Sunlight burst into the room at the exact instant the curtains sang open.

Bright. Blinding. Mind numbing, cursed sunlight. Ye gods above must it be so bright? How could it be morning already?

It burned Arthur's eyes through his closed eyelids. It felt like Merlin was holding a torch above his face. He was positive that was the case, he could almost hear the fire crackling. But he didn't dare open his eyes.

"Good morning, Sire! It's a beautiful day!" Merlin's cheerful voice greeted.

No torch then. Merlin was too far away to be holding a torch over his face. Arthur was pretty sure that his eyes hurt less now that Merlin's overly-cheerful voice had grated the headache into existence. And now that his ears had woken up, he was pretty sure that Merlin was using gongs instead of plates, banging them needlessly on the table, adding to the base drum of the blood pumping past his ears. His throat felt like it was dried shut, and he wasn't the least bit interested in opening his eyes. And the smell of...whatever that was on his table made him queasy.

"Time to get up, Sire. Breakfast." Merlin continued to do what he had to, smirking at the bed where Arthur was still sprawled where he had fallen when Merlin half dropped him on the bed the night before.

Arthur's adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. His chest rose and fell with a breath that seemed more like a sigh. How could it be time for breakfast already? The last thing he could remember was Jaya sitting next to him and saying something about social suicide. When did he go to bed? And what did he drink?

"You must be hungry. I'm starving." Merlin continued.

Arthur began plotting all the different ways that he was going to kill Merlin. It felt like someone was poking his mind with hot picks, but at the same time it was a nice thing to think about. He licked his lips experimentally. And when it didn't cause him any more pain. "Mer-" that may have been a mistake. He half coughed and half cleared his throat. "Merlin." he did his best to pour as much threat into his voice as he could without straining his vocal chords too much.

"Yes, Sire?" Merlin grinned broadly at Arthur's pinched closed eyes and painful expression, doing all he could to keep the grin out of his voice. And failing by the sound of it...at least to his ears.

There was that cheerful voice again. It grated on him. Merlin was grinning. "Merlin, must you," he pushed himself up on his elbows a bit too fast, he closed his eyes tighter and hoped that it would be gone after a moment. Doing everything in his power to keep from following the spinning motion with his head.

"Must I?" Merlin asked, doing miserably at his plan not to enjoy this morning.

"Must you be so loud?" Arthur asked, looking at him for the first time, squinting, or glaring, against the bright light that stabbed into his eyes and made him wish that it had rained today.

"Sorry." Merlin smiled his tight smile, hoping it would be enough.

It might have been if he hadn't at that moment accidentally lost hold of the fork that was in his hand. And if that fork hadn't clanged against the plate and bounced to hit the goblet next to it before coming to a ringing stop on top of the knife that sat next to the plate.

"Merlin." Arthur's voice, full of irritation, growled at him.

"Sorry." Merlin apologized again rounding the table. He caught up a little vial of cream colored liquid and held it out to Arthur. "Here. Gaius says not to smell it or look at it and swallow it in one go."

Arthur looked at it a moment and then up at Merlin's face. "What is it?"

"It'll help with your...hangover." Merlin smiled and held it out to him again.

"Don't be stupid, Merlin. I-"

"Don't get hungover?" Merlin cut him off, incredulous. "What would you call this then?" he asked, tilting his head to the left.

If looks could kill, Merlin was pretty sure that he would have been a little pile of smoldering ash. He caught himself wondering if Uther would have considered such a thing magic, before he smiled and hurried to help Arthur up and out of bed.

Arthur glared at Merlin. He was going to kill him. Kill him dead. Hopefully that would wipe off that irritating grin and the taunting sparkle in Merlin's deep blue eyes. He took a deep breath and slowly sat up. "Merlin," he poured as much warning as he could into the name, hoping that would be enough to get his point across.

Merlin grinned. Clearly didn't work.

"Arthur."

Arthur reached blindly behind him and flung the pillow at Merlin.

Merlin ducked the first pillow but caught the second straight to his face. It knocked him back a step and he lost hold of the little vial that was in his hand.

Arthur watched Merlin juggle the little glass container and whipped another pillow at him the moment that he managed to catch it and stand straight.

Merlin blocked it with his left arm. "Oi! Knock that off!"

"Shut up, Merlin." Arthur complained, suddenly wishing that he hadn't moved so much so quickly.

Merlin set the vial down on the table and looked at him, folding his arms. "Stop that. I'm trying to help." He did his best to make sure that Arthur realized that he was being talked to like he was being rude.

Arthur sighed and he looked at Merlin pointedly. "You still can't talk to me like that."

"Do you want help or not?" Merlin asked, tipping his head to the right.

Arthur finally half frowned and looked away.

Merlin took that as a yes and stepped up to the bed, grabbing Arthur's left arm, pulling it around his shoulders and heaving Arthur up at the same time. He grimaced and quickly panicked when Arthur swayed away from him and very nearly brought them both within a step or two of Arthur crashing into the stand next to the bed where he kept his keys.

"Merlin!" Arthur grumbled, blinking once hard, trying to clear his head. He was pretty sure his chambers weren't tilting and whirling.

Merlin grimaced and pulled, stumbling slightly as Arthur rocked past center and started toward Merlin, sending them slightly stumbling toward the corner of the table. "You could help."

Arthur grunted and did his best to force his legs to work like normal. Everything seemed much brighter and harsher than it really needed to be.

"Merlin," Arthur started, once he was sitting in his chair, grimacing at the taste of,,,,whatever it was that was in that vial, looking at it like it was the devil himself.

"Yes, Arthur?" Merlin wondered from over by the bed where he was fixing the bed sheets.

"Did...did Jaya get me drunk?" Arthur wondered, slowly setting down the vial. His head felt a hundred times better already. He wasn't sure if that made up for the nasty aftertaste or not yet. At least it reduced the trobbing and thudding to dulled-down versions. And the light didn't seem quite as bright and sharp.

Merlin slapped the last pillow into place and looked at him. "I don't think so. You did have a lot to drink last night." He was pretty sure that Jaya might have had something to do with it, but didn't see how it would really help anything.

"Not more than usual." Arthur protested, starting on his breakfast. Mostly picking at it. He felt an odd mix between starving and full.

"Maybe it was just really good wine?" Merlin wondered.

"Maybe." Arthur allowed around his mouthful, starting to chew. It mercifully distracted his tongue from the taste of the...whatever it was that he had drunk.

Jaya walked down the wide hall, Ridire close on her heels, humming to herself. She had the twinges of a headache, but had soon fixed them after she woke up, while Freya wasn't looking and still scolding about what she had done to Arthur the night before. She felt bad for Merlin, the poor lad was skinny as a whip. How he had managed to get Arthur up and into his room she didn't know. She had just dropped her hand to scratch Ridire's ears when she heard her father's voice.

"Come in here a moment, Pet. I wish to speak with you." King Brian stood in the doorway of the throne room.

Jaya stopped and looked at him over her shoulder. "Of course, Da." She pivoted on her right bootheel and started back the way she came, stepping through the door before her father and skirting around the guard with a friendly smile. Her fingers caught lightly around Ridire's collar when she noticed that the guard was uncomfortable with the huge dog and Ridire seemed to be interested in getting closer. She flashed a bright smile at him and let go of Ridire once they were feet away.

Arthur was already in the room, dressed in a simple blue shirt, dark brown pants and boots and a long, brown leather coat that made him appear taller. He looked a little pale and like he had a nasty headache.

Uther was standing next to him, and eyeing her.

Jaya glanced down at her choice of dress. Her blue shirt was covered by a deep brown leather corset of sorts that cinched tight around her ribs. Her left arm was bare, except for the bracer, her right sleeve was stuffed into the other one. And she had put on the brown, split leather skirt that she had worn when she first arrived over her pants that were a darker blue than her shirt. She wondered for a moment if the bright sapphires that were set in the woven silver band that wrapped tightly around her throat would be enough to redeem the rest. Which was quickly followed by the thought that to Uther, the silver probably looked more like chainmail with gems in it than jewlery, her Uncle, gods bless him, had such a sense of humor. "Good morning, My Lords," she greeted, smiling. There was nothing to be done for it now. best to just smile and hope they would forgive it.

"Morning," Arthur returned, his voice still a little rough.

Uther just nodded once.

Brian walked forward to stand next to Uther, he smiled at Jaya and nodded to Arthur. "We have something to tell you."

Jaya looked at them and smiled and nodded. She did her best to shake off the worry that Arthur told the kings about what she had done last night. There was no way for him to know that she had spiked the wine...or was there? She just had to be herself for a moment during something that was nothing if it wasn't formal. And what had she said to Arthur about social suicide?

"Something that is best for King Brian's kingdom at the moment." Uther continued.

Jaya's eyebrows knit together the same time that Arthur's did. "And what would that be?" she wondered.

"You will stay here for the time being." Uther responded as Brian opened his mouth to say something.

Jaya's eyebrows shot up. "What?" she demanded. She inwardly flinched, hoping the other king wouldn't take much offence to the tone that she had used.

"Why?" Arthur looked at her and then at their fathers.

Brian looked at Uther, clearly displeased that he had taken it upon himself to break the news. And none too gently. "Because I'm worried about you, Jaya."

Jaya's mouth fell open and quickly snapped back up as she began to splutter. "What? Why? For what reason? I'm perfectly safe!"

Uther shook his head. "That's not entirely true."

Irritation flashed across Brian's face for a moment and he looked at Jaya. "I want you to stay here. Your mother and I are worried that you'll be taken from us. They've gotten too close too many times, Pet. We want you to stay here, where you're safe for a while."

"For how long?" Arthur asked, looking back and forth.

"As long as it takes for me to stabilize the Island." Brian answered, cutting Uther's reply off with a sharp look.

"What?" Jaya squeaked. "That could take years!"

"Indeed. And you will stay here until we receive word that it is safe for you to go home."

Jaya looked from Uther to her father, and swallowed all the protests that she had. The last time Dublin had been raided, the men had come close to taking her with them, she supposed.

"You will be Uther's ward until that time comes, Jaya. He'll look after you and make sure that you get everything that you need and take care of you the way that I would." Brian smiled at her lovingly.

Jaya seriously doubted that but nodded and forced a smile. There was no way that she would challenge her father's decision while they were in the same room as the Pendragons. It would undermine him, and that would not be good after the treaty had been signed, especially if she was going to be staying in Camelot for a few years. Ye gods above. A few years!

"Hold on!" Arthur cleared his throat, his ears turning red slightly because his voice broke. "What is she going to do here?"

"Whatever she likes. As long as it's within the rules of Camelot." Uther looked from his son to Jaya, a bit more pointedly than she preferred.

Arthur began to wonder to himself what it would be like to have Jaya at training every day for the foreseeable future. Would it be all right? Would she make it strange? And more importantly, would his father allow it? He still wasn't sure how he felt about what happened the day before. Although, it was also rather fun to get to know another swordsman...woman...especially one that was as good as Jaya was. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

Jaya, on the other hand heard what Uther hadn't said. Whatever she liked...within reason. He still expected her to hold to a certain protocol. If she had to guess she assumed that he expected her to act more like Morgana and a little less like she had been to date. She resolved to her best to make both kings proud. As far as she could.

"I plan to leave tomorrow morning." The Irish king announced, not taking his eyes off Jaya.

Jaya looked at him sharply and pursed her lips. She looked over at Arthur for a moment, her eyes drifted from him to his father, and then slowly looked back at her father. She took a deep breath and then nodded slightly. "I will help you get ready."

Brian smiled slightly but then shook his head. "No, Jaya."

A princess should not be helping with the preparations. People expect certain things from you here. Jaya could almost swear that she could hear her father say what he really meant. She dipped down halfway to her right knee, her eyes closed and head bent.

When she stood, Arthur was struck with just how royal she was in that instant. Standing there, her shoulders square and her chin up slightly, a regal hold to her facial expression and her hands resting on the hilts of her swords. She will be quite a queen one day. The corner of Arthur's mouth twitched slightly.

Jaya seemed very reserved for the rest of the time that they spent with the kings. She didn't say much and what she did say was merely questions about her father's plans. She sat in her chair just as Morgana always did, and had her hands neatly folded in her lap, only letting her right one drop every so often to Ridire's head, when he would sit up and stretch from where he was lying. It was strange. Strange to see her so stiff. Stranger still to realize that she wasn't smiling or talking or being nearly as much...fun. He had no idea how used to her antics and smirking he had gotten used to in the last couple of days. So much so that he really missed how she normally acted, teasing and making light of things that probably shouldn't have been made light of.

Jaya still felt like she couldn't breathe. There was nothing between her and the air outside, but she still felt trapped.

"Jaya! Get out of there! You'll fall!" Freya's terror-filled voice half commanded.

Jaya looked over at her and bumped her right bootheel against the inside wall of the castle. "I'm being careful." She promised, her voice sounding dead and flat to her own ears.

"You're sitting in the window. Careful is not the word I would use, My Lady." Freya looked at her pointedly.

Jaya looked back out over the vista that she could see, knowing that a fall from this height would be nothing short of death on the cobblestones. And for some reason, her fear of heights didn't even touch her. It even took a moment for her to realize that Freya had addressed her properly and not by her name. "Don't worry, Fey." she shrugged, looking out over the rolling hills, thick with dark green trees, imagining the sparkling of the ocean against the beach of Dublin that lay miles and many days ride from where she now sat.

Freya folded her arms. "No, I suppose I shouldn't worry. Since the Jaya I know is all but terrified of heights, and is now sitting in a window, high up in a tower room like she's sitting on a horse or a rock."

"I'm fine, Fey." Jaya turned to look at her, a small smile on her face.

Freya looked at her and shook her head slowly. "No. No you're really not. What happened?"

"Da's leaving tomorrow."

Freya's hands flew to her mouth. "Oh my goodness! I have to pack! I'll never get all of your things together in time!" She started to turn.

"Da's leaving. The knights. Cook...not me." Jaya swung her left foot through the window and hopped off the sill to her feet. Now that Freya had pointed out just how high she was, she was suddenly very uncomfortable.

"Oh?" Freya looked at her and raised her eyebrows.

"He says I'll be safer here. He and mother are worried that the raiders are trying to take me." Jaya slowly closed the window and latched it. She walked over to her bed and flopped down on it, laying on her back, her hands behind her head.

Ridire shifted where he was laying on the bed and settled his head down on Jaya's corset, on her ribs, and sighed heavily.

Freya looked at her and nodded. "You will be safer here. We're all worried about you. I, for one, don't know what I would do if you were taken." she walked over to the bed and crawled onto it, laying down so she was exactly like Jaya.

Jaya looked over at her. "You don't have to stay you know, Fey. You can go."

"What?" Freya scoffed. "Back to the Island without you? Don't be silly."

"You could go and be with your family." Only the corner of Jaya's mouth twitched where she would have normally grinned at such a comment.

Freya instantly sobered and turned to look up at the canopy over the bed.

Jaya waited in silence for a few moments, her left hand slipped out from under her head to stroke Ridire's head. She knew what she offered Freya was something that the girl had wanted for years. To see her Druid family, her proper family, again after all the years that she had been away.

"No." Freya shook her head. "I'll stay here with you."

"But you could be free, be part of your family again." Jaya protested.

Freya looked at her and shook her head again. "You are family. And I can't leave you here alone."

"Uther hates the Druids. You would be safer-"

"Here with you. You need me. I can't even imagine the fright you would put on some poor girl who would take my place. She wouldn't realize you're kidding, Jaya. She wouldn't know. You'd terrify her." Freya looked over at Jaya and smiled.

Jaya snorted and rolled her eyes. "That's not entirely true. I know how badly you want to see them and be with them, Fey. I'll manage just fine on my own."

"And leave everyone to wonder how you get into those fancy dresses by yourself? Absolutely not!" Freya shook her head again. "If I want to go see my family, you will come with me. And we'll come back here together."

Jaya looked over at her and pursed her lips. "You know you don't have to."

"Of course I do. You're my sister. We may not be related, but you're the closest thing I have. I would miss you miserably, Jaya. I wouldn't have anyone like you with my family. You're as much home as any place I could be."

"If you're sure." Jaya didn't look convinced.

Freya sat up and looked down at her. "I will be here until the day that you go back to the Island. I will be with you, at your side when you are crowned queen."