Katie did not speak to Uther that day, or the day after. After all she had been through she didn't have the strength to reason with the most unreasonable man alive. She could feel the voice becoming restless as they waited for Merlin's return.
Katie had not been looking out of the window when that evening the men returned. She had been pacing in Merlin's room trying to think about what to say to Uther. She heard the front door open but carried on pacing, she had resigned herself to the room so that Uther wouldn't find out she was in the castle and if it was Gaius he would call to her.
She was deep in thought when the door to the room swung open and she jumped back in surprise. At the door way was the man she was waiting for, looking drained and mucky. "Merlin?" She asked as he collected his thoughts.
"Katie?" He finally replied, he dropped his things and ran at the girl, arms outstretched and held her tightly. "I'm so sorry." He muttered over her shoulder as she placed her arms around him. "I'm so sorry about our stupid fight." She placed her face on his neck and took in his scent, worried that he was just a mirage. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you arrived. I'm sorry I got annoyed."
"Merlin." She groaned. "Stop apologising" She lifted her head and looked straight into his eyes, "and kiss me." Immediately he did as she asked, they kissed tenderly like it was the most important thing in the world and they both wanted to savour it.
When they came up for air Merlin placed his forehead on hers. "I missed you."
"I missed you too. I'm sorry I left."
"It's ok." He told her quickly, afraid of whatever was possessing her. "But you could have sent word, we were so worried."
"I know. I couldn't, I couldn't speak to anyone. I was in a dangerous area so talking to anyone would have been stupid." Katie wished he wouldn't ask anymore questions about her journey but had the feeling he would. To her surprised he moved to a different topic.
"Have you talked to Uther yet?"
"Um, no. I've been plucking up the courage to do so."
"He will welcome you back with open arms once again."
"But I don't want to talk to him if I'm just going to be leaving again."
The front door opened at that moment and Katie jumped behind the bedroom door.
"Get ready Merlin, my father wants to see me in the courtroom, I need my manservant to be presentable." Arthur's voice calmed Katie down immediately and she came out from behind the door.
"Arthur Pendragon, when are you going to start playing nicely?" She asked.
"Kathryn!" He yelled and embraced his old friend. "When did you get back?"
"Two days ago." She grinned.
Something changed on his face as he looked at her, "I'm sorry, we really have to go but I'll speak to you soon." The prince left.
"That was odd." Katie said aloud.
"He's probably just angry that he can't spend more time with you." Merlin feebly lied.
00000
Katie stayed where she was while the ceremony was in progress, she didn't want to steal Arthur's thunder. When Merlin returned, they talked for a long time.
She decided to take a leap of faith and finally asked the question the voice wanted her to ask so badly. "Merlin, I was wondering."
"Yes?"
"When I was here last, you fought all those dead soldiers. How did you destroy them? I was thinking about it while I was gone." She took his hand and stared into his eyes.
He paused for a little while and then smiled, "I defeated Morgana and I destroyed the object she was using to control them."
"Was that it? Or are you not telling me something very impressive?" She giggled flirtatiously.
"No, that was it." He shrugged.
"But what about that time you told me about, when Uther destroyed the Black Night?"
"Why are you so interested about destroying the dead?" He asked uncertainly.
"No reason. I was just wondering. I love hearing about your adventures." She only half lied.
After a long time Merlin smiled, "Well, Uther destroyed him with a sword forged in dragons fire."
"Really? What happened to it?"
"I threw it in a lake."
"The Lake of Avalon?" Katie asked remembering something Merlin had said to her a long time ago.
He said nothing.
00000
That night Katie went to bed in Merlin's room again but the voice was not planning on letting her sleep the whole night through.
Katie, we have to go. Tonight, I can not wait any longer!
Calm down, we have to wait until they go to sleep before we can do anything. She replied trying to keep herself awake.
Merlin and Gaius sat not far away slaving over book after book trying to find a spell or potion that could release Katie. They knew they were in for a long night and had no intention of going to bed.
At a ridiculously early hour that morning the voice got fed up of waiting. Please, let's go! Put a sleeping spell on them.
Fine. Katie agreed and climbed out of bed, she was sick of trying to keep her eyes open.
She quietly opened the door and whispered a spell under her breath. Instantly both men fell face first into their books, snoring loudly. Katie walked over to Merlin and stroked the back of his head, she looked over his shoulder and realised why the two me and Arthur had been acting weirdly.
They know. She thought but for whatever reason the voice didn't seem to hear her.
"I'm sorry." She whispered to Merlin and rushed out of the door grabbing her cloak and wrapping it around herself.
She made her way to the stables and grabbed her horse before mounting it and rushing off towards the lake.