I came to a sudden stop when I saw the glorious castle. The same one I knew my good friend was in. I knew that castle was dangerous, but I already had a plan for if I was caught wandering. I was only nine, so they wouldn't expect a small, innocent little girl to just come up with a lie quite like this one. It was, to say the least, quite elaborate.

It didn't take much effort to sneak past the first few sets of guards, and using my magic allowed me to see where I should be headed, so I knew where I was going. It seemed almost too easy. I began to sneak into the castle to his chambers, when of course, I was stopped by a knight. I should've known my luck would run out.

"Excuse me little miss, but what are you doing here so late at night?" He asked, crouching down to my level and giving me an accusatory glare.

"I-I..." I choked, tears forming in my eyes. "I was traveling with my sister from my village," I lied easily. "She fell into a hidden trap and was wounded. Before she d-di-died, sh-she told me to come find the c-court physician named G-Gaius to see if I could st-stay with him. Sh-she said he was a-a-a good f-friend of mummy befo-fore she died, and she sa-said that our friend Mer-Merlin was the-ere..." I said, pretending to hiccup from the tears. I knew Gaius' name from the many conversations I had with Merlin, though I'd only seen him face-to-face once since he rescued me from the lake.

The look of pity the man held on his face made me feel guilty for lying, but I didn't have long before the Druids moved again, so I knew I had to be swift - and careful, unless I wished to be killed. And here, if I was caught lying, it would land me in an interrogation, and I'd be lucky to evade execution. The castle was dangerous for Druids like myself.

"Come little one," he said, taking my hand and standing. "I will show you the way to Gaius' chambers."

The man walked to another, and I pretended to continue to cry while they spoke. The second man gave me a look of pity before he nodded and whispered something back to the first knight.

"I'll be back as soon as I know she's safe," the first knight called to the second as he began walking me into the castle. We ran into a few more knights on our way to the Physician's chambers, and I tried not to grow impatient when we were stopped a fifth time and I heard my story told and re-told, and I was asked a few questions. At least I was certain I'd have my story straight after hearing it this many times and figuring out the details on the spot.

It felt like forever before we made it to an old wooden door and the knight knocked with a purpose, likely managing to wake everyone within the chambers and next door.

When the door opened, I saw an old man who I assumed was Gaius. He looked at us, obviously worried as to why he was awakened so close to midnight.

"Is anything wrong?" the old man asked, looking both befuddled and confused. The guard opened his mouth to tell him the tale I had woven when I saw the door on the other side of the room open, and out stepped a befuddled young warlock.

"Merlin!" I called, excited as I ran to him and jumped on him, holding onto his waist tightly.

"Ariel?" he said, pulling me away slightly and looking down at me, putting his hands on either side of my face and tilting it upward to see it. "Ariel, what in the world are you doing here?"

"Thank you for bringing her, sir," I heard Gaius say. "But I'm sure we can take it from here."

I had never been so thankful for an old man in my life.

~:~:~:~:~

I had spent the next hour sitting in Merlin's lap and talking with him and Gaius, observing Merlin's very large hands. I wondered if one day Mordred would grow to be as big as Merlin, and what he'd look like then. I wasn't sure I could imagine Mordred as a man with calloused hands like Merlin's.

I'm proud to say that Gaius had easily warmed up to me, and I couldn't help but feel as though he would be like a grandfather to me even as he headed to bed, insisting that we get to sleep. We made our way into Merlin's room, and he tucked me into the bed before making himself a makeshift bed on the floor.

Merlin and I talked of many things, including Mordred. Despite the fact that I had originally been nervous about my destiny and how I came into play regarding everyone else's destinies, I was adjusting, and I was very happy to consider myself best friends with both Mordred and Merlin. I told him of how persistent Mordred was, insisting he should come with me to keep me safe. I had actually gotten angry with Merlin when he told me I shouldn't trust him. I trusted him with my entire being, and Merlin couldn't change that no matter what.

It was all too soon that the sun began rising. I'd have this day here in Camelot, but I knew that I'd only have until noon the following day. I'd have to make it back to the camp before that evening if I wanted to make it there in time for them to relocate again.

"We should probably get some sleep, sweetheart," Merlin told me as he saw me yawn largely. "The sun will be up soon."

~:~:~:~:~

"Merlin!" Someone shouted angrily. I shot up in bed. My eyes were wide as they gazed at the door, beyond which the yelling was emanating from. Merlin didn't even twitch.

Suddenly, the door swung open, making me jump, squealing and throwing the covers over my head as the door hit Merlin's head and he yelled out in pain.

"Merlin, what the bloody hell are you doing on the-" I heard the footsteps suddenly getting closer to the bed and the sheets were yanked off my head. I gasped in shock at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed man who was staring at me. "Who is this?" he asked, confused, as he looked at me.

"She's my mother's best friend's youngest daughter. Her and her sister were traveling to visit Gaius and I when her sister fell a ways out and passed from her wounds late last night." Yes, I told him of my lie. Mainly because I felt guilty and wanted to tell someone to make me feel better, but I guess it came in handy after all.

"Shouldn't she be headed back to her mother then?" The man turned and looked at Merlin now, who was rubbing his head in pain.

"Her mother's dead, sire. Her sister was coming to stay with us until she could find work here in Camelot."

"I see," he said, clearly thinking before turning back to me. "Where's your father?"

"He left before I was born, sir," I said, making myself as small as possible, still exhausted. The man frowned deeply before turning back to Merlin again.

"And you know her from your village?"

"Yes, she's always been like a little sister to me. I hated leaving her behind to come here, but she still had family then."

"Will she be residing here?" he asked.

"Only until tomorrow afternoon, sir," I squeaked. "I'll be leaving to find a distant relative my mother would visit every once in a while. I'll be staying with her."

"Very well. Merlin, perhaps you should stay with her today."

"I-It's alright, sir," I denied. "I'll be okay with Gaius or helping Merlin with his chores for today... But if I can ask you a favor, sir?" I asked. He nodded. "Can he stay with me tomorrow? I don't know when I'll see him again once I leave," I said sadly. He nodded slowly.

"Very well, he can have tomorrow off instead. Besides, I need him today."

~:~:~:~:~

"So how old are you now?" Merlin asked me during supper that night. I had spent the entire day with him, helping him with the duties he was assigned by Arthur, and I'm pleased to say that Arthur's face lit up with a huge grin whenever he saw me. He liked my 'wit' as he called it, and he thought it was funny when I'd poke fun at Merlin. I had grinned at the fact that I made the Prince laugh so heartily.

I frowned, though, when he asked why I didn't just stay here and work with Merlin all the time. He pointed out that there were plenty of positions around the castle where I could help once I was older and knew the castle and such.

"He can teach you the ways about the castle. And then maybe Gwen could teach you how to work under Lady Morgana. When you become old enough, you could work here as a servant," Arthur offered, and I felt both guilty and frantic.

"I sent a letter ahead to the woman who Ariel will be residing with this morning, sire," Merlin told him. "She'll be expecting her, and she'll be needing help. She's old, and she can't take care of herself much longer." I was thankful for Merlin's quick thinking.

"I see," Arthur said disappointedly, and I felt guilty once again, looking between the two before I spoke up.

"Perhaps one day I'll return and work here," I said to the Prince, and he looked at me. "When there's nothing left for me back there. Her son will be of marrying age in a few years, so he will have a family soon, and then he'll have a wife to help at the farm. I don't want to be getting in the way of him and his family, so maybe I'll come work here then."

"Well, what if he decides to make you his family?" Arthur asked, and I wrinkled my nose.

"No," I said, shaking my head, my curls getting into my eyes, and I pushed them back. "I'm too little for a family. Besides, he's much too old, and boys are gross. I'd say no if he asked."

There was a silence before Merlin couldn't hold back his laughter, and Arthur joined in. The pair of them laughed loud and long, making me giggle, too.

"Well then," Arthur said once he got himself under control. "You're welcome back whenever you'd like. Even just to visit."

~:~:~:~:~

"Nine," I responded with a proud grin.

"Nine?" he asked, excited. "Really?" I nodded, giggling. "Why, you're becoming an old lady!" He teased.

"Well if I'm an old lady and I'm only nine, then you must be ancient!" I teased back, giggling.

"Of course I am!" he exclaimed. Then leaned in close with a grin and whispered, "But if I'm ancient, then what does that make Gaius?"

"Hey!" he exclaimed, turning around, holding two bowls in his hands. "I don't have to feed you, Merlin," he teased.

I loved being there. I really did. I knew that Mordred may be angry with me when I returned, but he could never stay as such for long. I loved these people here in Camelot. Even Arthur was truly becoming like an older brother to me.

It's amazing, the connections that develop in such a short period of time.

~:~:~:~:~

The next day, Arthur surprised us by insisting he walk with us for an hour. It made me a little antsy, knowing he'd be heading in the direction of the Druid camp, but that meant he still wouldn't come remotely close to the encampment. He would only know what direction we'd be headed in, and apparently he'd been to Ealdor once before with Merlin, so he knew we'd be headed in that direction anyway.

It surprised me when he brought two horses and a pony for us to ride. It seemed to me that he would come almost a quarter of the way to the encampment, since he insisted on a trot.

The entire way, I had been nervous, but despite living in the forest for several years at this point, I still managed to come across things that made me stop and ask the two men of their knowledge. Arthur knew more than Merlin did, which surprised me at first until Arthur pointed out that he'd studied these things and Merlin was 'useless,' making me laugh at Merlin's face and give him a hug to make him feel better.

But any time I slowed down and looked at something, Arthur somehow had the patience to stop and get off his horse yet again and tell me almost everything that I wished to know. I was the master at being off in my own little world, but one time, I could hear Arthur talking with Merlin about my sense of wonder and curiosity.

"It's as though she'd never seen a forest before," Arthur said quietly.

"She's always wondered about the things around her," Merlin responded. "She's very analytical and curious. Smarter than me, and she's only nine."

"Well, that's no surprise," Arthur quipped, and I couldn't help but giggle. That was when I saw something attached to a tree, and I slowed to a stop, getting off my pony and creeping toward it. My eyes lit up and I beamed, gasping when I saw it was a special kind of butterfly that I'd never seen before.

"Look at this!" I exclaimed to the men in a whisper, and I gently captured it in my hands. It fluttered for a moment, and I turned, still looking down into my hands, and when I opened them, the butterfly was resting happily on my palm.

"What in the world..." Arthur trailed off.

"Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?" I asked, my eyes wide.

"You can see through its wings!" Merlin exclaimed, and I grinned at the two men who were gazing at the butterfly in wonder.

"I've never seen anything like it before," Arthur admitted, standing up straight and trying to seem a little more nonchalant. I giggled and looked back at the little butterfly.

"Its wings look like glass," I said, and the men agreed.

"Can I hold it?" Merlin asked, and I beamed at him excitedly.

"Really?" I asked, and he nodded, grinning at me and holding out his hands. I placed the butterfly on my finger and transferred it to Merlin's hand. For a few more moments, we reveled at the butterfly before I took it back. "You can go now, little one," I said gently to the insect, and I watched in wonder as the little thing flew, fluttering against my cheek for a moment and making me giggle, instinctively moving my face away, and the butterfly took off.

Arthur looked shocked, but it wasn't long before we were back on our course again, talking with one another.

"Alright you silly girl," Arthur said as he laughed from something I had said. "I hate to say this, but if I'm to make it by supper, I must leave now. My father wishes to speak with me about something, and he insists it is important."

I have to admit, I was sort of glad he was leaving. We were getting very close to the encampment, and the last thing I wanted was for him to see the Druids. But I couldn't help but pout a bit. I loved these men. They were fantastic, and Arthur's character was a lot better than I had originally assumed it would be.

"Okay," I sighed sadly before I looked up at him in hope. "The next time I see Merlin, will you be there?"

"Of course, Ariel. What would I do without my horrible servant?" he teased. I giggled as he picked me up and twirled me around. He set me down back onto the pony. "Stay safe," he said seriously. "I want to have the privilege of seeing you grown as a young woman someday."

I couldn't help but make him a promise.

"You will, sire."

~:~:~:~:~

"Emrys," the Druid man greeted. "You bring Luighsaech with you." This man was none other than the person who would most likely inflict my punishment upon me.

"Yes," Merlin said. "It was wonderful to see her once again, but she decided it was time to return to her home, here with the Druids."

"She-" the Druid man was cut off by a much smaller voice. The voice of a now-twelve-year-old-boy.

"Ariel!" Mordred shouted as he ran to me. I felt my heart swell as the boy who meant so much to me came closer. He had a smile so large and beautiful that it could only be compared to that of an angel.

"Mordred!" I shouted back embracing him as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"I'm so glad you're back!" he exclaimed, pulling away and looking at me. "I was afraid you wouldn't be back by the week's end when the camp left."

"Come on, Mordred," I said teasingly. "You of all people should know I'll always find my way back home." He and I grinned at each other for a moment.

"Mordred," I heard Merlin greet from behind me. The smile that was on Mordred's face disappeared as he took a step back and stared at Merlin.

"Emrys," he greeted. They just stared at each other with a look of hate before I took hold of Mordred's arm.

"We should go," I insisted, tugging on his arm and glancing worriedly at Merlin. Merlin nodded at me. Having said our goodbyes at supper, I didn't feel guilty as I turned toward the Druid camp and walked away with Mordred.

I didn't really blame Mordred for disliking Merlin. The last time they came in contact, Merlin tried to kill him. I'd probably harbor some bad feelings, too.