Chapter One, Gwaine Awakes

As the sun rose Merlyn woke up stretching like a cat before she climbed out of bed stretching once more. She quickly made her bed before heading to the bowl and jug in the corner, she poured some water into a bowl and the rest into the cup. After finishing off her drink she washed her face, washing away the sleep and waking herself up some more. After drying her face she changed out of her nightgown and into her undergarments, placing her nightgown under her pillow before heading over to her cupboard and pulled out a black underdress and slipped it on, tying it up at the front before she slipped the red overdress on and laced the corset up with her magic.

Humming a soft tune to herself that her mother used to sing to her, Merlyn slipped on her brown belt and brown boots, before she started on her hair. Un-doing the plait she ran a brush through her curly inky tresses, before she re-plaited it into a much neater plait and tied it off with a red ribbon. Once she was ready Merlyn went into the main room noticing Gaius asleep in the chair beside Gwaine's bed, but the covers had slipped down. Smiling softly at the man who had always been like a father to her, Merlin quietly made her way over and covered Gaius with his blanket and Gwaine with his. She still couldn't believe this man was her Soulmate, she just hoped he liked her for her. Deciding to check on his wound before breakfast, Merlyn silently cast a spell to do all of the chores with a flash of her golden eyes.

She was happy to see that it was healing nicely, but she put some paste on his leg to help with the healing before she rewrapped the bandages and started on breakfast. Merlyn had just finished making all three breakfasts when she heard a cough and a grunt from behind her. Turning around with a tray in her hands she felt a blush creep across her cheeks, as Gwaine sat up revealing his bare muscular chest that she hadn't noticed before.
"Hello Merlyn bird." Gwaine said with a smirk on his face. "Where am I? Not that I'm complaining, I get to see your beautiful face again."

"Hi Gwaine." Merlyn said, smiling softly at him as she sat the tray in his lap. "You're in Camelot. You got injured, and Arthur helped me bring you back so Gaius and I could treat you." Merlyn explained as she turned to wake Gaius but Gwaine grabbed her arm.
"Stay. Please." Gwaine said, patting the bed beside him. Merlyn closed her eyes for a moment to try and stop the blush from darkening but it was no use, so she just sat beside him with a soft sigh. "I woke up briefly last night, and I heard something about Soulmates? And Gaius saying something, I don't know what you've been through Merlyn, but I promise you. That I will never harm you and I will try my best to always care for you. I saw what you did at the tavern and I won't tell anyone." Gwaine explained as Merlyn sat there with a wide eyed fearful look on her face.

"Merlyn." Gwaine said softly, raising his hand to her cheek but stopped when she flinched backwards. "I know we just met, but I'll prove it to you, I swear. I've never felt this way before about a gorgeous young woman." Sighing softly Merlyn knew she had to tell him. With how much he knew already, it would be cruel not to. She couldn't help but be warmed by his words, especially as he seemed like a flirt, but she could tell he was being genuine towards her.
"I have magic as you saw, but I was born like this and I'm who the Druids speak of; Emrys. Yesterday my magic was calling to you, Gaius said it means we're Soulmates. I'm sorry..." Merlyn started.

"No don't apologise, Merlyn bird." Gwaine said softly as he picked at his food. "Everyone knows you're extremely lucky to have and to find your Soulmate, and I'm so lucky I have you. How about we go for a walk this afternoon? Get to know each other." Gwaine said with a soft smile which Merlyn returned.
"I'd like that." Merlyn agreed happily which made Gwaine's smile widen. He'd gladly give up his womanising ways for his Soulmate, especially one like Merlyn.
"Merlyn." Gaius called from behind them, making the pair jump.

"Remember you have to work." He said sternly, making Merlyn jump up as she realised the time.
"Oh no! I need to get Dollophead his breakfast!" Merlyn exclaimed. "Gaius yours is on the table." Merlyn said pointing to it.
"Who's Dollophead?" Gwaine questioned, confused. "You haven't eaten your own breakfast yet, Merlyn. You need to eat."
"It's Arthur." Merlyn said, causing Gwaine to remember, until Gaius said something he didn't want to hear.
"Prince Arthur." Gaius input. "The King wants to thank you in person, Gwaine." He added.

"If I'd known who he was, I probably wouldn't have. He's a Nobel." Gwaine replied to Gaius' look. "I would've still saved my Merlyn bird though."
"Arthur is a good man. He's changed a lot since Merlyn arrived." Gaius said sternly. "Not many Princes would say the man that saved them, could have anything they needed." He said with a reproachful look.
"If you say so. But please, no Kings. I've met a few Kings. Once you've met one, you've met them all. Besides, I don't want to meet the man who wants to kill Merlyn for the way she was born." Gwaine said with a dark look on his face.

"I promise Gaius. I won't hurt Merlyn in any way." Gwaine said when Gaius was still giving him a hard look.
"Good. Though part of her job is to protect Arthur from threats, it terrifies me sometimes. Merlyn you're going to be late, here I have this for you." Gaius said, handing her a napkin full of fruit.
"I'll see you later. Oh, Gaius I did everything this morning." Merlyn added as she stopped by the door.
"I'll see you for our walk later, Merlyn bird." Gwaine said, smiling at her. Merlyn smiled widely before she left, feeling her stomach flutter at the nickname, hurrying to Arthur's chambers.

Once Merlyn got to Arthur's chambers she noticed he was up, dressed and doing his stretches. They smiled softly at each other in greeting before she got to work on changing and making the bed, putting the dirty sheets in the basket. As she was opening and beating the curtains, and opened the windows to let some air in, Arthur finally spoke to her.
"How's Gwaine?" He asked. Immediately a blush appeared on her cheeks, but luckily their backs were to each other otherwise she'd never hear the end of it.
"He's okay. Recovering. Who's that?" Merlyn asked, spotting some knights she didn't recognise riding into the courtyard.

Arthur looked at her for a second before he came and looked out the window into the courtyard below, spotting who she was talking about, as the knight waved at him.
"Ahh, Sir Darien. He's here for the Mele." Arthur said.
"Oh right, the one where knights knock the seven bells out of each other with blunt weapons." Merlyn said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"There's a little more to it than that." Arthur said. "The Mele is the ultimate test of strength and courage."

"Arthur, I was being sarcastic." Merlyn said, rolling her eyes again. "But now that we're on the subject; are you sure we're talking about the same thing?" Merlyn teased, this time making Arthur roll his eyes.
"I wouldn't expect you to understand you're not a knight. And I'll need that lot cleaned by noon." Arthur nodded to the armour on the table before chucking a bit at her making Merlyn dodge it. Rolling her eyes and grumbling to herself Merlyn left the room with the basket of washing.

"Dollophead!" Merlyn muttered.
"Arthur giving you grief again, Merlyn?" Sir Leon asked as he saw Merlyn leave Arthur's chambers with a scowl on her face.
"Don't you know it! The idiot moans about scuff marks on his armour, but he's the one that chucks it at me, like a two year old. He wants his armour cleaned again, by noon and his sword picked up by noon, what am I supposed to do? Split myself in two!" Merlyn complained, making Sir Leon laugh. "Give him hell, Sir Leon." She called after the knight which only made said knight's laughter ring down the halls.

While Merlyn was doing all of her chores Arthur gave her, Gaius was talking to Gwaine. He was telling him about Merlyn, what she had gone through, or at least some of it. When Gwaine told him he'd heard him asking him to love and care for her like she deserved, before Gaius could say anything else Gwaine swore that the promise he made earlier which he intended to keep.
"I'm glad to hear that Gwaine. Don't push that leg too far. You can go on that walk with Merlyn, but be careful. I have some rounds to make, I'll be back shortly." Gaius said, grabbing his medicine bag as he and Gwaine bid each other goodbye.

***

Unbeknownst to Merlyn, another threat against Arthur was brewing. A threat born out of revenge was the norm, but this threat was born out of humiliation and wasn't a magical threat per say. But in fact two of the thugs they fought against, who were going to abuse magic to get their revenge. They were paying a poor old man, who lived alone in a hut in the middle of a forest, for magical items.
"The Stalone blades, just as you requested." The old man said as he held out the swords to the bald thug, who took one to examine it.
"They're blunt." The other complained as they both inspected one of the swords.
"That is only how they appear." The first thug said, before he ripped the others tunic with the sword and they both burst into deranged laughter.

"Why should you want such a weapon?" The old man questioned.
The first thug crept closer with a nasty look on his face pointing the sword closer to the old man's face.
"That's none of your business, old man." He sneered. The man immediately shook his head scared for his life as they took both the swords.
"You have the crystals?" The bald thug asked.
"Money first." The old man replied. Once he was handed a bag full of coins, the man limped over to the corner and retrieved a black box, opening it up to see two rather large crystals inside. "Not yet." He said when the thug went to take the crystals out of the box.

"Pece Treowan Andwlitan Heora Fram Gesihol Eallra!" The old man chanted as he moved his hand over both crystals. Once he finished the crystals glowed golden light before the light disappeared back into the crystals.
"The wearer of these crystals will be able to take on the form of whoever's blood they touch." The man informed them as he passed over the crystals.
"Thank you." The thug said after he and the old man shared a sinister laughter.
"Thank you." He said as he patted the pouch.

As he turned his back on them to count the money he was stabbed in the back by the first thug, killing him instantly.
"Now what?" The other thug questioned stupidly.
"Now, Ebor, we can take our revenge on Prince Arthur of Camelot." The first thug answered as they both let out a sinister laughter and left the hut, leaving their money behind next to the body.

***

Meanwhile, back in Camelot. Gwaine was getting up and putting his boots on when he heard the Great Bell ringing signalling it was noon. Getting up off the bed with a slight limp, Gwaine opened up the window and looked out at the breathtaking views of Camelot.
"I think it's time to find my Princess. My Merlyn bird." Gwaine said softly to himself as he moved away from the window. Even though it hadn't been long since he'd met Merlyn, he was fully prepared to give up his wandering ways for a life with Merlyn, and he couldn't help but smile at that prospect.