I don't own Merlin and nothing is real (Duh. Haven't you seen the matrix? There is no spoon.)


Hunched over her laptop, New York Hours crossword creator Anne Trebinsky sighed. She needed something. She needed inspiration...

Shifting in her chair, she grabbed the remote control and flicked on the television, her eyes beginning to dart back to her screen- then she stopped. Turned around. And was utterly consumed in the majestic gold-swirled irises.


Amanda was frustrated.

She loved crosswords, but this-

This was hell.

She read the dictionary before bed as a habit and yet three across was a mystery.

Nothing fit!

She bought a thesaurus, her cheeks flushed with shame...

But, it was all for naught. Utterly inconsequential. Nothing worked.

"Heir"! it had to be "heir"... but no.

It didn't fit.

By the time Sunday's paper came out, she was at her wits end.

"Three across, four letter word for crown prince..." She flipped feverishly to the answer. Then stopped, and did a double take.

"Prat?"