Heeeeeere's the second chapter.

I actually wrote the first and second chapter one after the other, so this was almost in the first chapter but I decided it would do well to be separate because it has a bit of a different idea to it. Sort of, I guess.

I'd also like to take this time to thank Lucky38 for the lovely review. It gave me such joy to learn you liked my little plot ideas and that my style of writing isn't heinous. You and Hyperkid007 are my new best friends because you were both wonderful enough to add my story to your favorites.

Chapter 2:

I Know My Weakness

So, it turns out I fell asleep. I wonder if I ever remember falling asleep because I didn't this time and wouldn't have realized it until after probably twelve hours if Merlin hadn't come barging in and scaring me half to death. My groggy head started searching the room for danger after I sat up when I saw him and I groaned and fell back onto the bed. Merlin gave me a wide smile in apology.

"Sorry, but Gaius...well...we'd thought you'd be hungry."

I shot up then, my stomach fueling my body instead of the food I was waiting for. I started to put my feet down, but Merlin stopped me by clearing his throat. I glared at him and grudgingly grabbed the stupid crutch I would have to rely on. It couldn't have been a day ago that I was running through the woods. If it hadn't been for that darn tree root, I would have escaped completely. I can outrun a bunch of boys who are wearing pounds and pounds of armor.

"Oh, come on. It isn't that bad."

"It is if you're horrible at sitting still." I leaned on the crutch and let Merlin help me down the stairs. Gaius smiled at us and my eyes shot daggers, daring him to say a word at my helplessness.

"Did you have a nice sleep, Gabriel?"

Gabriel. Right. Prince. I had to act decent.

"Yes, thank you Gaius. Thank you for the bed, I was quite comfortable." There you go. I must have acting skills. Even though absolutely none of that was actually not not...er...true.

"Actually, it was Merlin's bed."

"Well, thank you much Merlin." I gave him a smile and he gave a very warm one back.

"You're very welcome, lor—"

"Please, Merlin. I'm to act as a servant here. Call me Gabriel."

He nodded and placed a plate in front of me. It wasn't fancy but I don't remember (haha, so punny) smelling anything so good. I started to eat as soon as the two others did, nearly dying when the food hit my taste buds. There was a chuckle to my left but I ignored it and proceeded to stuff my face. Ever so royal.

I nearly choked at the large amount of food that I swallowed, all at once, but Merlin's large slaps on the back helped. They also felt extremely familiar, which heartened me. Familiar felt good.

"Thanks." I said hoarsely, as one does when trying to breathe and talk at the same time.

"No problem." There was a slight smirk on the boys face but I chose to ignore it as I continued to eat, though less like a starving animal.

"Hungry?"

"Why would you think that, Merlin?" I dared him with my eyes.

"No particular reason." He tried to appear nonchalant but he wasn't trying to win any acting awards.

"I'm sure."

There was a moment of silence and we both laughed in that way where you know that you've just made a good friend. Also in that way where at least one of you is thinking "Really? Another one? I'd have sworn I was the only one!"

"I'll say it again, you're lucky I like you."

"I guess I am," Merlin took another bite and did that eyebrow lift thing people do when they aren't serious.

Gaius shook his head, probably thinking something along the line of 'those crazy kids' when he cut in while we both had food in our mouths.

"Do you know anything about the art of healing, Gabriel?"

I thought about glaring at him, as he knew as well as I did about my amnesia but then I remembered something and decided to give him a big, girly hug later. Maybe a kiss on the cheek.

"You're a very good person, Gaius."

"Did I miss something?" Merlin asked, completely lost. Gaius pretended that he wasn't and gave Merlin a knowing glance. How I adored that man!

"I just remembered something!" I let my utensils fall to the ground and grinned, "I know CPR!"

I got blank stares. "You know, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? Related a bit to the Heimlich?"

Nothing.

"Okay, so I'm foreign." I sighed.

"Can you explain?" Gaius appeared immensely interested. I hesitated.

"I'll show you sometime."

Oh, Lord, that would be an interesting day. Giving the kiss of life to one of these people. Gaius wouldn't care much but Merlin, even if he knew I was female, would be shaken.

"Actually, strike that, I hope I'll never have to. With both seriousness and humor, actually."

"How so?" Gaius had that, 'I love to learn new things' look and if he'd been younger, I'd have expected puppy eyes.

"It's a life saving device that can also be a bit embarrassing when given to a friend. Or a complete stranger."

"I'll hold you to that, saving lives is worth one embarrassing moment."

I nodded. "Beyond that, I don't really remember anything except how to stall a bleeding wound until someone with more experience can come and do what they do," I looked up. "but I am a fast learner, I think. I guess we'll find out."

"I suppose we shall."

Shoveling in another mouthful, I experienced that bliss that only a hungry person knows. Merlin shook his head and I glared at him and we were all having just a splendid time until my new friend sighed and started cleaning up his plate and saw mine, empty, and took it from me. Instead of saying thank you, as was my instinct, I grabbed his wrist and stared at him in confusion. "Am I that boring?" I let go of his wrist with a smile and he wiped the look of shock off of his face and let out a laugh.

"Unlike some people who milk injuries for all they're worth, I have a job to do."

"And I'm sure you're greatly appreciated."

Merlin let out a laugh and shook his head with a knowing look, "Oh, I wish."

And then he left, a parting wave the last I saw of him. For a moment, I was disappointed but then Gaius struck up a conversation about small things.

"Besides getting chased around and thrown in a dirty cell, have you enjoyed your stay at Camelot?" There was a smidgen of humor in his voice and I grinned.

"The bit I saw of it was lovely. Which was pretty much people wondering if I was the devil incarnate as I was tied to a horse and sleeping, which was lovely because I took over Merlin's bed which led to this lovely little dinner where I believe I've made some good friends."

"I still can't understand why you'd ever want to act as a servant." He shook his head and I shrugged, adjusting my leg, which had been propped up on a stool at the insistence of my hosts. Having one's leg up in that position for any period of time was proving tiring. Thinking back, I really couldn't find the reasoning to me suggesting the idea to Uther. I adored the chambers, littered with the smell of fire, potions, and books. There was no question that this place was lived in and a home instead of just a house.

"Well, servants can get places others can't and I really don't like the idea of lording over others. Especially you and Merlin now that I've met you."

Gaius looked at me thoughtfully and I wished I could now have the chance to jump up and glomp him but I would get a stern warning and he would go all parental on me. The ankle will have only one thing good about it; I could get things out of pity so easily. I would have to perfect my puppy eyes but...

"Yes, you don't seem like the type to 'lord over others,' as you put it."

"I do respect Uther and Arthur's authority but it is rather dangerous to have one person ruling over so many people. The hold has to be fragile, I mean. He has to watch his every step to remain in charge."

"Uther has restored peace to Camelot, Gabriel." He leaned forward, "By the way, I do wish to know your real name."

I hesitated, wanting to give this man my every secret and then realized that I really didn't have any at this point. And then I realized I'd known him for less than a day and was acting a bit like Merlin was when I had gotten myself thrown in the dungeons. It was contagious, this automatic trust towards any that show any sort of vulnerable traits. Like fainting in a forest. Besides even that, I could place a finger on one name. Besides the three that had managed to pop into my head, I had the names Jaden, Ali, Kylie, Erica, Delilah, October and so many other female names that felt familiar to me. They all felt a part of me and I was starting to wonder who the heck I was. Some sort of spy?

"I wish I could tell you, Gaius. I really do but I can't even remember that." It wasn't a lie and Gaius saw that in my face so he seemed to retreat from that line of questioning.

"Then I shall call you Gabriella until your memory returns."

I smiled and nodded, "Well, what were we speaking of?"

"Kings and their hold on their people."

"Ah, yes. You said that Uther restored peace to Camelot? That had to be a job."

Gaius started to tell me of the Great Purge and the wars that Uther fought and won. How the king drove back other countries and how the people loved him for the peace but how Uther hated magic. Gaius looked sad at this part, but seemed to push back the emotion.

"Yet having only one ruler..."

"He does have advisors."

"Yet, does he listen to them?" Then I realized how it sounded and I threw up my hands, shaking them and my heads with my eyes wide. "I'm sorry! I don't mean any disrespect to your king."

"No, I understand." And we began a very intriguing conversation on ruling. I suggested a system with more than one person in power, holding each other in check and Gaius pointed out how dangerous that could be for the people if they got stuck in the rut of arguing with each other and then we suddenly dived into a debate on philosophy. Once or twice, maybe three times, Gaius started to ask me on how I could know such things but he caught himself before he finished each awkward question and there was this moment of 'oh yeah, she has amnesia' and then I'd break it with another comment on a different subject and we would get involved in the non-debates.

Halfway during this conversation, he got up and started mixing herbs and carefully heating them. I did get up and start following, him, trying not to crowd him. At the old man's look, I hopped back to the table and started leaning on the crutch. It was only a matter of time before my curiosity got a full hold on me and I started begging answers on their properties and I realized I was hopeless because their names flew out of my head right away. Their site and smell were lingering, but their names flew on the wind. If one of my arms hadn't been occupied, I'm sure he would have put me to work right away. As it was, he would tell me to sit down every so often, and I would grudgingly comply.

It went like this until Merlin came in, his face looking as if he'd eaten something sour.

"Did you have fun?"

I got a look.

"I swear, Arthur..."

"What happened now?" Gaius asked, something between annoyed and angry.

Merlin just glared and went up to his room.

"Is there a back story to this?" I asked, completely amused.

"Arthur has not yet grown into his title."

"Don't lie to him, Gaius." Merlin came bursting out again, storming across to where I sat and Gaius mixed some concoction. "Don't let him fool you Gabriel, Arthur is a prat. Arrogant, conceded, dense."

"Wait... so I've been trying to act the decent person because I'm supposed to be a prince and Arthur is strutting around being anything but?"

"You must have been raised right."

"I suppose."

The odd answer obviously threw Merlin off and he and Gaius shared a look that seemed to be plotting more than anything.

"Gabriel," They both looked at me and I suddenly felt my stomach fall and I reach for the crutch because I could outrun Merlin but I sure couldn't out-hop him. They saw my action and gave each other the look of co-conspirators.

"I'm not tired." I played the child and stood up, trying to make my way towards the door.

"Come on, Gabriel."

"Nope."

Merlin sighed and walked towards me. I hadn't mastered the crutch yet and I nearly fell over as I tried backing up. He kept me up by grabbing my arm to steady me. Using that same caring motion, he started dragging me towards his room.

"I'm not stealing your bed again, Merlin."

"Yes, you are."

I was about to argue but we'd reached the steps and I admit having trouble getting up them. It turned out I was more tired than I thought.

"Here, lean on me." I glared at him with the resolved of a mule.

"I'm sure I'll be comfortable with some blankets and a pillow."

"At least until your ankle's healed."

When I looked to Gaius for help, I realized in an instant that there would be none coming from that direction and I relented with a nod and put as little weight on him as possible but my ankle decided differently and Merlin managed to support it.

"Sorry," I said, incredibly angry at my helplessness. Maybe I was a princess but I didn't feel like the type to let others do everything for me.

"Don't be. It was my...er...our fault you were injured in the first place."

"I tripped on a tree root. You had nothing to do with that. Except the chasing, but I probably would have tripped anyway."

"You'd be surprised."

He helped me sit on the bed and frowned at my ankle. "They aren't much, but you can use my clothes to sleep in. I can help you get dressed."

I nearly shot up at this point and shook my head so rapidly I felt a bit dizzy once my head stopped. "No, no. I"ll be fine. Thank you."

Merlin nodded and left, closing the door. I swear I nearly collapsed out of relief. Now THAT could have been awkward. The guy was WAY too used to helping Arthur, even though it really hadn't been that long since he started working for him. Yes, he was trying to be caring but it seemed so weird. Ah, well. It must be Merlin's way.

I debated changing and eventually decided to because I felt so very out of place in my current clothes that I painfully started to change. Merlin's cloths were a bit big on me but it hid my feminine qualities a bit more than the many layers of clothing I currently had on. They were also more clean. I suddenly remembered the dirt on my face and I groaned. Yes, I wanted it off my face and hands and clothes but the door was so very far away.

There was this knock on the door and I said something along the lines of 'come in' and Merlin had a bowl of water and a cloth and a weird grin on his face. I swear I could have kissed him.

"I'm surprised you waited that long."

"One CAN forget they have stuff all over their faces when having a good time, you know."

"Excuses."

If I wasn't already wiping off the dirt, I was half inclined to throw the rag at him. He sat on the bed next to me and I elbowed him instead. Merlin laughed and I rubbed the cloth on my face and felt the blissful cool air.

"And here I'd thought your skin was dirt colored."

"You're all too good at treating a royal like this." I grinned at his stunned look and he gave me his own exasperated one.

"It's a gift."

We bantered like that for a while until my face and neck were as clean as I could get them and Merlin excused himself, saying Gaius would knock him one if he kept me up much longer. I bid him goodnight and got myself comfortable in bed and wondered what the heck I would be doing while I healed.

XxXxXxXxXxX

I woke up, again wondering if I ever remembered falling asleep. There was another knock on the door and I yawned as I sat up and saw Merlin's smiling face, "Rise and shine!"

"Isn't that the sun's job?" I groaned and I sat up, slouching more than a royal should, supporting this great idea I was having that I really wasn't royalty and it was all some stupid fantasy that was going to end up getting me killed. I yawned and stretched. Merlin handed me the crutch and I took the hint, leaning on it while I rubbed my eyes with my other hand. He moved to help me down the steps but I waved him away. "You aren't always going to be around to carry me everywhere. And I can walk by myself."

"Note to self; Gabriel is cranky when he wakes up."

"Note to Merlin: Gabriel should not be provoked when woken up." Merlin laughed at me, not with me because I really had no humor as I practically threw myself at the table and started to rest my head on my folded arms. It was the smell of some sort of food that made me sit up, much to Gaius' and Merlin's amusement while I glowered at them, eating the broth that really didn't have any taste as my tongue hadn't decided to wake up the taste buds yet, like any normal human being.

"Did you have a nice rest."

"Until it was rudely interrupted, yes."

"See, I told you he was a prince, Gaius. That's how they talk." Merlin said, and Gaius rolled his eyes at the obvious prompting. I, of course, took the provocation. I mean, really, could I stand by and just let that stand in the air. It's like leaving a high five hanging.

"So that must mean all servants sound like idiots."

"Only the special ones."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Somehow, he managed to lift my mood and I actually smiled, hoping it didn't look like a grimace. Gaius laughed warmly and we sat together like a weird family that really had no idea how to have a normal conversation. Yet Merlin was shoveling food into his mouth, trying to get in a word between each bite and failing miserably, and then he nearly leaped from his chair and ran out the door.

When I looked to Gaius, he only told me that Merlin was late and my face fell because I knew it was my fault for being injured. The idiot wanted to help me so he was going to get in trouble.

Gaius saw my face and patted my shoulder gently. "He'll be fine, my dear. Arthur and Merlin have a...strange bond."

"I suppose." I looked at my bowl and was surprised to find it empty. "Okay, breakfast is over. What would you have me do, oh Master?"

"Rest."

"Dear Lord, this is an easy job." I said, sarcasm falling in word-shaped chunks. "Seriously. I can't just sit here all day."

"Explore Camelot. You are in no condition to run errands for me quite yet. I've called a guard to escort you, as Uther ordered."

"But in good enough condition to wander around a city, completely helpless." I swear, these people are the most confusing I could probably ever meet."

"Or you could sit here and watch me work."

"I can take a hint." I ran my hand through my hair as I started to get up and found it matted. "I don't suppose you'd know where to find..."

"There's one on the table over there."

"Thanks."

I hobbled over to the small table, completely ignoring the parental sort of look Gaius gave me as I found a comb. It took far too long to get the tangles out and I muttered at the comb, telling it to work more efficiently but it merely laughed at me and got itself tangled in my hair once more and I resisted the urge to break it in half.

Eventually, I did finish and I grabbed the crutch, knowing that I really couldn't stand on my ankle all day and headed outside. Gaius got one last word in, telling me to rest ever once in a while and not to put weight on my ankle. A guard, was waiting outside and I gave him a nod. The sun was still climbing in the sky and I finally got a good look at Camelot. People went about on business as they probably did everyday. Guards' chain-mail gleamed as they walked, looking very intimidating and people looking more comfortable with them keeping a watchful eye. I felt like a tourist and decided I could for the first few days I was here because the city was simply beautiful. The stone was worn, but not so much that you would think it would fall down on top of you. Instead, it was very comfortable; an old friend. Smiling, I made my way to the wall and brushed my fingers against it. Closing my eyes, I tried to think of the history of the place but could find nothing besides that which Gaius had told me last night. So I moved on towards the courtyard that I'd nearly gotten pulled on yesterday by the knights. Everyone seemed to keep an eye on me, and I did a very good job at ignoring them, if I do say so myself.

"It has to be wonderful, seeing all this everyday." I told the guard, who merely looked surprised I was speaking to him. He didn't say a word though. Very professional in his business.

I didn't want to get him in trouble so I simply started wandering about. When I got hopelessly lost, I did ask them for directions to the training field. They all looked suspicious but they answered truthfully and I smiled my thanks. When I got there, Arthur and Merlin were there. Arthur, whacking on some poor knight's shield with a ringing sword and Merlin cleaning something. Merlin saw me first and gave me a welcoming but utterly confused smile and I waved back. It was at that same moment that Arthur defeated his opponent and saw Merlin giving me that look.

"Is there a reason you're here, Gabriel?" Obviously he was completely comfortable treating me like a servant, as I'd asked.

"Gaius won't allow me to do work and told me to explore." I shrugged, hoping he didn't actually realize I was a girl.

"And you came here?"

"Why not, sire? I figure when I work with Gaius I'll have plenty of time wandering the wonderful city but I'll hopefully never end up here."

"I see."

He turned away to do more manly-man training and I watched. I got particularly interested in watching a young knight-to-be practicing his forms. Sweat was pouring from every visible inch of him and he seemed more frustrated than he should be practicing that one form. When he finally threw the sword down in exasperation, I moved as quietly as I could with the crutch and then let it fall, picking it up while the knight wasn't looking. When I got close, I let the crutch fall and bent down with all of my weight on my left food and picked up the weapon. The guard that had been following me all day started to unsheathe his sword, if I could hear it right, and I turned with a smile.

"I promise I won't do anything stupid." The young warrior turned to see me with the weapon in hand. Everything seemed to stop as the man/girl under suspicion had a sharp, pointy object.

"You see, if you move your wrist and arm...like this," I demonstrated, wishing I had both feet to help me balance, "but you should keep your other arm ready for attack. Don't get cocky. That way, if your opponent swings a sword at you, you can grab his wrist."

"Like Prince Arthur did against Valiant?" Now that the young man seemed to not think I was evil, he looked thoughtful as I handed him the sword and he tried it. He didn't get it right away, but he now had the basic idea and was practicing it correctly.

"Uhh...I'm afraid I don't understand."

"It was before you got here." Arthur cut in, sword in hand; looking very threatening. I was glad I still didn't have the sword and I let my chin fall to my chest respectfully. Then Arthur played the show off and, using only his toe, sent the crutch flying through the air and caught it with his free hand. He handed it to me and I took it, even though I wanted to be off it for some time. One hardly gets a chance to simply practice standing on one foot and here was that chance and the blonde had to ruin it.

"Ah. Thank you. Sorry to interrupt."

"Where did you learn that?"

I stopped, looking surprised. "I beg your pardon, sire?"

"Where, pray, did you learn that?"

He must have forgotten and I had to urge to smack him one but I only I let out a tense laugh, so I was a bit proud of my self-control, "I'm afraid I don't remember correctly, my lord. It was simply muscle memory; that seems to have outlasted my fall."

"When you ankle heals up, you could be of good use here, Gabriel."

"Only if Master Gaius doesn't need me." I said politely, and Merlin looked like he was about to burst out laughing. My gaze had been broken and Arthur looked over and saw Merlin, who promptly looked very interested in what he was doing. "I do hate being a bother, though," I cut it, trying to distract from the kind servant, "I shall go find something to do." And I went over to Merlin and prodded him until he bequeathed a rag and we started cleaning, side-by-side. Now that everyone seemed satisfied I wasn't going to start turning them into toads or throwing daggers like madwoman/man, they went about their business. Arthur helped the young man and I did not feel proud of myself for drawing attention to the boy and watching him improve. At all.

"By the way, if Gaius asked, I never did any work."

"I'm not going to lie to him."

"I wouldn't ask that! But you don't have to mention, you know, right away, that I was doing work."

"He'll understand."

"You say that now..."

We both laughed and the work really didn't seem like work anymore. I got rather distracted by the gleaming swords and pounding quarterstaves several times and only the berating of my friend kept me working.

"It looks like you know what you're doing." He said, nodding towards the ringing weapons.

"I only wish I remember how I know."

"We all do." He put a hand on my shoulder and I gave him a smile. Optimism! Angst didn't seem like a good option and I continued to clean the armor until I realized that it was clean. When I started to reach for more, there was none.

"Now what?"

"Now it's time for target practice." Arthur chose to show up just then.

"Really?" Merlin said, entirely annoyed.

"Yes, really." The prince gave his servant a pointed look and Merlin sighed, leaving with a 'yes sire' before going off to fetch something. I wanted to run after him but there was no chance of me keeping up so I just looked past the prince and watched men of different skills duel each other, some laughing as they rested while Arthur wasn't looking, and others trying to chose a weapon. It felt...odd. As if I'd seen something similar but not quite the same. I did notice everything was read and gold and silver, like a high school.

"By, jove! I've remembered something!" I lept up and suddenly remembered (from the pain) that my ankle wasn't up to par which turned me into a person saying ow pathetically.

Arthur played the prince and ran over to help me, then gave me a princely look after I'd sat down. "You are going to tell me what you remembered?"

"High school!" Again, wondering with the wondering if I was insane. I shook my head and waved his creeping suspicion away. "It's four years of schooling that those in the age of...er...15ish to 18 or 19ish go through. Some of it is boring but all of the similar colors reminded me that they're...uh..." I remembered the colors but not what they were called so I just said, "color coded, I guess."

"How is this helpful?"

"We could find the country this is in?" I said, realizing the information was interesting but completely useless. "I remember blue and gold, but..."

Arthur nodded and I shrugged away his concern. "You shall inform the king tonight."

"Of course." There was a moment of silence and I burst up again, this time not putting a lick of weight on my right leg (I do learn some things quickly) but instead nearly nailing Arthur's chin with the top of my head. "I need to see Gaius!"

"Excuse me?"

"No, no. Please excuse me sire. This is of the direst circumstances." Is direst even a word?

"Do you need assistance? Merlin can—"

"Thank you sire, but no. I'm getting quite used to hobbling around already." But Merlin showed up at that moment anyway and glared at me for not using my crutch to jump. I ignored him and scampered off (if one on crutches can actually scamper) after giving a polite little bow of my head to Arthur. I heard my personal guard chuckle at my odd run and I decided to send him a glare later but had no time now. When I burst in, I think I nearly gave Gaius a heart attack. The guard waited outside, coughing all too much and a bit unnaturally for someone who was supposed to be in perfect health.

"What is it?"

"We need to tell the king!"

"Now, Gabriel—"

"Exactly! Now!"

"Why do you need me to—"

"Because I'm not supposed to be alone, remember? And as the lovely guard doesn't know I'm a chick, and you do, I would greatly like that person to be you."

"I appreciate your thirst for honesty, Gabriella, but I'm afraid I do have work to do."

"Then let me help you! It'll go faster and—"

"My dear, you need to rest."

"I promise I won't even think of walking for two days but I really feel like lying to Uther, or even accidentally deceiving him, is not a good idea."

"I wouldn't be so hesitant if I was only worried about your ankle. It is only a sprain."

That stopped me dead in my tracks, or just completely threw me off of them (whatever that means) and I started at Gaius a bit. Sighing, he put down what he was doing and gently helped me sit down and I let him because I saw the serious look in his face. Was I dying? Did I catch an incurable disease in that forest? Was I cursed? Did I start screaming in my sleep? Did someone, like Merlin, catch my incurable disease and we were dying together? WAS MERLIN DEAD? I saw him, what, two minutes ago?

The panic in my heart must have magically appeared on my face and Gaius suddenly looked alarmed.

"What is it?"

"I think I have an over-active imagination." I said dully, willing him to calm my fears and stupidity with telling me he was just over-worried over my being a girl or something like that. "Please continue."

"You've been through quite a shock and I don't think it's hit you quite yet." At my expectant, are-you-is-from-God look, he continued, "You have amnesia, child. There's a certain stress that usually comes with losing your memory. So far you have displayed little of this stress. If you don't rest, the combined stress could be dangerous."

I hadn't considered that. I'd basically just accepted the amnesia and hadn't really even thought of thinking of it. Merlin and Gaius had proved to be a very good distraction, and one I quite enjoyed so far. Being mistaken for a boy was actually quite funny. But now that Gaius had mentioned it, I knew practically nothing about myself.

"Gaius, you're right." I felt every ounce of confidence in me drop in one moment, "I don't know who I am, where I've been, my friends family." In that moment, I sucked in a breath and felt my eyes go wide and my hand clutch for Gaius'. "Dear Lord, Gaius! What if they're all dead! What if some sorcerer killed my family and erased my memory!" The accent of Camelot fell from my voice and my own took over at this point and I clenched my fists and watched them slowly whiten as I tried to gain what little sanity I had left and dispel the panic that was threatening to take over my breath, my heart, my words. "Gaius, what if..." Tears welled up in my eyes and I couldn't say the words and was glad Gaius didn't know me well enough to guess their echo in my head as my left leg curled up to my chest and my arms wrapped around them protectively. Poor Gaius really didn't know what to do with a crying girl and awkwardly put an arm around me. Somehow, I still had control over my breathing and each lungful of air wasn't met with the shakiness of an earthquake.

"What if questions don't help, child." He tried soothing, but he really was bad at the parenting thing.

"Neither does reminding me that I know practically nothing about myself or who I may or may not love." I tried to accuse him but I'm bad at that sort of thing when fighting off a panic attack.

What if I killed them?

The words rebounded in my my head and I buried my head against my leg.

The door knocked suddenly I gained control over myself. Gaius had brought the state on so it was okay that he saw this weakness but whoever was at the door would know nothing. It wasn't Merlin—which would have made matters worse—because Merlin wouldn't knock to enter his own home. Instead, a female voice filtered through the door. Gaius removed his arm with my sudden acting skills and I grabbed my crutch, grabbing something to start pounding herbs into powder.

"Come in."

I didn't look to see who entered, but I kept my head down because I heard the gentle fabric dragging over the ground and the measured steps of a noble.

"I came to see our visitor."

Tell her to go away!

"Gabriel, this is the Lady Morgana."

I put down the instrument and turned around, bowing my head. Looking up, I was quite honestly dazzled by the site. The raven-haired lady was a beauty that would never be mistaken for a guy. Her back was straight and her hands politely in front of her as she inspected me with an eye that was somehow both calculating and as gentle as the light reflecting off of her hair. She was the princess, not I.

"Gaius, this can't be the man that came here. This is a girl."

Crap.

"Uh, yes. A mistake I've been meaning to rectify..." I started to mumble, my eyes suddenly drawn to the intricate pattern the dust drew on the floor.

"And she's been crying!" Morgana's steps were quick and she drew my chin up to meet her eyes even though I was taller than her. "Arthur really is an idiot, isn't he, Gaius! Making this poor girl cry because of his thick skull."

Gaius didn't say anything, just quietly smiling as he watched us telepathically speak to each other in the way that girls seem to sometimes. What her eyes said made me forget my stupid over-imaginative questions and focus on how to get back Arthur and Merlin for their horrendous mistake.

"Thank you for insulting Prince Arthur on my behalf, My Lady, but it is my lack of memory that upset me."

Oh, I'm good.

"Poor thing."

We bonded again telepathically. I swear it.

Then we sat down and started talking. I told her in my own words (less court-like) to her and she listened and only interjected with questions and insults for the prince. The fact she was the king's Ward sitting in such a place didn't bother me long because of the simplicity that almost anyone could feel at home there. Gaius working on some concoction and ignored me begging to help him. Morgana then told me of her relationship with Arthur and Uther and spoke of her maidservant, Gwen.

"I'm surprised Merlin didn't notice." Morgana said thoughtfully.

"You know Merlin?"

"Oh, yes." She smiled. My look must have given something away because she started to tell me of how Merlin had saved Arthur's life from a despair-ridden witch and had helped saved Gwen and, really, all of Camelot by riding the water supply of Nimueh's curse.

"We have to give them some credit. I was completely covered in dirt and wasn't exactly acting the part of a lady." I laughed, thinking about me teaching one of Arthur's warriors something before he had a chance to and talking with food still in my mouth.

"No excuses. We must find a way to extract revenge. Gwen can help, though I suppose her feelings for Merlin may get in the way..."

"I do wish to meet Gwen. She sounds lovely."

"She is."

We sat in a comfortable silence, both thinking on the conversation when Gaius spoke from where he was standing. "Morgana, I'm sure Uther has told you of Gabriella's restrictions?" A nod. "She wishes to tell the king of her true gender but I am quite busy here."

"I would love to accompany you." Morgana said without hesitation.

"You wouldn't be so busy if you'd let me assist you like I'm supposed to." I grumbled, then let my voice raise to a level of proper hearing, "Thank you so much Milady."

"I know you want to act a servant, but I have to insist you not call me that when we're alone." Her tone informed me that she was not to be trifled with and I only smiled, feeling playfulness reach into the darker parts of my brain and extract something from a distant memory that I wished to call upon.

"Of course." She's going to kill me. "Milady."

"Now you're acting like Arthur."

I followed her less gracefully and nodded to the guard who seemed tense at how close I was to their precious Lady. Seeing this, I moved a bit away. When Morgana opened her mouth to argue against this, I looked at my silent friend. A look of understanding crossed her face and she looked straight ahead.

We reached the double doors of the council chambers and I leaned against the wall. Using the crutch was both annoying and exhausting. But we did not have to wait, as I expected. Instead, the moment the Lady reached the doors, they were opened by the guards. I scrambled to follow her, only to stop as soon as I entered the room to look down, shoulders hunched. Bowing every two seconds was stupid, really, so I somehow knew this was the way servants acted towards the nobles when either side of the line of status passed each other or entered a room.

"Morgana?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but I and Gabriel have some important information that we wish to give you in private."

"Of course."

Who was this girl to request the king of his time and to get it without question?

There hadn't really been a council, just some knights with sheafs of paper, and they left at the wave of the hand of their king. They looked at me in alarm, obviously not trusting me as far as they could throw the castle, much less me. Morgana gave them a look though, and they moved on though I knew they'd probably be waiting outside the door in case their king ordered them to arms because I'd decided to go all evil on them.

"What is it, Morgana?"

"I believe our guest wishes to tell you."

This time I did bow, thanking whatever gods I might believe in that I could balance on one foot.

"Go on."

"I'm afraid there has been some misconception, Your Highness. When I was brought here the first time, I'm afraid I was rather distraught and it didn't cross my mind." I bit my lip, then stood, thought not daring to look a freaking king in the eye for fear it could be seen as a challenge. "I am, in fact, female."

Oh, I am having fun with this fic. Probably too much, actually, and I hope you are too.

You can prove it reviews. Hinthint.