'Bells… why are there bells? Oh.' Thalia tapped the side of her head and the ringing in her head stopped. Another disagreement on Druids with Uther had left her head ringing. She felt they were brilliant people who did their best for good magic. Uther, however, believing all but her magic to be evil, felt they should all be killed. So she, as she did in all such situations, acknowledged his authority and refused to have any part in the proceedings. But as she was walking through the castle, head still ringing, another sound apart from an unnatural bell rang out. A scream of a boy. And then a few minutes later; 'Help.'

She hurried to the courtyard to see Merlin also looking around. They looked at each other and changed their faces to communicate. So Merlin had heard it too. The only people that would risk using magic like that were the druids Uther was having caught. So one of them was a boy.

'Help me. Please.'

Merlin clutched his head while Thalia ignored the ringing sensation, having dealt with it for ours since her lengthy conversation with Uther.

She and Merlin both saw the boy and he looked toward the guards. Thalia bit the inside of her cheek, weighing up whether or not to get involved.

'They're searching for me.'

Merlin replied. 'Why are they after you?'

Fear flashed on the boy's face. 'They're going to kill me.'

Thalia noted the lack of answer to Merlin's question. 'And I might too if you don't tell me who you are.'

Startled eyes met hers from a distance and a reluctant answer floated back.

'I'm a druid. Guards just killed my father.'

Merlin had made his mind up. He ran to a doorway leading underground. 'This way. Run. Run!'

'Hey, there he is! Alert the rest of the guard.'

Thalia decided it was time to do some reading. The boy wasn't quite… normal for a Druid.

She had just made it back to her chambers, sat down and had picked up one of her four magical books when there was a knock on her door. An angry groan and a heave off her chair found Thalia at her door, hand on the handle.

'Arthur.'

'How do you always know it's me?'

'No one else knocks on my door like that. What do you want?'

'The son of the druid escaped. My father wishes to hear your council.'

She gritted her teeth. 'Well perhaps if I could have some time to read up on things I'd be more useful.' She wrenched the door open and walked with Arthur.

'The druid was only in Camelot to collect supplies. He meant no harm. Is it really necessary to execute him?'

'Absolutely necessary. Those who use magic cannot be tolerated.'

'And Thalia?'

'Arthur, we've been over this. Thalia is different and helps Camelot. Next to all other magic users do not.'

'But not all of them are a problem to Camelot, either. The Druids are a peaceful people.'

Thalia sighed, readjusting her balance as she leant on a pillar. She could almost mouth Uther's reply word for word.

'Given the chance they would return magic to the kingdom. They preach peace but conspire against me. We cannot appear weak.' Uther began walking out.

'Showing mercy can be a sign of strength.'

Uther turned round momentarily. 'Our enemies will not see it that way. We have a responsibility to protect this kingdom. Executing the Druid will send out a clear message.'

'Um, sire.'

'Yes, Thalia.'

'I'm sorry but erm… why am I here?'

'Oh! Sorry I nearly forgot. I had a woman in here a couple of hours ago saying her children had been playing in the woods and had stumbled across a stone on the

end of a stick. I was hoping you could look into it.'

'Oh, of course.'

'And Arthur, find the boy. Search every inch of the city.'

With a bitter face Arthur walked out.

'People of Camelot…'

Thalia tuned out Uther as usual, standing with her arms folded on Uther's right side, Arthur much the same on Uther's left.

To Thalia Uther's usual drabble sounded much the same as usual. 'Anyone… magic.. ghsjg…' But then a voice cut through. 'You have let your fear of magic turn to hate. I pity you.' She looked down to see the druid looking at the king with confidence. She had to admire his courage. And then he was gone and Thalia walked away to investigate a supposed magical staff.

'If you knew where the boy was would you let him live?'

'What?' Thalia looked up from her black and gold bound book to see the familiar blue eyes of Arthur, his face wearing the expression she knew to mean he was considering something, weighing it up and turning it over in his mind like a pig on a spit.

'Say you found him.' Arthur readjusted his position in his armchair. 'And the circumstances in which you did allowed you to have a choice, would you let him live?'

Thalia drew a lengthy breath through her nose and tiled her head, thinking about his words. 'I have very briefly met the boy. He called out with his mind to me this morning when he was being chased. That's not uncommon for a druid, even I have that power, but there's something underneath his childish voice and appearance.

It could be he has not yet adjusted to his magic and therefore looks like he's constantly listening to someone or if there's something else going on in his head. But one thing's for sure, for some reason I don't trust him. For him to sound so clear in my head at such a young age… and he definitely has great capabilities, it's very unnatural. So in all honesty, Arthur, I find my answer would be no, probably not.'

His face had changed while she was speaking, from one of thoughtfulness to admiration.

'What?'

'I sometimes forget you're a sorceress.'

'Should that be an issue? What does that have to do with anything?'

'Nothing, it makes me marvel at how much alike sorceress and non are. But I also sometimes forget how wise you are as well.'

She hummed a single low note and opened her book once more. Arthur smiled, watching as she flipped a page, half her face more illuminated than the other by the fire. Then the cheeky impulse that he had long since learnt originated from knowing Thalia hit him and he smirked before making a grab for her book.

'Oi!'

'What?' he held the book.

Thalia's eyes changed from turquoise to a storm for a second and the book shut. Arthur looked scared.

'You can't be that afraid of magic, surely?'

'I suppose I am. But I'm just not used to you using it so casually.'

'You're not allowed to read that book.'

'Why not?' he triumphantly tried to prize it open again but to no avail.

'Arthur, I've told you a thousand times. You don't have my permission and so you cannot open the book.'

'Ugh, fine. What are you reading up on, anyway?'

'Druids.'

'… I thought you read about Druids in that one.' He pointed to a green one in a small bookshelf by the fire.

'… Now you're winding me up. You know perfectly well the words in these books change depending on what I need. Now give me the damn thing back.' She leant forward and Arthur reluctantly placed it in her outstretched hand.

'Just don't go all impolite and ignore me again, will you?'

She opened it again and continued from halfway down her page. 'Shouldn't you be telling Uther about your luck finding the boy?'

A sigh. 'Where do you think he is?'

'The boy? I haven't got a clue, Arthur.'

She didn't need to look up to know the expression on his face. Admiration, (a hint of love) and sympathy. 'Did you really just walk away from him?'

Thalia gave a nod, feeling her attention span fading away.

'That must have been very hard.'

'Not particularly. Gaius was there.'

'What?'

Thalia looked up. 'What?'

'You said Gaius was there.'

'Oh. Well he wasn't.'

'So why did you say that?'

'Say what?' She had put her head back to the book again.

Arthur let out a frustrated groan and stood up and left the smirking Thalia's chambers.

Five minutes later and he was opening her doors and walking in. 'I can't believe my father. He's making me double my efforts. And now Morgana's gone and said the same thing he does. I'm finding myself hoping the boy is worth all this…' Arthur looked around. '… … trouble. Thalia? … … Thalia! Where the hell are you?'

'Screen.'

He jumped about a metre into the air at the sudden sound of her voice before walking across the room and fell into the same armchair he'd been in minutes earlier. 'I don't know where the boy is, I really don't.'

'Well I can't help. The last I saw him he was in the courtyard behind a wagon.'

'You couldn't have captured him then, could you?'

'Well you know I- ow!'

'You right?' Arthur instantly leant forward.

'My necklace got caught. But you know I wasn't going to take part in hunting druids.'

'Oh, I suppose so.'

'And besides, I haven't the space to hide a half grown druid. Argh! Nor the time.'

'You sure you're all right?'

'I never said I was.'

She could hear the humour in his voice. 'Do you want help?' But there was also a lot of hesitancy.

'Hang on.'

The sound of cloth moving and settling made Arthur relax a little.

'Right, come here.'

Arthur stood and waited by the screen. Thalia came back around in a nightdress and holding her hair up.

'Get the damn thing off, will you?'

'Um… how?'

'The great Arthur Pendragon defeated by a clasp. There's a hook. Un hook it.'

'Oh. Right.'

Arthur fumbled for a moment and the ends of the necklace fell apart. He hadn't considered he might need to hold on to it and so it fell. Before his brain realised, his reflexes sent his hand shooting after it, catching the end of the chain. Then he froze.

'… Arthur?'

'Y…' He frowned, trying to work out his situation. By reaching in front of her he'd pulled Thalia backwards onto his chest and heaven knows where his hand ended up. 'Yes?'

'I'm going to fall over if you don't stop resting your arm on me.'

'Oh. Sorry.' He wanted to ask, but he'd frozen again.

'… Arthur. Arthur!'

Her urgent tone snapped him out of his daze and he brought his hand back, still holding the necklace and with the other steadied her. 'Sorry.'

'Mmm.'

She turned around and Arthur braved a look at her neckline. There were a couple of marks made by his nails near her collarbone and the biggest sigh of relief flew through his head. He awkwardly handed her the necklace and realised with incredulous eyes she had been chuckling the entire time.

'Now, are you going to ignore me again or are you going to talk with me?'

'Shouldn't you be searching the castle?'

'At this hour? I hardly think so.'

The next evening Thalia was walking past Arthur's room when she heard his voice. It sounded confused more than anything and so she went in, past the long table and stood by his bed, watching as Merlin had keys floating behind his head. She struggled not to laugh.

Arthur stood up. 'What is that?'

Where ever he turned his head, Merlin was one step ahead and Arthur was left looking round like a madman.

His face grew more impatient. 'Can't you hear it?! Either of you?'

Merlin shook his head. 'I can't hear anything.'

'Are you deaf?! It's like a … jangling sound.' He waved his hand.

Thalia fought furiously to control her laughter. She leant on the bedpost for support as Arthur squinted and prowled forward like he was hunting.

'Would you stop laughing?!'

'Sorry…. Hahaha….'

'There!' Merlin pointed to the other side of the room.

'What?' Arthur spun.

'I thought I saw something.'

When Arthur went over Merlin let the key drop into the soup.

'What was that?'

'What was what?'

'A different sound, like a splash.'

Merlin's face held complete innocence.

'Arthur, I think you might be going mad.'

'Shut up, Thalia.'

Merlin piped up. 'Bread?'

Only to be shoved out of the way as Arthur moved past him. Under the raised eyebrows of Thalia Merlin fished the key out of the prince's soup and grinned.

'Merlin,' whispered Thalia, 'should I ask what you're doing?'

'Probably not.'

'Okay.' She was happy with that response.

Bells. And this time not in her head. Thalia groaned and rolled over as she pulled her pillow around her head with a grumpy moan.
'Oh, for the love of Camelot!'

A bang on her door made her angry shout louder at the end.

'Thalia, you coming?'

'If it's about the druid boy thencertainly not, go AWAY, Arthur.'

The still chiming bells made Thalia groan further and her patience snapped. Her eyes flashed with lightning and clouds as she cast a wordless spell on herself. Her eyelids fell heavily once more and she slept.

'Thalia?'

More knocking.

'WHAT?!'

'You might want to see this. It was Morgana who was hiding the boy.'

'Nothing to do with me, Arthur, go away.'

Thalia was woken for the final time early that morning by her weight shifting as someone sat on the edge of her bed. A single irritated noise was all they were met with.

'Permission to crash?'

'Mm hm.'

Arthur exhaustedly let himself fall back on the bed, lying over Thalia's feet. She'd always let him crash in her chambers when everything got too much and gave him a headache.

'My father has decided the boy is to be executed.'

'Mmm.'

'And I don't know where I stand on that decision.'

'Mmmm?'

A sigh. 'He won't listen. He's convinced the boy will grow up to strike against us.'

'Bngth.'

'What?'

Thalia moved her face away from the pillow. 'Book.'

'Oh. Which one?' Arthur looked at the bookshelf.

'Silver n blue.'

He stretched out his hand. 'Nnngh… nope, can't reach it.'

'Obrinde, cume mec.'

Arthur's eyes lazily followed the book as it floated over his head to Thalia's hand.

'I don't want to see the boy killed.'

'Mmm… neither do I, but it seems he is destined to rise against Camelot.'

Arthur glanced up. 'When did you open that? I didn't hear pages rustling.'

'Stop being so flippant, Arthur.'

'So if you know… hang on. What's he destined to do?'

'...'

'Thalia…?'

'Kill you.'

'Oh. Well that's nice.'

'Mm. But as you say he is still a boy. With a couple of spells in here I can re-write destiny, I'll make sure he doesn't kill you. And that's all years in the future, I wouldn't want to see his life cut short here.'

'See, you're going wise again.'

'Hardly. If I was being wise I'd let him be killed. You do what you believe Arthur and either way I'll clean up your mess.'

'I suppose I should say thank you?'

'Yes.'

'Right. Thank you.'

'Morgana's probably next door in your chambers by now. You'd better go deal with her.'

'No, I'm comfortable here.'

Thalia smiled. 'Arthur, get up.' She nudged him with her foot playfully.

'Oh, fine. Just don't go back to sleep, will you?'

She mocked his tone. 'Oh, fine.'

Night came as peacefully as Thalia expected. She was deciding whether or not to go speak to her old friend when… bells.

No more groans, no more moaning. Instead, Thalia let out a single sigh and kicked her door on her way out in annoyance. To the great dragon it was, then. Anything to be beyond the reach of the noise of those bells.

'Ah, young sorceress! I take it you have spoken to Merlin?'

'Of course not, I've been training Knights the entire day.'

'The boy's name is Mordred.'

Thalia nodded. 'Yes, I thought it would be. Merlin, whatever you've told him, won't let the boy die. But here in your presence I will rewrite destiny.' The dragon nodded, welcoming her to go on. Thalia raised her voice as if casting a powerful enchantment. 'I say in the presence of the Great Dragon Kilgharrah that I will prevent the death of Arthur at Mordred's hands or means. I will kill Mordred but not while he is a boy. He is destined to kill Arthur as a young man and so I will not harm him while he lives as a child. Let this destiny be sealed by the Old Religion and the safety of Arthur Pendragon rests in my more than capable hands. I REWRITE DESTINY!'

A wind blew through the caverns and lightning appeared from nowhere and struck either side of Thalia's feet. Her hair came loose and whipped around her face while the dragon lifted his wings and arched his neck, loving the feel of the wind.

When it died down they smiled at each other.

'Well done, my girl. It has worked.'

Thalia nodded. 'Oh, Kilgharrah?'

'Yes?'

'My books mention that Merlin doesn't trust you for a while starting in a few months time. I'm guessing he hasn't yet figured out your main motive for helping him?'

'And what motive might that be?'

'You wish to be free.'

'No, he is not yet aware.'

'Well you will still be able to rely on my company when he doesn't speak to you.'

'I am glad. Now you should go and sleep, you look exhausted.'

'I have had my sleep interrupted so many times over the last few days I'm not sure whether it's day or night.'

They bowed their heads to each other and Thalia turned to leave before pausing. 'Be sure to tell Merlin I've re-written destiny, won't you?'

'Of course.'