Much to Merlin's dismay, it was not long before he ran into his new-found enemy again. They both lived in the castle, and so it was inevitable that their paths should cross; Merlin tried to avoid meeting the prince's eyes as he passed him in the corridor, both because he was trying to hide, and because he thought that to be the custom when it came to royalty.

One particular day, Gaius called Merlin from his bedroom (where he seemed to spend most of his time these days), and presented him with a little glass phial.

'Have you met the Lady Morgana yet?' he asked.

Merlin thought for a moment, and then shook his head. 'A Lady?'

'Well, she is about the same age as you, but she's the King's ward, so she is called a Lady.' Gaius paused. 'Her rooms are just down the corridor from Prince Arthur's. I'd like you to give this to her. I trust you know where you are going?'

Merlin, who had explored the castle to the last nook by now (including, of course, some nooks that he wasn't supposed to have explored), nodded, and took the phial, clutching it to him so that he didn't drop it. 'What is it?'

'It's – a medicine that she has to take.'

'What for?'

'Merlin, you're far too nosey!' A moment later it occurred to Gaius that small children generally were. He apologised for snapping, and said, 'It's to help her sleep.'

The boy nodded, not quite comprehending (his mother had always told him that a kiss and a bedtime story helped you to sleep), but eager to help Gaius out.

He went out into the corridor, and skipped a little on the flags; just as he came to an intersection between corridors, a voice hailed him. He turned. It was Arthur.

The prince had one eyebrow raised, which made him look even more haughty than usual. He studied Merlin up and down before saying: 'You're staying with Gaius.'

'Yes,' Merlin replied shortly.

'Your grandfather?'

'Great-uncle.'

The little prince nodded. It was evident that this information seemed to have given him a new-found respect for the boy. 'D'you like him?'

'I think he's brilliant,' Merlin said.

'He's nice,' said Arthur unexpectedly; then, as if he had forgotten that he wasn't supposed to be being kind to Merlin, he continued in a louder voice: 'Where are you going, then? This corridor only goes to my room. And Morgana's.'

'I'm taking this to the Lady Morgana.'

Merlin's voice as he said this must have been more reverent than he intended, because Arthur smirked and whistled a little. 'Lady Morgana indeed! She'll like you. She likes little devoted peasant servants.'

And with that he went on his way.

Merlin did not know whether to be pleased or insulted, but, giving him the benefit of the doubt, he smiled in the direction of the disappearing prince, who did not notice him. Therefore Merlin continued, and eventually found himself in front of a door that bore the name "Lady Morgana of Camelot".

It was ajar, and he peeked in; he could see the outline of someone moving about within, and so retreated, and knocked upon the door. A moment later a voice called out for him to come in.

It was only when he had entered that he realised that he knew the voice. Straightening a counterpane that lay on a rich four-poster bed was none other than Gwen, who smiled brilliantly at the boy.

'Merlin!'

'Gwen!'

'How are you?'

'I'm very well, thank you. – But what are you doing here? Isn't this the Lady Morgana's room?'

Gwen beamed. 'Yes, but I help sort out her things. And we're friends.'

This confused Merlin a little, who could not work out if she was a friend or a servant or both (the last option didn't quite seem plausible). He decided not to ask. 'Where is she?'

'She's just gone to get something. She'll be back in a minute. Why?'

'I have a thing from Gaius for her.'

Gwen glanced towards the little phial that Merlin held out. 'You can leave it on the table, if you like.'

'Gaius said I had to give it to her. And anyway, I want to meet a Lady,' Merlin added, unable to stop himself.

Gwen grinned. 'She's very nice. You'll like her. – But I must go and fill this jug: I'll come back in a moment.'

The girl lifted the jug that sat beside the bed, and, with a smile in Merlin's direction, left the room. Her footsteps disappeared along the corridor, and Merlin suddenly found himself alone in the quarters of someone far above his standing, not knowing what to do. He did not want to go near the rug, lest he get dirt on it. He did not want to touch anything, lest he damage it. And if that wasn't bad enough, a minute later he heard returning footsteps, and, expecting Gwen, called out a cheery "Hullo" and turned to find that it wasn't Gwen.

The Lady Morgana (he assumed that it must be she, and he was right) was a tall girl, a little older than him, with a face almost as arrogant as Arthur's, hair like the wings of a raven, and a stern glance that immediately fell on him. He shuddered a little.

Perhaps she questioned for a moment why he was here; but he at once presented the phial, and she smiled in realisation. This smile entirely changed her expression: she became pretty and kind-looking, and Merlin relaxed a little. But, overawed in her presence, he could not move or speak for more than a moment.

'From Gaius?' Morgana asked.

'Yes,' said Merlin in a bit of a squeaky voice.

'You're his new protégé.'

'Protégé?'

Morgana waved her hand a little. She didn't know quite what the word meant; she had just heard it somewhere. 'Assistant.'

'I'm his great-nephew.'

'And assistant,' Morgana persisted, with a nod towards the phial, which she took and inspected. 'Thank you for helping him.'

I rather had to, thought Merlin, but did not say it. 'It's to help you sleep,' he commented, furrowing his brow. 'You must be unlucky, to have to drink a potion to help you sleep. Maybe you should get someone to read you a bedtime story instead.'

His face was so innocent and serious that Morgana could not help but chuckle. 'Maybe. D'you think it would stop nightmares?'

'Nightmares!' said Merlin, a little aghast. 'Oh, that's horrible. I get nightmares sometimes. I hate them.'

Morgana blinked and turned away. 'Mine come true sometimes... that's even more horrible than the nightmares.'

It was such a peculiar revelation that Merlin could at first only offer his sympathy. It was only when he was out in the corridor and heading back up to Gaius's quarters that he realised what a strange thing it was she had said.