Freya's Trust

Once Freya finished feeding him she couldn't help but feel a longing in her heart. Freya was nothing if not kind and sympathetic to others. She wished she could do more for the deer, man, she corrected in her mind but she couldn't go against her clan leader. Especially since he took her in and welcomed her after her father's death.

Freya's mother died when Freya was no older than 3 years old from illness. They didn't live with the druids then but both of her parents had some sort of magic that made them targets especially during the early years of the purge. Using magic to heal let alone anything else sent people into fear and people who are afraid are very dangerous. All it would take is one word and the king's men would appear at her doorstep with their swords raised.

During those times people were also desperate which when coupled with fear wasn't a good mix. Several lords and kingdoms offered bounties of food or gold if neighbors turned anyone with magic in.

That's what led her and her father to set off and try and find sanctuary in the mountains. It was all well and good, at first. They had settled close but far enough away from a druid encampment. The druids were suspicious but also peaceful and willing to help the family of two whichever way they could. So long as they brought no trouble towards them.

Then one day while Freya and her father were fishing she had wandered of to dig up some bait when she saw a flash or red. She knew she should have hid but she needed to try to get to her father. She dropped her bucket in some bushes and ran towards him. However n her fear she managed to snag her foot on a root causing her to fall over and yelp upon impact.

Her yell was enough to have the patrol wander closer. Freya quickly rose and ran towards the lake not thinking that the noise would lead them straight to her. All the young nine year old wanted was to find her father and hide.

She arrived at the lake but before she could call out to her father a pair of arms grabbed her and pulled her down to hide in the bushes. It was a druid woman she had seen with her father a few times when they went to trade with them. She was nice.

The woman placed her finger on her lips to stop her from talking and motioned over to two knights near where her father was fishing. His rod having been tipped over and laying on the ground.

Freya swallowed back a gasp as her eyes widened. Her father was kneeling in front of one of the knights; the other had a sword at his back.

"Who else was here?!"one of the knights asked.

Freya's father stayed silent mentally urging her to stay away even though he knew she didn't have the ability to read his thoughts.

The second knight hit harshly with the blunt side of his sword, "He asked you a question."

"You might as well answer."

Freya could feel her eyes water and her hands clenching. The woman brought her close and whispered almost incoherently that it will be okay. All the girl could hear though was the groans of her father as the men took turns beating him.

Freya closed her eyes turning herself inwards towards the woman, begging her to do something, anything to stop them. The druid couldn't intervene though, she knew if she did the both of them would suffer the same or a worse fate. The druid stayed silent holding the girl to her and muttering an enchantment or maybe a prayer Freya didn't know what just that it felt warm and safe despite the pain in her heart and the pounding in her ears. Or the twisting of her gut when she finally heard her father cry out.

"NO ONE!"

"So he speaks" the second knight taunts before delivering another blow, "We know that's not true. Or else why would their be a second rod."

Freya eyes finally started releasing tears each burning her cheeks as she realized she had just left her rod their while she went to search for bait. They knew she was there or at least someone else. She was the reason why her father was hurting right now. She should have taken it with her but she couldn't carry both her bucket and the rod at the same time.

"There's NOBODY!" Her father yelled falling forward face kissing the ground. "Nobody, I swear! I was setting them up on their own." Her father lied voice staggered.

"Don't you know this lake belongs to the king? It's illegal to poach the king's property." The first knight said flippantly as if discussing the weather.

"I didn't know! I swear." Freya's father continued to lie.

The knights their heads, "We doubt that. We did hear words though of sources hiding in the woods even if a band of druid vermin wandering about. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?"

The man shook his head.

The second knight hit the man again, motioning for the first knight to keep his sword trained on the man while he searched his pockets.

The knight pulled out a very distinctive looking piece of jewelry with a Druidic charm tied to it. A gift the father had bought to give his daughter in a few days for the start of the summer solstice.

"This seems like magic to me wouldn't you say?"

The other knight nodded, delivering a final blow to the man sending him to unconsciousness.

Freya was all but ready to bawl her eyes out and alter the men to her if it wasn't for the women whispering calming nothings into her ear.

The men pulled out a pair of rope and tied her father up to deliver to the nearest lord who would try and then execute her father. Or at least that's what she was told. Once her father was dragged off Freya never saw him again.

The Druid woman took her back to camp and explained to the chief who allowed her to stay with them. She's been with them ever since.

Arthur nuzzled the girl's arm. Whatever she was thinking about it was clear it was making her upset.

He didn't know why he wanted to comfort a sorceress or Druid but she was just a child and she did feed him.

"I know what it's like to feel alone. To lose your whole world. I don't know what you did to deserve this. But no one deserves to be alone."

Freya stood walking towards the forest, Arthur followed behind her.

"I wish you could stay. That we can help but chief needs to protect the entire village. At least that's what he'll say. You need to leave… but maybe you don't have to leave far." She kept walking until she found a meadow.

"This is far enough, I think" she moved towards a tree and softly marked it with a stone she picked up at the base.

"I can visit you here if you wish. Ill try and bring food. We can keep each other company. Maybe we can find who did this and ask them to change your back." The girl rambled eagerly.

Arthur couldn't smile in his new form and he still felt a bit wary, but he knew he could trust her. Arthur nodded his head staring at her, maybe not all magic users are bad after all.

A/N: Hi! I haven't done an author's note in a while, but I felt like it was time. I want to say thanks to the few who read and have interacted with this story either with a fav, follow, or both.

When I first started this story I didn't know how it was going to be received especially since I posted alongside another story that at the moment has definitely received more feedback and views than this one. When I posted both I didn't really know which one I would lean more towards. The other story is the precipice of the whole show in a way since that episode changed the whole outcome. Every failure and betrayal could probably lead back to FoI so I was curious on doing my own take on it and also excited.

For the Labyrinth of Gedref which is the episode this story is tied to I wanted to try something different. I also wanted to have Freya and make her my own. I wanted to give her a backstory before she was cursed. I feel the bittersweetness of her knowing Arthur is also something, that even though it wasn't planned at the start, gives a lot more depth to his character. Not to mention, I also like them meeting before her and Merlin. And I enjoy seeing the parallels between her and Arthur. While this story may not have gone off as much as FoI I really do enjoy this story and may even like it a bit more. I currently have the next three chapters up to chapter 7 done. After that its still in progress but should be fully done soon. For those who don't know or are curious, I am planning on making this story 10 chapters long with the last 2 chapters being a part 1 and part 2, so there is still a lot to look foward to.

Thank so much again to everyone who is still reading and a special thanks to:

Fangirl1701,

Stern2003,

lclose, and

Akikoe,

I am glad you four decided to stick around and hope you continue to do so.

Till next time!

~Agent C