It was the fifth day Merlin hadn't been himself. The reason he hadn't been himself was difficult enough to identify, what with odd disappearances not being uncharacteristic. After some thought, Arthur realized that the change this time was that Merlin didn't realize he was leaving.
"Where were you last night?" Arthur pushed his manservant into a dining chair instead of letting him escape after serving breakfast.
Merlin looked at him, confused. "Last night? Wasn't I… was I not here?"
Arthur shook his head.
The silence spoke with more strength than Merlin could have. He clutched at his head, fingers clutching at his untidy hair. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's going on. Time is just —"
"- twisted?" Arthur guessed. "That's what you said yesterday when you turned up after training." After receiving breakfast from George instead of Merlin, Arthur looked up, surprised to see Merlin ready for work, as Arthur wrapped up training with some of the newer knights. It had taken him only a few moments to notice the other thing missing: Merlin's neckerchief.
Merlin sat in front of him, shoulders slumped and his face twisted in frustration. "Gaius and I are looking into whatever this is, but there's nothing there."
Arthur sighed, not knowing what else he could do. They had the entire library available to them, and still it didn't seem to be enough. A knock on the door interrupted their silence.
Merlin walked over to get it, face illuminating into something that resembled his usual self. From one mask to another, Arthur barely knew when to believe Merlin's face told the truth. In the past year of knowing Merlin had magic, Arthur had learned that his friend's words and actions were much more reliable.
Though usually unreliable, the change of expression on Merlin's face when he opened the door read as real. Only for a second did Arthur see the surprise and confusion before Merlin turned his gaze away from the door and let several people in.
Proper etiquette would have the servant announce who was there requesting entry before holding open the door, but all thought of scolding for it later disappeared when he saw who it was. Gwen was no surprise. Most of Camelot knew of their relationship, even if Arthur had made no official announcement. Most of those on his father's council had made it clear they didn't support the two of them, but all seemed to think the relationship would be short-lived or that Uther would return to his right mind and put Gwen back in her place.
The second person who entered froze Arthur in his place at the table. Figuratively. Though Arthur knew that if she wanted to make that a literal expression, Queen Elsa could have without a moment of hesitation.
She wore a cloak of brown fabric, probably something Gwen had found to hide her clothes and face from anyone who might recognize her. She pulled down the hood once the door closed behind the third person, revealing her white hair, pale skin, and blue eyes.
"Magic still isn't legal here," Arthur said before anything else. From the corner of his eye he thought he saw Merlin flinch, but when he glanced over at him he was busying himself by cleaning the negligible amount of dust from the dresser next to him.
"I know," Elsa said. "That's why I tried to get in without people seeing me. I need help, and I know it's bold of me to ask for it again when I have closer kingdoms, but I sought Merlin's advice specifically."
Arthur gestured to the table and waited for everyone to have a seat before speaking again. "I was under the impression that you had been sending letters to Merlin. What is so pressing that you need to be here in person?"
"She knows something about what happened five days ago," Gwen said.
Merlin raised his head, at last appearing to pay attention.
"Some kind of magic attacked Arendelle," Elsa further explained. "I wasn't inside at the time. I was out on a hunting trip when I felt a magical disturbance and turned back to the city. When we got closer, the knights ahead of me disappeared one by one, hidden by some kind of invisible barrier they couldn't come back through. We believe this barrier is expanding as well."
"And you?" Arthur nodded at the young man that arrived with her, realizing it wasn't Kristoff again.
"I was traveling at the rear of the group."
Arthur looked to Merlin for any connections he might have made from the recent information. If anything, he looked more confused.
"The timing means it's related to what I felt, but other than that, I don't know what that could be. I'd have to go see it in person." Merlin shifted his gaze from Elsa to Arthur. "I have to go there, to Arendelle. Just for a bit."
Arthur shook his head. "This requires more discussion and more eyes than just yours, Merlin. We can consult Gaius and arrange a group with some more of the knights." Arthur didn't mention wanting to go himself. He couldn't leave Camelot with no one in charge and without an heir. He would have to trust the knights. His knights. The work of one inner circle still stunned Arthur sometimes. It was another way he would change Camelot — bringing back magic and allowing himself to trust people unlike his father. "Call the knights and Gaius to a meeting. No need to let anyone else know about this."
Merlin stood to do as he ordered, but Gwen beat him to the door. "You haven't exactly been reliable the past few days," she pointed out.
Merlin grinned sheepishly and let her pass him.
Leon started the meeting with an announcement of his own. Even with Elsa's presence, Leon insisted it was more important.
"Prince Hans was spotted inside the city."
"What?" Arthur and several of the others got to their feet, asking where and why the hell no one had rung the warning bells.
Leon waited for them to quiet and sit back down. "He came in willingly, said he'd seen Elsa nearby and wanted to talk to her. I was just taking him to the dungeons when you called this meeting." Leon opened a door to a side room, revealing Prince Hans gagged and bound. His face was unshaven and He appeared thinner than last time they'd seen him.
"You have something to do with this?" Elsa said. "I should have known. I didn't think you'd dare show up again, but I guess I was wrong."
Hans shook his head, his eyes widening even as his long hair swooped in to cover them.
"He didn't seem hostile when I took him in," Leon said, "But… I wasn't sure if I was being influenced. Hence the gag."
"Whether he's involved or not, we'll need to get information from him," Arthur said. "Is there any way to ensure he can't enchant us?"
Elsa, Merlin, and Gaius looked at each other, but none had an answer.
"We could let him write," Gwen said.
Hans nodded, gesturing with a hand that he could, in fact, write, even with his hands bound.
Arthur nodded. Leon used the time to get Hans seated at the table so he could write. A few moments later, Gwen returned with writing materials.
"Elsa, this is your case. You ask the questions," Arthur suggested.
She moved herself so that she was across from her enemy. "Why did you turn yourself in?"
Everyone directed their attention to Hans' hands as he scratched out the words. It was slow to the point of irritation. Arthur almost suggested removing the ropes before recalling that he could use his hands to remove the gag as well.
Tired of hiding, the first words said. Elsa looked doubtful, but let him continue writing. Find out what happened to my sister.
"Well, now you can know she went home as soon as Anna and I returned. What's your real reason?"
Hans squinted at Elsa and then pointed again at the paper.
"What did you do to Arendelle five days ago?"
The other prince tilted his head and opened his head, gesturing to show she had nothing to tell them.
"We should take him to Arendelle for a trial," Elsa said. Getting nothing useful from Hans, she addressed the group instead. "We'll take him back with us, and we'll let his brothers know we found him. Besides, if he knows anything is dangerous he'll have to let us know to protect himself."
Arthur agreed, though he dreaded sending his knights on a mission while hauling along a dangerous prisoner. Knowing Morgana's whereabouts might have helped ease his worries. While she still presented an unknown, Hans and maybe even Morgause could be a threat.
"You can take Merlin, Leon, Gwaine, and Elyan with you." That left Lancelot and Percival with Arthur, enough for him to consult with and trust for any quests that might come up while the others traveled. "Send letters when you can, keep us updated."
"I might have something better than letters," Merlin said. "I've been working on it for a while. Just need a few hours to finish it."
Planning the details of the trip took less than an hour, the only extra downside being that Gwen wanted to go as well. Elsa appreciated the offer and accepted when Gwen explained her reasoning. Aside from adding another woman to the trip, Gwen's absence would explain why such high-ranking knights were gone without needing to tell anyone about Elsa's presence.
Everything set smoothly, they left in small groups. Elsa and her knight left with Gwen. Leon took Hans to the dungeons. Arthur prepared to address the council's daily discussions.
Agravaine caught up with him first. "I heard Prince Hans is in the dungeons. Is this true?"
Leon must not have been able to keep things quiet. The demand for secrecy was almost impossible with such big news, but it would have been nice to avoid any conflict.
"It's true, Uncle."
"Then I expect we'll have an execution to attend in the morning?"
"Other arrangements have been made," Arthur said. Pushing into the larger room, he could tell the conversation wasn't over. Escaping Camelot might be more challenging for Elsa than planned for.