Twins Eyes // Merlin Fanfic

Stumbles in the Street - Chapter 1

I drew my dark, dull blue hood tightly around my head, shielding my face from the view of all others. However, this had its setbacks: I couldn't see particularly well either. Slipping between bustling people and rude passersby, I checked my surroundings for any familiar faces. None. Relieved that so far I was undetected, I continued my journey through the chaotic cobbles of Camelot, the castle looming before me. Pulling the tip of my ragged material further of my shadowed face, I looked down at my dusty, worn boots and wondered desperately: how on earth will I fit in here?

Envisioning majestic knights in sweeping crimson cloaks and shimmering chain mail dashing throughout the castle, I sighed at my torn shirt and tugged at the scratchy cloak I'd been given for my last birthday. In all honesty I should've been grateful; it kept me secret and in the cold warm. However it itched and rubbed and caused me more irritation than help, so I was eager to find Gaius and scurry away from all chance of notice before I ripped it off in agony.

Knowing, however, that's wouldn't really be brave enough to destroy my cover, I hung my head and looked at the floor a little ahead of me, my concentration regarding my surroundings began to fade.

Too hung up in my despair, I didn't notice the serving boy careering towards me at full speed, with consequently no time to move out of the way. Before I knew it, I was being bawled over, apples and silver trays flung about in the air. As they landed with a large clatter and the pair of us received many a judgemental stare for the ongoing crowds, I helps the boy up with my free hand, which wasn't clutching my precious bag. "Oh my goodness, are you alright?" He asked me worriedly, peering into my darkened hood.

Fear rose up in my throat. I knew his voice, his face, his habits and most importantly, his name. "Uh, yeah, yeah, I'm fine, really, thankyou," I said quickly, turning my head away from him in sheer desperation. As I stepped to leave, he gripped my wrist tightly. "You're sure?" He asked again, a curious glint in his eyes. "Yeah, yeah," I replied hastily. He soon let it drop, insisting he walk me to my destination as a show of his apology.

"That's not necessary, honestly I'm fine," I brushed him off, sick to the stomach for the moment he lifted my hood. But, no. He escorted me to the castle door and waited me there, asking what business I had here. "Just back for a few small things," I told him. It wasn't a lie, but nor was it the whole truth. "What things?" He asked, seemingly with the best intentions. He didn't sound particularly suspicious. "Just, uh, just some got ferries and, um, antidotes, and, yeah, uh, stuff..." I stumbled, trailing off a little. I smiled shyly to try and redeem myself, but to my detriment, my hood slipped down a little. I fumbled to try and draw it up, but to no avail.

"Hang on a minute," he said with a little confusion tingling his soft voice. "I feel like I recognise you," he said suddenly, his dark brows creasing into a frown. "However I can't quite out a mark on when, nor where. State your name," he ordered. When I shook my head, he took a firm hold of my left arm and marched me into a small room just off the castle. "Get off me!" I struggled, but his strong hold was too tight and my squirming efforts were of no use. "Leave me alone!"

"I recognise that voice too," he said slowly, narrowing his eyes. "Kaira!" He said in a harsh whisper, drawing down my hood sharply. "What the devil are you doing here? You'll get caught! For years you have stayed away, why now? Now of all times!" He sent me further back into the room, before I was pressed up against the wall. "You cannot control yourself, you will be caught and executed. Do you think I could cope with that?" I pushed him off me lightly, eyes flashing yellow in the dim light. "After all these years, do you think I have learned nothing? If so, you are wrong! I have trained and trained and trained, and in a fee months I will be as strong as you. You cannot deny it, brother mine," I said with a smirk. He smiled a little, his expression turning more gentle and soft.

We embraced in a hug which made up for the 13 years we had missed out on each other's lives. "You are a servant now?" I asked with a laugh. He nodded. "Easiest way of having a master teach me and a noble keep me." We both smiled knowingly, one arm on each other's opposite shoulder.

"Where is mother?" He asked cautiously, scratching the back of his neck. "She will be travelling up tomorrow. I brought most of our few belongings up yesterday in the hand-pulled cart, mother will be bringing her horse to ride." My brother sighed with relief, however hard he tried to shield his emotions. "There is no word on father, either, brother mine," I said before he could ask of our missing father. I hadn't ever really known him, only having see him within my early years. "Do not stack your hopes too high without a foundation of evidence. It makes the hopes too easy to smash down." He nodded sadly, agreeing with the truth.

"Where are you staying?" I asked him. He answered by allowing me to draw up my hood again and pointing silently out towards the door.

We quickly hurried out of the cramped shack, I followed him into his chambers on the periphery of the castle. "It's not much," my brother said lightly, "but right now, it's home." We both knew the feeling of not belonging to a home anywhere too strongly, for our childhood had been distorted. However I was delighted for him, faxing in interest around him small bedroom. "Another thought, how is Kilgharrah?" I questioned in a hushed voice. If others overheard us speaking if dragons, well, the consequences would be fatal.

"Still locked up, the poor beast," he said with a silent shake of his head. "He deserves to be free with Kallah." Kallah was my friend, the one with whom I shared my mountain home. He was currently resting a few miles out of Camelot, perched on the trees out of sight. I nodded sadly. As a young, fit and fire resting monster, Kallah was just a little intimidating - absolutely terrifying - until you got to know him. "It is terribly unfair on him to keep him chained underground. No matter what crime he decided to befall upon Camelot." With sad agreement, footsteps approached the ajar door.

"I have to go, brother. I will be staying around in Camelot, find me soon. Goodbye," I said with a small smile and a few steps toward and out of the door.

"Bye, Kai."

"Bye, Merlin."