The Girl With the Shadows

Prologue + Chapter 1

Prologue:

It was very dark, as she entered The Rising Sun. She was dressed in a dark green dress, with a red traveling cloak over it.

Men were drinking mead, and beer. Many were drunk. Usually the girl would join them, but not tonight. She sat down at the front, where there was but one man sitting at the counter, drinking.

Chapter 1 - Madison's POV:

"What'll it be?" Asked a man, with a deep voice behind the counter. "A mead, and a room." I said. The man nodded, moving to make my drink.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing here?" Asked the man sitting there with me. "What's it to you?" I asked. He put his hands up, almost seeming to say: "Hey, take it easy!" He put them down. "Just curious is all." He said. "Well, mind your own damn business." I said. He chuckled. "You're one of those tough girls. The ones who don't talk to anyone because they have a rough background." He said. "You think you have me figured out?"

I asked, angrily. "I can guess. I'm Gwaine." He said.

The man set down my mead and a key to my room. I handed him a few pieces of gold. I turned to Gwaine. "Goodnight Gwaine." I said. I picked up my key, and passed my mead to him. I started to walk away, but his voice reached me. "At least tell me your name." He said. I turned to face him. "My name is Madison." I said. I walked up to my room, closing the door behind me.

It was a small room, that I was sharing with two other people. They barely looked up as I closed the door. I saw an empty bed and set my few belongings on it.

MORNING

I left the tavern early, making my way towards the castle. It was an impressive structure. There was a boy with black hair and slightly larger than average sized ears sitting on the steps, polishing silver armor. He was wearing a blue shirt, that had a belt over it, with a brown overcoat, and he was wearing a red neckerchief. He noticed me, and I guess I looked lost because he came up to me.

"Do you need help finding something?" He asked. I smiled at him. "I'm not sure you'd be able to help." I replied. "Try me." He said. "Alright. I need to get an audience with the king. I don't suppose you can ask him?" I asked, doubt clear in my voice. "Well, I am the personal servant to the king, it shouldn't be too hard." He said. "If I'd known that, I wouldn't be standing here, feeling like a fool." I said, smiling slightly.

"You didn't know. As soon as I finish polishing this armor, we will go." He said, going back to his spot to polish the armor. "Here let me help." I said, sitting with him. "You don't have to."

He said. "It's alright, I don't mind." I said. He smiled at me, and together we finished polishing the armor. We finished nearly an hour later. He gathered the armor, and I followed him to the armory where he put it in it's place.

Not long after I waited outside the King's open door, while the boy walked in to talk to him. I could hear the conversation.

"What is it, Merlin?" The king asked.

"Arthur, I met this girl," the boy Merlin started. "You met a girl? That's impressive, Merlin." The king said, jokingly. "Yes, I do know how to socialize." Merlin said, annoyed. The king snorted. "She requested an audience with you, she's outside the door." Merlin said. "Merlin, you can't just bring people to me whenever you please, I have to approve." The king said. "I know, but I told her you'd talk to her. Please." He said. I held my breath, hoping he would say yes.

"Alright, bring her in here." The king, said, giving in. I sighed in relief. I heard footsteps near me, and saw Merlin's head pop in. He nodded at me. I followed him in. Merlin stood off to the side.

"My lord." I said, bowing at the king. I stood up straight again. "You wish to speak with me?" He asked. I nodded. "I have traveled many days and nights to arrive here." I said. "It must be important." He said. I nodded. "My family was killed three months ago. I've been searching for the man who killed them, and have had no luck. I hoped that maybe you, the fair and just king of Camelot could help me find him. I want justice served for what he did to my family; for taking them from me." I said.

"I'm flattered that you came to me for help, but I can't do what your asking. We're in the middle of war, and we need all the resources we can get. I can't give you what you ask, I'm sorry." He said, softly. I felt like I'd been slapped. I bowed, and walked out. I felt Merlin run up behind me. "I'm sorry." He said. "It's alright. I'm just grateful you let me talk to him at all." I said, but I didn't fool him.

"You're upset." He said. I didn't deny it. "I must go, Merlin. Thank you for all you've done for me." I said. I walked past him, making my way to the tavern. "Wait!" He yelled running towards me. I stopped and turned to him. "Let me talk to Arthur. Maybe I can convince him to change his mind." Merlin said. "Why would you do that for me? You just met me." I asked. He shrugged. "I can see you've suffered from this. You have a right to bring this man to justice." He replied. I smiled a small smile.

"I'll come back tomorrow." I said. He nodded and I walked back to the tavern. There I sat down at the counter and ordered a mead. "Well hello again." I heard to the right of me. I turned around and there was Gwaine. "What do you want?" I asked, annoyed. "I want to know why you don't like me." He said, I turned around and faced him. "You think you have me figured out, but you don't. You know nothing about me, and I wish to keep it that way." I said. "Alright maybe that was a bit unfair of me to judge you. I'm sorry." He said. I ignored him. "I said, I'm sorry." He said, louder. I still ignored him. "Alright fine, go on ignoring me, I'm just trying to make conversation." Gwaine said. "Well, talk about the weather, or Camelot, just not about me, got it?" I asked him. "No one's ever talked to me like that, you've got a lot of nerve, Madison." He said. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"You don't know who I am do you?" He asked. I shook my head. "I'd rather not." I replied. He laughed. "I never got to thank you for the mead last night." He said. "Don't mention it, ever." I said. He laughed again. I finished the mead quickly, leaving Gwaine to drink his mead by himself. I fell onto my bed, exhausted, hoping that the king would reconsider.