'Merlin! Are you alright, what happened?'

Arthur noticed Thalia and Merlin talking urgently as the crowds milled. He walked over. 'Not still set on the troll theory are you?'

'Help or go away,' Thalia turned to him briefly, pulling her crown off of her head and clutching it in her hand.

Arthur decided to do the latter and went to talk to Sir Leon.

'She locked me underneath the castle, it took me the whole night to break through the stone. I'm sorry.'

'It's not your fault, Merlin, don't worry about it.' Thalia quickly scanned the crowd around them. 'Stick with me as much as you can from now on, she'll know you escaped and she'll be after you.'

He nodded, though looked uncertain. 'I don't want to annoy you by hanging around all of the time.'

'Merlin, you can't use a sword properly and unless you're alone with just me, the troll and Jonas, you can't use magic, neither of us can unless it's only Arthur or Uther with us. You won't get in the way, if anything you'll help.'

'Guards!' Thalia turned from the window in Arthur's chambers.

Merlin looked up from the bedsheets he was changing. 'What?'

'Merlin, get down!' Thalia urged.

'Why?'

'The guards are moving everywhere, no doubt they're looking for you. Get behind the bed!'

Before Merlin moved the door opened and Thalia's eyes flew to the door and her hand to the hilt of her sword before anyone had even taken a step inside. It was Arthur. Her grip loosened slightly.

'You need to get out of here. The King's ordered me to arrest you.'

'What for?' Thalia asked.

Arthur only just noticed her but answered quickly, crossing the room past Thalia and opening the other smaller door. 'Catrina's accused him of taking her seal.'

'But I didn't!'

'I don't want to know, and you haven't got time to explain. If you value your life, you'll leave Camelot right now.'

Merlin tried reasoning. 'Arthur, she is a troll, and she's trying to set me up.'

'We've been through this.'

Thalia didn't bother to try reasoning and cut Merlin off before he could retort.

'Merlin, run. Go.'

Arthur nodded. 'You need to leave, Merlin.'

There was a knock on the door. 'Sire!'

'Go, go!'

'Now, Merlin!'

Merlin nodded to them both and ran out, as the guards opened the door. Arthur turned round and walked purposefully out. 'He's not in here, try the armoury if you haven't already.'

Thalia ducked out of sight and followed Merlin to make sure he got out of Camelot safely.

'Did he make it out?'

'Without even being spotted,' Thalia murmured back as she and Arthur paused outside the chamber doors.

'Ready?'

'You're the one doing the talking, not me.'

'Hm!' Arthur knocked on the door.

'Enter.'

They slipped inside.

'Father, Lady Catrina.'

'Sire, Lady Catrina.'

'Arthur, Thalia. What news of Merlin?'

'I fear he may have slipped through our net.' Arthur made no movement with his feet, though Catrina was still suspicious.

'You're very quick to give up the chase.'

'That is because I know my quarry is long gone.'

Uther frowned. 'How can you be so certain?'

Arthur rubbed his eye. 'Well, despite appearances, Merlin isn't stupid. He must've got wind that we were looking for him and left.'

'Outwitting your army in the process,' Catrina snarled.

'It appears so.'

'It doesn't help,' added Thalia, 'that you had them thundering around the castle ordering places to be searched.'

Catrina glowered at her before turning back to Arthur. 'I thought your men aspired to the same high standards that my father instilled in you.' She was addressing Uther.

Arthur frowned slightly before Uther replied.

'When I led the army, they did.'

'We don't even know if he's still in Camelot. He could be anywhere,' Arthur tried again.

'And that's a good enough reason to give up?' Catrina became vicious.

Thalia resisted the urge to hit her.

Arthur was perhaps for once the calmer of the two. 'No, I'm not. It's just that I believe our resources would be better-,'

'I've had enough of your excuses,' Uther interrupted. He clasped Catrina's hand as he sat down. 'We both have. I want the boy found.'

'Sire. My Lady.' Arthur bowed to each and Thalia inclined her head before the two turned and left.

As soon as they had, Thalia cracked her knuckles, clenching her teeth.

'Whoa, easy.'

'She's a troll, Arthur. A filthy, disgusting, selfish creature who's currently married to your father and the king of the whole damn kingdom and more importantly, after Merlin and insulting you.'

'I think I'll keep her away from you.'

'You can try, but I'll kill her one way or another.'

'Didn't realise you were so defensive,' Arthur admired her, though shuffled a little further away as they walked.

'Anyone who hurts Merlin has me to answer to.' She sped up and Arthur took a moment to stop and watch her storming with a happy expression on his face off before running to catch up.

A knock on Thalia's door didn't make her glance up. She turned a page. 'Come in, Arthur.'

He entered and frowned at her book. 'What's that?'

'One of Gaius' books on herbs; I'm trying to learn about them.' She looked up and Arthur's face was instantly read. 'What's wrong.'

Arthur sighed and sat down. 'They've picked up Merlin's trail, there was a campfire made outside Camelot, completely abandoned and it looks like he's heading for the Northern Border. I don't think he'll be able to outrun the knights.'

Thalia smirked. 'Relax, he's nowhere near there. The fire was a decoy.'

Arthur slumped and nodded his head. 'Good.'

A knock at her door made Thalia run over and wrench it open, letting Merlin dart inside.

'What is it?' She pulled him into a hug.

'They give her a potion to make her look like the Lady Catrina, kept in her quarters. If we can get rid of it, or make a powerless potion then we can reveal that she's a troll.'

'Good plan,' Thalia nodded, pushing Merlin further inside, past the bed and the largest windows to the secreted corner where there was a large blue chaise. 'But Gaius' quarters aren't safe enough, they check there all the time for you in case. Stay here, no one dares come in here, and no one can see this chaise if they do because of the corner.'

Merlin nodded his thanks, glanced at the enticing deep blue soft fabric and stifled a yawn. Thalia chuckled and crossed half her room to a cupboard, pulled out a spare blanket and passed it to Merlin.

'You get some sleep, you look exhausted. I'd better get to the council chambers, Uther and Catrina have summoned Arthur and I. I'll go past Gaius on the way and tell him where you are and what you've found.'

'Thank you.' Merlin pulled off his boots as she walked out, locking her chambers as she did.

Uther was grinning stupidly sitting beside Catrina, both on their thrones and holding hands, Thalia was discreetly imagining Catrina without a head whilst fidgeting a single finger over a thumb and Arthur had no idea he was about to once more become the less calm of the two.

'There's something important that I...we wish you to address. For too long, the people have had it easy. They've grown fat off our indulgence of them.'

Arthur was yet to change his intrigued expression. 'How so?'

'We provide peace, protection, food. They give us very little in return.'

'Most of our people are poor. They survive on the few crops they're able to grow.' Arthur now looked slightly concerned.

'That is what they would have us believe.' Catrina sounded so cold, Thalia now imagined her without a head nor torso.'

'It's what I see every day.' Arthur said shortly.

'We're introducing a new tax.' Uther was still smiling dreamily.

'The people must for the sanctuary that Camelot provides.' Catrina grew more cold.

'You can't. The majority are barely able to get by as it is.' Arthur was glancing between them, half confused, shocked, and a little hostile.

'Those who refuse to pay it will be arrested and publicly flogged.' Suddenly Uther's hard edge returned.

Thalia blinked slowly as Arthur continued after a pause.

'We've lived this way for years. You've never suggested anything like this before.'

'Maybe not to you,' said Catrina cooing Uther, 'but the King confided in me that he has been considering this for some time, haven't you?'

'Yes, I have.'

Thalia noticed the glowing red amulet around Uther's neck and frowned, squinting at it.

'You are to begin the collections at once.'

Thalia turned without a word and walked out. Arthur followed her, also without a word.

'Merlin, tell me you've got a plan,' Thalia sighed as she entered her chambers.

'I'm going to break into their quarters tonight and steal the potion.'

'Good. Catrina's started ruining Camelot, a new tax that takes far too much from the people.'

They looked round, Merlin like a startled Arthur, deer and rabbit, when there was knock at the door.

'Arthur, what do you want?'

'To fall flat on your bed and not move. Permission to crash?'

'Granted.'

The door swung open and Arthur, without glancing up, trudged over to the bed and fell, like he said, flat on his face over the bottom half.

'Catrina will be in her quarters by now, so Jonas will be asleep if you want to steal that potion now, Merlin.'

'M-r-n?' Arthur's head lifted off of the bed. 'Merlin?'

Merlin appeared round the corner from the chaise.

'You're alright!'

'He's been here for about twelve hours, he was hiding before that,' Thalia explained as Arthur grinned and seemed more relaxed as his head hit the bed again.

'Do you want me to come with you, Merlin?'

'I should be alright, but I'll come back if I need help.'

'Alright, be careful.'

Merlin nodded and left.

'Morning, sunshine,' Thalia kicked Arthur, who had not bothered to move from the cosy armchair he'd sat by the fire in the evening before. Thalia was already dressed, had eaten and made her bed.

'What time is it, where's breakfast?'

'Well the remains of mine is on the table, help yourself. I'm going to see Merlin and Gaius, hopefully they've made progress.'

'Have you considered,' Arthur hauled himself from the chair, 'that Catrina is simply not as innocent as she looks and is merely a corrupt human?'

'Jonas has a tail and remember the other night when Merlin and I were spying on her? She's definitely a troll.'

Arthur frowned as Thalia left.

'Good morning Gaius, how's the potion?'

Gaius held it up.

'What's in it?' Merlin asked.

'Nothing too potent. Rat's guts.'

'Nice.'

'Nice.'

'Toad paste.'

'Nice.'

Merlin frowned.

'Take two toads,' explained Gaius, 'grind them up-,'

'No, I get the picture.'

Thalia chuckled.

'Horse dung. Crushed sheep's eyeball.'

'Oh, lovely.' Merlin was eyeing it with more distrust as the list went on.

'Pond scum. Three wolf spiders. And what potion isn't complete without a dash of sheep's brain?'

'Sounds… delicious.' Merlin squirmed.

'Looks it, too,' Thalia said.

'Good, 'cause you're going to taste it.'

For a moment Merlin didn't look too worried, until he realised that Gaius wasn't talking to Thalia. 'No way.'

'It's completely harmless.'

'Er, no.'

Gaius and Thalia simply looked at him expectantly.

Annoyed, Merlin stuck the tip of a finger into the top of the jar and tapped it to his tongue. Immediately he gagged and went into a coughing fit. 'That is...ugh.' He wiped his tongue with his sleeve. 'That is disgusting.'

'Yes, to you, but not to a troll.'

'I can't even believe you let me put that in my mouth!'

'Yes, well, try the original.'

'Oh...' Merlin clearly would rather be beaten up by knights.

'Just a small amount. And be sure to spit it out.'

The same thing happened.

'Does it taste roughly the same?'

'Yes! It's horrible.'

'Are you sure? Because if there's too big a difference, Catrina will notice.'

'It tastes exactly the same.'

'Well, let's hope she thinks so, too.'

'If it helps, Gaius,' Thalia said, slightly amused, 'they both smell the same.'

There was a knock on the door. Merlin made to dive out of sight but Thalia put a hand on his arm. She went to the door.

'Hello Arthur.'

He was dressed, washed and had clearly eaten judging by the satisfied look on his face. 'I'm just on my way down to the town for a walk if you want to come.'

'Alright.'

After Thalia stepped round the door Arthur looked inside. 'Morning Gaius, Merlin.'

'Sire.'

'Arthur.'

He shut the door.

'Any news from the borders?'

'None, seems our biggest problem right now is Catrina.'

'Mm.' Thalia tilted her jaw.

They stepped around horses in the courtyard and went across the bridge.

'How are you coping without Merlin?'

'Well enough, though there are a lot of chores that need doing.'

'If we can't sort out Catrina you know you're going to have to get a new manservant?'

'Yeah…, I know.'

They fell into silence at that point, Thalia amused. Arthur had cheered up by the time they reached the lower town and was looking pleasantly around until they heard a grunt and changed their view to see two guards wrenching a man to the ground.'

Arthur marched over. 'What do you think you're doing?!'

'He's refusing to pay the King's tax.'

Thalia's eyes narrowed.

The man looked at the prince and crowned warrior. 'You- you ask for too much. I've given all I can.'

The guard wrenched his arm. 'That's not enough!'

Thalia caught the guard's wrist, warning him with a look.

Arthur glanced around at the crowd of people, who were looking at him, though mostly at Thalia as she stared down the guard, and spoke to the same guard Thalia was busy with who was holding the pouch of coins.

'Let me see.'

Thalia let go and the guard passed Arthur the pouch. It was big and fairly full. Thalia and Arthur looked inside, and looked at the guards and the man in shock. Arthur handed the pouch back to the man, who gasped and looked at them.

'Release him.'

'The King said-,'

'Release him. Give them back their money. All of it.'

'And then some if you have spare with you,' Thalia added. They turned amongst the smiling and bowing faces and walked back to the castle.

'Now we've done it.'

Of course they had. Uther and Catrina were in the council chambers on their cahirs, holding hands and only one was thinking straight.

'I gave you a direct order.' Uther looked up at Arthur.

'The people cannot afford to pay the tax.'

'Don't tell me you're naïve enough to take them at their word?' Catrina asked, looking at Arthur.

Before Thalia could reply Arthur did, glancing at her. 'We have their loyalty, their goodwill. Do not forsake that by making unreasonable demands.'

'Is it so unreasonable for a king to expect his subjects to obey him?'

'If they're dead it is,' Thalia muttered, though making sure it was still loud enough to hear.

Catrina looked at her incredulously.

'They'll starve!' Arthur added.

The amulet around Uther glowed red again and Thalia sighed.

Uther stood up. 'Nonsense. They've grown too soft. Remember, these are your subjects, not your friends.'

Arthur replied instantly. 'And why can't they be both?'

Uther was just as quick. 'Because we rule the people, not the other way around.'

'I think you're wrong.' He shook his head.

'I beg your pardon?' Uther stepped toward Arthur.

'I said you're wrong. Without the people there is no Camelot. We're as much their servant as they are ours.'

Catrina stood up and stood behind Uther. 'You allow him to address you in this manner?'

'No I do not. It will not be tolerated. You will take your men down into the town and go to every house collecting the payments I demand. Both of you.'

'I will not.'

They looked at Thalia, who raised her eyebrows.

'Certainly not.'

'Get out of my sight.'

'Gladly, sire.' Thalia said. She lifted her toes, turned on her heels and walked out.

Arthur glanced around, startled and hastily did the same.

They were in Thalia's chambers when there was a knock at the door.

'Come in, Gwen,' Thalia said.

Gwen glanced around and saw them in the armchairs, brooding. Arthur had a folded hand over his mouth, Thalia her knuckles to a temple.

'I saw what you did earlier. The people owe you a debt of gratitude.' Her grateful and happy air had no effect on Arthur and Thalia.

'The people owe us nothing. My father's still going to impose the tax.'

'Will he not be persuaded?'

'Hm!' Thalia still hadn't moved.

'Not by me. He can't stand the sight of me.'

'That's not true. The King loves you.'

'It's a long story, Gwen,' Thalia explained, or rather didn't.

'You should've heard the way he spoke to me,' Arthur added, bitter.

'I'm sure he was angry, but you're still his son.' Gwen glanced between them. 'Everyone appreciates what you did. They know you tried, and they won't forget that.'

'Maybe he's right. One day I will be the King of Camelot, and I cannot be a friend to the people as well as their ruler.'

'Yes you can, stop brooding,' Thalia said.

Arthur nearly smiled, Gwen noticed his mouth twitch. 'You're brooding as well.'

'Not about my family problems.'

Arthur frowned. 'What are you brooding about?'

'Camelot, Prince Arthur.'

Arthur shrugged his head.

Another knock at the door Gwen left open made their heads turn.

Sir Leon was around the door. 'The King has sent for you.'

'Brilliant,' Thalia grumbled, standing. 'Every time this happens something gets worse. Where are we going, Leon?'

'Council chambers.'

'Right,' she sighed.

The chambers were filled with knights and guards, Gaius was there and Catrina sat on her chair behind Uther, who stood holding an unrolled scroll.

Arthur glanced around, confused. 'Father?'

Without bothering to greet either of them, Uther addressed Arthur. Thalia stepped away to the side.

'I'm relaxing your duties, revoking your title.'

'What?'

'We live in dangerous times, I cannot allow you to undermine my authority.'

'You've always welcomed my counsel in the past.'

Uther was becoming more menacing by the moment. 'You stood against me for all the people to see.'

'I'm sorry. Any future grievance I have will be held in private.' Arthur clearly thought this stupid and strange as he looked around.

'No, it's too late for that.' Uther turned and walked back to his chair.

'Father, this is...' Arthur took a step to follow him but Uther turned round.

'You are to be disinherited, with immediate effect. You are no longer Crown Prince of Camelot.'

Gaius stepped forward. 'Sire, Arthur is your son, your natural heir-,'

Arthur turned briefly to the physician. 'Gaius...' Gaius fell silent. Arthur was trying to protect him. He turned back to his father.

Thalia noticed the hard edge was gone from Uther's eyes and he looked sad.

Arthur walked up to his father. 'You've always taught me to be true to my heart, and that's all I've ever tried to do. To be the man you wanted me to be. Someone you were proud to call your son.'

'My decision is final.' Uther didn't speak like he was sad, but he still looked it.

Arthur turned and left, though Thalia stayed as Uther addressed the court.

'Queen Catrina will be named as rightful heir to the throne. The ceremony will begin forthwith!'

As Sir Leon started the clapping, because nobody else did, Thalia left.

'Arthur!'

He turned and waited for her from down the corridor.

'What's gotten into him?'

'I've told you, you just won't believe me.'

Arthur sighed and Thalia put a hand on his back.

'We are gathered here to bear witness to the naming of Queen Catrina as the rightful heir to Camelot. Are you willing to take the oath?'

Morgana glanced at Arthur, who had his head down and reached to grab Thalia's hand a moment later. She squeezed it. She'd chosen to wear a crown to remind Catrina that she could do nothing about the Crowned Warrior's power.

'I am,' spoke Catrina.

'Do you solemnly swear to govern the people of Camelot, to uphold the laws and customs of the land?'

'I...do.'

Thalia suddenly payed more attention, and tapped the back of Arthur's hand. He looked up as Catrina squirmed in discomfort, scratching her arm.

'Will you, to your power cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgments?'

'I will.'

'Will you, to the utmost of your powers...'

Thalia noticed Catrina checking her arm and smirked, catching eyes with Gaius.

'...maintain the laws...'

'Yes, yes.'

'I'm sorry, you-you must let me finish. The wording must be exactly right to be binding.'

Thalia smirked again, lowering her head. Arthur frowned, watching her. She winked at him, clearly amused.

'Well, get on with it then. I mean, really, where did you dig up this old crone from?'

While the entire court looked shocked, Uther looked to Geoffrey, still smiling stupidly. 'She's right. Get on with it.'

Morgana's mouth dropped and she looked at Thalia. Arthur watched with a frown he murmured to Thalia. 'What's going on?'

She whispered back, not moving her mouth. 'Just watch.'

After a pause Geoffrey nodded to the king and continued. 'Will you, to the utmost of your powers...'

'Yes, yes, yes.' She was still scratching.

'...maintain the laws and customs...'

'I will, I will.'

'...of the land, and serve the people of Camelot?' He was annoyed, but kept his professionalism. Unlike Catrina, who promptly had an outburst.

'Yes! Just shut up and give me the crown!'

While the entire court gasped, Thalia chuckled and Arthur pulled her hand toward him, getting her attention to pull a "what's going on," look at her.

Geoffrey presented the crown on the cushion, moving slowly. He then held it out to Catrina, who instead of lowering her height, snapped and grabbed the crown from his hands. 'Will you just hurry up!' She jammed it on her head and ran out of the hall, back down the aisle. While Morgana and Arthur watched her go in surprise, Uther stood up and called lovingly after her.

'Catrina!'

'Come on,' whispered Thalia and ran down the aisle, pulling Arthur with her for the first few steps. Thalia winked at Merlin, who was up on the higher levels as they went through the door.

They made it to the council chambers, Uther in front. The open door suddenly became shut and Thalia winked again at Merlin.

'Catrina! Whatever's the matter?'

She panicked. 'I'm sorry...' she hid her left arm behind her back, 'I don't know what came over me. I, I just suddenly felt so hot. I, do you know, I think I need to be on my own, alright?' she was backing to the door.

'Are you alright?' Trust Morgana to be kind and worried.

Catrina held out her still disguised arm to stop Morgana rom approaching further. 'Yes, yes, I'm, I'm fine. Really, thank you. I just...'

Thalia saw Merlin casting a spell, and the door became locked. He grinned at her.

'Come on. Come on…' Catrina was fiddling with the handles. 'Open!'

In the pause, Arthur inclined a hand. 'Let me.' Suddenly he recoiled. 'What's that?'

Catrina turned around, now in a complete incoherent panic as she began to transform.

'What's happening?' Morgana asked as the bumps of troll skin rippled under Catrina's skin. 'Somebody help her!'
Thalia, on the other hand, outstretched her arm and pulled Morgana further back, before sidestepping and standing in front of Arthur, arm outstretched to the side to stop him moving past.

Uther was still grinning like he had just been hit over the head.

The transformation completed and Arthur was the first to speak.

'You're a troll!'

It gasped, grunting at Arthur.

Uther frowned. 'How dare you speak about her like that!'

'What is wrong with you? Look at the state of her!' Arthur, still behind Thalia's arm, pointed at the troll.

A few moments passed in which Uther simply admired the grunting troll.

'I don't believe it.' Still in shock, Morgana shook her head.

The no longer like Catrina troll turned around and Thalia pushed Arthur and Morgana out of the way as she pulled the right hand door from the wall and ran out, letting the incredibly large piece of wood fall to the floor.

'She just ripped a door off its hinges. Doesn't that tell you something?'

'Enough!' Uther roared.

'She's a troll! A giant...grey...' Arthur was at loss.

'Stinking,' Morgana exclaimed.

Arthur nodded 'Stinking troll!'

'Stop it!' Uther picked up the dropped crown and a shoe. 'Haven't you hurt her feelings enough? Insult my wife again, it'll be the last thing you ever do.' He whirled his cloak around him and walked out, over the door.

'Believe us yet?' Thalia asked, finally putting her arm down.

'Yeah,' Arthur croaked, 'yeah I believe you.'

Thalia and Merlin sighed. 'Anything?'

'Nothing. My books don't include trolls.'

'So what do we do?'

'We go and see the dragon.'

Merlin had been grumbling the whole way down to the cavern.

'Merlin, what is it?'

'He betrayed me.'

'How?'

'When Arthur was bitten by the questing beast he said that the cup of life would take my life, not my mother's. He knew.'

'Despite his riddles, Merlin, if I didn't know then Kilgharrah didn't either. Don't hold it against him.'

'I can hear you two talking,' called the dragon, 'Merlin I haven't seen you in so long. How are you, young Warlock?'

'A little better, since Thalia explained you didn't know about the Cup of Life. I'm sorry.'

The dragon nodded. 'Now, what brings you here?'

'Well, a troll disguised herself as the late Lady Catrina of Tregor, and now Uther's married her and she's the heir to the throne,' said Merlin, exhausted.

Kilgharrah was silent for a moment before laughing. Thalia burst out laughing a moment later. They kept laughing and Merlin rolled his hand as they continued.

'This isn't funny.'

'Oh, it is, it is. The thought of Uther marrying a troll! Was it a very public affair?' he was still trying not to laugh.

'Public enough.'

Kilghrarrah started laughing again.

'Don't laugh! If she can't be stopped, Arthur won't become King. Albion will never be born.'

Thalia doubled over and Kilgharrah hid has face behind a claw.

Merlin huffed. 'Don't laugh! If she can't be stopped, Arthur won't become King. Albion will never be born!'

Kilgharrah cleared his throat, back to being a sensible wise dragon. 'I'm sorry. You are right, of course.'

'How can we break the enchantment?' Merlin asked.

Thalia stood up straight as she focused.

'These are not trifling tricks. Troll magic is very powerful.'

Merlin looked uneasy. 'There has to be a way.'

'I will tell you if you promise to one day release me from here.'

Merlin, who had forgiven Kilgharrah, shrugged. 'I'm not sure.'

'We will,' Thalia said, stepping on Merlin's toe, 'but there will be things I'll want to discuss with you further when the time comes closer.'

The dragon nodded. 'The only way you could break this enchantment is if Uther were to cry tears of true remorse.'

Thalia immediately had a plan, though Merlin frowned further.

'How do we make him do that?'

'That I can't answer. Uther's heart is cold as stone. He's never been sorry for anything.'

'Thanks, I think.' Merlin's eyebrows drew together in confusion.

'Don't worry, Merlin. I know what we need to do.'

'What?' Merlin and Kilgharrah peered at the High Priestess.

'Simple,' she shrugged, 'we kill Arthur. Good day, Kilgharrah.' She then turned and walked out.

'What?!' Merlin waved a hand in goodbye to the dragon and tore after Thalia. Kilgharrah watched them go with an amused look on his face.

A moment later he chuckled again at the thought of Uther and the troll Lady Catrina.

'I've spoken to Gaius, he's got a poison we can use.'

'Good. Now all we need to do is convince Arthur. Or force it down his throat if that doesn't work.'

Merlin shrugged.

'You hide in Arthur's chambers, I've got to run an errand.'

Arthur and Thalia returned to his chambers at night and Arthur sat on the bed. From underneath came a whisper.

'Arthur!'

Arthur frowned and looked around.

'Arthur!'

He bolted up and grabbed his sword from the bedside table.

'Who's there?' He noticed Thalia hadn't flinched.

From under the bed Merlin's head appeared. 'Merlin.'

Arthur jumped as he heard and saw Merlin at the same time. He put his sword down and blinked at Merlin. He sat down behind his desk and Thalia stood behind him looking out of the window.

'So your, er, your stepmother is a troll, then.' Merlin got out from under the bed.

Thalia snorted quietly, though Arthur heard.

'If you say "I told you so"...,' Arthur warned, pointing a letter opener at Merlin.

Thalia chuckled and turned around, leaning on the window sill.

'I wasn't going to. I wouldn't. But it's true that if you had listened to me earlier, then…'

Merlin received a death glare from the tired prince.

'Sorry. Gaius and I believe your father's been enchanted, now we found a way to break the spell, but we need your help.'

'Also, you're probably not going to like it,' Thalia added.

'Why?'

'Well, let's wait for Gaius before we start telling you the plan.'

Arthur glanced between the two, suddenly uneasy and unsettled.

'So your great plan is to kill me?' Arthur leant on a pillar and folded his arms.

Merlin looked up from where he was turning down Arthur's bed. 'No. Well, yes. It...not exactly. It's...' he walked over to Arthur and Thalia, who was standing on the wall opposite Arthur. 'Gaius has made a potion that gives the appearance of death without the actual dying bit.' Merlin grinned and continued walking past. When he turned around and saw Arthur's suspicious face he added, 'It's fine. There's nothing to worry about. It'll only bring you to the brink of death.'

Arthur looked away. 'Oh, only to the brink.'

'We haven't got a choice.'

'We could actually kill you,' Thalia said, 'but we thought you'd like this plan better.'

'Always good to know you've got my back,' Arthur muttered, before looking to Gaius. Thalia's mouth twitched in her humour.

Gaius was speaking as if it was all very simple and not worth a large fuss. 'We have to make your father cry.'

Arthur shook his head and threw his arms out wide. 'He doesn't care about me anymore.' He began to pace.

'Nonsense,' Gaius assured, 'That's Catrina's influence. I've known your father for many, many years. There's never been anyone or anything he's treasured more than you. It's perfectly safe. A single drop of the antidote will reverse the effects immediately.'

Arthur stopped pacing. 'Antidote. What antidote? You didn't say anything about the antidote!' He glared at Merlin who was in the corner by the door.

'Didn't we?' said Thalia.

'Er...I didn't think it was important.' Merlin shrugged.

Before Arthur could retort Gaius continued. 'The potion will lower your heart rate and breathing. For all intents and purposes, you will be dead.'

'And the antidote reverses the effects?' Arthur asked, looking even more unsure than before.

'Yes,' Gaius and Thalia said, before Gaius added;

'If it's administered in time.'

Thalia bit her lip.

Arthur looked less happy. 'If it isn't?'

Merlin and Thalia looked away and Gaius kept his air of telling Arthur about the menu for a banquet.

'You will be dead,' the physician said.

It took Arthur half a moment to gather himself to shout at Merlin. 'You just said it wasn't important!'

'Erm...' Merlin turned around, 'yeah, I suppose it is a bit important.'

Incredulously Arthur rolled his eyes and turned away, putting his hands over his face. Thalia chuckled.

'Merlin will have the antidote. Once I have administered the poison...er, the potion-,'

Arthur's head turned away from his hands to look at Gaius.

'-he'll have half an hour to get it to you.'

Arthur glanced at Thalia, who didn't look at all worried, more like she found Arthur's reaction funny. This helped him somewhat, though he still looked at Merlin with a mix of disbelief, resentment and concern.

Merlin shrugged.

Arthur glanced at Thalia, who also shrugged, though in a more urging way than Merlin's cheerful one had been.

Arthur walked toward him, slightly menacingly. 'Don't be late.'

'Am I ever?'

Arthur looked no more reassured. He looked at Thalia. 'Please tell me you're going to help with this or I'm doomed.'

She smiled on one side of her mouth and nodded with slightly raised eyebrows, not lifting her head upright again, watching Arthur with amused and confident eyes. Arthur sighed, nodded twice at her and clasped her hand for a moment before walking toward Gaius.

Gaius held up the poison as Arthur approached him. 'Are you sure you want to go through with this?'

'It's the only way to save Camelot.' He still didn't look happy about it. Arthur flipped the lid off and, as if still not quite believing what he was doing, drank the poison. He winced at the taste, before looking at Merlin and Gaius. They looked back at him. Arthur shrugged.

As Merlin glanced at Gaius, Arthur's face remained the same and he swayed forward. Gaius and Merlin caught him, and Thalia grabbed his shoulders and pulled him off of them, easing Arthur to the ground, as his eyes slowly lost focus.

'I've got you. Down you go… There we go. Now!' She dusted off her hands.

'Time to break the bad news to Uther.'

'Quite,' Thalia nodded at Gaius, 'best if you do it, I think, Gaius.'

Gaius nodded his agreement and handed Merlin the empty bottle.

'I'll stay here and look after Arthur,' Thalia said.

Merlin nodded and also left, glancing both ways when he stuck his head out of the door. Thalia sighed and sat on a chair at Arthur's table.

Thalia stood up as Uther burst through the doors and walked over to his seemingly dead son. He dropped to his knees. Thalia put on a solemn face.

'My boy!' Uther looked down at Arthur's closed eyes. 'It was my fault. I pushed you away.'

Thalia looked up when the troll entered the room, gasping when she saw Uther and Arthur on the ground, Arthur clearly lifeless. She panicked and Thalia discreetly put her hand to her sword's handle.

'My son. My son.'

'Come away. There's nothing you can do for him now.' The troll tried to pull Uther from his son, though to no margin of success as Uther cradled Arthur in his arms.

'I killed him. I killed my only son!'

'No, no, no, no. Nu meaht þú begalan. Nu meaht þú...' the troll was muttering, though Thalia didn't stop her yet, they had to wait for the spell to be broken.

When the troll pulled on Uther's arm he finally looked at her, his eyebrows creased and he blinked at her in shock. 'Catrina?' The red in the amulet around Uther stopped glowing completely. 'What kind of trickery is this?' Uther stood up and backed away, looking horrified.

Despite her intentions on the gold and Camelot's riches, the troll finally snapped and insulted Uther. 'How I've suffered these last weeks. Allowing you to touch me!'

Uther put a hand over his mouth.

'Having to share a bed with you!'

'Ugh.' Uther looked like he was going to throw up.

'It's repulsive!'

'I know the feeling,' Uther croaked.

'Ooh, I've been looking forward to this.' The troll walked toward Uther, who stepped back.

'Guards!'

Two guards came through the door.

'Seize...it!'

Thalia prepared to attack the troll when she noticed Merlin kneeling beside Arthur, not with the antidote bottle but with his scarf in his hands. Immediately she dropped to her knees on Arthur's other side.
'Merlin! What happened?!'

'I got knocked out!'

'Jonas,' Thalia spat.

'I soaked it up in this.'

Thalia nodded. 'Alright, don't mess it up. I'm going to see if I can find Jonas before he comes in here.' She stood up took a second to process the situation as Merlin squeezed his scarf behind her. The troll was easily overpowering the two guards and Uther was still standing in shock. She pulled the king back. He looked to see who it was.

'Thalia!'

'Sire, stay back.' She looked at his eyes firmly.

Uther nodded, watching the troll fight the guards. But the troll had knocked out the guards and Thalia had an instant to draw her sword before Arthur came running at the troll. He slammed into her, but was still dazed and so doubled over, causing the troll to simply turn around.

'Is that any way to treat your dear old stepmother?'

Before the troll could knee Arthur in the gut, Thalia had slipped past her and pulled Arthur back protectively, sword pointed at the troll. Still dazed and glad of her presence, Arthur stayed curled under her arm.

'Ah, the Crowned Warrior!' the troll said, 'I think you're all just talk!' she swung a fist, aiming for Arthur, who noticed but before he could react was swung round to the side and Thalia blocked the punch using the hilt of her sword. She brought her arm away from Arthur to fight the troll. Arthur dove out of the way as the troll missed death by an inch from a swing of Thalia's sword.

Thalia's head turned when she heard more footsteps and turned her head in time to see Jonas enter. Immediately she swept in front of Arthur.

'Merlin, Uther!' she called.

Merlin nodded and held Uther's arm. 'Sire, best to get behind Thalia.'

Still in shock but not insensible, Uther nodded and followed Merlin to stand next to Arthur, who was leaning on the wall. Through deep breaths, Arthur glanced at Merlin who looked very uneasy.

'Don't worry,' he said, 'they won't get past Thalia.'

Merlin watched, eyebrows rising as Thalia deflected blow from troll arm and sword from tailed servant. Jonas was caught by an easy break in his defence and Thalia kicked him incredibly hard in the gut. All three behind her winced and Arthur and Merlin recoiled slightly, going;

'Ooooh!'

The troll then made the idiotic mistake of looking back at her fallen comrade, making it ridiculously easy for Thalia to send her flying back with the hilt of her sword to the ugly, still crown wearing, head followed by an even stronger kick to the gut. Even Uther recoiled slightly that time. The troll stumbled back and Thalia strode forward, swinging her sword with perfect precision over Jonas who screamed and looked at his mistress with his last breaths.

The troll became even more angered and launched at Thalia, arms outstretched and body mid-air.

Thalia ducked, threw the troll over her head with her right hand and stepped forward. The ground shook as the troll hit the floor behind her. She spun around and swung her sword over her wrist before plunging it into the troll who squeaked and made a face. Thalia stepped back rather quickly and a moment later the other two found out why as gases left the troll.

She looked happy as the last one rang out long and loud before the life left her eyes. Thalia swung a leg and kicked the crown of off the troll's head.

'Arthur?' Uther said, not believing his eyes.

'The troll had you under a spell, sire,' Thalia explained, 'in order to break it we had to get you to cry.'

Uther blinked. 'Thank you, Thalia,' he nodded, sincere and clearly very grateful, 'Thank you.'

Dinner that night was interesting.

Uther and Arthur were at either end and Thalia was in the middle of the table on Arthur's left. The peaceful silence was broken by Uther when he cleared his throat and looked up at the two.

'I'd like to thank you for exposing this attack on our state. Once again, magic was used to strike at the heart of Camelot.'

'You mean, your heart,' Arthur said.

Thalia's head ducked and she bit her lip on the side only Arthur could see.

'How many nights did you share a bed with a troll?'

'Obviously I was under its spell.'

Arthur let out a laughing breath and covered his smiling face with a hand.

'I did many things that I...regret.'

Thalia understood Uther was being sincere and not talking about the sleeping arrangements, though she found it hard to concentrate on that.

'Father,' Arthur said, looking up and waving a hand, 'I really don't want to know the details.'

Uther blinked and looked down, sort of sadly.

Thalia's amusement left for a split second before it returned and she and Arthur couldn't hold in their laughter.

The next day Arthur was walking down a corridor when he found Merlin. Thalia was walking with him down the same corridor. Their conversation was interrupted when Arthur called.

'Merlin!'

The two turned and watched as Arthur approached.

'I want you to know that I never doubted you.'

Thalia raised her eyebrows and Merlin gave him a questioning look.

Arthur rolled his head. 'Alright, maybe I did, but it's your own fault. You've got a suspicious look about you. Shifty. Like you've got something to hide…'

'I am an open book,' Merlin replied innocently.

Thalia sniggered.

'I don't believe that for a second. However, I do know that without your help, I'd still have a troll for a stepmother.'

Merlin nodded and Thalia sniggered again.

'Mm.'

'Mm.'

Thalia glanced between the two, a coy smile on her face.

'Well, thanks.' Arthur made to clap Merlin on the shoulder, though Merlin stepped forward and stretched both arms. 'Whoa. What are you doing?'

'I thought you were going for a hug,' Merlin shrugged.

'No-o,' Arthur shook his head.

'No.' Merlin shook his as well and they both lowered their hands.

Before Arthur could walk off, both of them found an arm around their shoulders as Thalia hugged them.

'You two…,' she mused. Then she laughed and lifted her arms from them, before chuckling.

'And you thought we didn't have a good reason to spy on Catrina,' she laughed, leaving a slightly annoyed and sour look on Arthur's face.

She tapped Merlin on the arm. 'Come on, I'll help you in the kitchens.'

They walked away and Arthur watched her go with a soft grin on his face, tilting his head slightly.