Alaia Skyhawk: Here's part 3 :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.

~(-)~

Chapter 29: The Changeling ~Part 3~

"I feel like my head is going to burst... and my eyes just pop out of their sockets."

Merlin closed the rather hefty tome with a gesture of disgust, planting his forehead onto it. Having most of the day to himself, due to Arthur being busy with political matters, was little consolation when you'd spent most of it reading through a four-inch thick book about fairies and their magic. He and Gaius had spent all morning reading through the books, looking for a way to force out Elena's 'resident'.

Gaius regarded his ward with a touch of hope, pointing to an entry in the book he presently was reading.

"Now don't make a mess over this one."

"Why? It is any better than the others?"

Gaius tapped the page.

"There is a potion created long ago by the Witches of Meridoor, which if I am right will force the fairy out of the girl." He then sighed in exasperation. "But I've no idea how to make it. I don't know what many of these ingredients are."

Merlin raised his eyebrows.

"I know someone who might."

~(-)~

Arthur was stood at his window, gazing out with tears in his eyes. Had that conversation been as hard for her as it had for him? And yet she'd still had the strength to tell him she would stand back and watch him grow into the king Camelot deserves. She'd done it without tears, at least in his presence, while here he was fighting not to cry.

Maybe people would view his being in love with a servant as insane, but that didn't make this any easier to take. He loved Gwen with all his heart, and now he was faced with being forced to spend his life with someone other than her.

He took a deep breath and headed to his dressing screen, picking up the red cloak that hung behind it, also donning his chainmail tunic. He was going to have to do this now, before he started second guessing this decision. He was going to have to step past the point of no return, before his wavering heart stopped him taking that step at all.

He left his chambers, telling the first guard he saw that he wished to make an announcement in the council chambers, and that the king, the court, and their guests should all attend. By the time he reached the chamber his tears were dry, no sign of them remaining on his face as he stood in there... waiting. It seemed almost an eternity before everyone had arrived, a concerned-looking Merlin among them. He was carrying a cloth bag, as if about to go out gathering herbs for Gaius, and had probably heard about this on his way out of the castle... Arthur just wished he'd had the chance to talk to the warlock before doing this.

That was the same thought in Merlin's mind when Arthur went on to propose to Elena, the sinking dread solidifying in his heart when it was decided the wedding would take place tomorrow at noon. He had to go and speak to Kilgharrah, to translate the list of ingredients and gather the ones that Gaius didn't already have. By this point he wished Gaius hadn't been right... that the Witches of Meridoor weren't the worst recipe writers he knew of. It would have made this so much easier.

The gathering was dismissed, most of the people moving to congratulate the newly engaged couple. Merlin had other things to deal with though, and he hurried from the chamber while a confused Arthur watched him go. He didn't have time to waste on talking to him, not when there was a fairy still to get rid of.

~(-)~

It was late that evening when he finally got back, having returned briefly earlier with the translated list before going straight back out to locate the most obscure item on it... A Drop Wort flower, which they needed a stamen from. A pity that, according to Kilgharrah, they were 'as rare as a four leaf clover'. Not so much a pity he knew a place where they grew... right in the middle of a bog!

Merlin walked into Gaius' chambers, smeared with swamp mud and looking more than a little irritated. Kilgharrah had dropped him into the middle of the marsh, and while his aim had been good in that Merlin had landed right next to what he had come for, it was not so good in that Merlin landed on his face.

"Remind me to never again ask Kilgharrah to help me gather herbs... That dragon is a sadist."

Gaius accepted the small plant Merlin held out to him, which bore several small white flowers.

"He might be a sadist at times, but he did take you to what we needed. With this we should hopefully be able to fix this before tomorrow's wedding."

Merlin hesitated, concerned.

"Will it hurt her... when the fairy leaves?"

Gaius glanced at him.

"She'll feel like a new person." He plucked a stamen from one of the flowers, adding it to the clear, red potion he was brewing. "She probably doesn't realise how much trouble it's been causing her."

Merlin sighed.

"Yeah, and we both know how much trouble the Sidhe can cause..."

~(-)~

The night was dark, the forest foreboding, but it held no fear for the pixie that hurried through it.

Grunhilda continued among the trees, heading for the lake where she could speak with the Sidhe. Her disguise was temporarily abandoned, her true face revealed in it's rose-hued, black flecked entirety. Long pointed ears and equally long pointed nose rendering her a hideous contrast to the plump woman she pretended to be.

It was only once she reached the lake that she hesitated, calling out to the Sidhe. When they appeared she started to grovel, fearful and piteous.

"I'm sorry but I may think we have a problem. I may be wrong but you know how things are..."

The lord of the Sidhe scowled at her, his small size doing nothing to diminish the effect of the fury that ran through his blue and winged form.

"Out with it!"

Grunhilda cowered, before answering.

"A serving boy, Merlin, knows Elena is a changeling."

The lord frowned, seeing not why this was important.

"So? What can a mere serving boy do?"

"He is a trusted retainer, and Arthur's serving boy, Sire. Should he find proof for his accusation, he could expose the truth and the king would listen to him. He could ruin everything." He wrung her clawed hands anxiously. "I do not expect he will remain quiet for long."

"Do you know how long I have waited for this moment?"

She nodded.

"Yes, Sire, and I have been with you every second of the way."

His rage made her wince as he spoke again.

"You have been there because we chose to keep you there! If the changeling is discovered, you will not be so useful any more!"

Her eyes widened at the prospect of being dismissed, or even killed.

"N-no, Sire..."

He continued to scowl.

"As to this... Merlin... Soon he shall regret the day I ever heard his name. Let him learn who he's angered. Let him feel the power of the mighty Sidhe!"

~(-)~

No one noticed the tiny orb of blue light that flittered into castle, too fast and too fleeting for most normal folk to see. Those who did see it might assume they were seeing things, for it would be gone in the blink of an eye. Few were those who could see the Sidhe, and fewer still were those that could stop one.

The fairy made its way through the castle, along the route described by the pixie. His anger was great at this threat to his plans, and so the lord of the Sidhe had decided to deal with the boy personally.

He reached the chambers of Camelot's physician, passing through the gap at the edge of the wooden door. Inside all was quiet, the elderly man who dwelt here fast asleep. The sidhe hovered near him for a moment, the draft from his wings prompting the old man to flap a hand sleepily at what would be assumed to be a moth or something. The sidhe moved on, not interested in this puny human man... He was here for the boy and nothing else.

He flew to the back of the room, to the doorway at the top of the small set of stairs there. He passed beneath the door, rising towards the ceiling to look down in distain at the sleeping servant, preparing to cast the magic that would end his life.

The shiver of power caused Merlin to jolt awake, looking up at the orb of light and his eyes glowing gold. Time slowed and he saw the sidhe raise his hand to strike, Merlin rolling off his bed to avoid the blast of power, before in the same movement the warlock reached under it to grab the staff hidden under a loose floorboard.

He stood up, pointing the staff at the fairy as he stumbled backwards out of the door. He fell when he reached the steps, landing on the floor of the main chamber before being forced to roll aside from another bolt of power.

The fairy was angry, totally enraged, as it darted to the side of the bolt of power Merlin flung at it from the staff. The bolt hit a set of shelves, setting the edge of them alight and causing them to fall over, scattering their contents to the floor. The warlock glared at his attacker, eyes glowing gold again giving him time to properly aim.

It was then that the Lord of the Sidhe looked into that face, the face of the boy whose eyes glowed with power and who wielded one of his own kind's staffs against him, and knew a moment of terror before the boy's strike destroyed him...

Merlin took a deep breath, as the fairy's dying scream faded to silence. He then turned and pointed to the burning shelves, muttering.

"Baerne nil nios mo."

The flames went out, leaving the shelves only a little scorched. The real damage wasn't discovered until he and Gaius began to tidy up the mess, and they discovered the broken vial of red potion.

They regarded each other grimly, before setting about lighting the candles. They were going to have to brew another batch.

~(-)~

He could not believe he had agreed to do this.

Gaius and Merlin walked through the halls, dose of red potion concealed and in hand, the former of the two looking as though he were going to his execution. When the new batch was completed, the question had arose as to how to get Elena to drink it with Grunhilda there... At which point Merlin had brought up the most repulsive and yet only way possible.

Gaius was going to invite her to a little rendezvous...

Merlin smirked and ducked into his usual alcove round the corner from the guest room, Gaius continuing onwards to knock on the door with trepidation.

She opened it almost immediately, looking up at him in surprise.

"Well hello there."

She smiled at him, Gaius forcing himself to smile back. He couldn't believe he was actually going through with this.

"Hello indeed... I was wondering. Could you spare me a moment?"

"But of course."

"Not here!" She turned at Gaius' words, as he plucked up the courage to utter the next word. "...Alone." She started to smile again, and he continued. "The vaults beneath Camelot."

The smile faded into confusion.

"The vaults?"

He nodded.

"It's a very private place."

A complaint came from Elena in the background, the pixie glancing at her before turning back to Gaius.

"I have a wedding to prepare for."

"No one will disturb us..." He could see her resolve wavering. "There may not be another opportunity."

That sold it, her smile returning.

"You surprise me, Gaius... but what a lovely surprise! I'll be right there."

She eyed him up one last time before she closed the door, and he hurried away to find Merlin sat around the corner almost crying with laughter. He kicked the warlock lightly in the shins, prompting him to retrieve his staff from the alcove.

"I'm only doing this for Elena's sake, now get moving!"

They hurried to the vaults, opening the gate into the first of the chambers. He then had Merlin swear to come to his aid if it seemed Grunhilda was overwhelming him, the warlock then hiding behind a statue beside the entrance. And thus they then waited, Gaius far more nervously than Merlin, until the pixie finally showed up.

She paused as she passed through the gate, before smiling at him.

"Ooo, what a romantic place! ...I've been dreaming of this moment."

As she approached Gaius, behind her Merlin came out from behind the statue and went through the gate.

Gaius tried not to watch him, instead forcing himself to look at the pixie.

"...Me too."

She nodded, coming closer.

"Longing..."

"...Longing."

Merlin propped his staff against the wall, before taking hold of the metal gate and nodding to the physician. Grunhilda was oblivious.

"At last... we two will be as one."

She closed her eyes and leaned forward to kiss him, but he ducked around her and almost ran past Merlin who pulled the gate closed and glared at the lock.

"Neun cluis!"

The bolt in the lock slammed across into the frame, the keyhole glowing golden as Merlin sealed it with magic... Now only the key would open it.

A very unhappy pixie ran up to the gate and shook it, before in frustration flicking out her rather long tongue to lick Gaius on the chin.

"You'll never know what you missed!"

By the expression on the physician's face as he and Merlin left her there, he didn't want to know!

They hurried back towards Elena's room, unaware that sealing the lock on the gate only stopped her from opening the lock... It didn't stop her from blasting the gate off its hinges. She caught up to them in the hallway outside the princess' room, Merlin turning and blasting her with his staff.

She was knocked over by it, but immediately got back up much to Merlin's consternation.

"Uh, I'll see how long I can hold her off... You'd better be quick."

Gaius hurried away, turning the corner and entering Elena's room. At the sound of the door Elena peered out from behind the dressing screen.

"Grunhilda?"

She hesitated when she saw Gaius, who smiled kindly at her to reassure her.

"It's only me."

She frowned.

"Where is she? I'm getting married in less than an hour!" There was a loud bang outside, followed by a yell. Her frown deepened. "What was that?"

Gaius walked over to her and guided her to sit on the end of the bed.

"Ah, it's just a preparation for the wedding." There was another louder bang, and a yell. "Everybody's very excited. But you must be nervous."

She sat down, her blond hair resembling a bird's nest.

"I'm a little flustered."

"It is just as I expected." Gaius offered her the vial while in the background Merlin continued to knock about the surprisingly resilient pixie. How many times had he hit her? The sidhe from last night had been blown to dust in one hit! "I've brought you a tonic to calm your nerves."

"You are... very kind." She accepted it, pulling the cork from it but only taking a small sip. "I cannot believe this is actually my wedding day."

He tried to prompt her.

"Best to drink it all for the full effect."

She lifted it to her lips, but lowered it again.

"I really wish my mother was here."

Gaius sat beside her, becoming increasingly anxious.

"Try another sip."

~(-)~

Out in the hallway Merlin blasted Grunhilda for the... well he wasn't sure how many times it had been. She hit the wall at the end of the hallway, glaring at him as she once again started to get to her feet.

He looked at her, then at the staff, before chucking it to the floor in disgust.

She sneered at the sight.

"So you're giving up, are you?"

Merlin strode towards her, his eyes turning gold once he was less than five yards away.

"No... Just trying something a bit more direct." He flicked out a hand at her, her eyes going wide as a massive bolt of lightning hit her. She screamed and disappeared from the onslaught, reduced to a pile of ash and pixie dust. He then nodded in satisfaction. "That worked." He turned around and picked up his staff, not trusting his aim with lightning to hit something as small as a fairy. He then charged into Elena's room to find Gaius still trying to get her to drink it. He walked over, plucked the vial from her hand, pinched her nose, and tilted her head back before pouring the entire contents of it into her mouth. "Elena, this is going to make you feel a whole lot better."

He let go of her as she swallowed it, watching as she then fell over backwards onto the bed. She began to twitch and writhe, before the fairy inside her emerged from her mouth and buzzed towards the ceiling angrily.

Merlin didn't give it a chance to do anything; he just took aim and blasted it with the staff.

Elena shifted a little, opening her eyes and sitting up looking just a little bit befuddled. Gaius spoke to her gently.

"My dear, I think you must have fainted. Such excitement."

She frowned a little, aware something was different but with no idea what.

"Fainted? I feel... amazing." She stood up, and for the first time in her life she did it with grace. "I haven't felt this good in years... Where is Grunhilda?"

Gaius and Merlin glanced at each other, before speaking in unison.

"We'll look into it."

~(-)~

It was barely fifteen minutes later that Merlin walked into the antechamber of the Great Hall, finding Arthur stood there in solemn silence. He carried with him the ceremonial sword he'd just retrieved from the prince's rooms, which he now held out for Arthur to take.

"I've brought you your ceremonial sword."

"Is that for me to fall on?"

Merlin winced at the tone in Arthur's voice, shaking his head.

"Hopefully not." Arthur remained silent, and Merlin regarded him thoughtfully. "What's wrong?"

The prince sighed.

"You wouldn't understand, Merlin. You've no idea what it's like to have a destiny... you can't escape."

Merlin raised his eyebrows. It was clear that Arthur had forgotten just whom it was he was talking to here.

"Destinies... are troublesome things." Arthur turned, Merlin handing him the sword before continuing. "You feel trapped. Like your whole life is being planned out for you, and you've got no control over anything, and sometimes you don't even know if the destiny decided is really the best thing at all."

Having placed the sword to hang through his belt, Arthur frowned at his servant.

"How come you're so knowledgeable?"

Merlin actually let out a short laugh.

"Um, Arthur... You're talking to Emrys here. When I first found out about my 'destiny', that was exactly how I used to feel. These days though, I've pretty much accepted mine. After all, I could have just walked away. But instead I chose for myself how I would go about my destiny, once I realised it wasn't all that crazy after all."

Arthur snorted, shaking his head with a hint of amusement through his own bewildered emotions.

"And what do you think of this? Does your experience with all this tell you that I should marry her?"

Merlin stared at him, folding his arms.

"I think you're mad, I think you're all mad. People should marry for love, not convenience, and if Uther thinks an unhappy king makes for a stronger king then I say that he's wrong... Because while you may be destined to be king of Camelot, you have a choice... as you how you do it." He smiled, regarding his friend with full support. "It's your road, Arthur, and while the destination may have already been decided for you, you're the one who gets to choose how you'll get there. Not me, not your father, you."

The doors of the great hall opened before the prince could find an answer, forcing him to enter and walk down the aisle between the assembled guests. Yesterday he'd believed that to propose to Elena would be taking the step of no return, but he realised now that until the final moment came there was always a chance to turn back... You just had to be brave enough, strong enough, to take it.

He stood there, waiting for Elena and her father to arrive... Merlin watching him from nearby with the smallest of smiles on his face. He was still smiling when the prince halted the ceremony midway, smiling as Arthur spoke to Elena and they both agreed they did not want to marry each other. Most of the guests were astounded, while Lord Godwin had simply nodded in acceptance of their choice... Uther had not been so understanding, and had stormed out of the hall after his son when Arthur departed for his chambers.

Merlin followed discretely, slipping into the room behind the irate king and almost taking a door to the face in the process as Uther began to rage.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Arthur threw his coronet down onto his bed.

"The right thing, Father."

Uther didn't let up.

"For who? For Camelot or yourself?"

Arthur now threw down his cloak, while Merlin ducked behind the dressing screen and out of sight. His tone was almost reproving.

"The two things are not entirely separate."

The king didn't seem to think so; his voice had taken on that deadly quiet aspect that warned those familiar with it that he was more than furious.

"Until you put duty before your feelings, you're clearly not ready to be king."

Arthur now threw aside his ceremonial sword, ignoring the clang as it hit the floor.

"When I am ready to be king, I will be stronger for the support of a woman I love... Just like you were."

Uther's intake of breath was sharp.

"Don't be absurd!"

"So you're saying you never loved my mother? Because if that's the case then you've done a good job of fooling me all these years." Arthur glared at him, immovable. "Don't you dare be a hypocrite and tell me I'm a fool for wanting to marry for love... Not when that's exactly what you did when you married my mother. I am not a piece on a game board, for you to move around exactly as you see fit! I am not a pawn! I am a living, breathing, human being, and prince or not it is still my right to decide certain things for myself. Destiny may say that I will one day be king, but the road I take to get there is mine to decide."

The room fell silent as the last of Arthur's shouted words faded, Uther staring at him in clear emotional turmoil before he turned and stormed defeated from the room.

Merlin came out from behind the screen, when the chamber door slammed closed.

"He might take a while to admit it, but deep down he's very proud of you right now." He walked over to the prince, and patted him on the shoulder. "I am too. It's good to see you stand up for what you believe in."

Arthur sighed, glancing at his best friend.

"Thank you... For helping me find the strength to do that."

Merlin smiled, entirely happy with the way this had turned out.

"You're welcome."

~(-)~

It was the next morning that the two of them stood at the bottom of the entrance stairs to the castle, watching as Lord Godwin and his daughter came out in the company of Uther. Arthur was actually staring at her a little bit baffled, unable to place what suddenly seemed so different about the 'gawky' princess.

She gracefully descended the stairway, smiling at him.

"I wish you well, Arthur Pendragon. I hope one day we both find the love we deserve." She offered her hand, which after a moment of surprise he leant down to kiss as her smile became amused. "In the meantime, if you ever want to be beaten in a horse race, you know where to find me."

She walked away, Arthur not sure whether to smile or be insulted, while as they descended the stairs, Godwin spoke to Uther.

"He did the right thing, you know. They were neither of them in love."

Uther frowned a little.

"It's not the point, it's not how things are done."

Godwin raised his eyebrows.

"Then perhaps things should change." He looked at Arthur, who was still standing there with Merlin. "I think he has the makings of a great king. You should be proud of him."

Uther actually looked at him in surprise, before accepting the other monarch's farewell embrace. He was very thoughtful as Godwin and his daughter departed, while behind him his son and his son's servant climbed the stairs and entered the castle.

Inside Merlin saw Gwen coming down the stairs they were about to use, slipping off to sit in a nearby alcove and leaving Arthur to speak with her.

The prince tried to be nonchalant when he met her halfway up them.

"So, it seems that I'm still a single man."

She smiled wryly.

"Indeed." She glanced at him. "I don't think you deserve her actually. She's really very lovely."

He wasn't sure what to say to that.

"Well... I had hoped to have forsaken her for someone equally as lovely. Who knows, maybe even more so."

Gwen was flattered; he could see it in her eyes.

"I do not know of such a person."

He glanced away, teasing.

"Me neither, but I guess only time will tell."

She was smiling as she continued to regard him, before continuing on her way. As for Arthur, Merlin saw him go on his own way up those stairs, with a lilt in his step that the warlock hadn't seen for quite a while.

It was good to have the cheerful Arthur back.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: Hehehe, that was fun. Merlin dumping the staff for a more 'direct' approach to dealing with Grunhilda, and Arthur coming out with a few lines to his father that I honestly can't believe the show's writers didn't use. Seriously, Uther is telling his son that to marry for love is foolish, when he married for love himself. Talk about a hypocrite.