Chapter 10-Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Hey guys, two chapter in a couple of weeks, aren't I doing well? :D anyway I wont bother making this too long as I'm sure you want to get reading. I am sorry for the way I ended the last chapter but I don't want them to be able to get married too easily, where's the fun in that? So I don't own Merlin, but Laudine, Kay and Elizabeth are all my creations. Enjoy!
Arthur came running up to me as I rode through the courtyard of Camelot. I jumped off the horse. He pulled me into his arms before I could speak, "I thought…The guards they're looking for Merlin."
"Why would they be doing that?" I asked pulling back so I could look at him.
"Catrina has accused him of stealing her seal," Arthur told me, "I was worried about you. After what Uther said. I thought you were leave now we're not marrying right away."
"I just needed some time to think Arthur. I'm okay, your father will stop me being with you," I laughed lightly as I had finally managed to calm down enough to be able to deal with the mess that is my life currently, before kissing him gently on the lips, "Now we have a manservant to save."
I dragged Arthur through the Castle easily avoiding the guards after the practice I'd had. We burst into Arthur's chambers to find Merlin actually doing his chores for once. He looked up at us in shock, "You need to get out of here. The king wants you to be arrested!"
"For what?!" Merlin asked.
"Look we don't have time Merlin. You need to leave Camelot right now," Arthur said firmly.
"Arthur, she's a troll and she's trying to set me up," Merlin explained.
"We've been through this," Arthur sighed, obviously not wanting to row with the both of us again.
Merlin shook his head, "I'm telling the truth. I saw her."
I opened my mouth to agree but one of the guards knocked on the door, "I don't care. You need to leave, Merlin," Arthur encouraged.
The guard knocked again, "Sire."
"I'll take him," I told Arthur nodding towards the door, "You need to go to them," Arthur looked reluctant for a moment before I grabbed him and pulled him into a kiss ignoring the fact Merlin was standing there, "Now go," I whispered against his lips before pulling away and grabbing Merlin's arm taking him through the back entrance to the room.
"Are we really going out of Camelot?" Merlin asked me as I pulled him behind a column as two guards travelled past.
"No, we're going to save Uther from a troll!" I said quietly before pulling him out towards the underground exits, "But first we need to make it look like we have disappeared."
It didn't take half as long as I thought it would to create the tracks to make it look like Merlin was leaving Camelot to the North boundaries. The magic definitely made it easier to do so. When we made it back to Camelot I quickly pushed Merlin towards Gaius's chamber before heading myself through the lower town. It didn't really matter if anyone saw me, Catrina may have been able to cancel my wedding but she couldn't chuck me out of Camelot without starting a war something that wouldn't help with the money she wanted. I watched the guards enter through the main gate and ride through the market and up to the castle as Gwen came to stand next to me, "I'm sorry My Lady about…"
"It's okay Gwen," I smiled at her, "I'm sure it all will work out in the end. It always does."
"Not for Merlin through. They found his trail, and say he's heading to the Northern Borders," Gwen explained, sounding terrified.
I nodded my head, keeping my smile hidden, the plan was working, "I'm sure he'll outrun them."
"But what if he can't?" Gwen pressed, "Uther won't show him any mercy."
"I wouldn't worry about him Gwen. If there is one thing Merlin can do it is hide," I smiled softly at her before walking off back into the castle instead of staying so she could ask me what I meant. I walked into the castle ignoring the looks I was getting, which were a mixture of sympathy and jealously.
I knocked on the door before entering Gaius's chambers to find Gaius and Laudine sitting there. When he saw it was me he nodded towards the barrel in the corner. I walked over to it and opened it before knocking on the outside. Merlin jumped up gasping, "That was comfortable," He said to me sarcastically.
"Thank you for helping him Elizabeth," Gaius said from across the table.
I smiled back, "He's my friend, plus you should thank Arthur he's the one who told me about it," I turned back to Merlin, "The plan is working they picked up the trail but it won't fool them for long. You need to find us an advantage."
"What will you be doing?" Merlin asked.
"I am still a member of the court. I should attend the Council meetings. Catrina can't kick me out of Camelot just yet," I explained before heading back towards Arthur's chambers and knocking on the door, entering without waiting for a reply.
Arthur was standing by the window looking out at Camelot, he turned to face me when I entered, "Merlin is safe," I assured him, "The less I tell you the better for him through."
Arthur nodded his head before pulling me into his arms, "We were meant to be married by today."
"I know," I whispered resting my head against his chest.
"They took away our wedding, our wedding night. Our future," Arthur whispered into my hair, his voice full of regret as he did.
"They have just postponed it that's all Arthur," I said looking into his eyes, "We'll have our future, just may take a little longer than originally planned."
Arthur laughed before kissing me, "I was looking forward to that night through," Arthur confessed to me his voice dipping.
Before I could reply there was a knock at the door. I stepped apart from Arthur before calling them in trying to ignore the urge to kill the guard for interrupted one of the first alone moments we had had since nearly gotten married. I think he could tell how much he had annoyed us, he at least had the decency to look embarrassed about it, "The King and Queen require you in the council chambers," He informed Arthur quickly before disappearing out of the door.
Arthur held out his arm to me, "Ready to go and deal with my wicked stepmother?" he asked me seeming more relaxed than before.
I nodded taking his arm and smiling, "Let's go."
I paused when we entered the council chambers but Arthur kept his arm in mine pulling me forward to his father, "I thought I told you that you no longer needed to stay in Camelot," Uther greeted me.
"I wish to stay My Lord," I said bowing my head at him and Catrina, "My father wishes me to stay and get to know the new Queen of Camelot. He tells me he will visit you very soon."
"That would be welcomed," Catrina said before Uther could speak. Uther just nodded along.
"There's something important that I...we wish you to address. For too long, the people have had it easy. They've grown fat off our indulgence of them," Uther informed us taking Catrina's hand as he spoke.
"How so?" Arthur asked.
"We provide peace, protection, food. They give us very little in return," Uther said coldly, colder than I had ever heard him speak before.
Arthur looked confused, "Most of our people are poor. They survive on the few crops they're able to grow."
"That is what they would have us believe," Catrina replied sharply.
"It's what I see every day," Arthur argued back.
"We're introducing a new tax," Uther continued as if Arthur hadn't spoken.
"The people must for the sanctuary that Camelot provides," Catrina finished for him.
Arthur shook his head, "You can't. The majority are barely able to get by as it is."
"Those who refuse to pay it will be arrested and publicly flogged," Uther snapped.
"We've lived this way for years. You've never suggested anything like this before," Arthur said slowly.
"Maybe not to you, but the King confided in me that he has been considering this for some time, haven't you?" Catrina said turning to face Uther.
He looked completely besotted with her, "Yes, I have. You are to begin the collections at once."
"Of course he will My Lord," I interrupted before Arthur could speak, squeezing Arthur's hand slightly to ensure his silence, "You are King after all."
"Your fiancé is wise Arthur," Catrina said staring me down.
"Oh I see everything," I smiled back at her bowing my head at her and Uther before turning around and pulling Arthur out of the Council Chambers.
"Why did you do that?" Arthur asked once we got outside.
"Did you not see the look on his face?" I questioned back, "He will say whatever she wants him to. He is just her puppet right now, the more you argue the more she will turn him against you," I explained to him noticing the sun setting outside, "We should go to bed. Everything can be dealt with in the morning."
It was late in the night when someone knocked on my door. I slipped on one of my simpler dresses before opening the door to be greeted by Merlin standing there, "I thought you were with Gaius."
"I have something but I don't know what to do with it," Merlin explained to me holding up a bottle for me to see.
I rubbed my eyes before going over to the side door onto my room and knocking on it, "Laudine can you come here please?" I asked politely.
It was only a few second later when she came in, "What is it My Lady?"
"We're going to see Gaius," I explained taking my cloak before we walked out of the door and towards Gaius's chambers. It was times like this that I wondered how Camelot was known for its knights as there never seemed to be any about on patrol. We reached Gaius's chamber without a single incident, coming in to see Gaius was already up obviously waiting for up.
Merlin handed the potion over to him as he explained to us, "I saw her drink some of this potion and a patch of troll skin on her arm disappeared."
Gaius held the potion above the fire watching it carefully, "It must be pretty powerful magic to physically change her like that."
I had an idea, "Could you make a potion that looks and tastes the same as this?" I questioned Gaius.
Gaius looked confused, "I don't know. Yes, I suppose so, but without the troll magic, it wouldn't have the same effect."
"Exactly. If we can replace this potion with one that isn't magical," I started watching as everyone's eyes lit up in recognition.
"Ah, so Catrina will keep taking it, but it'll no longer work," Merlin smiled at me, "And she'll turn into a troll."
"Think you can do it?" I asked Gaius.
"I don't know," Gaius replied honestly.
"We have to make the switch before morning or Jonas will notice," Merlin pointed out.
"Then it's going to be a long night," Gaius nodded.
"Laudine think you can help?" I asked her, she nodded her head before going over to work with Gaius.
"I'm sorry," Merlin whispered next to me as we watched them work.
"Oh not you too," I said with a roll of my eyes, "I'm okay Merlin. I promise you, Arthur and me we'll be okay."
"How can you be so calm?" Merlin asked me in astonishment.
"I believe in destiny Merlin. I have to," I laughed lightly, "And I know in my heart that my destiny is to marry Arthur. I love him and he loves me and no troll will ever ruin that for us."
I'm sure at one point during the night Merlin and I had both fallen asleep in our chairs because when we woke up the sun was just beginning to rise over Camelot and Laudine and Gaius had smiles on their faces, "You did it?" I questioned.
"Did you ever doubt us My Lady?" Laudine smiled at me.
"Never, so what's in it?" I asked looking at the two potions to see if there was any colour difference.
"Nothing too potent. Rat's guts," Laudine said relaxed.
"Nice," Merlin muttered.
"Toad paste," Gaius said taking in our blank looks and explaining, "Take two toads, grind them up..."
"Okay, we get the picture," I said quickly before Gaius could disgust me anymore.
"Horse dung. Crushed sheep's eyeball," Laudine continued the list smelling the potion as she did.
"Oh lovely," Merlin said sarcastically.
"Pond scum. Three wolf spiders. And what potion isn't complete without a dash of sheep's brain?" Gaius finished.
"Sounds delicious," Merlin said, his voice indicating otherwise.
"Good, 'cause you're going to taste it," Gaius said simply.
Merlin shook his head, "No way."
"It's completely harmless," Laudine added.
Merlin looked at me, "Oh no. You were willing to drink poison for Arthur. I think you can handle some toad paste."
Merlin shot me a dirty look before turning back to the potion and sticking his finger in it, he held it up to his mouth before quickly dabbing it on his tongue. The reaction was immediate. He began to gag and cough, "That is…ugh. That is disgusting!" he choked out, wiping his tongue with his sleeve, "I can't even believe you let me put that in my mouth."
"Yes, well, try the original," Gaius said holding up the other bottle. Merlin looked even more reluctant, "Just a small amount. And be sure to spit it out."
"I'm sure it can't be any worse than the first one," I tried to comfort him only annoying him a little.
Merlin nodded before putting his finger in the second potion bottle and quickly touching his tongue, before once again gagging and spitting, "Does it taste roughly the same?" Gaius asked.
Merlin nodded, "Yes! It's horrible."
"Are you sure? Because if there's too big a difference, Catrina will notice," Laudine added.
"It tastes exactly the same," Merlin nodded.
"Let hope she thinks so, too," I said quietly, "Now which one…"
"I'll do it," Merlin volunteered before I could finish, "You should get back to Arthur. He will probably need you with him."
I nodded my head before heading out of Camelot and into the lower town. The sun had fully risen now and the day was just beginning for most of Camelot's people. I walked through the lower town before being distracted by the sound of a man crying out, "What are you doing here?" I snapped at the two knights holding an old man to the ground.
"He's refusing to pay the King's tax," The guard explained.
"You- you ask for too much," The man gasped out, "I've given all I can."
"That's not enough!" The knight said getting into the man's face.
Before I could have a go at them I heard someone speak behind me, "Let me see," I turned to see Arthur standing behind me. The knight handed him the purse, "Release him."
"The King said…" The knight began to argue back.
"Release him," Arthur interrupted, "Give them back their money. All of it," Arthur ordered I walked over to him and took his hand gently as the people smiled and bowed at him.
We walked back up to Camelot's gate, "You know you're now in trouble."
"I know," Arthur whispered back to me.
So that's another chapter done I hope you liked it, please review to let me know what you think.
Until next time
Artistic-Blue-Eyes
xx
