Hey, so this has sort of been on my mind now that I've been rewatching the show. It was an idea I had when I first watched it but I've finally decided to write it. I hope you enjoy the concept, I'd love it if you could review or private message me with your thoughts. A lot of stories I've read similar to this have the OC completely on board with magic from the start, which I think, considering my character's relationships, would just not be true. So her opinions on magic won't be very favorable, but that may change. I picture Amara to be played by Elle Fanning, as we will discover, she looks very much like her mother Ygraine. Hope you enjoy my first chapter.


"Amara!" Arthur yelled out as he opened the door to her room. "Come on, let's go," he said gesturing his arm for her to leave the room.

"I don't want to go," she said defiantly turning to the window.

Arthur sighed, "it's part of your obligation as the princess of Camelot to be present at executions when asked to attend by father. I know you don't like them, I respect that, but we have to go to show support for father."

"Morgana doesn't have to go," Amara grumbled.

"She's not the king's daughter."

"Arthur please," she said turning to her brother. "Please don't make me go."

"Amara, come on," he said irritated. "We just have to stand in the back, you won't even have to see from where we're standing. Now let's go before father sends guards to fetch us."

"Fine," she snapped and stormed past him.


Drums were being beaten as the prisoner was led out to face his punishment. "Let this serve as a lesson to all," the king's voice boomed out at the crowd gathered below. "This man, Thomas James Collins, is adjudged guilty of conspiring to use enchantments and magic. Pursuant to the laws of Camelot, I, Uther Pendragon, have decreed that such practices are banned, on penalty of death."

Amara shut her eyes and took in a deep breath, "you ok?" Arthur asked quietly, they weren't in a position on the balcony where they could be seen clearly by the public, so Amara felt safe making her discomfort known.

"I hate executions."

"I know," Arthur whispered back. "But he was a sorcerer, he has to die."

"I know," Amara nodded back. "Doesn't mean I want to watch."

"I pride myself as a fair and just king," their father continued, "but for the crime of sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass," he said before nodding his head towards the executioner. Amara looked towards Morgana's window and saw she was already looking away. Morgana and Amara shared the same distaste for executions. Amara looked back to her father to see him raising his hand, reading the executioner to strike the sorcerer. He quickly dropped his hand, and Amara heard a thunk and the gasping of the crowd and knew it was done. The sorcerer was dead. "When I came to this land, this kingdom was mired in chaos," Uther said, reminding the crowd of why he treated sorcerers so severely. "But with the people's help, magic was driven from the realm. So I declare a festival, to celebrate 20 years since the great dragon was captured, and Camelot freed from the evil of sorcery. Let the celebrations begin," he said before turning away from the crowd and towards his children, before quickly turning back at the sound of loud crying coming from below.

"There is only one evil in this land and it is not magic!" a woman cried. "It is you! With your hatred and your ignorance. You took my son." Amara couldn't see her, but she inferred enough to know that the woman speaking was the mother of the executed sorcerer. "I promise you, before these celebrations are over, you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. A child for a child," she vowed making Amara's eyes widen.

"Seize her," Uther demanded of his guards immediately. Amara went to move forward to look but Arthur moved his arm in front of her, preventing her from walking forward. They heard the wind howling before their father turned around and stormed inside, his children quickly following. "She escaped with the wind. Sorcery," he snapped.

"I'm sure it's just another false threat father, there's no need to worry," Arthur said trying to reassure his father.

"Magic is evil, it must be struck from the land. Amara," Uther said turning to face his daughter before raising a hand to place it on her cheek, "thank you for coming with no fuss. I know you don't like attending executions. At least you will enjoy the festival," he smiled. "Check on Morgana would you?" he requested before walking off.

"No fuss," Arthur scoffed, "he never sees the fuss you make, I always get you there on time and he's none the wiser to your protests," he joked before walking off in a different direction.

Amara smiled before walking towards Morgana's chambers only to have a young man walk into her, "I'm so sorry my lady," he apologized.

"It's alright," she accepted as she smoothed out her dress.

"I was wondering if you could direct me towards Gaius' chambers," he asked. "The court physician?"

"Go around the corner there, take a left, and then follow the stairs up. There's a marker on the wall, you won't be able to miss it."

"Thank you," he smiled before walking around her.

"What is your name?" Amara asked, turning to look at the direction he had walked off.

"Merlin," he answered. "I'm new here."

"I can tell," she smirked. He obviously had no idea he was talking to the princess. "Could you please tell Gaius that I'll require some more of my medicine soon?"

"Who should I tell him it's for?" he asked.

"Amara," she answered and he nodded before walking off. Yes, he was very new. Not even her name had struck any recognition in him. It was refreshing. With that, Amara smiled and made her way towards Morgana's chambers.


Amara sat beside her father at the feast, she looked at the empty seat beside her and sighed, she hadn't been able to convince Morgana to come. She refused to celebrate the death of a man, and she had a point. But the man practiced magic, and that cannot be tolerated.

"Where is Morgana?" her father asked finally, leaning over to her as she'd be the one to know.

"She did not want to attend father, I'm sorry."

"I'll go and find her myself then," he sighed, standing up from his chair and exiting through the back of the hall, so as not to draw too much attention.

"She never learns does she?" Arthur asked as he popped a grape into his mouth.

"Morgana?" Amara asked and he nodded. "She has strong opinions."

"She does not know how to express them to father properly though. She gets angry immediately and that will never work. You and her both have strong opinions and you know father would do anything for the two of you. But open defiance like how Morgana likes to act, that'll never work," he smirked. As soon as he said that, Uther stormed back into the hall and took his seat, clearly angry. Arthur leaned back in his chair to catch his sister's eye and raised his eyebrows and gestured to their father to prove the point. Amara merely smiled and turned back to the feast.

"Amara," her father said in a measured tone, making her look at him. "I need you to speak to Morgana, not showing respect to me is one thing, but she's saying she won't greet Lady Helen tomorrow. She must show respect to our guests as my ward. If you ask she's much more likely to do it with a smile."

"I'll speak to her in the morning," Amara agreed.

"Very good, now enjoy the rest of the feast," he smiled, stroking his daughter's cheek. "I've been told the strawberries are superb this season."


"What are you looking at Gwen?" Amara asked. She was in Morgana's room and she'd noticed Gwen watching something from the window.

"It's nothing," Gwen replied quickly. Too quickly.

Amara frowned and stood up and came to look out the same window to see she was watching her brother torment a servant. The poor boy was running while holding a target, Arthur was using it as moving target practice. The boy eventually lost his grip on the wooden target and it rolled across the ground and landed directly at someone's feet. Amara recognized him as the boy who ran into her yesterday. He immediately put his foot on it, preventing the boy from picking it up. "Oh dear," Amara sighed.

"What?" Gwen asked.

"I met that boy yesterday, he walked into me. He's new, he had no idea who I was."

"That means…" Gwen realized, her eyes widening.

"He doesn't know who Arthur is, Arthur won't like that," she sighed as she watched her brother march up to the newest resident of Camelot. After a moment of talking, Merlin threw a punch at Arthur's head who quickly caught his arm and pulled it behind his back, keeping him in place. "Oh well he definitely won't like that," Amara sighed. Arthur then hit the boys back and he fell to the ground, only to have the guards take him away, clearly to be taken to jail.

"That was brave," Gwen spoke quietly.

Amara smiled, "do you think the new boy is cute?" she laughed as she gently nudged Morgana's maid with a giggle.

"Your highness," Amara's maid Lilia spoke as she came up to them quietly, she was a very timid and shy young girl. "If I may interject, your father is looking for you."

"Yes, yes," Amara nodded. "Let's go," she sighed. "Please make sure you're cheerful tomorrow to greet the Lady Helena please, Morgana? My father will be very disappointed if you're not."

"I'll be a ray of sunshine," Morgana replied glumly before smiling at her, "I'll see you then."


Amara stood in the throne room ready to greet Lady Helen the next morning. She stood in front of Morgana with Gwen and Lilia standing right behind them both as the Lady Helen entered the hall.

"Lady Helen," Uther greeted, as he stood up from his throne and walked towards her, smile wide and with his arms opened. Amara followed and stood slightly behind her father. "Thank you so much for coming to sing at our celebrations."

"The pleasure's all mine," she smiled back.

"How was your journey?" Uther enquired.

"Oh, the time it took, sire," she sighed as he kissed her hands.

"Well, it's always worth the wait," he smiled.

"It will be," she agreed.

"I have heard such amazing stories about your voice, Lady Helen," Amara spoke up as Lady Helen curtsied towards the princess. "I hope I can convince you to return to Camelot to perform at my birthday celebrations. It is coming up quickly," she smiled.

"Of course, I wouldn't miss it," Lady Helen agreed. "Who could deny the princess of Camelot."

"Then it is settled father," Amara smiled.

"Indeed it is," he smiled at his daughter.


"Lilia," Amara called as she walked the halls.

"Yes your highness?" she asked scurrying up to her.

"Do you know where my brother is?" she asked.

"I believe he is training with the knights my lady."

"Let's go then," Amara smiled, she loved watching the knights.

"Princess Amara," Sir Leon greeted her as she arrived at training.

"Sir Leon," Amara greeted. "How is training?"

"We're training some new men, testing them for knighthood. It's not going well," he whispered. Leon and Amara had been friends for years, he was one of the knights most trusted by the Pendragon family, he was always assigned to Amara's protection when they would go out for horse rides.

"Amara, what are you doing here?" Arthur asked as he walked up to them.

"I came to let you know that father wants us to have lunch together."

"How long until lunch?" Arthur asked.

"An hour."

"Alright, I'll finish training the knights, and then I'll join you," he said and Amara went to walk back to the castle, "Amara," he called and she turned back around, "where are your guards?"

Amara looked around with a smirk, "I have no idea."

"I'll escort her back sire," Sir Leon smiled as he gestured for Amara to walk and Lilia trailed behind them. "You have to stop doing that."

"I don't need to be followed by guards," Amara scowled.

"I know you don't want to be. But you're the princess of Camelot, you know Camelot has a lot of enemies, you can't make yourself a target."


"It was hilarious," Arthur said laughing as he told her and Uther a story of a man challenging him while he made his way back to the castle and the fight that ensued. "He thought he had won."

"It wasn't the same boy who you fought with yesterday was it?" Amara asked.

"Didn't know you saw that," Arthur nodded as he ate his food.

"I watched from the window," Amara explained.

"Well he almost made a fool of me today, I made sloppy mistakes, but I won in the end, he's an idiot, but he's a brave one, have to give that a little respect," he shrugged.

"You should have had him thrown back in jail," Uther exclaimed. "We need to ensure the people respect us. You can't allow people to humiliate you in public, you must make sure it doesn't happen again."

"He's Gaius' ward I believe," Amara noted. "He is new in Camelot I don't believe he knew who Arthur was."

"Well he certainly knew who I was today but he challenged me anyway," Arthur shrugged, "hopefully he's learned by now he can't win against me."

"You weren't fighting in the village were you?" Amara asked and Arthur nodded. "Arthur," she groaned. "I heard Lilia talking about it with Guinevere, they said vendors stalls were damaged."

"I'll pay for the repairs," Arthur shrugged. "It was good fun," he smirked.

"Make sure you do, they can't afford it," she said seriously.

"Have you had a chance to see the Lady Helen?" Uther asked Arthur, stepping in before they could argue.

"Haven't had the chance as of yet."

"Ensure you do, you especially need to respect our guests, Arthur. I must go, I have duties to attend to," Uther said standing up. "You two finish lunch, I'll see you tomorrow," he said leaving the room.

"You're not going to greet Lady Helen are you?" Amara smiled.

"I'll see her at the feast tomorrow, it's not a big deal," he smirked making his sister laugh.


"Lilia, the door," Amara called when she heard a knock.

"Hello," Lilia answered.

"I um… I have some medicine for the princess, it's from Gaius, for the… for the headaches," a familiar voice answered.

Amara moved from her wardrobe to look at the doorway, "Merlin," she exclaimed as she saw him at the doorway.

"Princess I… uh… I," he stuttered.

"Cat got your tongue?" she asked as she moved forward and Lilia moved away from the doorway.

"I um, I need to apologize, your highness, I didn't know who you were when I bumped into you the other day."

"He bumped into you?" Lilia whispered to Amara in shock.

"It was a mere accident," Amara smiled at her maid.

"I should've been more careful," he said.

"Nonsense, you do, however, have to be more careful around my brother."

"You heard."

"I saw. At least the first fight, although he told me all about the second. Arthur isn't a joke Merlin, he's the prince, and calling him a prat," she said making him snicker and she smiled in response, "even though he may be one, it's dangerous Merlin. My father doesn't take any form of disrespect well, and if he fears you are disrespecting Arthur he will act. Trust me, you're lucky Arthur found you amusing."

"I know, trust me, I had to put up with Gaius yelling at me for a good half hour."

"Very well," Amara smiled. "Please tell Gaius thank you for the medicine."

"He told me to tell you he's changed some ingredients in it. You should only need to take that once a week, he said to try it and let him know and he can make adjustments."

"Thank you," she said and Merlin bowed before leaving. "So, Lilia," Amara smiled as she walked into the room. "Which dress should I wear tonight?" she asked as she pulled out two options from her wardrobe.

"You want my opinion?" Lilia asked nervously.

"Of course I do," Amara smiled. She'd been trying to get this girl to open up for a month, but she was just too nervous.

"I think the blue one, it will bring out your eyes more," Lilia answered before her eyes widened. "Or the green is lovely as well. It's up to you. I like both."

"Blue it is then," Amara smiled. "Thank you, Lilia."


Amara walked into the feast with Morgana by her side. "Arthur's staring," she whispered to Morgana as they walked in.

"I know," she smirked.

"You chose the right dress."

"I wanted to make him regret not inviting me," she smiled as Arthur walked up to them. "Arthur," she greeted, nodding her head at him.

"Amara, Morgana," he said greeting them both. "You both look, wow," he puffed, "stunning."

"Thank you, Arthur," Morgana smiled before subtly winking at Amara.

"Did you end up seeing the Lady Helen?" Amara asked and Arthur smiled, "I'll take that as a no."

"Why do meaningless tasks like that when I can have fun?" he smirked.

"You mean fun by playing games with the knights?"

"Exactly," he said as an orchestra started playing, indicating their father would walk in soon. "Let's go," he said and the siblings split up, Morgana going with Amara, to find their seats. Arthur was to sit at the right of Uther, Amara on the left, with Morgana sitting beside Amara.

They all stood while the king entered the room, and he walked forward to the front of their table before turning and addressing the room, "we have enjoyed 20 years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the kingdom and myself, many pleasures. But few can compare to the honor of introducing Lady Helen of Mora," he announced and everyone clapped as Uther found his way to his seat, allowing everyone to sit down.

Music began playing and Lady Helen began singing a beautiful song. After she sang a verse she began stepping forward into the room and Amara began to feel very tired. Her head dropped and she had to whip it up quickly. Surely Lady Helen's singing wasn't so boring it was putting her to sleep. She'd heard such wonderful things about it. Amara looked to her side to see the same thing was happening to Morgana, both girls were struggling to keep their eyes open. Unable to stay awake any longer Amara closed her eyes and fell asleep.


Amara opened her eyes and looked around, it appeared as though everyone had fallen asleep. She went to move forward and then frowned, she was covered in cobwebs. "Father?" she asked looking to her father confused. She noticed him staring in shock at the center of the hall. She looked over to see the chandelier had fallen on Lady Helen. She quickly pulled off the cobwebs and stood up with a gasp, it was not Lady Helen under the chandelier, the woman's hair was grey. The woman, however, was not dead, and pulled herself up from the fall, causing everyone in the hall to gasp. She grabbed a dagger from the floor and threw it towards Arthur. Amara screamed as she watched the dagger sail towards her brother, who was too shocked to move. The dagger made a loud noise as it hit the back of Arthur's chair. Amara moved quickly around her father's chair to see Arthur on the floor, he hadn't been harmed. Merlin had pulled him out of the way, allowing the dagger to hit the chair and not Arthur. Arthur quickly got to his feet and they turned to watch the imposter woman take her last breath. "Arthur," Amara breathed in relief as she ran to his side.

Arthur reached out and grabbed Amara's forearm, letting her know he was ok before he turned to stare at Merlin in shock, he'd tormented the boy, but he still chose to save him. "You saved my boy's life," Uther praised Merlin. "A debt must be repaid," he declared. Merlin stuttered, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. "Don't be so modest. You shall be rewarded," Uther insisted.

"No, honestly, you don't have to, your highness," Merlin pleaded.

"No, absolutely," Uther dismissed. "This merits something quite special. You shall be rewarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant," Uther decided as the guests began to applaud.

"Father!" Arthur protested as Uther walked away, making Amara snigger as both men turned away from each other in annoyance. "Don't laugh Amara," he scowled.

"I'm really glad you're ok," Amara smiled pulling her brother in for a hug.

"We'll see how long for," he groaned. "I'm going to have to spend every day with this buffoon."

"Try and be nice," Amara asked. "Trust me, it'll make it easier for you both."

Morgana came up behind Amara and whispered in her ear, "that was the mother of the dead sorcerer, the one who declared she'd come after Arthur or you."

Amara nodded, "it just goes to prove my father is right about sorcery."


"Did you find it terrifying my Lady?" Lilia asked as she tended to Amara before bed.

"Arthur is my only sibling, Lilia, I felt my heart stop for a moment. But he is hard to kill. Trust me, I've tried," she smiled making Lilia giggle slightly.

"I'm always too frightened to even look at him."

"You don't need to fear Arthur, Lilia, he is kind to my friends, so he'll be kind to you," she smiled getting into bed.

"I'm your friend?" Lilia asked confused.

"Of course you are," Amara smiled taking her hand. "I don't have many, I'm very picky."

"Well I'm honored," Lilia said, her smile wide.