Lady of the Court

XIII

"Why do you have so many pots?" Merlin grunts, trying to help Gaius carry everything. Ava readjusts her basket to help grab one.

"I don't want to mix up the medicines," Gaius states as he walks along with the two. "Keep up Merlin, we have a busy day ahead."

"When do we not? With Arthur, it's always busy. We do this every Thursday. Same time every time."

Ava chuckles as she grabs another from a citizen. Many people assume she is learning healing from Gaius and never question the trio. Simple white lie that no one needs to know it's not true. Some ragged man comes over and shoves something in Merlin's hand.

"I need to find the king," he rushes.

"You will have to take the traditional channels," Gaius states. However, his stance quickly changes when he sees what's in Merlin's hands. "That's the seal of the House of Tregor. Where did you get that?"

"It is mine," a faminine voice replies. They look over to see a reddish brown hair woman in fine clothing. Gaius automatically bows, pulling Merlin down into a bow also.

"Aunt Catrina," Ava gasps.

"Hello Little One," the older lady smirks.

"W-we must take you to Uther then."

Ava hands back the pots and leads the group towards the palace. The king and his council are already in the throne room. Moment he sees the group, he stands up. Ava steps to the side by Morgana and Arthur.

"Lady Catrina," he states. "Our sources in the north the House of Tregor fell."

"It did," she states. "Sadly not too long after my brother and his wife. Thankfully my loyal servant, Jonas, helped me escape."

The lady looks at the red head not too far off to the side when she says this.

"And your father?" Uther asks.

"He is dead."

The news weighs more heavily on Ava than she thought. Even though she barely spent time with that side, and the hidden truth of her lineage, they still were family. Uther gets up and walks over to her. She basically faints, causing Uther to catch her. To Ava, this was odd. Her aunt usually tried to limit a sign of weakness in public. Even with her disease.

"Sorry," she mutters. "I am still weak from my travels."

"I understand. Merlin will take you to a spare chamber."

Merlin helps carry the couple bags, leading them out of the room. Uther excuses everyone from the room except his daughter. She watches everyone file out of the room. Uther looks at his daughter.

"I didn't tell you about-"

"I understand," she cuts him off. "Limit the pain."

"I'm just trying to protect you."

She nods her head.

"Anything else you've been hiding from me?" She asks him. "Because I would think my father wouldn't be hiding so much from me."

"I do what I feel is best for my children and my kingdom."

Ava excuses herself and leaves. She quickly moves away from where the king is to anywhere else. She soon finds herself outside, sitting on a hill. From up here, she can see knights train for a possible attack that may happen. Another person joins her, sitting down. She looks to see Merlin beside her.

"So I'm confused," he states. "I thought your last name is Grayson. But Lady Catrina is Tregor."

"He isn't actually her brother. Her father took him in as a ward. They just always said they were family."

He nods his head.

"That's a bit crazy."

"Yeah. On top of that, he apparently isn't even my father. Uther is."

That was just a weight lifted off of her.

"Does Arthur know all this?"

"No. And he can't."

"He deserves to know."

"But I have no right to tell him. Uther should."

"Maybe."

The two of them sit there, watching the knights practice. What else is there to talk about? Merlin grabs her hand, the two interlocking their fingers.