AN: Hi!

I am so excited to get passed season 1. The season I'm most excited for is season 3, because I have a few tricks up my sleeve :)

DISCLAIMER: MERLIN ISN'T MINE. ONLY ELIZABETH MALINOR BELONGS TO ME.

Enjoy!

Did I mention that droughts sucked? Well, droughts sucked.

I don't know if any of you have ever experienced a drought, but it was absolutely awful. I literally had no energy to move. So I had stayed in bed all day. When Gwen had come in to wake me up, I told her I didn't feel like getting up, so she brought me breakfast in bed, and a book, which I read all morning. I was perfectly content with spending my day like that. But then, of course, Morgana found me, and we talked for a while before she decided that I needed to get up. She literally dragged me out of bed. I was holding on to my bed for dear life, but Morgana managed to land me on the floor. The woman was vicious, I tell you, vicious! And she wasn't even evil yet!

She said that I have to leave my room for at least an hour, and if I was still tired after that, I could go back to my room. I was just gonna go back when she left, but I saw some guards outside my room, meaning that Morgana probably put them up to it so I wouldn't be able to get back in until the hour was up. Clever girl.

I quickly finished my walk, then I went back to my room. I quickly crawled back into bed and went back to sleep.

I slept through the night too. I must have been really exhausted without water.

Because of all the sleep that I had gotten, I woke up really early the next day. Like, it was still dark outside. I got out of bed and went and sat by my fireplace. I didn't want to change out of my night clothes, so I just sat in front of the fire with a blanket wrapped around myself.

I must have fallen asleep again, because I heard my doors burst open and I jerked awake, giving myself a heart attack. I turned around in my seat, and I saw that it was Gwen, holding a tray with a pitcher and a few goblets. "My Lady! The water's back!"

My creaky eyes snapped open as I leaped out of my chair. I ran to the table, where Gwen was pouring me a glass of water. She handed it to me, and I greedily drank it down. Gwen laughed at me but poured me some more, which I swallowed in three gulps. I drank about 3 more glasses, then I leaped on to my bed, happier than I had been in a few days.

I was in a much better mood that day due to my energy coming back, so I happily skipped down the hall. I bumped into Merlin as I rounded the corner. "Merlin! How are you this fine morning?"

He just laughed at me. "What's got you so happy?"

"My energy is back! I feel like I'm on a sugar rush, and I feel like I'm gonna explode!" I said, jumping up and down. I grabbed a hold of Merlin's hands. "Come on, Merlin, let's go jump off the castle walls!"

He laughed again. "I don't think so, Lizzie."

I sighed. "Look, I promise we'll be hanging from a rope."

Merlin smiled at me but shook his head. "Sorry, but I have to go do my chores."

I groaned. "Fine." I think it was time to bring up the fact that the water's back. "But Merlin?" I asked.

He turned back to me. "Yeah?"

"How did the water come back? Do you have any ideas? I thought this was one of Camelot's curses," I said, confused.

"Well, last night, Arthur and I caught someone trying to steal some of the grain reserves for him and his family." Merlin began.

I fake gasped. "And what happened?"

"Arthur let him go. With the grain, too. But what I find strange is that the man said that Arthur being kind would bring it's own reward. I think that that man was talking about us getting the water back." Merlin concluded.

I nodded. "Okay, this is good. All we have to do now is make sure that Arthur doesn't lose his cool."

Merlin knitted his eyebrows together, trying to understand what I was saying. "What?" he asked, giving up.

Damn it! I really gotta stop slipping into 21st Century slang!

"Umm, I meant that we have to make sure that Arthur keeps behaving that way." I corrected myself.

Merlin slowly nodded. "Right." He looked around. "I'm sorry Lizzie, I have to go finish my chores before Arthur has me beheaded."

I laughed. "Go on then. I'll just have to find someone else to jump off the castle wall with."

"Have fun with that!" Merlin said, laughing as he walked away.

"I definitely will!" I said. "Hmm, who would be good?" I thought aloud, and one name came to me. "Oh Sir Leon!..." I said in a sing song voice.

After failing to find Sir Leon (I honestly think Merlin told him to go and hide from me) I went for a walk in town. As soon as I got out though, it was way more crowded than it usually was (and trust me, it was usually really crowded).

I walked up to Arthur and Morgana, who were watching the outside villagers come in. "Who are all these people?" I asked.

Arthur turned to me before looking back to the people. "They have come from the outlying villages in search of food. We don't have enough rations to feed the people who are already here."

"You shouldn't blame yourself," I said to him. "I'm sure you're doing everything you can."

Arthur huffed slightly before he left. "It's not enough," He said as he left.

Gwen came up to us as Arthur left. Morgana looked around to see if the coast was clear before leaning down. "Did you manage to find any food?" She asked.

Gwen looked around too before she pulled back a cloth that was resting in her basket, revealing some fresh bread.

"Where did you get that?" I asked.

"I was able to smuggle it out of the palace kitchens." Gwen said, looking around again.

Morgana looked around again before she turned to Gwen. "Share it out amongst the children and old people."

Gwen nodded and left to do so. "Make it go as far as you can!" I added as an afterthought.

I looked back to my raven haired best friend, who was looking at everybody with extreme worry. How could someone so selfless, so pure, turn so evil at the drop of a hat?

Morgana must have felt my gaze on hers, because she turned to face me. She gave me a sad smile. "How long do you think this is going to last?" She asked.

The famine or the good in your heart? I gave an encouraging smile. "Not very long," I said, answering her question and my own.

She smiled at me. "How can you be so sure?"

Thinking back to all the horrible things Uther had done and would do and Morgause and her power influence..."I just have a feeling."

Merlin and Arthur were attempting to leave the castle to search for Anhora when I caught them. I really wanted to go with them, and they didn't want me to rat them out to Uther. So, in exchange for my silence, they let me go with them.

We were looking in the forest for a good ten minutes. What were we looking for anyways? It just looked like a lot of green.

"I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for." Merlin said, voicing my thoughts out loud.

"Me too." I added.

"You're looking for footprints or broken branches." Arthur answered. "Anything that would indicate someone passed that..."

Arthur must have seen Anhora, because he was running, calling after Merlin and me.

I was closer to Arthur, so I managed to catch up with him.

Arthur and I continued to chase Anhora, but we lost him and came across a guy sitting next to a camp that was FULL of hoarded food. Just the sight of it was enough to send my mouth watering. I didn't think I'd been this hungry since the famine started.

"You," Arthur said, looking right at the man.

"Who is he?" I asked Arthur.

Arthur turned to me. "A man called Evan who was caught smuggling last night. I let him go." He looked at all the hoarded food and supplies. "You're a thief." He stated.

"Wasn't that obvious when you caught me stealing your grain?" Evan asked.

I could tell Arthur was angry, but he let it go. "Fortunately I have more important things to deal with." He said, taking my hand to lead me away with him.

Evan laughed. "You didn't really believe that story about my children, did you?"

Arthur was about to turn around, but I tried to stop him. "Just ignore him, Arthur." I said to him under my breath.

But the stupid idiot didn't listen to me. He turned around to face Evan. "What kind of man lies about starving children to save his own skin?"

I groaned. "Do we really have to do this?"

They both ignored me as Evan spoke, "Your people starve because you let thieves steal their grain. That is why they doubt you."

"You don't speak for my people," Arthur said firmly, turning to leave again.

"Hey, your father would never have allowed himself to be fooled like that," Evan kept taunting.

Damn it, just as I thought that we were leaving. Arthur turned back around. "You hold your tongue, or I will make time to teach you some manners."

"Arthur," I said, getting his attention. "Time," I said, pointing to my wrist, although I didn't know why, because wrist watches hadn't even been invented yet. "We're running out of it."

"Your father would have had me executed, but you didn't have the stomach for it, did you, Arthur?" Evan continued. "And that's why he doubts you'll make a good king."

"You know nothing of what my father thinks." Arthur said, scarily calm.

"I think he wishes he had another son," Evan said, voicing his thoughts. "One who was worthy of taking his place. You shame him."

Okay, I'll admit it, even I was ready to cut this guy, but I couldn't lose my cool just as Arthur was about to.

Arthur couldn't take the taunts anymore. "Pick up your sword." he said.

"Really, Arthur?" I asked. "Are we really going to do this?"

He and Evan ignored me again. Okay, I wasn't gonna lie, I was getting sick of being ignored.

"The King must fear the day when you will take the throne." Evan said, picking up his sword from the ground.

Arthur swung his sword, which Evan easily evaded. They swung around a little more. "He fears you do not have enough strength to defeat his enemies."

"Arthur, stop it! He's not worth it! Camelot's not worth it!" I shouted after him.

Angrily, Arthur pushed him back. They clashed swords for a little more. Evan disarmed Arthur, but Arthur pushed him into the wall and leaped for his sword. Before he had the chance to, I decided enough was enough and got to the sword first. I picked it up and swung it at Evan. I disarmed him and kicked him to the ground. I whirled to face Arthur. "I said stop it," I said fiercely.

Arthur was just looking at me in awe, before his expression changed into one of panic. He grabbed the sword from my hand and pushed me out of the way, and I fell to the ground. I looked over just in time for Evan to say, "The King must wonder if you are even his son."

Arthur and him parried again, before Arthur looked ready to give the final blow. Just as he did, I screamed, "ARTHUR, DON'T!"

But it was too late. Arthur pushed Evan against the tree and ran him through. But to Arthur's surprise, Evan disappeared just as he delivered the final blow.

I stood up and moved next to Arthur as Anhora appeared out of nowhere again. "This is your doing," Arthur stated.

"It was a test to see what is truly in your heart," Anhora said.

"Your tricks prove nothing!" Arthur yelled angrily.

Anhora ignored this. "Why did you kill this man?" He asked.

"He insulted my honour!" Arthur said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

"You could have chosen to ignore his taunts," Anhora pointed out. "What harm would they do you?"

"You will lift the curse, Sorcerer," Arthur commanded.

"It is not in my power," Anhora told him.

"Then you will die," Arthur said, moving to strike him.

"No!" I yelled, moving to stop him, but Anhora disappeared and Arthur fell to the ground.

"Killing me will not help you," he pointed out.

Arthur tried to strike him again, but I grabbed his shoulders to stop him. Anhora disappeared anyways, and Arthur and I both crashed to the ground.

"You have shown that you would kill a man to defend your pride. You have failed the test." Anhora said, and Arthur's face dropped. "For this, Camelot will pay dearly."

"My people have done nothing!" Arthur protested.

"Your people's suffering is not my doing. It is yours," Anhora told him. And with that, he was gone.

Arthur turned his head to me, and I rolled my eyes and crashed mine to the ground. "I'm going to starve forever, aren't I?" I said. I looked up to Arthur before he had a chance to answer. "God damn it, Arthur! Why is it so important to you to protect your pride? I kept telling you that this all wasn't worth it, why didn't you listen?"

Again, before Arthur had the chance to answer, Merlin came running up to us. We quickly left, Arthur not speaking a word the entire time.

Merlin told me later that day that Arthur had to complete a final task to try and save Camelot. He also told me that Arthur refused to let him go with him, but he was going to be sneaking off anyways.

It was then that I had insisted on tagging along. When Merlin refused, I said that I could always go and find Arthur before he left and let him know of Merlin's secret plans. Merlin then decided to let me go with him.

After we rode for a bit, we got to the Labyrinth of Gedref. We waited a bit for Arthur to get ahead, then we proceeded inside the labyrinth ourselves. Merlin and I looked both ways. "Left or right?" He whispered.

I looked both ways before whispering back, "Left."

We went left, and kept walking. Merlin and I rounded a final corner, where we saw the back of Anhora's cloak.

"You said Arthur would face a test. And here you are, preparing a trap for him." Merlin said.

"The trap isn't for Arthur." Anhora said. "It is for you two." Anhora tipped his sword forward and said, "Gehæftan."

Merlin and I then proceeded to be wrapped around with vines. It squished me really tight, and my breathing was a little constricted.

"Hey, last time I checked, this was a vine, not a snake. Can you loosen it a little?" I asked.

Merlin and I were taken to a table by the sea, where we were told to sit down. I sat at the long end of the table, and Merlin sat at the short. On the table were the two goblets from the episode. Arthur came not too long after and looked confused when he saw us. "Merlin? Elizabeth?"

"I'm sorry," Merlin said.

"Me too," I added.

Arthur turned to Anhora. "Let them go. I'll take your test, but not till they're released."

Anhora shook his head. "That is not possible. Merlin is part of the test."

"Then let Elizabeth go," Arthur said.

I turned to him. "I am not going anywhere. I came here out of my choice."

Arthur turned to me. "As your Prince, I order you to go back."

Ugh, why did he play this card? "And as your friend, I am staying for support."

"Please sit," Anhora interrupted. "If you refuse the test, you will have failed and Camelot will be destroyed."

Seeing that I wouldn't be leaving anytime soon, Arthur reluctantly sat down. He turned to Merlin. "I thought I told you to stay at home. And you brought Elizabeth with you, wonderful," He said. When Merlin and I didn't respond, he turned to Anhora. "Let's get on with it."

"There are two goblets before you." Anhora began. "One of the goblets contains a deadly poison, the other goblet, a harmless liquid." Why was it always poisoned? "All the liquid from both goblets must be drunk, but each of you may only drink from a single goblet."

"What kind of ridiculous test is that? What does that prove?" Arthur asked.

"What it proves is for you to decide. If you pass the test, the curse will be lifted." Anhora told him.

Arthur turned back to face Merlin. "Let's think about this. What if I drink from my goblet first?"

"If it's poisoned, you'll die," I pointed out.

"And if it's not, then Arthur'll have to drink from his, and he'll die. There must be a way around it," Merlin said, deep in thought.

"It is perfectly simple," Arthur said. "One of us has to die. We have to find a way to determine which goblet has the poison. And then I'll drink it."

"No, I will be the one to drink it," Merlin told him.

"This is my doing. I'm drinking it," Arthur insisted.

"It is more important that you live. You're the future king. I'm just a servant," Merlin said.

"This is no time to be a hero, Merlin. It really doesn't suit yo,." Arthur joked.

Merlin sighed and started thinking again. "What if I drink from mine first, and if that's not poisoned, I will then drink yours?"

I cut in. "You can't. Anhora said that both of you are only allowed to drink from one goblet."

Arthur nodded and said, "I had no idea you were so keen to die for me."

"Trust me, I can hardly believe it myself," Merlin said with a slight eye roll.

Arthur snorted at what he said. But his face went kinda sentimental. "I'm glad you two are here," He said with a sigh, looking at both of us.

I smiled with pride, and Merlin spoke up. "I've got it. Right, we pour all the liquid int one goblet and then we can be sure it is poisoned. Then all the liquid can be drunk, and it will be from a single goblet."

Arthur laughed in surprise. "You never cease to surprise me. You're a lot smarter than you look."

"Is that actually a compliment?" Merlin asked.

"I think it's as much of a compliment as you're going to get," I said with a small laugh.

"Look out!" Arthur said, pointing behind Merlin. Merlin looked, and I did too, for a split second, before I remembered that this was a trick by Arthur. Arthur took the two goblets and pour all of the liquid into one of them, holding it to drink.

Merlin turned around after he saw there was nothing there. "No! I will drink it!"

Arthur scoffed. "As if I'd let you."

"You can't die. This isn't your destiny," Merlin insisted.

"It seems you're wrong again," Arthur told him.

"No! Listen to me!" Merlin said.

"You know me, Merlin. I never listen to you," Arthur said with a laugh. He toasted to us, and he downed the whole thing.

"Arthur!" Merlin said with a shout. He looked to me with disbelief, probably due to the lack of reaction on my face. Oh, crap. I knew that Arthur wasn't really poisoned, so that's why I wasn't reacting.

"No! What have you done?" Merlin said.

Arthur fell off the chair, going unconscious. "Arthur! No!" Merlin said, and he tried to shake Arthur awake. I fell down next to him.

Merlin tried shaking Arthur again. "Arthur. Arthur. Come on! Arthur, come on. Come on. Come on! No... Come on."

Merlin turned to Anhora. "Please. Please! Just... let me take his place!"

"This was Arthur's test, not yours," Anhora told him.

"You've killed him! I was meant to protect him!" Merlin said.

"He is not dead," I said quietly. "He's probably drunken something else."

Anhora nodded. "He's merely consumed a sleeping draft. He will come round shortly."

"What?" Merlin asked.

"A unicorn is pure of heart. If you kill one, you must make amends by proving that you also are pure of heart. Arthur was willing to sacrifice his life to save yours. He has proven what is truly in his heart. The curse will be lifted." Anhora said. "But how did you know that it was not poisoned?" he asked me.

"Yeah, how did you know?" Merlin asked.

Ah, crap, I really needed to stop doing that. "Remember when you were poisoned, Merlin? You were shaking and acting feverish. Arthur's not acting like that at all." I said. He seemed to have accepted the answer, and I breathed in relief. That was a close one!

After Arthur came around, we all rode back to Camelot.

When we got back, everybody was running around, crops in their hands. We slipped off our horses, and Gaius walked up to us. "Merlin! Lizzie! Arthur! There's good news! The crops have grown once again! They're bringing in the harvest."

Once Gaius left, Merlin leaned over to Arthur. "You did it."

I playfully punched Arthur on the arm, to which he smiled at. "You really did."

Uther walked up to us. "Is this your doing?" He asked. "Is the sorcerer dead?"

"He won't be troubling us anymore." Arthur answered.

"Good," Uther said, nodding. He patted Arthur on the arm. "Make sure the grain reserves are re-stocked." Then he left. "I'll see to it." Arthur said, calling after him.

Arthur looked around, then looked to me and Merlin. "There is something we need to do first."

We were in the forest where all our troubles began. Arthur had taken the unicorn's horn, and he laid it in a burial mound of stones.

"I should never have ended your life. I'm sorry." He said. The way he said it so sincerely, made me almost tear up.

Then Merlin, Arthur, and I began laying stones over the grave. Merlin looked up and saw something. "Arthur, Lizzie..."

Arthur and I both stood up at the same time and looked to the unicorn. I looked at it for a few seconds (hopelessly wishing I had a camera on me), and looked to Merlin, who had a completely awed look on his face. I gently touched his arm, and he turned to look at me. We smiled at each other, then looked back to the unicorn as Anhora's words from the episode came back to me.

"When he who kills a unicorn proves himself to be pure of heart, the unicorn will live again."

TBC...

Whew, that took me a couple days to write! Guys, we are SO CLOSE to the end! I am so excited!

Lizzie's outfits on Polyvore!

Until next time,

REVIEW! THANKS! STAY TUNED!

THE ADVENTURES OF ELIZABETH MALINOR CONTINUE...

"You didn't say anything about magic! I don't want any trouble!" Gwen's father hisses as the sorcerer uses a stone to make pure gold.

"You're under arrest." Arthur says as he catches Gwen's father in the act.

"You execute Gwen's father and I will never forgive you." Elizabeth says firmly.

"Take care child or I'll have you restrained." Uther threatens.

Elizabeth rushes forward to the doors of the dungeons, but the shackles around her wrists kept her grounded.

"More than ever I want Uther dead." Morgana says to the same man, thinking about what Uther had done to her best friend.

"Then the deed is as good as done." The man assures her.

"Only if Uther dies will you be free, Merlin." Kilgharrah says before flying off in his cave.

"Wait! Where does it say in my destiny, includes murder?" Merlin calls after him.

"If you had the power of the life or death of Uther, would you kill him?" Merlin asks Gwen and Elizabeth.

And that's it folks! Stay tuned for To Kill the King!