A:N: Beauty and the Beast, done! Yay! Witchfinder up next. Please continue to review I really enjoy reading them and they have seriously made my day today!

Beauty and the Beast

Part Four

Merlin and I walked into Gaius's chambers.

"We did it! She took the potion." Merlin said. There was a tone of pride in his voice that was rare to hear with Merlin.

"What's wrong, what happened?" I asked when Gaius didn't answer.

"Uther has disinherited Arthur and made Catrina his heir." Gaius said.

"What?" I asked. If there was ever any doubt that she was in his head it was gone now, Uther would never do that to Arthur.

"So if Uther dies, she will rule Camelot." Merlin said.

"She's probably been planning this all along." I said.

"They are having a ceremony this afternoon where she will be crowned." Gaius said.

"Do you think she will return to troll form in time?" I asked.

"We can only hope." Gaius said.

oOo

I stood next to Arthur as Catrina was crowned heir. I looked over my shoulder and saw Merlin and Aleya watching from the balcony out of view to anyone who wasn't looking for them. I held Arthur's hand knowing that this was difficult for him. Uther had insisted that he attend. To me, that was just as heartless as revoking Arthur's title. Geoffrey held the scroll in his hand.

"Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of Camelot to uphold the laws and customs of the land…" I stopped listening when Catrina's face dropped. She began scratching her wrist. I couldn't help but smile because I knew exactly what was happening.

"Will you to your power cause law and justice and mercy to be executed in all your judgment?" Geoffrey said.

"I will." She said.

"Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws…." He said.

"Yes, yes." She said after pulling her sleeve to reveal a patch of troll skin. I looked back at Merlin and Aleya who were both smiling.

"I'm sorry, you must let me finish." He said. "The wording must be exact for it to be binding."

"Get on with it then." She said. "I mean really, where did you dig up this old crow from?"

"She's right, get on with it." Uther said smiling.

"Will you to the utmost of your power….." he began again.

"Yes, yes." She said.

"Maintain the laws and customs." He said.

"I will." She interrupted again.

"Of the land and serve the people." He said.

"Yes, just shut up and give me the crown!" she said. I bit my lip to avoid laughing. Geoffrey held the crown in his hand. "Will you hurry up." She said taking the crown from his hand and running down the aisle. Uther followed after her. I smiled and followed Arthur out. Morgana ran behind me.

oOo

Merlin grabbed my hand as we ran down the stairs and into the council chambers where Catrina had led Uther and the others. We hid behind a pillar. Merlin's eyes glowed gold and the door went closed. Catrina ran towards it.

"What is the matter?" Uther asked walking in.

"I'm sorry." She said holding up both of her hands. Her left one was already completely revealed. She realized and pulled it behind her. "I don't know what came over me. I just suddenly felt so hot." She said backing towards the door. "You know, I think I need to be on my own."

"Are you alright?" Samantha asked. I recognized the sadistic smiled she wore on her face. She knew what was happening.

"Yes." Catrina said holding her hand up. "I'm fine. Really, thank you." She turned all the way around. I watched as Merlin's eyes glowed gold once more and the door locked. She began pulling on it. Arthur walked over to her.

"Allow me." He said. he looked down at the handle and saw her hand and backed away. " What's that?" she turned to them revealing her hand. before she could speak she began to transform.

"What's happening?" Morgana asked sounding concerned. "Somebody help her." She said. she couldn't be helped now. After a moment there was a hideous troll standing in front of them.

"You're a troll." Arthur said.

"I hate to say I told you so." Samantha said. She was looking rather shocked as well. Uther just continues smiling. I made a note to look down at his necklace, it was glowing red.

"How dare you speak of her like that." Uther said.

"What is wrong with you? Look at the state of her." Arthur said.

"I don't believe it." Morgana said. Catrina turned and ripped the door off of the hinges. I flinched back. She ran out of the room grunting.

"She just ripped a door off of its hinges, doesn't that tell you something?" Arthur asked staring at his father.

"Enough!" Uther demanded.

"She's a troll." Arthur said. "A giant, grey….."

"Stinking." Samantha added.

"Stinking, troll!" Arthur said.

"Stop it." Uther said walking over to the door and picking up the crown and shoes left by Catrina. He turned to face Arthur, Samantha, and Morgana. "Haven't you hurt her feelings enough?" he asked. "Insult my wife again and it will be the last thing you ever do." He said before walking out leaving them speechless.

oOo

I paced in front of Aleya and Merlin who were delved into one of Merlin's spell books looking for answers.

"Uther must be enchanted." Gaius said.

"He wears a pendant around his neck. I was not certain before, but I am sure that it was glowing as he looked at Catrina." Aleya said.

"I saw it too." I said.

"We just have to find a way to break it." Merlin said.

"Can't you just rip the necklace off?" I asked.

"I fear it has already taken hold. You won't find anything in your spell book Merlin. Troll magic is too powerful." Gaius said.

"Then what are we going to do?" Aleya asked.

"Merlin, you must speak to the dragon." He said turning his stare to Merlin. "If there is a way to break Catrina's hold on Uther he will know it, but be careful. Dragons and trolls have been close allies in the past."

"Great, I love that old lizard." I said smiling.

"You've met the dragon?" Merlin asked in disbelief.

"Why don't you tell him about it, Ally?" I asked. Aleya gave me a glare and then looked down at Merlin.

"When we first came to Camelot I was wandering around when I stumbled across him." she said.

"You never thought to mention it?" Merlin asked.

"Never seemed important." She said.

oOo

Samantha, Merlin, and I walked down the stair case to visit the dragon. It was needless to say awkward, the fact that I hadn't told Merlin I knew that there was a dragon beneath the castle, and the fact that Samantha thought it necessary to blurt it out in front of him. We made it down the staircase and all three of us stood on the ledge as the dragon landed in his usual spot. Merlin went about explaining our current situation, Samantha and I added our input as to describing the troll. The dragon apparently thought that it was quite humorous for Uther to have married a troll. As soon as Merlin finished explaining he just laughed.

"This isn't funny." Merlin said.

"Oh, it is, it is, the thought of Uther marrying a troll. Was it a very public affair?" he asked.

"Public enough." Samantha interjected.

"Don't laugh." Merlin said as the dragon continued to. "If she can't be stopped, Arthur won't become king. Albion will never be born."

"I'm sorry. You are right. Of course." The dragon said.

"How can we break the enchantment?" I asked.

"These are not trifling tricks. Troll magic is very powerful." He said.

"There has to be a way." Merlin said.

"The only way you could break this enchantment is if Uther were to cry tears of true remorse." He said.

"How do we make him do that? Have you met the man?" Samantha asked.

"That I cannot answer, Uther's heart is cold as stone." The dragon said. "He's never been sorry for anything."

"Thanks, I think." Merlin said. He turned to walk away.

"Young warlock." The dragon called. We all turned. "It was some time ago you promised to set me free. The help I give is not unconditional." He said. I looked at Merlin. He promised to set him free? Merlin nodded and began walking up the stairs.

"You promised to set him free?" I asked.

"I had to in order to save Camelot." he said.

"What do you think he will do to Camelot when he is released?" I asked.

"I don't know." Merlin said. He continued up the steps. Samantha and I reluctantly followed.

oOo

"The dragon said he had to cry tears of true remorse to break the enchantment." Merlin said pacing.

"Well that's not going to be easy." Gaius said. "Uther's heart is closed to everyone."

"Not everyone." I said. Everybody stared at me. "Arthur." I said.

"Then there is only one course of action we can take." Gaius said.

"And what is that?" Aleya asked.

"Uther must see his son die." Gaius said. Merlin and Aleya went ahead to avoid the guards. I waited on Gaius to brew up the potion that Arthur would take.

oOo

"This is becoming a habit." I whispered. We were hiding beneath Arthur's bed.

"I don't know. I kind of like it." Merlin said.

"Shut up you flirt." I said. I could hear Arthur walking towards us. He got in bed and blew out the candle.

"Watch this." Merlin whispered. "Arthur. Arthur." He said. I could see Arthur get out of bed and draw his sword.

"Whose there?" he said.

"Merlin." He said as he slid out from under the bed. I heard Arthur jump.

"And Aleya." I said pushing myself out. He pointed his sword at us.

"You're back." Arthur said.

"We never left." Merlin said.

"You mean to say." Arthur began.

"Yes." Merlin said.

"You've been under there this whole time." Arthur said.

"No." Merlin and I said in unison.

"Because if you were." Arthur said pointing his sword at Merlin.

"I wasn't I swear." He said. Merlin stood up and I followed.

"So, your stepmother is a troll then." Merlin said.

"If you say I told you so." Arthur said.

"I wasn't going to. I wouldn't." Merlin said.

"I would. I told you so." I said.

"Gaius and I believe that your father has been enchanted. We found a way to break the spell but…." Merlin said. "We need your help."

oOo

"So your great plan is to kill me?" Arthur asked.

"In a nutshell, yes." I said. "Gaius and I made a potion that will give the appearance of death without the actual dying bit." I said, Gaius and I, it was mainly me watching Gaius mix the potion.

"It's fine, nothing to worry about. It will only bring you to the brink of death." Merlin said.

"Oh, only to the brink." Arthur said.

"We haven't got a choice." Aleya said.

"We have to make your father cry." Gaius said.

"He doesn't care about me anymore." Arthur said.

"Of course he does!" I said, "You are the only think your father actually does care about."

"It's completely safe. A single drop of the antidote will reverse the effects immediately." Gaius said.

"Antidote? What antidote?" Arthur asked. "You didn't say anything about an antidote."

"I didn't think it was important." I said.

"The potion will lower your heart rate and breathing. For all intents and purposes you will be dead." Gaius said.

"And the antidote reverses the effects?" Arthur asked.

"Yes." I said.

"If it's administered in time." Gaius said.

"If it isn't?" Arthur asked.

"You will be dead." Gaius said.

"I thought you said it wasn't important?" Arthur asked looking at me.

"I lied." I said smiling. "It will be fine Arthur. Merlin and Aleya will get it to you in time." I said.

"Great so my life is in their hands." Arthur said.

"Once I have administered the poison….. I mean the potion, they'll have half an hour to get it to you." Gaius said.

"Don't be late." Arthur said looking at Merlin.

"Am I ever?" Merlin asked.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Gaius asked.

"It's the only way to save Camelot." Arthur said he took the potion and drank it. Nothing happened for a moment. He just stood there. Then he fell backwards into Aleya and I who caught him with difficulty. We gently sat him down on the ground.

"Time to break the bad news to Uther." Gaius said. Gaius handed Merlin the antidote.

"Aleya and I can't be in here when Uther comes." Merlin said.

"Yeah, he still wants our heads." Aleya said.

"I'll make sure that Uther believes Arthur is dead. Those acting lessons I took will pay off." I said smiling. Aleya laughed then they both walked out.

oOo

Merlin and I walked down the hallway. We were just going to get far enough away so that Uther wouldn't see us. He walked in front of me clutching the antidote in his hand. Suddenly a vase fell from above him and hit him on the head.

"Merlin!" I yelled kneeling down next to him. I watched as the potion rolled down the stairs. I dove for it and grabbed it before it hit the ground. I stood up and looked towards Merlin to see Jonas standing in front of me. He pushed me and I fell backwards. The last thing I remember was a sharp pain in the back of my head.

oOo

I heard footsteps coming from down the hall so I knelt down next to Arthur and began sobbing. I cradled his hand in my lap. It wasn't very hard for me to get the tears to come out due to the fact that he appeared to be dead. Uther threw the doors open and walked in.

"He's dead my lord." I said between sobs. Uther walked slowly towards us. He fell to his knees next to Arthur. Gaius walked over and helped me up I continued to sob into his shoulder. Uther was buying it.

"My boy." Uther said.

oOo

I woke up to Merlin shaking me. My vision was blurred at first but it quickly cleared up.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I think so." I said sitting up. "It was Jonas, he dropped the vase on your head." I said.

"Where's the antidote?" he asked. I looked a little further down the stairs.

"Oh no." I said seeing the shattered bottle.

oOo

"It was my fault." Uther said. "I pushed you away." I could see his eyes beginning to water. I was worried though, because it had been about fifteen minutes since we gave Arthur the potion. What was taking Merlin and Aleya?

oOo

"One drop." Merlin said. "One drop was all we needed." I looked at him. He had given up.

"Give me your neckerchief." I said.

"What?" he asked.

"Neckerchief, give it." I said. He untied it and handed it to me. I moved down next to the spilled substance and began trying to soak it up. When I was confident that there was enough I handed the neckerchief back to Merlin. "We haven't got time, we have to get it to Arthur." I said. he smiled and stood up, helping me up as he went. Then we ran to Arthur's room.

oOo

I looked over at the door and Catrina had walked in. she really was a revolting looking creature. Uther's enchantment had to be pretty strong to make her seem beautiful.

"Come away there is nothing you can do for him now." She said. Uther had taken Arthur up in his arms.

"I killed him, I killed my only son." Uther said.

"No, no, no, no!" she said. I saw a tear run down Uther's face. We had done it. He looked at Catrina. He looked mortified.

"Catrina?" he said. the pendant on his neck stopped glowing. "What kind of trickery is this?" he said pulling away from her.

"How I've suffered these past weeks." She said. I saw Merlin and Aleya walk in through the other door. "Allowing you to touch me. Having to share a bed with you." She said. Wow, Uther got freaky with a troll. That was new. "It's repulsive." She said.

"I know the feeling." Uther said.

"I've been looking forward to this." She said.

"Guards!" Uther yelled. "Seize…..it." he said. Merlin ran around the corner. He held in his hand his neckerchief.

"Where is the antidote?" I asked kneeling down next to Arthur.

"Jonas dropped a vase on his head and pushed me down the stairs, sorry but we dropped it." Aleya said. Merlin began trying to get a drop of the antidote out of the neckerchief while Catrina fought her way through the guards. As soon as the drop touched Arthur's lips he began to wake up. Merlin and I helped him up and as soon as he was on his feet he ran over to Catrina who was getting ready to make her move on Uther. He rammed into her and then bent down. Catrina lifted him up.

"Now, is that any way to treat your dear stepmother?" she asked. She flung him into the wall. I ran over to him.

"Arthur!" I yelled as I went. I watched as Arthur slumped to the ground. I knelt down next to him. Catrina punched him in the face. Jonas ran in and went after Arthur and I. He pulled out a tiny dagger only to be met by a sword in the stomach. The person wielding the sword was Aleya. She looked hurt as Jonas slumped against the wall. Arthur was standing up by now and she handed the sword to him. Merlin muttered something and the rug went out from underneath Catrina who was walking towards us. She fell to the ground. Once she was on the ground Arthur ran her through. It took her a moment to die. Right before she died, she farted. Everyone in the room could smell it.

oOo

"Right, troll problem is over." Samantha said as we walked back to my chambers.

"Yeah." I said yawning.

"Be honest with me, when was the last time you got any sleep?" she asked.

"I slept a bit when I hit my head on the stairs." I said.

"That doesn't count." She said.

"Three days ago?" I said another yawn escaping. "I've just been running on adrenaline."

"You need to go to bed now." She said. It didn't register that we were in my chambers until I felt myself being laid down.

oOo

I helped Aleya into bed and as soon as she hit the pillow she was out.

"Good night Aleya." I said smiling as I walked out. Arthur and Camelot was safe once more. I walked out into the hallway to see Merlin and Arthur talking. I slid into one of the alcoves to listen.

"I want you to know that, I never doubted you." Arthur said. Merlin gave him a look. "Alright, maybe I did, but it's your own fault. You've got a suspicious look about you. Shifty. Like you've got something to hide."

"I am an open book." Merlin said. Liar.

"I don't believe that for a second, however, I do know that without your help, I'd still have a troll for a stepmother." Arthur said. There was an awkward pause that consisted of them both nodding. "Well good job today." Arthur said putting his hand on Merlin's shoulder. Merlin began going for a hug. "Woah." Arthur said. Merlin backed away, they both were holding their hands up. "What are you doing?" Arthur asked.

"I thought you were going for a hug." Merlin said.

"No." Arthur said.

"No." Merlin replied. They waited a moment and then both lowered their hands. Arthur began walking towards me. I popped out.

"I'll give you a hug Merlin, not sure what Aleya would say though." I said smiling. Arthur was staring at me laughing.

littlemissobsessed:I'm glad you liked it! Please tell me what you think about this one!

Neptune19: You're welcome for the shoutout, and I am glad you love the story, I will try to keep updating quickly!

Sir Gwaine: Thanks, and okay, incognito, *Winky*Face* ;)