500 Days of Freya (Merlin)

Memory

Chapter 20

Warning/s: None.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

A/N: This was so much fun to write, but I really don't think I've done the prompt justice :/ it was so good and so creative but I'm just a rubbish writer :( I hope you enjoy this regardless!

Prompt: Elise.v: "(Morgana is still good) when guinevere is queen, Morgana needs a bnw maidservant, and doesn't know she has just hired Merlin's love of his life. Freya doesn't remember anything about her time with Merlin, though she falls in love at first sight :)
(Like a kind of present from destiny to Merlin -)"

Morgana wandered through the lower town absent-mindedly, fingering a few silk scarves as she went. She smiled to the citizens and gave a few coins to those begging, and an apple to a small child who looked half-starved, and bit into one herself.

She was looking for a new maidservant; ever since Gwen had become Queen, she had been short of one, and her hair had a life of its own. As well as that, she needed help with getting dressed, bathing, and getting her meals for her. She knew an old woman who worked on a fruit stall, where she would buy another apple and also be able to hear all of the latest gossip, which the wizened lady always knew. Morgana hoped she would know something about any girls looking for a decent job.

Soon enough, she came to the battered stool and grinned when the lady threw her an apple. She threw a coin back in return, laughing when the woman bit into it and coming to talk to Cindel. "Morning," Morgana greeted cheerfully, examining the colourful array of fruits.

"Good morning," Cindel grunted. She sounded grumpy constantly, due to the way she spoke, but she was kind, friendly and always had a nice word to spare for all who passed. "What have you come to find out today?"

"Am I really that obvious?" Morgana giggled. She took a bite of the sweet, red fruit and chewed quickly. "I need a new maidservant. Do you know of anyone who could do that?"

Cindel's face lit up in delight, and she clapped her arthritic hands together. "I know just the girl," she croaked happily. "Sweet little thing, her name's Freya and she's just come here. She woke up next to a lake and the last thing she remembers is a brutish man attacking her, so she made her way here. I'm letting her stay with me because there's nobody else for her, and she's badly in need of a job. Not just for money, but she gets restless sitting around all day. And let me tell you, she's a darn good seamstress."

"Perfect," Morgana exclaimed, taking another dainty bite of her apple. "Can I go see her now?"

"Maybe not," Cindel said slowly. "She's a bit timid, so maybe I could just bring her along tomorrow?"

"That would be fine," Morgana smiled. "I hope she and Merlin will get along."

"Oh, I'm sure they will just fine," Cindel said, with a twinkle in her eye. "You know, the only thing that Freya remembers after being attacked is a young man with blue eyes, wearing a red shirt, trying to help her."

"You think it could be Merlin?" Morgana gasped.

"Could be," Cindel nodded. She smiled at a little girl who had approached the stall shyly with three coppers and asked for some carrots. "She's very sweet, anyway, I'm sure Merlin will help her to get settled in." She handed the carrots over and winked. "We'll just see how things go."

"Hi, Freya, I'm Morgana." Freya smiled shyly, her hands twisted around each other and her breathing quick.

"I'm Freya, my lady," she murmured, with her head down.