Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, BBC does. If I did own it, Morgana and Merlin would've made out at some point during Season 3. Enjoy

No one, no matter how great, can know their destiny. They cannot glimpse at their part in the great story that is about to unfold. They must live and learn, and so it will be for the young witch arriving at the gates of Camelot. A girl who will, in time, bring forth a legend.

Three days. That's how long it had taken for Merlin to make the journey from her small village of Ealdor to Camelot. Three days of walking, sleeping in the wild, and avoiding bandits. Of course, if anyone had tried to harm her, she could have easily taken them down, but the less she used her magic, the better. At least, that was what her mother always told her. Now, she was being sent to the city ruled by the man who would kill her without a second thought, because of something that was out of her control. She could only hope that it would all be worth it in the end.

As she walked over the final hill, she couldn't help but stare in awe of the beautiful city in front of her. She had heard of the greatness of the city before, but nothing prepared her for the sheer majesty of it all. Walking through the lower town, Merlin looked at everything with wonder, from the buildings, to the markets, to the people, who were all gathering in the courtyard in front of the castle. On the balcony above the square, stood a regal looking man with a cold expression on his face. The crowd became absolutely silent as the sound of beating drums began to echo through the streets. The man on the balcony began to address the crowd as another man was dragged out by two guards, hands chained behind his back, to the center of the courtyard. "Let this serve as a lesson to you all," The regal man announced, "That this man, Thomas James Collins, is judged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic." The man, who she now knew was the king, Uther Pendragon, continued with his speech while Merlin tried to get a better look at what was happening. Standing on her toes to see over the heads of the other people, Merlin saw a chopping block with an axe in the center of the crowd. She suddenly knew what was going to happen, and she didn't want to see it. She tried to maneuver her way out of the square, but the people were bunched together too tight for her to move. "…but for the crime of sorcery there is but one sentence I can pass." He finished, motioning for the executioner to kill the man. Merlin quickly looked away and the entire square let out a collective gasp as the axe did its work.

Uther began to speak again. "When I came to this land this kingdom was mired in chaos, but with the people's help magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival to celebrate twenty years since the Great Dragon was captured and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin." 'Yes,' Merlin thought 'Killing innocent people is an excellent reason to throw a party.' Everyone began to disperse and Merlin almost had enough room to get through, when a pained cry came from the other side of the crowd. An old woman stood there, staring at the king with pure hatred and rage. "There is only one evil in this land, and it is not magic! It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance! You killed my son!" Merlin's heart broke at those words, thinking about her mother's reaction if it had been her head on the chopping block. "But I promise you," The woman continued, choking down tears "Before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, child for a child." Uther ordered the guards to seize her, but she used magic to disappear before they even got close to her.

"Well, that was certainly exciting." Merlin whispered to herself as she left the crowded courtyard and entered the castle, suddenly aware that she had no idea where she was going.

"Excuse me; do you know where I could find Gaius, the court physician?" She asked a nearby guard, who pointed down the corridor and mumbled "That way."

Merlin knocked on a large door at the end of the corridor and, hearing no response, decided to let herself in. "Hello?" Merlin called out, entering the physician's chambers. "Gaius?" She looked up at a landing above the door to see a man in his seventies, who hadn't even noticed her entering. He looked down and, startled at the girl standing in his chambers, fell backwards in surprise off the landing. Thinking quickly, Merlin magically moved the cot in the far corner of the room under the falling man, who landed safely, though a little shaken. He climbed off of the cot quickly and looked up at the balcony he fell from before turning to his attention to Merlin.

"What did you just do?" he demanded.

"Umm…" Merlin tried to think of an explanation, but found herself at a loss for words.

"Tell me!"

"I don't know what happened." She replied lamely.

"If anyone had seen that…"

"It was nothing to do with me. It was…uh…" she still couldn't find the right lie.

"I know what it was." Gaius stated sternly. "I want to know where you learned it!"

"I've never studied magic or been taught…" she began.

"Are you lying to me, girl?" Gaius asked sharply.

"What do you want me to say?" Merlin exclaimed, getting very frustrated.

"The truth!" He demanded.

"I was born like this."

"That's impossible. Who are you?"

Merlin reached into the leather bag she'd been carrying on her shoulder for the last three days and pulled out a small envelope. "I have this letter." She handed the envelope to Gaius. "I'm Merlin."

"Hunith's daughter?" Merlin nodded. "You're not supposed to be here until Wednesday!"

Merlin eyed the old man curiously and smiled. "It is Wednesday."

"Oh. Well put your bag in there then." He motioned towards the small room in the back at the back of his chambers. Merlin smiled brightly at the man before heading to her new room. "Oh," she turned back around to the old physician. "You're not going to say anything about the…" she pointed at the landing, then the cot. "No, although," Gaius gave her a reassuring smile "I should say thank you." She returned the smile before going to her new room.

Merlin sat down on the bed and began to unpack her few possessions, which included a shirt and some trousers for days when she didn't want to wear her dress, some neckerchiefs, and a necklace with a small dragon pendent that her father had given her mother before he left. She thought back to Ealdor, and her mother, and her best friend, Willow, who had been absolutely livid when Merlin told her that she was leaving to go to Camelot. She even tried explaining that eventually her magic would be discovered if she stayed, but Willow never was one for listening. She chuckled, thinking about her best friend before rising from her bed and walking over to the window on the far side of her room. Night had begun to fall, and Camelot was beginning to light up with torches and candles. It all seemed so peaceful. Looked at the city and smiled. Maybe, she thought, I could belong here.

The next morning, Merlin was woken up by something that sounded like someone whispering her name. Raising her head off of her pillow, she glanced around her room before shaking it off as her imagination. She quickly dressed in her blue serving dress and tied her medium length black hair back out of her face with a ribbon before heading downstairs, where Gaius had a bowl of porridge waiting for her.

"Good morning!" She grinned at her new guardian as she sat down at the table and began to eat the soupy porridge.

"I got you some water; you didn't wash up last night." Gaius pointed at a bucket of water next to Merlin on the table.

"Sorry." She looked at him and grinned sheepishly. She had just turned her attention back to her breakfast when her elbow bumped the bucket, knocking it off the table. Without thinking, Merlin's eyes flashed gold and the bucket and its contents froze in midair. Gaius stared at the young maiden with wonder and curiosity. She looked back at him, breaking her concentration, which sent the bucket crashing to the ground, water spilling all over the floor. "I am so sorry." She rushed across the room to get the mop that was in the far corner of the room.

Gaius recovered quickly. "How did you do that?" he asked Merlin began to mop up the water. "Did you incant a spell in your mind?"

"I don't know any spells."

"There must be something!"

Merlin stopped mopping and shrugged. "It just...happens."

"Well, we better keep you out of trouble. You can help me out until I can find some paid work for you." Gaius took the mop out of Merlin's hand and leaned it against the table, before handing her two phials. "Here, hollyhock and feverfew for Lady Percival." He indicated the phial in Merlin's right hand. "And that is for Sir Owain." He indicted the other. "He's blind as a weevil; tell him not to take all of it at once." Merlin muttered the instructions to herself again before nodding. "Oh and here," Gaius handed her a half of a sandwich and smiled at her as she took it. "Now, run along." She went to leave. "And Merlin, I need hardly tell you that the practice of any form of enchantments will get you killed." Merlin gave him a smile and a quick nod before leaving. He watched as the young sorceress hurried out the door, and prayed to whatever gods were listening that she would be careful.

After finishing her deliveries, Merlin decided to walk around the castle a bit, in no hurry to return for Gaius to give her more chores. "Where's the target?" Merlin looked over at three knights and a servant on the training field. Two of the knights were big and rather stupid looking guys who were probably about five years older than Merlin. The third knight, who was the one that'd spoken and seemed to be their leader, was a young woman with long, golden hair braided down her back and a smug smile on her face. The servant pointed over to a large target on the far side of the field.

"It's into the sun!" the female knight laughed.

"It's not that bright."

"A bit like you then." She quipped, causing the other knights to snicker. As the servant began to move the target, the girl turned to the other knights. "This'll teach him." She whispered to them with a devilish grin, before throwing a dagger at the target the servant was carrying. The serving boy began running with the target to give her "moving target practice", which Merlin translated to "bullying around some poor kid for your own sick entertainment". The boy tripped, accidentally dropping the target. It rolled over to Merlin, who stopped it with her foot.

"Hey, come on. That's enough." She stated firmly. The knights turned their attention to her. "Excuse me?" the blonde knight responded.

"You've had your fun, my friend." Merlin answered. The blonde strutted over to Merlin, giving her a once over before asking "Do I know you?"

"I'm Merlin." She replied, hand outstretched, even though she'd already decided that she did not like this girl one bit.

"So I don't know you. Yet, you called me friend." Merlin withdrew her hand and looked the girl in the eye. "Well, that was my mistake." She retorted.

"Yeah, I think it was." The blonde said with an arrogant chuckle.

Walk away, Merlin, before you get yourself into trouble. "Yeah," Merlin couldn't help herself. "I'd never have a friend who could be such a bitch." She flashed a smile at the snubbed knight before turning to walk away.

"Nor I one who could be so stupid." The blonde replied with a haughty snort. "Tell me Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?" The raven haired girl turned back to face the knight, not wanting to give her the satisfaction of having the last word.

"No."

"Would you like me to show you?" she stared down the other girl, unwilling to let her make her look like a fool.

"I wouldn't if I were you." Merlin tried to sound as tough as the other girl looked.

An amused smile grew on the knight's face as she looked at the scrawny little peasant girl in front of her. "What are you going to do?" she giggled.

"You have no idea."

"Be my guest!" she held her arms out and looked at the crowd that had gathered around the two girls.

"Come on." She challenged. Merlin clenched up her fists and resisted the urge to knock that silly grin off of her pompous face. "Come on." The girl dared. "Come onnnnn!" Without thinking, Merlin swung at the other girl, who easily grabbed her arm and twisted it back.

"I'll have you thrown in jail for that." She whispered in Merlin's ear.

"Who do you think you are? The king?" Merlin scoffed, still unimpressed by the bitchy blonde.

"No, I'm his daughter, Arthur." The princess grinned as two guards grabbed Merlin by her arms and carried her to the dungeons.

A/N ARTHUR'S REAL NAME IS ARTHELIA, BUT ONLY UTHER CALLS HER THAT BECAUSE SHE LIKES TO GO BY ARTHUR! Just making that clear :) Thank you for reading my story so far