I have changed a few things up so this story works. Arthur is crown prince, Uther is alive and all of the Round Table Knights are alive and together. Morgana is alive and is still slightly good, but her heart darkens quickly. Lucy is 16, Arthur is 20, and Merlin is 18. The others don't matter. I will have an A/N if anything is added or changed.

(Also on Archive of Our Own)

They had been on a hunting trip out in the Eastern Woods when they found the girl. Merlin, who had been lagging behind the rest of the knights, was the one to see her first. He had been fixing some of the supplies on the pack horse when he had turned slightly towards the forest. Behind some trees and bushes a piece of cloth had caught his attention. Normally that was not something that would have done so, except for the fabric was of a noticeably expensive fabric, one he had seen many times do to working as the Crown Prince's manservant for several years.

Merlin turned his head toward the rest of the group. Riding with Arthur were the Knights of the Round Table, all far ahead enough to not notice if he slipped away, but not far enough that he wouldn't be able to catch up with them if needed. Or shout if needed.

He slipped off his horse, patting it softly on the side as he led the brown colored beast over to a tree where he tied it to a stump. The horse munched contently on the grass near by as Merlin wandered back to the spot where he had seen the fabric.

It was a rich purple color and made of very fine silk. A design seemed to have been spun on it, but the tear cut right through the golden animal. He rubbed it between his fingers for a few seconds. Definetly silk.

A rustling and a quiet groan made Merlin's head snap up and over a little distance. A gasp escaped his mouth as he saw a dirty hand from behind a bushel of trees. It was a small hand. A very small hand. He stepped quietly but quickly toward where the hand was located. He crouched and waited a few seconds before looking around the edge to see who was lying there. Merlin's eyes went wide when he saw the figure and what she was wearing.

Back on the trail Arthur and the Knights were all laughing loudly about something.

"Isn't that right Merlin?" Arthur said. When no reply came he turned causing the others to do so as well. He was greeted with an empty road. "Merlin?" His blue eyes searched everywhere. "Merlin!" After receiving no reply, Arthur quickly turned his horse around and made his way back to where his manservant was last seen. Gwaine galloped past his Prince and his horse skidded as it slid to a stop where Merlin's own horse was tied.

"Arthur!" He called out while waving his arm. Riding a little faster now, the rest of the knights jumped off their own horses and looked at what Gwaine had seen. Merlin's horse was tied to a tree stump but there was no Merlin in sight. Arthur gave an irritated growl.

"Did he seriously just wander off? He does know we're on a time limit right?" Arthur huffed aloud, but was ultimately ignored by most of the knights as they pushed past the bushes and off the trail. It had rained pretty hard three days beforehand, so the ground was still quite soft. This proved useful for the men as a pair of boot tracks could be seen trailing away from the road and into the forest. Without much thought to any possible consequences, Gwaine went charging in. He needed to see that Merlin was okay.

The others followed behind him, with Elyan and Lancelot at the back of the group. They called out to Merlin as they walked, always with their hands hovering over their swords that sat around on their belts. For quite a few feet they heard nothing but silence until a voice called out to them.

"Hey guys! I need you to see this! She needs help!" Merlin sounded panicked, and that was all it took for the older men to go charging in his direction. However, when they saw Merlin on his knees and examining a still body, they slowed to a stop. It was a female of around 16 or 17 summers. Merlin looked up at Arthur.

"Arthur….look at what she's wearing." They did and at first nothing seemed too out of the ordinary until they really took in what she was clothed with. She was wearing a deep purple dress with designs of golden animals around the hem. It was ripped in some places. Matching velvet shoes that were once purple, but were now dirty and covered in mud sat upon her feet. But that all wasn't what caught their eyes. Adorned upon her head sat a silver circlet fit for royalty. Which meant that this strange, young girl was of royal blood.