So, this week's special guest is MORGANA!!

Merlin – how did you get Morgana here?

JessieLightyear – I have very special magic

Merlin – what kind of magic?

JessieLightyear – The magic to make people do what I want, the magic of writing

Merlin – This is dangerous magic

JessieLightyear – Morgana, read the card

Morgana – But I don't want to

JessieLightyear – one moment (rewrites Morgana's character)

Morgana – JessieLightyear does not own the TV Show Merlin or its characters

JessieLightyear – Guess what guys, I'm on YouTube now! Check out my profile for the link

Morgana – are we done here? I need to get to get Uther his food

JessieLightyear – one moment (Rewrites Morgana back to her original character)

Morgana – If you'll excuse me, I have a king to kill

LouisaLovegood– You forgot me

JessieLightyear – Oh yeah, Merlin care to read this (hands Merlin a card)

Merlin – alright, I guess "LouisaLovegood is the genius behind the name Palédria and NationalWonder is the beastly beta of this story.

JessieLightyear – Thank you Merlin, here's an Oreo.

Merlin – what's an Oreo

JessieLightyear – Ugh, just eat it Merlin. Well this Author's Note is done, check out my profile for the YouTube link

Merlin stopped by the house at noon for lunch. I was pouring over various books, trying to wrap my mind around the bones, the brain, blood, and every other part of the body. I didn't even hear him walk up behind me.

"Ashlynn," he said. I jumped up, startled.

"Merlin, don't sneak up on me like that!" I complained.

"Sneak up? The boy's as quiet as a thunderstorm," Gaius said. He was organizing some powders on a shelf when I'd been reviewing. Merlin ignored him and held out a plate.

"You want something to eat?" he asked.

"Yeah sure, one second," I said, looking down at the page, trying to remember the bones in the arm, but I kept mixing them up with the bones in the leg. Sighing, I pushed the leather book aside and picked up the bread.

"How do you remember all of this, Gaius?" I asked.

"It'll take time, but you will know all the bones soon enough," he said leaving his powders and joining us for lunch.

"Maybe."

"Hopefully you'll do better than me. I find the whole thing boring," Merlin said.

"It's interesting, but difficult. I never knew humans had so many different body parts. There are bones and muscles and tissues. The brain is so interesting; I wish there was more information about it," I said.

Gaius smiled. "The brain is a very important part of the body and we simply don't have anything to observe the brain when it is active."

"I was in a village once where a man said he had mapped the brain using magic. Is that possible?" I asked.

"Theoretically, yes, but there is no magic in Camelot."

"But this could help people."

"Uther has very strict rules against magic. Anyone using magic is beheaded," Gaius explained.

"That's kind of stupid," I said.

"That's the law, and you'd best not say anything with Uther's men near you," Merlin warned me, but I couldn't stop myself.

"But magic – it offers so many things – cures for poisons and crops and-"

"That's enough," Gaius said abruptly. "Should the king's men hear you they will take you to the dungeons." I nodded and stared down at my plate.

"Arthur said I was to clean his armor, wash his clothes, and make up his bed. I won't be at the palace for most of the afternoon," Merlin told us.

"That's fine; just take your work upstairs today. I'd like to continue my lessons with Ashlynn."

"Alright," Merlin said.

"Are we continuing with anatomy this afternoon?" I asked.

"Yes," Gaius said. I bit my lip. I knew the pounding in my head well. My magic was taking control. I set my hand against my forehead and quietly let out a moan.

"Are you all right?" Merlin asked me. Okay, so maybe it wasn't as quiet as I thought. I let out a few fake coughs.

"Yes, but I think I need some fresh air. Would you mind?" I asked Gaius.

"Go ahead," Gaius said. I stood up and trying to not run out the door, but I knew the magic was taking over. As soon as I left the house though, I ran through the town as fast as I could until I'd reached the woods. I was shaking now and I could hear the trees' branches shaking with me.

"llaf spot eert eht morf emoc llat eert eht morf sechnarb hgih." Branches from all the trees fell from the closest trees. "Pots ereht dehcear ev'uoy enco pot eht ta pu ecalp ruoy ot nruter." They went back to their places in the forest. I sighed and took a deep breath. It was working. "Seveels ym pu og t'nod esaelp, sevael eht yrrac dinw." The leaves danced against my legs and I smiled. For just a moment, I thought back to when I was a little girl with my mother. She taught me everything I knew: every spell, every word, every trick, everything. I sighed. This was more magic; I would be fine until night fall. Tonight, I would have to go out and use lots of magic.

"What just happened?" I turned toward the voice of Merlin. He was standing very stiffly along the edge of the circle of trees that had been affected by my magic.

"I-um-I."

He walked toward me and when he was close, he whispered. "Did you just use magic?" What could I say? It wasn't a small spell; I couldn't blame it on the win.

"I had to," I said, feeling small. I knew what would happen now. I was going to die at my father's hand and my destiny would fail.

Ignore destiny – you must run now. So I ran. I ran as fast as I thought was possible, but I'd never been good at running. Merlin chased after me.

"Just let me talk to you," he called out, but I knew what he'd say – the same thing everyone that'd found out about my powers. I would have to be killed; they said they wanted to protect their home. No one took the time to hear my story. I ran until I tripped on a branch. I somersaulted and had hurt my ankle. I stumbled and fell to the ground, crying out in pain.

"Niar fo spord ekil emoc ycrem tel sniap ym laeh dna senob ym dnem," I chanted as I held my shaky hand over my ankle. It was all right, but the spell didn't make walking on it any easier. All the pain from what I would have felt by waiting for the injury to heal was all being pulsed through my body at once. I couldn't stop now. I stood up and tried to run, but the pain was too much. I fell again. Merlin had caught up with me. He knelt down and looked at my ankle.

"You shouldn't have run," he told me as he walked closer. I knew there was no reason to run anymore. I fell to the ground.

"I don't want to die," I said as I started to cry. "I can't die."

"What makes you think you'll die?" Merlin asked me as he leaned down to look at my ankle.

"I used magic; you saw me. You'll have to turn me in and I'll die."

"I'm not going to turn you in."

"I've heard that before," I said trying to stand up. Merlin took my hand and made me sit back down. He looked at me in a way I'd never seen before, and then down at the ground. I could tell he was holding something back, but I didn't know what it was.

"What did you mean when you said you had to use magic?" he asked, changing the subject. I looked at him.

"My magic isn't like that of most sorceresses. It builds up in me. If it gets too high, it takes on a life of its own. If I hadn't used my magic on the branches, there could have been an earthquake or a flood or a fire."

"Floods and earthquakes aren't common in Camelot," Merlin commented. I laughed.

"But this is magic Merlin. It defies logic," I told him. He nodded again and gave me the same look on his face as earlier. We were silent for a few moments.

"Well, I won't tell if you won't," he said. I was shocked, but he offered his hand to me. I took it and stood up. My ankle was still weak, so I put my arm over his shoulder. We somewhat walked back to the house. Merlin led me inside.

"There you two are," Gaius said. I took my arm off Merlin and hobbled over to a chair. "What happened to you?" Gaius asked.

"She tripped over a broken shop cart and hurt her ankle," Merlin told Gaius.

I nodded and then said, "Merlin helped me back here before he had to go to the castle." I turned to Merlin. "You'd best be off. Arthur would not accept your reason for being late, and I don't want to be the cause of his anger," I said, smiling. Merlin smiled and left. Gaius took a look at my ankle. He shook his head.

"Very careless think to do," Gaius commented.

"I was distracted," I said.

"Well, this can be a good time for a lesson," Gaius said as he went in search of a bandage. "Can you tell me the bones that your ankle connects?" he asked. I closed my eyes.

"There are three bones: the tibia, fibula, and I can't remember the third."

"It's the talus," Gaius said as he walked over to me. He wrapped up my ankle, explaining what he was doing along the way. "You should be fine, but try to stay off the ankle." I smiled.

"Thank you," I said, pulling the leather book back toward me. "Can we go over the upper body parts again?" I asked. Gaius nodded and we started reviewing.

Merlin came by about an hour later. His arms were full with armor. I jumped up and tried to help him carry some of it.

"Sit back down," he said. "You mustn't strain your ankle." I laughed.

"It's fine as long as I keep the bandage on and don't work too hard." I told him.

"Then you are prohibited from lifting things," Merlin said as he climbed upstairs to his room. "Oh no," he mumbled halfway up.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"I think I left the prince's mending in his room. I'll have to go back and get it," he groaned, throwing the armor in his room.

"Let me come with you!" I said excitedly. As interesting as the science was, I needed to get out of the house for a little while.

"No – you should stay here and rest," he said. I crossed my arms across my chest.

"As much as I love science, I need to get out of this house for a while," I said, walking across the room toward him. I looked up at his face. "Please," I begged, trying to put on a pitiful face. I could almost see his defenses fall.

"I um – well," Merlin stuttered, looking at the ground. I smiled and Gaius spoke up.

"It would be a good idea Merlin. She needs to work that ankle to get it strong again, and as my assistant she'll need to know the layout of the castle."

"So, you want me to be your assistant?" I asked Gaius. He nodded and I ran over to hug him. "Thank you Gaius. I won't let you down." He patted my back.

"You'll be fine, and now that you are my assistant, we can let you stay with us."

"Thank you so much," I said.

"Well get going," Gaius said. I nodded.

"Just follow me," Merlin said. I smiled and threw my cloak around my shoulders. We walked from the house. The castle was very close to their home. It was marvelous on the inside. Polished white stones made up the hallways – large openings where the afternoon sun came and warmed the castle. My head darted in a million directions trying to take it all in.

"It's beautiful," I merely said. Merlin smiled.

"Come on. The prince's chambers are upstairs." I nodded and followed him. We turned another corner. This hallway had art all along the walls. There was a painting of a battlefield. Some men were shooting lightning and fire from their hands. Others were curled under shields. The wizards had looks of hate and pure anger. The knights looked as if they were watching over something.

"The Battle of Palédria," I whispered, lifting my hand up and tracing the engraving at the bottom. My mother had told me about it; many wizards died in that battle. It was the turning point in the war against the wizards.

"Come on, Ashlynn," Merlin called. I turned from the painting.

"Coming!" I called back, pulling up my skirt and running after him. I turned the corner and ran into someone.

"Forgive me, I-um–." I looked up into my own eyes. They were the same blue, the same shape, the same everything – it was scary. I continued looking and saw blond hair and light skin. His clothes were that of only a nobleman.

"And who are you?" he bellowed.

"I am – um."

"Ashlynn," Merlin said and turned to the man. "This is Ashlynn. She's Gaius's new assistant."

"I see."

"Ashlynn, this is Arthur, the crowned prince of Camelot." I could feel my eyes grow in shock. I curtsied.

"My lord, forgive my arrogance and clumsiness." I rose up and looked at Arthur.

"Well, get on with whatever it is you're doing." Arthur said and walked in the other direction. Merlin smiled at me.

"You did better at your first meeting with Arthur than I did," he said.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I ended up in the stocks, covered in vegetables," he said. I laughed. Merlin glared at me.

"I'm sorry, but that's funny." I said, trying to conceal my giggles. "How did you end up as his manservant after that?"

"I did a really stupid thing and saved his life."

"Wow, you are an idiot," I told him.

"Thanks for that," he said sarcastically. "Now come on. We've got to get the mending and get back to the chambers."

"Alright."

"Now try to keep up," he said, smiling. One of my eyebrows shot up. I smirked.

"Of course," I said. With my head held high and my hands linked behind my back, I walked in front of Merlin toward the stairs.

"Don't you think you should wait for your guide before roaming about the castle, princess?" Merlin asked, grabbing my hand. My eyes widened. He couldn't know my secret yet. I knew he knew I had magic, but he couldn't know who my father was. I grabbed his wrist.

"Why did you call me that?" I demanded with wide eyes, knowing my worry was showing through.

"Call you what?" Merlin asked, astounded. I could tell he was confused, but I had to know if someone had betrayed me.

"Call me princess." He shrugged.

"You looked like one when you were walking like that," he said.

"No I don't; I'm just a normal girl," I told him. "Remember that," I insisted. There was an awkward silence.

"We'd better get going," he said. Thank god that he doesn't stop talking. Awkward silences weren't going to be a problem with him. "Arthur's room is right upstairs, the second door on the right – just in case you get separated again." I glared at him.

"You're never going to let me live that down are you?" He shook his head.

"Probably not." I put my hands on my hips.

"Alright then stock boy," I said, smiling, "let's get going."

Merlin – You know these Oreos are good.

JessieLightyear – Do you want another one?

Merlin – Of course!

JessieLightyear – then tell them

Merlin – Please make JessieLightyear's day by reviewing so she will give you more chapters and give me an Oreo

JessieLightyear – Thank you Merlin, here's an Oreo.

Merlin – Thanks.

JessieLightyear – You're eating it wrong!!!

Merlin – What are you talking about?

JessieLightyear – ugh, tune in next week to hear about Merlin's Oreo eating lesson