THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Gwen stared at the guards as Arthur stepped around her, one of his hands running along the base of her spine as he did so.
"Magic?" He demanded of the guards.
Gwen drew in a sharp breath and stepped around him.
"Magic or not she is just a child, she does not need to be shackled, un-hand her." She ordered.
The guards nodded and shifted, unlocking the shackles around the young girl's wrists.
Immediately the wide eyes girl threw herself at Gwen.
She wrapped her arms around Gwen's waist and pressed her face into the woman's hip.
Gwen gasped quietly and her hands fluttered for a moment before her hands settled on the back of the girls head, stroking her hair gently for a moment.
Arthur drew in a breath.
Behind the guards, Gaius, Merlin and Tanya appeared.
Tanya stared at the young girl hugging the queen and her eyes widened slightly.
Merlin stared at the girl, something tingling in his fingertips.
Magic.
He straightened.
Arthur felt his throat dry up as he watched his wife hush the trembling girl and crouch down, resting her hands gently on the tops of the girls arms as she stared into her wide eyes.
"Hello." She breathed, "My name is Gwen… what is yours?"
The young girl shifted and sniffed.
"Clara." Her small voice broke and she swallowed.
Gwen soothed her by pushing some of her hair away from her face and gently rubbing her arms.
Her eyes held a firm authority that was somehow gentle, which Clara could not remember ever seeing.
"Do you understand why you have been brought here?" Gwen asked.
The girl trembled and made a strange whimpering noise.
Gwen soothed her gently and Arthur stepped closer, unsure how good an idea it was to have his wife so close to a child with magic, who had been brought to them for attacking another child…
His eyes snapped up.
"What happened, tell me." He stated.
The guards shifted.
"There was a commotion between her and the young boy, the next thing we knew he was on his back, knocking over some other people…"
Arthur straightened and nodded his head sharply.
"Wait outside."
The guards nodded and did so.
The doors closed behind them loudly and Gaius, Tanya and Merlin entered the room fully.
"Is that what happened?" Gwen asked the young girl as gently as she could.
The young girl started to cry.
"I didn't mean to… he was pushing me, he is always teasing me… I didn't mean to hurt him, honest I didn't…"
"Shhh it is alright." The queen whispered, sinking fully to her knees.
Her skirts pooled around her as she gently reached to push some tears from the young girl's cheek.
The girl trembled.
"He is always teasing me… I can't control it, sometimes it just happens, not very often… if I get upset or scared or…" Clara sniffed.
"Who do you live with Clara?" Arthur asked gently, walking to crouch at his wife's side.
The tiny girl stared at him with wide and teary eyes.
She opened her mouth and then closed it twice before she swallowed.
Her eyes flitted to Gwen who was staring at her carefully.
The young girl sniffed.
"I don't have any family…"
Arthur sighed heavily and glanced at his wife.
"Were you born with magic?" He asked the young girl.
She nodded, her eyes widening.
"I don't want it; I try not to use it… but sometimes…"
"My lord." Gaius stepped forwards, "If she has never been taught how to use her magic she cannot be held responsible for her actions. If the boy was not hurt…"
"She is very young." Gwen whispered to Arthur, "She needs help, not punishment."
Arthur sighed, "But how… there is none amongst us who could help her…"
Merlin straightened and something sparked in Tanya's eyes that no one understood.
"Sire if I may say." Gaius stepped forwards again, "It could be just a rumour…"
"Go on." Arthur nodded at the old physician.
"There are a group of druids that seem to be living deep in the forest of Berthold, towards the eastern plains… half a day's ride from here at the most."
There was a pause as the king and queen stared at the old physician as he stared back at them.
Gaius's gaze was serious and even, just as it always was.
"They are known to take in those with magic and help them…"
"And use them against our kingdom." Arthur shook his head and stood.
"Arthur." Gwen whispered and turned her eyes back on the young girl who was staring up at him with a strange expression.
Arthur's eyes flitted down to his wife before up at Gaius who was staring at him.
"Sire the Druids area peaceful people." He said, "They are not Morgana, I believe that they would even see to kept someone as dark as her, if she asked."
"So what is your suggestion?" Arthur asked, setting his hands on his hips.
"Take the girl to the druids." Gaius said, "They will take her in and keep her safe and therefore those around her."
Arthur shifted and Gwen, Tanya and Merlin stared at him.
"Sire," Gaius stepped closer, "The druids may be secretive but they will know that you are not your father, and that you are gracious and merciful with those with magic where he was not… you look at the person, rather than the power they have… and they will know that you only have good intentions for this girl, and that you are intrusting her to them."
There was silence for a moment.
Gwen rubbed the arms of Clara and looked up at her husband.
"Arthur… Arthur she was no one…"
"It is not our job to pity, we are here to serve." He stated.
She sighed slightly and looked at the young girl.
Clara continued to stare at the king.
Arthur sighed and drew in a breath, causing him to swallow.
"Very well."
Gwen's eyes snapped up to stare at him.
Gaius glanced at Merlin as his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Sire?"
"We will take her to the druids, and see that she is safe with them." Arthur said.
Merlin let a small smile touch his lips in relief and something flickered once more over Tanya's eyes, unnoticed by everyone.
Gwen smiled slightly at her husband in thanks and stood, holding the small girls hands gently.
"We shall leave within the hour," Arthur stated, "Merlin make sure horses are prepared for you, Guinevere and I, as well as Leon and Percival."
Merlin nodded in response.
Gaius inclined his head, "Sire."
Tanya bobbed in a polite curtsey.
She turned and left the room with Merlin and Gaius.
She turned her head as the doors closed again on the king, queen and young girl.
The small tattoo on the inside of the girl's wrist caught her eye and she swallowed.
The sight of the druid symbol on the young girl made her hand ball into a fist and her other hand reach to wrap around her wrist where her thick leather bracelet covered the scar of a past she would rather forget.
THE FOREST OF BERTHOLD
The mood was sombre between certain members of the group.
The group was led by Leon and Percival, who rode a couple of paces in front of Arthur and Merlin.
The young warlock's eyes kept flashing to the young girl Cara, who was seated on the saddle in front of Arthur.
As perhaps the most experienced warrior and horseman in the group, it had quickly been agreed that the child should ride with the king.
Arthur swallowed as her small hands gripped tighter onto the saddle and she shuffled back against him, not wanting to feel the space of the open air around her.
She had never been on a horse before, let alone a magnificent and snorting warhorse that Arthur controlled.
Merlin turned his head from the wide eyes child over his shoulder to look at Tanya and Gwen.
The young serving maid allowed her eyes to flitter up to his briefly, before she looked to her left at her friend and queen.
Gwen's eyes were trained on the front of her saddle, watching as her hands flexed around the reigns, and her wedding ring showed clearer through the thin leather of her embroidered gloves.
Elyan and Gwaine rode behind the two women, chattering and gossiping like old women.
There was a pause in the conversation and Elyan let his eyes drift to his sisters back.
Her stance was stiff in her saddle and she swallowed, letting her eyes close for a moment.
For an awful moment she felt as though she was screaming and that no one, not even the person she loved more than anything, looked up.
There was the crack of a twig in the trees that surrounded them.
Suddenly Arthur's hand snapped up in the air, his eyes trained past Leon and Percival on the path on which they were riding.
Everyone fell to a halt instantly.
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly as more rustling went through the trees.
He shifted in his saddle and kept one hand on Clara's waist as he swung down from his saddle.
The small girl stared at him with wide eyes.
Merlin watched as the knights followed the king's example and dropped to the ground by their horses.
Merlin did the same, his eyes flying to Gwen and Tanya, watching as the queen straightened in her saddle and her hands flexed around the reigns that she held.
Clara's wide eyes didn't blink.
Neither did Arthur's, as he turned to face the way that the horses were facing.
His eyes were trained through the mist of the forest to watch as several hooded figures swept towards them.
They were silent and peaceful, and did not cry out in rampage or war.
"Druids." Leon said over his shoulder to the king.
Arthur nodded firmly once, turning to his horse and reaching up with both hands.
"Come." He breathed to Clara.
The little girl stared down at him and swallowed.
She looked unsure, and it churned something in Arthur that he did not recognise.
He stared at her gently, although his voice was full of an authority that she did not know of.
"It is alright Clara… these people are going to look after you." He whispered.
Three seconds past and she nodded slightly, shifting and allowing him to reach up and hold her gently under her arms, lifting her down to the floor.
He set her from his war horse down at his feet in the soft earth.
Arthur's eyes moved to look at the group of Druids who walked closer, cloaked in grey and fog.
His eyes snapped down, when once set on the floor, Clara immediately grabbed at the hem of his chainmail and shirt, her eyes flitting around, wide and confused.
Gwen drew in a breath as she swallowed and swung her leg over her saddle, dismounting easily and dropping to the floor.
Tanya did the same and held the reigns of her horse as she watched as the queen made to walk over to her husband and the girl.
Yet as she approached, without a glance at her, Arthur dropped to a crouch gently at the young girl's side.
It caught Gwen short.
She stopped and straightened at seeing her husband staring gently at the blue eyes, blonde haired girl.
"These people, they have gifts like you." Arthur murmured to her, taking her tiny hand gently in his, "They are going to help you know how to use them properly, and safely, for good…"
Merlin felt an odd sensation in his heart.
"You will be accepted." Arthur told Clara gently.
She stared at him and nodded.
"Thank you." She whispered.
Before Arthur could say anything she had thrown his arms around his neck and hugged him.
Gwen drew in a small and silent stuttering gasp and swallowed, pressing her lips together.
She mastered herself and straightened.
Arthur stood gently, holding Clara's hand and walking with her to face the six druids.
The one in the centre removed his hood and he stared at the king and child with peaceful and old eyes.
"Arthur Pendragon." His voice was wise and rough, "My name Is Odras, and it shall be me that you trust Clara too."
Arthur nodded and straightened.
"I know that you and your people are peaceful, and that you will look after her."
"We shall make sure that not only is she not afraid of her gifts, but also that she knows not to give others reason to fear them."
King Arthur regarded Odras for a moment, "See to it that that is true."
Odras nodded, "I give you my word, Arthur Pendragon."
Arthur drew in a breath and gently steered Clara to walk towards Odras, who held his hand out and took her tiny one in his.
She turned her head back to stare at Arthur and the others.
Arthur nodded and turned to walk back to his men and queen.
"Arthur Pendragon."
Odras's voice made the king turn.
The old druid stared at him with a look of promise and guarded hope.
"In time, you will do what your father was too blind and frightened too."
The words made Arthur stiffen, before he turned and stormed back to his horse.
Merlin watched the old druid, and Odras's eyes bore into his.
This marks the dawn of a new time Emrys, for reasons that you do not yet understand, and actions that in this moment you cannot fathom.
Odras's voice rang in Merlin's head, and the young warlock straightened.
He schooled his features and turned to swing up into his horse.
Gwen stared at Arthur but mounted once more.
Tanya was staring at the old Druid.
When his eyes turned on her, they were full of sadness that struck something deep inside of her.
She turned her eyes away, not being able to look any more.
She had loved too long not thinking of it.
Arthur and the others turned their horses as she mounted.
The king, Sir Leon, and Sir Percival hammered past the others.
The queen followed suit and Elyan and Gwaine escorted her.
Tanya drew in a stuttering breath and her eyes turned back over her shoulder.
The path where the druids had stood with Clara was empty.
They had gone.
She swallowed and Merlin, narrowing his eyes, Odras's voice in his head, turned his horse to stand beside hers.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
Her eyes were glazed as though she had seen a ghost.
She swallowed.
"Of course."