Hello! First fan fic ever. I got the idea for this after seeing the episode Gwaine again and thinking that with all of his flirting Gwaine has to have a kid somewhere. That thought turned into this. It's just the first chapter, so please review and I'll decide if I'll keep going. Oh, and this takes place in season 4 any time after Arthur becomes king. PS: Merlin doesn't belong to me. Esmeralda does but that's about it.

Esmeralda

I stood at the top of the hill overlooking Camelot. I pulling my hood up as I made my way towards the city, my heart pounding. A girl dressed in pants and had sword strapped to her side would draw more attention then I wanted right now. Reaching the castle walls, I slip between the guards without them even taking another look at me, causing me to smirk. Apparently a hooded figure with a sword entering the city wasn't a security issue.

Safely inside the castle walls my fear started to ease away in the crowd of people. I always felt safer in crowds, I feel like I belong when I'm surrounded by people. Not that I wasn't fine on my own, it was just more secure being with others.

Looking around I saw why everyone talked about Camelot as though it were a magical place ironically. Even though I only lived here for short time, and that was at least six years ago, I was surprised that everything seemed to be the same. Word had spread about King Uthur's death and his son, Arthur, becoming king like wild-fire throughout the kingdom. But looking around you could hardly tell anything had changed. Stalls lined the sides of the road selling food, clothes, and other items. People were talking and children ran around laughing and playing.

I smiled under my hood as I watch one girl chasing after a boy, which if I had to guess was her younger brother, as their mother scolded them from nearby stall where she was selling apple and other fruit.

My mouth started watering as I stared at the apples. Digging into my pocket I pulled out a shilling and gave it to the woman as I took an apple from the cart continuing towards my destination. The orphanage my mother abandon me at was a few blocks away. They would have my records, and now that I was fifteen they should let me have the names of my parents, maybe even where they were living. It was a long time ago, but they should still have my file even if I was a runaway.

A loud crash caused me turn around sharply, and it took all of my will power to not draw my sword automatically at the commotion. The children I noticed earlier were shrinking away from a man who was screaming at them. I couldn't make out everything that the man was saying, but I understood enough. The children took something from his cart or at least he assumed that they did.

The man grabbed the boy by the arm and began to shake him saying, "I know it was you. Now give it back!" When the boy continued to deny it the man slapped him, hard enough to leave a bruise.

The man was at least twice my size and well-muscled, but that didn't stop me from doing something completely idiotic. Without giving a second thought or even a first thought I threw my apple straight at the man hitting him on the side of his head causing the man to drop the boy and look straight at me, like a bull ready to charge. His face is certainly red enough to be a bull.

"Who the hell are you?" he shouted taking a few steps towards me. I smirked under my hood taking a step closer to the man. The devil's daughter.

I placed my hand on my sword preparing for the fight that was sure to follow before I respond, "None of your business, what are you doing to that boy?" I tried making my voice sound masculine, if only so that the man would be a little more intimidated. By now the entire street was quiet; people were circling us waiting for a fight to start. Both the girl and boy ran to their mother when the man had taken his focus off of them. At least they're out of the way now. I slowly positioned myself so that I was in front of the family, if he wants to go at any of them he would have to deal with me first.

"The boy took what was mine and I'm gonna make sure he pays." He growled moving forward.

I drew my sword and stepped towards the man. "Care to rephrase that?" The man looks surprised and took a step back, but he recovered quickly and draws his own sword.

Without missing a beat he swung for my head, but I block easy. The man continued to dish out attacks and I blocked them all waiting for the right moment to strike. We could have fought for a minute or even ten, but time didn't matter and if I was being honest the fight didn't matter either. The man clear had no skill with a sword and was just swing his blade around hoping he would get lucky. I could fight this moron even without a sword!

As much as I was enjoying the practice I needed to get back to finding my father. I let him take a few more swings at me before I twisted my blade around his forcing him to let go and grabbed his blade in my free hand. The man and everyone for that matter was shocked for second, taking the second I took another step towards the man crossing the blades barely a millimeter away from his throat.

"Promise to leave them alone or cut your throat." I whispered so low that only he could hear me. I was having trouble sounding intimidating while trying to hold back my laughter at the same time. The man was shaking, his face was covered in sweat and seemed to be either ready to get down on his knees and beg or wet is pants. All the "tough guys" are the cowards it seems.

Before the man could answer I felt something sharp poke into my back. "Lower your swords," said a voice from behind me. It carried enough authority that I felt obligated to obey; also the sword in my back didn't hurt either. I lowered my sword from the man's throat before dropping them on to the ground.

I felt the sword on my back be removed and heard it being sheathed as someone put a firm grip on my elbow and pushed me towards the castle. Turning my head I looked at the man holding my elbow.

I could tell that he was a knight before I saw him because of the authority in his voice, but I was sure now that I looking at him. He was dressed in armor and wore a red cape with the Pendragon crest on it. However his hair, blond and kind of curly, seemed rather long to me and he had a beard contradicting my mental image of how a knight should look.

On my left I saw the man being given the same treatment only the knight holding him was much more intimidating. He was dressed the same as the other knight except his armor had no sleeves. Also his hair was much shorter and was well over six feet tall and well-muscled too.

We reached the inner court-yard of the citadel and continued on into the castle. I have never been in the castle before so I had no idea where we were heading, but I was enjoying looking around at the statues and tapestries that decorated the castle. Suddenly we stopped outside of two large, wooden doors.

The blond knight handed me over to big knight as he entered the room. As the door closed behind him I was able to see a man on a throne. Well, this can't end well.

Okay review! I will probably keep going even if no one reviews, but some feedback would be great. And don't worry a lot more is happening next chapter; I already have it half done.