Catrin: Sister of Emrys

Chapter 2: Cade meets Arthur the Prat

Merlin led Cade through the corridors to Arthur's chambers. Walking in without knocking, he exclaimed, "Good morning, your pratship!" Cade followed him in and looked around, her green gaze finally landing on the blonde blue-eyed crowned prince of Camelot. He glared curiously at her and raised an eyebrow at Merlin.

"Merlin," he said, his voice calm but annoyed. "Why are you late and who is this?" As he said the last word, Arthur gestured to Cade.

"She's the reason I'm late." Merlin said. "This is my younger sister, Cade." Cade bowed respectfully.

"She's not a big idiot like you I hope?" Arthur said. Merlin rolled his eyes.

"No." he said bluntly. "She's really very smart."

"We'll see about that." Arthur said.

"She's here to work alongside me." Merlin said. "She will be until other work is found for her."

"Very well." Arthur said. "Why don't the two of you go muck out my stables." He grinned evilly. Merlin, again, rolled his eyes.

"That's got to be the worst job you could have given Cade on her first day." He said.

"That's too bad." Arthur said. "But I'm the prince and you're my servants, so do as you're told."

"Yes sire." Merlin said, his teeth clenching on the word "sire". He bowed and left, Cade, after bowing as well, following him.

As the siblings walked to the stables, Merlin threw his hands in the air in frustration. "That dollop-headed clot-pole!" he exclaimed, causing Cade to jump. "Out of all the jobs he could have given you on your first day here, he chooses this one; the overall single most disgusting of any servant's jobs!"

"Calm down, Merlin." Cade said, putting a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm her brother down. "I'll manage. I may still be sickly like I was as a child, but I can handle a little horse dung."

Merlin looked at her and the anger that was clearly present in his eyes faded slightly, replaced with concern. "Are you sure?" he asked. Cade nodded.

"I'm sure." Cade said. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. He smiled slightly.

"Alright." He said. "But if you can't handle it, you're off the job regardless of what Arthur says." Cade rolled her eyes, but nodded.

"Fine. Have it your way." She said. She began running towards the stables. Merlin watched her and reflected on when the two had grown up together in Ealdor before Cade was ever sent to Everwick.

Fifteen years ago...

Growing up in Ealdor wasn't easy. As a farming town on the edge of Cenred's kingdom, people in Ealdor had to make a living any way they could. Many of the children didn't know any different, not that it mattered. Two such children were Hunith's two children, her 6-year-old son, Merlin, and her 2-year-old daughter, Caden.

Merlin and Caden were two of the most rambunctious and active children in Ealdor. Despite Caden being born sickly, the toddler never let that stop her from trailing after Will and her brother. Both Merlin and Caden were advanced for their age. Both had learned to walk and talk earlier then other children. Hunith assumed it was due mostly to the fact that both had been born with magic.

Both Merlin and Caden were extremely close and rarely, if ever, argued or fought about anything. Merlin was very protective of Caden, unwilling to let anyone or anything upset or hurt her. One of the best examples of Merlin's protectiveness and care for his sister came a day that Caden was stuck inside, sick. Hunith heard giggling coming from inside the house. When she entered, she found Caden sitting up under her blanket, a wide smile on her face. Merlin was next to her, his blue eyes fierce with concentration as he eyed a bright light ball between him and Caden. Caden saw Hunith and her smile widened.

"Mommy, come see what Merlin did!" she exclaimed. "Isn't it pretty!" Hunith smiled and walked over to her son and daughter, sitting down next to Caden as she watched the ball float around in sync with the movement of Merlin's eyes.

"That is pretty." She agreed. "Merlin, where did you learn that?"

"I didn't." Merlin replied. "I was just trying to think of a way to make Caden feel better and the next thing I knew, I had a ball of light floating above my hand." He grinned. The ball of light floated in front of Caden and all three family members laughed as the girl reached for it, only for it to pull away.

One of the best days was when Merlin and Caden met who would soon become an extremely close friend. Her name was Astrid Dafydd, the 5-year-old daughter of a nobleman from the town of Greenwich, which was located within the borders of Camelot. When she walked up to Merlin, Will and Caden, Caden immediately hid herself behind Merlin, peeking out occasionally to glance at Astrid.

"I'm Astrid Dafydd." Astrid introduced. Merlin and Will waved slightly.

"I'm Will." Will said.

"My name's Merlin and this is my little sister, Caden." Merlin said, stepping out from in front of Caden. The timid toddler reluctantly held out her hand to Astrid, who took it smiling.

"Don't be afraid, Caden." Astrid said. "I won't hurt you. How about instead we be friends?" Caden thought about it a minute then walked back to Merlin and grabbed the hem of his shirt, pulling him closer to Astrid.

"Only if you be friends with Brother." she said sternly, causing the older kids to burst out laughing.

"Sure. Why not?" Astrid said after she'd managed to calm her laughter. "What about Will? Can I be friends with him?"

Caden looked between Astrid and Will and nodded slowly. "Yes. You can be friends with Will. He's Brother's best friend so you have to be friends with him if you want to be me and Brother's friend." This statement caused another round of laughter from the older kids.

Astrid visited Merlin, Caden and Will as often as she could, but with as far away as she lived, there were usually many weeks between each visit. The last time Caden saw Astrid, it was only five days before she was to be sent to Everwick because of her uncontrollable magic. After that, Caden never saw Astrid again.

Don't worry. Astrid will be back. She lived within Camelot's borders so a reunion with Merlin and Cade is unavoidable. (Plus I had it planned like this from the beginning) Cade is going to have a part in Merlin and Arthur's destinies. That's why the druids call her Catrin, which means "Pure" she's got a big part to play with her brother.

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