Unmatched (Merlin x reader)

Chapter Three

Audience's POV

A plate of sweets sits on a wooden table. A young girl, at oldest twelve, stands in front of them, staring. Her hair is long and dark, half of her curls are tied back with a shiny blue ribbon.

The sounds of footsteps echoing down the hall startle Clara, she isn't meant to be in the kitchen. 

"Clara." Someone hisses. Clara flinches. "It's only me, your father will not be having this. You know the ball is starting soon."

Clara's grandmother might be the one half decent thing about this place. Twelve years. He leaves for twelve years, and when he comes back, he drags them all to a castle. Sure, the lavish rooms and constant meals are different than what Clara is used to, but there's something about suddenly being the next in line for the throne that bothers her. 

Most of all, she has a problem with Gloria. The daughter Clara's mother gave birth to minutes after Clara was born. Since Clara was technically the older twin, she had claim to the thrown. Both twins were unaware of the other's existence until recently. 

Clara stares down at the plate of sweets. "Julia wanted some."

"She'll have some at the ball, now go on." Clara's grandmother ushes her out of the kitchen.

"Stealing from the kitchen?" Gloria interrupts.

Clara turns around. "I...I was..."

"Relax. I just forget what a beggar you used to be." She claims with darkness in her smile. "And yet father chose you to be queen."

— Clara's POV

"What do you think is worng?" I ask Merlin while we rush down the hall.

"Not sure, but Gaius seemed to know." Merlin tells me.

I notice Gwen pacing around the the corridor. "What's wrong?" I ask her.

"Clara, Don't go in there." Gwen warns. "You don't want to." She then turns to Merlin. "Arthur and Uther are already in there, Merlin."

Merlin nods his head. "Sorry, Clara." 

"Why can't I see?" I ask Gwen.

"You can, but you really won't like it." Gwen trie. "It's...not good." 

Without thinking I rush into the room. Gwen calls for me not to. Even Arthur steps away from his father and tries to block me from seeing it, but it's too late. Julia, paler than ever, passed out on the flor, with just the slightest bit of blood dripping out of her mouth.

I instantly drop to the ground, grabbing her hand. "Julia, Julia..."

"Clara..." she whispers faintly, but when I hear it I'm relieved. 

"What happened?"

She looks at me with empty eyes. "Morgana." 

Her eyes roll back into her head, but she's not dead, she's breathing. Breathing faintly. I grip her arms. 

"Julia, stay awake."

"Clara." Arthur begins. "We'll have her taken to the infirmary and she'll get good care."

"No, I can't leave her." I hold her hand tighter. "I'm her older sister, I need to stay with her. I should've taken better care of her."

"It's not your fault." Arthur tries to comfort me. 

The one constant in my life lays before me, unconscious and losing time. I reluctantly let people take her to the infirmary. I watch her go, barely holding in my tears.

Merlin squeezes my hand once. I hadn't realized that we were holding hands until that. I look down at our hands and then at him.

"It's going to be alright." He whispers. "Promise."

"Two," I say when I find my voice. "That's two promises you've made me in one day. I've made you zero, I'm feeling a little behind."

"You can always catch up tomorrow."