A/N: Thanks for the reviews! It really makes me happy to see that people like this story. So I started school again today and I'm hoping that they won't dump us with tons of homework on the first week because I'm planning to squeeze in another chapter this week before next tuesday. My updates will usually be on Tuesday (I can't promise anything) so please bear with the wait. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!


Chapter Three


Myka stared at Merlin hard and her eyes widened when she finally recognized him.

"M-Merlin?" She exclaimed. Merlin nodded and she gave a shriek before jumping towards him and pulling him into a hug.

"I can't believe it! I never thought I'd see you again!" She said, her eyes sparkling. Merlin laughed.

"I thought that too! It's been so long." He said, looking at her up and down as well. Myka laughed as well.

"I didn't know you left Ealdor. Why did you leave?" She asked as they both sat down on the edge of her bed. Merlin sighed.

"I needed a change." He said simply. Myka nodded. The two chatted for quite a while. They both managed to catch each other up on what had been happening in their lives and Merlin was surprised to hear some of the things Myka talked about.

"You lived in the forest for a year?" He said, appalled. Myka nodded.

"Ella got poisoned by a spider when we were travelling to Mora after we left Ealdor. I couldn't do anything to help her." Myka said quietly. Merlin felt sorry for her and patted her arm awkwardly.

"I'm so sorry." He said. Myka shrugged.

"I was only nine when she died. I didn't know how to get back to Ealdor or how to get to Mora. So I tried surviving in the forest as best as I could. It was hard dodging all those bandits lurking around. I taught myself how to use the weapons I stumbled across." Merlin looked at her in shock. Back when they were kids, Myka was always sickly and weak. She always seemed so vulnerable but Merlin could see that she was no longer the child she was in Ealdor.

"How did you end up in Mora?" Merlin asked.

"I saw some knights in the forest and I asked them for help. I asked them if they could take me to Mora and it turned out that they were heading to Mora themselves. They took me to King Robert and when I told him my predicament, he took me in." She said.

Merlin listened to her story in awe. He could imagine Myka as a little girl trying to survive in the forest.

"I'm glad you're here though, Merlin. At least I know there's someone here in Camelot that I can trust." She said, smiling. Merlin smiled back.

"I'm glad you're here too, Myka. I missed you a lot when you left." He said. Myka sighed and rested her head against his shoulder.

"I missed you too. I wish I'd found my way back to Ealdor instead of heading for Mora. I could've stayed with you and Hunith." She said wistfully.

Merlin was quiet for a while. Would things have been different if Myka didn't leave Ealdor? Would he have still gone to Camelot instead of staying in Ealdor? Questions spun around inside Merlin's head but he pushed them aside. He didn't want to dwell on too much on what could have been.

"Merlin? Does anyone here know about your um, magic?" She whispered the last word. Merlin shook his head.

"No. If Arthur or the king finds out I have magic I'll probably get executed." He said.

"It must be hard to keep it a secret." She said.

Merlin thought for a bit. "It's kind of hard. I only use it when I have to, I suppose." Myka smirked.

"Do you use it to do the chores Arthur gives you?" She said with a grin. Merlin laughed.

"Not always." He admitted. Myka laughed.

"I knew it." She said, grinning wider. Merlin's smile quickly faded when he heard Arthur shouting his name.

"MERLIN! WHERE ARE YOU?" Merlin groaned and stood up.

"I better go see what he wants." Merlin said apologetically. Myka stood up as well.

"Can I come with you? I have nothing to do here and I'd love to take a look around for a bit." She asked eagerly. Merlin looked at her and smiled.

"Come on, let's go see what Arthur wants." He said. Myka smiled back and followed him out of the room.

Myka and Merlin chatted happily on their way down to the grounds where Arthur and the knights were. Myka told Merlin all about Mora and he could see that she missed the place.

"Merlin! Get my sword and shield!" Arthur called as they approached. Myka raised an eyebrow as she one of the knights next to Arthur winked at her.

"Hello again, Myka!" The knight called, flashing her a grin. Myka recognized the voice and waved.

"Hi, Gwaine!" She said, smiling back. Merlin looked between her and Gwaine.

"You know Gwaine?" He asked, feeling surprised. Myka shrugged.

"He was the one who brought me to the castle." She said.

"Oh," Merlin said. Arthur marched up to them and was surprised to see Myka standing next to Merlin.

"What are you doing here?" Arthur demanded in a somewhat rude manner. Myka seemed not to have noticed Arthur's rudeness.

"I wanted to look around for a bit and Merlin said it was ok to come with him." She said. Arthur looked taken aback and shot Merlin a furious look before facing Myka again.

"Fine. You can stay. But you can join us if you want." He said jokingly. Myka seemed to have taken his words seriously because her eyes brightened excitedly.

"Really? I'd like that a lot. Thank you, sire!" She said exuberantly. The rest of the knights smirked at Arthur's dumbfounded expression.

"Right. Er, do you have anything other than a dress to change into? You can't fight wearing that." Arthur said, composing himself. Myka's face fell.

"This is all I have besides my nightgown." She said, looking down at her dress.

"You can just wear the nightgown." Gwaine offered. "Honestly, I wouldn't min-"

"Why don't I take her to Gwen and see if she can borrow anything?" Merlin said loudly, cutting Gwaine off abruptly. Myka smiled.

"Thanks, Merlin. I'll see you all later then." She said, waving goodbye to Arthur and the knights. Arthur shook his head as he watched Merlin and Myka leave.

"She is the strangest woman I have ever met."

/

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Merlin asked worriedly. They were at Gwen's house and she managed to find a pair of trousers to fit Myka.
"Of course!" Myka retorted. "Don't you think it'll be fun?"

Fun? Merlin thought weakly. Gwen returned carrying other dresses for Myka.

"Here, you can borrow these. I know you didn't get to bring much with you." She said. Myka smiled at her and hugged her quickly.

"Thank you so much, Gwen. You are a good person. I hope we can be friends." She said, clearly pleased. Gwen looked a bit surprised by her words but smiled back.

"Of course." Myka and Gwen said their goodbyes and promised to see each other again. Merlin was watching this with a smile on his face. Myka gathered up her things and turned to Merlin.

"Will you lend me one of your shirts?" She asked. Merlin frowned.

"Didn't Gwen give you one?"

"She said they were dirty. Please, Merlin!" She pleaded. Merlin sighed.

"Fine." Myka smiled brilliantly at him.

"Thanks so much. I really owe you one."

"Just do me a favour. When you're out there with Arthur and the knights, try not to get yourself hurt, ok?" Myka looked at Merlin.

"I promise." She said.

A few minutes later, they headed back to the grounds where the knights were. Surprisingly, Myka didn't look odd wearing Merlin's shirt. The purple shirt along with the black trousers she borrowed looked fine. She was also wearing a pair of heeled boots she bought at the market on their way back to the castle.

"So, you're back." Arthur said as he made his way towards Merlin and Myka.

"Am I too late?" Myka asked worriedly. Arthur shook his head.

"We were just about to start practising our shots."

"Oh, I think I can handle that." She said confidently. Arthur merely raised an eyebrow and led her to where the bows were.

"Take your pick. We'll be waiting." Arthur said. He walked away and stood with the other knights who were watching Myka with great interest.

"She seems very... Free spirited." Percival decided. The others murmured their agreements.

"Gwaine, will you quit staring at her like that? Its rude." Arthur snapped. Gwaine shrugged.

"I was just looking at her clothes. Isn't that Merlin's shirt she's wearing?" He pointed out innocently. The other knights looked at her and gasped.

"It is!" Elyan said, shocked. Gwaine looked at them with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Could it be the reason they took so long to return was because th-"

"For crying out loud, Gwaine! Do you honestly think Merlin would do something like that? The only met today!" Arthur exclaimed. Gwaine shrugged.

"Looks like they know each other pretty well, if you ask me."

Merlin had walked to Myka's side and was talking to her. She had picked out a beautifully carved bow and was walking over to the knights.

"What were you all staring at?" Merlin asked suspiciously. Gwaine pretended not to have heard him.

"Lets get started then." He said clapping his hands. Myka watched as Arthur lined up his shot carefully before releasing the arrow. It whizzed through the air and landed on the corner of the target. Gwaine snorted.

"Is that the best you can do?" Arthur glared at him.

"I fight better with a sword." He said. Gwaine rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Myka. Your turn." Arthur couldn't help but smirk when he saw Myka step up. There was no way she could do any better.

To everyone's utter surprise, Myka's arrow flew cleanly through the air and landed with a thud at the very centre of target.

"That was incredible, Myka!" Merlin exclaimed. She put the bow down and grinned sheepishly.

"I guess." She said modestly. Gwaine clapped her on the back.

"You just might be the best archer here." He complimented. Myka blushed.

"I don't think so." She said. Arthur was feeling a little jealous. He looked like an idiot next to Myka. He looked at his arrow wobbling slightly on the target and felt annoyed at Myka.

"Let's see how her good her sword skills are." Arthur challenged. Merlin looked at Arthur, astonished.

"Sire, she doesn't have any armour." He protested. Arthur sighed.

"We'll use the blunt weapons then. The most they can do is give her a nasty bruise." Myka put a reassuring hand on Merlin's arm.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Merlin watched her pick up a sword and head towards Arthur.

"Ready?" Arthur asked. Myka nodded and Arthur swung at her quickly with his sword. Myka dodged and thrust her sword forwards, almost hitting Arthur's chest. Gwaine whooped and Arthur glared at him.

"You're quite fast." He said to Myka as he blocked one of her hits. Myka kept slashing and charging until she tripped and fell on her back. Arthur stood over her and grinned triumphantly.

"Ha! I win!" He said, looking at the knights. Myka quickly picked up her sword and jabbed at the back of Arthur's knees. Arthur roared in pain and jumped back. Myka stood up and swung at his arm. Arthur didn't get the chance to defend himself and winced as the blunt blade left a throbbing bruise on his arm.

Arthur tried to reach for his sword but Myka quickly hit his arm and wacked his knees again, sending him to the ground. Arthur looked up and saw the point of Myka's sword in his face.

"Looks like I win again. Never take your eyes off your opponent unless you're sure they're out cold." She said breathlessly. She tucked her sword away and offered her hand out to Arthur. He sighed and took it. Myka helped him to his feet and he gave her a small smile.

"Not bad. Where did you learn to fight like that?" Myka grinned.

"I picked it up." She said. Merlin caught her eye and she winked. He figures she must have learned while she was surviving in the forest.

"Hmm." Arthur mused. "Maybe you can join us again tomorrow, if you want." Merlin looked at Myka who smiled.

"I'd like that." She said. Arthur smiled wider and clapped her on the shoulder.

"Next time, I won't hold back so you better be ready." He warned.

"Bring it, Pendragon." She said. Arthur was surprised at how she addressed him but didn't seem annoyed by it. He watched her leave and saw Merlin about to follow her.

"Oi! Where do you think you're going?" He barked. Merlin turned around and smiled sheepishly.

"Um, I was just going to make sure she's ok." He said. Arthur snorted.

"From the way she defeated me, I think she can take care of herself. And why are you so protective of her? She's not your sister or anything so let her have her space." Merlin realized Arthur was right. He had been worrying too much about Myka and forgot that she can defend herself very well. He didn't need to always watch out for her.

"Hello? Merlin? Aren't you going to go get dinner ready for me?" Arthur demanded.

"Oh? Uh yes, sire." Merlin said quickly before hurrying back to the castle.

Arthur walked back to the castle with the knights. They were all still talking about how Myka defeated Arthur.

"She's like some sort of warrior or something." Elyan said in wonder.

"A warrior princess." Gwaine supplied. The knights all agreed that Myka must have been a warrior princess in her past life and Arthur laughed at their musings.

"She's still the strangest person I've ever met."