A/N I want to start off this chapter by thanking everybody who took the time revies. Those reviews actually encouraged me to update faster than I originally planned to. Also, there was a question about Merlin, Arthur and Gwen's age. The ages as of now in the story are; Merlin-16 Arthur-19, Gwen-21

I put special effort into this chapter thanks to one review about the world a made. I appreciated that more than the person realizes. I really do want to pull the readers into a fantasy world and hope I will accomplish that. Oh, and if you like this story alert it, because there is a good chance you will miss the updates if you don't.

Enjoy.

Chapter Five

Four princesses were known throughout the twelve kingdoms as the most beautiful: Princess Vivian of Yawron, whose father was known to behead a man for even glancing at her; Princess Mithian of Nemeth, who Arthur had the fortune to meet on more than one occasion; Princess Elena of Gawant, all who'd seen her thought her strange, as was the kingdom of Gawant filled with scholars and wondering minds; and The Princess of Lenga, Guinevere.

Guinevere. Princess Guinevere. Arthur pondered the Princess as he and Merlin rode to Camelot, she had not been far from his mind ever since he forced the name out of his friend and Seer. He found it strange she did not join them for the evening meal if it was predicted she would become his wife. Stories were told of her enchanting eyes and unassuming beauty. It was said her quiet beauty snuck up on a person like a thief in the night, stealing breaths and hearts all at once.

Though that was nice to know, marriage had never been a top priority for Arthur. He wasn't sure how he felt about a prearranged bride, whether predestined or not. The idea of being heir of the legendary Uther Pendragon was one he was just getting used to and now he was all but married off to a woman he didn't know. The more he thought about it, the more he decided he didn't like it.

"Do I have any say in this…" Arthur scrunched his face, "this betrothal I'm to enter into?"

Merlin who rode beside him, a cart attached to his horse, hid his smirk. It had been only a matter of time before the whining began. He fully anticipated it. "You may very well have a say. The predictions aren't clear. You may not marry her at all, though it's rare for predictions not to come true."

Arthur eyed him, "And why didn't you predict this? You are my Seer after all."

"One cannot choose what they see," Merlin answered simply. He took in the farmers preparing the land for the frost that was soon to come. It was early and the sun had yet to rise in the sky. He hoped to make Camelot's borders in half the two days it would normally take two young males galloping hard through the day.

As it were, they were at a trot, mostly to view Lenga's lush surroundings. The Kingdom was a far cry from the thick forests of Carbonek. For one, the trees of Carbonek didn't spout fruit the way every tree they passed in Lenga seemed to. A person almost didn't have to pack a meal to travel. Wild mushrooms and onions could be found if one just went off the trail for a bit. While in Carbonek only certain types of berry and wheat grew along with root vegetables. It was good and the people of Carbonek never went hungry, but it couldn't beat the fertile lands of Lenga.

Merlin planned to Spirit himself, Arthur, the horses and the cart filled with fruits and vegetables close to where Lenga and Camelot's border met, when midday came. But until then they enjoyed the view and the friendly people, all of whom stopped to greet the men as they passed. By their bright demeanors, Merlin had a hunch they had no clue of the war that brewed between Camelot and Lenga.

He waved at one jolly farmer as they rode by and thought, Arthur marrying the Princess of Lenga would be good for both Camelot and Lenga.

She would not cry. She would not cry.

A rat scurried over Gwen's bare feet. She cringed but uttered not one sound. It was dark and cramped and something was dripping. She hated the dungeon, but not so much she would do what Helios demanded of her. His evil, devious ways would not corrupt her, she refused to let it. As the heir to Lenga's throne, one day to be queen she would not allow herself to be bullied by Helios and his minions. Even if it meant spending days in a dungeon without eating and little to drink.

She was a skeleton under the padding that covered the tell tale signs of femininity. A month in the castle under Helios's care and she could probably count the times she ate a decent meal on one hand with fingers to spare. A normal meal in the castle for her consisted of slightly moldy bread and a bit of porridge or nothing at all if she didn't obey his commands in training.

Helios often wanted her to use her Gifts to harm other nobles, townspeople or peasants as he liked to call them. He would demand her to make them hurt themselves or tell him secrets that could harm them. She once was told to suggest a man to take his own life, a man who had crossed the so-called king. She refused and the punishment was worse than the dungeon she sat in. It had been the first time she saw the so-called King Aggravaine as the boy, Vere.

The false King asked many questions, ones she tried her best to avoid answering. More than once she thought he'd figured her out as at one point he uttered foul language under his breath and expressed the desire to have a Detector. It was then-as she was forgotten and he and Helios went into a deep discussion-that she become privy to the false King's practice of kidnapping Gifteds from other kingdoms. It shocked her and it shocked her even more to learn, her cousin, Elyan, a knight of Lenga was one of their next targets. He was a Dectector, a Gifted who could sense the deception in others, and often stood at Queen Elanora's side during council meetings and other such important events with representatives from other kingdoms.

The same day of the interrogation by the false King was the same day Gwen tested her Gifts without the supervision of Helios. In the dark cell they threw her in after being at the mercy of an Harnesser, a Gifted who uses the power of other Gifteds to torture them, she released her mind(and only her mind) to search for her mother. She'd never done as long of a distance search as the one to reach her mother before; Helios had only required her to search a few villages over. It was much different than she imagined it to be. In the castle she was the only Controller, and as far as she knew there were no Lookers, but outside of the castle it was an entirely different story. Her mind was not the only one searching Camelot. It was as if her mind was on a road, or path and there were other travelers. She immediately recognized the minds of other Lookers, searching for whomever to look through the eyes of. She could sense their floating, unattached consciousness as opposed to those whose minds were stable and in their bodies. They sensed her too.

When the words PRINCESS GUINEVERE had appeared in the air, she was forced to remember what Helios had warned her: A Looker's, or in her case a Controller's thoughts were vulnerable for all other minds wandering when in search. There were ways to prevent thoughts from being heard, but Helios hadn't gotten around to teaching her those skills. With a panicked jolt, Gwen's mind had raced back to her body.

That happened only a day ago and ever since, Gwen sat in her dungeon deathly afraid. She didn't know how or what her name appearing in the air meant, but she knew she had been caught. When the time came for Helios to retrieve her, it would be over. There was no escaping. She could refuse to marry the so-called king, but she feared it would do little to deter him.

She sighed where she sat, huddled in a dingy corner and thought, if she wasn't going to cry, then what could she do? Perhaps she could Suggest her way out. The thought made her brighten just a little. She would not be shielded if Helio's needed her Gifts; but would her Gifts even matter if they knew her true identity? Gwen's eyes stared into the dark, trapped in deep thought. They thought her a sniveling weak child, there was a good chance she would remain unshielded she decided.

Gwen jumped at the sudden squeak of the dungeon door. It door creaked open. Her hands flew to her eyes to shield her eyes from the offending light. It had been two days in the dark, the longest time she spent in the dungeon and she was certain the sudden light to her pupils would blind her.

Rough hands grabbed her; she was pulled up by her shoulders. Small cries of protest came from her at the pin needles in her feet and legs when her bare feet touched the ground. Thankfully the hands prevented her from falling back down.

"The King requests your presence," a nasally voice Gwen recognized as one of Helios's lackeys declared. Seeing that she couldn't walk-being that the dungeon cell she was in was little more than a box-he took the time to drag her out by her shirt. "You'd do well to obey this time, boy."

Gwen bit down on her tongue to keep from whimpering as she hit step after step on the way up from the dungeon.

"I can walk! I can walk!" She finally exclaimed after a particularly bad bump.

She fell to the ground when released and immediately picked herself up. "You are to wash up and put on the attire set out for you in your chambers. The King will be waiting for you in the council chambers."

She looked at the snake-like man in front of her as he bared his rat like teeth. With that he left Gwen to navigate her own way through the castle. It took her more time than necessary to come to the chambers set aside for her. Weakened from no food, no light and no room to move her legs it was a small miracle she even made it. On the bed she slept on a handful of times was a very distinguished looking olive green top and brown trousers. A tub filled with water was set out for her near the bed.

She glanced at the bath and then at the door. Moving slowly she dragged the heavy tub against the door, stripped and settled into the blessed water. Gwen did not care how cold it was, the baths after every dungeon stint was always something to look forward to.

Gwen took the rough soap and moved it back and forth on every part of her skin in an effort to erase the memories of the rats that had been her cellmates the last couple of days. She watched her skin turn red from the force of her scrub and only found satisfaction. She settled back in the top knowing that she soon would be clean. It gave her the strength to plan her escape. If she had to, she would find the true heir of Camelot herself. There was no way she would tolerate the existence she now lead for another moment.

As it turned out, Gwen had no time to run. Just moments after she put on the clean clothes, adjusted the padding which was much like a body pillow and combing her hair, the snake-man-rat came to escort her to the council.

When she arrived the room was empty aside from Helios and the so-called king.

"I trust your stay in the dungeon was…pleasant," the so-called king showed teeth in a way that seemed to be a smile.

Gwen could only nod, keeping her eyes to the ground.

"The Harnesser will be the least of you worries if you fail me this eve, young Greer." The false King Aggravaine's dark eyes gleamed with a promised threat. "You will do as I say, when I say. Is that clear?"

The cold of his voice poured into her and Gwen shivered, nodding once more. The mere presence of the man made her skin crawl. She did however pick up on the fact he did not call her by her real name. He mispronounced her boy name, but she found no desire to correct him. The little he knew of her alias the better.

The slight nod seemed to satisfy the so-called king and he turned his attention away from her and began reading a parchment on the long table he sat in front of. Helios stood to the right of him, eyes glued to Gwen.

She shifted on her feet. She had no idea what was happening or what was going to happen, but Helios was making her nervous.

There was a long period of silence before the so-called king moved back his chair, "Let us greet our guest shall we?" Without waiting for an answer he walked to the exit flanked by Helios and another knight. "Come along, boy." He called to Gwen, who scurried after him.

Arthur moved around the alluding sword in the offending stone as if it were a worthy opponent. He seized it up like he would a foe. Try as he might, the sword would not budge. Excalibur it was called; his father's sword. Well, one day he was determined to make Excalibur bow to him. He stepped back and read the inscription on the stone once more: Only One Pure Of Heart, Compassion And Truth Will Remove The Sword From The Stone.

What kind of folly? He turned frustrated towards Merlin, "If I am truly the true heir of Camelot why can't I move the blasted sword?" He kicked the stone and immediately regretted it.

Merlin, who rested with his head down by a tree, didn't even bother to look up. "As Gauis has said before, you will be able to remove it when you are ready to remove it."

Arthur didn't like his answer and the expression on his face showed it. Fortunately Merlin saw none of the looks the Prince gave him as he was more fascinated with the back of his eyelids.

"We are about to risk our lives in matter of moments and you rest your eyes?!" Arthur couldn't believe his own eyes.

"Everything will be fine, Arthur. It would do you some good to do the same actually."

Arthur looked at him as if he'd gone mad. "You can't be serious."

"Not sure why I couldn't be," Merlin yawned. Suddenly he sat up. "We go now."

With that he stood up and grabbed Arthur by the sleeve. The young Prince had no time to prepare for what came next; the air was sucked from his body and the sensation of what he could only describe as being turned inside out over took him. It lasted seconds, but he was left gasping for air and feeling a little out of sorts.

"You'll get used to it," Merlin whispered.

"What the!" Someone exclaimed behind them.

The sound of swords being drawn filled the air. Arthur spun around and found himself facing a room full of people seated in high chairs, surrounded by five men with drawn swords. The highest seated, a man with black hair and dark eyes with a rounded face, frowned at Arthur and Merlin.

"How did you get in here?" the man asked calmly, "This room is shielded." His eyes shifted from Arthur to Merlin and back again.

"I suggest you lower your swords men," Merlin spoke in an equally calm voice, "I suggest that all will remain seated and those standing will not attempt to attack or detain us. I also suggest that all listen to what the Prince of Camelot has to say."

There were reactions of outrage, disbelief and curiosity but all remained seated.

"What is the meaning of this?" the highest seated man demanded. He looked at the large man seated to his immediate right, "Helios, do something!" His voice raised just a bit as he made his command.

Helios only stared at Merlin. "Sire, I cannot. I-I am being shielded."

"This is an outrage," the man Arthur now knew as the so-called king blustered, "You incompetent foo-"

"I am Arthur Pendragon, son of Uther Pendragon, true heir to the throne and rightful ruler of Camelot."

At the sound of Arthur's slightly shaking voice the so-called King had no choice but to be quiet. Arthur continued as he surveyed the faces of the occupants of the room.

"Sixteen years ago my parents were ambushed and killed. Gauis, former Seer to the King, saved my life. He hid me for the past sixteen years and I am now here to reclaim what is rightfully mine."

His eyes flashed around the room, quickly counting twelve seated, and five standing. According to Gauis those who drawn the swords were each a Shield for the five visiting kingdoms. A movement in the corner behind the so-called king caught his eyes.

It was a boy, no older than twelve or thirteen who stood silently in a corner, almost disappearing into the wall. He had ear length curly hair and a prominent nose, his clothes as well as his skin hung limply on him. His bright eyes stared directly at Arthur, making him lose his train of thought. The boy was disturbing and for some odd reason out of all the people in the room the boy shook him up the most. Arthur had an odd feeling the boy may have been the most dangerous person in the room. According to Gauis not just anybody came into Camelot's council meetings. There was a reason the boy was allowed in.

"How do we know what you are saying is true, boy?"

Arthur tore his gaze from the strange, bright eyed boy and looked at the man who spoke. He sat three seats from the so-called kings left, according to Gauis's seating chart the man was King Bagdemagus of Gorre.

"It's not true," The so-called king scoffed, "The Prince is dead. He died with the King and Queen sixteen years ago."

"His body was never found," A distinguished grey haired woman spoke up. By her seating Arthur deduced she was Lady Katrina, sister-in-law of King Uther. Her husband, Arthur's uncle died only a couple of years after the Pendragons.

A murmur of agreement went through the room at Lady Katrina's statement.

"But how do we know what he says is true?"

Arthur decided to answer the question, finding it encouraging he hadn't been run through on the spot. "How is it that I stand here now? How is it we were able to Spirit into the room though are at least five layers of shield protecting it? Not even the best of Shields could penetrate five shields."

"The Seer," somebody gasped. Arthur thought it came from the corner the boy stood in.

One searing glance shot that direction from the so-called King confirmed his suspicions.

The boy's quiet realization reached the ears of all in the silent room and one by one the royals' eyes all shifted to Merlin. Merlin nodded. I am the Seer of the true heir to Camelot's throne.

The Whisper reverberated through Arthur's mind and judging by the expressions on the others' faces, he knew they heard it as well. The powerful Whisper took Arthur by surprised. He'd heard Merlin's Whisper before, but never like that.

"Impossible!" The so-called king spat. He made to get up but at the last minute changed his mind, "So what, this boy broke through a few shields, he's a Whisperer and a...Commander? It certainly does not mean he's the Seer. There are plenty of Shields out there who are strong enough to break through a couple of shielded areas."

"Except we all know this room had more than twenty shields protecting it," the man who had to be King Olaf remarked dryly.

"He has his mother's eyes." This came from the historian Geoffrey, a man who served King Uther for years.

"Yes," King Odin peered at Arthur closely, "And I would recognize Uther's stubborn nose anywhere."

"You can't be serious," the so-called king scoffed, "You are basing truth on his appearance. For all we know he could be a distant relative of the late King or even my sister."

"You're right, Aggravaine," the sultry sweet voice came from the woman dressed in deep purple and black dress who sat closest to him. Her red lips turned up in a seductive smile as her stunningly blue eyes roamed up and down Arthur's frame. "But I can tell you the boy speaks the truth. It does not mean however you must give up your claim to the throne."

The declaration shocked both Arthur and Merlin. "W-what?" Arthur sputtered.

Nimueh's closed lip smile, widened. "Dear boy, you grew up heaven knows where. You weren't raised as a royal, with the traditions of a royal or the etiquette or training. Why would the people of Camelot want to relinquish the throne to a royal born peasant? It's quite preposterous if you think about it, laughable even. Amata certainly would do no such thing." She leaned back in her seat, "The question is not of your parentage, your Seer leaves no question to that, but you competency. You are after all, just a boy. A peasant raised boy."

As she spoke, the subtle fear that had crept in the so-called king's eyes, subsided and was replaced by a smirk and a wicked, self-assured gleam.

"As much as a hate to say it, Nimueh way is right," Lady Katrina spoke.

To Arthur and Merlin's horror the members of the council who were also Camelot nobles were nodding. Geoffrey looked as if he would protest but one look at the so-called king and he remained silent.

"You slimy little snake!" The boy jumped from his secluded spot in the corner and raced to the front of the council, "You cannot deny the true heir his throne. He is the son of the King! This is madness! What would King Uther think?"

The roomed looked on in stunned silence as the boy ranted. Arthur thought he might have been a bit younger than what he first thought as he sounded remarkably like a woman.

"This is treason!" he continued.

"No, boy, it is you who commits treason," King Odin bellowed appalled at the boy's audacity, "Aggravaine, I did not know you allowed your servants to speak with such insolence. I would have his head."

Aggravaine said nothing as he looked at the boy, studying him before a cold light lit his otherwise dark eyes. The boy stopped his raging and gulped. His eyes glued to the so-called king.

"I believe it's time to leave, Arthur." Merlin took the opportunity to exit, grabbing Arthur.

"Oh, please take me with you," the boy cried, lunging for the two boys.

After seconds of robbed breath, Arthur fell in lush grass. "Honestly, Merlin," he began, jumping up and brushing of his trousers, "Could you not ha-" He stopped. He blinked. He stared again.

"Merlin, you idiot!" Arthur bellowed, "You brought someone back with us! Take him back. Oh no, you can't take him back, he'll give our location away. Dear Carbonek, we'll have to kill him!"

"What!' The boy rolled over in the grass and hopped up, "Kill me! I defend you and you want to kill me?" His eyes widened.

Merlin got up from the ground and rolled his eyes, "Don't mind him. We're not going to kill you. But who are you and why did you grab onto us?"

"I wanted to escape," the boy's brown eyes darted around the forest, "We should leave, they'll come after us."

"Whoa, whoa," Arthur put out his hands as if to stop him, "We are going nowhere. I'll leave you alive, but we are going our separate ways."

If it were possible the boy's eyes widened even more in sheer panic, "No! You can't! I have to come with you. I want to help restore you to the throne." He grabbed Arthur's arm.

Arthur immediately shook him off in disgust. "Who are you?" The boy had more strangeness in him than he was used to.

"I am…," He faltered, searching Arthur's eyes and then turning to Merlin. With his head bowed he said, "I am Vere, at your service, Sire."

Merlin slid in front of Vere, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Vere." They grabbed arms as was tradition. "Can I ask how you were able to move after I suggested all to remain seated?"

"Oh that's easy," Vere smiled, "I was never seated and your suggestion that no one attack or detain you worked on me, but I never had the intentions to do either of those things. I am on your side. I promise."

Merlin returned the smile, "I believe you."

"Oh for goodness sake, Merlin, we are not going to drag a child with us across the twelve kingdoms."

"You're going across the twelve kingdoms? For what?" Vere wanted to know.

"That is none of your business," Arthur snapped.

Vere stood on his tiptoes and looked over Merlin's shoulder, "You are quite rude. Perhaps they were right about you not having the etiquette of a noble. Not to worry. All is not lost, thankfully these things can be taught."

Arthur's mouth dropped. This coming from a small child who just told off a whole room full of nobles. Merlin sniggered.

"Besides," Vere dropped from his tippy toes, "I am not a child. I am thirteen and I believe you owe me."