The Once and Future Queen || Arthur Pendragon

ii

The next morning, Kara woke up with a crick in her neck and an exhausted yawn passed her lips.

She looked around and caught sight of Merlin as he served breakfast on the table. Yesterday's events flooded through her mind and she glanced down at the dress that she still wore. With an irritated sigh, she climbs out of bed. "Morning Merlin," she greeted and then watched with amusement as he jumped, dropping the jug of water in his hands.

Kara winced as it clanged against the floor with a loud banging noise. "Sorry, I'm not quite used to having guests," Merlin apologised, quickly cleaning it up in case Gaius walked through the door after his daily routine of supplying the people with their medicines.

Kara had met the old physician last night and while he scowled at Merlin, he had greeted her with a warm smile when she offered him the dinner she had prepared for them. Kara had endured the round of questions both men threw at her during dinner, her answers differing in length. She had been rather open about her childhood and other aspects of her life until they asked about why she came to Camelot. Kara had clammed up pretty quick, only answering with a brief, "I don't know, I felt drawn here somehow so here I am." She had changed the subject after that.

"It's fine, Merlin," Kara shrugged as she smoothed out her dress of any creases before she brushed a hand through her dark locks to be rid of any knots.

"I got you some breakfast from the kitchens and well um..."

Kara smiled kindly, "Thank you, Merlin, you didn't have to. Now, what is it?" She wondered, seeing the itch in his expression to say something.

Merlin smiled, slowly growing used to how Kara can sense things that others could not. "I got you a job," he told her rather hesitantly.

Kara frowned in question, "Job? What job?"

~*~*~

"I'm a maid!" Kara shouted in a loud burst, out of her seat, and glaring down at Merlin accusingly.

"Ladies maid," he corrected. "There's a difference and it's for the lady Morgana."

"I don't give a damn who it is!" Kara exclaimed before both of her hands clamped together before her in frustration. "Look, Merlin, did it ever occur to you that I may have a reason to come to Camelot?"

"Do you have a reason?" He asked and looked directly at Kara. She saw the suspicion in his eyes. While he had let the subject drop last night, during his sleep he remembered all the other times he trusted sorcerers only to have the rug pulled out from underneath him as they showed their true intentions. As those memories floated through his head, Merlin couldn't help but be suspicious of Kara, he worried that she would share the same goals.

A small smile crossed Kara's face at the suspicious, "You still don't trust me?" He looked at her, and his expression did not waver. "That's good," she nodded, but she only confused him. "Trust needs to be earned it not given. So I won't tell you until the trust between you and me goes both ways," Kara announced before she walked out of the chambers with an angry huff.

"Kara!" Merlin called out only a few seconds later as he chased after her. She stopped halfway down the corridor and he ran to catch up with her. "Look, I'm sorry. It's just ... I've trusted people before and it's never turned out well," he defended himself and Kara sighed.

She wasn't angry with him. She understood, really she did. Yet before she couldn't help but feel a bit set up. In her mind, it was like Merlin had invited her to live with him just so he could keep a watchful eye on her instead of being friendly like she originally thought. Kara wasn't a fan of being watched so her anger had easily boiled over.