Arthur sped through the town, ignoring calls from his friends, fellow knights. He had checked the markets and Merlin- or Gwen, for that matter- was anywhere to be seen. That meant they ere only at one place- Gaius' chambers. He was panting as he slowed to a stop in front of the door, red cape getting tangled between his armor covered legs.
"You'll need it, so drink it!" he heard Gaius' voice through the wood, slightly muffled. He was about to knock when he heard a snap- was that the jaw of an animal? he thought, leaning his head closer to the musty wood.
"You're lucky, to have such a wonderful physician," came a voice- a female, although it didn't sound like Gwen at all. There was a certain command to it, somewhat demanding, yet light at the same time, "back home we don't have this kind of supplies" Arthur creased his brow, confused- who was in there with Merlin and Gaius?
"Where did you live that you didn't have this kind f supplies?" came Gwen's voice, sending a chill of relief through Arthur's body.
"I told you, Westero-"
"Not Westeros! Did you live anywhere else before Westeros?" Again, Arthur was confused- was Westeros a nearby kingdom? Was it even a kingdom at all? Arthur bit his lip, thinking, Should I go in? There was a tad bit more conversation, none of which Arthur found important until the mysterious girl said something that sent chills up ad down his spine.
"I lived in the barren of the Dothraki Sea."
Dothraki Sea…? Arthur thought, the name sounding familiar. had Uther mentioned it that morning or yesterday? Racking his brain, he remembered his father saying something about someone coming to Camelot, one who lived far from the kingdom, not knowing of its existence for quite sometime…. is this the visitor? he thought, raising a gloved hand to push open the door. Gaius and Merlin had sai something, but Arthur ignored it, wincing as the hinges creaked, the door swinging open and kicking up dust.
"Is he going to take my dragons?!" the girl cried as soon as he had opened the door, much to the prince's surprise, and to everyone else's.
"Prince Arthur!" Gaius exclaimed, suddenly full of sunshine, a big grin on his face. Confused, Gwen looked at Merlin, then the old man, suddenly breaking out into smiles themselves.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked condescendingly, "what is going on?"
"Oh, nothing!" Merlin explained giddily, "just, ah, catching up with an old friend is all!" At first, Arthur hadn't noticed Daenerys, so it was a bit of a surprise when he took a step forward, then suddenly found himself sprawled in the dirt, his servant and crush stifling laughter.
"I-I apologize…" said Daenerys, watching as the armored boy pushed himself up off the ground, dusting himself off as he stood.
"Wha-" he asked, then widened his eyes once he saw her, sitting not eh ground, Viserion in hand, "Please don't tell me that is what i think it is?" Daenerys coded her head- why was everyone so alarmed at the sight of her pets, her loyal subjects? Well, she thought with a shrug, the young warlock did mention they were illegal here in Camelot.
"Exactly what you think," Daenerys said, her eyes lit up with burning fires. Arthur stole a glance at the mewling create in Daenerys's arms as she drew herself up to her full height, which truly was not very tall, a defiant smirk playing on her lips.
"Y-you do know that, uh… that d-dragons…" Arthur stuttered, his face flushing red as he suddenly felt overcome with….well, he didn't know exactly, but he had never been flustered with any of his subjectts, save Gwen, whom he had an interest for.
"My dragons are what?" Daenerys spit, "illegal? Punishable by death?" Arthur nodded, licking his lips, "Well…. yes, exactly!" Gwen cocked her head, watching Arthur grumble and stammer his way through the explanation of Camelot's history with dragons, and this look of complete and utter boredom on Daenerys's face as she stroked her dragon with slender fingers, the sun getting cuahgt in strands of her white looking hair.
"And one question," Arthur cleared his throat, catching Daenerys's attention once more.
"Yes?" she asked.
"How old are you?" Arthur asked sheepishly, "I mean, you hair-"
"What about my hair?" Daenerys said almost defensively, though less defensive then when she spoke lovingly of her dragons.
"It's…. completely white, like Gaius. And he's an old man," Arthur explained, "so how old are you?" Daenerys shrugged.
"Well, how old are you?" she retorted.
"All of us, we're at the ripe age of seventeen or eighteen," Arthur said for the three of them, then quickly added, "except Gaius, of course. I suspect him to be at least in his eighties."
"I'll have you know that I am soon to be sixteen years of age, having lived in Essos since I was but a child, leaving then to the barren of the Dothraki Sea at fourteen." Arthur nodded- he hadn't been anywhere outside Camelot in, well, his entire life, to be exact.
"So, what is your position, if I may ask?" Arthur queried. Merlin raised an eyebrow in question.
"Arthur, why would that matter?" Merlin asked.
"Because father sai something about someone com ing to stay for a while in Camelot, someone from some place called West-something…."
"Westeros!" Daenerys said suddenly. Arthur nodded in agreement.
"Yes," he said, "how did you…?"
"My brother, Viserys, dump dmd here on his way to overthrow the young King Joffrey of Westeros," Daenerys explained.
"And how old is your brother?"
"He is nineteen by now,"Daenerys answered, "possibly in s early twenties. I haven't heard from him in a few days, since he dropped me here."
"Okay…." Arthur nodded, unsure of what to say. Here was a girl with white hair, who at sixteen years old, helped her brother plot the overthrow of a king and managed to live in the desert for a few years, meanwhile her brother ditched her in a strange kingdom with nothing but dragons. Exciting, Arthur thought forlornly, kicking up a cloud of dust with the toe of his steel boot.
"What are you going to do?" Gwen asked Arthur as he began to pace.
"Well, we'll have to have council with my father," Arthur began, "see if he'll-"
"Arthur, your father will accuse her of treason if he sees those dragons and she doesn't eve live here!" Arthur scoffed.
"No he won't!"
"Yes, he will, Arthur," Gwen said painstakingly, "I mean, are you really that daft? He almost ad me burned at the stake because of sorcery!" Daenerys watched as a look of worry flashed in Merlin's eyes- so he is a warlock… she thought as the two went on.
"Yes, but you were saved-" Arthur protested.
"ll thanks to-" Merlin began, then stopped himself, coughing, "thanks to that old man who confessed, you know?" There was no way Arthur could know he had magic. None at all, as the Great Dragon had warned him.
"Anyway," Arthur said, sending s curious loo Merlin's way, "I'll have you talk to my father and we'll set up living quarters for you in the castle. How does that sound" Daenerys looked from Gwen, then to Merlin, then Gaius, sympathetic looks on all their faces.
"May it wait?" she asked, looking down lovingly at Viserion, who let his split tongue flick at her chin.
"Owning dragons is an important matter here in Camelot!" Arthur cried indignantly, "and you want it to wait?!" Daenerys shrugged.
"Well, my children haven't had anything to eat…." she trailed off.
"Children?!" Gaius suddenly exclaimed after being silent for most of the conversation. Daenrys snapped her head up, nodding. Please, don't let a toddler be hiding among the books, he thought hopefully, his heart skipping a beat.
"Yes, my children," she said, gesturing to the dragon and the eggs she had sitting in the warmth between her thighs. Gaius and Gwen sighed with relief that she and meant dragons-
"But unfortunately," Daenerys added, "I did have a miscarriage or two on the way here. I am currently trying to heal while keeping my dragons in check." Gaius paled. Everyone else was silent, amazed by the fact that she already tried, not even married. That is absolutely disgusting, Gwen thought, but so heartbreaking a the same time…
"Arthur!" she piped up, "please, let her stay at my home!" Arthur narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"But-"
"Listen! I am a woman, I know what a woman needs," Gwen said harshly, "I'll take care of her while you set up whatever council you need with your father, alright?"
"But how-"
"My father will help," Gwen explained, "as will Merlin and Gaius." She turned hopefully to the two men who had looks of disbelief on their faces, then suddenly smiled, nodding in agreement once Gwen glared at them.
"Yeah, totally!" Merlin agreed, wincing as a sudden pain shot up his leg.
"Oh…. alright then…." Arthur said, exiting with confusion. Once the door slammed shut, he realized: he had never bothered to get a name from the girl.