Someone banging on the door in middle of the night is not what I want to wake up to. What did I forget to do? "Gaius?" I call, attempting to get up out of bed. I end up on the floor. "Ow…" I crawl to my bedroom door and reach it just as Gaius is lighting a candle.
"What did you do Merlin?" he asks me, frowning.
"Wha-wha…why do you think it was me?" I stumble down the stairs into the main room. "Maybe it was you this time."
"Not likely," Gaius answers shortly, turning toward the door. The banging continues. "Alright, I'm coming, I'm coming!" Gaius steps quickly toward the door and opens it. Surprisingly, it's not Arthur or a knight of Camelot or even Lord Agravaine. I stride to Gaius's side as quickly as I can, even though I knock over a couple buckets and glasses on my way.
"Who are you?" Gaius inquires.
The man at the door pulls his cloak hood back to reveal a stranger. "I've brought a young girl for you."
Gaius and I exchange glances. His is almost accusing, and I am almost offended. "But I didn't…order…a girl," Gaius says slowly, choosing his words as carefully as he can.
The man chuckles deep in his belly. "Oh, that's not what I meant. I've brought you young Adrianna, daughter of Thomas from Bayard's kingdom." I see Gaius's face change expressions…to a look of shock.
The man reaches behind him and pulls a young girl in an oversized cloak forward. She looks sad, almost like she doesn't want to be here. Gaius reaches out his hand to gently touch her face. She pulls away, her face not changing expression. I feel almost frightened, she looks a little too much like the Lamia we came across a few weeks ago. I still shiver at that memory.
"Adrianna, this is your great-uncle Gaius. You'll be living with him from now on," the man says, pushing her forward.
Adrianna looks back at him and then at Gaius. She doesn't say anything for a few minutes. Finally, she says, "Send word to my grandmother that I've made it here safely." Wow, she speaks like a noble! I sure hope she's not; I'm already servant to one!
The man nods. "I will do that Miss Adrianna. Would you like to send anything else for your grandmother?"
Adrianna shakes her head. "No, that will be all. Thank you Doctor Wintlock."
Wintlock smiles sadly at her and nods. "You're welcome Miss Adrianna." Then he's gone.