First Chapter of Future Stories: Part 1

Commoner or Princess: Merlin Fanfic

"So what's my punishment?" I ask him.

"You must apologize to Arthur and demanding on how well you do will decide your fate" he states.

"Can't I just be put into the stocks with Merlin?" I ask him. He shakes his head and we reach the throne room. We're let in and I see Arthur there with his father. Along with a beautiful raven haired woman. Gaius nudges me and I sigh.

I step forward and curtsy. "I am sorry for striking you Prince Arthur. I had no idea who you were and only saw a man picking on my baby brother. Who I promised to protect, again I am sorry for hitting you and your men" I say honestly. Well partly honest. After hearing why Merlin picked a fight with Arthur yesterday. I'm glad I hit, maybe it'd knock some humility into him.

"I accept your apology" he states. "But you must be punished" he adds. "You'll work in the stable today, muck out all the stalls and what not" he tells me.

"Of course sire, again I am sorry" I tell him.

"Know this Ava, should you attack my son again. We will not be as forgiving" Uther tells me.

"I understand my lord" I say bowing to him.

"Arthur show her to the stables" he instructs. Arthur does so and then leaves me with the head stable hand. It was hard and stinky work. But better this then being in the stocks in my opinion. When I return to the chambers Merlin and Gaius are already enjoying dinner.

"You stink" Merlin teases.

"Give me a hug" I say and start to chase him around the room.

"Come now you two, settle down" Gaius tells us. "Ava there's a bucket of warm water for you to wash up with. I've set a plate aside for you" he states.

"Thanks Gaius" I say. I go wash up and change dresses. Before having dinner and call it a night. Exhausted from working in the stables all day. I slept in until late next day. When I woke I decide t explore a little as Merlin and Gaius weren't home.

As I round a bend I bump into someone. Causing them to drop the basket of clothes they were carrying. "I'm so sorry" I say and help her pick them up.

"You must be Ava" she says with a smile. I look at her confused. "I'm Gwen, I met Merlin yesterday" she states offering me her hand. I shake it. "What punishment did you get?" she asks.

"Worked in the stables all day, it was exhausting" I tell her. "I can help you rewash these, it's my fault they got dirty" I state.

"You don't have too" she tells me.

"I want to" I tell her. She smiles and leads the way. We wash the clothes and got to know each other better. She told me about her father. I in turn told her about my life in Ealdor. How I was adopted and don't remember my true parents.

"You must have been very young" she states as we hang the clothes.

"Two or three" I state. "But Hunith was a good mum to me and still is. And I love Merlin like a brother" I tell her.

"Do you have any clues at all?" she asks me.

"Just a pendant and a mark on my arm. Mum believes it to be a birthmark" I state. "But enough about me, what about you? Any siblings?" I ask.

"I have a brother, but haven't seen him in years" she states. "Anyway, I must get back to Lady Morgana. I must prepare her for the feast" she tells me. I nod my head and return home. Where I discover Gaius got Merlin and I job for the night at the feast. We'd be serving drinks and stuff. While Uther and his court enjoy Lady Helen's singing. So I changed dresses.

Merlin kept staring at the raven haired woman talking to Arthur when Gwen joins us. "She looks great, doesn't she?" she asks and Merlin agrees. "Some people are just born to be queen" she states.

"No!" Merlin says shocked.

"I hope so. One day. Not that I'd want to be her. Who'd want to marry Arthur?" Gwen asks.

"Not me" I tell her. So the raven haired woman must be the Lady Morgana. Merlin chuckles.

"Oh, come on, Gwen. I thought you liked those real rough, tough, save the world kind of men" he states.

"No, I like much more ordinary men like you" she tells him.

"Gwen, believe me, I'm not ordinary" he tells her.

"True" I say.

"No, I didn't mean you, obviously. Not you. But just, you know, I like much more ordinary men like you" she explains.

"Thanks" Merlin says looking unsure how to take that. I giggle. Celebratory horns signal King Uther's entrance and everyone finds their place at the tables. Merlin, Gwen and I go our separate ways. I'm on one side of the room with Gwen and Merlin is on the other. As Uther presents Lady Helen. Who starts to sing in a foreign language. I see people starting to fall asleep as I to become drowsy. I make eye contact with Merlin who's covering his ears and I do the say.

We see Lady Helen slowly approaching Arthur and Uther. As the room starts to fill with cobwebs. I notice her pull a dagger out and look back at Merlin. I look up at the chandelier and back at him. He seems to get my idea and has it fall onto Lady Helen.

Court members wake and pull the cobwebs off, muttering. Uther and Arthur stand up to see Mary Collins lying on the floor. Mary raises herself up enough to throw the dagger at Arthur. Merlin slows down time to reach Arthur and pull him out of harm's way. The dagger slices into Arthur's chair as they fall to the floor. Mary dies. Uther and Arthur stare at Merlin.

"Merlin!" I exclaim and rush over. Helping him and Arthur to their feet.

"You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid" Uther says looking at Merlin.

"Oh well" Merlin says.

"Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded" Uther tells him.

"No, honestly, you don't have to, Your Highness" Merlin tells him.

"No, absolutely. This merits something quite special" Uther states and starts to think. "You shall be rewarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant" he declares.

"Father!" Arthur exclaims and I laugh as the court claps. Gwen claps with a pitying smile on her face. Arthur and Merlin look away from each other unhappily. Suddenly Uther freezes looking at me, why does he feel the need to stare at me?

"That mark, it can't be" he says looking at my birthmark. I cover it feeling self conscious. "Audrey" he says looking into my eyes again.

"It's Ava my lord, remember? I told you before" I state.

"No, you're Audrey" he says with tears in his eyes. "Only one person in the world has that mark" he states and suddenly pulls me into his arms. "My daughter is home!" he declares. I freeze, daughter? He's my father? That can't be right? That'd make Arthur my brother and me a princess. No, he must have the wrong person.

"My  lord, I fear you have me confused for someone else" I state pushing him away gently.

"What if he doesn't?" Gwen asks. We all look at her and she blushes lightly. "You said yourself you were adopted" she states.

"Thanks Guinevere, tell the whole world why don't you" I say annoyed.

"You were only two or three, right?" she asks.

"Yes, so?" I ask.

"Princess Audrey was only two when she was kidnapped" Lady Morgana states. "We all thought her dead, but you have her birth mark" she tells me.

"Coincidence" I state.

"What about the pendant you told me about?" Gwen asks. I sigh and take it off showing it to Uther.

"I had these made when you and Arthur were born" he states looking at it. "Oh Audrey, I'm so glad you're back" he says hugging me again. As the court cheers. Great not only is Arthur possibly my brother, but he's my twin now? What's next an evil half sister? Power hungry uncle? Surely this is all a big misunderstanding.

A/N

Picture above of the cover and pictures in chapter of Ava, her necklace and dress.