Urm...Hi?

Sorry guys life's just been...well life really.

Better late than never though.

Enjoy

Vex


The warning bells rang loudly around Camilla as she stumbled along the corridor. She wasn't surprised when she ran into her brother.

The two paused for a moment, Arthur holding his sword at Camilla and Camilla holding her dagger at Arthur.

"Camilla what are doing?" Arthur hissed, lowering his sword.

"I couldn't sleep so went for a walk then this ruckus started. I was actually on my way back to my chambers." Camilla hissed back at him, lowering her weapon also.

"Sire we've lost the intruders." A guard informed the Prince and was joined by several others.

"How could you lose them?" Arthur shouted at them. He then picked one at random. "You, make sure the Princess gets back to her chambers safely."

Arthur then rushed away with the collection of guards in toe. Camilla did want to investigate what was going on but with a guard stood expectantly at her side, she felt compelled to return to her chambers.


"Ah Morgana." Camilla called after the King's ward rushing out of Arthur's chambers. The black haired lady paused before turning to face the Princess, her hands clasped behind her back. Camilla quickly walked to meet Morgana. "I was wondering if you wanted to have dinner with me today. Father has already said he wishes to dine alone."

"I'm afraid not Camilla." Morgana gave her a small smile. "I'm not feeling particularly well. Think it best I just rest for the remainder of the day."

"Of course." Camilla nodded. "Shall I fetch Gaius?"

"No it's fine." Morgana gave a small smile. "I've simply got a headache is all."

"Well if it gets worse do not be afraid to send for me." Camilla told her. Morgana gave a smile and a nod before walking away.

Camilla gave a concerned look after her before sighing and turning around. She jumped a little to find Merlin stood watching her.

"Merlin you frightened me." Camilla gave out a small laugh but stopped when she saw Merlin wasn't smiling, instead he was staring after Morgana. "Everything alright?"

"I don't know." He muttered before realising who he was talking to. He literally snapped back into the situation and gave an awkward smile. A silence followed for a moment.

"Okay...well tell Arthur he is invited to dine with me tonight in my chambers." Camilla told the man servant, enjoying the tightening of her stomach when he locked eye contact with her.

"Yes your highness." Merlin swallowed and looked away embarrassingly, hoping the red wasn't too obvious in his cheeks. He had just been caught staring at the princess.

"And Merlin," At the sound of her voice Merlin's eyes fixed back onto Camilla's. "Arthur told me what you did last night."

"Yeah how I made a fool out of myself." Merlin grumbled looking away.

"No, how brave you were to follow your initiative."

"Arthur really said that?"

"Not exactly." Camilla gave out a small laugh. "But that's what I think."

Merlin looked back at Camilla who gave him a small smile. Merlin reciprocated it as he watched her walk away.


"How was training?" Camilla asked her brother as they sat waiting for Merlin to bring them food.

"Average, some of the newer knights are too keen to die in battle." Arthur sighed before noticing the bags under his sister's eyes. "Have you been sleeping alright?"

"Why do you ask?"

"You look awful."

"Gee thanks Arthur." Camilla replied sarcastically.

"You also said last night that you couldn't sleep." Arthur pointed out. Camilla sighed knowing her brother was right.

"Just had a lot on my mind recently." Camilla shrugged. "And before you ask, yes I have gotten a sleeping draft from Gaius for tonight."

"Good." Arthur stated before taking a drink out of his goblet. Once finished he turned his head to the side. "Come on Merlin we're starving."

"You really should have let Edith cook." Camilla told her brother.

"Nonsense. Edith had to go home and Merlin was more than willing to help." Arthur smirked but his face dropped when the bowls of...well sludge, were put in front of him and his sister.

"Well, you know what they say: good food takes time to prepare." Merlin counted, stepping back admiring his work.

"And this taste sensation took exactly how long?" Arthur asked, watching as Camilla picked up a spoonful of it and watched as it slowly dripped back down.

"Nearly five minutes."

"You really shouldn't have." Camilla said putting her spoon back down.

"You need that long, you see?" Merlin told them. "To let it thicken."

"Thicken." Arthur muttered about to take a small taste when the warning bells went off.

Camilla and Arthur rushed to their feet and made their way to the door, Merlin in toe. Arthur quickly stopped his sister though.

"You're staying here." He told her. "Take the sleeping draft and get some rest."

"Arthur-"

"No buts, stay here where it's safe." Arthur gave her a warning look before running out of the door. Merlin gave her a sympathetic look as he ran past too.

Camilla sighed before closing her door after them and returning to the table. She hesitantly tried some of Merlin's food and quickly spat it back out again, no need to show manners with no one around. No matter how much she loved the servant, he really shouldn't be allowed to cook.


"You know the whereabouts of the Crystal?" Uther asked Gaius.

Camilla sat on her chair to her father's left, Morgana next to her, listening to Gaius.

"I believe so, Sire." The court physician answered.

"I see. How did you come by this information?"

"In my capacity as physician I have dealings with many people. They hear things, Sire, and they see things. Last night I was confronted by one such man who told me that the Crystal had been stolen by a band of renegades led by a man called Alvarr."

"Who exactly was this informant?" The King wished to know.

"I think it would only be fair to protect their identity, Sire. If news of the betrayal were to reach the renegades, it could indeed endanger their life."

"Very well." Uther agreed.

"Where is this Alvarr hiding?" Arthur asked taking a step forward.

"He was last seen in the Valley of Chemray, Sire." Gaius replied.

"Summon the guards, Arthur. I want this matter investigated without delay." Uther commanded.

"Yes, Father." Arthur bowed his head before leaving. Morgana, Camilla noticed, was quick to follow.

"Thank you, Gaius. Once again I am in your debt." Uther thanked the old man and the court was dismissed.

Camilla hurried after her brother and Morgana, hearing the end of their conversation.

"I can look after myself, you know. It's a combination of raw talent and hard training that makes me..." Her brother was saying but was cut off by Morgana.

"Yes, I know. That makes you so utterly obnoxious." She retorted. The two shared annoyed smiles before Arthur walked away.

Morgana gazed after him before turning to see Camilla stood there. Immediately the Ward's eyes became happier.

"Camilla I didn't see you there." She smiled.

"Morgana I was wondering if you wanted to go for a ride later." Camilla suggested.

"I'm afraid my head still hurts, maybe it's the nightmares."

"I thought they had stopped." Camilla wondered.

"They have." Morgana reassured her. "What I mean to say it's the after effects."

"I think you should go to Gaius, Morgana." Camilla told her.

"I'll be fine, rest is what I need." Morgana gave her a smile before walking away.


The criminal Alvarr knelt in front of the court.

"So, you admit to stealing the Crystal of Neahtid?" Uther questioned.

"I do." Alvarr answered.

"You admit to plotting against your King?"

"I do."

"And you acted alone? You were not aided or abetted by any citizen of Camelot?"

"I acted alone."

"Then I find you guilty of treason." Uther declared, sitting back on his throne. "You are an enemy of Camelot, Alvarr. You are sentenced to death."

"Then I die with honour. To be an enemy of Camelot is no crime."

"Take him away." Uther waved his hand and Alvarr was roughly dragged away.

"You, Uther, you are the criminal." Were Alvarr's departing words.

Uther stood back up and patted Arthur on the shoulder before making his way to pour a goblet of wine.

Camilla stood up and followed her brother, Morgana at her side. Only after the doors had closed did she realise Morgana was no longer there.

Camilla paused and looked back at the door. Something was up with Morgana but Camilla hadn't had chance to pin the girl down to try and talk to her. The princess sighed before heading to see Gaius for another sleeping draft.


The sound of the warning bells startled Camilla awake. She looked to the window to see it was still dark out. Fed up with being told to wait in her chambers, she quickly dressed and headed for the council chamber.

Sure enough her brother and father were awake discussing whatever had caused the warning bells to be rung. Camilla entered the same time as Morgana who looked at no one but Uther. The two females stood on opposite sides of the room, one in emerald and the other in scarlet.

"Let this be understood," The King raised his voice for all to hear but his gaze was focused on Morgana. "Whoever has done this, they have betrayed me. They have betrayed the kingdom. If I ever discover who it was, they will rue the day they were born."

Camilla watched Morgana hold Uther's eye contact before exiting the chamber.

"Camilla." The sound of her brother's exasperated voice snapped her from her staring. He stormed over to her and grabbed her by the arm. "How many times do I have to tell you to stay in your chambers when the warning bells go off?"

"Arthur." Camilla ripped her arm out of his grip after allowing him to drag her out of the hall. "I am not a child, I can defend myself."

"Camilla-"

"No Arthur you listen to me." Camilla snapped. "I don't know what has caused you to revert back to being so overbearing but there is only so much I can stand by and watch. You know I can take care myself Arthur. I'm not a fool so don't mistake me for one."

Camilla stormed off in a rage which she was knew was childish but didn't find herself caring.

Returning to her chambers and staring out of the window she found herself unable to calm her mind and find sleep. Camilla quickly grabbed her cloak and left her room.

She started making her way to the roof when she walked into someone.

"Seriously Merlin we need to stop meeting like this." Camilla said taking the hand he offered her after she fallen to the floor.

"Sorry." He mumbled quickly pulling his hand away.

"It's okay." Camilla hoped the hurt didn't show in her voice. "What are you doing up at this time anyway? Errand for Arthur?"

"No I...I...I couldn't sleep." Merlin told her, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Same here." Camilla told him. "Come on, at least now I don't have to be alone."

"Where are we going?" Merlin asked having caught up with the Princess walking away.

"A good place to think." Was all she said.

The two walked in silence while Camilla led them to part of the roof of Camelot. Above them were the stars in the night sky while below them lay the beautiful city of Camelot.

"I never get tired of the view here." Camilla sighed, resting against the ledge. Merlin hesitantly copied here. "Do you ever get the feeling of a nagging voice in the back of your head? Questioning everything you do?"

"All the time." Merlin muttered, thinking back to the dragon that was the reason he was awake now.

"Well Merlin," Camilla took happiness from how close she stood with the man servant, their arms touching. Merlin's position next to her, the result of his subconscious movement. "At least I know I'm not the only one going crazy."

Camilla heard Merlin give out a small laugh and turned to look at him, she didn't realise he was already staring at her. The two quickly looked away from each other and hoped the redness in their cheeks wasn't obvious to their companion.