't stop to breathe whilst eating.
"I still can't believe the Legendary Merlin is a Servant."
"I still can't believe you're from another time. And you've got the wrong Merlin."
"So you keep telling me."
Emma was as close to content as she could be considering the situation, until she realised something, she was not dressed in the clothes she arrived in. Instead she was in a white cotton nightgown, which meant somebody had taken off her clothes.
"Where are my clothes?"
The two men looked at each other embarrassed. Emma's face began to turn red.
"You didn't." She took a breath. "Please tell me you did not..!"
Merlin interrupted her quickly.
"It was Gwen, Lady Morgana's Maid."
"Gwen as in Guinevere? Wait, the legends says she was a Princess!" Emma was being to detest the annoyingly large amount of versions she was attempting to piece together.
"Morgana, Arthur's sister?"
"Morgana, the King's Ward. It seems the authors of the stories of Camelot exaggerated a fair bit."
"You can take it up with them, they will be writing it soon."
Emma began to look around searching for her clothing, although she had been dressed without her permission, she was grateful for clean clothing, in this time she had nothing. No car, no phone, no laptop, nothing. She now did not have the attire she was brought in, Emma's one connection with home. Gaius followed her eyes around the room.
"Your clothing is being inspected by the King and his council. Although, they are quite unusual."
Emma chuckled.
"Gaius, you're wearing a dress. That is unusual."
Ignoring her comment Gaius continued.
"Tomorrow, the King wishes you to answer some questions about the events that led to your arrival." Gaius began to clear away the dishes. "They came to see you earlier. But as the phrase goes, you were sleeping like the dead."
Emma groaned.
"I was lead to believe men of these times did not stare at a sleeping woman. And do I have to?"
"All of us have responsibilities, Emma. Even Merlin."
Merlin pulled a face to show how much he enjoyed his 'responsibilities'.
"Fine, but firstly I need a bath and secondly, where does one go to relieve themselves because I am not sticking my butt out the window."
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!
Reviews give me a warm fuzzy feeling.
(Edit: This has been checked and changed by my lovely Beta Reader! So Grammatical and spelling mistakes should be minimum.)
