[A/N: Merry Christmas!]

Chapter 33 [A Quarter of an Hourglass Turn Earlier]

[Gallic Coast Heading Toward the Great Sea]

Anxiety wracked Merlin's brain. Transition was changing his world. They really listened to me? Really?

Of course they did, Merlin! You are Emrys! You are now Princess Mithian's chosen. For all intents and purposes, you are the Crown Prince of Nemeth! Kilgarrah glanced up at him. "Have confidence, Young Warlock. Despite what Gaius told you, you have allies."

"Of course he does." Josiane lifted an eyebrow. She steered her carpet away from the Gallic coast. Wind buffeted her dark hair and robes. She studied Merlin. "Does something trouble you?"

"I am getting used to being a Prince." Merlin shook his head.

"You handled yourself well at King Bors' court. What is the problem?" She frowned. "You are learning. I understand you certainly put ideas forward from the shadows. Perhaps now you can do so in plain sight?"

"You summed up the situation rather well, Princess Josiane." Kilgarrah snorted. "Merlin can be quite rash when he wants to be."

"I had to protect my friends and Camelot. You know that." Merlin ground his teeth. He could feel the argument brewing.

"Sometimes aye you did. Other times it would have been better advised to let the situation go. The triple goddess was trying to make things change for everyone's sake, Merlin. It was also a test for you," Kilgarrah countered.

"Test?" She scratched her head.

"Aye. She probably wanted to see if I would save others before myself." Merlin frowned. "Of course I did!"

"She also wanted to see if you respected her prerogative. I fear you fall well short in that regard." Smoke snorted from Kilgarrah's nostrils. "I have told you that in the past."

"Fall short? I have to help people. I am supposed to protect Arthur!" Consternation threw Merlin's hands in the air.

"Can you protect Uther and Arthur from their own prejudice, Merlin? Your first duty is to the goddess. It seems you have to strike a balance between your new subjects, Princess Mithian and her. Arthur is now an ally. Destiny pulls you in a different direction."

"I wait for the chance to return to Egypt." Sadness and Frustration narrowed her eyes. "I worry for Papa's former subjects. I balance my duty between Boeve and my god. I support my friends. There is a place for all of that." Sea's spray touched her face. She pointed toward the coast. "There!"

"Britannia's southeast coast and Hampton. You are correct, Princess." Kilgarrah slowed his flight. He led her and the carpet over the coast. Within a few more heartbeats, they flew over the port city. He reached the wall within another four flaps of his wings. He descended to the courtyard's stones. His talons touched with barely a sound. "I believe we are here."

Merlin looked down toward the courtyard below. Relief warmed his heart. He saw Gaius, Gwen and Gawain watching them as well. Disappointment stabbed into his mind through Arthur's glare as well. Nothing's ever easy! He shook his head.

"Indeed so." Josiane allowed her carpet to alight on the stones. She waved to Boeve as she rolled it up.

"Did…they…just?" Arthur glanced at the three new arrivals. Then he looked up at the sky and at them again.

"I believe, Sire, they just did." Gaius ambled over to Kilgarrah's side. "Merlin! Are you all right?"

"GAIUS!" Merlin grinned. He climbed down Kilgarrah's leg to the cobblestones. "Did you get my note?"

"I did indeed! Thank you for letting me know what happened." Gaius embraced his former ward. "I still cannot believe you are exposing yourself like this!"

"Gaius, I really do not have a choice. I had to deal with Dynwald…you know King Meleagant's thug? Yeah him. I did not have a sword or even a good tree branch. He was about to drag Princess Mithian off. Mmm…yeah. Kind of had to do something there." Merlin raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe if you had a plan? I know your heart was in the right place but…." Gaius started.

"Master Gaius, he did not have a choice. Merlin earned Nemeth's thanks and appreciation. He is worth a great deal more than scrubbing floors and dumping chamber pots." Mithian stepped to Merlin's side. She rubbed his shoulder. "Will King Bors help us?"

Merlin nodded. "He is bringing his army. Apparently he owes my father and Kilgarrah a life debt as well."

"King Bors acknowledged Merlin as a proper knight and Prince, Princess Mithian." Josiane offered Mithian the royal nod. "We shall receive our aid."

Arthur snorted. "King Bors what?" He recalled Integrity's and Assessment's roles in the Gallic King's thoughts and decisions. "Well he obviously does not know you that well, Merlin."

"Merlin." Gaius glared right into Merlin's eyes. "Do not! I know you are tempted but…."

"What is he going to do? Count Boeve does not have a chamber pot out here. He did not even kill the dragon as he claimed we did!" Ridicule soured Arthur's tone. "It is a good thing for you that Father banished you, Merlin. If he knew about this, he'd have had you executed."

"He would have tried to, Young Pendragon." Kilgarrah leaned close. Menace glinted in his eyes. "Merlin saved your life and Camelot. He stopped my rampage. He taught me mercy. Perhaps you might learn that? If you are to be an effective ruler, you will have to be fair to all. Leaving me chained under Camelot for twenty years as a trophy to Uther's prejudice is hardly fair!"

"You're a dragon…a creature of magic. You are evil!" Arthur snapped.

"You are a creature of magic as well, Arthur Pendragon. Show respect!" Morgana curled her lip. Canary glinted in her eyes. She smirked.

"Morgana, what? I…." Arthur rose into the air. He floated about ten feet high. Disbelief widened his eyes. "YOU?"

"AYE! ME!" Morgana allowed Arthur to float around the courtyard. "MORGAUSE TOLD YOU THE TRUTH!" She snapped her fingers.

Arthur fell into Mud's sullying patch. He stewed. "You consorted with her? Father loves you, Morgana! How can you do this to him? HOW?" He jumped to his feet. He shook his head. "Look at me!"

"It suits your boorish manner, Prince Arthur." Mithian shook her head. "It is of no consequence. We will return to Whitgate and prepare for Meleagant's invasion.

"Not Merlin. He has to…." Arthur started.

"Sire, the King exiled me," Merlin reminded him.

Arthur shrugged. "If this goddess is right, that does not matter. I can undo the banishment. Besides my stables need mucking, my armor needs polishing, there's laundry…."

Merlin shook his head. "That is what George is for." He could not resist Barb's jab into his former Prince's side. "You know how much better than me he is."

Arthur curled his lip. "Merlin, you have no idea…."

"Oh I think I do. You made me work with him night and day…for an entire fortnight. Remember?" Merlin raised an eyebrow.

"Merlin, I believe we can convince Uther to do that. You…." Gaius placed his hand on Merlin's forearm.

"Gaius, I cannot go back. Morgana's on a better path. I have someone who respects me. We are close enough to help Camelot. That is if a certain royal prat can stop insulting his neighbors. It is not like I have a choice." Merlin turned to Mithian. "It is so sudden. It just makes sense now."

"He is under a spell. Princess, you have bewitched him," Arthur accused.

Galahad's hand grasped his sword's hilt. His eyes turned to Mithian.

Mithian shook him off. Outrage burned in her eyes. "I what? HOW DARE YOU? Your pride hurts so much that you would accuse us? I think we have heard enough! Sir Balinor was a knight of Nemeth! Your father's actions drove him from our service! Well we know now! I intend to see that Merlin has his due status. And no, Merlin did no such thing to me! He did not have to! I see him for the wonderful man he is! You could learn from him!" She sighed. "We will stay in our chambers. I do not wish for Merlin or any of us to endure such nonsense!"

"Merlin, are you really believing this? You're my man! It's not like you have magic! You're too simple! Y…." Arthur jabbed back at Merlin.

Merlin's eyes flashed. "Come on, Princess. I think some time in silence will do him good." He bowed to Arthur and then Morgana. Then he took Mithian's hand and walked away.

Protest formed and exploded past Arthur's lips. He shook a fist. He swore and spat….

…full of Fury's Tempest but with nary a spark of Sound's Thunder….

Morgana smirked. "I have to say, Arthur. Merlin's far more creative than any of us gave him credit for."

She patted Arthur on the arm. "And by the way, Accolon's a sorcerer too. You are surrounded. Think about that." Snidely Sweetness glistened in her eyes. She sauntered off.

All Arthur could do was fume. His father's work was coming apart before his eyes.

Irony had its season too it seemed….