Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin. I wish I did, but I don't.
Author's Note: So, please be gentle! This is my first ever Merlin fan fiction, so it's not very good yet, I apologize and I hope you like it! Also, if you don't like original characters in fan fictions, you may not like this one so much.
Chapter One, Verona
Merlin carefully studied the pictures Gaius had given him of the herbs he would need. For the life of him, he couldn't tell the difference between two of the more obscure ones...The problem was, one of them was deadly poisonous, and he was instructed to avoid that, while the very similar one was an important factor in many remedies. Honestly, he would never be able to figure out how Gaius did this.
He was sure he remembered some enchantment to reveal poison, even in plants, but he couldn't remember it now. He made a few attempts but gave up when he killed all of the surrounding plants on accident. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure no one had seen, and moved to a different patch of plants.
"I don't know why I have to work for Arthur and Gaius! It's just too much!" Merlin mumbled under his breath.
"Excuse me, sir?"
The voice came out of nowhere and it made him jump, he spun around to see a young woman looking at him curiously. He was immediately nervous, afraid she'd seen him trying to enchant the plants.
"Uh. yeah?" Merlin answered nervously, trying not to look to guilty, which in fact made him look more guilty.
"My name is Verona, I'm not from Camelot... But I'm looking for someone...I was hoping you might be able to help me? I could help you in return?" She offered, sitting down in the grass beside him and pointing at the two plants he'd just been inspecting, "Unless you were wanting poison in your salad, pick these." Verona said, pulling them from the dirt and putting them in the basket Gaius had given to Merlin, "You can tell which ones are poisoned because they have these white spots, see?" The girl sounded a little nervous and she spoke rather quickly as she showed him which herbs were correct.
"Thanks! That helps a lot!" Merlin said, in relief that he wouldn't have to come back to Gaius empty handed. "Sure, I can try to help you, who were you looking for?"
The young woman had bright blue eyes and long red hair that was pulled back in a braid, she wore a simple brown dress that had dirt lining the bottom of it, as if she'd been traveling. But she had no horse.
"I"m looking for a man called Gaius? I'm told he is the court physician."
Merlin tried to mask his surprise a little bit, "Yeah, I know Gaius...Are you sick?"
"No," Verona gave a small smile, as they walked along, "Forgive me for asking...But how well do you know Gaius?"
"Very well, he's my guardian, of sorts...Why do you ask?" Merlin was rather confused by the girl's question.
The girl frowned, but did not say why.
"What's wrong?" He asked her, more because he was confused then actually concerned, since the girl was a stranger.
"It's just...He's never mentioned anyone called Verona?"
"Well...I'm...Extremely forgetful." Merlin said quickly, trying to make her feel better, "And as much as Gaius knows about me, I really have to pry to get anything personal out of him."
"Does he know that you have magic?" The girl asked, with a little bit of a smile on her face.
"What? I- I don't know what you mean?"
"I saw you try to enchant those plants, it's alright, I won't tell anyone." She assured him, he didn't feel much comforted, though. "If Gaius took you in, then you must be the good sort of sorcerer, and not the bad sort." She smiled at him, "You haven't told me your name, still."
"Oh, I'm Merlin. Sorry."
"It's nice to meet you Merlin," She said with a smile.
As odd as the girl seemed. he had to admit that she had a very pretty smile.
"So how do you know Gaius?" Merlin asked her, his curiosity written all over his face.
Verona gave him a mischievous smile, "If he hasn't mentioned me, I better let him explain. Is this it?"
They'd stopped in front of the door to Gaius and Merlin's quarters, "Yeah, this is it." He said, leading the way inside. "Gaius?"
Gaius was working with his back toward them when they entered, and he spoke over his shoulder, "Did you manage to find those herbs, Merlin?"
"I had help from someone who wants to see you." Merlin replied and Gaius turned around to look at them.
When Gaius saw the girl, he almost dropped all of his work, but instead he shoved it onto the table and stared at the girl, "Verona?"
Her smile grew wide, "Hello."
Gaius extended his arms for a hug and the girl flew into them, hugging Gaius as if she'd known him forever.
"Can someone, uh, explain to me what's going on?" Merlin asked in confusion, as he stood watching them.
"Merlin," Gaius said, with a bigger smile then Merlin had seen on his face for a long time, "I would like to introduce you to my daughter, Verona."
Author's Note: Before you like...Kill me...I wanted to say, I know it's kind of choppy but I really wanted to post it today. I know it's not a good start but I have lots of plans for it! :) So there was Chapter One...And I hope you like it! Please review if you liked it! It makes me write faster! :)