'Ah, Thalia. There's been an issue.'

'Sire?'

Now twenty years of age and about half an inch shorter than Arthur, Thalia was still as beautiful as when Arthur had laid eyes on her for the first time in the stables all those years ago in their youth, even more so. She still had Thunder, her bay horse but now she had a ten year old black horse called Leroy. As Arthur grew, Uther had faded away in his belief from the words she had once used to convince him, but held her in high opinion nonetheless.

'Arthur has arrested a man on accusations of sorcery. I'm not sure what action we should take. He wasn't doing any harm and yet Arthur says when they saw him cast a spell it had a black tinge. I want your opinion. These are all suspicious objects from his house.'

Thalia nodded and set off for the cells after picking up two items from the table.

'Name?'

'Thomas James Collins. My Lady.'

'Sorcerer?'

'Tell me and it will be easier for you.'

'Yes, my Lady. But I wasn't doing anyone any harm, I swear, I-'

'Then care to explain this?' Thalia held out a doll.

'That… that… I never used that.'

'Then why has it got pinpricks in it?'

'It's old, it was a family heirloom.'

'This is very new fabric. Whom did you kill with this?'

'No one, I-'

Thalia's eyes hardened and even the guards by the cell shrivelled. If even the Prince Arthur couldn't survive her hard glares then they certainly couldn't.

'I- I wish not to say.'

'… Very well then. And then of course we have this, found in your mattress. Please tell me the truth; I'll have more sympathy for you if you do. Do you use this book?' she held a brown book bound with a silver chain.

'Everyday, my lady.'

'You do?'

'Yes, it has spells for cleansing water and sweeping floors, household jobs, you know.'

'I do know, yes. But this book holds spells for hypnosis and making people your puppets. You use this book every day; on whom?'

'…' The man's startled expression did little to quell Thalia's anger.

She clenched her teeth. 'On whom?'

'M- my neighbour, my lady.'

'To do what?'

'To- … …' he gave up. 'To give me half of his food. I'm sorry I won't do it again, please, take the book I won't use it I swear, I-'

'Be quiet! Using power on those less fortunate than yourself is despicable. I will not accept it from anyone. How long have you been using these spells?'

Thomas Collins looked away. Thalia's eyes flashed with anger once more as she reached through the cell, grabbed a hold of his tunic, lifted him up and snarled; 'How. Long?'

'Two years, my lady.' He said it quietly but Thalia heard.

'Are they still in place?'

'No, I place them again every morning.'

'If you are lying to me then execution will be the least of your problems.' She opened her hand and the sorcerer fell to the ground.

Turning on her heel Thalia stormed out to go check on the neighbour and tell Uther what she had found.

Execution day. Thalia tuned out as she stood on the balcony off Uther's side. She snapped her head back from the glare she was exchanging with the sorcerer to listen to Uther.

From the ground, Merlin had stopped watching Uther and frowned at the young woman beside him. She was dressed in a deep blue shirt and pants which surprised him and a golden tiara sat on her head. Merlin had heard stories of such a woman, a feared force to be reckoned with only if you had a death wish. And here she was, in front of him. The glare she held for the man on the podium was nothing short of hate. Clearly she hated magic as well.

'I, Uther Pendragon, have declared that any magic used against the good of Camelot faces the sentence of death. I pride myself as a fair and just king. But for the crime of such evil sorcery, there is but one sentence I can pass.'

Uther sent a nod to the executioners and Thalia kept her gaze as Uther lowered his arm and the sorcerer that had used his neighbour's health for his own was killed.

Satisfied she turned around and went inside but after moments heard a scream. In a flash and a flow of blue dress she was back on the balcony looking at an old witch.

'There is only one evil in this land and it is not magic! It is you!'

Thalia glanced at Uther who held the woman's accusing stare.

'With your hatred and your ignorance! You took my son! And I promise you: before these celebrations are over you will share my tears. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a son for a son!'

Before Uther could order the guards to do anything Thalia's protective blood boiled.

'Your son was exploiting others! Perhaps if he had done some good for Camelot he would still be here!'

'Seize her!' shouted Uther, but the witch said an enchantment and vanished. Uther looked to Thalia who gave him an assuring look; she will protect Arthur.

As the crowd milled Merlin stood momentarily watching the same woman. She had shouted down the grieving witch and Merlin replayed her words as she nodded to the king and went back inside. "Perhaps if he had done some good for Camelot he would still be here!" Perhaps that man did deserve it, then, if hewas guilty. But would an innocent sorcerer be treated the same way? But she didn't seem unjust. The stories he'd heard was that she was fair, but perhaps they meant more than just how she looked.

'Did you hear about the witch at the execution today?'

'Arthur, I was there.'

'Oh. Of course you were.'

'What were you doing today?'

'Training.'

'So that means tomorrow you'll be goofing off, no doubt?'

'Yes.'

'I'll join you.'

Arthur sends her a happy smile. 'I was hoping you would.'

'Just don't start beating up servants again, will you?'

'...'

'Arthur…'

'Fine, fine.'

'Keep an eye out, will you?'

'Why?'

'The whole "evil sorcerer out to kill you thing" is going to be annoying.'

'Oh, that. I'll leave that up to you.'

Thalia rolled her head with a tut. 'Thought you might.'

Arthur looked at her fondly as she rested her head on a hand, eyes on the floor and deep in thought.

'What are you thinking about now?'

'Ways in which to kill you.'

'That's … comforting.'

'For the witch to, you moron.' Thalia kicked his foot, causing Arthur to laugh.

'I'm going to bed, I'll see you tomorrow.'

Arthur inclined his head with a grin. 'Goodnight, Thalia.'

'Where's… the target?'

Thalia glanced over at Arthur, knowing he was about to bully a servant.

'Ah, over there, sire.'

'Into the sun.'

'Arthur, they're going to have to learn to throw into the sun at some point,' Thalia threw a knife at the target they were speaking of and hit the bullseye.

'But not today, this lot have only been throwing for a week.'

'Oh, fair enough then.'

The servant spoke up once more when he realised he couldn't rely on Lady Thalia. 'It's not that bright, sire.'

'Oh, a bit like you, then.'

Thalia rolled her eyes as the new knights in training chuckled.

'I'll put the target up the other end, shall I, sire?'

Arthur, still with his 'spoilt prat face,' as Thalia called it, face on nodded, as if marvelling at the stupidity of the servant in front of him.

She looked up as Arthur murmured; 'This'll teach him.'

Thalia gave a sigh and folded her arms; here he goes again.

THUD! Near bullseye.

'Hey! Hang on!'

Arthur threw his arms open. 'Don't stop!'

Another sigh left Thalia's nose.

'Here?'

'I told you to keep moving!'

THUD! Bullseye. Or rather the servant's head if he hadn't lifted the target to protect himself.

'Arthur…' Thalia said in warning. He glanced at her and knew her meaning; no actual injuries to the poor man. He gave a tiny nod to her then turned back to the servant.

'Come on!' he was laughing now. 'Run!'

THUD. Yellow.

'We want some moving target practice.'

Thalia watched as the servant kept running around and had started wondering when Arthur was going to run out of knives when the target fell from the poor man's hands and rolled across the ground to the feet of a young man about her and Arthur's age. She frowned. He was new.

Arthur hadn't noticed until the man spoke up. 'Hey, come on, that's enough.'

Thalia glanced at Arthur, slightly amused, as she saw his smile fade and his spoilt prat face on again.

'What?'

'You've had your fun, my friend.'

Arthur walked over. Thalia walked over as well, having a bad feeling. 'Do I know you?'

'Uh, I'm Merlin.' He extended his hand.

'So I don't know you.'

Thalia shook Merlin's hand with a smile as Arthur looked at Merlin like he'd just crawled out of a swamp.

'No.'

Merlin looked at the woman he was shaking hands with. Up close she looked kinder, though perhaps that was just down to the fact that she had no witches sworn for revenge in front of her. Merlin had also noticed the warning she had sent the man beside her. What was that all about?

'Yet you called me "friend"…'

'That was my mistake.'

'Yes, I think so.'

'Yeah… I'd never have a friend who could be such an arse!'

Thalia fought to keep a straight face. She liked Merlin already.

As Arthur looked down in thorough amusement Merlin turned and walked away.

'Or I one who could be so stupid.'

'Brave, I think you mean.'

Arthur glanced in Thalia's direction beside him but kept going.

'Tell me, Merlin, do you know how to walk on your knees?'

'No.'

Arthur stopped in front of him.

'Would you like me to help?'

Merlin laughed. 'I wouldn't if I were you.'

Thalia narrowed her eyes slightly, considering Merlin's words, yet still amused.

Arthur kept his patronising grin on his face. 'Why? What are you gonna do to me?'

'You have no idea.'

'Be my guest! Come on!'

'Arthur…' warned Thalia as he took a step back with open arms.

Merlin noticed the deep warning she sent him once more. And in Arthur's eyes he saw a brief glimpse of hesitation. Clearly he was debating whether or not to listen to her.

Arthur heard her but knew if he turned around it would be shown that he listens to her. And he couldn't have that. Instead he kept his arms open and resigned himself to an earful from her later. 'Come on!' And there it was, the leaning forward taunting face he'd only pulled at Thalia once way back when they were both 15 and known each other for a month. He'd ended up with the same face on the ground and a bruised side from where her knee had collided with him. 'Come onnn!'

Merlin aimed a punch but as Thalia expected Arthur easily turned it away from him and got Merlin stuck in front of him.

'I'll have you thrown in jail for that.'

'Who do you think you are, the king?'

Thalia moved her mouth sympathetically.

'No, I'm his son. Arthur.'

A kick to the back of the knees and Merlin was down. Guards came and took him away.

Only when he had disappeared from sight did Arthur turn around to face the glare he knew had been cutting his soul into shreds since he pulled that last face at Merlin.

'What?' his voice held impatience and ignorance and Thalia's glare grew colder. Arthur gulped. He knew exactly what she was going to say. Perhaps not the words but he knew what she was going to shout at him for.

'Arthur.'

'Thalia?'

'Run.'

If Arthur hesitated he didn't show it. He took off in a sprint and flew past her. One of the men that had been with them at target practice laughed and Thalia turned on them.

'And all of you! Run.'

They shoved each other out of the way trying to escape.

'Gwen? What's that noise?'

'Um, Merlin fighting the Prince, My Lady.'

The groan that followed was enough to make a nearby servant duck for cover. Thalia stormed out of the castle to the small market and was greeted with the sight of Arthur tripping over things. He never did that. Thalia arrived at only one conclusion, but she wasn't going to tell Uther just yet.

When she reached them Arthur had let Merlin go. Then he spotted Thalia and froze. She pulled an unimpressed face and waited for the crowd to clear before they both started walking and met in the middle.

'Are you insane?'

'Possibly.' Arthur had his cocky face on and Thalia knew he was being too much of a stuck up prat to listen to her without an incentive.

'What is wrong with you?'

'What's wrong with me? Nothing. Why are you so uptight?'

'Because I have a problem with you when you're behaving like a prat?'

Arthur laughed. 'I am not a prat. Shall I escort you back to the truth, my lady?'

'How about I escort you?' And there it was, the incentive. Arthur ducked under her swinging punch like Thalia knew he would but when he did he felt a foot connect with his side. And then he felt the straw covered ground and the stares of people watching on.

Thalia rolled her eyes and took hold of the arm supporting Arthur's crouch with the other holding his side. She pulled him up, stepped closer and looked into his eyes.

Arthur reluctantly met her gaze. Thanks to the incentive his eyes softened and he smiled sheepishly. Thalia smiled back and turned to be beside him and put her arm around him.

'Any chance you could continue your patrol without swaggering around like you own the place?'

'I do own the place.'

'And yet you believe that you are here to serve the people, stop being stupid Arthur, come on. I'll come too if you don't have a problem with that.'

'I don't, no.'

'Right then.'

They walked over to the guards and continued the patrol.

'So! The feast tonight, will you be there?'

'Of course! You think I would miss Lady Helen's singing?'

'She has a lovely voice, Arthur, don't pull faces.'

'No, it's just that I haven't had the chance to meet her yet.'

'You mean you haven't got around to it.'

'… Possibly.'

'Well, you'll meet her tonight.'

They had reached Gwen's house by now and were walking around. Now that it was midday everyone was walking around and the usual queue at the water pump could be seen from where they were walking.

'You know I heard a little rumour you have a new dress.'

'How on Earth did you hear that?'

'Gwen was telling Morgana about it when I passed them in the corridor this morning.'

'I see.'

'Will you be wearing it?'

'Since when did you care about clothes or fashion?'

'Since I started being conversational an hour ago.'

They laughed.

Evening found Arthur already in the feast hall standing and talking to friends of his. The knights we are all in high spirits and Arthur often had to turn and greet people. But he'd immediately turn back and mess around with his friends happily. When Morgana arrived however, all of them stopped making noise so much that they could hear the music and the majority of them gaped at her.

'God have mercy.' Arthur watched as she walked over to the middle of the room. He met her there and they struck up a conversation.

When their talk reached a natural pause and before Arthur could bring up a new topic he noticed people turning their heads toward the door. He curiously turned his head as well and felt his jaw unintentionally drop. There was Thalia in what he presumed was her new dress. It was purple and gold and her hair was out straight behind her with her golden tiara woven in slightly. She spotted them and smiled, walking over.

'Hello, Morgana, you look stunning!'

Morgana smiled. 'So do you!'

Thalia smiled. 'I try.' She turned. 'Hello Arthur.'

'Arthur?'

He felt his jaw close and open once, staring transfixed at her. 'Uieughm.'

Thalia raised her eyebrows as Morgana giggled. 'What?'

'Arthur!'

With his eyes he tried to tell her "I can't talk!"

She got the message and laughed slightly. 'Alright, then.' She patted his shoulder.

Then the trumpets sounded and Uther walked in to the front, saving Arthur who hurried to sit down. He was aware of Thalia on his right but tried his best not to look at her. All people were looking in his rough direction and if he could he'd avoid looking like a gaping fish in front of everyone.

'We have enjoyed twenty years of peace and prosperity. It has brought the kingdom and myself many pleasures. But few could compare the honour of introducing

Lady Helen of Mora!'

Everyone clapped and Lady Helen began to sing. Thalia found herself enjoying the song until she felt sleepy. With sudden rapt eyes she looked around. Everyone had started to fall asleep. She mumbled a spell to make her temporarily deaf just in case and looked around. She decided to pretend to be asleep and so put her head carefully on the table with her eyes slightly open so she could see what was going on. Lady Helen kept on walking. The fires went out and spider webs started to cover every surface. Helen was looking at Arthur and when she pulled out a knife it clicked. But before Thalia could do anything the chandelier above Helen fell to the ground. Because of her spell, Thalia couldn't hear the crash but she imagined it had been a mighty one. Thalia lifted her head up immediately and saw… Merlin standing there. So she was right.

When he noticed her looking at him he froze. But Thalia gave a slow blink to assure him his secret was safe. He sighed in relief and nodded his thanks as everyone around them began to wake up. Uther stood the minute he saw the chandelier and Thalia turned and stood as well, reversing the spell on her ears.

'Sire, it's the mother of Thomas Collins.'

'It is, yes.' Quietly Uther added; 'was the Chandelier you?'

Thalia whispered a reply as Arthur and Morgana stood as well. 'Yes.'

'Good work.'

The witch opened her eyes and pushed her torso up and with her last bit of energy threw the knife with immense accuracy at Arthur who realised too late what was happening. But Thalia and Merlin had known immediately and so charged forward and pulled Arthur over as they heard the knife go through the chair he had been in front of a mere second earlier.

They sat up and Uther looked at Thalia and Merlin with relief as Arthur pieced together what had happened.

He looked at Thalia who was busy studying the witch and smiled, then looked at the person on his left who was… Merlin?!

The witch took her last breath and collapsed as Uther turned to Merlin.

'You saved my boy's life. A debt must be repaid.'

'Uhh… well.'

'Don't be so modest. Thalia, you saw as well as I; did he help you save Arthur's life?'

'He did, yes.'

'You shall be rewarded.'

Arthur just stood there still looking at Merlin in disbelief.

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

'No, absolutely, this merits something quite special.'

Merlin softened up to the idea. 'Well…'

'You shall be awarded a position in the royal household.'

Arthur frowned slightly at his father as Thalia smiled.

'You shall be Prince Arthur's manservant!'

Uther clapped his son on the shoulder and went to look at the witch.

'Father!' but the hysterical protest didn't reach Uther and both Merlin and Arthur looked at each other as the people applauded. Thalia just laughed. They looked at each other once more, Merlin in despair and Arthur in resigned disgust before turning away, Arthur noticing Thalia laughing. He proceeded to glare at her incredulously as she struggled to stop.

'Well now, that was a night to remember, wasn't it?'

'Shut up, Thalia.'

Another smile grew on her face.

They reached her chambers and stopped.

'Merlin may well turn out to be a terrible servant but he is a witty man. At least you won't be bored anymore.'

'Oh, I suppose you're right.' Arthur paused, looking at the floor. 'I um… didn't get the chance to say this evening but umm… you look absolutely beautiful.'

Thalia grinned evilly. 'You had a very large chance but you went all goldfish on me.'

Arthur laughed; embarrassed.

'Thank you, Arthur.'

Thalia ruffled his hair as his head was still down and went through the doors to her chambers. Arthur scowled at his hair when he saw it in the mirror. But it was an affectionate scowl.