Sorry this took so long, first there was the move then I had to re-find Merlin and then my SD card decided everything needed to be deleted. I hope you enjoy.
"Do you want to practise sword fighting?" Katie asked after a pause. She looked at Merlin and smiled, he nodded bashfully and went to grab some chain mail. "What are you doing?" She added, raising one of her eyebrows.
"Getting some armour." He replied slowly, slightly confused.
"I'm not going to attack you,only the sword." She laughed. "You may need a shield though. I'm going to teach you how to block attacks and then, maybe next time you fight Arthur, he won't hurt you so badly." Katie smiled broadly at the man.
Merlin walked back into the arena. Katie took a deep breath and lunged towards him slowly. Merlin stood almost stock still. "Fight back Merlin. Trust me." She instructed.
He stared at her for a while before nodding stiffly. He held his sword tightly and she started lunging again. Merlin hit her sword with his own and jumped back. "Good." She praised him.
They spared for a while, Merlin gaining confidence in his own (however basic) abilities.
"I've got to go and find Gaius." Grumbled Merlin, looking towards a sun dial nearby. "He'll be wondering where I am."
"Suit yourself." She replied mischievously. Katie took the sword out of his hand and removed his shield. "See you later, Merlin." She smiled and the boy left quickly.
"Teaching my servant new tricks?" Said a voice behind the woman.
"You were watching us, Arthur? Why didn't you come and help?" Katie didn't even turn to look at him.
"You seemed to be doing well, alone." He muttered.
"True." She laughed. "You aren't worried I'm going to steal your manservant from you?" Katie asked mischievously.
"You could never steal anything from anyone." He smiled. There was a pause as Arthur walked closer to her.
"Stop it." She groaned.
"What?" He asked, genuinely confused.
"That. Being all sweet and Arthur-y."
"'Arthur-y'?" He laughed, flirtatiously.
"You know what I mean. We've had this conversation. I need to get over you." She sighed.
"You're not over me yet?" He asked, a slight smirk on his face.
"Not what I meant. Please, Arthur." Katie rolled her eyes, not realising that the muscular man had edged so close to her.
"Prince Arthur!" The sound of Merlin's voice could be heard from the other side of the arena, breaking the moment. The boy ran towards Arthur and Katie moved away from him. "It's my mother. Please, Arthur. She's in trouble."
"What is it, Merlin?" Arthur asked concernedly.
"Her village is being ransacked, they will all die. Please." Merlin was on the brink of tears and Katie felt compassion for him.
"I will arrange an audience with the King." The Prince informed him before storming off towards the castle.
"Where is your mother, Merlin?" Asked Katie kindly.
"What? Oh, with Gaius. I really must be getting back to her." He said sadly.
"Do you mind if I come with you?" Katie asked and Merlin blushed slightly.
"Not at all." He smiled. They walked silently to Gaius's room and a dark haired woman looked up as the pair entered. Her face was bruised but it lit up the moment she saw her son.
"Mother, this is the Lady Kathryn. This is my mother Hunith." He introduced the women and sat by the later woman.
"Katie, please. It's nice to meet you, Hunith." Smiled Katie, thrusting out her hand as she sat on the bench opposite the man and woman. Hunith suddenly looked very overwhelmed.
Gaius appeared out of nowhere and gave the woman some ice to put on her cheek.
"Here."
"Thank you." She sighed, putting the ice on her wound.
There was a knock on the door and it opened wide, "My father has agreed to listen to you." Said Arthur proudly. Each person in the room scrambled to their feet to make their way to the court room.
Hunith begged the King to go to Ealdor and Katie was both astonished and disappointed in Uther when he told her 'No.' Arthur and Merlin felt the same way. Katie immediately left for the castle roof. She needed to breath, to get out of the castle.
Anger was welling up inside of her and if she didn't calm down she would do something stupid, like break a vase while Uther was in front of her (not that, that ever happened). "Are you alright?" Asked Arthur, in his usual wooden way.
"Just fine." Katie lied.
"I know it's hard but we have to do as he says." Arthur explained, sighing dramatically.
Before she could rebuke the man, they heard a voice, "Arthur?" Merlin's quiet voice startled Katie and she felt a strong pang of guilt.
Arthur apologised to him and Merlin thanked him for everything. "You'll be coming back?" Arthur half asked, half demanded.
"She's my mother." Merlin almost whispered. Katie felt a sudden and unexpected desire for the man. He really is a good man. She shook it off quickly.
Although the older man acted as though he didn't care, he really did. Merlin left with a simple, "Thank you, sire." before bowing his head at Katie. "Lady Kathryn." He rushed off of the roof.
Katie smiled at her old friend. "I have to go, don't beat yourself up." She patted him on the shoulder and left for Gwen's house. Leaving Arthur alone and wishing he could do something.
Katie knocked on the door gingerly and waited for Guinevere's soft, "Come in."
The woman walked in and smiled. "Lady Kathryn." Breathed Gwen, curtseying.
"None of that, Gwen." She smiled. "Will you help me?"
"With what?"
"Helping Hunith. I intend to go and try to help the village. I know your father was a blacksmith, I'm sure he passed some knowledge of the art down to you, and I can fight. I understand if you do not wish to come, I thought I would just make sure." Explained Katie, looking around the small house.
"It seems you have similar thoughts to Morgana. She has already been to see me." Gwen grinned, turning to pull out a pile of armour from a large chest. "You best change, you will not be able to fight in a dress." She laughed.
"You have no idea." Muttered Katie rushing out of the house and towards her room.