Chapter Three

The dagger embedded itself into Arthur's chair, but luckily Merlin had pulled Arthur out of the way just in time. The hag was arrested by Camelot's knights on Uther's orders. As soon as Arthur stood up, I ran over to him and threw my arms around him.

"Arthur, Arthur, I was so scared…oh Arthur," I mumbled into his chest. As soon as I realized where we were and who exactly was watching us, I tensed and looked up at Arthur horrified. I was expecting him to push me to the side and scold me for my inappropriate behavior, so you can imagine my shock when he threw his arms around my waist and hugged me close.

Hugging me even closer to him and looking into my eyes, Arthur frantically asked, "Are you sure YOU'RE ok Elizabeth? One more step forward and you would…have…been…" Arthur's voice faded away as the realization of just how close I had come to dying hit him and he hugged me closer still, which I must admit felt very nice and I forgot about all the people watching us. That is until Uther coughed unnaturally loudly and Arthur and I broke apart. Remembering just where we were and how many other people were in the hall with us, caused a blush to spread across my cheeks. The attention didn't seem to faze Arthur, who put his arm around my waist ever so tenderly, as though afraid I would lash out in anger. I did no such thing of course, rather enjoying the attention Arthur was giving me, so he tightened his grip on my waist. The blush on my face to deepened when it hit me just how many people were staring at Arthur and myself.

"Merlin, you saved my life," Arthur stated and the two of us, along with the rest of the room, turned to look at Merlin.

"That is true. You have saved my son's life," Uther added thoughtfully.

"It was really nothing, your majesty," Merlin humbly stated.

"No, it was indeed a great thing. You must be rewarded," Uther continued. "As a reward, you shall henceforth be Prince Arthur's personal servant." At the looks on both Arthur's and Merlin's faces, I giggled, but everybody else was applauding Merlin so nobody but Arthur and Merlin noticed.

Arthur leaned down and whispered, "find the situation funny do you?" into my ear, which caused me to giggle even more.

"Why Prince Arthur, I don't find the situation funny at all. No, I find it ironic and hilarious. Just think my childhood best friend is to be my other best friend's servant…and the two of them cannot stand each other. I am going to thoroughly enjoy this." I answered back simply.

"I'm the other best friend?" Arthur asked seemingly really hurt.

I rolled my eyes and replied, "First off, is that really all you got out of what I just said? Secondly, it's not that I meant saying you were my other friend was supposed to be mean. I merely meant that Merlin was my best friend when I was a child and then I met u, and now I have two best friends. Hahaha, and there you were getting all defensive and jealous. You know I love you both equally. Oh I have to go help Gwen prepare Lady Morgana's room for bed. We left it a tad bit messy in preparation for tonight. Goodnight Arthur." With that, I hugged Arthur and walked out of the hall to assist Gwen.

"Yeah…equally," Arthur sighed to himself quietly with a very sincere sorrow.

After Lady Morgana's room was cleaned and she was in bed, Gwen and I headed back to our homes, quietly chatting about that night's festivities. "So," Gwen began. "What was the deal with you and…ARTHUR!" her voice increased in pitch as the subject of her question came around the corner.

"Hello Gwenevere, Elizabeth," Arthur greeted us quietly, so as not to wake anybody. "Would either of you mind if I spoke to Elizabeth privately?"

"Not at all Prince Arthur," Gwen answered. "Liz, would you mind if I stayed at your house tonight? That way we can finish our conversation about tomorrow's duties later."

"That sounds lovely Gwen, I'll be there when you get to my house with your things. Then I'll tell you all about my plans for saving time with the cleaning and washing," I went along smoothly. With that, Gwen left down the hall.

"So what did you need to privately talk to me about this late at night? Could it have possibly waited until morning?" I asked slyly as soon as Gwen was out of earshot.

"Well Lizzy I just wanted to say goodnight," Arthur whispered in my ear as he put his arms around my waist. "You left the feast tonight without giving me a chance to say anything. So goodnight." With that, Arthur shocked me by kissing my forehead.

"Do you say goodnight to all of your servants like this sire?" I whispered in his ear and rested my head on his chest.

"Only you, Lizzy," he answered ever so sweetly.

"Well then, goodnight Arthur," I whispered, looking up into Arthur's gorgeous blue eyes.

"Goodnight Lizzy." And with that we broke apart and went our separate ways: Arthur to his chambers and me to my house to tell Gwen all that had happened tonight.

I arrived back to my house giddy as anything and tidied up a bit as I waited for Gwen to come over. AS soon as she arrived I pounced on her and started rambling on and on about everything that had happened earlier.

"Okay slow down Liz. All I got out of all of that was hug, fight, blush, and shocked. Now please tell me the full story…and SLOWLY," Gwen laughed at my eagerness and hyperness. Laughing with Gwen, I retold the night's events, starting with the conversation Arthur and I had in the meadow outside Camelot to the 'moment', as Gwen called it, between Arthur and myself in the hallway after Gwen left.

"So, is it safe to say, you and Arthur are absolutely head over heels for each other?" Gwen asked me giggling slightly.

"Uhmmmm…" I stuttered. "Well…you see…okay, I admit it. I AM crazy for Arthur. I mean, he's chivalrous, strong, an amazing fighter, sweet, romantic, funny, and abso-freaking-lutely gorgeous!" I finished and a blush crept up my face.

"AWWWW YOU TWO ARE SOOOOOO CUTE TOGETHER! I CANNOT wait for Arthur to ask you to be his girlfriend," Gwen practically squealed in delight and excitement.

"Don't I wish," I visibly slouched as I said this. "But Arthur only sees me as a friend. And what's worse is that I'm his best friend so he probably sees me like a little sister."

"Well honey, if he thinks of you as a sister, what he's thinking should be illegal because he was awfully too touchy feely to think of you as a sister," Gwen disagreed.

"Really? But even if you're right and he sees me as more than a friend, which I still highly doubt, it's not like he could do anything about it. Uther would never approve of his only son and heir being romantic with a mere servant. I doubt he's even happy about Arthur and me ending our feud. He seemed all too pleased that the two of us were fighting for five years, almost seemed to encourage it." I said, glum once again.

"Oh calm down, you're such a drama queen sometimes Liz. Did you forget that Arthur will one day be king? The two of you can secretly see each other until he becomes king. Then, your true love can be known and you can be queen. It's so romantic," Gwen explained dreamily.

"I doubt that would ever happen, but I'll admit, it's nice to dream," I sighed. "Oh no! Look at the time, it's very late, or should I say, early in the morning. If we want any sleep, we'd better go to bed right away." So with that Gwen and I fell asleep and got as much sleep as we could, which only ended up being several hours of sleep.

The next morning, Gwen and I woke up. I was tired as anything because I had gotten next to no sleep what with the gossiping and giggling with Gwen and the dreams about Arthur…I mean…ok yeah I'll admit it, I had dreamt about Arthur all night. I had woken up a few times, only to come to the realization that my dreams were, well, just that; they were only dreams, not reality. After getting ready for the day, the two of us left my house and headed towards the training grounds. On the way there, we met up with Merlin, who was about to live his last day of freedom. Tomorrow he would start as Arthur's servant.

The three of us were talking about pointless, stupid things until Merlin asked, "So what were you two whispering and giggling about until who knows what ungodly hour?"

"We were talking about how Arthur and Elizabeth are so clearly madly in love," Gwen was quick to answer.

"Are they really now?" Merlin laughed heartily.

"Well," Gwen continued. "Elizabeth has deep feelings for Arthur, but thinks he only sees her as a best friend or little sister. Now I told her it's quite obvious Arthur's feelings for her are much, much more. Elizabeth, however, feels that even if Arthur does have feelings for her, Uther would never allow it."

"Well Elizabeth, now that's just silly," Merlin laughed. "It is clear that Arthur returns your feelings. Furthermore, you two could have a relationship which you kept secret from Uther until Arthur is crowned king. Then your relationship can be made public and you and Arthur shall be free to be married."

"That's exactly what I told her!" Gwen exclaimed. "I also told her that it would be wonderfully romantic."

"Oh yes," Merlin agreed only slightly sarcastically, nodding his head. "The secret would make the situation entirely romantic…"

"Yes it would be. That is, if my two loud mouth friends could actually keep a secret." I interrupted coolly, rolling my eyes. The three of us all looked at each other, and burst out laughing.

"May I inquire as to what is so funny?" a familiar voice inquired. Gwen, Merlin and I turned around to come face to face with none other than the prince of Camelot himself, causing all three of us to laugh even harder. "Anyway…" Arthur continued, clearly confused and wanting to be in on the joke, but trying to pass it off as nonchalance. "Gwen, Morgana needs your assistance in her chambers, Merlin, you are coming with me to begin learning how to be a proper servant before you actually begin, and Elizabeth, you are to come along with myself and Merlin."

"Why is that my lord?" I questioned.

"Because, such a lovely, hardworking, wonderful servant as yourself is just who I need to teach Merlin what it means to be a proper servant and all the work that it requires before he actually starts serving me." Hearing these words, Merlin and Gwen both gave me knowing looks.

"Watch what goes on between those two," Gwen mouthed when Arthur's back was to her. Merlin nodded his head in understanding.

"What are you nodding for?" Arthur asked getting a little worked up now. "And why the bloody hell are you elbowing him?"

"It's nothing sire, I'm not nodding at anything," Merlin answered hastily.

"I was just playing around, roughhousing with my good friend, you know?" I piped in.

"You are both absolutely crazy," Arthur said shaking his head and smiling at me, causing Gwen to give me a look from behind Arthur's back.

The rest of the morning, Merlin and I watched as Arthur trained with his knights while I showed Merlin the proper way to care for and put away armor. More than once Merlin would catch me staring at Arthur, laugh, and shake his head before going back to his work.

"What, per say, is so funny?" I asked one of the times Merlin looked at me and laughed.

"Well," he began, "I find the fact that you have been ogling Arthur and his muscles and arse like some love struck schoolgirl to be quite the amusing spectacle. Do you realize just how obvious you make your feelings? Arthur must be really thick to not pick up on it." Merlin gave me a look and we both cracked up. I even fell off of the stump I was sitting on causing us both to laugh harder.

"WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS SO FUNNY?" Arthur bellowed storming over to us. "The two of you have been laughing all day and I have seen nothing funny. And in God's name Merlin, help the lady up." Arthur scolded as he gently helped me to my feet.

"I don't know why we've been laughing so much sire," I giggled. "I guess we're just in a giddy mood. I know I am and I just can't stop laughing."

"Well it's a good thing, you're cute when you laugh," Arthur said sweetly and I blushed.

"Thanks," Merlin replied cockily, causing me to laugh rather loudly again.

"Not you, you stupid idiot Merlin. I was talking about Elizabeth," Arthur snapped, clearly annoyed now.

"My bad sire." This little spat between my two friends was causing me to shake in fits of laughter and tears even began rolling down my face from laughing so hard. Seeing my reaction, the two men began to laugh as well. After this, the rest of the day went by smoothly. The sword fighting tournament was coming ever closer, and it was always fun to watch Arthur kick the arses of knights from other kingdoms.