AN: Welcome to yet another based off an already existing property with a gender bend twist! What can I say? I'm an odd little duck... Anywho, this time, this fic is based off of the movie; The Princess Bride and this time with a fem!Arthur. Another thing is that all the chapter titles will be quotes from the movie. This is a reupload. As always I don't own anything and please read and review! Enjoy!
Ch. 1 - "Farm Boy"
Once upon a time in the land of Camelot; there lived a young peasant girl named Arianna. Arianna was rumored to be the most beautiful girl in all of the land, but even the rumors couldn't do her beauty any justice. She had long, golden hair and the most beautiful blue eyes. However, life was rather monotonous as a peasant and Arianna took great joy in riding her beloved horse and making the farm boy, Merlin's life miserable. "Farm boy!," she would cry out, never using Merlin's actual name, "Make sure you polish my saddle good. I want to be able to see my face shining in it by morning!" "As you wish," Merlin would quietly say before returning to his chores. "As you wish," was all he ever said, but what he was really saying was "I love you." Arianna couldn't help but feel the surprised confusion that coursed through her the day she found out. "Farm boy!," she cried out, "Make sure to bathe my horse before you retire today." Merlin simply looked at her and she quietly added, "Please?" "As you wish," he replied, his eyes soft with affection. And that was when Arianna knew that Merlin loved her.
However, what came to even more of a surprise to Arianna was the day she realized that she loved him back. Merlin had come into the small cottage and dropped off some freshly chopped firewood, Arianna silently watching him the whole time. He was about to go outside again when Arianna shouted, "Farm boy!," not really knowing exactly what she wanted from him, only knowing that she had grown to love him. "Fetch me that pot, will you?," she asked as she gestured to a pot that was hanging from its rack behind her. Merlin looked at the pot, which was easily within Arianna's reach, smiled knowingly, and reached toward the pot slowly as he grew closer to Arianna. As he gently gave the pot to Arianna, he quietly said, "As you wish," and she smiled affectionately at him.
However, because Merlin was poor, he couldn't provide for Arianna, and so he set out to make his fortune. "I will miss you terribly, my love," Arianna whispered into Merlin's ear as they embraced. "And I, you," Merlin whispered back as he kissed her gently. "What if something happens to you? What if I never get to see you again?," Arianna whispered fearfully. "Oh, my love," Merlin replied with an affectionate smile, "Ours is true love, and not even Death can stop it! At worse, it can only delay it for a little while," Arianna smiled at his answer and kissed him goodbye once again. However, not over a week had passed when Merlin left, that Arianna had received the news that Merlin's ship was attacked by the pirate ship The Great Dragon that was captained by the vicious pirate Emrys who never left his captives alive. Arianna felt like a part of her had died with Merlin and so she shut herself away and barely ever ate nor slept. All she could ever think was how she would never love again.
-Three Years Later-
Horns blared throughout the courtyard of the castle as Prince Mordred stepped out to greet his people. "My people!," he cried out, "I have finally have chosen a bride! Although she was once a commoner like yourselves, you will not find her common now! I present to you, Princess Arianna!" The newly crowned princess strolled through the crow in a kind of sad haze, not really caring what she was doing. Although she had eventually agreed to marry the prince, she knew she would never love him. All of her love and happiness had died the day that Merlin died and Arianna was just simply existing; for almost nothing could bring her joy. Her sole comfort was riding her beloved horse, as it reminded her of living on the farm with her true love.