I've been able to get ahead on my writing, so I have decided to post twice this week! Hope you all enjoy chapter 3!


Chapter Three: The Earth Queen

Arthur was already outside by the time Merlin even attempted to stand. His throat and head hurt abominably, and it took a couple tries to get his shaky legs to work. Great blithering badgermoles, but that Fire Prince packed a punch!

Merlin staggered to the door and croaked a weak "Wait!" at the retreating figure. Arthur did not slow down, so Merlin had to run a little to catch up. "Wait up, you dollophead! I can hardly breathe right now, so slow down." Arthur's shoulders only stiffened a little. "What did you mean, 'No'?"

The prince rolled his eyes. "Do you have an insufficient grasp of the English language? 'No' means 'No'."

Merlin deflated. "You mean . . . you mean you won't help? I thought for sure, after everything, you would want support. It's your throne, after all."

He flinched a little when Arthur gave him a look that said he was seriously considering finishing what he had started in that abandoned building. "My mistake, I suppose," Merlin muttered. "But you can't ignore the fact that Morgana knows where you are now, and she's looking for you. I won't tell the other soldiers where to find you, but you can't go back to your old life."

"So I'll create a new one," Arthur snapped. "I've done it before. I'll shed this job, this name, this life, this city, and I'll go somewhere else. I'm become someone else. That's the way it has to be."

Merlin jumped in front of Arthur, halting his steps just as they came to the corner near the smithy. "Or, you could stop hiding. Reclaim your birthright. Bring the nations to peace again!" He could not understand why Arthur would reject this chance. Merlin was not much of a soldier, but he had worked closely with the Firelord and knew a lot of her secrets. And he was a gifted firebender when he wasn't taken by surprise . . . or attacked by vengeful princes . . . or, well, he was young still! "The other rulers will stand by you to take down Morgana. Annis, Olaf-maybe not Cendred, but he's too far away to do much. The Air Nomads. If we all work together, we can bring her down!"

Arthur looked frustrated. "Why are you so intent on getting me?" he demanded. "Why don't you become the next Firelord, if you're so keen on bringing her down?"

Merlin was horrified. "Me, Firelord? The Fire Nation wouldn't last a day! But we can't just take her on without a clear leader. That would leave a power vacuum that no one needs right now. I've heard say that you're-"

Arthur obviously did not care what Merlin had heard, because he pushed past him roughly and continued on. Merlin was about to make a heated remark, but the next second Arthur had thrown himself right back around the corner, his eyes wide.

"Fire Nation soldiers," he said stiffly. "Outside the smithy!" Merlin peeked around the corner for a second; sure enough, there were two red- and black-clad guards standing outside the forge.

Arthur suddenly launched himself forward again, and Merlin, panicked, pushed him back with the little strength he had.

"What are you doing?" he gasped, slowly losing ground. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"Gwen and Elyan are in there!" Arthur growled, redoubling his efforts.

"No-Arthur-let me go! You can't help them if you get yourself captured!"

This seemed to get through to Arthur, and he stopped struggling, slumping back against the wall. His eyes were wide and fearful. Merlin had thought nothing could make this man more dangerous than the thought of being taken back to the Fire Nation, but apparently he really was quite close to the two blacksmiths. "I'll go and talk to them," Merlin repeated. "I'm probably missed anyway. I had thought we were going to get a bit more evidence first, but if they've decided to make a move, you'd better hide somewhere. Where will you go?"

Arthur took a deep breath. "Back to that same building where I took you. It won't be safe for much longer, but it's the closest place I can think of."

Merlin nodded, and turned to go, but Arthur stopped him, looking a little awkward. "You, um, have bruises." He gestured at Merlin's neck, and Merlin felt the tender skin. "You might want to cover that up."

Merlin grinned, and pulled out a well-worn red handkerchief out of his pouch, and arranged it around his neck. "Better?" he asked, and the prince nodded. "Be safe. I'll find you later."

The guards on post nodded respectfully at Merlin as he passed, and as he expected, his partner, Thomas, was inside. Thomas and another guard were inspecting papers in the back by the forge. "Merlin!" Thomas cried. "Where have you been? You've been gone a while."

"Following up on the sweeper tip Valiant gave me," Merlin said. "Got nothing, of course. What's going on here? I thought we had agreed to wait on the blacksmiths."

"A message hawk came today; the Firelord is impatient for news." Thomas shook his head, and his shaggy, dark hair swung. "We just came in to ask a few questions, the normal routine, but then the girl denied having ever seen someone matching Arthur's description, and the Dai Li agent said she was lying. So I decided to have them taken down to the prison for now. I was about to go and talk to them, after we get this mess sorted out. You coming?"

Merlin thought quickly. One of the blacksmiths had seen him with Arthur, and his head would be on a plate if Thomas found out. He had to find a way to talk to them alone.

"Actually, um, why don't you stay here and see if the Fire Prince comes back?" he suggested. "Valiant suggested he visits after work a lot, so maybe he'll come. I'll talk to the earthbenders."

Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Why you?"

"Well, I don't know if you've noticed, but you're a lot more menacing than I am . . ." Merlin teased, smiling. "Maybe they'll talk if they feel less threatened."

The other firebender rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'll finish searching through here and then report to the Earth Queen. She's not happy we're arresting her citizens, but I don't think she dares cross the Firelord."

Merlin nodded vaguely, looking around the shop and forge. It was fairly small and cramped, standard Earth Kingdom fare. After almost two years living in the Fire Nation he had found himself missing the plain simplicity of this country. He had never really fit in much, being a firebender, but it had been his home for over twenty years.

Now the people hated him, because of what Morgana had done.

He was going to set it right.


The Earth Kingdom prison would have been a joke in the Fire Nation-everything was made of wood. Merlin wondered vaguely, as he strode through rows of cells, whether this place had metal cells to put firebenders. He shook this thought away, along with the guilt he felt for lying to Thomas. He knew the whole thing was necessary, but sometimes he wished there was a way to change his partner's mind about Arthur. It wasn't like Thomas was the only person to lose loved ones to Uther's purge; Merlin himself could count on one hand the number of family members he had still living.

He took a second after this thought to remind himself why he was doing this, then banished all of that from his mind as he finally came in front of the cell he needed.

Gwen and Elyan, as he gathered their names were, jumped up with narrowed eyes and pinched faces as they saw him. Gwen looked merely worried, but Elyan was obviously furious.

"Why have we been locked up?" he demanded, striding forward. "We told you we don't know where to find the Fire Prince!" His eyes widened as he got a good look at Merlin's face. "Wait, I saw earlier! You were with-"

He did not finish saying who, but sealed his lips firmly.

"That's why I am here," Merlin said softly, glancing down at the end of the corridor, where Earth Kingdom soldiers were posted. The good things about wooden cells was that sound did not carry well. "I do not mean you or Arthur any harm. Right now, he's in a safe place, and I'm going to do my best to get you out of this mess."

Gwen moved forward, grasping the thick wooden beams in her hands. "How do we know we can trust you?" she whispered. "You're a firebender, working for her. You could be luring us into some kind of trap."

Merlin sighed. "I suppose you don't," he said. "I really don't need you to tell me anything, because I already know Arthur is your friend. He told me that himself. The real reason I came is because if the other Fire Nation soldiers were to discover I saw Arthur, my life would be forfeit. I need you to keep that a secret. Why would I ask you to do that if I wanted Arthur captured?" His plea to their reason made Elyan and Gwen exchange a look that he could not read. Merlin recognized that as secret sibling talk; he and his brother Will would do it all the time. "Like I said, I will get you out of here and back to safety, but it might take a little work. Just be patient."

Gwen watched him closely. Merlin had been told before that he was easy to read like a book, and he hoped his sincerity was written on every part of his face. Finally, she nodded slowly.

"We just want to protect Arthur. We'll do whatever it takes." Merlin smiled in gratitude, and extended his hands to the siblings through the bars to shake.

A deep voice interrupted the little bonding moment. "Hey, firebender, don't you know you can't talk to the prisoners alone?"

Merlin jumped a little, but then smiled as he saw who was coming towards them. Finally, someone he could trust.


Arthur considered not going back to the abandoned shop. After all, he did not know for sure if he could trust Merlin; what if the firebender was going to send soldiers after him? In the end, he crossed back into the dirty room and started pacing the floor. It was now late afternoon, and the crowds were starting to gather again. A lone firebender would not pass unnoticed in these busy streets, so Arthur alternated between hoping Merlin waited until later to bring news and feeling angry the boy had not come already.

In the meantime, thoughts of Gwen and Elyan pervaded his mind. He tried to distract himself, but could not help imagining every awful possibility. He admired Gwen's kindness and strength and Elyan's indomitable spirit, but they were just simple blacksmiths. What were they against the might of the Fire Nation?

He had experienced that might, both when his father was alive and after he had died. Uther had been a focused but ruthless ruler, set in his goals and not willing to listen to anyone that got in his way. Morgana was the same kind of person. When they had been younger, she had had a set of ideals, most of which Arthur agreed with, but in the end she had chosen to follow those goals by doing things Arthur simply could not stand for. The things Arthur had heard and witnessed during the six months he spent in jail had convinced him that the Fire Nation had simply traded one tyrant for another.

If only his people had listened when he tried to warn them.

Arthur settled himself against the cracked wall, watching the light fade from the room as the sun set. He was in a weird mood, brought on by everything that had occurred in the last few days, but Arthur thought it was a grand metaphor for how hope had slowly faded from his life until he had none left.

Night fell. The sounds of the city outside faded away, and there was only the occasional passer-by. Arthur grew antsy, wondering if he should go back to the smithy and see what he could find there. He knew Valiant had been aware of his friendship with the two earthbenders, but he wondered why the soldiers had decided to arrest them. Maybe Elyan had lost his temper and said something untoward? Maybe Gwen had revealed her close friendship to Arthur?

He shivered a little.

The wall behind him shivered too.

Arthur tensed, wondering if he imagined it, but before he could react, the wall moved and pushed him forward. He tumbled over his hands, trying to regain his bearings and footing. Dark shapes darted from the doorway, from the hole in the wall, and down the crumbling staircase, surrounding him. Arthur shot towards his only hope of escape, but was arrested by the earth itself rising to trip him.

The ten men surrounding him wore distinctive green uniforms with round hats. The Dai Li.

Arthur's lip curled. So, Merlin had betrayed him after all.


The Dai Li led Arthur swiftly through deep tunnels under the city, his hands cuffed behind his back. Despite his angry questions, they all refused to speak to him, leaving him to fall back into the familiar feeling of despair that had permeated his life for five years.

He wondered if Gwen was still alive.

After what seemed like an eternity of being pushed by the Dai Li, they led him up a long flight of steps. At the top stood a tall figure, and Arthur was brought to a stop in front of him. This new character, another Dai Li agent with curly brown hair, eyed the Fire Prince for a moment before addressing one of the agents.

"Was he armed?"

"No, sir, we just found his chimney broom in the house with him."

The man looked at Arthur curiously. "I've heard a lot about you, Arthur Pendragon. None of which suggests to me that you would be caught working as a lowly chimney sweep in the Earth Kingdom capital."

"I guess I'm just full of surprises," Arthur replied stiffly.

The man nodded. "My name is Leon. I am head of the Dai Li agents here in Ba Sing Se. We are taking you to see the Earth Queen."

Arthur snorted. "Why her? Doesn't everyone here answer to the Firelord anyway? Why not just bypass Queen Annis and go straight to the Fire Nation soldiers?"

The hands holding Arthur tightened painfully, but Leon gave his agents a warning look. "Don't worry, Your Highness, we will be handing you over to the Fire Nation, just not in the manner you might expect. I would advise as we talk with Her Majesty Queen Annis that you keep your manner polite, or she might change her mind about your fate."

The stairs, as the group continued forward, led to a small chamber with no outlet. Arthur looked around, confused, but Leon made his way to the far wall, took a strong stance, and pushed a square section of the stone out of his way. He beckoned to Arthur, and the Fire Prince was surprised when the other Dai Li removed his shackles and remained behind while he and their leader went through the opening.

The room beyond was large, spacious, but quite plain for a throne room. Even the throne itself, though backed by a neatly-wrought relief sculpture, was a simple stone chair atop a platform. Another, smaller, throne rested at the base of the stone steps.

Arthur had never met Queen Annis before, but he knew enough about her to be wary. She was said to be almost as harsh as his father had been, though for different reasons. Arthur had heard many stories about how Morgana managed to subdue this woman's fierce will, none of which he believed. As Leon led him towards the two thrones, the prince took in everything he could about the Earth Queen. She had light brown hair threaded through with silver and green gems, her face was long and unmoving, and the green gown she wore only served to show how dark her eyes were.

In the smaller throne sat the Princess Mithian; she had a softer yet darker beauty than her mother, and her eyes watched Arthur keenly as he came to stop before the two of them, hesitated, then knelt.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness," he said, keeping his head bowed. "I am the former Prince Arthur of the Fire Nation."

A moment passed as Annis simply observed him. "Prince Arthur," she said, her voice steely. "Your presence here in my kingdom has caused me a great deal of trouble." Arthur tried not a flinch. Don't I know, he thought. "The Firelord has ordered that I hand you over to her for trial and execution. You know, of course, that I am a mere vassal to her. To refuse would bring her wrath down on my head and the heads of my citizens."

Arthur thought of Gwen and Elyan again and found himself hating Merlin even more. "I have no ill will towards you or your people, Your Majesty."

"We know you don't," Mithian said softly. "We are not accusing you of bringing her firebenders here."

Annis was getting to her feet and moving forward down the steps. "However, things are the way they are. I cannot be seen to aid you in any way. That's why you are going to escape and rescue your two friends, despite my best efforts to keep you here."

Arthur raised his head and stared.

"Oh, don't look so surprised, Your Highness," the queen snapped, frowning. "You don't really think I was going to hand you over to Morgana, did you? You are the true heir to the Fire Nation throne, and perhaps my best chance of overthrowing the Firelord."

Arthur felt like he had been deflated. Of course. She wanted him to replace Morgana. "My lady, I-"

"You don't think I will stand for being Morgana's puppet queen forever, do you?" Annis' voice was steel again. "I have bowed to her long enough. Perhaps the only thing I admired about your father as opposed to Morgana is he at least had the kindness to stay in his own country; she seems determined to encroach and make everything hers."

Arthur's lips twitched. "Morgana has always been possessive of things she feels are her own. How the Earth Kingdom, Air Nomads, and Water Tribes came under that heading, I don't know."

"The reach of her arm is far and wide," Leon said, and Annis grimaced.

"In my own court are traitors and spies. I dare not make a move against her lest the retribution be swift and final. In this room are the few people I can trust with everything." She gestured to Leon and Mithian.

The door to the throne room creaked open and then swung shut again. Arthur twisted to see who it was. Annis smiled.

"Ah, and of course, my very own Fire Nation spy, Merlin."

The Fire Prince stared. The young man who had been his enemy only the day before smiled cheekily. "All is prepared, my lady," the firebender said, turning back to the queen. "The Firelord will not suspect you were involved."

Annis nodded slowly. In the background, Mithian was leaning forward eagerly.

"I think just one change in the plans, Merlin," the Earth Queen said. "I have no wish to show my hand too early in the game, not until you have amassed allies in the field, but I want Leon to go with you on your quest."

The Dai Li agent startled. "Your Majesty?" he questioned. "My place is here at your side, protecting you."

"You are more needed out in the world, Leon, showing my support to the other nations. You'll have to go to Chief Olaf, at least, and before the Avatar and the Air Nomads. I want them to see that there's more behind this than a disgraced prince and a wet-behind-the-ears firebender. You will show them the strength that the Earth Kingdom has. And when the time comes, you will join us in taking that girl off the throne." Annis' dark eyes glittered in the torchlight.

Leon lowered his eyes and nodded. "As you wish, m'lady."

There was a moment of silence, which was broken by Merlin's nervous voice. "Well, I hope you don't mind flying."


Thank you for reading chapter 3, and any comments are welcome. I'm curious to see what all yuh think of this adaptation, including any theories or questions you might have. Please tell me what you think :)