A/N: Okay, you guys asked for it and here it is. My second Merlin fic, I hope you all enjoy. Remember to leave a review and let me know.
She stretched her back and let out a groan. It was yet another boring day in her unbearable life. There was a hammering on her door. "Get up you worthless girl. The weather is turning and you need to bring all the sheep back. Now get up!" A man's voice yelled.
"Sorry uncle. I'll head out now." She called back, jumping out of bed and pulling on her jeans and the thickest jumper she could find. She looked at her boots and let out a sigh. They were worn, and the hole on the sole was growing. Maybe, if she was lucky and asked nicely, she could get a new pair. "As if." She snorted, grabbing her coat from the back of the door.
An hour later and she was out on the field, with the wind and rain pounding hard against her. Her chestnut brown hair, although tied up in a bun, was soaked through. "God, I hate my life. Mum, dad, if you can hear me, I hate uncle Don with a passion." She looked up at the sky and saw a flash of lightening. "I love the farm, I just hate him."
It was true, she had always loved the farm. But when her parents died, it was her uncle who had to take her in. He just saw her as another farm hand, he didn't care that she was family, she was free help. He always gave her the worst tasks, or the jobs none of the lads wanted to do.
"Be grateful I even let you stay here." He would say to her. "Nothing is free in life, if you want to live, you have to work." Was something else he would tell her when she complained.
She looked around the field and saw the sheep scattered, and trying to shelter under the trees. She was going to have a right job getting them all back down to the farm. "Shot me now!" She called, throwing her arms wide and making herself a prime target for no one. Her amber eyes closed tightly against the harsh weather.
At that precise moment there was another flash of lightening, the girl let out a scream as it hit her full on the chest. Then she fell to the ground, her body completely limp and still. The rain continued to pour down and the wind didn't let up either.
'So, this is what it's like to die? Thought it would be a little less dramatic. Oh well.' She thought, before completely blacking out.
0000
'Oh, boy does my head hurt.' I thought, feeling the searing pain across the back of my head. 'What happened, exactly?' I wondered, still not trying to move. I knew I was lying on my back on the ground, and I knew I was soaking wet as well.
"Sire, I think you had better come here." A man's voice called. It was a voice I didn't recognise. 'Hang on, he did say sire?' I wondered what the hell was going on.
"What it is? What have..." The new voice, another man, stopping in his tracks. I could hear the rustling of papers.
"This is the seal of the royal house of Lagoon." The first man said.
"So she's royal?" I wondered what they were talking about. First of all, they were talking slightly strange. And second of all, who the hell were they talking about?
"It is possible, sire. But what she is doing here I cannot tell you. The kingdom of Elbear is at least 6 days of riding away."
By that point I was fed up and decided that it was time for me to wake up from my crazy dream. I slowly forced my eyes to open, only to have to squint in the bright sunlight that was filtering through the trees. I moved my hand to shield my eyes a little and groaned some more from the pain I was feeling.
"Are you okay, My Lady?" The first man asked me. I turned my head and saw a he was wearing chain mail, and a long red cloak. I also noticed the dragon embroidered onto the left shoulder of it.
"I would say yes, but I was brought up not to tell lies." I said weakly, as I tried to push myself to sit up.
"I am Sir Leon of Camelot." He said, helping me up a little. "Can you remember your name?"
"Isabella. I think." I told him, clutching hold of my head. Sitting up may not have been a very good idea, everything was now spinning. I noticed the other man standing behind him. He was tall, with blonde hair and the most amazing blue eyes I had ever seen.
"Do you remember what happened, Lady Isabella?" Sir Leon asked me, kneeling at my side.
I didn't know what to really say. It was clear from my surroundings that I was no longer back in the field, and the way these people were dressed, I wasn't sure I knew where I was. "I remember a storm. I saw a flash of lightening, then nothing I'm afraid." I wasn't sure why I was speaking the way I was. 'Just play along with it I guess.'
"Are you hurt at all?" He asked. For the first time I noticed what I was wearing. It was certainly not the jeans and jumper I had left the farmhouse in earlier. I was sitting there on the ground in a long, rich dress. The vibrant green fabric was torn in several places.
"I think I may have hit my head." I told him, moving my hand to the back of my head where it hurt the most. I felt something wet and sticky in my hair, and when I pulled my hand away I found it covered in a red liquid. "Oh lovely, it would appear my head is bleeding." I mumbled.
That was when the blonde man finally spoke. "Merlin, get over here now!" He bellowed. I just looked at him curiously. He had not stopped looking at me the entire time. I was about to say something to him when another man appeared. He was skinny and had dark hair. His eyes were also something different, I couldn't quiet tell what colour they were.
"Merlin, this is Lady Isabella. Her head is injured, do what you can." The blond man ordered before wandering off, taking Sir Leon with him.
"Hello, I'm Merlin." The young man said as she crouched down next to me.
"Isabella." I said nervously. Only now was I starting to worry. I was in a strange place, with strange people. I had no idea what was going on, and I didn't know how to react.
"Mind if I take a look at your head?" He asked. I shrugged my shoulders and turned my head a little so that he could see the mess. I heard him gasp a little before I felt something cold and wet on my head. I couldn't stop a hiss of pain from leaving my lips. "Sorry, I need to clean it up. We wouldn't want it to get infected."
"Sorry, and thank you." I said quietly.
"It's nothing. But we're going to need to get that looked at properly. The best I can do is clean it really." He said, dabbing the back of my head with a cloth.
I stayed quiet, trying my best not to flinch when he touched my head. "We need to head back to Camelot." The blonde man announced, walking back over to us. "Lady Isabella, you shall ride with us."
I looked up at him. "I thank you, kind sir, but I do not ride with people I do not know. I thank you for your help but I shall be fine here." I said firmly, keeping my eyes locked with his.
"I am Prince Arthur of Camelot, you are safe with me and my knights." He didn't take his eyes from mine either. It was as if we were having a staring competition.
"How can I be sure you are who you say, sir? My memory is not in a good condition currently, and I barely remember who I am." I asked him, as Merlin helped me to stand up. I swayed a little from head rush and dizziness but he kept a firm hold and kept me balanced.
"You have my word, Lady Isabella."
"I am expected to accept the word of a stranger? One who claims to be the Prince of Camelot?" I was not going to accept that was who he was so easily. Finding out that there was someone there called Merlin was laughable enough, hearing they were from Camelot was almost too much, but Prince Arthur as well? No, that really was taking it too far.
"If you shall not come willingly, then I shall have to force you. I will not leave a Lady out here on her own, especially not with the injuries you have." He was being very demanding, and from the way he was acting, I couldn't help but think that maybe he was a prince. He seemed to have the attitude.
"And how shall you force me, sir, if I refuse?" I asked, folding my arms across my chest and taking a stand. The next thing I knew he had thrown me over his shoulder and was carrying me towards some horses. "Unhand me, sir." I yelled, knowing that trying to kick through his armour was pointless.
"Do you agree to come with us?" He asked, stopping a short distance from the horses and the rest of his party.
"No, I most certainly do not." I told him firmly. So he carried on walking, everyone was staring at us, and it just made me feel even more uncomfortable. "Put me down, this instant or you shall regret it." I threatened.
And then, to my surprise, he did put me down. "And what exactly are you going to do?" He asked, a smirk on his face.
I don't know what came over me, but the next thing I knew I was holding his sword, and pointing it at his throat. I wanted to laugh at the man, the look on his face was priceless. He was shocked, and terrified at the same time.
I decide it was time to find a little courage. "I am telling you, sir, to leave. Take your knights and leave me alone. I do not know who you are, or where I even am. I'm scared, angry, and wielding a sword." I could feel the adrenalin rushing through me, but I knew it wasn't going to last much longer.
"Fine. Hand me back my sword and we shall leave you here to die." The man said, trying not to show his fear.
"Swear to me, that you will leave me." I ordered, moving the point of the sword closer to his throat.
Before he had a chance to respond, my vision blurred and the world started spinning again. I felt the sword drop out of my hand. Someone put their arms around me before I fell forward. Then I blacked out.
0000
"The seal is genuine, sire. And she bares the ring of Lagoon as well. There is no doubt in my mind that this she is Princess Isabella Lagoon of Elbear." I could hear men talking. They were not the ones who I had spoken to earlier. Not that I could really remember much of what happened earlier.
"And Arthur found her, alone and injured in the woods."
"Indeed it is strange, sire. But until she wakes, we are not going to be able to find out why she was there nor what happened to her."
I carried on listening to the conversation. One of them was being called sire, and that meant they were royal. I really didn't want to deal with any more royal prats, so I waited until I heard them leave.
When I opened my eyes I found I was no longer in the woods. I was laying in a rather nice, four poster bed with a canopy. The sheets that were over me were soft and warm, a warmth that I had not slept in for a long time. I managed to push myself up on my elbows and was about to look around the room some more when I spotted the blonde man from earlier sitting in a chair by the bed.
"Good. You're awake." I instantly threw myself back down, and instantly regretted it.
"Ow." I moaned, feeling the pain in the back of my head from where it had been cut open. "Please tell me this is all just some terrible nightmare and that I am going to wake up from it soon." I asked, holding my breath.
"This is not a dream. As I told you before, I am Prince Arthur. You passed out in the woods and were brought back to Camelot." I let out the breath that I had been holding. "Is there a reason that you detest my kingdom so much?"
Clearly my breath had sounded like a rude sigh to him. "I shall admit I am not impressed with their prince." I told him, opening my eyes and looking at him. "He did bring me here against my will, after all."
"My father wishes to speak with you. I hope you show the King more manners than you have shown to me." He said, before standing up and walking towards the door.
"Well, maybe if you showed some manners, I would give you some in return. Treat others how you would wish to be treated." He just glared at me before leaving the room.
As soon as the door was closed I began to let the tears that I had been holding fall. I truly was scared. The only time I had ever heard of Camelot, Arthur and Merlin were in the legends and on television, so none of this could be real. I wondered, what if I really was dead? Or maybe I was back home in a coma or something. All I knew was that I was scared.
I was exhausted by the time someone came to the room I was in. I opened the door to see a woman with dark hair standing before me. "Lady Isabella, my name is Guinevere. I am the Lady Morgana's maid. I have been sent to assist you in preparing for your audience with the King."
I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand. "Thank you, Guinevere." I said, backing away from the door a letting her step inside.
"Is everything alright, My Lady?" She asked, looking at me with a strange expression on her face.
"Yes, everything is fine." I lied. I couldn't very well tell her the truth now could I.
Guinevere managed to tidy up my hair for me, which was difficult considering the rather large and deep gash at the back. "Prince Arthur will be along shortly to escort you." She told me before bowing at me.
"Thank you for your kindness, Guinevere." I said before watching her leave.
As with what had happened when Arthur left the room, I broke down in tears again. I couldn't stop them, no matter how hard I tried. I was crying myself into exhaustion and failed to hear the gentle knocking on the door a little while later.
"Lady Isabella, I have come to…" He stopped talking when he saw me, huddled up on the floor against the cold, stone wall and crying silently with my head against my knees.
I quickly pushed myself up and wiped my eyes again. "Let us go then." My voice was trembling.
"Lady Isabella, are you alright?" There seemed to be a slight hint of concern in his voice.
"I'm fine." I told him, even know it was far from the truth.
"Are you sure, you seem…"
"I said I am fine." I snapped. "Sorry. May we please go and see the King now." I asked, hanging my head in shame. It wasn't very often that I snapped or got angry with people, but this man just seemed to make my blood boil.
I followed a pace or two behind him as we made our way to the throne room. It seemed there were a few people already there, waiting. I recognised some of them as the knights who were in the woods, and there was the dark haired man, Merlin, standing by an elderly man. I kept my head down until we stopped walking.
"My Lord, Princess Isabella Lagoon of Elbear." Arthur said, taking my hand and pulling me forwards.
I pulled my head up and was faced with an older man with a crown upon his head. I could only assume that he was the king. "Sire." I said, giving a little curtsey. I didn't know where all this stuff was coming from, but I was grateful for it.
"You are a long way from home, Princess Isabella. What has brought you this far?" The king asked me.
"I cannot say, sire, for I cannot remember. I remember nothing from before being found by the Prince and knights of Camelot." That was true. I didn't remember anything from before then, well nothing in this world anyway. I wasn't going to tell him that I was in the field, gathering the sheep, more than several centuries in the future.
"You can remember nothing?" The King asked. I wondered if he believed me or not.
"No, sire. I remember my name, Isabella, but I can remember nothing of where I come from or what it is like there. I do not even recall the names of my parents." Without realising, I let a single tear slip down my cheek.
"This is, indeed, most tragic. I insist that you stay here in Camelot, as my guest, until such a time as you have regained your memories." I was a little shocked at what the King had said. He was allowing a complete stranger stay in his castle. They would never happen back in my time.
"Thank you, sire, for your kindness." I said, bowing a little at him in respect.
"I shall send an envoy to Elbear. I am sure they are curious as to where their Princess has gone."
I wondered, would anyone there even know who I was? Was I really a princess? "I'm sure they are, sire. I dread to think what trouble I may have caused there."
After that I was dismissed and the prince escorted me back to my room in silence. "If you need anything, do not be afraid to ask. I am just down the hall." He pointed to another set of doors just a little further along the stone corridor.
"I thank you and your father for your kindness and hospitality." I said, bowing and keeping my head down.
"Gaius, the court physician, will be along shortly to tend to your wound. You took a very serious blow to the head it would seem." There it was again, that little hint of concern in his voice. "Do you really not remember anything apart from your name?"
I took a deep breath. "I do not, sire. As I have told you and your father, I remember nothing from before you and your knights finding me. I can only assume that the cause of my memory loss is the injury I have suffered."
If I had been looking, I would have surely noticed the sad look on the prince's face, but I was keeping all my attention on the ground beneath my feet. "Your possessions that we found scattered around you have been returned to you. You will find them in your chamber. I hope that you have a comfortable stay and that your memory soon returns." The Prince said to me.
"Thank you, sire. I apologise for my behaviour in the woods. It was unacceptable and un-lady like." Now I just wanted to be left alone. I was completely exhausted and wanted nothing more than to wake up and find this was all just a dream. A crazy dream, but none the less, a dream.
"There is no need to apologise. Perhaps tomorrow we can start afresh?" I nodded at him, but still refused to look at him. "I suggest you get some rest. I am sure that you need it after your ordeal."
"Yes, sire. Thank you." I said, bowing to him before placing my hand on the door. I wanted to look up at him, something inside me was urging me to do so, but I ignored it and swiftly made my way into the room I had been supplied with.
I went and sat by the window, looking out over the citadel and out to the rest of Camelot. It really was a magnificent sight to see. The sun was slowly beginning to set, and it just made it even more breath taking to look at. The sky was so clear, there was no pollution from cars or aeroplanes, the smog that would choke you if you weren't used to it was nowhere. The air was so fresh and breathable, something that I had been accustomed to since living with my uncle.
My uncle. I bet he wasn't missing me much. He was probably glad that I was gone, one less problem for him. The amount of times I wanted to leave that place, but never had the courage to do it. The numerous times I dreamed of another life, but feared what would happen if that life failed as well. I had always been seen as the scared little girl who would just do what she was told, who would do anything to please those around her.
My mother used to tell me that I had too big a heart, and I never really understood what she had meant by that. That was until her and my dad died, along with my twin brothers. I had only been a child when it happened, only 7 or 8, it's hard to remember. All I know was that I woke up in a hospital bed, my uncle sitting beside my bed. He told me that they were dead, all of them except for me.
We were heading up to the farm for the weekend, as we did quiet often. The weather was even worse that day, so bad that the roads were beginning to flood. He told me that the car veered off the road and went head on into a tree. I was the only one to make it out alive, barely a scratch on me, while my family died.
My uncle hated me from that moment on. His brother was dead, along with his sister-in-law and nephews. His least favourite was the only to live, and he had to take care of her. He would always blame me, because it was always me who wanted to visit him and the farm.
I had been living with him for over 10 years, and things only went from bad to worse. 'Well, I'm sure you're happy now, uncle Don. You don't have to look after me now, do you?' I thought bitterly.
I was pulled from my thoughts by a gentle knocking at the door. With a heavy sigh I pulled myself away from the window and went to see who it was. The old man I had seen with Merlin was standing there, with Merlin hovering a little behind him.
"I am Gaius, My Lady, the court physician." He said, bowing politely to me.
"The Prince informed me of your visit. Please, come in." I said, moving away from the door and allowing them to enter.
"How are you feeling, My Lady?" He asked as I closed the door and went to sit at the table he was putting his things down on.
"I have felt better, but I am sure I have felt a lot worse." I told him. It was true, of course I had felt better, but nothing could compare to the pain I felt when I lost my entire family.
I could see a smile creep on the young boys face. "May I look at your injury, My Lady?" Gaius enquired. I gestured for him to go ahead and he began to inspect my head. "The bleeding has stopped, which is a good sign."
"I am just glad there has been no more dizziness and I have not been leaving the contents of my stomach all over the place. Then I would fear I had more than just concussion." I said, not really thinking about what I was saying.
Merlin and Gaius both seemed a little shocked at what I had said. "My Lady, are you educated in medicine?" The elderly man asked me.
I bit my lip. I had always been interested in medicine, and helping the sick. I knew a fair amount, but I was no doctor. "I have some knowledge in that area." There was a moment of silence. "Gaius, do you think my memory will ever return?"
Both the men shared a look, a look that I could read instantly. "I am afraid I cannot say. The memory is a very fragile thing, My Lady. There may be certain things that can trigger the return, but that is not a definite. All we can do is wait and see." He said, before stepping away from where I was seated. "Your head should heal in time. If you feel ill at all you must let me know immediately."
"I will, thank you, Gaius." I watched as the old man bowed and headed out of the room, while Merlin still stood there, watching me carefully. "Is there something I can do you for, Merlin?" I asked, letting out a sigh.
"Arthur told me you were upset earlier and I just wanted to make sure you were alright." Something in his eyes told me that his task was genuine.
"I admit that I am not alright. I have no idea where I am from or who I even am. I am in a strange place, with strange people and have no idea how I even ended up here." I held my hands in my lap to stop them from shaking.
"I'm sure that in time you will remember everything. And in the mean time, the King has sent word to your kingdom. They might provide some of the answer that you are missing." I nodded at him a little. "And anyway, Camelot isn't such a bad place."
I laughed a little. "Oh no, of course not. From what I have seen from my window, it seems such a beautiful place. But I know there is more to Camelot, I know more than I should." I whispered the last part, not really meaning to say it out loud.
"What do you mean?" The servant asked me, looking at me curiously.
"I may not remember much of my personal past, but there are some things that I do remember. Such as King Uther and his fight against magic." I looked back over to the window, it was much darker now, clearly later than I had realised. "The land of Albion that will come about when Arthur is King. The land were magic is no longer feared." I let out s sigh. "That is not this time."
"But… how did you know all that?" I looked at Merlin and saw his wide eyes.
"As I said, I know more than I should. If you will excuse me, Merlin, I would like to rest now." I told him, getting up from the chair and moving towards the bed.
"Of course, My Lady. Sorry. I hope you sleep well." He said, bowing and making his way to the door.
"Thank you, Merlin. I hope you sleep well also." I said, before he disappeared out of the door. Once he was gone I collapsed on the bed. I didn't care about changing out of the gown I was in. I only cared for some sleep, and the hope that I would eventually wake up.
A/N: Okay, first chapter up. Another 20 chapters sitting on my computer ready to go.
I've updated my profile, putting this story into the active section now, and added some more of my unpublished ones.
So, remember to review and let me know what you think. She is going to be a lot different to Lillian in my other Merlin fix (for those of you who have read it).
Pippa.