I sit in the dungeon my head against the wall.
"You seem to like this place, as you keep on ending up here." Arthur mocks from where he stands. "How many times do I have to tell you, it wasn't what it looked like." I say holding my head in frustration. "Oh so it didn't look like you were attacking a woman on the street?" He asks. "No i-" I start but get interrupted. "Leave her Arthur, seems she does not want to be reasoned with." Says Uther from the door. I groan at the sight of him. "Then I'll explain everything at court this evening. As no one lets me speak and explain myself." I say staring Uther down. "You shall but with your record, I don't think it'll go well." He says. "Can I at least have my food I haven't eaten since what little I got early this morning." I say looking at Arthur. "Your food should be here soon." He says stepping away and with his father, leaving.
I sigh rubbing my eyes. "Why won't anyone believe me, ever." I groan into my hands. "Anika!?" Exclaims a voice from the door. I look up and see Guinevere. "Oh hey Guin." I say sheepishly giving her a smile. "How do end up in the dungeon already? You left only yesterday." She scolds bringing me my food. "Well we have to hang out somehow." I joke and she smacks my shoulder. "But anyways you shouldn't have to be in here so often." She says squatting in front of me. I raise my eyebrows then return them to normal. "Well... what about Arthur? He seems like a... decent... man." I say looking at Guinevere. "Oh he's nice and all. But I'll have no chance I'm simply a servant. Why would he be interested." She says smiling looking at the floor.
"You'd be surprised." I say chuckling and take a bite of my bread. Her eyes widen. "Hey you tried changing the subject!" She exclaims. I nod simply. "Yes and you went along with it." I say smirking at her. We laugh but then she says she has to leave. "Very we'll have a nice day." I say waving at her. She waves back and leaves.
A while after I finish eating Arthur and guards step in. "Let's go." He says and the guards take off the shackles. "Hopefully we don't have any casualties this time." I say smirking at Arthur and he laughs. "Alright." He says and I walk after him my hands cuffed. We arrive at the door and the guards open it like before.
"Father, Anika." Arthur introduces them I step in. The king had a harder glare then last time. I look away from him and look at the people around him. There was Merlin, Arthur, Guinevere, then... Morgana. Both our eyes widening. "How do you plead." He says sternly. "Innocent." I say focusing my eyes on him glancing at Morgana every now and then. "State your case." He says and I take in a breath. "While going to the market I bought my necessities and saw a person in a hood. They stuffed fruits in their bag and ran. I followed them and when I caught them, but when I did they acted the victim." I say glaring at Uther the entire time. "Do you have any proof that at this is how it played out." He says putting his elbows on his chair. "I have a witness. There was a woman I bought my own fruit from. One thing I point out is I bought my own fruit, I wouldn't need to go stealing it from a woman on the street." I spit at him. I wasn't happy to see Uther. He killed my mother after all. Never a pleasure.
"Then we should have the woman who supposedly sold you your fruit and witnessed the entire undertaking." He says and I nod. The guards take me and walk with me to the market. The woman was sitting down counting fruit when I pointed to her. "Excuse us Miss. You'll have to come with us to show up in court." One of the guards says. She looked panicked. "What but I didn't do anything." She says. "Don't worry your only going as a witness." I clarify and she looks at me, standing in cuffs. She smiles. "Oh your the nice boy from before!" She exclaims. I shut my eyes. "Miss I'm not a boy." I say and her eyes widen. "Oh I'm sorry." She says but I shake my head. "It's fine but we must go, can't leave the king waiting." I say sarcastically. The woman walks with the guards as they surround me on both sides.
We enter the thrown room once more and the woman steps up. She bows then stands up straight going to the side. I walk to the middle and the guards leave me. "She is the woman that sold me the fruits." I say nodding my head to the lady. "What exactly happened today when you saw them at your stand?" Uther asks looking at the lady. "Well after she bought her fruit, she paid. She was very well spoken and thanked me then she turned to the side. When I looked up to see what she was looking at, there was someone at another stand. They had stuffed fruit in their bag then ran. She ran after her, and that's the last I saw of her." The lady explains making gestures with her hands.
"No your lying! I would never steal!" Says the girl from before. "Is that what your mother tells you?" I mock not looking at her. She stomps over to me. "Who are you to speak, thief! Your lying to your king! Your a disgrace to men!" She screaches and I roll my eyes. With my hands cuffed I lifted one leg and kicked behind her knees she fell with a yelp. I sigh. "But thing is I'm not a man." I say shrugging my shoulders at her. There were gasps around the room but other than that everyone stayed silent. "Well then my apologies Anika. Guards take her!" He exclaims and the guards came and dragged the girl. "No! No! Your making a mistake!" She yells and the door shuts. Arthur comes and takes off the cuffs. He steps back and I turn around heading for the door. "Wait Miss Anika!" Uther says and the guards block the door. My lips form a line and I turn around.
"Yes?" I say. "Is there something we could do to repay you? We still owe you for saving my sons life, and now for false accusations." He says. I smile. 'Wow, the golden spoon wants a clean conscience.' I think mockingly. I feel a glare and see Merlin. 'Anika.' He says warningly. I simply give him another smile. "No but you leave me to go home and you can call us even." I say pointing to the door that was blocked by guards. He furrows his eyebrows. "That can't simply be all. How about a place in the royal household?" He suggests and I see Morganas, Guineveres, and Merlins shoulders rise seeming interested. "What would I be doing?" I ask. "You will be free until you find something you would like to do." He says awaiting my answer. I feel Morganas, Guineveres, and Merlins eyes look at me pleadingly. I smile. "Of course." I say. He smiles sighing the three doing the same. "Well then your room shall be prepared immediately." He says and Merlin leaves. I nod. "Well then I best be going." I say walking to the door once more. The guards move and I take one last glance at Morgana before leaving.
"I came for my belongings." I say to the guards. They let me pass and I grab my sword, bag, and coat putting it on. I walk out. "Will that be all miss?" One of them asks and I nod. "Have a nice day you two." I say and walk away up the stairs.
When I make it to the top I see Morgana speaking with one of the guards. "Have you seen a girl with brown short hair?" She asks. The guard nods. "She's over there Miss Morgana." He says pointing to me. She turns around and smiles. She rushes over and drags me to her chambers. "Well nice to meet you too, Morgana." I say sarcastically. She smiles sheepishly at me. "Sorry, it's just with what your mothers told me about you I was excited to speak with you." She says sitting on her bed. "Ah yes. How exactly have you been in contact with my mother?" I ask her sitting down on a chair. "Well, your mother comes to me in some of my dreams. She speaks to me on how much of a wonderful daughter you were. That you were outspoken, brave, and were a fighter. You wouldn't let the other people in the village bother you. That you always held your head high." She says smiling at me. My face flushed. 'Oh mother if you were alive right now, I don't know what I'd do to you.' I think embarrassed. 'Anika! Stop thinking so hard I can hear you!' Merlin scolds. 'Sorry!' I think and look back at Morgana. "How is she doing?" I ask. "The last time I saw her was three weeks ago, she was well. Though she can't really get sick." She says explaining the matter to me. "How exactly does it work? How does she come to you." I ask curious. "Well your mothers mind is very strong and stubborn. She fights against the borders our minds have and speaks to me in dreams. So it's her spirit. She can't get sick because that's something that happens to a physical body." She explains and I nod. "Oh I'm sorry if I'm being a bother. I'm simply curious is all." I say and she shakes her head. "Not at all I would do the same." She says giving me a smile. We talk and talk and talk about almost anything. It turns out we are really the same. She like me doesn't let Uther get the better of her just because of his power. She believes that women can do all what men do and more. Just that we are put down a lot of the time.
After a while of speaking someone knocks on the door. "Come in!" Morgana exclaims and the door opens. "There you are!" Merlin says out of breath. "Do you know how large this castle is?! I had to go through every room!" He says putting his hand on the table. But his weight makes it tilt over and all the things on the table including Merlin begin to fall. Without thinking I hold all of them in place my eyes bright turquoise. I put everything back and flip Merlin to land on his butt. Merlin looks at me wide eyed. 'Idiot!' He thinks. 'Your the idiot. Morgana already knows I have gifts. I'm not that stupid.' I defend myself. And he gives me a look. I simply look away. "What did you need?" I ask like we didn't bicker earlier. "The room you'll be staying in has been finished." He says looking at me. "Alright, then have a good night Morgana." I say giving her a wave. She smiles and we leave.
Once we close the door Merlin drags me to a corner. "What do you mean she already knows?! How stupid can you be?" He yells hushed. "Just like you she was in my dreams and I was in hers. But I only saw her after I met you. Other than then, I've never seen her before." I explain myself. "And your lucky your my friend or I would've broken your arm!" I whisper yell. He steps back putting his hands up in surrender. "Fine, but seriously you need to get to your chambers." He says and I nod.
I follow him down a corridor and he stops at a door. I nod for him to open it. When he does I see a bed, a vanity, and a window that can be covered by a curtain that hung from the ceiling. "Woah. This is nice." I say. "I know. And even though I've saved Arthur's life countless times in stuck with Gaius!" He whines and I laugh at his childlike behavior. He closes the door and sits down at a chair."Yeah but they shouldn't know that." I say and walk over to the bed. I look at it warily and remove my boots. I sit on the bed and it felt soooooo good. I groan rolling in the blankets and Merlin laughs at me. "This is THE best!" I say sitting up the blankets wrapped around me.
Some one knocks at the door. "Come in!" I exclaim. The door opens and reveals Guinevere. "Merlin Arthur was looking for you." She says stepping in. "Ah I'll be going then. Good night." He says to both of us and exits. Guinevere comes and sits down where Merlin sat before. "How are you liking the room?" She asks. "Oh I love it especially the bed. Want to try?" I suggest scooting over. "Oh no I can't. I mustn't." She says shaking her hands. "You said it was my bed right?" I ask. "Yes but-" "Then I'm letting you to come to bed with me." I say patting a price of the bed. She sighs standing up. "Alright, but only for a little." She says and takes off her shoes. She sits on the bed and sighs laying on it. "It feels like heaven." She breaths out. "Right?!" I lay down with her.
"So what you were telling me about Arthur. What exactly do you see in him?" I ask laying on my stomach looking at her. She copies my position. "Well, he's very brave, kind, and he cares a lot for his people." She says sighing. I smirk at her. "Awww. How cute. It's puppy love!" I say giving her a broad grin. She rolls her eyes playfully. "Your talking like a teenager." She laughs but my eyes widen. "Well that because I am." I say. She looks at me bewildered. "What? I always thought you were older because of how mature you were." She says and I laugh. "Thanks I guess." I say. "Well then how old are you?" She asks. "How old do I look?" I ask in return.
She looks at me. "Fifteen?" She says I shake my head. "Eighteen." She says sure of her answer. I shake my head once more smiling. "Sixteen." I shake my head. "Then how old are you?" She asks exasperatedly. "Seventeen." I say. "Seventeen?!" She repeats. I nod laughing at her reaction. "Woah I really am getting old. I'm 26." She breaths out. "Hey don't worry much on it. Your the same person to me." I say. "Wait isn't Merlin like 19?" She asks laying on her back facing the ceiling. "He's eighteen." I say looking up at the ceiling as well. "And Arthur?" I ask. She sighs. "21. Morgana is the same age as you. You two are much alike." She says. I nod. "I was with her this evening I got to get along with her." I say laying down correctly on my bed. Guinevere looks at me my eyes closing. "Oh I'm so sorry. You must be tired after a long day. I'll let you rest." She say getting up. "Yes, thank you Guinevere. Have a good night." I say getting even more comfortable in the bed. I sigh my mind shutting off. I fell asleep so quickly I don't remember Guinevere leaving.
'Ah we meet again.'