Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin


"You seem… familiar." With the woman so close, it had only just dawned on him that Arthur had seen her before. But from where did he recognize her?

"Of course I would be. We met before I died."

"When?" Arthur's brow furrowed as he searched his memories for her face.

"When you killed me."

Arthur's eyes widened, "W-what?"

"Don't worry," she smiled, amusement sparkled from her eyes. "It was some time ago and you had reason to kill me."

"What reason do I have for killing you?'

Freya looked down at her hands, turning them about before she said, "I killed people. Not my choice of course, but it still didn't stop the deaths from happening. You did what you needed to do to stop me."

"Why couldn't you stop it?"

"I was cursed for trying to defend myself against a sorceress' son. I killed him and so she cursed me to kill forevermore. During the night, I turned into a beast, a bastet, mindless and blood thirsty."

"You were the druid girl, the one that the bounty hunter brought in," the king pinched the bridge of his nose as he remembered. He did deal the mortal blow, if only he knew of Merlin earlier or got to know of Freya before…

"I hold no hatred nor blame for you," she admonished. "Because of you, I'm freed from that curse. Now let us not dawdle on the past, there are more pressing matters to attend to."

"Merlin."

She nodded, "We are on the cusp of the new age. Your peace talks are the beginnings of a united Albion, but for there to be success you will need Emrys at your side."

"Kilgharrah told me he has not assumed the role."

"He is correct." She drifted away; the skirt of her dress swirled and flowed to her movements as she moved a few paces away. "I'm afraid during the times of his imprisonment, Morgana found an instrument of great evil to use against Merlin. Her research on the item was thorough, enough to know that once she took the information from him he would not live for long. Do you know the instrument I speak of?"

Arthur brushed a hand through his hair, "There was… there was too much going on when we pulled him from that cell, no time to notice the… tools in there."

"Then let me remind you." Freya bent down, reaching her hand into the water at her feet. Raising her leveled palm up, water drained between her fingers back to its source. Left behind on her hand, shimmering in the moonlight rested a black armlet. "The Mandragorae Armilla, one of the artifacts of dark magic, do you know the tool now?"

"Yes," Arthur said, eyes widening with realization. "We found it still on his arm, Iseldir removed it. He told me it was outlawed by the High Priestess of the Old Religion."

"They did for it was too cruel to be used against a fellow human. Most of the time, the information retrieved by this method was false, making the artifact useless for that particular purpose. With the understandings of its basic functions, it served as a punishment. But, if you were to realize its complete effects, it was a death sentence for its victims." She shook out her hand, allowing the image to dissipate into the night's air, like steam from a boiling pot. "Tell me, Arthur Pendragon, what did the druid tell you about the armlet's effects?"

"It turns one's biggest regrets and fears against them, correct?"

"Yes, that is its basic effects, however not the only ones. " She returned to him, reaching the shores to be face to face with him, though she did not step a foot out of the water. "It is said that an insignificant sorcerer created the first. He was made mad when a man played with the emotions of his only daughter and cornered her into suicide. He sought revenge when he created the Mandragorae Armilla. The tool served its purpose and killed the man the way the sorcerer's daughter died.

"The armlet does more than what you said. It uses the victim as a vessel for its dark magic. It grows over time, fed by fear and anxiety of its victim. As it grows stronger, it can further torment them. Creating a vicious cycle that can only end once the victim takes his life. The process can take months or years to occur depending on the duration of time the armlet was worn. Even the strongest eventually succumbs to its onslaught."

"Morgana knew this would happen," Arthur growled, his hands clenched in anger as hopelessness threatened to overwhelm him. Who knew how long Merlin was forced to wear that thing, but it was clear that the magic had grown far stronger to manage in secret.

"Exactly," Freya nodded, "She ensured Merlin would not survive the encounter. For all the anger and betrayal he represented, she felt it an appropriate end after she got what she wanted."

"What can I do to save him from this?"

"In truth, nothing."

"There must be something!" Arthur shouted, unable to contain himself.

"Of course," she whispered, taking a few steps back away from the king. "I did not tell you this for nothing. Be prepared, King Arthur, for a storm approaches you. Fate tests you in these coming days for Morgana plans to infect the land in her wickedness. Protect Emrys, for he is at his weakest. Stand firm until he recovers, for neither half is strong without the other. You cannot fight Merlin's battle, but give him the means to win."

"Means?"

Freya nodded, "Remind him of his humanity, King Arthur, remind Merlin that he is no longer alone. If there were any who could fight this curse, Emrys can do it. He alone can save himself, but not when he drowns himself in isolation. Physical actions are as meaningless against an enemy from within and without an outside perspective, it is hard to differentiate the truths from false beliefs. Words are as powerful of a weapon as the sword on your hip, should you wish to save him."

"What are Morgana's plans?"

"I cannot say. My knowledge is limited to the presence and not the details."

Arthur was about to speak, peppering the girl with dozens of questions, when the sounds of snapping branches diverted his attention to behind him. Shaking off the leaves and sticks that caught on her spikes, the white scales of Aithusa's hide emerged from the trees as the young dragon forced her way on the shore. In what could be described in loose terms as a smile, she greeted Arthur though the mirth did not quite hide the worry in her eyes.

"Arthur, I'm here to return you to your home. Samhain draws to a close and any longer will draw unwanted suspicions."

The king nodded before turning back to Freya who had retreated far enough to stand back in the center of the lake, "Thank you. Your words will not go unheeded."

"Good, this visit is not for naught. However, hatchling," she turned to Aithusa, "I must extend my gratitude for providing me the opportunity to speak. I am in your debt"

"You hold no debt with me, Guardian of Avalon," the dragoness graveled, "My service is to my Dragonlord with or without his order. You helped us around our forced silence."

Freya nodded before those warm eyes turned back to the king's as she spoke again, "Farewell Arthur, I wish you luck for you and my Merlin. My time here has ended and I must return to my place between the mortal world and Avalon."

"Farewell," Arthur said with a nod of his head.

With the king's final word, she began to sink into the cool water. A glimmer of gold shined and outlined her body as she went further down, until there was nothing left but a soft glow. A wrinkle expanded from where her head disappeared and spread across the lake, reaching the shoreline. When the water settled back to its calm mirror-like feature, the golden light dissipated, leaving Arthur to climb on Aithusa for the return home.

Settling between the dragon spike, Arthur was given a moment to ponder over her last words and the significance of calling Merlin as hers before Aithusa launched into the sky, the rush forcing all thoughts from his mind.

"We must return quickly, your presence is needed." The dragon broke through Arthur's concentration at keeping his evening's meal from making a reappearance.

When he felt confident that opening his mouth to speak wouldn't also result in unfortunate consequences, he asked, "Why, what happened?"

She shook her head and snorted, "My Dragonlord's situation worsens."

"Damn," he groaned, to which dragon only nodded.

The rest of the flight Arthur spent in his own thoughts, musing over what he was going to find upon his return. To his surprise, they arrived at the clearing sooner than he expected, or maybe he was too absorbed in his thoughts to notice.

At the edge of the clearing, the horse nickered from where he tied her to a tree as Arthur stepped back from the dragon. When he had the mount calmed, Arthur lifted himself into the saddle and took a firm hold of the reins. Rather than wasting time questioning the winged beast, Arthur simply nodded to her his thanks.

"We will be close, Kilgharrah and I."

"I'll send word for when we need you," Arthur said as he kicked his horse into a trot, "Until next time Aithusa."

Wind buffeted from behind him as he felt and heard the dragon take to the skies as he rode back to the castle, urging his horse as fast as he can go in the forest. On foot, the clearing was not far and the time it took was halved while on horseback. Soon the clatter of hooves on stone echoed around him as he entered the city limits and towards the castle. All the while, he thought of what he was going to do upon returning to Camelot.

He needed to remove Merlin from the talks that he was sure of. If the warlock was going to fight off this magical infection, he didn't need the stress of peace negotiations. Besides, Merlin was not much help in the talks should he be caught in this fictional world and can prove detrimental should he act out against his delusions. With help from their friends, they would ensure they help the warlock through this trial the best they could.

He left the horse in a stall, knowing the stable hands would eventually notice and remove the saddle and halter as he marched into the castle. After a quick walk through the halls, he finally reached the throne room, choosing to slip inside with hopes no one noticed. To his relief, no one did, or at least nearly no one did. Looking around the room, there was one pair of eyes that stared at him with a look of determination that demanded for answers. It made him feel slightly better that it was Mithian, she would be easy to reason with. Still he had hoped to keep the situation from expanding further beyond his circle of trusted friends. With a sigh, he headed her way, sorting through a half dozen explanation then casting them aside. The princess was one of the few people he knew that he could trust and also one not easy to fool.

He made his way through the room, chitchatting with a few who took note of his brief disappearance. When asked, he brushed their questions aside with claims of urgent reports. Either they knew they wouldn't get more information or didn't care, it did not matter to Arthur, only that they let him be to confront Mithian. As he crossed the room, he noticed Guinevere's presence beside the princess and Gwaine from his peripherals making way to meet them. The other knights also followed Arthur's progression but chose to remain in place. Good, keep the attention away.

"Arthur," Gwen whispered with barely concealed relief when the king finally reached them. Had they had more privacy, she would have leapt into his arms, but for now, she chose to give him a chaste kiss.

"Guinevere," he placed a hand against her cheek, "are you all right? What happened while I was gone?"

"It's Merlin, there's something terribly wrong with him," her voice wavered.

"And I know why. Where is he right now?"

"His chambers I believe," Mithian added as Gwaine finally reached them.

"Princess, where the hell—"

"Gwaine, I know the situation," Arthur cut him off before he addressed all three, "do you suppose he'll be fine until after this feast?"

"Last I saw of him, he wasn't in any condition to be on his own," Gwaine murmured, catching Arthur's full attention. "I only stayed out here because Gwen needed help here and you might bring more answers. What did Kilgharrah tell you?"

"He told me nothing, but someone else did," Arthur sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Gwaine, go make sure Merlin is fine. Don't let him leave that room until I get there but don't rattle him too much. Keep him calm until I can talk to him."

"Why don't you speak to him now instead of playing pompous prat with everyone here?" Gwaine growled, glaring.

"I can't be gone any longer than I already have without drawing suspicion, just take care of the idiot until I can get to him." The king met his knight's glare, slightly accepting the challenge.

With a curt nod, Gwaine left in a rush to find his friend.


Damn, damn. Damn.

What the bloody hell just happened? What did he just do, in front of the bloody princess no less? He had promised he was fine, he thought he had control. How could he have known even the previous attacks were falsehoods on how cruel this magic was? Ill prepared as he was, Merlin was not ready for the brutality of the latest attacks. He could still taste the metallic blood that coated his tongue...

The warlock growled, swiping at the still open chest that rested on his table, another matter to worry him. What had the knight discovered aside from the armlet and elixir? A rubbish situation he left himself in, in the end. Instead of keeping it secret and the concerns away, he practically shouted in his friend face he was in trouble. Too much was at stake with these talks, no one could afford to waste their time on him.

He slammed down against the wall beside the fallen chest, not wanting to retreat upstairs to sleep. His mind was in a whirlwind, there was no way he would even be able to sleep. Instead, he chose to empty out his pocket, tossing the vial to clatter and skid until it came to a stop beside the chest. He drew his attention instead to the small box containing the source of all his current nightmares.

The moment the knight had stepped foot in that small space, that dark magic called to him. Had it not been for Gwaine's possession of the armlet, he wouldn't have noticed that he held some of the warlock's secrets. However, Merlin was able to sense the armlet and regain enough lucidity to snag both the elixir and the box from the knight without his notice. Now he was left to wait for the confrontation that was soon to come. It would not be lost on the knight, at least not completely, the significance of his possession of the armlet.

Magic thrummed under his fingertips, emanating from the box's dark center. It sang to the evil that infected his own body, making him shudder at its darkness. With viciousness that surprised even him, Merlin whipped out his hand to throw the box, his magic increasing the force so that the box flew across the room and slammed against the wall. Though the box stayed in one piece, he heard the sound f a crack forming across its surface.

"Do you really believe that would save you from your sins?"

Merlin's eyes flickered upward, meeting the dark brown eyes of his deceased friend. Lancelot looked exactly as he had the day he died, except for the pallid coloring his skin took.

"It makes me feel better," the warlock growled, forcing himself to view the ghostly image as something else but the friend it mimicked. Difficult, but the wavering lines and echoing quality of its voice helped. Merlin wondered at the less than realistic image presented to him, making him mull over the idea that the darkness had expelled too much energy to form anything more concrete. The effort the growing taint expelled to envelope his world moments ago most of exhausted it. Should that be the case, it would be useful to note. Maybe he could predict the next big attack.

The image smiled at his words, as cruel as it was thoughtful, "Foolish then."

"Just leave me alone," he moaned, curling up with arms wrapped around his head.

To his relief, the image floated away, leaving the warlock where he sat. And he sat there, for how long Merlin didn't know, trying to keep his mind blank from all thoughts. He needed the time to recover, recoup from the mental assault just moments ago. He needed to be strong; not only for the negotiations but also to somehow convince his friends he was fine. It was only a matter of time before any of them would appear at his door demanding answer. The mere fact that Gwaine wasn't already here demanding questions was a miracle.

The time passed on, allowing him calm down somewhat. The hallucination appeared occasionally, whispering reminders that it was still there, still waiting for him to make the ultimate mistake. They held no weight; the delusions lacked the ability to immerse the warlock in horrors. Again he wondered if the magic was weakened from its earlier attack… or maybe it was just fooling him again?

A soft knock sounded from the doors to his chambers, causing him to snap his head up with narrow eyes. Around him figures, wisps really, paraded about, caressing him with their frigid fingers. Merlin sighed, knowing just who was bound to be at his door and waved his hand to unlock and open the entryway to allow the rugged knight inside. For his part, Gwaine walked in without a word, taking a moment to spot him in the corner before he made his way over. Silently, he sat beside him and followed the warlock's gaze to the rejected box.

"Talk to me, mate."

"There's nothing—"

"Don't tell me there's nothing to talk about, I won't believe you."

"What do you want me to say?" Merlin twisted his neck to glare at the knight. "I'm going mad. Is that what you want me to say?"

"Of course not, but don't say you're fine because what I saw earlier wasn't remotely close." Merlin looked away when Gwaine gave his own even look. The warlock's hands slipped on to his lap where his fingers fiddled against each other while his face turned blank, as he was lost in thought. When the knight heard nothing more, he pressed on, "Look I'm not princess, so I'm not going to order the truth out of you. But I rather my friend looked to me for help."

After a little deliberation, Merlin jabbed his hand towards the fallen vial where it twitched once before flying into his grasp. Silently he passed the vial to the knight, his eyes watching as Gwaine took it and carefully inspected the contents. Though he had already seen it in his previous investigation, Gwaine decided to humor the warlock. The black sludge was as dark as he remembered, it still gave him a shiver as he mulled over its creation. The purpose of which was relatively unknown though he suspected the warlock was about to tell him.

"That stopped it for a little while," the warlock began, wavering.

"Stopped what?" Gwaine watched Merlin's lips pressed tightly. His eyes flickered to everywhere but Gwaine's face as if he wasn't sure to speak or was too scared. Instead, the knight dropped his question and said, "So that's bad."

"Yep."

Gwaine straightened out his legs in front of him, stretching his arm above his head before he chose his next words, "Princess knows now, whatever you're hiding."

Merlin snorted, "I doubt it."

"Don't, because your favorite ancient lizard told him."

"He can't tell him anything." He responded, but his confidence wavered.

"He found a way. Look, I'm telling you this so you're not surprised when Arthur shows up here."

The warlock hummed and thus their conversation came to an abrupt end. From the corner of his eyes, Gwaine watched him. Though he hid it well, the warlock was clearly tense, occasionally glancing at the shadows in the room with suspicion. He was on edge, though Gwaine supposed it was an improvement from the nervous wreck the knight last saw. Patience was trying, but it seemed to be the only thing he could do for his friend. Arthur held all the answers Merlin wasn't willing to give, and the knight would do anything to hear the truth.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway beyond the room, signaling Arthur's arrival, though in Gwaine's opinion, it took him far too long. Unlike the knight however, the king walked straight into the chambers without knocking. Behind him, Gwen followed along. Vaguely, the knight wondered how they convinced the princess of Nemeth not to follow.

Gwen immediately rushed to Merlin, slowing down a few paces away to not startle the man. Biting her lips, she wanted nothing more but to scoop her friend in a warm embrace; however, she wasn't sure how well the warlock would react to such sudden action. Behind her still at the doorway, Arthur looked around, noting the cracked box nearby, which he scooped from the ground before making his way to the warlock. To Merlin's credit, he didn't immediately run away.

"I heard some interesting things from a friend of yours today."

"Kilgharrah and Aithusa are the only ones who knew and I ordered them to keep silence. How did they get around that?"

"They didn't," Arthur said, a bit smug as he wove his arms together, "so it's a good thing someone else knew."

Merlin raised an eyebrow, "Who?"

"Freya," he said carefully, watching for the slightest reaction to the name. He was rewarded as he saw his friend somehow withdraw further into himself, his arms returning around him in a tight embrace. It made the king want to question him over the strange girl, not forgetting her last words. However, he decided it would be a matter for another time, when the negotiations were over. Instead, he bent his knees and went into a low crouch to be level with the warlock, resting his arms against his lap so that his hands hung between his legs. "When were you going to tell me about this?"

"After the talks," Merlin mumbled, "I swear."

"What are you two talking about? I'm tired of being in the dark here, princess."

"What's going on?" Gwen added, giving the king a no nonsense look.

Merlin looked up to the queen then the knight before passing over to stare at the king. Arthur stared back steadily, letting him know that if he chose not to answer then he would. With a sigh, he nodded; it was time to tell the truth no matter how much he didn't want to.

"I—" he paused. Taking a deep breath, he continued in a wavering voice as he dredged up memories of the dungeon, few threatening to overcome him. "Morgana did a great many terrible things to me, one of which was more… long lasting in damage."

"Obviously," Gwaine snorted, causing Gwen to shush him then give Merlin an encouraging smile.

"She had this artifact, dark magic artifact that she used to… force information from me. It seems it had some prolonging effects."

"The armlet?" Gwaine asked.

Merlin nodded as Gwen asked, "What did it do?"

The warlock shuddered, his eyes glancing furtively to the side where the ghostly images grew more solid the more time had passed. Arthur noticed it, wondering just what his friend was seeing that remained invisible to them all.

"It made me see and hear things I didn't want to remember. It still does."

"What are you seeing now?" Arthur spoke quietly, as though he wasn't sure he should ask. His question weighed heavily on everyone in the room as they waited for . The warlock glanced around the room, warily tracking even more figures. After a while, he turned back to the king, his eyes piercing.

"They're shifting now."

"Do they get worse?"

"Yes, but I've been maintaining it."

"No you haven't," Gwaine said as he bent down to snatch the vial from the ground next to the ex-servant. "You were using this. This is what you hid from us in that flask of yours. What is it—"he uncorked the flask and smelled the contents"—what does this do?"

"It's called the Mandragorae Elixir and it shields people from the effects of mandrakes."

"But it stopped working," the knight pointed out.

"Yes it has," Merlin sighed, dropping his head against his chest and began to massage his temples, "but I plan to change the recipe. My perception of my… condition was limited until recently."

"It still won't work."

Merlin looked at the king, staring at the worried furrow of his brow as the words sunk in, "I'm sure it will. Trust me here, I can get this fixed."

"No like that," Arthur continued, thinking of his discussion just a few hours ago. "That's not what that Freya of yours says otherwise."

"What did she say?"

Again, temptation to ask his friend on the identity of the girl struck him, but Arthur shook it away. He needed to help Merlin first, the rest could come later. She had spoken to him for a reason, to pass on her message and reveal the remaining secrets of his friend. He was not going to waste her help.

"That this is not a problem easily solved by an elixir," Arthur murmured as he met the warlock with a steady gaze. Extending a hand, he grasped his friend's shoulder and said, "You don't have to do this alone."

"I don't want to burden any of you."

"Better a burden than dead."

Merlin shook his head, "This can't kill me."

"It will, if you allow it to grow."

"The only way it could is if I took my own life and I'll nev—"

"Don't," Arthur cut off with a hard glare as he heard a small gasp from Gwen, then he sighed. "I want you to stop drinking that stuff and go to Gaius so he could determine its full effects. Then you're going to rest, no attending the meetings until this is all sorted out. "

"I won't do that to you. You need me in there Arthur."

"Not like this, and that's an order. I won't hesitate to have the knights escort you from the throne room if you show up. In the meantime, I suggest you start telling me what exactly you are seeing and hearing."

They stared at each other, neither blinking as if breaking contact admitted defeat. Seconds ticked by until finally Merlin looked away, muttering under his breath, "Fine, but give me time, please? I- it was bad Arthur, this time, and I need time to… recover. Then I can talk, I promise."

"You have until tomorrow."

"Give me three days."

"If he does, I won't," Gwaine spoke up from behind Arthur. "Mate, you need help."

"Don't you see I already know that," he gasped. "Please? I'm not ready to face these demons."

Silence enveloped them, no one daring to speak. Gwaine stood there, mouth gaped. After a moment, Arthur nodded, standing to his feet in one fluid movement. He gestured for the knight to help the warlock as he walked to the chest. Placing the box containing the armlet in the chest, he scooped it up in his arms and turned to the pair.

"I'll let you be for two days, no more, and you're going to let Gaius watch you," Arthur commanded, shoving the chest into Gwaine's arms as he redirected his orders to the knight. "Put this away for now, somewhere safe, and have Percival make sure no one touches it after you escort Merlin here to Gaius' chambers. You are to stay with Merlin and keep an eye on him once this is taken care of."

Merlin snorted, though it was halfhearted, "Gaius isn't even here, so why don't I just`—"

"I sent for him. He'll be here tomorrow morning, Gwaine?" Arthur lifted an eyebrow.

The knight glowered but he moved the chest beneath one arm before offering his other arm to help Merlin up. With a sigh, Merlin took his hand and staggered to his feet before following Gwaine out of his chambers. He could already see, from the knight's face, that his friend was going to poke for information before the two days were up. He supposed it was better than the whole confrontation thing happening now. Arthur watched them go, brow furrowed, as Gwen approached from behind. Careful not to startle him, the queen wrapped her arms around his midsection, pulling him close.

"What am I to do tomorrow?" Arthur mumbled. "I don't want to leave him be for even a second and let's not mention the meeting tomorrow."

"Gaius and Gwaine will be with him," she consoled, "should anything happen, they will make sure he's fine."

"But a situation could be avoided—"

"At what costs?" Gwen tightened her embrace, resting her head against his back. "You heard him. Would it be best to force him into this? If he had been adverse to it, I'll have agreed to force the issue, but that's not the case. He's as frightened as we are and he isn't accustomed to working outside the shadows. Giving him the time to recover and pull himself back together would probably help him open up to us when the time comes."

"You didn't hear what I heard. This thing is tearing him apart."

"What could we do to help him?"

Arthur gave a humorless chuckle as he responded, "Nothing. The best I can do his talk to him, according to Freya, and that's it. He has to do this on his own. Then there was the confirmation that Morgana is planning something and I fear it will be soon since she knows Merlin is vulnerable."

"Then talk to him and proceed with negotiations. We are not so weak that we can't handle Morgana should she strike nor would Merlin allow it." She released her hold and walked in front of him, catching his eyes as she continued, "If that's what this Freya said we must do, and then we will. I doubt her words are as useless as you seem to think it is. If Kilgharrah believe it is important to drag you out on the night of Samhain to hear her words, then we must take them to heart."

"I just…"

"I know," Gwen smiled. "I know how you feel. Remember all those other times, when things were just as hopeless? After everything we've gone through, remember how we found victory in even the darkest of times. It'll be hard, but we'll make it through all this as well."


The servants had outdone themselves again was what Arthur thought as he looked around the room. The feast had been cleaned up and the tables and chairs were removed in favor of the thrones at the end of the room and the grand round table used for their meetings. Servants stood silently by, with pitchers in hand to refill emptied goblets. The royals arranged themselves around the table, a few with some of the men they brought. From Arthur left sat Gwen, as usual, followed by Rodor and Mithian. There was then Queen Annis and her right hand man, Bayard, Olaf, and Odin with his own knight. To Arthur's right, where Merlin should have sat at, was Aubrey followed by Lot then King Gregor.

The way Aubrey fiddled with his hands, a nervous tick of the sorcerer, Arthur thought over the wisdom of bringing him in. While Merlin was the one he would turn to for all things sorcery, his presence was no longer an option. Aubrey was a good man, despite his self-doubts born from his past service to Morgana. He did well in command and was well versed in the art of magic, particularly with combat. While he wasn't the best choice, Arthur didn't have time to request the presence of one of the local druid chiefs. Besides, he felt it was his duty and not the druids to fix the influence his father's rule had on the kingdom, and Arthur only needed the man's knowledge of magic to combat against misconceptions. Aubrey was there to answer questions and disputes claims Arthur could not.

He still wanted Merlin there.

"Interesting," Odin purred as he followed Arthur's glance to Aubrey. The small chattering between the royals halted and their attention turned to Arthur and Aubrey. The sorcerer's fiddling worsened as his fingers turned from each other to twisting the goblet in front of him. The goblet spun at his fingers' insistence, twirling in a speed that matched the sorcerer's anxiety. Even after his time spent leading various contingents of sorcerers, the man was still nervous when in the center of attention. "I would have thought that Emrys of yours would be here. Not this no name of a man I assume to be a sorcerer."

Arthur's eyes narrowed on the king, but kept his calm as he evenly responded, "Unfortunately, my Court Sorcerer fell ill last night and is unable to attend himself. I personally ordered him from this until he has recovered."

"Convenient excuse for a man rumored to have great power. Tell me, Pendragon, how do we know he is not controlling you if we cannot observe him? For all we know, he is hidden away in your castle with golden eyes orchestrating your every move."

"Emrys would not dabble in such disgusting sorcery," Aubrey scoffed. "He is as genuine as all of you for peace."

"As a sorcerer, you are still unable to prove anything of this Emrys' sincerity."

"I, too, fear that this Emrys is a threat to us all. Sorcery is something that shouldn't be trusted or allowed to reign so freely," Bayard added.

Olaf spoke up next, giving his own troubling words to the discussion, "Then there are the other threats posed from him, such as the existence of dragons. A merchant of my kingdom approached me with words of a dragon still in existence. I was led to believe those creatures were completely eradicated, but to hear that not only is that false, but they are allowed to do as they please? I cannot ignore this matter. Should peace be acquired, these beasts must be exterminated along with the outlaw of sorcery. I will not have evil in my lands or my people on evil lands."

"While the pressure prevented it to thrive, sorcery has brought good fortune upon my people," Rodor shook his head as he countered the others.

"Druids themselves are practitioners and sorcery is central to their culture, yet they are peaceful," Mithian supported her farther as she stared down the dissenting kings. "If magic is as evil as you claim it is, then don't you suppose Nemeth would have fallen to its influence? There are plenty of druids on our lands able to harm us."

"I've seen the trickery of magic," Annis claimed. "Though I must admit my experiences are limited to my experience with the witch Morgana. Who's to say they are evil or not? Past experience bids for my caution, but Camelot has proven not all is as it seems. King Arthur," she turned to the blond with a hard look, "how long has it been since the ban has been lifted?"

"Eight months," Arthur answered.

Annis nodded, "There would be more than this if sorcery were evil. From your words, King Bayard, King Odin, King Olaf, the land would be in ruins and the people in agony. Yet I do not see that. I'm still not ready to place my full confidence on the nature of magic, but I'm open to it as should you."

"Magic I cannot trust," King Olaf snorted, "but that is not the matter I first mentioned. I'm still concerned over Pendragon's command of dragons."

"I must agree," King Gregor broke his silence, leaving everyone to await his opinion. No one knew where the new royal stood and they all waited to judge him. "While it's regrettable how I came about this information from our last king's… disagreement with you, I understand there are two dragons. Both must obey your Court Sorcerer, or am I wrong?"

"No , you're—" Arthur began to protest only to be interrupted by Odin.

"That twig of a man can command dragons? Ridiculous, how can we trust in something so immense in power. Not only is your Emrys extremely powerful in sorcery—don't deny it, I've done my own research—but he can command beasts capable of destroying kingdoms? Can we really make peace with such a threat?"

"We are here for peace, not attack the sovereign of this kingdom," Lot growled, slamming his fist against the table as he was no longer able to hold back his anger. "Emrys is not an enemy. If it wasn't for him, we would all be doomed against Morgana."

"Says the brutish king who likes to decorate his halls with decapitated heads," Odin snorted. "Rumors are not in your favor Lot. You would be willing to support such a vile thing as sorcery."

"How dare you—" the Essetir king began to shout, his brown eyes burning with fury when Gwen raised her voice above him.

"Peace! All of you," she commanded, leveling a steely gaze around the table. "We come here in peace not to start any more wars. If everyone here cannot stay calm, then this meeting will be dismiss. We do not make the decisions over the future of our people through squabbling."

"My apologies, Queen Guinevere," Lot bowed his head, thoroughly chastised. "I do not take kind to insults to me or my friends."

"Then let us not insult anymore," Arthur said, thankful for his wife's intervention. The tension in the room was growing to stifling levels and she had been able to swat it away before it grew worse. "And to clear the concerns over the dragons, they are peaceful."

"How do we know that," Bayard asked, his eyebrows raised.

"I suppose there isn't a way to confirm without asking for your trust. Merlin is indeed a Dragonlord and is capable of commanding them. Should you be interested, I can have the dragons here to answer questions and show they are allies. Otherwise I can tell you there are two of them named Kilgharrah and Aithusa."

"Where did these dragons come from? I head that you killed the last one, the Great Dragon, a few years ago," Annis pointed out.

Arthur laughed as he shook his head, "Dragons are not so easy to kill. Kilgharrah is the Great Dragon who attacked Camelot all those years ago. We have come to a peace since then, through the help of my Court Sorcerer. Merlin also saved Aithusa before she hatched and called her from her egg."

"You're correct, King Arthur," the queen tilted her head slightly, eyes searching for lies, "we must trust you on this matter before peace can be achieved. That sorcerer of yours is powerful to hold such connections with these dragons. I suppose I'll be more inclined to trust you once I see them with my own eyes, worrisome as that idea is. Perhaps we can settle all discussions over sorcery for another day. I feel I cannot properly judge this without a clearer perception of your sorcerers and this Merlin Emrys."

"Is it wise to do so? We'll be wasting time drawing up a treaty if we cannot agree on this, as you've already said," Bayard said.

"You fear sorcery and that fear leaves no room for understanding. I myself am unsure over what to do with sorcery, but I've come to see its use in Camelot with my own eyes. I will judge sorcery from the kingdom that allows it to prosper in daily life," Gregor said.

"Then it's settled," Lot concluded, "the topic of sorcery will be pushed aside for now."


Mordred leaned against the stonewall, arms crossed and finger tapping his impatience as he waited for the meeting to adjourn. He had been unable to speak to the king before but had opted to waiting him out for the opportunity. Kara's words worried him yet he knew she would understand what he believed. No matter who served him or his friendship, Arthur was a good man. That man was going to do the great things in Albion as the prophecy told Mordred in his childhood. Besides, with her stay here, Kara could not ignore the happiness of their people. They were free here. The druid boy wanted nothing more but to push through the prejudice and convince of her of that fact.

The clicking of the latch accompanied the swinging of the door as the meeting finally ended and the kings and queens of Albion flooded out. The first to leave was Queen Annis, prideful with chin raise and straight back as she strode out without another word, with a man following close behind. Bayard and Olaf walked out together, whispering quietly to each, with the rest flooding out behind them. Last to leave was Arthur, with Gwen, both having their own conversation, a worrying face revealing their emotions. It looked as if the first meeting was stressful. Before they got any further, Mordred intercepted, hoping Arthur wouldn't refuse his request with so much going on.

"Sire."

Arthur turned, confusion replacing the concerns as he nodded to the druid, "Sir Mordred?"

"If I may be so bold, sire, I have a request."

The king nodded again, gesturing to Gwen that she didn't have to stay. She grabbed his shoulder as she leaned in and whispered into his ears. She squeezed his shoulder for a second before she swept away, with Arthur watching her with a tired smile. Then the king turned back to Mordred, crossing his arms as he waited to hear the request.

"Do you remember Kara?" Mordred began.

"The girl from the hunt?"

He nodded, "She has had a rough life, so she's unsure how to accept Camelot's lifting of the ban. Her plan is to leave here, soon, to seek safe haven elsewhere. I tried to convince her Camelot is no longer the place to fear, but she is stubborn. If it is at all possible, sire, can you speak to her? Should it be you to convince her, the one who is supposed to hate sorcery, she would be more inclined to believe me and give Camelot a chance."

Arthur bowed his head, thinking through the request. Mordred waited, worried that the lack of immediate response. He fidgeted in place, counting the seconds until the king looked back up to him. There was a measuring look in those eyes, as if he was still mulling over his request.

"How soon?"

"When you can," Mordred shrugged. "I understand you are busy but it'll be much appreciated."

Arthur sighed, running a hand through his hair as he said, "I can speak to her tomorrow after the meeting. I'll send for a servant when I'm done and have her sent to me."

"Thank you, Sire," Mordred said, giving the king a wide smile as he bowed to him. He turned away, walking down the hall with a small bounce in his steps; he couldn't wait to tell Kara that he got her a meeting so soon.

Arthur watched the knight leave, sighing as another matter fell on his lap to resolve. He didn't want to refuse the girl a meeting, especially when it was towards assuring the magical community of his sincerity, but there was still the problem with Merlin. Perhaps if he took care and spoke to the girl before he confronted Merlin, he wouldn't have to worry about it later. He was sure the situation with his friend would sweep everything from his mind, everything that was except for the meetings.

The king sighed, tired of the long day and ready to retire to bed. With a trudge, Arthur left the entrance to the throne room, already mentally preparing his confrontation with the warlock and arguments against his fellow kings and queens. He could only hope for everything to go smoothly tomorrow, just for a break from this already too stressful week.


AN: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thanks for waiting (I hate having to do this biweekly).

Thank you to everyone who reviewed/favorited/followed so far!

Next update will be by March 21st. I'm going to try to post within a week but I'm going to be busy baby sitting the next couple of days.

Reviews and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated :)