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English
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Published:
2016-08-05
Updated:
2022-06-16
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12/?
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One day

Summary:

Your hometown is attacked by bandits, escaping, you end up staying with Merlin and his mother.
You knew that you weren't like other kids, meeting Merlin made you feel not so alone anymore.

You didn't know it then, but your destiny followed very closely to his.

Chapter 1

Notes:

The first couple chapters are mostly background, I'd like to think the real adventure will start when reader is older.
I'd like to, lol.

Anyways, stick with me, I'm trying here!

As always, I appreciate any feedback

Chapter Text

Your home village was a good day's trip on foot away from Camelot, you could see the city from the top of the hill that was usually blocked by trees. That's the hill that all the kids would gather on, pretending to fight as Knights of Camelot to protect it from all evil. Behind your village was a heavily wooded area with a small stream that was used for the fresh water in the day to day life. The village wasn't grand like the city that was miles away but it wasn't run down either. The people living here took pride in keeping up appearances of the buildings as best they could.

You lived with your aunt, uncle, and your two cousins. Your father was a real Knight of Camelot once, he would always tell you stories before bed. Not long after your 5th birthday your father disappeared without a word, your uncle now left to care for you. He was the blacksmith and your aunt the tailor for the city. Your older cousin was 8 years older than you and she was usually always out with friends or helping your aunt with errands, the other was just 2 years older than you so you mostly tried to stick around him and his friends to play. It was common for the boys to pick on you for being a girl and much smaller than them, they didn't let you pretend with them. Of course when you would run home your aunt would always greet you with a hug and warm tea. "Y/n," she would call softly, "maybe it's just not in your future to fight." She was always trying to discourage you from following the dream of being the first female warrior for Camelot. "No, I want to fight just as my father! I will be a Knight!" You didn't notice it then but at every mention of your father being a knight your guardians would exchange negative glances. "Y/n, I need a hand with the forge, would you like to help?" Your uncle knew how to cheer you up. He would let you help him and in return he would practice fighting with you. Your aunt disapproved but you could see her watching with a smile as you'd laugh and try to take down your much larger target, learning every day better tactics. You were young and inexperienced, just playing for fun but with a desire that burned so hot that you would never stop. You knew one day the playful fights would grow more difficult and you'd be fighting for real, and that's all you could have asked for.
When you weren't helping your uncle you were out in the woods playing alone. Today a butterfly had landed on your shoulder, "hello." It fluttered it's blue wings and you gently picked it up, placing it in a jar to show your aunt. "Aunt Brenna, look! I found another one!" You were running so fast you didn't have time to react when your cousin came running out of the house at the same time. You collided

The jar you were carrying went crashing in to the ground with you, smashing open. The little blue butterfly contained was now free to fly up and out of sight. You aunt ran outside, "this is why I tell you not to run in the house!" She was scolding your cousin while helping the two of you up. He brushed his clothes off and sighed, "I'm sorry, mother. I'm just excited to meet my friends!"
Your attention was now at the broken jar, "I caught another one today, it had a little white body with bright blue wings." She helped you pick up the broken pieces, "y/n, I'm sorry it got away. I'm sure I would have loved it! Today is your day though, why don't you go with your cousin to play, maybe they will make an exception since it is your birthday?"
You sighed. Butterflies were your aunt's favorite animals, you would always try to catch them for her. She was always happy for your presents but insisted you both let them free in the small family garden so they could continue the rest of their lives in the wild.
"I don't want to, all the boys pick on me." You sat the broken glass on the table. At that moment your uncle was walking out of the bedroom. He exchanged a glance with his wife and she smiled, "y/n, your uncle and I have been working on something for you. We know you want to play with the others." He was carrying over a large box and you suddenly couldn't help but smile. You didn't get presents every year, mostly just new clothes and shoes, sometimes a new toy. He sat it in front of you, "we've been working on it all year with the extra bits we collect from other orders."

You squirmed in your chair, "what is it?"
Finally they gave you the nod to open the box up. Inside was a new outfit made of leather armor, it wasn't battle quality but it was certainly sturdy enough for a few adventures. You quickly picked through the items and there was four small daggers at the bottom. Two of which were wooden for play. "Of course you must promise to always be safe and responsible. Never harm anything innocent," your uncle was now sitting in the chair next to you with your aunt on his lap. You couldn't stop yourself from jumping up and wrapping them both in a hug, "thank you so much! This is more than I could ever ask for! Can I put it on to show the other kids?"
They were helping you dress in it and you remember feeling more proud than ever before. You wanted more than anything to be able to fight with the other kids and pretend to be a warrior and now you looked the part. Once dressed you ran out to the hill to join the other kids.

You made your way up the hill and saw your cousin, "Rinn! Look what Brenna and Jecht made for me!" He met you halfway down the hill to look it over, "armor? Why would you need such a thing?"
"So I can play with you now! I have some wooden weapons like you guys!" You were excited but was almost immediately crushed when one of his friends started howling with laughter, "we don't let you play because you didn't have weapons. We don't want you to play with us because you're a girl!"
You stared at his friends that were slowly gathering to see what the commotion was about. "I can fight just as well as you can!" You were trying to stand tall but inside you felt even smaller. Your cousin sat his hand on your shoulder, "maybe you should just go home, you don't belong up here with us."
"I practice all the time, I can do it! It's just play anyways!" You could feel your cheeks flushing with embarrassment and anger.
One of his other friends spoke up now, "go back to your woods and catch your bugs."
You could feel your eyes drop and you shrugged off your cousin's hand, you ran back to your house trying your best not to cry but once inside you couldn't stop yourself. You went to your room and fell on to your bed, drifting off to sleep.

You woke up a few hours later, the world around you in a panic. You could hear voices shouting, your bedroom door slammed open. Your uncle let out a sigh of relief, "Come on, y/n, you have to get to safety. The town is under attack by bandits. I've readied the horse, there's a town just on the other side of the woods, Ealdor, it'll take the whole night. When you get there ask for Hunith. She knows the family, she will take care of you." You were in a panic, "but uncle, what of you. What of everyone here?" "They're already in the market, I'm afraid it's too late. Close your eyes, I'll lead you out back, please just close your eyes." But you didn't. You didn't close your eyes and in the kitchen was your aunt. She was on the ground, holding the bloodied spot on her stomach. She was crying and holding her hand out but your uncle wouldn't let you stop, "I'm sorry, y/n, there's no time to stop. No time. They're running in quick and they'll be here soon." You were at the back of your house with your only horse packed as much as he could be and your uncle picked you up and sat you on. "Take this, you won't be able to use it well but you may need to if there's any hiding in the woods. I believe in you." he handed you a small sword and you could feel tears running down your cheeks, "uncle, no, I can't do this! Let me stay!" He kissed your forehead, "y/n, if you do not go now you will surely die with us. Now go!" He slapped the horses rear end and you were galloping off in to the woods without your consent.

You gripped the reigns tightly and leaned close to the horses neck, "please just get us out of these woods as quickly as possible and then we can slow down."
He huffed and continued to gallop, you dared not look around you or behind, just looking ahead to get where you were going. The adrenaline kept you awake for some time but the longer you rode the more it wore off, the empty growling in your stomach reminded you that you hadn't ate since breakfast and you wished there was something you could do. You knew of a few places in these woods with berries but you were too scared to stop. The moon slipped through the thick trees only giving the smallest light to guide you, but you were sure you were going the right way, it should have only been a straight shot through.

"I think we're far enough now we can slow down," you whispered to your families only horse. He slowed his pace to a canter and you started to look around, first behind you. There was no sign that you were being chased, you sighed and let yourself relax. "Just a night stroll, that's all this is..." You tried to convince yourself that everything was okay but you couldn't keep the sounds of the screaming and yelling out of your head, the sight of your aunt reaching out for you. You felt water build up in your eyes so you leaned down and wrapped your arms around the horses neck. He slowed to a walk to it was easier for you to hang on, but he didn't stop, even when you cried yourself into a sleep.

"There's a girl on that horse!"

You woke up hearing someone shout, lifting your heavy head you looked around. A moment of realization sent you jumping off of the horse, "please, I need to find Hunith! My village was attacked!"
A young woman lead you, you could hear gasps and whispers. "That poor girl." "Do you think anyone else survived?" "She can't be much older than Hunith's boy, how did she escape?"
You tried to ignore it all, pushing back tears again. You were at a door and the woman knocked, you waited eagerly. When it opened you cried out, "I'm y/n, my uncle told me to come find you!"
The young woman had filled Hunith in that your horse had just wandered in to town with you resting on his back. She nodded, "yes, I knew your mother very well. Come in, let's get you washed up and fed!"

You were walked inside and over to a chair, "first eat, I'll fill the bath. Then you can tell me exactly what happened."
You didn't need to wait, "I don't know anything. I was sleeping when it started, my uncle just rushed me out. He had already had the horse ready to go. He was saying bandits attacked." You had choked on the last of your words but managed to get them out as she brought you half a loaf of bread to pick at. You thanked her and had only a few bites before your stomach, no matter how empty, rejected it.
"It's the stress, dear. You will be able to eat later. Come bathe now and I will be right back."
She left as you were getting in to the water, the warmth managing to ease your tension. There was a wash cloth setting on the edge that you used, just as you were about to get out Hunith came back, "I borrowed a dress from the little girl next door. It was too small for her so they gladly gave it up for you. You've strange clothing for such a young girl."

You nodded, "it was my birthday gift yesterday." She watched you with sad eyes, "I'm so sorry, dear. You will be able to stay here if you'd like."
Thankfully, she had cold water in a pitcher which you were more than happy to drink, "I should go back, the bandits would be gone. My uncle is strong, he's probably okay."
"No, you'll stay here and rest, a few of the men here have volunteered to go take a look and search for survivors. They will let us know."
A boy entered the house, "mother, I..." he froze when he saw you and you watched him. Finally Hunith spoke, "This is y/n. She is Arabell's daughter

He switched his attention from his mother back to you, "hello."
You bowed your head and shyly let out a greeting.