Beauty and the Beast Part Two
Lady Catrina is brushing her hair with Jonas there.
'How do I look?' asked Catrina.
'You look positively foul,' Jonas says. 'Does the enchantment holds.'
'It works a treat,' agrees Catrina. 'Uther is like a puppet on a string.'
Arthur looked angry at this but couldn't deny this as the truth.
'What about the boy Merlin?' asks Jonas. 'He knows your secret!'
'Leave him to me,' the Queen orders.
The two chuckle but are interrupted by the king. The servant bows, 'you majesty,' and leaves.
'Darling,' smiles the king.
The troll begins to withdraw from her husband crying.
'Please tell me you're not buying this,' groaned Gwaine.
'He's under an enchantment,' Arthur ground out.
'What's wrong?' asked the husband.
'I'm sorry. It's not you, I want this more than anything,' assures the queen.
'I'm sure you do,' agreed Arthur tensely.
'This has been the happiest day of my life,' she lies.
'Then what is it?' Uther stands up.
'When I was forced to flee my home the one thing I managed to take was my family seal,' she explains.
'You showed it to me when you first arrived,' agreed the king.
'It's the only surviving link it have to my father,' she pretended to cry. 'And now it's gone; stolen from my chambers!'
'Who could have done such a thing?' demanded Uther.
'Oh, no, please,' sobbed Catrina. 'I don't want to cause such trouble; not on a day which should be filled with joy!' Catrina puts her hand on her husband's face.
'She was very convincing,' Leon said.
'Catrina,' Uther sternly removes her hands from his face. 'Who was it who took your seal?' the king demanded.
'It was Arthur's servant,' Catrina lies.
Hunith groaned.
'Should've seen that coming,' Percival said.
'Merlin,' she said.
Uther looks angry.
Outside Arthur and his knights search for Merlin.
'Don't say you believed them,' Lancelot said.
'I didn't know what to believe,' Arthur said.
'You go that way,' the prince directed one group of knights then turning the over way. 'You head over to the stables.'
The knights are searching for Merlin.
'What's in there!' demands a knight.
Leon and a group of knights enter the physician's chambers where the physician himself is going through his herbs.
'Where's Merlin?' demands Sir Leon.
'Sorry,' apologizes Leon.
'You were only following orders,' shrugged Merlin.
'You're too forgiving,' Lancelot said.
'Good thing too or I would be completely against all Pendragons for what they do to my kind,' Merlin said.
Arthur looked a little guilty at this but nobody said anything.
Gaius looked worried.
'I thought they'd found out you had magic,' Gaius said.
'Where he always is at this time – working for Arthur,' Gaius replies. 'What's this about?'
'We've come to arrest him by order of the king,' Leon said.
Merlin is making Arthur's bed when Arthur comes in, 'you need to get out of here!'
'You defied your father to save a servant's life,' Gwaine said sounding impressed with the prince.
'I didn't know what was going on but I know Merlin's no thief,' Arthur said.
'But you didn't believe me,' Merlin said sounding hurt.
'No,' Arthur said apologetically.
'The king has ordered me to arrest you!' he informs the servant.
'What?' Merlin looks shocked.
'Catrina's accused you of taking her seal,' Arthur walks up to servant.
'But I didn't,' Merlin denies.
'I don't care and you haven't got time to explain,' Arthur looks up and down the corridor checking it's clear. 'If you value your life you'll leave Camelot right now!' he says walking up to Merlin.
'But-'Merlin starts. 'She is a troll,' the warlock tries again. 'She's trying to set me up.'
Arthur shakes his head, 'we've been through this.'
'I'm telling the truth,' Merlin said.
Arthur seems to be deliberating it.
'I saw her,' Merlin tried once again.
'I don't care,' Arthur replies as there's a knock on the door. 'You need to leave, Merlin!' he orders.
There's another knock at the door and man calls, 'sire.'
The two young men look towards the door.
'Go!' Arthur says again.
'For once listen to him,' Hunith says.
'Go!' Arthur repeats.
Merlin runs out the door looking up and down the corridor he slips in an alcove just as a pair of guards walk past.
'That was close,' laughed Gwaine.
'Too close,' muttered Hunith.
As they pass Merlin runs out.
Arthur is in the throne room with his father and step-mother.
'I fear he may have slipped through our net,' Arthur lies.
'You're very quick to give up the chase,' snaps the queen.
'That is because I know my quarry is long gone,' Arthur replies.
'How can you be so certain?' demands the king.
'Well, despite appearances Merlin isn't an idiot.
'Did you just give me a compliment?' grinned Merlin.
'Shut up, Merlin,' snapped Arthur.
He must have go wind of our search for him,' Arthur rubs his eyes.
'From you,' laughed Gwaine.
Catrina looks at her step-son.
'I think she knows your lying,' Merlin said.
'And left,' Arthur said.
'Nope,' grinned Merlin.
'Ignoring my orders,' frowned Arthur.
'Outwitting your army in the process,' the queen says.
'It appears so,' Arthur nods.
'I thought your men aspired to the same high standards that my father instilled in you,' Catrina leans over to her husband.
'When I lead the army they did,' assured the king.
'They still do,' Lancelot said.
'We don't even know if he's still in Camelot,' Arthur begins pulling off his glove. 'He could be anywhere.'
'And that's a good enough reason to give up?' demands the queen.
'We've not I just believe that out resources would be better-'Arthur begins.
'Enough I've heard enough of your excuses,' the king silences his heir. 'We both have,' he reaches out to takes his wife's hand, 'I want the boy found!'
'Sire,' nods Arthur. 'My lady,' he nods again.
The troll is now eating in her hovel, 'my plan to undermine Arthur is underway,' she says.
Arthur scowls at this.
'Soon Uther will detest the sight of his own son,' she cackles.
Arthur winces at the memory.
She laughs then sniffs, 'what's that then?' she asks.
Jonas smiles.
'What is that smell?' she asks still sniffing.
Jonas smiles, 'a treat.'
'Please tell me it's not dung,' Leon said remembering what it was to watch the troll eat the dung.
She gasps and claps her hand placing her hands over her eyes. Jonas picks up a metal bucket then places a bucket of horse dung in front of her.
There were looks of disgust all about.
'To celebrate,' Jonas explained.
'That's how trolls celebrate,' Arthur sounded ill.
'Apparently,' Gaius too looked nauseated.
'Fresh from the stable,' Jonas said.
'Oh Jonas, you do know how to treat a lady,' squealed the troll.
'Then marry him,' muttered Arthur.
'And if any of you ever treat any lady like that I'll get Merlin to curse you,' Gwen smiled at them.
Jonas smiled and the troll continued to sniff the dung.
The knights are following the trail through the forests.
Back in Camelot the knights are returning.
'They've picked up Merlin's trail,' Gwen informs Gaius.
'I'm sure he'll out run them,' Gaius assured her.
'Weren't you worried about him,' Hunith glared at her uncle.
'No I knew where he was,' Gaius shrugged.
'What if he can't?' asked Gwen desperately.
'It reminded me of father,' Gwen said.
Arthur put an arm around her. Lancelot just stared at them sadly.
'Uther won't show him any mercy,' Gwen said.
'Try not to worry, Gwen,' reassured Gaius.
Gwen looks desperately after Gaius as he walks away.
Gaius enters his chambers taking a plate of food from a barrel he removes the barrel's lid revealing grain then taps on the side of the barrel. Up pops Merlin through the material covering.
'That's where you where hiding?' Arthur asked.
'Last place anyone expected me to be,' grinned Merlin.
'Well that was comfortable!' Merlin said.
'A necessary evil I'm afraid, they've picked up the trail we left,' Gaius informs wanted man. 'But it won't full them for long.'
'Well then I better get busy,' Merlin says calmly.
'Merlin, be careful,' warns the older man. 'The guards a still searching for you.'
Merlin nods as he leaves.
The troll is walking down the hall scratching her arm. She enters her room and begins to grunt. Merlin looks through a peep hole where he watches as Jonas hurries up to the troll, 'mistress, it is time.'
She grunts and hunches over. The servant goes to the cupboard.
'Do I have to?' moaned the troll.
'You must keep up the pretence,' Jonas said.
'I can't stand being like this,' she complains. 'So clean, it's revolting! This face, this skin, I just want to claw it off!'
'You should have never come to Camelot then,' replied Arthur.
The others all nod.
'Think of all the money, and the power,' reminds Jonas. 'Soon it will all be yours.'
He uncorks the potion and the troll drains the bottle as Merlin watches. The troll pulls up her arm and shows that there are warts on her arm which disappear as Merlin watches his face showing his shock. Catrina starts towards the door. Merlin hides behind the wall and Catrina walks off.
In the throne room Arthur stands before his father and step-mother.
'I've got something to address you, we've got something to address you,' Uther says. 'For too long the people have taken too much for granted. They've grown fat off our indulgence.'
'How so?' asked Arthur.
'We provide peace, land, protection,' Uther said. 'They give us very little in return.'
'Most of our people are poor. They survive on the crops they grow,' Arthur said.
'That's true of most kingdoms,' agreed Hunith.
'That's what they would have us believe,' Catrina said.
'It's what I see everyday,' Arthur said coolly.
'I want to help them,' Arthur said.
'We're introducing a new tax,' the king informs them.
'The people must pay for the sanctuary that we provide,' Catrina says.
'We've lived this way for years,' Arthur replies.
'That's what happens when you have a troll for a queen,' Merlin says grimly.
'You've never suggested anything like this before,' Arthur points out.
'Maybe not to you,' the troll says snidely.
'Ouch,' Gwaine winces.
'But the King confided in me,' Catrina lies. 'That he's been considering this for sometime haven't you?' she turns to her husband.
Uther's pendant glows, 'yes I have,' he agrees. 'You are to begin collections at once!' he orders.
Night falls over Camelot and Merlin is sneaking in to where Jonas is snoring.
'Tospringe,' the warlock opens the cupboard where the troll's potions are kept.
The beast starts muttering in his sleep but as Merlin watches he goes back to simply snoring. Merlin picks up a potion bottle.
Merlin has returned to the physician's chambers where he is showing the old physician the potion bottle.
'I saw her drinking this and patch of warts vanished from her arm,' Merlin said.
'It must be pretty powerful magic to physically change her like that,' the physician said.
'Could you make a potion that look's and tastes the same as this?' asks Merlin.
'I don't know. Yes, I suppose so,' replies the old man. 'But without the troll magic it won't have the same effect.'
'I think that's the idea,' Hunith smiled.
'Exactly,' Merlin walks to his mentor. 'If I can replace this potion with one that isn't magical,' Merlin explained.
'Ah,' Gaius understands. 'She will keep taking it but it will no longer work.'
'And she'll turn into a troll,' Merlin said. 'Do you think you can do it?' asks Merlin.
'It's Gaius,' Gwen says, 'of course he can.'
'Thank you,' smiled the old man.
'I don't know,' Gaius sits down.
'We have to make the switch before morning or Jonas will notice,' Merlin puts his hands on the desk urgently.
'That's cutting it fine,' Gwen frowned.
'Worked though,' Merlin said.
'Then it's going to be a long night,' Gaius said.
Catrina enters Uther's chambers, 'my lady,' greets the husband.
'My liege,' Catrina turns to see the king standing by the curtains.
'I brought you flowers,' he says.
Arthur wrinkles his nose, 'when did father become such a soppy romantic.'
'I don't think trolls like flowers,' Merlin said. 'Well except the rotten kind they can eat.'
'Picked from the royal garden,' he hands her the purple and pink flowers.
'Oh, they're, they're lovely,' Catrina does not turn around.
'Not as lovely as you,' Uther puts an arm around his wife.
'Oh,' the troll says in shock. 'Atchoo,' she says suddenly pulling away from the king's advances.
'Are you alright?' asks Uther.
'No, I'm sorry,' she says. 'I don't think I can keep this up any longer.'
'Keep what up?' asked Uther coming over to her.
'The lie,' the troll says.
'Is she going to tell him?' Merlin asks in shock.
'I can't keep pretending like this,' she says.
'It certainly seems so,' Gaius is also shocked.
'I am beginning to wonder if you are really the man I fell in love with. The man I married was firm, strong,' she says.
'Trust me,' Uther assures her. 'I am all of that,' Uther goes to kiss his wife.
'I am worried for Camelot,' the queen confesses.
'You're the one who's weakening Camelot,' Arthur retorted.
'I fear Arthur has not taken after his father,' explains Catrina.
'You say that like it's a bad thing,' Merlin said.
'He's fair,' Gwen adds.
'And a true noble,' Gwaine said.
'And the people love him,' Leon adds.
'He is too weak to make the hard decisions,' sighed the queen.
'I am not,' Arthur retorted.
'You most certainly are not,' agreed Merlin.
'Then it is lucky I am in such rude health,' Uther says.
Arthur sighs, 'but no more.'
'Lucky indeed,' Catrina agrees. 'But what if some tragedy were to befall you.'
'Like marrying a troll,' suggests Gwaine.
'Let me worry about Arthur,' the king orders.
'Nobody needs to worry about me,' snaps Arthur.
'I do,' Merlin says.
Arthur scowled at him.
'No I can't you love for him has made you blind to his faults,' Catrina places a hand on her husbands face.
'I judge Arthur the same as I do the rest of my men,' the king says. 'If he excels he is rewarded, if he fails he is punished.'
Catrina smiles, 'well as you're sure of that.'
'I am,' Uther agrees.
Morning breaks over Camelot to find Gaius shaking to bottles of the same colour. Merlin comes down, 'what's in it?' asks the boy.
'Nothing to potent,' Gaius says.
'Rat's guts,' Gaius says.
'I'm not even going to ask where you got them from,' Arthur winces.
'Nice,' Merlin says.
'Toad paste,' Gaius adds.
Merlin sits down and just looks at Gaius, 'you take two toads and grind them up-'Gaius begins.
'I get the picture,' Merlin hurries on the physician.
'Horse dung, crushed sheep's eyeball,' the physician smells the two bottles.
'Oh lovely,' Merlin mutters.
'Horse dung, three spiders and what potion isn't complete without a dash of sheep's brain?' Gaius asked.
'I wonder,' Hunith says.
'Sounds delicious,' Merlin says sounding repulsed.
'Good because you're going to taste it,' Gaius holds a bottle out for Merlin.
'Rather you than me,' grimaces Arthur.
'Why couldn't you do it Gaius?' groaned Merlin.
'I did all the work,' Gaius said.
'I brought you the information, the real potion, and was replacing the potion,' Merlin said.
'But you didn't stay up all night,' Gaius added.
'No way!' Merlin shook his head.
'It's completely harmless,' Gaius assured him.
'It made me want to throw up,' Merlin retorted, 'not what I'd call "harmless"!'
'Er no,' Merlin stands his ground.
Merlin shakes his head and Gaius nods. Merlin sighs and resignedly takes some onto his finger and tastes it then he begins coughing and spluttering at the taste, 'urgh… ah… that is disgusting,' Merlin finally says.
'Yes,' Gaius agrees, 'too you but not to a troll.'
'I can't believe you let me put that in my mouth,' Merlin said.
'Yes, now try the original,' Gaius hurries to find the original potion.
Merlin looks disgusted.
'Just a small amount,' the physician reassures the boy, 'and be sure to spit it out.'
Merlin takes a small amount onto his finger and again coughs and splutters at the taste.
'Does it taste roughly the same?' asks Gaius.
'Yes, it's horrible,' Merlin cries out still coughing.
'Are you sure?' Gaius asks again. 'If it's too big a difference Catrina will notice.'
'It tastes exactly the same,' Merlin said confidently.
'And she didn't notice,' Merlin said.
Gaius sniffed the concoction again, 'well let's hope she thinks so too.'
Two guards are walking past and soon as they are gone Merlin hastens to Jonas' chambers. First, he checks that no one is there then opening the cupboard with a 'tospringe,' spell he places the bottle in the cupboard. Then hearing footsteps outside he looks around for somewhere to hide and ends up in the cupboard.
'Great hiding place,' laughed Gwaine.
'The simplest are always the best,' agreed Merlin. 'No one suspects them.'
Jonas walks in where he sits at the table. Merlin realises he's left the cupboard open whispers, 'fýrbendum fæst,' the cupboard shuts with an audible snap.
Jonas jumps up and looks towards the cupboard but doesn't notice anything strange about it.
'That was close,' breathed Hunith.
Arthur is walking through the town when he hears the sound of a man in pain.
'What do you think your doing?' demands Arthur.
'He's refusing to pay the king's taxes,' explains one guard.
Gwaine scowled at this he hated it when so called nobleman victimised the poor people.
'You... you… ask for to much,' the old peasant man begs.
Gwen comes to watch from where she is sweeping. Arthur looks around at the poor city people.
'Let me see,' Arthur holds out his hand.
Arthur opens the purse frowning. Gwen continues to watch him. He hands the old man back the purse.
'Release him,' orders the prince.
'But the king said-'the dark haired guard began.
'Release him!' the prince repeats. 'Give them back their money; all of it!' he orders.
The people, especially Gwen, smile as the guards, none to eagerly, give the people their money back.
Arthur is standing before the king and queen of Camelot.
'I gave you a direct order,' the king says.
'The people cannot afford to pay the taxes,' Arthur replies.
'Don't tell me you're naïve enough to take them at their words,' demands the queen.
'It's true,' Gwen says.
'We have their loyalty, their goodwill. Do not forsake that by making unreasonable demands?' Arthur says tensely.
'Is it so unreasonable for a king to expect his subjects to obey him?' asks the queen.
'It is when there is no possible way for them to obey,' Merlin said.
'Like your magic,' suggested Lancelot.
Merlin nodded, 'or to pay something they can't possible pay.'
'They'll starve,' Arthur said tensely.
Uther's pendant glows bright red again, 'nonsense,' Uther stands up. 'You've grown to soft; remember these are your subjects not your friends.'
'Why can't they be both?' asked Arthur.
'Because we rule the people not the other way round,' Uther reminds him.
'But we answer to you,' Arthur said.
'I think your wrong,' Arthur looks down.
Catrina looks at the king, 'I beg your pardon?'
'I said you're wrong,' Arthur repeats. 'Without the people, there is no Camelot, we are as much they're servants and they are ours.'
'I'll remember that when your ordering me about,' Merlin grinned.
Catrina too stands up, 'you allow him to address you in this manner?'
'No I do not,' Uther says. 'You will take your men down into the town and go to every house collecting the payments I demand.'
'I will not,' Arthur replied.
Uther looked at the prince.
'Get out of my sight,' he tells him.
Arthur nods and leaves his father.
'How can he do this to me?' Uther asks. 'My own son; after all the sacrifices I've made for him.'
'Mother,' Arthur murmured in a low voice.
'Oh you're tense,' Catrina begins to rub her husband's shoulders.
'Is it any surprise?' asked Uther. 'The lack of respect he shows ME!' Uther cries as his back cracks.
'Oh I'm sorry did that hurt?' asked Catrina.
'No, no it's fine your hands are surprisingly strong for someone so delicate,' Uther says.
'Arthur carries a heavy burden,' Catrina says massaging her husband. 'It can't be easy carrying all that responsibility at such a tender age.'
'I'm afraid that's the way it has to be,' the king says. 'After all I cannot rule Camelot alone.'
'You don't have to. You married me, remember?' reminded the queen.
'Power hungry troll,' muttered Arthur.
Uther gasps in pain from the "massage", 'how could I forget?' he goes to kiss him.
'I'm sorry I can't,' Catrina stops him. 'I'm too worried about you, my lord. With Arthur failing you how will you cope?'
'I have you by my side,' Uther said.
'I may be your queen but I have no power,' the power hungry troll says.
'Which is all trolls want,' Gaius said.
'Why not?' demands the king.
'The people do not respect me as they do Arthur. I am not Crown Prince as Arthur is,' Catrina says.
'Oh it would,' Catrina assures him.
Arthur scowls.
'It most definitely would,' she says happily.
'Then you shall be,' the king said. 'The ceremony will take place this afternoon,' he goes to kiss her again.
The troll breathes her troll breath on the king who collapses on his throne.
Meanwhile Merlin is still hiding in the cupboard when the troll enters, 'Jonas, it is time for my potion,' the lady orders.
'Are your plans progressing as you hoped?' asked Jonas.
'Yes,' growls the troll, 'and not a moment too soon.'
The troll takes the potion bottle then looking around goes to where Merlin is hiding but just looks in the mirror.
Hunith breathed a sigh of relief.
'I have to admit that the crown will look rather fetching all that gold and lovely jewels,' smirked the troll.
The troll swallowed her potion, 'now would you care to accompany your Queen?' the queen asks the servant.
The two leave and Merlin climbs out of the cupboard.
Arthur is sitting alone in his room when there is a knock at the door.
'Come in,' Arthur calls.
Gwen enters, 'I saw what you did earlier; the people owe you a debt of gratitude.'
'They owe me nothing,' Arthur sighed. 'My father is still going to impose the tax.'
'Will he not be persuaded?' asked Gwen.
'He's under an enchantment of a troll,' Gaius said.
'Not by me,' Arthur sighs. 'The King hates me.'
'The king loves you,' Gwen said.
'You should have seen the way he spoke to me,' Arthur stood up.
'Its all the troll's doings,' Gaius said.
'I'm sure the king's angry but you're still is son,' Gwen said. 'Everyone appreciates what you did,' Gwen adds kindly. 'They know what you did. They won't forget that.'
'What if he's right?' asked Arthur.
'He's not,' Merlin said a little sharp.
'One day I will be King of Camelot,' Arthur said. 'I cannot be friend to the people as well as ruler.'
'That is not true and when you become king you will prove it,' Gwen replied. 'You've a kind Arthur; don't ever change not for anyone,' Gwen advised.
Leon knocks and enters, 'the king has sent for you.'
The knights and council are convened in the throne room when Arthur and Leon enter.
'Father,' Arthur asks.
'I am relaxing your duties and revoking your title,' the king informed the prince.
Arthur looked bitter, 'I can't believe he did that.'
'He was under an enchantment,' Gaius reminded the prince.
'What?' asked the crown prince in shock.
'We live in dangerous times I cannot have you undermining my people,' the king said.
'You've always welcomed my counsel in the past,' said Arthur.
'You stood against me for all the people to see,' the king said.
'I'm sorry,' Arthur doesn't sound apologetic. 'Any future grievance will be held in private.'
Gaius looks worried.
'It's too late for that,' Uther turned around.
'Father this is-'Arthur begins.
'You are to be disinherited with immediate affect you are no longer Crown Prince of Camelot!' the king decrees.
Arthur looks shocked as does Leon.
'That was the shock of my life,' Leon said.
Gaius starts forward, 'sire Arthur is your son, your natural heir.'
'Thank you, Gaius,' Arthur said. 'It felt good to have somebody's support.'
'You had mine,' Gwen said.
'And mine,' added Leon.
'But you couldn't do anything,' Arthur said, 'you answer to the king.'
'And I was doing everything I could to stop Catrina,' Merlin said.
'You were in hiding,' adds Arthur.
'Gaius,' Arthur interrupts the older man. He looks up at his father with pain in his blue eyes, 'father I've only ever tried to be true to my heart as you always taught me to be. To be someone you would be proud to call your son.'
'Anyone would be,' Hunith smiles at the prince.
The father and son look at each other before Uther decrees, 'my decision is final.'
Arthur looks hurt and then turns and leaves for his chambers. Gaius watches him go with a worried look on his face as Catrina smiles.
'Queen Catrina will be named as rightful Heir to the Throne,' Uther adds. 'The ceremony will start forthwith.'
Gaius frowns, looking unhappy. Leon, too, not looking happy about these turn of events begins clapping followed by the other knights.
'Nobody wanted it,' Leon said. 'But we couldn't change the king's mind.'
Gaius is sitting in his chambers looking worried when Merlin runs in, 'we've done Catrina's drank the fake potion.'
'You don't know,' Arthur sighed.
'Not yet,' Merlin shook his head.
Merlin continued to smile but then he sees Gaius' glum expression.
'What is it? What's wrong?' asks Merlin's face falls.
Gaius looks at his ward his expression grim, 'Uther has disinherited Arthur as Crown Prince he has made Catrina his heir.'
'So if Uther dies, she will rule Camelot,' Merlin said shocked.
'That would be almost as bad as Morgana,' shuddered Gwen.
Gaius just looks at him.
Back in the throne room Geoffrey Monmouth the Keeper of Records stands in front of the crowd, 'we gather here today to witness the naming of Queen Catrina as rightful Heir of Camelot.'
Morgana looks shocked and unhappy. Arthur looks pained as the Keeper of Records walks towards the queen.
'Are you willing to take the oath?' asked the Keeper of Records.
'Of course,' Arthur muttered bitterly.
'I am,' Catrina unsurprisingly agrees.
Uther smiles happily. Gaius frowns not looking happy about the turn out of events.
'Are you willing to uphold the laws and customs of this land?' asked the Keeper of Records.
'Like not using magic,' Arthur suggests.
'I,' Catrina stops and begins scratching her arm.
'The potion's failing,' grinned Gwaine.
'do,' Catrina still continued to itch her arm.
Merlin smiles watching Catrina itching her arm.
'Will you in all you power exercise mercy in all your judgements?' asked the Keeper of Records.
'I will,' the troll continued to itch herself.
'Will you to your upmost ability maintain the laws-'Geoffrey began.
'Yes, yes,' the troll hurried him up.
'I'm sorry you must let me finish,' the keeper informed the Crown Queen of Camelot. 'The wording must be exactly right to be binding.'
Arthur looks at the Keeper of Records sharply.
'Arthur's listening to that,' Percival said.
'I hoped that if the words weren't right I would still be legally Heir to the throne,' Arthur explained.
'Get on with it, then,' snapped the Troll Queen. 'I mean, really, where did you dig up this old crone from?' she demands.
Uther still smiling at his wife as Geoffrey turns to him, 'she's right get on with it!' orders the king.
Morgana looks shocked at the rudeness of the king's wife. Arthur frowns and Geoffrey looks shocked and offended, 'will you to all your powers-'he began again.
'Yes, yes, yes,' snaps the queen interrupting the proceedings once more.
'-Maintain the laws and customs-'Geoffrey begins again.
'I will,' interrupts the troll once again. 'I will.'
'-Of this land and serve the people of Camelot-'Geoffrey begins again.
'Yes, just shut up and give me the crown!' the troll finally says.
There are shocked looks and gasps from all around. Morgana stares in bewilderment. Gwen too looks shocked. Arthur's eyebrows shoot up into his blonde locks. Merlin grins.
'You're enjoying this,' Hunith laughed.
'Just a little,' Merlin laughed.
The people begin muttered among themselves as the troll grabs the crown and runs towards the door. Uther stands up, 'Catrina,' he calls after his troll.
The troll runs out of the door. Uther runs after her followed by Morgana. The queen runs past some guards. Uther leaves the throne room, 'Catrina!' he calls.
The guards point in the direction she has gone. Morgana has found herself in another hall and has run to another door. Merlin's face appears behind the wall where his eyes flash gold and the door slams shut.
'You don't need words for that,' Arthur said.
'No,' Merlin agrees, 'easy magic.'
'Catrina!' Uther has caught up with the troll.
The troll turns around showing that one of her arms is fully changed. She quickly hides it behind her back, 'I'm sorry I don't know what came over me. I suddenly felt hot and I think I better be on my own.'
'Are you alright?' asks Morgana who has come in behind her father.
'She doesn't seem so scared of father now,' Arthur said.
'She's a good actress,' Merlin said grimly.
'Yes, yes, I'm fine really I'll just-'Catrina turns around and goes to leave her husband, step son, and Morgana.
Merlin sees this and whispers, 'fýrbendum fæst,' his eyes flash gold.
The troll hurriedly attempts to open the door, 'come on! Come on!' she begs. 'Open,' she snarls in her troll face.
Jonas is hidden behind a pillar as Arthur starts forward, 'let me,' he suggests.
Catrina continues rattling on the door as Arthur starts forward then he sees her hand, 'what's that?' he demands.
Catrina turns around as her face warps and changes colour.
'What's going on?' demands Morgana. 'Somebody help her!' Morgana cries.
Merlin is grinning.
'Whilst Merlin is grinning away Morgana cries "help her"' laughed Gwaine.
Arthur puts a hand over mouth. Morgana looks shocked. Uther's pendant glows as Catrina turns into a troll Uther continues to smile lovingly.
'You're a troll,' Arthur says.
'You really should start listening to Merlin,' Percival said.
'Yes you should,' grinned Merlin.
'Shut up, Merlin,' Arthur grins back.
The troll in white looks shocked and Uther looks angry, 'how dare you speak about her like that!' he tells off his son.
Morgana looks surprised turning to face the king. Merlin is still watching the scene in private.
'What is wrong with you?' Arthur demands of the king.
'Love spells are very potent magic,' Merlin explained.
'Look at the state of her!' Arthur insulted his step mother.
The troll continues moving about. Merlin is watching with Jonas. Morgana looks shocked while Uther continues to grin.
'I don't believe it,' Morgana said.
The troll then rips the door off the hinges, 'she just ripped a door off its hinges – doesn't that tell you something?' demands Arthur.
'Enough,' Uther snaps.
'She's a troll,' Arthur repeats.
'You've changed your tune,' grinned Merlin.
'A giant grey…' Arthur intones with his hand.
'Stinking,' adds Morgana.
'Stinking troll,' Arthur adds.
'Haven't you hurt her feelings enough,' Uther says picking up the crown and shoes she left. 'If you ever insult my wife again it will be the last thing you do,' warned the king storming off leaving his two children staring in shock after him.
Catrina is standing back to the king when Uther walks in putting his wife's shoes and crown on the side and taking off his own cape off, 'I'm sorry you had to hear those hurtful things.'
'He's just taking time to adjust,' the troll says.
'And I'll never adjust,' scowled Arthur.
'He'll soon get used to having his step mother around,' assures the troll.
Uther looks at Catrina as he puts an arm around her.
'How could he compare something of such beauty with a troll?' asked Uther stroking his troll wife's face.
'I wonder,' Gwaine said. 'I've been involved with some beastly woman but nothing like your step mother,' he laughed.
'Never speak of it again,' Arthur said.
'Search me,' the troll answered. 'I washed my face and everything.'
'Which makes her so much better,' Merlin muttered.
Uther kisses the troll's face.
Arthur grimaces, 'please tell me nothing happens,' he begs.
He then smiles.
'What is it?' asks the queen.
'It's just your scent, its so,' Uther begins.
'Sickening,' suggests Merlin.
'Nauseating,' adds Arthur.
'…fragrant,' Uther finally says.
'Fragrant?' Arthur asks.
'I don't think trolls and fragrant are placed together,' Merlin said.
'Oh well it's mostly dung,' the troll explains.
Uther laughs, 'and such a sense of humour, too.'
'It wasn't a joke,' Leon looked ill once again.
'I was so blessed that it was your castle you came to,' Uther says.
'I wasn't,' Arthur said insulted.
'That I may look on this vision everyday,' Uther said.
'Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder,' the troll informed him.
'And I shall behold it,' Uther said pushing the troll onto the bed.
'Oh no, oh no,' groaned Arthur, 'I'll never get over that image,' Arthur groaned looking sick.
The next morning the council enter to where Uther is standing, 'I wasn't aware that we were due to convene the council. What's this about?' he demands.
Nobody answered him.
'Come on somebody, speak up,' Uther walks forward with a smile on his face.
'I'm afraid, sire, it's your wife,' Gaius finally says.
'Yes what about her?' the king get's a very un-kingly smile on his face.
Gaius steps forward, 'it's a rather delicate matter, sire.'
'That's one way to put it,' muttered Arthur.
'Gaius, you've been my trusted advisor for many years you can speak as you will,' Uther assures the physician.
Gaius looks down, 'I don't suppose it's escape you notice, sire, but we just wanted to make sure, sire,' Gaius looks around.
'Looking for someone to help you out with insulting the king's wife,' laughed Hunith.
'Well how do you tell the king his wife is a troll?' asked Gaius.
'You do realise your wife's a troll, sire,' Gaius asked.
'I think it's escaped his notice,' Arthur grimaced.
'I beg your pardon,' the king looked insulted.
'Well at least that's the way she looks to us, sire,' the physician explained.
'Not to him,' Hunith said.
'What with the skin and the warts…' Gaius began.
'And the smell,' added Leon grimacing.
'It was foul,' Leon grimaces.
'Smell?' Uther looks confused, 'what?'
'She also has what appears to be set of fangs,' adds Gaius.
'What?' laughs Uther incredulous.
Leon too laughs, 'I wouldn't say fangs more like tusks.'
'Yes they are more like tusks,' agrees Gaius. 'Not that that's necessarily a bad thing,' Gaius says quickly. 'I thought I should point it out in case it had passed you by.'
'It has,' Arthur scowled again.
Leon smiles looking on the verge of laughter and the others wait expectantly.
'The next person to insult Queen Catrina,' warns the troll's lover, 'will be charged with treason according to laws of the land.'
The council's smiles all dropped from their faces.
In the physician's chambers Merlin is consulting his magic books whilst Gaius paces, 'Uther must be enchanted,' the old sorcerer says.
'Well I should hope so,' Arthur says offended. 'I should hope my father doesn't fall for a troll! Though, I do know that my father hasn't looked at any woman since the Troll Incident.'
'I'd say it rather turned him off romantic opportunities,' Gaius agrees.
'Do you blame him?' asked Arthur.
'No,' all of them reply together.
'It's the only explanation,' Gaius is saying.
'Which is why we must find a way to break it,' Merlin said.
'You won't find anything in you magic room,' the physician informed him. 'Troll enchantments are too strong.'
'Then what do we do?' Merlin asked desperately.
'You must speak to the dragon,' Gaius said.
Merlin didn't look pleased about this prospect.
'If anyone knows the way to break the enchantment he will,' Gaius said.
Merlin looked resigned but unhappy.
'But be careful dragons and trolls have formed close alliances before in the past,' the physician warns him.
'That doesn't sound good,' frowned Leon remembering the attack.
The guards are patrolling the corridor when Merlin appears he waits for them to pass and then walks the corridor.
The King and Queen are eating with a servant waiting on them.
'Is everything to your satisfaction?' asks the enchanted magic hater.
'Er no,' the troll slobbers 'This thing's got to go for a start; made for midgets. Too hard; too clean; not to my taste at all!' the troll complains.
'What can I get you instead?' asked Uther.
'I was walking through the grounds and I couldn't help but notice that the stables had been mucked out. It seemed such a lovely waste of all that lovely dung,' the troll admits.
Leon grimaces.
Down in the dragon's cave the dragon is in hysterics.
'It's not funny,' snaps Arthur.
'I know,' Merlin said.
'This isn't funny,' Merlin said looking un-amused.
'Oh it is,' assured Kilgharrah. 'The thought of Uther Pendragon marrying a troll,' the dragon chortles.
'It is a bit funny,' Merlin said.
'Is not,' Arthur snaps.
'Was it a very public affair?' Kilgharrah inquires.
'Unfortunately,' Arthur grimaces.
'Public enough,' Merlin retorts.
The dragon continues to chortle.
'Don't laugh,' snaps Merlin. 'If she can't be stopped Arthur will never be king. Albion will never be born.'
'Like he cares he tried to kill me when I got out,' Arthur says.
Merlin nods, 'and saved your life a few times since.'
Arthur looks at Merlin sharply but Merlin appears to be watching Kilgharrah on the box.
'I'm sorry,' the Great Dragon says un-apologetically. 'You are right of course,' admits the Dragon.
Merlin nods, 'how can we break the enchantment?' demanded Merlin.
'Manners,' Hunith reminded her son.
'Manners are for when we don't have a troll as a queen,' Merlin replies.
'These are not trifling tricks – troll magic very powerful,' warned the Great Dragon.
'There has to be a way,' Merlin cried desperately.
'Yeah,' Arthur muttered mutinously. 'Me!'
Merlin grinned.
'The only way to break the enchantment if Uther were to cry tears of true remorse,' the dragon said.
Merlin thinks for a moment, 'how do we make him do that?' asks Merlin.
'That I can't answer; Uther's heart is cold as stone. He has never been sorry for anything,' the last of the dragons says a little coolly.
'Thanks, I think,' Merlin thanks and turns to leave.
'Young Warlock,' the dragon calls suddenly. 'It was sometime ago that you promised to free me. The help I give is not unconditional.'
'Well that was ominous,' Gwaine said.
'I take it he collects,' Leon says.
Arthur nods grimly.
Merlin doesn't say anything and leaves.
In the council chambers the council is seated all with their faces covered looking disgusted as the troll Queen feasts on the horse dung. She continues to eat then pushes one towards the king.
'Now that is for you,' she says.
'How kind,' Lancelot looks slightly nauseated.
'Now tell them about our plan,' cackles the troll.
'We're introducing further taxes,' the King announces.
'Sire, we can't the people have given all they can,' Leon seems shocked.
'You told us that before yet our coffer is full,' the king retorts.
The troll breaks wind and the king laughs.
'Your people are already going hungry!' Leon argues.
'Are you questioning my orders?' demands the king.
'And for good reason,' Gwen says.
'It's just,' Leon puts a hand to his face. 'If we take more they'll starve!'
The troll stands up angrily.
'Don't get between trolls and gold,' warned Gaius.
The king puts a restraining hand on his wife.
'Who are you to tell me what's best for my people?' the king demands.
'A non enchanted man,' Arthur mutters.
'You will collect more taxes or you will loose your head!' warned the king.
The troll cackles, 'loose your head, loose your head!'
'She has one warped sense of humour,' Merlin said.
'And that's coming for Merlin,' laughed Arthur.
'I understand that Bayard of Mercia wishes to honour are marriage with a visit,' Uther leans back.
'That doesn't sound too good an idea,' Hunith muttered.
'That's what I said,' agreed Leon.
'Yes, sire,' agrees Leon.
'Oh good!' the troll claps her hand. 'Tell Bayard we'll expect gifts; lots of lovely shiny gold!'
Jonas too claps his hand.
'I, I think at this time it might be wise to,' Leon stops as the queen burps, 'to respectfully decline his visit.'
'Whatever for?' demands the king.
'Don't want to see the king with a troll as a wife,' Gwaine suggested.
'I'm still not sure we can trust Bayard,' lies Leon.
'Nonsense,' snaps the king. 'He is a friend of Camelot. You will send our reply,' Camelot's King orders. 'It will be an honour to feast with him.'
'Honour,' agrees Catrina.
Merlin is pacing up and down Gaius' chambers.
'The dragon said he had to cry tears of true remorse to break the enchantment,' Merlin said.
'Well that's not going to be easy Uther's heart is closed to everyone,' Gaius said from his chair.
Merlin shakes his head, 'not everyone,' he pauses and explains. 'Arthur.'
'Then there's only one course of action we can take,' Gaius stands up. 'Uther must see his son die,' Gaius said seriously.
'That's a horrible thing to say!' Hunith said.
'It broke the enchantment,' Merlin replied.
Arthur blow's out his candle and is about to go to sleep.
'Arthur!' Merlin whispers.
Arthur's eyes snap open and he looks around warily.
'Arthur!' Merlin whispers again.
Arthur rolls out of bed and pulls out his sword.
'Didn't you recognize the voice of your lovable manservant,' Merlin pretended to be hurt.
'You are not my loveable manservant,' Arthur shot back.
Merlin pouted.
'Who's there?' Arthur looks around sword in hand.
'Merlin,' Merlin replies popping out from under the bed.
'Your back,' Arthur said.
'I never left,' Merlin grins.
'You mean to say-?' began Arthur.
'Yes,' Merlin cuts him off.
'You've been under there the whole time,' Arthur completed slowly.
'Scared I overheard your little conversation with Gwen,' grinned Merlin.
'Merlin!' Gwen said embarrassed.
'No, course not, no,' Merlin assured the prince.
'Because if you were,' Arthur points his sword at the servant.
'I wasn't, I swear,' Merlin promises.
'So,' Merlin pulls himself out from under the bed as Arthur sits down at his table with Merlin standing opposite him. 'Your step mother is a troll, then.'
Arthur grimaces.
'If you say "I told you so"' Arthur fingers his knife.
'I wasn't going to, I wouldn't,' Merlin assured the prince.
Hunith, Gaius and Arthur raise there eyebrows at the warlock who grinned guiltily.
'But it is true if you had listened to me earlier-'Merlin begins but when he sees the knife in Arthur's hands has the good sense to stop. 'Sorry,' he says quickly. 'Gaius and I believe your father's been enchanted,' Merlin says.
'Well you don't say,' Gwaine gasps as if in shock.
'We've found a way to break the spell but we need your help,' Merlin said.
Arthur looks at him.
Merlin is making the bed later on.
'So your great plan is to kill me?' Arthur asked.
'When you put it like that,' Gaius mutters, 'it does sound a terrible plan.'
'No, well yes, not exactly. Gaius has made a potion that will give the appearance of death without the actual dying bit,' Merlin explained. 'Its fine,' he assures his master at Arthur's unimpressed look. 'There's nothing to worry about. It will only bring you to brink of death!'
'Only,' Gwen shouts.
'He's fine,' Merlin reminds her.
'Oh only to brink,' Arthur still doesn't look confident in the plan.
'We haven't got a choice,' Merlin says.
'We have to make you father cry,' Gaius informs the prince.
'He doesn't care about me anymore!' Arthur said.
'He does,' Hunith says, 'it's just the enchantment making him act that way.'
'Just,' Arthur snorts.
'Nonsense,' Gaius says. 'That's Catrina's effect. I've known your father for many years and there's never been anything or anyone he cares about more than you.'
'And mother,' adds Arthur.
Gaius nods.
'One drop of the antidote will immediately reverse the effects of the potion,' Gaius adds.
'Antidote,' Arthur says. 'What antidote?' Arthur demands of Merlin. 'You didn't say anything about and antidote!'
'Er I didn't think it was important,' Merlin drops Arthur's armour into a container.
'Why are you working?' asked Gwaine.
'Do you know how messy Arthur's chambers get a few days without a servant?' asked Merlin.
'Didn't he have a replacement one?' asked Percival.
'Father was too enamoured with Catrina to bother to replace Merlin,' explained Arthur.
'The potion will lower your heart rate and breathing,' the physician explained. 'To all intents and purposes you will be dead.'
Merlin flings some clothes into the closet.
'And the antidote reverses the effects?' asks Arthur.
'Yes,' the physician says simply. 'If it's administered in time,' Gaius adds.
'If it isn't?' the prince demands.
Merlin is now tidying the table.
'You will be dead,' Gaius said.
'Why do I get a really bad feeling about this,' groaned Hunith.
Merlin looks slightly guilty.
'You just said it wasn't important,' Arthur shouts at Merlin.
'Um, yeah,' he looks at his mentor. 'I suppose it was a bit important,' the warlock admits.
'A bit?' Gwen asks.
'Merlin will have the antidote,' the physician assures his prince.
Arthur puts his face in his hands.
'Once I have administered the potion he'll have half an hour to get it to you!' Gaius finishes.
Merlin smiles and Arthur looks at him before nodding, 'don't be late.'
'Am I ever?' Merlin asks.
'Do you really want an answer to that?' asked Arthur.
'I have two jobs, a dragon to answer to, a destiny to protect, and all Camelot's enemies to deal with!' Merlin said.
'Not alone,' Arthur said.
'Fine not alone,' Merlin agreed.
Arthur and Gaius just looked at each other neither going to answer.
'Are you sure you want to go through with this?' asks Gaius holing up the medicine bottle.
'It's the only way to save Camelot,' replies Arthur holding up the bottle to both of his conspirators and draining it.
'Ugh,' Arthur says in disgust.
Arthur and Gaius just look at him but nothing seems to be happening.
'Is that it?' asked Gwaine.
Then Arthur collapses forward where the other two men lower Arthur carefully onto the floor. Gaius closes the princes glassy eyes.
'Time to break the bad news to Uther,' Gaius said handing Merlin the bottle and leaving.
Merlin waits outside but from up above Jonas throws a vase on top of Merlin's head. Merlin falls unconscious and the bottle spins out of his hand down the steps smashing at the bottom.
'No!' everyone cried.
'You never told me that happened!' Arthur shouted.
'You never asked,' Merlin replied.
Arthur glowered at the warlock.
'What you don't know can't hurt you,' Merlin replied.
Arthur just groaned.
Uther and Gaius are walking through the palace and through Arthur's guarded chamber doors. Uther sees his son on the floor and collapses onto his knees whispering, 'my boy. It was my fault, I pushed you away.'
'What did you tell him?' asked Arthur.
'You'd drunk poison,' Gaius replied.
'Purposely?' asked Gwen.
Gaius nodded.
'I would never do that!' Arthur shouted.
'I know but he needed to feel guilt,' Gaius explained.
Uther cradles his apparently dead son as Gaius watches on sadly.
Merlin groans as he wakes up he runs down to stairs and he sees the broken bottle of potion.
'My son, my son,' the king repeats.
The troll enters with a grunt, 'come away, there's nothing you can do for him now.'
'But he'll still want to be there for Arthur,' Hunith said sadly glad that she'd never thought her son was dead.
Uther holds Arthur close to him as Catrina begins enchanting, 'Nu meaht thu begalan.'
Uther looks up at her in shock, 'Catrina?' he asks.
'I've heard of bad marriages but this really takes the biscuit,' Gwaine said.
'Uh,' Catrina realises her spell is broken.
'What kind of trickery is this?' the king backs away from his wife as Merlin enters.
'How I've suffered these last weeks,' the troll says. 'Allowing you to touch me.'
Arthur grimaces, 'I really have no desire to know the details.'
Uther too looks disgusted.
'It's repulsive,' the troll adds.
'It was,' Arthur's lip curled in disgust.
'I know the feeling,' agrees the king.
'I feel more for your father than the troll,' Lancelot adds.
'Who doesn't?' asked Leon.
'Oh I've been looking forward to this,' the troll advances on the king.
'Guards!' the king calls. 'Seize …it!' he orders.
The guards see what Uther is pointing at and eagerly start trying and failing to tackle the troll.
'I think they'd been waiting for that since the revelation,' Leon said.
'Do you blame them?' asked Arthur repulsed.
Merlin is attempting to squeeze the antidote from the cloth into Arthur's mouth. Finally a drop goes in.
'Thank goodness,' Gwen breathed a sigh of relief.
'How close did you need it to be,' Arthur said.
'I'm glad only a drop was needed,' Merlin said.
The troll has knocked out all the guards just as Arthur wakes up to see the troll advancing on his father. Arthur runs at it; still barely conscious she flings the prince into the wall. This gives Uther a chance to take his sword and fight his wife.
'Family arguments, eh,' laughed Merlin, 'glad I'm not a noble!'
'She's not family,' Arthur says tensely.
Arthur is attacked by Jonas but he takes out his sword and kills the troll's servant. Arthur joins his father in fighting the troll. Merlin looks at the three Pendragons.
'Fleoge hrage,' Merlin's eyes go gold.
'You did not use magic in the same room as Uther Pendragon,' Hunith said quietly.
'Wouldn't be for the first time,' Merlin said quickly, 'and he was distracted with trying to kill his wife.'
Hunith frowned worried for her son but didn't say anything.
Catrina trips over as the rug is pulled out from under her feet. Arthur then stabs her. Just as she is dying the troll farts.
'Was the last thing she do fart?' asked Gwaine.
Arthur and Merlin look at each other, 'yes,' they say together.
Arthur looks disgusted and Merlin claps a hand over his mouth and nose.
In the dining hall the two Pendragons eat at opposite ends of the table.
Uther clears his throat, 'I'd like to thank you for exposing this attack on our state.'
'But it was Merlin,' Lancelot said.
'I'm a servant,' Merlin said, 'nobody in the eyes of Uther. But I prefer it that way means he doesn't realise what I am.'
Arthur frowned but didn't dispute it.
'Once again magic has been used to strike at the heart of Camelot,' Uther says.
'But not by a sorcerer or sorceress,' Merlin said. 'Trolls shouldn't be put in the same category as they are not human!'
'You mean your heart,' Arthur swallows his food.
'And you call me cheeky,' laughed Merlin.
'Obviously I was under its spell,' Uther looks haunted.
Arthur snorts.
'I did many things that I regret,' Uther still looks haunted.
'And I really don't want to know,' Arthur looked repulsed. 'The thought of my father doing that with anyone is – ugh – but with a troll,' he shuddered.
'But-'Uther continues.
'Father,' Arthur halts his father's speech. 'I really don't want to know the details.'
'Don't blame you,' Gwaine grimaces.
Arthur laughs.
Merlin is walking down a corridor when Arthur walks up behind him, 'Merlin!' the prince calls.
Merlin turns to his master, 'I just want you to know that I never doubted you for a second!'
'Really,' drawled Gwaine.
Merlin stared at him for a second.
'Alright I did,' admits Arthur. 'It's not my fault you have a suspicious look about you; shifty, like you've got something to hide.'
'I was right there,' Arthur said.
'I had good reasons to lie,' Merlin said.
'I'm an open book,' Merlin said.
'Thank goodness that's not true,' Gaius said, 'or the king would have had your head a long time ago.'
'I don't believe that for a second,' Arthur said. 'However, I do know that without your help I'd still have a troll for a step mother.'
The two smile at each other for a second before Arthur goes to pat Merlin on the back. Merlin misreads the situation and goes to hug the prince.
'Whoa, what are you doing,' Arthur backs away.
'I thought you were going in for a hug,' Merlin was also backing away.
'Oh,' cooed Gwaine, 'wanna hug the princess.'
'Gwaine stop calling me a princess,' Arthur groaned, 'I'm your Crown Prince.'
Gwaine grinned, 'then I'll go back to being exiled then.'
'I don't think Arthur's the cuddly sort of person,' Hunith said.
'Apart from Gwen,' Merlin grinned.
'You know your problem is that you never had a male role model growing up,' Arthur said.
Hunith and Merlin both flinched.
'Sorry,' Arthur said realising he had gone too far, 'that was too far.'
'Yes it was,' frowned Gwen she didn't know the whole situation with Merlin's father but knew it hurt him and his mother.
'No!' Arthur assured his servant.
'No,' Merlin also shook his head.
Arthur and Merlin carefully lowered his hands before walking off; not without giving Merlin a wary look.