I Don't Belong Here

Country Roads, Take Me Home

"Y/n!" I hear Merlin call me as I carry Arthur's lunch. I turn to his voice to see him with a middle-aged woman with a black eye.

"Merlin? Who's this?"

"This is my mother, Hunith," he answers. "Mother, this is my best friend, Y/n."

"Lovely to meet you, dear," she smiles.

I look closer at her face, inspecting the black eye. Someone hit her. "Who did this to you?" I ask.

She looks down as if I reminded her of a sad memory. "I need to speak with the king," she says.

I nod. "Of course, follow me." I gesture for her and Merlin to follow. Something really bad must be happening.

I take her to Arthur who takes us to the king. Knights surround us in the throne room, Morgana and Gwen stand close, Arthur at Uther's side and Gaius, Merlin and I standing behind Hunith.

"The winters are harsh in Ealdor," Hunith explains. "And there are many children. Some of them just won't be strong enough to survive. We barely have enough food as it is and if Kanen takes our harvest, our children won't live to see another summer. Please, we need your help."

Uther thinks for a moment. "Ealdor is in Cenred's kingdom," he says. "Your safety is his responsibility."

"We've appealed to our king, but he cares little for the outlying regions," Hunith explains further. "You're our only hope."

Uther sits and thinks. Please, Uther, say yes. These people need your help. Even though it's not your responsibility, you should still at least try to help. Give them some food or something, enough for the children.

"I have the deepest sympathy for you," Uther starts. Oh no, please don't say no... "And would have this barbarian wiped off the face of the earth." I don't like where this is going.

"You'll help us?" Hunith asks, hopefully.

"I wish I could." Fucking called it.

"Surely we could spare a few men," Arthur tries to add.

"Resources are not the problem," Uther explains.

"Then what is?" Morgana asks, speaking the question I'm sure all of us were wondering.

"Ealdor lies beyond the ridge of Aesctir," the king begins to explain. "For an army of Camelot to enter, it would be an act of war." Oh god fucking dammit.

Hunith goes down to her knees, begging the king before her. "I know you are a good king, a caring man," She pleads. "I'm begging you. Help us, please."

"The accord we've struck with Cenred was years in the making," the king urges. "I cannot risk hundreds of lives for the sake of one village. I'm afraid Camelot cannot help."

Fuck. I mean I get it. He doesn't want to go to war with Cenred, makes sense. I know that Arthur or Merlin would have it so knights were on their way to Ealdor now. But I get where the king is coming from. The only thing I can think of to get around it is to send them discreetly, under disguise as travellers or something. Hell, I should go just on my own. Snipe the men from afar and there would be no act of war since I'm not technically from Camelot. I'm a nomad if you will. I might sneak away if Arthur and/or Merlin don't do something stupid first.

Merlin and I left Hunith in Gaius's care while we go find Arthur. We find him on the castle wall, looking out into the world beyond.

I go to Arthur's right and Merlin on his left. Arthur stands with his arms crossed and a serious expression. Merlin leans his hands on the wall, looking quite expressionless. Then there's me, casually leaning on my elbows, the most unladylike posture there is in this moment.