Jaya paused at the end of the hallway. Three more steps and she would be at the top of the stairs. She closed her eyes and rolled her shoulders and tilted her head left then right. A smirkish smile pulled on her lips. It was time to be a lady. Be the princess. One more quick breath and Jaya's eyes popped open. She walked to the top of the stairs, completely poised and ready for the evening's festivities. Determined to do her father, and her country, proud.

Just short of the end of the steps a knight, in full dress armor and the Ó Caiside livery. The dark green of the cloak, arranged so it was over his left shoulder with the leather tie resting on his right, made his corn silk hair seem whiter. The bright, white-silver wolf howled over his heart, and his sword was in full view on his right hip. He looked up at the first sound of a quiet click of heels. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, the redish-pink scar that ran down the right side of his square jaw just under his mouth pulling the corner of his lips down slightly.

Jaya glided down the stairs, shoulders back, fingers of her right hand trailing down the banister next to her. The jewelry Freya scattered over her winking in the torchlight. She looked fondly at the kight at the bottom of the stairs. She stepped off the bottom step and stopped a pace or two away from him.

He inclined his head and bowed to her, half dropping to his right knee. He looked her over with a quick look as he stood up, his eyes stopping at hers. "My Lady, Jaya," he greeted, his voice warm.

Jaya inclined her head and dipped her knees slightly. "Sir Finnian." she allowed herself a large smile. Finnian was the leader of the small group of knights that willingly fought under her command. All her father's knights respected her, but most simply because of her status. Finnian and the few knights under his command had followed Jaya willingly into fights before, he had been present at the last raid. He and his knights were part of the small number who knew about her magic, and Jaya trusted him with her life. She still remembered how he got that scar. "I thought that Father was to escort me tonight?"

Finnian nodded. "He sent word a short while ago requesting I escort you." He offered her his right arm.

Jaya took his elbow and smiled up at him. He was still four or five inches taller than her. "I suppose you'll do," she teased quietly.

Finnian fought the smirk that threatened. "It appears that it's a good thing that I wore this sword tonight."

Jaya looked down at it and then up at in with an inquisitive look, the emerald on her forehead bouncing lightly. "Why's that then?"

"I might need to guard you," he paused and looked at her, the smirk showing, "from unwanted advances from the Pendragon knights, My Lady."

Jaya grinned at him. "Itching for a matching scar on the other side of your jaw, Finnian?" she asked, glancing at the scar. she still felt terrible about that. Jaya had meant it to be a teasing question, but the tone of her voice belied how bitter she was about the fact that he had it in the first place.

Finnian looked down at her, disapproval shining in his light blue eyes. "My Lady, I told you then, and I will tell you now, I would have stepped in front of that knife even if I knew it would have killed me. You're life is worth more than mine."

Jaya looked up at him, horror on her face. She pulled him to a stop. "You have that because I wasn't careful. It's my fault." She stepped around so she was in front of him.

Merlin paused where he was on the outside of one of the pillars. That was Jaya's voice, and she seemed distressed. He pulled back slightly hidden more behind the pillar, looking around it so he could still see. She moved to step in front of the large knight. He didn't mean to stop and listen. It wasn't his business. He urged himself to move on, he was going to be late, Arthur would be furious, but his curiosity got the better of him before he realized it.

"If I remember correctly you were the one that told me to be careful." Jaya looked up at the big knight.

He looked down at her, loyalty, more than the honor-bound loyalty that Merlin had seen in the other knights faces when they looked at Jaya. It was a personal loyalty. Someone who had sworn fealty to the one that they were looking at. The same loyalty that the knights that followed Arthur usually showed. Was he her knight?

"If it killed me." he repeated, conviction resonating in his voice. "Willingly."

Definately her knight. Merlin thought.

The gems in Jaya's hair winked in the light of the torches when she shook her head. "My life is not worth more than yours. Don't you ever say that again," she ordered, pointing her finger at him.

The big knight inclined his head and nodded once. "As you wish, My Lady."

Jaya's hands snapped to her hips, all lady-like thoughts forgotten for the moment. "Finnian, I mean it."

Merlin nodded in agreement of his thought. Arthur rarely referred to a knight by their name with the 'Sir' in front of it unless he considered them a friend.

A smile pulled at the corner of Finnian's mouth. "Yes, My Lady." his tone understanding.

Jaya's body relaxed. "Thank you, Finnian."

Merlin hurried away while they were still busy, he didn't want them to think he was snooping too. And he was late. Very late. Arthur was going to furious.

"Where have you been Merlin?" Arthur hissed. "You were supposed to be here ages ago." His glare was hot.

"Not my fault. You give me too many things to do and not enough time to do them in," Merlin countered, unapologetic.

Arthur's mouth fell open slightly, disbelief etched on his face. "I do not!"

"How would you know?" Merlin looked at him with interested skepticism.

Arthur pursed his lips at Merlin, irritation shining in his eyes. He sighed after a moment and then started toward the big double doors that led into the big hall where music and voices were already filtering through.

Merlin followed after him, about a step behind and to the right of Arthur's right shoulder, smiling at those he dared to.

The two kings were at the front of the great hall, those that were around them laughing as Brian told what was surely a battle story by the way that he was swinging his arms. Uther stood next to him, a smile on his face, but more dignified than his Irish counterpart, who seemed to be enjoying the chance to tell his stories to people who hadn't heard them before.

Arthur lifted a goblet full of wine off a passing tray and surveyed the room as a whole. Morgana was standing in the opposite corner, dressed in a red velvet gown, purposefully ignoring him while she listened to one of the Ó Caiside knights answered whatever question she had asked. He rolled his eyes and looked at Merlin like he was seeking his help when Morgana tittered a laugh and rested her hand on the knight's arm. Girls. Then his eyes caught the movement of heads turning. All were looking toward the doors. Before he even realized he had done it, Arthur turned to see what they were looking at.

Jaya.

Jaya was dressed better than she had been for the dinner the night before, and walked with her hand through the elbow of the biggest knight that Arthur had laid eyes on. He said something to Jaya, and she looked at him with disbelief before blushing slightly as she looked around the room. She smiled warmly at some of the ladies of the court who quickly dropped curtsies and bowed their heads.

And Arthur stared. Until something sharp poked his ribs. "Merlin!" He hissed turning to glare at him.

Merlin looked at him and lifted his eyebrows. "Staring is rude." he hissed back, watching the visiting princess despite what he said.

Arthur's eyebrows knit together and he slowly toward Merlin and narrowed his eyes, the corners of his lips turning down as the middle pursed together. He waited for Merlin to realize that he was being stared at and then swatted his arm. "Is it now, Merlin?"

Morgana turned and looked, her eyebrow quirking slightly in something like jealousy. She surveyed Jaya for a moment, but smiled warmly when Jaya's eye fell on her. She moved slightly so that Jaya would create a circle when the princess walked up.

Jaya only stayed a few minutes, talking quietly to Morgana and the knight that seemed to regard her with semi-stiff respect.

Jaya left Morgana and Sir Alby, squashing the urge to shudder. Sir Alby was one of the men in her Father's service that was less than comfortable with her, and the way that she chose to conduct herself. And sometimes she was more eager to get out from under his gaze than be around him for too long. She walked-glided...purposely-to where her father was, obviously launching into another tale. She caught the words blacksmith and daughter and angel and knew that he was explaining to the few men around him about the first time that he had seen her mother. Though he wouldn't explain to them that she was waiting for him back at home.

Brian caught sight of her and cut his story, and himself, off. "Jaya! My Lords, may I present you with my daughter Jaya, the second angel the gods have blessed my eyes with seeing." He held out his right arm and then wrapped it around her shoulders as she stepped under it with a brilliant smile.

It was a few hours later before Jaya eased herself down next to Arthur a goblet in each hand. "Here. You look like you need this just as much as I do." she offered the goblet in her right hand to Arthur.

Arthur took it with a weary smile. "Do you ever get tired of these?" he asked, taking a sip, and coughed in surprise when it was stronger than he had been prepared for.

Jaya smirked around the lip of hers, not regretting for an instant the magic she had done just a few minutes before when she had a short window to herself when no one would see her eyes change colors. She took a sip and swallowed it with a bit of a flinch for how strong it was. Her face contorted slightly as she eyed the liquid. Maybe it was too strong. She shook her head slightly and looked at Arthur. "Tire of this?" She nodded to the room and festivities at large. "I'm just relieved that you feel the same way. Mother always says that I'm too impatient." The corner of her eyes crinkled as she smiled quickly before taking another sip.

Arthur hummed an agreement around the wine in his mouth. "It's not nearly as interesting as training." He agreed, his voice sounding raspy after the quick swallow.

Jaya shook her head and took another sip, her light snort echoing slightly in the goblet. "Not nearly as fun." she mumbled.

"Or dangerous." Arthur's words were slightly slurred on the edges, the wine was starting to work it's way into his system.

Jaya looked at him and quirked an eyebrow. "Really? I always thought these affairs made it painfully quick for one to commit social suicide."

Arthur looked at her like he was just seeing her for the first time. "You're absolutely right!" He exclaimed.

Jaya coughed to cover her giggle. Arthur was getting quite drunk. This was more fun than she had had in a long time. She couldn't find one ounce of regret for giving him the goblet that was more potent.

Arthur wasn't finished. "You really are! It's like nothing I do on the battlefield or in training or in different competitions can cover for one blunder at one of these feasts! Why is that?" he demanded, looking at her sharply. "Why are these," he gestured to the room with his goblet, "Are so," his head rolled back slightly as his eyes did, "much more important than what I do in the physical training?"

Jaya grinned and her shoulders shook slightly as she kept her giggle quiet. "I guess it's because some people don't appreciate the finer points of being well trained for a war that might never happen," she commented taking another small sip.

"Exactly! I'm so glad you understand!" Arthur lightly backhanded her left bicep with his right hand.

Jaya wasn't sure if it was on purpose or not, but she was enjoying the conversation too much to protest or care that he had done it. And it didn't seem like anyone else had seen it, so she had no need to worry about that either. "Good thing Camelot has you to look out for it." She could barely keep the laughter out of her voice.

Arthur looked at her and downed the last inch or so of the wine left in his goblet. After a moment's distraction about the lack of liquid left, he looked back at her while all but slamming the goblet down on the table in front of them. "And I'm honored t' be in tha' position," he announced, with a small hiccup after to punctuate it.

Jaya smiled again and nodded like she totally understood.

"Are y-you going to drink that or not?" Arthur asked, pointing a wobbily finger at her goblet.

Jaya looked at his glassy eyes for a moment. "I'm not very thirsty anymore, would you like it?" she asked, looking from the inside of the goblet to Arthur.

Arthur pulled his chin back slightly and scoffed. "Absolutely. Can't let it go to waste!" He blinked once and shook his head slightly. "I didn't know whe had whine that tasted ssso good."

Jaya held her goblet for a moment more, trying to decide if she had had enough fun or not. Trying to decide if it was time for her to do what was right, or if she should let him continue to get drunker. She eyed him for a moment and then looked down at the goblet. "Fíon isteach dearg uisce." the spell rolled off her tongue quietly and her eyes quickly flashed silver, changing the strengthened wine to nothing more than red tinted water. She passed it over to Arthur.

He took it quickly and took a big swallow. "It's really sssumpthing," he slurred indicating the goblet with a half-lift.

Jaya gulped down a giggle with an effort. "I'm glad you like it, Arthur." She smiled.

"It'ssss a more butiful wine than you." Arthur grinned at her lopsidedly.

"What happened to him?" Merlin's shocked-horrified voice asked.

Jaya looked past Arthur at him, grinning at the raised black eyebrows and disbelieving blue eyes that greeted her. "Well-"

"Merlin!" Arthur straightened slightly, his face lighting up with excitement. "Merlin, here, you must try this wine. I don' know where Jaya got it from in our wine cellar, but it'ssss-" Arthur paused, a look of confusion on his face as he tried to remember what word he was looking for.

"Beautiful?" Jaya asked.

"Buteful!" Arthur grinned broadly and held the cup to Merlin. "Try it!"

Merlin looked at him, his mouth slightly open and his eyebrows pulled together slightly. "Arthur," he started, sounding slightly confused and chastising all at the same time, "Arthur are you drunk?"

Arthur scoffed and looked at him, offended. "I am not!" The first solidly defined words he had said in most of the conversation. "I don' get...drunk." he momentarily lost control of his neck and his head rolled back before he could stop it. But he brought it back with a sharp jerk.

Merlin stared at him for a moment and closed his mouth with a slight snap. He looked at Jaya pointedly, his head tilted to the right sharply. "He's drunk."

Jaya snickered, a guilty smile crossing her face.

"Try it! That's an order, Merlin." He held out the goblet.

Merlin took it slowly and took a slight sip. He coughed in surprise and looked at the goblet.

"It's good!" Arthur agreed, mistaking Merlin's surprise.

"It's water!" Merlin protested, looking at the red liquid in confusion. It looked like wine.

Arthur looked at Merlin like he was confused and extremely offended all at once. "Merlin! You couldn't tell a good wine if it splashed you in the face!" he half-snarled and jerked the goblet away unsteadily from his manservant to take an appreciative sip.

Jaya bit her bottom lip to keep in the giggle that threatened.

Merlin looked at her. His head tilting sharply to the right again. "What happened?" he demanded.

Jaya shrugged, looking guiltily innocent. "Perhaps Arthur can't handle his drink."

Arthur pulled his lips back in disgust. "I can hear you." His eyes closed and his eyebrows rose for a moment. "And that's not true at all." he looked at Jaya and then up at Merlin expectantly. "Tell her, Merrrrr," Arthur trailed off like he wasn't sure how to finish Merlin's name, "lin!" he finished excitedly.

Merlin looked at him and sighed. "You're embarrassing yourself,"

Arthur looked like he had been betrayed right down to his core. "Merlin!"

Jaya suddenly lost control and started giggling hysterically. She was feeling a bit warm herself. Clearly the little bit of the overly strong wine that she had drank was worming it's way into her system. Her cheeks felt hot, and she wasn't sure if it was the wine or from the effort that she had put into withholding the giggles.

Merlin closed his eyes and sighed again, sounding like his last shred of patience was being tested. "It's a good thing it's so late. Come on, Sire. I think we should get you to your chambers before your father sees you like this."

"Don't be ridiccalous. I hardly had anything to drink!" Arthur gestured the to goblet on the table with the goblet in his hand and watched, fascinated as the goblet in his hand went skittering into the one on the table, completely without him realizing that he had let go.

Merlin shook his head. The things he did for Arthur…"Come on." he bent down and hauled Arthur up, slipping under his arm and grasping his wrist tightly.

"I don' want to go! Jaya's staying!" Arthur protested, swaying unsteadily despite Merlin's unmoving support.

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Come on." he repeated, taking a step.

Arthur leaned forward dangerously, and would have fallen if Jaya hadn't suddenly appeared on his right side to half-catch him. He looked at his feet stupidly for a moment, unable to figure out how to make them move.

"Can you walk?" Merlin asked, looking at him.

"Of course I kin walk. 'he floorssss all tippy toppy." Arthur gestured with his right hand, tipping it and waving it loosely. "Make it stop."

Merlin pursed his lips and shook his head slightly. "Just take a step and it'll stop all on it's own, Arthur."

Arthur looked at Merlin like he wasn't sure that Merlin understood what he was explaining. He looked at Jaya and when she smiled and nodded in agreement he took a step.

Jaya nearly lost control again when Arthur took his first step. He lifted his foot nearly as high as his left knee and slowly set it down, except for the last four inches, which disappeared bone-jarringly fast. "Merlin?"

"I've got him, thanks." Merlin smiled at her from under his black bangs, dark blue eyes sparkling with mirth, despite how belligerent the prince was being.

Jaya nodded slightly and let go of her small grip of Arthur. She held out her hands as he swayed slightly, ready to jump and catch him again if he started to fall.

Merlin grunted and seemed to hold him up by sheer willpower alone. And then started the two of them toward the door, mercilessly on the other side of the hall.