Anna was down on her knees, her head bowed, in front of Uther sitting on his throne as he analysed the Family tree and the letter addressed specifically for Uther.

"So your father is my brother?" He finally announced.

"Yes sire." Anna answered, not meeting his gaze, her voice confident. Arthur stood, analysing her with his arms crossed over her chest. Merlin and Gwen were stood by the door; Gwen was confident Arthur would do something for Anna, even if Uther didn't – Merlin was still terrified that Uther would somehow recognise her as the Knight in the arena with Arthur earlier that day.

"And you were associated with Oliver how?"

"My Father became a simple man sire, leaving this nation to you. But he got me a job in the royal house of Oliver's father. I tended to his illness sire, it was fatal. His father sent him to your tournament none the less and he took his anger with his infection out on me, sire. He stabbed me and left me for dead before he fought Arthur." Anna explained.

"I give you my greatest apologies. We will find you a room in the palace, buy you new clothes and belongings and welcome you to the family with a celebration of your discovery."

"What about my father?" She asked, finally looking the King in the eye.

"He's not told you what's in this letter, has he?" Uther asked, concern and genuine remorse expressed in his voice.

"No." She whispered. Uther held out the letter, silently instructing her to stand and collect it from him. She did and began reading her Father's script. She wondered back down the steps of the throne room and paced slowly as she scanned the words of the small piece of paper. She slowly got slower and fell to her knees as the worn scrap fell slowly to the floor. Arthur knelt next to her, putting his hand on her back as she breathed heavily, trying to remain composed. Merlin knelt in front of her and Gwen picked up the paper.

"What's wrong? What did he write?" Merlin asked.

"Oliver's father, sent my father to war, front line, he knows he's going to die. That's why he sent me here, so I'd never have to know." Merlin and Arthur helped her to her feet as Uther instructed Gaius looked her over, before they were to discuss in-depth her future. Gwen followed them, folding up the letter and holding Arthur back for a moment as Merlin continued. She pressed the paper into his hand and closed his fingers around it.

"It's your Uncle's will. Read it; he wrote to you too." She whispered and he nodded, following his new found family down the hall. Gwen knew he was as intrigued about who Anna was as Uther and didn't blame him for being so abrupt.

"Nothing serious, just shock, your highness." Gaius stated, acknowledging her new found position in Camelot and smiling at her, patting her knee. She tried to smile back but it was forced and the furthest from genuine Gaius had seen in a long time. He stood and left Anna free for Arthur and Merlin to talk to. Arthur sat in front of her, gently placing his hand on her knee as Gaius had done. He was trying to be sincere and meaningful but was struggling, as he didn't know how.

"What did Oliver do to you, Anna?" He asked.

"I told you, he stabbed me before fighting you."

"You have more injuries than that Anna, I can see it when you walk. You've sustained repeated injury to your left leg at some point in your life, when you sit you leave one arm rested across your stomach, I can see a sword injury on your arm. What else did he do?" Arthur asked. Anna looked at the hand on her knee, felt her injuries throb as he mentioned them, worked a tear from her eye as she pretended to recall the injuries Oliver had never given her.

"You just summarized it all." She whispered. "I'm sorry. I don't like to talk about it."

"I shall give you a moment to compose yourself, though I'm sure my father will wish to discuss your father in more detail."

"Of course, sire." Anna muttered as Arthur left. Merlin resumed his seat and couldn't help but smile a little; she didn't look him in the eye for fear of mimicking his action.

"I'm going to have to keep an eye on you – you're a very good liar." He told her. She allowed herself to smile. "Are you okay? About your father?"

"I never thought he wouldn't say goodbye. It explains a lot. Why he was so sincere before he left, why he bought me so many things with our little money for my 'wonderful trip to Camelot'." Another couple of tears began to fall. "But I understood why he did it. If the situation was reversed I'd have done the same. He did everything for me and now he's gone. That letter was dated, 6 days ago. He'll be dead and gone by now."

"What would Oliver's Father have done about it?" Merlin asked.

"The letter said he was arranging graves for every man sent to fight. Oliver's Father was a good man to everyone but his own son, the only one that could take his place and have a chance of ruling a land equally as just and fair in its own right and he didn't take it. First I lost my mother, then Oliver, then my Father. Who's next Merlin? I find new family, maybe I'll just be the death of them to."

She began to cry, remembering all the death that surrounded her and who could be next – would it be Uther, or Arthur, or Merlin? Merlin wrapped his arms round her shoulders and she cried onto his jacket, sobbing uncontrollably at the loss of everyone that meant something to her, just as she was finding new family.

Yes, I know it's been an age since I updated but I had mock exams and I was writing other things and I have a Sherlock story in the works though I'm not sure I'll upload it. I have exams and other stories to write so I probably won't update this for another month but I think the next chapter will be the last so you won't have to wait for updates from me. I'd love you all lots and lots if you reviewed ;)

Oh, I got a C in Physics, and Bs in Biology and Chemistry for anyone who cares ;) not got my history one back :S

xox