The troop who found the lady on the hill called out for Merlin and Henry. They made their way to Granny's diner in haste.
All the way back, Arthur wrapped his jacket around the woman's shoulders. He was oddly captivated by her, from the moment they had met. She was captivated with him much the same. They gave each other knowing glances, as if they knew each other instinctively but could not place one another.
"Do you think maybe they are spiritual kindred too? Like Arthur and me?" Emma asked Merlin to the side.
Merlin held his breath. He felt his chest pinch with a strange warning. A nameless fear of something coming that he would need to focus all his long years of learning the ways of magic to stop.
"If that were true, then you would be drawn to her yourself. So would your son. What is your feeling of her? How do you read her?" Merlin tilted his head.
"I-I don't know. It's like any other person, I guess. You?" Emma looked at her son. Henry shook his head.
"No, she's like anyone else I've met." Henry held his breath.
Merlin nodded. Something in his gut told him already who this was. He would tell no other soul until he was sure. But Nimueh's words returned to him, played at his head sharp as a knife tip along fine threads of half-formed thought.
"We will see what she can remember on her own...If she does not, Regina and I will work together to make a memory potion that does not hurt her as much as it did Arthur..."Merlin nodded. Then, he quietly sat down in one of the booths. Arthur had helped the lady to sit down.
"You must be starving...Here..." Arthur rushed to Granny and ordered the woman some stew. She was rubbing her hands together. He sat stew and tea in front of her, and then sat across from her, eyes fixed on her.
"Oh, thank you, lord..."The girl proceeded to eat ravenously, yet delicately, as an exiled princess might.
After a moment, she grew quiet. Her immediate need had passed, and now she was deeply troubled. She didn't speak for five whole minutes. Rather, she looked at Arthur with anxiousness, as if trying so desperately to remember something.
"Lady, you are greatly troubled. Pray tell me what is on your mind?" Arthur reached and took her hand. Merlin drew a shaky breath, noting the care with which he did, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"I swear, young lord, I have no clear recognition of how I came to be in that wood...or even of my own name at this moment. But one thing remains clear on my mind. I cannot shake it..."She was near tears.
"Very shortly before I passed into shadow, and knew no more...I gave birth to the most beautiful baby boy I have ever laid eyes upon. Oh! If I am here, then my son must be in Camelot...My country is called Camelot. Oh, I have left my newborn son alone in another land...I have to get back to him!" She was shaking suddenly.
Arthur swallowed.
"You shall...you shall. We will find a way to your son, surely. Did you say you are of Camelot? That is my country. Mine and Merlin's country..."Arthur indicated Merlin.
"It is?" She looked up, wide eyed and smiling.
"Yes...I am the king of those lands..."Arthur smiled.
The lady shook her head. She smiled at him.
"Well, it's good to find a fellow countryman...But I am just worried sick about my baby. He is so young and new..."She gnashed her teeth.
"Oh, but all is not lost. I am sure my physician Gaius is with him now." She smiled.
"Gaius? You knew Gaius?" Merlin brightened up.
"Oh, I do indeed. Gaius was appointed to care for me by my husband when he learned that I had conceived. He was at my side all the way through carrying the child. Then, he was there when I delivered him. But...Oh, I can't remember much more..." She shook her head growing rapidly exhausted.
Merlin knew then exactly who she was. He was near to tears, and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry...I am quite tired..."The lady whispered.
"No need to be sorry! Here...Granny is the kindly old woman who owns this tavern. She has a few spare rooms upstairs, and she also has an inn down the way. Come, allow me to carry you upstairs..." Arthur reached and scooped her out of the seat.
"There's an empty room there. Granny will certainly not mind if you rest there tonight, will you, Granny?" Arthur called to her, voice strained.
"Not at all. Make yourselves at home." Granny smiled. Arthur nodded and carried the exhausted lady upstairs.
All grew silent.
"I...I just can't shake the feeling that they have a really deep bond...Like the magic that runs between Arthur and us, but...maybe different too?" Emma said at length. David sat down with them, eyes having found Merlin, wide with wonder.
Merlin was suddenly in happy tears. He laughed and wiped them away.
"What is it?" Henry asked innocently, taking his hand. Emma stared at him, stunned.
"I know who she is..." Merlin laughed.
"Who?" Emma's eyes had gone wide. David leaned close.
"She's Arthur's mother who died when he was a baby. Her name is Igraine."