A/N: Here is chapter number 3! I hope you find it satisfying… I certainly loved writing it ;)

Chapter 3

After about an hour of stale and awkward conversation, Lord Aegrid and his companions were excused to rest until the evening feast. Merlin also retired to his rooms, so Arthur decided to go to his wife and son, whom he hadn't had the chance to see all day. He found Guinevere in the Queens chambers, calmly working on her embroidery. She hurried to shush him the moment she set eyes on him.

"Aidan is finally asleep…" she said, gesturing to the door on her left, the one leading to the little prince's nursery.

His wife was dressed in a simple fine yellow gown, which was nothing like the extravagant dresses many of the ladies in court could be seen in. In the eyes of the King, anything his wife chose to wear made her look breathtaking. She looked tired now, but very happy. Motherhood suits her, Arthur thought.

Slowly, she got up from her chair and reached for her husband.

"How was your morning, my love?"

He was happy to tell her all about his meeting with the visiting Lord and Merlin's first acquaintance with the man in the forest. Gwen found the whole matter more endearing rather than amusing. She said it was typical of Merlin to appear so selfless and go to the aid even of those who didn't treat him properly. When he finished his story, ending it with how ill at ease Merlin looked when master Driory tried to kiss his hand to pay his respects, Gwen merely smiled knowingly, moved to open a nearby cupboard and took a small leather satchel from within.

"Elyan dropped by in the morning and left me this. He said you gave him until the end of the week to finish, but he managed to find some spare time and work on it yesterday." She handed the small bag to Arthur, who was looking a little red, and very much embarrassed.

"Would you mind telling me what it is? I haven't opened it…" she urged him.

The king looked very uncomfortable indeed. Taking a deep breath, he opened the pouch and retrieved a small round amulet from inside.

"It's just a silly thing. I mean, I figured Merlin should have a sigil now that he is technically a noble, and I just… I don't know, I thought this could be it. You understand. Like a gesture…"

Gwen struggled not to laugh at her husband's obvious embarrassment. She regarded the item carefully.

"I think it is very right for him, Arthur."

Merlin didn't want to change clothes again, but Travis said that Queen Guinevere had specifically chosen the outfit for him. The young man, who had been recently made Merlin's manservant, was waiting for him with the new clothes, when the warlock returned to his chambers, so he hadn't had that much of a choice.

Travis was a good lad, if perhaps a bit naïve, but Merlin liked that about him. He had initially protested to the idea of having, or even needing, a manservant, he who actually knew how to dress on his own. But Arthur wouldn't hear of it, he was adamant about the whole matter and in the end Merlin had receded. After all, his chambers most of the time where in dire need of a good clean-up, plus poor Travis could really use the extra money. Merlin had turned up to be a most lenient master, though the young manservant was still maybe a little scared of his magic.

After Travis helped him dress in a deep blue, rich tunic with slight silver embroidery, and charcoal breaches, -no neckerchief, damn it!- Merlin sent him away, giving him the rest of the evening off.

He had a little time left until the banquet, so Merlin sat behind his desk, more of a working table really, and resumed reading one of the magic books Arthur had managed to acquire for him. So naturally, that was when someone decided to come knocking on his door.

Am I never to have time to study anymore? He sighed forlornly.

"Come in…"

Arthur opened the door and walked inside.

"That is a first… The King of Camelot knocking on somebody else's door? Are you feeling alright, Arthur?"

The King smiled.

"Shut up, Merlin. I dare not think what I could accidentally see if I came in barging through your doors, like a country bumpkin…"

"Well, what brings you here? I was actually trying to have some work done here… you know, studying?"

Arthur gave him a strange look. It was then that Merlin noticed his friend was holding something. He seemed almost uncertain as to what he should do, so Merlin decided to help.

"Do you have something for me?" he said, pointing at Arthur's hand.

The King was startled, as if he had forgotten why he had come for, but quickly recovered and walked to the warlock, offering him the small leather pouch in his hand.

"I had Elyan make this for you. Just, I don't know… noticed you didn't have one…"

Merlin eyed him suspiciously, starting to worry. "Haven't got what exactly? Arthur, you are sure you're not enchanted again?"

Arthur rolled his eyes and threw him the bag. He caught it easily and emptied it on his hand.

It was a small, round golden amulet, hanging from a thin, silver chain. When he turned it around, he saw that the front was engraved with a flying hawk. A merlin.

Merlin's eyes shot up in shock to meet his friend's. Arthur was trying to look casual, but was failing miserably. The warlock felt deeply touched by his king's gesture, so much in fact, that he could not find words to express his gratitude.

Arthur tried to fill the growing silence.

"As a noble of my court, you ought to have a sigil, Merlin. I thought it rather fitting," he trailed off.

Merlin cleared his throat. "Well. Thank you. It… it is very nice."

Arthur pretended not to have noticed the rough tone in Merlin's voice. Instead, he turned to the doors. "We should go now, Gwen is already waiting! Wouldn't want to be late for the feast, would we?"

Merlin nodded silently. He got up, threw a black cloak over his shoulders and then wore the chain over his head, neatly tucking his new amulet under the rich fabric of the cloak. When he walked past Arthur, the King, in a necessary manifestation of manliness, stuck out his elbow and pushed him, knocking the thin man off balance and straight to the floor.

"Hey! Watch it, you prat!" Merlin squealed indignantly, but when Arthur guiltily offered a hand to help him up, he was reworded with the warlock's genuine smile.

The tables in the Great Hall were full of luxurious food. Wild boar and venison, stuffed geese and roasted chicken, served with all kinds of vegetables and an abundance of fine wine. All in all, it was a usual banquet night.

At the high table, the King and Queen were dinning with their honored guests. On the King's right hand sat the Court Sorcerer, who was enduring the merciless chatter of master Driory, while Lord Aegrid and King Arthur were too occupied in their conversation to try and rescue the poor warlock from his ordeal. Henry on the other hand was in awe to find that Camelot's renowned court physician, Gaius, was also in attendance and had discretely changed seats so that he would be by the old man, though he was still too shy to properly address him.

Arthur was very intrigued. The longer he talked with Aegrid, the more he was certain that he was a supporter of magic. He hadn't actually said as much, but the hints and meaningful looks were more than enough for the young King to come to this conclusion.

It didn't come as a great surprise, not really. It hadn't escaped Arthur's notice that Lord Aegrid's disappearance had coincided with the beginning of the Great Purge. Arthur had always known that some of the noble families of old Camelot had connections to magic, but he also knew that they too had been persecuted mercilessly and ultimately killed by his father.

It pained him still when he thought about the lies his father had told him, of the people he had practically murdered.

To have before him, now, a lord that was at least accepting –if not using- magic, was a delightful novelty. He had come to believe that he would be forced to argue with every single member of his court to defend his new stance towards magic and, of course, Merlin.

Speaking of Merlin…

"Guinevere, have you seen Merlin? I swear he was right here not a moment ago…"

His Queen looked at him perplexed. "Indeed. How odd. I didn't notice him leave…"

"Sire," master Driory spoke, "he told me he had forgotten to check the outer wall wards. He tried to tell you, but you were otherwise engaged at the moment…"

Arthur was very displeased with the information. He was about to call for a guard to fetch back his Court Sorcerer –a task that was proving to be very common among the royal household these days- but was interrupted by Lord Aegrid, who took the task of cooling the King off, thus saving Merlin's behind.

"He is truly commendable to be thinking of his duty when he could still be here enjoying this wonderful feast, my Lord. I only wish my own daughter would deign to finally show up. I understand a young lady's need to make an impressionable entrance, but it is starting to get too long…"

Gwen cut in with a comment about the endless procedure that getting ready for a ball is for a woman, and the conversation took an entirely different course. Arthur relaxed back in his chair, listening to his wife chatter while noting to himself that he should be extra pratty tomorrow towards Merlin, just to make a statement.

Merlin wrapped the cloak tightly around him. It was a chilly evening, and the contrast of the warm banquet hall to the windy courtyard sent shivers all over his thin frame.

Thank the spirits, he managed to escape! That old goose, master Driory, was nearly driving him mad. He hadn't actually told him that he was a sorcerer, though Merlin was sure of it, but he hadn't stopped blabbering even for a minute. He was talking all kinds of nonsense. Mostly about old prophesies and the properties of dried turnips in indigestion. And about his beloved niece, the elusive lady Andriorella. On top of that, he had nearly bummed into Lord Gergond of Stiels, the most obnoxious, egotistic lord in Arthur's court. The elderly lord never missed the chance to glare daggers at the young warlock. He hadn't yet forgotten the humiliation of staying in the stocks for two whole days.

Well he shouldn't have insulted my mother's honor in the first place, insufferable idiot.

Merlin trailed down a dark path, heading to the lower town. At this hour, most citizens were either at their homes, sleeping, or in the taverns, probably losing their money in drinking games with Sir Gwaine. Not having a specific destination in mind - the protective wards he had placed around Camelot's outer walls were perfectly fine, no need to check on them whatsoever-, Merlin decided to head for the main street and roam around the lower town. He was walking between the shadows, when he heard a loud commotion. It was coming from the direction of The Rising Sun inn. Probably some drunkard, he thought, but one could never be sure. He arrived at the scene of the fight to discover the cause of it, a group of young boys, common street bums from the likes of them. The three bigger looking thugs noticed him first, while the forth had his back on Merlin, getting ready to attack. It might have been dark, but Merlin's figure was rather unique, and the sudden appearance of the Court Sorcerer was enough to scare the boys away. The forth one had yet to see him, though, thus he mistook the other troublemakers' decision to fly before they got caught for cowardice, and began gloating.

Now, Merlin normally was the kind of person to let others take credit for the work that he had done -just ask Arthur-, but, really, he should teach this boy a lesson, discourage him from future trouble. So he addressed the young man, while keeping his voice perfectly calm, if somewhat amused.

"And who might that be, boy? You…?"

The boy turned abruptly to look at him. His face was dirty, his clothes old and worn and he wore a cloth on his head –what's up with that?-, but his eyes reminded Merlin of… something.

He just couldn't put his finger on it.

Andria turned to see who had called her. She was still running with the rush of excitement from the fight, from using her magic out in the open and that, mixed with the alcohol she had consumed, made her feel like she could handle everything.

She was surprised to see a familiar figure. He was dressed in a dark cloak that covered most of his form, but undeniably it was the young man from the forest, the one that had offered to help them earlier that same day.

How dared this peasant speak to her in this manner? True, she was in disguise but that shouldn't matter! She was a lady after all, and she had just defended an innocent young boy from being bullied! She could call herself whatever she wished.

"Mind your own business!" she hissed and started straightening her clothes, checking carefully that the scarf that hid her hair was still properly in place.

The man looked ever more amused by her statement, which only resulted in further aggravating her.

"What are you laughing at, you fool? Leave, or else I might be forced to deal with you accordingly…" Now that was a bit of a bluff. She wouldn't want to hurt the man, not really. He might be a simpleton, but he was willing to help her father not long ago, so he couldn't be all that bad.

Her threat had the exact opposite effect that she had aimed for. The young man practically sniggered when he heard her and was quick to reply.

"Oh, really? Pray tell, what would you do to me, boy?"

Now, for what happened next Andria would forever blame The Rising Sun's ale, but it was probably a mix of that with her fiery temperament and her wounded pride that led her to attack the man in front of her with magic.

Merlin was having too much fun at the expense of the young boy, who was clearly a bit intoxicated. But it stopped being fun the minute the boy's eyes turned gold and he felt a quite strong magical hit at his stomach. Caught unprepared, he groaned from the pain and was lucky he didn't fall down.

As the Court Sorcerer of Camelot, he had many tasks, the most important of which was to make sure no magic user ever abused his powers. Attacking a, seemingly, unarmed person with magic was definitely not good. The boy should be definitely taught a lesson.

"I am afraid you have to come with me, young man. A night in the dungeons should be enough to teach you to be more careful with your power…" He moved quickly to restrain the boy, catching him off guard. The boy struggled to escape his grasp, and tried in vain to use magic to repel him, but this time Merlin was prepared. The spell didn't even register in his mind, while he automatically blocked it.

"Who do you think you are, arresting me and throwing me in the dungeons? The King of Camelot?" the boy spat vehemently.

The irony wasn't lost to Merlin when he replied.

"No, I'm his Court Sorcerer, Merlin…"

Lord Aegrid looked alarmed. Andria should have been there by now. He gestured to Henry, as discretely as possible, to go and look for his missing sister. The boy thankfully understood, and left without a moment's thought.

Soon enough he was back, looking pale and uncertain. Now Aegrid started to get worried. Did something happen to his dear child? The King noticed his sudden distress and immediately inquired if anything was amiss. When Henry approached, he told both his father and Arthur that neither he nor Mary, the maid, could find his sister. She was absent from her chambers, but it didn't look like there had been an attack, and from what he could tell nothing was stolen. Arthur took them both out of the Hall, begging Gwen to make sure everyone went on with the feast, and ordered two of the Knights that were there with him, Sirs Percival and Peleas, to gather a group of guards each and start searching the palace for the missing lady. The girl's father, her brother and Arthur would start their search from her rooms.

Arthur was beginning to think that he should sent for Merlin, seeing that this situation could be of magical origins, when the man himself appeared at the end of the corridor, forcibly shoving a struggling prisoner towards the stairway to the lower dungeons.

"Merlin! Where on earth have you been! We have an emergency."

The sorcerer stopped in his tracks, the boy nearly falling on the floor from abruptness.

"What's wrong? Is it an attack?" Merlin was dead serious.

Arthur hurried to reassure him.

"Not exactly. Lord Aegrid's daughter, Lady Andriorella, is missing. We've looked everywhere and she cannot be found. She has just… vanished. Henry, here, told us…" he trailed off when he caught glimpse of the young lord. Henry was gaping at the street bum that Merlin had restrained, undeniably gobsmacked. The dirty looking boy had his head lowered and had suddenly gone very still.

Arthur smelled a rat.

"Henry, do you have something to share with us?"

The boy gulped, and after a moment, he nodded guiltily. His father was now regarding him with concern, but Arthur did not relent. He raised his eyebrows expectantly, and was reworded with an indecipherable mumble.

"Thtisndra…"

"I beg your pardon?" Merlin asked.

The boy sighed and turned to look at the warlock.

"That…" he gestured to the thug, "is Andria."

Merlin reacted immediately. With a loud gasp, he let go of the boy -the Lady Andriorella-, as if he got burned. His eyes were wide and he kept opening and closing his mouth.

Lord Aegrid had gone rigid, obviously in denial, while Henry was trying to hide behind his father to avoid the deathly glare that his sister was sending him.

Arthur was the calmest of them all. It was his job, after all.

"Look at that! Lady Andriorella… Andria… Merlin, pray tell me, why are you arresting our … guest?"

He should have seen it coming. Really.

Andriorella.

Andria.

That boy was Andria. Well, obviously not a boy, but still… Andria!

How could he not have noticed?

Because she was disguised, you idiot, said a voice in his head, sounding a lot like Arthur.

A dozen thoughts went through his head. He had managed to keep everything concerning their time travel experience out of his mind. Nobody else remembered anything, so it hadn't been very difficult. What was going to happen, would eventually, well, happen. That didn't mean he should dwell on it all the time. He had returned from the future with the knowledge that someday all of his dreams would come true. But he had to let life go on, to lead him down the right path and not let this knowledge overcome him.

Yet, seeing Andria now, in the right time, caught him completely unprepared. This girl would become his best pupil, his right hand and, eventually, his love interest. It was a little overwhelming.

He was shaken out of his thoughts by Arthur, who seemed to be repeating a question.

Why did he arrest Andria?

A glance at the girl told him she had gone deathly pale, looking ready to pass out at any second. His mind quickly put two and two together and started thinking for an excuse. Andria clearly didn't want the King, or possibly any other, to know about her magic. He would respect that, of course. A secret like that should be exposed by its bearer.

If it had been anyone else, he wouldn't even try to cover for them. Noble or not, Andria had used magic to attack an unarmed man who wasn't even offensive. But he knew her, she was good. He could make an exception for once, though he would have to have a very serious conversation with the young lady afterwards.

So, deciding to play the old Merlin-the-palace-buffoon card, he stared at Arthur with huge eyes, mumbling apologies and looking extremely hesitant.

"I.. I just saw him, the lady I mean… strolling around in the court….yard. The courtyard."

Arthur narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"And…?"

"And she was… she was trying to get in the palace! She had passed the guards, really Arthur we have to do something about security in this place, I mean for g…"

"MERLIN!" Arthur yelled. Merlin observes he was starting to turn purple.

"Right, sorry… Well, I thought she was trying to sneak inside to steal something so I… detained her? Yes! Though very, very respectably…"

He could see Arthur wasn't convinced.

"I see. And what about you, my Lady? How is it that you ended up looking like… this. And why didn't you inform Merlin of your identity?"

The lady hesitated to respond. When she did, she sounded defeated.

"I am deeply sorry, Sire. I only wanted some time alone. It was a childish thing to do, I am aware. Please accept my sincere apologies for the inconvenience I caused…"

Arthur cut in. "As long as you are fine, it does not matter. Believe it or not, my lady, we all have been where you stand, in one way or another. I will send for a bath to be brought to your chambers. Go get some rest. Merlin, walk with me, please…"

So? Did you like the way Andria and Merlin finally 'meet'? Review and tell me your opinion! :D

Oh, and I promise, next chapter, the plot thickens…..