Unmatched (Merlin x reader)

I walk down the halls, feeling a little uneasy. Merlin said that he'd take me to see Gaius. That's not what's getting to me. I just have this fuzzy feeling about the whole situation. As we walk down the hall we pass a girl with dirty blonde hair.

"Julie." I grin, walking towards her. 

She stops. "Clara, I saw you this morning."

"I know, I know, but you look so grown up." I tease.

Julia rolls her eyes. "That's because I am."

"Sorry. It's just difficult for one to see their little sister as grown up." I joke.

Julia rolls her eyes even more. "I'm only two years younger than you."

"A vital two years." I cross my arms.

She sighs. "And a good four to five inches taller than you."

"So is half the population, you aren't special." 

Julia and I are sisters even though we doing have the same blood. We don't look alike, either. Julia is tall and willowy, with a pointed nose, almond eyes, and straight, sandy colored hair. I'm almost her exact opposite. I'm short, with a fuller figure, I'm tan, as well. I have long brown curls and round dark eyes.

Julia finally laughs. "Your awful. Clary, really."

"I know." I smile. "See you around."

"See you later." She agrees, before walking down the hall.

"Sister?" Merlin speaks questioningly. "You don't look alike."

"She's adopted." I explain. "My grandmother took in as many children as she could, when needed, during times of poverty. Julia, Mallory, and I were the three sisters that always stayed with my grandmother." I feel a pang of pain in my heart. What happened to Mallory?

"Is Mallory back home?"

I don't like lying, but they can't know all about my past. Some of my story needs to be hidden. 

"Yeah." I force a smile.

I have an odd feeling in my stomach. We walk past some candles, they instantly go out.

"Odd." Merlin mumbles. "I didn't feel a draft."

This is the same type of trouble I got myself in where I used to live. "Weird." I say a little too nervously. "If I didn't know better I'd say it was magic." I laugh nervously. "But I do know better, and there's no magic here, so let's just keep walking."

"Alright..." 

—

"Gaius!" I greet as soon as I see him.

He smiles weakly. "Clarisa, you look exactly like your mother. When I first saw you walk in, it felt like I was seeing her."

"Thank you, Gaius, you're exactly like I remember you." I hug him.

"Not exactly I'm afraid, I'm not feeling my best these days." He tells me sadly.

"I'm sure you'll be better soon." I say comfortingly.

Gaius smiles a bit. "Tell me, do you still have those fits? The ones that plagued you as a child?"

"I'd be lying if I said I don't have the occasional nightmare." I tell him honestly. "And the other stuff...well..."

"Don't worry, Clarisa." Gaius tells me. "While there's darkness in your gifts, I will not let you end up like Morgana."

"M-morgana?" I repeat.

Gaius looks at Merlin who seems to be trying to listen. "We'll talk later."

"What was that about?" Merlin asks as soon as Gaius walks away.

"Nosy." I joke. 

"Just curious." Merlin defends himself. "I've been with Gaius for years now, but go ahead and whisper and keep your secrets."

I laugh once. Exactly the reason to keep the secret. I don't want him hating me. "It's nothing like that...he just mentioned Morgana."

"Do you know her?" Merlin tries to sound casual, but I can tell he's trying to get information out of me. I have to pick and chose my lies. "If I tell you something that won't make a lot of sense, will you promise not to tell anyone or ask follow up questions." 

"Okay." Merlin agrees seeming unsure. "I'm good at keeping secrets."

"Morgana and I were friends once, and now I live in fear of becoming like her." I admit.

My words hang in the air. Merlin breaks the silence. "I don't know how you know Morgana, and I'm guessing that's the part you don't want me asking questions about, so I won't. But you won't become like Morgana. I won't let it happen, promise."

He seems so genuine that it makes me want to believe him. "Careful Merlin." I smile a bit, trying to lighten the mood with a joke. "Don't go making promises to people you just met. You hardly know me."

"I know that it's not going to happen."

"Thank you, Merlin." And for the first time in awhile, I smile and it isn't forced.

Suddenly Gaius rushes back into the room. "Merlin, Clara, there's an emergency back at the castle. Go!"