Kara awoke to find an adorable little toddler looking at her curiously. She immediately sat up in her bed, shocked at first but since the tiny black haired boy looked no more than three; she gradually relaxed and began to study him. Oddly enough, he seemed a little familiar.

He had unusually big ears which made him look a little like a rat. His doe-shaped eyes were a mesmerizing lapis lazuli blue that shined like jewels and practically screamed innocence. He was holding a teddy bear to his chest. He was so small and adorable that Kara had an urge to grab him and hug him to death. Embarrassed at the thought, she blushed.

"I'm supposed to tell Mama you woke up" she heard him say, making her look up.

The door creaked open and a woman entered with eyes just like the toddler, carrying a tray with what Kara assumed was her breakfast.

"Myriddin! What are you doing here?"

"Mama told me to go see if big sister was awake."

"Well, she's awake now so go and tell her."

The toddler pouted before looking back at Kara. He gave her a shy little wave before leaving the room.

"I'm so sorry about Myriddin. I hope my little grandbaby didn't wake you?" Hunith apologized.

Kara's eyes widened in shock, "You're his grandmother?! But you look so young!"

Hunith laughed and walked to Kara's bed to set down the tray.

"I had my son when I was 16" she told her, smiling.

Kara stared.

16?! But that's so young!

Hunith chuckled at the girl's expression.

"Come on now, you need to eat" she says, gesturing to the food on the tray. "You must be hungry."

Kara nodded and began to eat heartily.

I think I'm going to like it here

"Arthur, I need to ask you a favor."

Immediately, Arthur and Gwen stopped eating. It was rare of Merlin to ask Arthur for something.

"What is it Merlin?"

"I need 3 days off starting next week."

"3 DAYS?!" exclaimed Arthur.

"What for Merlin?" asked Gwen. She knew Merlin would never leave unless he absolutely had to.

"I need to help my mother, apparently she needs certain herbs that she can't get in Cenred's kingdom so she asked me to come and give her some of Gaius's potions. There is someone in the village who's suffering from the sweating sickness and is about to go into the 3rd stage. I would go earlier but it'll take the weekend for Gauis to make what she needs …"

"Oh my" Gwen says, feeling sympathy for the poor villager.

Arthur nodded, "I understand but I expect you back in time to wake me up on Thursday. Am I clear?"

"Yes, thanks Arthur." Merlin says, smiling.

Arthur nodded but then he remembered something.

"Wait a second, the border of Cenred's kingdom is practically crawling with bandits since Cenred died. There is no way I'm letting you go there alone."

Gwen frowned, "But Leon, Gwaine and Percival have a mission to do next week."

Arthur deadpanned; he did not want his friend to go out there and possibly get himself killed.

"What about Mordred?" Merlin suggested.

Gwen, still frowning replies, "But I thought you didn't like Mordred?"

"Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Well you're not as friendly with him as the other knights" Gwen answered.

Merlin shrugged but Gwen didn't buy it.

"I think is a good idea" Arthur chimed in, stopping Gwen from pressing Merlin further.

"Really?" asks Merlin.

"Yes I think it'd be good for you to watch over him. He seems to be out of sorts lately."

"Must be Kara. He's probably worried." Gwen thought.

"Well alright if that's what you want" Merlin relents.

Arthur nodded and went back to eating. Merlin gave a small bow and left the room to tell Mordred.

Kara decided to see the garden. Hunith apparently was a herbalist and had studied medicine in her younger days so she's practically the village's doctor. Kara was curious, she wanted to see the herbs Hunith was growing in her backyard. Hunith wasn't with her though, she left to do her rounds and check on her patients. She left immediately after giving Kara a dress to wear.

Once she was outside, Kara turned to admire her reflection in the window; she giggled and twirled in the dress. Hunith had told her it was one of her old dresses. The dress was a meadow green color which suited Kara's skin tone quite nicely. The dress flared at the bottom making movement easy. Kara loved the girdle the most; a girdle of the same fabric was tightened with black cording which helped to provide emphasis to her slim waist.

(Dress on my profile if you want to see! But not green though! .)

"That's a nice dress, I remember Hunith asking me to try it on before alas, it didn't suit me but I'm glad it does for you."

That velvety voice!

Kara turned around to see Layla there, smiling at her warmly, carrying an empty wooden basket. She looked nice.

Layla wore her hair down, long and wavy. She wore a simple, sleeveless forest green surcoat with two rows of lace at the bottom over an a-line chemise with long hanging sleeves. The neckline was slightly gathered and low but demure. She wore plain, light brown flats on her feet.

(Surcoat and chemise is on my profile as well!)

"How are you feeling?" Layla asked.

"Good, thank you. I have never slept in a bed before."

Layla smiled, "You should thank my husband for that. He earns well and sends us all most of his money to spend so that we can live comfortably"

"I see."

"So what brings you out here?" Layla inquired. "Did you need a change of air?"

"I just wanted to see the garden is all."

Kara finally turned to look at the garden at that moment and she gasped in surprise.

What a gorgeous garden!

On the left side was where Hunith grew her herbs where the full leaves were a dark, healthy green. In the center, was a vegetable & fruit garden that was practically bursting with food that looked good enough and ripe enough to eat right then and there, even if raw. On the right, was a flower garden where several, beautiful flowers grew; such as roses, lilies, marigolds and so on. Behind the gardens, there was an apple tree and an orange tree; two of Kara's favorite fruits. The temptation to go over there and pick one was tempting.

"Amazing" Kara breathed.

Layla was about to thank her until she heard her son calling her.

"Mama!"

The women turned to see Myriddin running toward them; his right hand was holding his teddy bear's hand while his left hand was holding a piece of paper.

"It's from Papa!"

Layla took the paper from her son and began to read. When she finished, she turned back to Kara.

"Mordred will be coming over to see you next week."

At that, Kara's face brightened.

DAYS LATER

After the goodbyes, Merlin and Mordred set out. As soon as they were out of the castle grounds, Mordred began to speak.

"Merlin, I really can't thank you enough for what you have done for me. I really appreciate it,"

"Not a problem Mordred."

"But Merlin, is all this trouble really all because Arthur likes me or is it more?" Mordred asked, hoping it was the latter.

There was a pause before Merlin replied, his voice quiet, "It's more. You reminded me of myself once."

"How so?" Mordred asked, intrigued.

"There was a druid girl I met once, her name was Freya. I fell for her immediately but unfortunately she was cursed. At night, she would turn to this murderous monster and eventually Arthur got to her and…killed her" Merlin tells him, choking at the last part.

Mordred was shocked, "If that happened…why do you still remain by Arthur's side? Aren't you angry with him?"

"I can't blame Arthur for protecting his people Mordred. I was going to run away with her actually but Freya didn't want to ruin what I had so she left before I could get to her…"

Mordred saw Merlin's pained expression and felt guilty.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"It's fine. We should get going. If we quicken the pace, we should make it by lunchtime."

Merlin slapped the reins, forcing his horse to gallop. Mordred did the same, hot on his heels.

HOURS LATER

Myriddin and Kara were setting the table while Layla and Hunith were finishing up on the food preparations. It was evident that Kara was in a good mood, she was even humming.

"Is big brother Mordred nice?" Myriddin asked.

Kara looked up at him and smiled, "Of course, I'm sure you'll like him Myriddin."

The toddler grinned and she could have sworn she saw the flowers in the vase before her turn healthier. The leaves of the flowers seemed to become greener and fuller even the petals of the flowers were growing bigger right before her very eyes!

Kara was astonished, "You…"

"Yes, my little boy is a warlock" Layla says. "Just like his father."

Myriddin beamed at the mention at his father whilst Kara remained wide-eyed, "B-but the last warlock is supposed to be Emrys!"

Almost immediately, Hunith turned her head to look at the girl.

Isn't she supposed to-?

"Kara" Layla says slowly, "You have met my husband haven't you?"

"I HAVE?!" exclaimed Kara, shocked.

Layla blinked at her before speaking again, "You felt his presence when you two met didn't you?"

"I felt no such thing!"

Kara's confession left the family shocked. Hunith went over to her daughter-in-law and tugged at her arm.

"Layla" Hunith whispered,"Kara is a druid isn't she? I thought druids are supposed to-?"

"She is" hissed Layla.

"Wait, so your husband is Emrys?! Isn't he supposed to be some old man?! Morgana said-!"

"He was in disguise" Layla told her.

Is she-?

"Mama…"

Layla looked down to see her little one tugging at her dress, "Mama, how come big sister Kara didn't realize who Papa was?" Is something wrong with her?"

Kara couldn't believe this, so the past week, she had been living with Emrys's family?!

"Kara"

The girl looked up to see Layla eyeing her coolly, "Do you know that you're corrupted?"