Hello, this is my first fic about Merlin and I hope you'll like it;) I hate that Merlin has no luck in love, so I decided to take matters into my own hands and write him some love interest ;p Now, English isn't my native language, so I'm sorry for any mistakes, which probably won't be a rarity... If there is someone who wants to be a beta reader I would appreciate it. And of course don't hesitate to review ;)

P.S. I don't own Merlin or its characters.

Chapter 1

"Arrival to Camelot and unexpected meeting"

The rain was pouring all this summer afternoon in Camelot. After particularly hot and sultry day, dark clouds had rolled into the sky, almost completely obscuring it. Despite moderately early hour, the whole kingdom looked like in a deep night. Soon, the first thunder resounded, shortly followed by spectacular lighting and drenching rainfall. Later, when storm ended, echoing only with muffled, far sounds, the rain kept pouring, though there was already late afternoon.

People of Camelot were still hidden within cosy interiors of their houses, making streets empty and quiet. It wasn't long when a lone, cloaked and utterly soaked figure was trying to pass through the gates.

"Who are you?" The guard asked.

" I … I'm looking for a Gaius. He's a Court Physician here." said a stranger in a surprisingly soft voice.

The watchmen turned to his companion with silent question. They seemed to ponder whether to let her (as they realised it was woman that stood there) pass. It wasn't yet night and the gate of Camelot had been always open for visitors … It was just the weather that create the rather mysterious and dangerous air.

"All right" said the one who stopped her, "You may go. Physician's chambers are in the castle. On the top of the east tower."

Ryia thanked and passed the guards, directing toward the castle. The famous Camelot, she mused. It was huge and as majestic as she heard. Well, maybe on the other day she would halt and contemplate its magnificence, but now, the only thing she would like to look at, was fire and dry clothes.

After long way through many stairs and after losing her way few times, she finally stood before what was supposed to be, Gaius' chambers. She knocked to the door and waited. Then, it opened and her eyes landed upon an elderly man with shoulder length grey hair, who was wearing long red robe. He eyed her up and down and frowned at her soaked figure.

"Yes? How can I help you?"

"Are you Gaius? The Court Physician" She asked with a hope in her voice.

"I am, and who is asking?"

"Eh... I am Ryia. I came from small village in Mercia. Alice sent me here." she said and after looking at Gaius" face, she added, "I was told you know her."

"Alice? Why did she send you to Camelot? Is she all right? And who are you?" Apparently mention of their mutual friend disturbed his previous calm nature, making him suddenly very interested in the woman before him. "Come inside. Come and tell me everything."

Gaius showed her in to a main chamber, which looked like a combination of kitchen, dining area, bedroom and a laboratory. Ryia was imagining that it could easily morph into infirmary, if it need be. She localised the fireplace and and went there, taking off her completely drenched cloak and putting it to dry off. Without the hood and lightened by fire, her face was revealed now fully.

In fact, Ryia was rather a girl in Merlin age, than woman, as Gaius noticed. Her brown hair rested against her back in a wet, long plait. She wasn't classical beauty like Lady Morgana, but nor was she plain. There was something pleasant in her face, which nevertheless, made her quite fetching. The girl reached into her bag and took out some small parcel that was well wrapped, in protection against the rain. "Here, it's a book, Alice told me to give you. She said that you would know it. Inside there is a letter in which she explained everything." Ryia said and passed the book to a physician, who took it carefully stroking the leather cover and sat on a bench, where he started to read the message.

Ryia didn't know what Alice wrote in the letter, but she could guessed. There were probably something like 'long time no see' at the beginning, since Alice told her about their bygone relationship. Then she would write that Ryia is a daughter of her friends who'd died long ago and she was now the girl's guardian. That there was no perspectives in the small village of Mercia for a young girl as Ryia, who revealed unusual healing talent. Talent that didn't come from magic, but natural abilities and wit. And since she, Alice was used to heal by magic, she decided to sent Ryia to the most accomplished physician she knew and could trust – Gaius from Camelot.

"As I understood, you are here to be my apprentice, am I right?" asked Gaius, when he'd finished reading the letter.

"I think.. yes. Alice said you are the best physician she'd ever known. I can learn" she said eagerly, "I've read a lot, though it wasn't that much of it in our village. Mainly some old journals and old books that my parents kept in a house. I can work hard if I have to too. So... can I stay?" Ryia was quite nervous and when she was nervous she started babbling.

"I could not refuse Alice's request, my child. If you're as clever as the letter says, I would be very glad to have your help. Especially when Merlin, who is suppose to be my assistant, has enough other chores to do for Prince Arthur, and he doesn't seem to share my skills and interest in making potions and healing."

"Really? I thank you Gaius" Ryia beamed at the old man, but after a moment, she added, "Though... I don't know anyone in Camelot. I don't have any place to stay and clearly there is a boy who lives with you. Maybe yo know of someone who has some spare bed?"

Gaius looked as if he was thinking about it. "Hmm... I may know someone … but I need to ask her first. Now, I am going to leave you for a while. I have to attend to some things." Then he looked at her, truly looked at her, like only now he saw her state and shivering form despite the warm of the fire. "Good gracious, girl! You will be sick in that wet clothes of yours! Go quickly to the Merlin's room and change. Go, go."

Ryia reached to her bag and opened it, but she wasn't pleased with its content, "Um... Gaius, I think all my spare clothes are wet..." she said with a crestfallen look on her face.

"Oh, go and take something from Merlin. He went hunting with Arthur and I'm not sure if he come back today. He won't mind I'm sure of it. There are some blankets as well. Sit by the fire and when I came back, I'll make you some tea that will warm you up."

"Oh, if you're sure..." she said hesitantly, but Gaius had already left. It was strange. Of course she was pleased, more than pleased actually, that he let her stay in Camelot. She could not wait for starting working, helping to heal people, making potion and reading books. Oh, there must be some grand library, Alice told her about it. Ryia smiled at the thought of it. Another shiver brought her to reality. She had to change, otherwise first days an Camelot she'll spend in the bed with a fever. Girl localised the few stairs and a door at the back of a chamber. It must be room of that Merlin, she thought.

It was strange for Gaius that he told her to find and wear clothes borrowed from some boy she'd never met. Good he wasn't there or it would be awkward...

Ryia entered a smaller and significantly less clean chamber than the main one. There was narrow bed by the far wall, some closet and desk in the corner. The floor was covered with clothes and books. She looked around and noticed a pair of tunic and breeches that were laying neatly folded and apparently just washed, on the bed. The bed which was unmade, with crumpled covers, where last night slept a boy. She blushed at the impropriety of this situation, but wet garments were starting to feel uncomfortably, so she tried to overcome feeling of uneasiness and untied the first drawstring of her cold tunic.

"I knew it" muttered very drenched and very annoyed Merlin, who was walking back from armoury, where he'd put crossbows and Arthur's sword, after their unsuccessful and rather wet hunting. "That prat... I should not have listen to him.. 'It's perfect day for hunting, Merlin. I bet on my life it's not raining today. Trust me.'" he imitated Prince's voice. The young warlock wished he hadn't followed his master's stupid ideas. They wouldn't be back drenched, without any prey and almost struck by the lightning bolt... Now, Merlin wanted nothing more than dry clothes and warm bed. Encouraged by the thought of it, he entered the chambers he shared with Gaius, crossed the main hall and went straight towards the door separating his room, opening it.

If someone had told him before, that he would find half naked woman by his bed, Merlin would have asked how much he drunk. But there was half naked woman, standing with her back (naked back) to him. Pale slim back covered by curtain of long wet hair. Merlin gulped. The woman was clearly changing... wait, was that his tunic she's just putting on?

It seemed to him that the whole scene lasted hours, or maybe his subconscious magically slowed down the time... Though in reality it was seconds, when the woman, who'd already slipped on (his) tunic, turned around and faced stunned, open mouthed boy.

Rya was just putting on dark blue tunic, when she heard someone came in. First she thought it was Gaius, but when rather load gasp reached her ears, she quickly pulled down the garment and twisted around. No, to her horror it wasn't Gaius, but some young and very wet man that was staring at her with widely opened eyes and parted lips. Full lips, said her treacherous inner voice. In a moment she noticed that he was quite tall and lean, as his clothes were so wet, they clung to his form like a second skin. His boyish face was the most distinctive in all his appearance, with that full lips of his, ears that sticking out and high cheekbones which were getting more red with every passing second.

Merlin couldn't take his eyes from the girl in his clothes – in plural, because as he noticed, apart from blue tunic, she was wearing his breeches as well. Was that rain or he started to sweat? The loose garments hanged on her even more prominent then on his own slender form. And... he felt his blush reached his ears, when he caught the sight of far too big neckline of his unfastened tunic, which showed a good part of her cleavage. Merlin quickly looked away.

"Er...Who are you?" he surprised himself he was manage to asked it, though in a hoarse voice.

The sudden sound brought their attention to main doors, because in that moment came Gaius. The elderly physician was rather surprised, when he found them in this peculiar scene. They were furiously blushing. In fact, Gaius couldn't say who was more red on the face. Merlin or Ryia. But it was somehow amusing for the old man.

"Oh, Merlin, I see you've already met Ryia."

And what do you think? Is it ok? ;)