Chapter 8

After a while of staring, the other Camelotian Knights visibly calmed down. They knew that half most of the missing people was found except…

"I have to ask, even if I don't want to ruin the mood, but has anyone found anything that can lead us to Merlin?" Elyan asked. And about two seconds later, Merlina burst out laughing. Gwaine realized that he had never a sound more beautiful than that.

"You… you have… got to be kidding me!" she gasped between fits of laughter. "I knew Arthur was… a clotpole, but… not the rest of you!"

…

"You seriously still use that word?" Matthew whispered to her.

"Always!" she whisper-shouted back.

…

The way she used the word that no one knew what meant, surprised Arthur greatly. The fact that she knew the word, the resemblance to Merlin and the way she smiled only confused him further. How can someone he had never met before, feel so familiar? His suspicion fell on Prince Mathew again, but as he thought about it, he was too tall and muscular to be him, and the fact that he looked 3-4 years older. Maybe they were related. No, he would have known. However, the druid-seer said that her name was 'Magic'. The guardian of the bridge to the Perilous Land said that he needed Strength and Magic to succeed. The people who came were Gwaine and Merlin. Strength was mentioned to protect Magic, and Gwaine was the one protecting the Princess. Which meant that he was 'Strength'.

However, if he was Strength, was Merlin Magic then? But that meant Merlin was a sorcerer! It rather made sense though. But if both the Princess and Merlin was called Magic, were they the same person? That was impossible, right? They were called 'Magic' though, so maybe they used a spell of some sort. That would makes sense.

…

"Merlin?"

Arthur's voice cut Merlina from her fit of laughter. As she looked up at him, her face broke in a wide grin. As she stood straight again, realization dawned on everybody's faces.

"Hello King Prat."

At that, King Arthur Pendragon, also known as the Once and Future King, took a step backwards and promptly fainted.

…

Gwen had been pacing for several hours. Ever since Arthur left in fact. When she finally decided to sit down, she heard laughter coming from the courtyard. As she went to the window, she saw several people riding towards the citadel. She ran out the door.

As she came down the stairs, she could hear voices talking.

"… Then you fainted. Like. A. Girl!" this made several people laugh.

"Oh, would you shut up? I can still put you in stocks you know!"

"Arthur!" Gwen shouted as she ran out the door. "What happened, is everybody okay?"

"Oh, the only thing damaged is Arthurs pride." Came a familiar voice from Gwen's left.

As she turned, she was shocked to see Prince Mathew help a young girl down from his horse. As the girl looked at her, Gwen felt a sudden rush of Deja-vu.

"I'm sorry; I don't think we've met."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm Merlina Aria of Drakonia. Nice to meet you, Gwen."

"Nice to meet you too… wait, how did you know my name? And why do I feel like we've met before?" the girl grinned in an excessively familiar way.

"You'll get it soon enough, Gwen. But don't worry. I'm in disguise, even if most people call me Idiot."

The way the girl talked, the way she repeated how she and one of her best friends met, it came to her immediately, even if she couldn't believe it.

"Mer-Merlin?!" the girls - Merlinas - grin grew even wider.

"Hello Gwen. Wait, why does this feel familiar?" Merlina glanced at Arthur. "Oh yeah! Hey, Prat, even your wife is tougher than you! She didn't faint, unlike a certain dollophead." It was the last thing she could say before being hugged by Gwen.

"I was so worried! But I understand now. When we first met, you said you were in disguise. Looks like you weren't lying. But, just don't do it again, okay?" Merlina hugged Gwen back.

"I wont', I promise."

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Late chapter, I know, I'm sorry. But it's done, so that's good.