Merlynn's Secret

Chapter 2

Nope, still don't own Merlin.

~Dream~  

It felt like she was drowning at first. Sinking deeper and deeper into an abyss of sheer nothingness. It was dark and cold and empty. Everything had happened so quickly. One moment Merlynn was watching her friends fight off some bandits, only helping where she could and the next... darkness.

An image begins to play in her mind. It shows a small hut with a view by a lake. A man is stood outside building something, whistling while he works. The man turns to the hut and smiles when he sees his heavily pregnant wife bringing him a snack. "Fray you need to eat before you overwork yourself."

"In a moment my love. The crib is almost finished." It was Merlynn in the doorway of the hut. Fray, her lost love, is her husband. This is a dream Merlynn has often. This is what Merlynn wants more than anything. To have a family. To be held by Frey and to feel his love surround her.

~With Arthur and the Knights~

Night fell and Arthur, Gwaine, Percival, Elyan, Leon, and Lancelot all sit around the campfire. Merlynn is still unconscious and has been for the last several hours, since the attack. Percival is sat by her head stroking her hair. The silence is deafening save for the occasional whimper that escapes from Merlynn's lips.

"So Merlynn's a girl then? I'll be honest I didn't see that one coming." Gwaine says breaking the silence.

"I can understand why she would choose to hide her magic from us, but why hide the fact that she is a woman?" Elyan added.

As it turns out Merlynn is pretty bad at keeping secrets. Especially when those secrets pertain to herself. Over the years the round table Knights and Arthur learned of Merlynn's magic and witnessed firsthand the good she does with it. Merlynn being Merlynn remains completely unaware of the fact that they all know her secret. Her friends plan to keep it that way until she feels ready to reveal herself to them.

"I'm just surprised that not one of us ever noticed," Leon added.

"We will question her about it as soon as she is able," Arthur says as he stares blankly into the crackling fire. truth be told Arthur can't bring himself to look anywhere else. He is afraid to look at Merlynn. He doesn't want to see Merlynn in such a fragile state, nor does he want to look at his Knights and see the anguish in their eyes.

"She is shaking and warm to the touch. I fear a fever has set in." Lancelot is increasingly worried for his friend. He knows many things about Merlynn. He was the first to discover her magic. He also knows of many embarrassing incidents' that are better left forgotten. Now how is it that he missed the part about his best friend being a woman?

"First thing in the morning, we make haste to Camelot. We are nearly halfway there already, Merlynn may not make it if we don't hurry." Although Arthur would never admit it out loud he really was worried for Merlynn. The servant with little regard for proper etiquette had warmed her way into his heart.

...

As promised, at first light the knights are prepared to leave hastily. The horses are watered, and everything is packed. Percival opts to carry Merlyn on his horse, gently resting her head on his shoulder. He has not uttered a single word since Merlynn fell unconscious.

They stopped nearly half a day to the Castle to water the horses again and to check Merlynn's wound. "Her fever is worsening. We must hurry." Lancelot says as he rebandages Merlynn carefully. the moment Lancelot finishes her bindings Percival is by Merlynn's side ready to carry her back to his horse.

Merlynn and Percival had become very close in only a short amount of time. No one was surprised by their fast friendship. Merlynn made fast friends with nearly everyone. "You're going to be just fine Merlynn, I promise. Just hold on a little longer." Lancelot whispered into his best friends' ear.

For Percival, it started when he was on the road with Lancelot. The man had spoken highly of the scrawny servant in Camelot. He listened to the way Lancelot praised the servant, "Merlynn is like no one I have ever known" and "Merlynn is the bravest of us all". Without having met the servant Percival already held Merlynn in high regards and with much respect.

"Percival," Gwaine called but received no answer. "Perc, mate. You carried her this far maybe you should have a rest." Percival looks on at Gwaine in silent rage and tightens his grip on Merlynn as if Gwaine were going to forcibly take Merlynn from him.

None of them have ever seen such emotion spread across the usually stoic knight's face. He looks at Gwaine with anger but there is something else in his eyes. Fear. Percival's afraid of something. Afraid that he will lose Merlynn. Since meeting Merlynn for the first time, Percival has seen firsthand how far he -she- is willing to go for Arthur, for everyone. The very moment he saw for himself the kind of person the servant is, Percival made the silent promise to look after Merlynn.

Lancelot, Elyan, Gwaine, Leon, and Arthur form a circle around Percival. Arthur takes a slow step towards Percival "I think this may be one of those rare occasions when Gwaine is actually right about something. Percival, you must be exhausted let someone else carry Merlynn the rest of the way." None of the knights know what to do. They are worried about Percival's current state of mind and what it means for the wounded Merlynn currently laying in his arms.

Percival looks his king dead in the eyes. One word passes his lips, "no." It's only slightly above a whisper. His voice is tired but unyielding. His firm grip on Merlynn is unrelenting. After seeing the small man -woman- he had come to consider his surrogate little brother -sister- so close to death has sent him into the role of Merlynn's protector.

Lancelot having known Percival the longest seems to realize what's happening. Percival told him some of the horror stories about what happened to his family. How he has suffered at the hands of Cenred and those of his army. After they had returned to Camelot as knights Lancelot noticed the way Percival regards Merlynn. He treats Merlynn as a younger sibling.

Lancelot slowly steps towards Percival with both of his hands raised in submission. "Hey Percival, it's alright. No one is going to take Merlynn from you. But look at her Percival, she needs Gaius now. Percival, please let me help you get her on your horse so that we can get her the help she needs." Percival glances down at the unconscious Merlynn in his grasp. He knows Lancelot's right but he doesn't want to let her go.

Lancelot steps closer to his longtime companion until he's stood directly in front of Percival. He holds out his arms motioning Percival to hand Merlynn over. When Percival is sure Merlynn is safely in Lancelot's grasp he turns and mounts his horse. Lancelot helps Percival gently prop Merlynn up on the horse and they were readyto race back to Camelot.