Krysia watched Uther greet the guests, and she noticed there were a few key people missing. She decided she'd best find Merlin and Gaius, and she gathered her skirts and headed up the corridor. She was surprised to find them in the wing where Elena was staying, Merlin holding the Sidhe staff they'd taken from Sophia.

"What is that doing out?" she said. "This is a very important day—"

"And everyone is already at the throne room," Merlin said, "don't worry. Elena's inhabited by a Sidhe and we've got to get it out of her and kill it."

Krysia shook her head, startled.

"I'm sorry, she's what?"

Gaius pressed her hand and said, "Trust us. When the Sidhe is released, Merlin, it might not be very happy."

"Don't worry," Merlin said, "I'll be ready for it."

Grunhilda, who looked very much more hideous than Krysia recalled from before, was coming at them.

"You better be ready for me first!" she cried.

Merlin hit her with a beam from the staff, but she got right back up. Krysia took a startled step back.

"I'll see how long I can hold her off," Merlin said. "You both go to Elena. You better be quick."

/-/

Krysia opened the door to Elena's chambers, her hand shaking as she led Gaius in.

"Grunhilda?" Elena said, peering around her curtain.

"I'm sorry, princess," Krysia said, forcing a smile. "It's only myself and the physician. We wanted to see how you were doing."

"Where has she gone?" Elena said. "I'm getting married in less than an hour."

There were popping noises and screams in the corridor, and Elena looked puzzled.

"What was that?"

Gaius looked to Krysia, who really had no ideas, and he said, "Er…preparation for the wedding. Everybody's very excited. But you must be nervous."

"I'm a little flustered," she said.

"Only to be expected, and just as I thought," he said. He held up a potion. "I brought you a tonic to calm your nerves."

"You are very kind." She took the bottle, taking a very small sip, which Gaius clearly wasn't pleased about. "I cannot believe this is actually my wedding day."

Gaius forced a smile and said, "Best to drink it all for the full effect."

"Oh," she said. She took another tiny sip, and Krysia looked at the door, wondering how long it would take for Merlin to come. "I really wish my mother was here."

She sat on the edge of her bed, frowning at the floor, and Krysia sat beside her, touching her arm gently.

"That's understandable," Krysia said. "I'm sure I would feel the same in your shoes. Why don't you try another sip?"

Merlin stormed into the room ready to fight, and he gave Gaius a bewildered and exasperated look when he realized she hadn't had enough yet.

"We're trying," Gaius whispered.

Merlin crossed the room, frustrated, took the bottle, and said, "Elena, this is gonna make you feel a whole lot better!"

He pinched her nose, poured the potion into her mouth, and Krysia took a startled step back when she passed out and a Sidhe was forced out of her body. She watched Merlin shoot it with the energy of the staff, and shortly after it was gone, Elena woke, sitting up with a grace Krysia didn't think she'd seen her move with.

"Not to worry, my dear," Gaius said. "I think you must've fainted. Such excitement!"

"Fainted?" she said. "I feel…amazing. I haven't felt this good in years! Where is Grunhilda?"

The men hesitated, and Krysia forced a smile saying, "We'll ask about. Now, why don't I help you with get ready in the meantime?"

/-/

Leon stood in the throne room as the trumpet sounded, and he saw Krysia take her place in her lavender gown with jewels woven in her hair. He caught his breath, almost not noticing Lord Godwyn bring his daughter up the aisle. He was aware most eyes were on the bride, but he couldn't look away from Krysia.

"My lords, ladies, and gentlemen of Camelot, we are gathered here today to celebrate the ancient rite of hand-fasting, the union of Arthur Pendragon and Princess Elena of Gawant. Is it your wish, Arthur, to become one with this woman?"

"It is," Arthur said.

"Is it your wish, Elena, to become one with this man?"

Leon tore his eyes away for a moment from Krysia to see Princess Elena look at her father, then stare at the floor. Is this really what Leon would want? Would he truly want to stand across from Krysia knowing she loved someone else and marry her anyway?

"It is," the princess said.

"Do any say nay?" Geoffrey asked. Leon looked to Krysia again, who looked uncomfortable, but she said nothing. "Then as we gather here today, we are all witness to this rite—"

"Wait," Arthur said.

A small stir rippled through the crowd, and Krysia leaned forward. The jewels in her hair danced as she shifted.

"There's something you would like to say, Arthur?" Geoffrey said.

"Something I should've said a long time ago. Something from the heart I dare not speak. Elena, you are a wonderful woman, and a beautiful bride, but I cannot deny my feelings."

Elena said, "You do not love me."

Leon inhaled deeply, feeling the same pain he felt watching Gwaine kiss Krysia's forehead, seeing the fear in her eyes when Oswald's imposter demanded Gwaine's execution. Perhaps someday she would have to chose between love and duty, but he wasn't sure he could be the one standing beside her, even if there was no other way.

"And I think," Arthur was saying, "if you are honest, you do not love me either."

"No," Elena answered.

"Then we are both here out of duty. Can you forgive me?"

She smiled and said, "I agree with all you have said. Thank you, Arthur."

Leon stood, astonished, feeling that something in him had died. The question was, what should he do now that he knew Krysia could never, ought never be his?

/-/

As he paced his chambers, Leon continually squeezed his hands into fists, then let them go. He wanted Krysia to be happy. That was the primary goal. Surely there had to be a way to achieve that goal.

"You look like you're about to hit something," Geraint said, leaning in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. "I know it isn't pleasant to be all dressed for nothing, but at least you got to see Krysia looking pretty."

"She always looks pretty," Leon muttered.

Ideally she would marry Gwaine and live a happy life, but Gwaine wasn't allowed in Camelot, and Uther would not change his mind on that. But if he could get her to wherever Gwaine was, have them married, and then she could make her claims without Uther's support…

But Krysia would never leave Camelot. She considered it her home.

"What are you doing?" Geraint whispered.

"I'm working on a puzzle," Leon said.

"Seems a difficult puzzle."

Leon paused and turned to look at his friend.

"I'm afraid it's a puzzle with no solution," Leon admitted. He pressed his back to the wall and slid down it, sitting. "There is only one thing I want, and it is impossible."

Geraint groaned and said, "For god's sake, Leon, just ask her to marry you."

"No," Leon said, hitting his fist on the wall and startling Geraint. "No, that isn't what I want. I want her to be happy, and that is not with me. If she is married to someone she loves, that is not me. Uther will not allow her to not marry, but there is no way for her to marry the man she loves without either changing Uther's mind—"

"Impossible."

"—or convincing her to leave Camelot and rule her own lands."

"Ah," Geraint said, frowning. "What makes you think she wouldn't be happy otherwise?"

Leon groaned, wishing his friend could just understand. She deserved more than comfort, more than marrying a friend, more than marrying for duty. She deserved to be in love, to be deeply loved, and to deeply love in return. She deserved the very best of all things, and if Leon couldn't give that to her, surely his purpose in life was to make it so that someone else could.

But how?

/-/

Uther followed Arthur back to his chambers, and watched Arthur remove his crown as he entered the room.

"What did you think you were doing?" Uther said.

"The right thing, father," Arthur said.

"For who?" Uther said. "For Camelot or for yourself?"

Arthur frowned and said, "The two things aren't entirely separate."

"Until you put your duty before your feelings," Uther said, "you are clearly not ready to be king."

Rather than looking upset or disappointed, Arthur held his head high and said, "When I am ready to be king, I'll be a much better king for the support and strength of a woman I love."

Uther could almost hear Godwyn's warning, and he stood, frustrated, and feeling as empty as he had when Zosia had told him she was marrying someone else. Why couldn't he understand how fickle love was?

/-/

A knock at Krysia's door was unexpected so soon before Lord Godwyn's departure, and she told the knocker to enter. She started to see Lord Godwyn himself entering, and when she made to stand, he held up a hand, so she sat back slightly, smiling at him.

Godwyn looked around her quarters, then smiled and said, "Your mother always stayed here. Even after she married Marcial, it was a token of affection that Uther always put her here."

Krysia wondered what he meant by that, and she was about to ask, but Godwyn was already speaking again.

"It's been a very exciting visit," he said. "Camelot never ceases to entertain."

"I'm very sorry you couldn't make your alliance," Krysia said.

"Nonsense, my lady," he said. "The most important thing in the world is that my daughter is happy. If that is not with Arthur, then I do not wish them to wed."

He paced into the room, then turned and looked at her and touched his fingers to his mouth gently.

"You really do look like her," he said. "I'm astonished it took Uther so long to see her. But perhaps he was afraid to."

"Why?" Krysia said.

Godwyn smiled and said, "I don't think Uther has had someone strong enough to tell him no since your mother's death, you know. There were few with that strength, and it is so necessary for a king to hear. Ygraine, for all her blessings, never knew how to stand up to Uther. Lady Vivienne, your mother, Gorlois, they all managed it well. Your father was skeptical at times, but always held his tongue when a decision was made. But they've all been gone for many years now."

He touched the table, a small burn on it, and frowned at it contemplatively, as though it held the trace of some fond memory.

"He needs to hear it," Godwyn said. "And it may be that you are the only one with the strength to say it."

"Me?" Krysia said, startled.

"If you do not," he said, "you may find yourself in Arthur's shoes one day, standing on the verge of a wedding you do not want. Perhaps even to Arthur. Uther never got over losing your mother, and that was a dangerous mix of love and duty."

"I don't understand."

Lord Godwyn hesitated, like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how, or perhaps was afraid to. What was it he wasn't quite saying?

"Uther and your mother courted for years," Godwyn said. "They were young when it began, and he was exiled at the time. Some said it was because her father fostered him, but I have always believe he genuinely loved her. But Uther, as you are well aware, has never been skilled at listening to the needs of others, especially when they conflict with his own. She told him in so many ways that she wasn't comfortable with their relationship as he built back the kingdom, and he could not or would not hear her. And finally she left him, married your father, and I believe she was immensely happy."

Krysia realized what Gaius meant, the weight of passing sentence. This was more than close childhood friends. If she were in Uther's shoes, how would she feel to see Gwaine marry another woman, and then have to sentence him to death? Could she do such a thing face-to-face?

"And you think he'll try to marry me to Arthur?" she whispered.

"I think it would be wise to expect it," Godwyn said with a sad smile. "And if you don't wish it, tell him no. Be willing and strong enough to tell him no, for your sake and for Uther's."

/-/

It took some time to find Godwyn, but Uther walked with his friend down the main steps to the square. Uther had a sneaking suspicion that Godwyn had been speaking to Krysia, and he wasn't sure why, but that idea made Uther uncomfortable, especially after everything that had happened.

"Can't imagine what's happened to Grunhilda," Godwyn said.

"No," Uther agreed. "I'm sure she'll turn up."

"I hope so," Godwyn said. "It's most unlike her."

Elena descended the steps, and Uther simply couldn't see why his son couldn't appreciate the value of a beautiful woman with a large amount of land and power to her name. There were other princesses, but few whose fathers Uther had such good rapport with.

Arthur and Elena said their goodbyes, and Arthur kissed her hand.

"He did the right thing, you know," Godwyn said. "You mustn't punish him. They were neither of them in love."

"That's not the point," Uther said. "It's not the way things are done."

Godwyn smiled and said, "Maybe it's time things change. You used to think so once." Uther gave his friend a perturbed look, and Godwyn just laughed. "I think he has the makings of a great king. You should be proud of him."

Uther embraced his friend. He felt that curious juxtaposition of wishing Godwyn visited more often and relief that his friend was leaving. Perhaps that was just part of getting old.

/-/

Krysia sat in silence in Gaius's chambers, waiting, and he startled when he opened the door to find her sitting there.

"Krysia," he said with a surprised smile. "I didn't expect you today. Are you feeling well?"

She stared at the row of bottles, trying to decide how to say the strange feelings in her chest.

"Uther courted my mother," she finally said.

Gaius stopped immediately, staring at her with some trepidation.

"Ah," he said.

She closed her eyes and felt him eventually sit beside her.

"Are you more upset that it happened, or that I didn't tell you?" he said.

Krysia wasn't even sure she was upset, she just felt so stunned. But she certainly was stunned that she'd heard it from Lord Godwyn of all people. From what she understood, surely Gaius knew, surely Bayard knew. Uther might even have mentioned it, although she could understand him not wanting to, since apparently her mother ended the affair.

"It was young love," Gaius said gently. "If you'd asked either one of them, they would have told you they loved each other, even after they married other people. Sometimes being in love fades to loving someone, just as the opposite can happen."

"The opposite?"

"Sometimes people who love each other fall in love. But my understanding is that Lady Zosia was never interested in being a queen and had always stood by that."

"Bayard mentioned she turned down several kings and princes."

"At least two that I'm aware of," Gaius said. He patted her shoulder gently. "She loved your father dearly, and he loved her. Whatever else you may hear of her, they were certainly a love match."

Krysia tucked her arms around her torso and said, "Godwyn thinks Uther will press Arthur and I to marry."

Gaius looked a bit pained and said, "I think Lord Godwyn is perhaps the person left who knows Uther best. He is likely correct. But we see that Arthur has the strength to resist his father's demands, and your destiny lies elsewhere."

"He did it once," Krysia whispered. "And destiny isn't fate. I'm alive because of Uther's mercy, which as we know, is dangerously brittle. Arthur dismissing Elena was acceptable because she also dismissed him. If either one of us were to waver—"

"Then do not," Gaius said. "I know it's frightening, but one of the things Uther respected and admired about your mother was her strength, her willingness to shape others to her will, and her great ability to do so, even him. He respected her."

Krysia wasn't sure how to build such respect after so long as his servant. She felt that her position and her mother's were inherently different no matter what everyone kept telling her.

Merlin entered, grinning, and he faltered slightly when he saw Krysia and Gaius sitting as they were. Krysia forced a smile and said, "Well, you've had an eventful week."

"What's wrong?" Merlin said. "What's happened?"

"Oh, nothing," Krysia said, standing and sweeping past him. "I was just checking in. You know I'm terribly bored these days. You can tell Arthur that I think he's let go a very nice woman."

"You know she's not the right person for him," Merlin said. "He's mad about Gwen."

"Ah, yes, well, let's not allow madness to cloud our judgment, shall we?" Krysia said.

Merlin snorted and said, "You sound like Uther."

She froze for a moment, then forced her smile even brighter, gripped his shoulder lightly, and swept out of the room before her body could decide how it should react, or even how she should feel. She still had no name for the sensation in her chest, and she wasn't sure it would ever settle.

A/N:

To Like-a-Slasher-Film: Oof, remember what I said about disappointing you? Lol. Not skipping the Castle of Fyrien, but I think it may be a single chapter. Unsure at this time. And you're not wrong! It is awful, and he knows it, poor cherub that he is.

I will also be updating the first story in this series, Camelot: Forged from Ashes, sometime today, so if you're interested in getting more of Zosia's story, Uther's history, and Vivienne & Gorlois & Marcial, etc., please do check it out! I try to get a chapter up for every five of this one. I'd love to get y'all's thoughts on it!

-C