Hey guys, I'm back. Sorry for the wait. Here's the next chapter. This one is one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy it like I did.

After our horrible punishment in the stocks, and I do mean absolutely horrible, Merlin and I walked back to Gaius's room.

"Do you want some vegetables with that," Gaius asked while laughing at us.

I however was not amused. "Please don't tease me like that. I think I might turn into a red head because of those brats threw so many tomatoes I lost count."

"I know you're still angry with us," said Merlin as we both sat down at the table across for Gaius.

"Your mother asked me to look after the both of you," said Gaius.

When I heard the word mother, my heart stopped. My eyes started to water up. I still miss my real family, including Courtney. I know it's not her fault about what happen, well not all of it. It was Josh's fault. I still miss her. I remember her playing her violin to me when I feel down. She always is there for me. I guess when Josh came into our lives, she changed. I didn't realize I missed the entire conversation with Gaius and Merlin.

"Now, eat up. When you've finished, I need Sam to get my some water from the well and I need you Merlin to take a preparation to Lady Helen. She needs it for her voice," said Gaius.

My heart stopped again and I was in shock. Merlin is going to Lady Helen's room except that's not really her. It's that witch whose son was killed in the beginning of the episode.

"Sam, are you ok? You look like you seen a ghost," Merlin thought to me.

I snapped back to reality and thought back to Merlin, "I fine, just please be careful with Lady Helen."

"Why, what's wrong with her," he thought to me.

"Just be careful," I thought.

Merlin and I left the room and went our separate ways. I was caring a bucket while looking for the well.

"Sam."

I turned to see Gwen running to me.

"Hey Gwen, what's up," I asked.

"What's up," she asked all confused.

I mentally had to kick myself. "I mean, how are you?"

"I'm fine, I see you got the fruits and vegetables off of you," she said while laughing.

I smiled at her. "Don't remind me. I still got tomatoes stuck in my hair. Do you know where the well is?"

"Yes, it's just around the corner," she said. I thanked her and about to walk away when she said, "Sam, tell Merlin I said hi and I'll see him. I mean, I'll see him at the party with Lady Helen not… well you know." She looked embarrassed a little bit.

"No problem, I will and thanks Gwen," I said. She so likes him.

I finally found the well and was pulling on the rope from the well. Hey, this is easier than I thought. That entire Tai Qwan Do lesson must have made my arms stronger. I poured the water into my bucket and turned around. I didn't realize I bumped into someone.

"Oh man, I so…" I then heard someone chuckling. I looked up to see the jerk himself, Arthur. "Oh, it's you."

"Is that any way to talk to your prince," he asked smirking at me.

"You maybe a prince, but you're a total jerk to me," I said. I tried to get around him when he grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Look, I apology the way I behaved earlier, but I must admit you do surprise me," he said. He looked my arm and he let go of it.

"Really? How so," I asked.

"I never knew you can sneak attack me, even though girls are weaker than boys," he said.

Oh no he didn't. Did he just dis me for being a girl? "Excuse me?"

"I'm just saying, the male are the providers and the males are the knights in the kingdom. The women, just like you, must cook and clean for the males… just like me," Arthur said.

"So let me get this straight your highness, you think men are stronger the women," I asked.

Arthur smiled at me and said, "Absolutely."

I thought about it and a great idea came to me. It's time for this jerk to take a tease of his own medicine. "Ok, well my lord, can you do me this one little favor?"

"Anything my lady," he said while mockenly bowing to me.

Oh, he's so going to get it.

"Do you mind since I'm so weak and I can't provide for myself, that you can help me carry this bucket of water back to Gaius's," I asked innocently.

"Of course, anything for you," he said.

As he walked to the bucket, I looked around to make sure no one was looking. As his hand grabbed the rope of the bucket, I concentrated it and I felt my eyes get warmer. Arthur smiled at me, pulled on the rope, only to realize the bucket wouldn't leave the ground. He looked shocked but he pulled harder. I covered my hand over my mouth to prevent me from laughing. He was struggling so hard that I swear I could see his vain popping out of his head.

"Are you alright," I said innocently.

"Yes, I'm fine," he said still struggling.

"Do you want me to carry it back instead my lord," I asked.

"No it's ok, I got it," he said.

I looked behind him to see a little boy throwing a banana peel behind him. I concentrated on the peel and moved it to Arthur foot. When he stepped on it, he slipped and fell right on his back. Ok, maybe that's enough torture. I ran up to him and helped him up while I was trying not to laugh.

"Oh my gosh, are you alright," I asked him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said while dusting himself off.

"Well thanks for trying, but I think I can handle it," I said. I grabbed the bucket's rope and picked it up like it was light as a feather. Arthur look was priceless. His mouth and eyes were wide as a melon.

"I… um…. I made it easier for you," he said trying to be a macho.

"Sure you did," I said. I turned and was beginning to walk away when he said.

"Might I say, you are better than that loser brother of yours."

I stopped right in my tracks. He did not just say that. I turned around and narrowed my eyes at him. "What did you say?"

Arthur smirked at me and said, "I mean, Merlin is so wimpy he let his little sister battle for him."

I was getting really mad now. "Don't talk about my brother like that."

"Oh, and what are you going to do about it?"

I got right into his face and said, "Look, 1) Merlin knew I can beat you, 2) you're just jealous, and 3) you still can't admit that you got beaten by a girl. So why don't you just shut up, walk away and leave me and my bother alone."

"As you wish my lady." In one fast move, Arthur grabbed my hand and kissed the back of it. My mouth and eyes were wide as melons.

"Um… goodbye," I stuttered.

Before I could make another move, Arthur pulled my hand and his face was really close to mine.

"I suspect a rematch from you Samantha," he whispered in my ear.

I smirked at him and replied, "Can't wait to beat you sorry butt again, my lord."

I pulled my hand out of his and walked away from him with the bucket. I turned my head around to see Arthur still starting at me like the last time before I was sent to the dungeon. Seriously, what is his problem? About 30 minutes later, I was back at Gaius's. I looked around to find no one there. Where is everyone? Ok think Sam, Merlin went to the so called Lady Helen room, found the doll, and… ARTHUR! Oh that jerk, he and Merlin are going to fight each other. I ran to the door hoping I could find Merlin. As I reached for the knob, the door swung wide open, nearly missing my head. Merlin marched right into the room all mad.

"Sorry Sam," he murmured.

I was confused. What just happened? Before I could ask, Gaius stormed into the room behind Merlin.

"How could you be so foolish," Gaius screamed at Merlin.

"What happened," I asked.

Of course they both ignored me like I wasn't in the room. "He needed to be taught a lesson," Merlin screamed back.

"Who needed to be taught a lesson," I asked.

"Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good! Not for idiotic pranks," Gaius screamed.

I looked down guilty. Maybe I shouldn't have done the bucket prank on Arthur.

"What is there to master? I could move objects like that before I could talk," Merlin explained.

"Then, by now, you should know how to control yourself," said Gaius.

"I don't want to! If I can't use magic, what have I got? I'm just a nobody, and I always will be. If I can't use magic, I might as well die," said Merlin.

By now I lost it.

"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP AND TELL ME WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? YOU'RE ACTING LIKE AN OLD MARRIED COUPLE," I screamed at them.

Gaius and Merlin looked at me all startled and the mouths wide open. I guess they never suspected me to scream at them. When I saw I wasn't going to get my answer, I ran to my room. I slammed the door, sat down on my bed, and placed my head into my hands. I hated this. I hate the fighting. It was giving me a huge headache. A few seconds later, I heard the door opened. I looked up to see Merlin looking all guilty.

"What happened? You wouldn't tell me back there but I have the right to know," I said. Even though I knew what happened, I just wanted to make sure the incident did happen.

Merlin sighed and sat on my bed next to me. "Arthur came over to me and started taunting me. He even said he would like for once see me battle him instead of you."

My eyebrows rose up when I heard him. "He said that?"

"Yeah, but what really made me mad was when he said he couldn't wait to teach you a lesson on combat. He made fun of you and I lost it," said Merlin.

"And you fought him," I asked.

Merlin looked at me all guilty again. "Yes."

I was angry, not at Merlin but at Arthur. I told him to leave Merlin alone. I got up from my bed and was pacing back and forth. I couldn't control my anger because my mouth was saying thing before I could think.

"Why that arrogant jerk. I told him not to…"

"Wait, what did you say," I heard Merlin asked me.

I suddenly stopped pacing and was shocked. Oh snap, I forgot to tell Merlin my talk with Arthur. I turned back around to face Merlin. He raised his eyebrows at me. I placed a hand behind my head.

"Well… um… I'd talked to him," I stuttered.

"Since when?"

"Since I was getting the water from the well and he kind of disrespected me because I'm a girl," I said.

Merlin looked mad when he heard what I said. "HE DID WHAT?" I was shocked. Why is he mad at that? Women are not equal to men in this time period, I think. "He shouldn't have done that! That is beyond low to disrespect you! When I see him again…"

I had to calm him down. "Its ok Merlin, I got him back."

"How?"

"I… um… used magic on the bucket so he couldn't pick it up for me."

Merlin looked surprised and kind of proud of me.

"You did that," he asked while smiling at me.

I smiled back and said "Yeah, I did."

"And you should also learn that using your magic too is dangerous Samantha."

I turned around to see Gaius with a medical bucket.

"Like Merlin said, he needed to be taught a lesson. Stupid sexiest prat," I said.

Merlin chuckled when he heard what I said. Gaius sighed and turned to Merlin

"Merlin? Sit up. Take your shirt off," he said.

Merlin removed his shirt to reveal his bruises on his back. I turned away so they wouldn't see me cringing or blushing. I know he's supposed to be my brother, even though I still feel like it's not entirely true, it just seems weird to see Merlin without a shirt.

"You ok Sam," asked Merlin.

"Yeah, it just looks painful," I said. That's the best excuse you can come up with.

Merlin sighed and asked Gaius, "You don't know why we were born like this, do you?"

I turned back around and sat next to Merlin. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

Gaius was tending to Merlin's wounds as he said, "No Merlin, I do not."

Merlin looked down when he asked "I'm not a monster, am I?"

I looked at Merlin and whispered to him, "There is no way you're a monster."

Merlin smiled at me. "Thanks Sam, I needed that," he thought to me. Gaius stopped attending Merlin's wounds and looked Merlin in the eye.

"Don't ever think that, the both of you. You and Sam are not monsters," said Gaius.

"Then why are we like this? Please, I need to know why," said Merlin desperately.

"Maybe there's someone with more knowledge than me," Gaius said.

The dragon. I knew it was him Gaius was talking about but again I had to play along. "Like who?"

Gaius looked at me in the eye and answered, "I don't know."

"If you can't tell us, no one can," Merlin said. I laid my head on his shoulder as he laid his head on mine. Gaius poured potion into a tiny cup and hands it to Merlin.

"Take this. It will help with the pain."

As Gaius left our room, Merlin drank the potion. What Merlin said about being monster made me think out loud.

"Merlin, am I really a monster," I asked him.

"No sis, you are no monster. You are an amazing girl." I smiled a little when he said that. Merlin smiled back and kissed me on the forehead. "Get some sleep. We'll need it."

Merlin got up and walked to his bed. I laid my head on my pillow and said, "Goodnight Merlin and thanks."

Merlin laid his head on his pillow and said, "Goodnight Sam and don't worry. I have a feeling tomorrow will be better."

As Merlin closed his eyes, all I can think about as my eyes closed as well is you have no idea Merlin, you have no idea that your life is about to change.

And there you have it. I hope you all like this chapter. The next one is when Sam and Merlin meet the Dragon. I'll try to post this as soon as I can. PLEASE NICE REVIEWS! Until then.

Grapejuice101