Beauty and the Beast: Part Two
Evaine looks up in surprise to see Arthur enter her chambers with a few men. "Sorry for the intrusion, my lady, but we must search your rooms," Arthur said, the men hurrying around the room as Evaine and Anna stood from their seats.
"Why? What are you looking for?" Evaine asked.
"Merlin. We believe he has stolen from the Queen," Arthur replied, his eyes searching Evaine's. She nodded, walking to the window as Arthur followed her.
"Where is he?" she whispered, making sure the guards couldn't hear them.
"I told him to leave. Hopefully he's left by now," he whispered in reply, and Evaine shook her head.
"Merlin would never steal, it's not like him," Evaine muttered, glancing at the guards who were finishing their search.
"I don't believe it either. He may be an idiot, but he's no thief," Arthur agreed, turning to the guard as he approached the two.
"Not here, sire, that's all of the rooms searched," the guard informed the prince, before bowing to the lady and leaving.
"I must go inform my father," Arthur announced, and Evaine nodded, placing the book she had been reading down.
"I will come with you," she said, and Arthur looked at her in surprise. "I must know what he is accused of, for Anna's sake," she explained quietly, glancing to her friend who watched the two worriedly. Arthur nodded, realising what she meant.
"Very well," he said, the two leaving for the council chamber, greeting Uther and Catrina before Arthur spoke to his father. "I fear he may have slipped through our net."
"You're very quick to give up the chase," Catrina noted.
"That is because I know my quarry is long gone," Arthur answered.
"How can you be so certain?" Uther asked.
"Well, despite appearances, Merlin isn't stupid. He must've got wind that we were looking for him and left," Arthur said, and Evaine nodded.
"Outwitting your army in the process," Catrina stated, disbelieving Arthur's words.
"It appears so," Arthur said.
"I thought your men aspired to the same high standards that my father instilled in you," Catrina commented to Uther.
"When I led the army, they did," Uther said, taking his seat.
"We don't even know if he's still in Camelot. He could be anywhere," Evaine pointed out.
"And that's a good enough reason to give up?" Catrina snapped, surprising Evaine and Arthur.
"No, I'm not. It's just that I believe our resources would be better..."
"I've had enough of your excuses. We both have. I want the boy found," Uther interrupted his son.
"Sire. My lady," Arthur bowed, Evaine curtseying before the two left.
"Did you find her behaviour as strange as I did?" Evaine asked, once they were a fair distance away. Arthur hesitated before nodding.
"Perhaps it's just the worry from her seal being stolen," Arthur said, and Evaine nodded.
"I don't know, something does not feel right," Evaine said, Arthur not denying he didn't have doubts about the lady.
XXXXXX
A few days later, the matter over Merlin is nearly forgotten, but another meeting is called for Arthur.
"There's something important that I...we wish you to address. For too long, the people have had it easy. They've grown fat off our indulgence of them," Uther stated.
"How so?" Arthur asks.
"We provide peace, protection, food. They give us very little in return," Uther listed.
"Most of our people are poor. They survive on the few crops they're able to grow," Arthur commented.
"That is what they would have us believe," Catrina said bluntly.
"It's what I see every day," Arthur replied, glancing at Catrina.
"We're introducing a new tax," Uther informed.
"The people must pay for the sanctuary that Camelot provides," Catrina explained.
"You can't. The majority are barely able to get by as it is," Arthur argues.
"Those who refuse to pay it will be arrested and publicly flogged," Uther continues, pretending not to have heard his son.
"We've lived this way for years. You've never suggested anything like this before," Arthur said to his father.
"Maybe not to you, but the King confided in me that he has been considering this for some time, haven't you?" Catrina asked, her grip tightening on his hand.
"Yes, I have. You are to begin the collections at once," Uther instructed. Arthur nodded, bowing to the two before leaving.
The next day, Evaine and Anna are taking a walk through the lower town, offering some food to the homeless as they often did.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Arthur shouted, grabbing the two's attention to some guards roughly handling an old man.
"He's refusing to pay the King's tax," the guard answered.
"You- you ask for too much. I've given all I can," the man states, out of breath from the way the guards are holding him. Evaine and Anna step closer, watching the scene.
"That's not enough!" the guard shouts. Arthur looks to the crowd who had formed, seeing the desperation on their faces.
"Let me see," Arthur asks, the guard passing the pouch of money to the prince. Arthur looks through it before handing it to the older man. "Release him."
"The King said..."
"Release him. Give them back their money. All of it," Arthur orders, cutting the guard from speaking. Arthur leaves, the people smiling and bowing to him.
"He seems much different from when we first came here, don't you think?" Anna asked Evaine, the two moving back towards the castle.
"Yes," Evaine said softly, smiling. Anna smiles, the two continuing their walk back to the castle. "I shall meet you back at my chambers, Anna. I must run an errand," Evaine said, and Anna smiles knowingly. She moved down the familiar corridors before hesitating in front of a door, knocking after a moment.
"Come in," Arthur said, looking in surprise when he saw Evaine enter. "Evaine!" he greeted, smiling slightly at her appearance.
"I saw what you did earlier. The people owe you a debt of gratitude," she said, walking forward.
"The people owe me nothing. My father's still going to impose the tax," Arthur said.
"Will he not be persuaded?" Evaine asked.
"Not by me. He can't stand the sight of me."
"That's not true. The King loves you," Evaine argued.
"You should've heard the way he spoke to me," Arthur said, rising from his seat and leaning against the arm of the chair.
"I'm sure he was angry, but you're still his son. Everyone appreciates what you did. They know you tried, and they won't forget that."
"Maybe he's right. One day I will be the King of Camelot, and I cannot be a friend to the people as well as their ruler," Arthur comments.
"That's not true, and you will prove it when you become King. You've a kind heart, Arthur. Don't ever change. Not for anyone," Evaine asked, stepping closer to him. Arthur smiles at her, reaching for her hand before a knock sounds on the door, Evaine taking a step back from Arthur as Sir Leon opens it.
"The King has sent for you," he says, and Evaine and Arthur share a look before they follow Leon to the council chamber, looking in surprise to see the whole court in attendance. Evaine stands beside Sir Leon as Arthur approaches his father.
"Father?"
"I'm relaxing your duties, revoking your title," Uther informs, shocking the council.
"What?" Arthur asked, surprised and angry.
"We live in dangerous times, I cannot allow you to undermine my authority," Uther explained.
"You've always welcomed my counsel in the past," Arthur points out.
"You stood against me for all the people to see," Uther retorts.
"I'm sorry. Any future grievance I have will be held in private," Arthur promised.
"No, it's too late for that."
"Father, this is..."
"You are to be disinherited, with immediate effect. You are no longer Crown Prince of Camelot," Uther states, the council gasping in shock at the news.
"Sire, Arthur is your son, your natural heir..." Gaius spoke.
"Gaius...You've always taught me to be true to my heart, and that's all I've ever tried to do. To be the man you wanted me to be. Someone you were proud to call your son," Arthur stated, taking a step closer to his father.
"My decision is final," Uther states. Arthur stares at his father before leaving the chamber. Evaine watched him leave with a frown.
"Queen Catrina will be named as rightful heir to the throne. The ceremony will begin forthwith," Uther announces. Sir Leon hesitates before clapping, triggering the rest of the court to do so.
XXXXXX
"We are gathered here to bear witness to the naming of Queen Catrina as the rightful heir to Camelot. Are you willing to take the oath?" Geoffrey states to the court later that day in the Hall of Ceremonies.
"I am," Catrina agreed, kneeling.
"Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of Camelot, to uphold the laws and customs of the land?"
"I...do," Catrina hesitates, itching her arm and shuffling in her place.
"Will you, to your power cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgments?"
"I will," she states, itching her arm more furiously.
"Will you, to the utmost of your powers... ...maintain the laws..." Geoffrey said.
"Yes, yes," Catrina interrupts.
"I'm sorry, you-you must let me finish. The wording must be exactly right to be binding," Geoffrey explains.
"Well, get on with it then. I mean, really, where did you dig up this old crone from?" Catrina asks, the crowd frowning at her in surprise.
"She's right. Get on with it," Uther agreed, the crowd whispering at the odd behaviour of the two.
"Will you, to the utmost of your powers..."
"Yes, yes," Catrina continues to interrupt.
"...maintain the laws and customs..."
"I will, I will."
"...of the land, and serve the people of Camelot?"
"Yes! Just shut up and give me the crown!" Catrina shouts, grabbing the crown from Geoffrey and running out.
"Catrina!" Uther calls, following her out. Morgana shares a look with Evaine, the two hurrying after them with Arthur trailing uninterested behind them. "Whatever's the matter?"
"I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I, I just suddenly felt so hot. I, do you know, I think I need to be on my own, alright?" Catrina rambles, hiding her arm behind her back.
"Are you alright?" Morgana asked, stepping forward before Catrina stopped her.
"Yes, yes, I'm, I'm fine. Really, thank you. I just... Come on. Come on," she mutters, struggling to open the council chamber doors.
"Let me," Arthur offers, Evaine watching as he steps back in surprise. "What's that?" he asks, pointing to her arm. They stand and watch in disgust as Catrina starts to moan, her body transforming into a troll.
"You're a troll!" Evaine says, stepping closer to Arthur.
"How dare you speak about her like that!" Uther shouts, Arthur, Morgana and Evaine turning to look at him in shock.
"What is wrong with you? Look at the state of her!" Arthur says, pointing at the troll.
"I don't believe it," Morgana whispers. The troll glances at them before turning and ripping the door off, hurrying away with a snarl.
"She just ripped a door off its hinges. Doesn't that tell you something?" Arthur asks his father.
"Enough!" Uther demands.
"She's a troll! A giant...grey..."
"Stinking," Morgana supplied.
"Stinking troll!" Arthur finished.
"Stop it! Haven't you hurt her feelings enough? Insult my wife again, it'll be the last thing you ever do," Uther warns, picking up her shoes and crown before leaving.
"Did we dream that?" Evaine whispered, glancing at the two who still stood staring at where the troll had just stood.
XXXXXX
A few days passed, and Uther still didn't seem to realise his wife was a troll. So, Merlin and Gaius came up with a plan, going to Evaine to ask for help. It took a while, but she came around to the idea, following the two to Arthur's chambers.
"So your great plan is to kill me?" Arthur asked, listening to the plan as Evaine sat at the table.
"Trust me, I was not convinced at first," Evaine told him.
"No. Well, yes. It...not exactly. It's...Gaius has made a potion that gives the appearance of death without the actual dying bit. It's fine. There's nothing to worry about. It'll only bring you to the brink of death," Merlin explained.
"Oh, only to the brink," Arthur repeats.
"We haven't got a choice," Merlin insisted.
"We have to make your father cry," Gaius adds.
"He doesn't care about me anymore," Arthur mutters looking to the table.
"Nonsense. That's Catrina's influence. I've known your father for many, many years. There's never been anyone or anything he's treasured more than you. It's perfectly safe. A single drop of the antidote will reverse the effects immediately," Gaius explains, Arthur looking up in surprise.
"Antidote. What antidote? You didn't say anything about the antidote!" Arthur shouted.
"Er...I didn't think it was important," Merlin said, smiling sheepishly.
"The potion will lower your heart rate and breathing. For all intents and purposes, you will be dead," Gaius explained.
"And the antidote reverses the effects?" Arthur asked.
"Yes. If it's administered in time," Gaius answered.
"If it isn't?" Evaine asked.
"You will be dead," Gaius answered, looking to Arthur, Evaine standing at his words.
"You just said it wasn't important!" Arthur accuses Merlin.
"Erm...yeah, I suppose it is a bit important," Merlin states.
"Evaine will have the antidote. Once I have administered the poison...er, the potion, she will have half an hour to get it to you," Gaius explained.
"Don't be late," Arthur told her, and she smiled.
"Would not dream of it," she promised.
"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Gaius asked.
"It's the only way to save Camelot," Arthur stated. He takes the potion, rolling his eyes before drinking it. He winces at the taste before shrugging his shoulders, passing out seconds later.
"Time to break the bad news to Uther," Gaius said, Merlin and Gaius laying him on the floor and closing his eyes. Evaine hid in Arthur's dresser, listening as the doors slammed open moments later.
"My boy. It was my fault. I pushed you away. My son. My son," Uther mutters, his voice breaking. Evaine listened as Catrina entered, trying to pull him away.
"Come away. There's nothing you can do for him now," she grunts out.
"I killed him. I killed my only son!" he cries, tears falling from his eyes. "Catrina? What kind of trickery is this?" he asked, backing away from her.
"How I've suffered these last weeks. Allowing you to touch me! Having to share a bed with you!" Catrina muttered, Evaine hiding a smile before opening the wardrobe door, opening the bottle of antidote
"Guards! Seize...it!" Uther instructed, Evaine kneeling down beside Arthur and giving a drop of the antidot to him as Catrina fought off the guards. Evaine smiled as Arthur's eyes opened, and she helped him stand, Arthur pushing her behind his back before rushing to attack the troll.
"Is that any way to treat your dear old stepmother?" the troll asks, before throwing Arthur to a wall. Evaine rushes to Arthur's side, trying to wake him up as Jonas lifts a dagger above his head, about to strike Evaine before Arthur stops him, stabbing him with his sword. Evaine turns, tripping the troll over so it landed on its back, Arthur stabbing it in the chest. The two covered their mouths in disgust at the smell it emitted before lying limp on the floor.
"Thank you," Evaine says to Arthur, the two sharing a smile.
"More practice lessons are needed, I think," Arthur teases, the two sharing a look before Uther moved to embrace his son tightly.
