"Is there anything else you require, my Lady?" Gwen, Lady Morgana's maid, asked while hovering at the foot of the bed where Freya was resting. Gaius had given her remedies to return her strength back, ordering bed rest to give her body the energy it lost while she traveled from the Atria kingdom. 

Freya shook her head slowly. "That will be all. Thank you, Guinevere." The maid curtsied and left, gently closing the door behind her. Freya sighed wearily and leaned her head back, gazing blindly up at the ceiling, mind lost in memories. 

She kept seeing her mother and father crumpling to the floor, their throats slain. The image of her younger sister, so bright and full of life, staring at her with vacant, accusing eyes, blaming Freya for what happened to their family. 

And she had every right to blame me, Freya thought bitterly. What was the point of being the most powerful sorceress in a thousand years if she couldn't use those powers to protect her family? Her kingdom? 

A knock at the door brought her attention back to the present. She tried to shake off the gloomy thoughts before she stood up and headed to the door. One problem at a time, she thought. She opened the door and stared at Merlin.

He lifted the tray of food up for her inspection. "May I come in?" he asked.

Freya nodded and opened the door wider, watching as he breezed through, setting the tray down on the bedside table and avoiding her eyes. "Gaius says you need to build your strength back to make a full recovery. There are two remedies here." He picked a purple-colored vial and said, "This one will ease the headache you have." He placed it back down and picked up a clear-colored vial. "This one will help you sleep better. He said you should take the purple one while you eat so it would not upset your stomach."

Merlin arranged the tray back to the way it was before he turned and headed for the door, still avoiding Freya's gaze. Just before he reached it, the door slammed in his face on a phantom breeze, freezing Merlin in his tracks. 

"Why do you keep on denying yourself, Emrys?" Freya wondered as she lowered her arm back down, tone curious. "Why not let them know? Don't you want recognition for everything you have done for them? And probably still do?"

Merlin exhaled sharply and turned to face Freya, a wry smile curving his lips. "So you know who I am." Freya nodded and watched him pace the room, worrying his lower lip in thought.

"It is not my secret to tell, so I will not," she tried to reassure him. It was not her place and she was not going to stick her nose where it wasn't needed.

Merlin gave her a look. "Why are you really here, Freya? If that is even your name."

She frowned. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Do you really believe me for a fool? Is it really a coincidence that you arrived today of all days to Camelot? You must have heard that Arthur will be searching for his future queen on his birthday as is customary when a prince reaches adulthood. Why else would you be here?"

"I am here for the exact reasons I told Uther and nothing more," Freya replied coldly. "You would do well to watch what you say to me, Emrys. If you are looking for traitors, I suggest looking closer to home, particularly those trusted by the king and his heir."

Merlin stopped pacing and stared at her. "No one would dare betray their rulers."

Freya snorted humorlessly. "You are still a foolish boy, then, despite what your destiny says. You may leave now," she dismissed him, turning her back to him and walking to the tray of food.

"But, Freya—"

"That is Queen Freya to you, Merlin. Leave. Now."

With one last long look, Merlin bowed stiffly and left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Freya squeezed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index fingers, her brows furrowed. With her appetite lost, she decided to dress and take a stroll around the castle grounds.

Opening the door as quietly as was possible, she glanced left and right, making sure she was alone before she lifted the cowl to cover her head. She shut the door behind her and decided to start with the dungeons, hoping to see an old friend of her family there.

Hidden between the shadows of two pillars, Merlin watched Freya leave, blue eyes narrowed. He crept silently behind her, determined to find out the real reason she was in Camelot.