Merlin scrubbed his hair and rubbed his face, the sadness seeming to recede a bit more, but still... feeling a malaise of it sitting there, like it was ready to strike. His life seemed out of his control, but he could try to control it. Try to figure out what had happened. Something had, for sure. Why had he been crying, and why was he so sad?

"Sounds about like my life, really. Go to Camelot, they said. It'll be fun, they said. I didn't even get there before I was snatched here." His tone was self-mocking as he spoke.

He looked at her and smiled a little at her words. And her question made him offer his hand to her, rising. "I'm Merlin, at your service. And you?"