I've only just realised that I have never given any credit to the creators of 'Merlin.' I do not own any characters except Katie. I do not own episode 10 of the first season of 'Merlin' either. I do not wish to be sued :D
I also have no idea how old Arthur is in 'Merlin' so I'm just guessing he's about twenty. This is a tad fluffy, I'm interested as to who you all prefer Katie with. Arthur or Merlin? Obviously you all know her destiny but it doesn't mean she goes straight to Merlin.
That night Katie fell asleep quickly but was awoken by voices. Arthur and Merlin were talking. She couldn't understand what they were saying, they were talking too quietly, but she could tell that it was a friendly conversation, not one where Arthur put Merlin down.
The next morning the group were abruptly awoken by Merlin. He was trying to help his mother cook some breakfast and he dropped a pan in true Merlin style. Surprised she hadn't woken up earlier Katie decided to get up and help, unlike the rest of the group who moaned and turned over to go back to sleep.
"No, you are a guest in this house." Hunith told her and shooed the girl away. Merlin smiled apologetically as Katie decided to go and set up a training ground outside.
He looked at his mother and she smiled, "Go." She whispered and he did as he was told.
Merlin smiled as he saw the girl. She was staring off into the distance, holding a small piece of wood. He walked up beside her.
"It's so peaceful here. It's beautiful. I don't know how you ever left." She spoke quietly, not wanting to disturb the tranquillity of the village.
"I left before anyone could find out about me, but yes it was hard."
"I envy you Merlin." She sighed.
"You envy me? The Lady Kathryn envies me?" He laughed quietly.
"Leaving your friends and family because you want to save them? I envy that." She took in a deep breath of fresh cold air and sighed.
"Why do you say that?" Finally, I may find out about her past.
"I was born into a wealthy and sophisticated family. They had very close ties to the King." She started, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach. "Gaius has never gone into proper detail but my house was burned down, suspicious circumstances. I have the feeling I caused it. I was three years old. I was given to the King and he gave me to Gaius. He said that he didn't want another child and wouldn't take me in. Arthur was only a year older than me and Uther was still damaged after his wife's death. Gaius took me in instead."
"But Uther took you back?" Merlin asked, confused.
Katie smiled, "He looked after me until I was about six. Then Uther took me back, felt guilty I think. He treated me well but I felt safer with Gaius. I fell in love with Arthur" Merlin twitched and started blushing, Katie noticed, "when I was about ten." She laughed, "I called it love but I think it was just deep admiration. When I was thirteen Arthur and I asked for the King's permission for us to get married. Uther agreed on one condition, that we would wait another three years to have the ceremony. A few months after our betrothal I broke a vase, in front of the King."
"Well that's not too bad, is it?" Merlin asked.
"It is, if you are no where near said vase." She sighed. "He had a whole investigation and decided I was a sorceress. It was true of course but I left before they could find that out. I said goodbye to no one and left in the middle of the night. I travelled with gypsies for five years and decided to return."
"Why?" He turned to look at her, finally.
"I found out my destiny and I decided I needed to follow it." She smiled, looking at the boy.
"Is that the only reason?" A pang of jealousy coursed through him.
"Well I wanted to come back to see Uther, Morgana, Arthur and Gwen too."
"Can I ask what your destiny is?" He returned her smile, finally.
"Merlin?" Gwen's soft voice echoed around the quiet yard. The pair turned to look at the girl. "Breakfast's ready."
Merlin sighed as the girl went back in the house. Katie laughed quietly, "I guess you'll just have to find out."
They walked back to the house together. Arthur was the only one not up and dressed. Katie kicked him in the side softly. "Wake up, sleepyhead." Arthur's reply was a groan and mumble as he pushed off his blankets. He washed himself and started to eat his breakfast.
Merlin helped him get dressed. Katie watched them, feeling slightly angry that Arthur was still treating Merlin like a servant in his own home.
"Still can't dress yourself?" Morgana teased.
"If you have a dog you don't fetch the stick yourself. No offence." Arthur replied.
"None taken." Merlin confirmed.
"Prince Arthur, you didn't finish your breakfast." Hunith told the Prince, handing him a bowl.
"Didn't I? Thank you." He forced out. He then gave the bowl to Gwen while Hunith was out of sight.
Katie left before the rest of her friends she wanted to hit something, hard. She had her bow and arrow with her so that she could do some target practise, preferably with Arthur's head.
She sent arrow after arrow flying. Eventually, she heard all of the men leave their houses and make their way to the yard. Katie walked back to find Arthur already training his 'troops.'
She stood by Morgana and Gwen, "Need any help?" She asked.
"No, we're ok here thank you. Maybe Merlin, Arthur or Hunith need help." Morgana said.
Katie nodded, making her way over to Arthur.
"Can I help?" She asked.
"Thank you but I have got it covered." He smiled, noticing her disappointment. "Maybe Hunith needs help."
"Ah yes with the cooking. The only thing I'm terrible at." She grumbled. Arthur stared after her, worried he'd upset his ex-fiancé.
Katie tried cooking, she was awful. As a person and when she was fighting she was quite graceful but put against ingredients and a mixing spoon, all hell broke loose. After a bowl of flour was dropped and Hunith started to loose her patience, Merlin stuck his head around the door. "Do you want to come and give me a hand?"
"God, yes." Katie replied, literally running out of the door. "What are we doing?"
"Chopping wood." He shrugged."Ah, exotic." She said sarcastically, smiling.
They reached the trees and Will appeared, Katie made sure Merlin's old friend couldn't see her, she didn't want a re-match of the day before. "Why have you got that?"
"Why do you think? We need wood." Merlin laughed.
"We both know you don't need that to fell a tree."
"And look what happened, I almost flattened old man Simmons."
"Yeah well he deserved it." Will smiled and Katie re-appeared, tired of their strange banter.
"Good morning, William." She said coldly.
"Lady Kathryn." He replied, surprised.
"She knows. It's ok." Merlin sighed.
"She knows but Arthur doesn't?"
"She has a name." Katie folded her arms angrily.
"Sorry Katie." Merlin replied, smiling sadly. Will raised his eyebrows.
"I'll leave you to it Merlin. I'll see if Arthur wants a hand." She told the boy walking away. Arthur doesn't need a hand, you should have stayed, idiot. I don't want Merlin to have to choose between me and Will. She thought.
"'Katie'?" Will asked.
"Yes. Why are you being like this?" Merlin asked angrily.
Katie ignored the rest of the conversation. She was going to help someone whether they liked it or not.
If you review I will write faster :D