Inkbound - Adventures through the Pages

CHAPTER ONE - AM I DREAMING?

<< Is that what you do on your computer all day?>> my roommate Emma asks me as she sits at my computer. She's the only one I've talked to about my stories and she's basically my editor now. I write, she scans, I correct, I publish.

<< Yes.>> I said, brushing my hair. She was going through all the drafts on my computer.

<< Damn, that's a lot of chapters and characters.>> she said, looking at one of my favorite ideas.

<< Yeah... It's a multi-crossover and I've added a few characters too, so yeah, it's a lot of characters.>> I said, chuckling.

<<Why?>> She asked, looking at me.

<< I was bored and I like it.>> I shrugged and she continued reading.

<< Well, the idea is good.>> She said.

<< Approved?>> I asked and she giggled.

<< Approved.>> We prepared the luggage to go home.

<< I'll miss you over the summer.>> I said hugging her.

<< I'll miss you too.>> She said it wasn't easy for us to stay together. I was at school in London, but my family are originally from Italy, so we went back every summer while she was stuck here. My mum picked me up and we went to the airport. We talked for a while before getting on the plane. By the time we landed it was dark and we were both exhausted, so we just went home where my grandmother and aunts were waiting for us. We had dinner together and then I went to bed. I fell asleep writing one of the first chapters of a new story while a lame Italian romance was playing in the background on an Italian channel.

<< Come on Lana, we don't have all the time in the world! Arthur will make you clean the stables again if you don't hurry up!>> A male voice with an English accent said. His voice sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place him, not to mention that he used the wrong name. I opened my eyes and looked at him. I recognized him immediately, he had blue eyes and black hair, he was wearing a blue shirt with a red scarf and a brown jacket... it was Merlin, from the show Merlin, it was my favorite when I was younger and my first fanfiction was set in the show.

<< Merlin? What are you talking about?>> I asked, looking at him. I knew I must be dreaming, I often had dreams like that, but either my mum or Emma always woke me up at the best part, so I just decided to play along.

<< Don't play stupid.>> he said, taking the covers off me. I was in Merlin and apparently I was Arthur's handmaiden. It's a cool dream, but I would have much rather been a royal. Then Merlin threw cold water on me and it hit me, it wasn't a dream, I was quite really in Merlin.

<< What the...>> I said as I sat up.

<< Look, I don't have time for this, just... I'll cover for you, I'll say you're ill or something.>> He said and sprinted out of the room. I looked around, the room was simple. There was a bed with white sheets on it, a bedside table, a chest of drawers and some books stacked on it, covering a mirror. I stood up and took the book off the dresser to reveal the mirror and couldn't recognize myself. My brown eyes were darker, my brown hair was longer and darker and I had soft features and freckles.

<< What the hell.>> I muttered as I looked at myself. I heard footsteps and immediately got into bed, pretending to be ill. The door opened to reveal Gwaine, one of the King's guards.

<< Merlin said you were ill.>> he looked at me and then it hit me: I was in my own story, the first one I had ever written. I remember, as an eight-year-old, watching the episodes on DVD and writing down every part I wanted to keep. The main character was called Lana Edwardsone, she was Merlin's childhood friend who came to live with him after her family was murdered. Even eight-year-old me was a mess. I don't remember much, it was eight years ago. I faked a cough.