Hi there to my lovely awesome followers, and happy reading to ya.

As the glass cracks.

So Quinn is going to fight against her, Elitherine should have thought as much. Can nothing be easy and simple? But Elitherine has something that Quinn doesn't, for she has an Ace in the Hole.

Elitherine looked up at the clear blue sky. The time has come. Though this wasn't going to be as simple as she first thought.

Merlin has a hold on Quinn, and trying to break that hold would make the situation worse, it would make Quinn despise her, that is not what she is trying to accomplish.

Quinn has several paths laid out before her, all she has to do is choose the right one, but she won't choose the right one with Merlin by her side.

So it's time to use her Ace in the Hole, but doing so is risky, but it's a risk she's willing to take.

Elitherine has a dream, a dream to change this world to how she sees fit, but she can not do so with out Quinn. Quinn is the guide, it is her destiny, her sole purpose in life to guide him, and with Elitherine's help guide she will.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?"

Elitherine looked over at her accomplice. She gave a bright smile.

"No, you have done very well"

The boy smiled brightly. "Good, I'm glad I pleased you"

"Oh yes, yes you did" she said caressing his cheek softly with her thumb. "You have done very well, I'm so proud of you"

This boy was foolish, foolish because he didn't realize that she was using him. This boy thought the world of her, this boy thought her as his mother, that was a good thing, it made him easy to control, it made him easy to guide.

People are impressionable, if persuaded in the right way they would do anything for you, they would do anything you asked of them without question or a moments hesitation.

Once you save someone's life that person would do anything in return, and would do anything that you ask of them.

"Now go, don't want to linger too long they might get suspicious"

"Yes, of course" the boy got to his feet turned to walk away, when a thought crossed her mind.

"Wait"

The boys stopped and turned back to her. "Yes?"

Elitherine got to her feet from the bench she was sitting on and went to him.

"I wanted to ask you on your feelings about Quinn"

The boy tensed, his body language told her all she needed to know.

"What about Quinnley- Quinn?" He asked, voice clear from any emotion, but he couldn't hide the feeling in his eyes, she knew him far too well for that.

"If need be, if i asked you would you kill her?"

The boy thought a moment, the emotion in his eyes telling everything she needs. No, he wouldn't.

"If I could ask for a favor" he said finally.

"Ask away"

"Could you give me some time to turn her onto our side?"

"And if she disagrees?"

"I'll do what you ask, I'll kill her"

Elitherine thought a moment. She considered every option. If Quinn could be persuaded to come to them she knew that this boy was the one to do it. But she can't have his loyalties split either, but she suppose that can't be helped.

"You can try" she said finally making up her mind. "I understand"

"Thank you"

The boy looked pleased, satisfied he turned and walked away.

Merlin has been going around with a big bright smile, completely ignoring the looks of confusion on the other's faces.

Quinn looked just as happy, and it didn't take very long for Arthur to finally put it all together.

Something good must have happened between Merlin and Quinn. Arthur decided.

Even when they were trying to figure out a good strategy to find the person Quinn was supposed to guide, they simply wouldn't or couldn't stop smiling.

The others seem to notice the couple's odd behavior as well.

Quinn kept smiling shyly at Merlin, and Merlin was unusually giggly. So there was only one option that he could do.

"Merlin, how about you and Quinn go out and see if you can find this person Quinn supposed to guide. Besides it seems like you two want to spend some alone time together" Arthur declared suddenly.

"What?" Asked Merlin, clearly finally breaking out of the haze that his mind had fallen into.

Quinn stared at him intensely, almost as if she was in disbelief that he would mention such a thing.

"Well, if you two don't want to spend alone time together I-"

"No!" Merlin exclaimed, as he got to his feet quickly.

Quinn just stared at Merlin in Surprise.

Arthur couldn't help but smirk. "I'll take that as a yes, you do want to spend some alone time with her"

"What? No- yes- um- i-" Merlin stumbled.

This was too much fun.

"I believe that would be in excellent idea sire" said Gwaine. Leon and Percival agreed.

"Well then I do believe that the situation is handled. Off you two go"

Merlin glared at Arthur, and the nights before following Quinn to the door.

"Oh, and Merlin" Arthur called after him.

Merlin turned back to him. Quinn was waiting by the open door, looking at Arthur expectantly.

"Ask before you kiss a lady, that is what gentlemen do after all"

Merlin glared at him before following a blushing Quinn out the door.

River was conflicted, he didn't know what to do. Quinnley and he had been through a lot together, did he want to messed that up?

Quinn was the most gentle and kindest person he had ever met, she would give the clothes off her back if you needed it, if you were starving and there was only enough food for one she would give it to you, she had a heart big enough to fit a whole Kingdom and more, did he really want to do this?

River had been through hell, and so has Quinn, but can he betray the one who saved him from that hell? does he betray a friend that had always tried to protect him, does he turn his back on everything she tried to do?

He didn't know what to do, it was as if he was at war with himself, and he has no idea which side was winning.

He had no idea which side he belonged on, and it was confusing to the core.

If he was to be honest this world didn't need to be saved, there was no light in the darkness for him, but maybe if he let her Quinn could be his salvation.

But Elitherine saved his life, gave him a purpose. But Quinn had always been there for him, she even pleated for him to go with her when she ran away. He didn't hate her for running away, he completely understood.

He could have went with her all those years ago, but he didn't. He never told her the full story. If he had went with her she would have been in grave danger.

River was broken out of his chain of thought when he saw Quinn and Merlin walking Central Park Alone together. Quinn seem to be showing Merlin the Park.

He noticed that they spend a lot of time together, during these two weeks he realize that Quinn was falling for Merlin, and Merlin was falling for Quinn.

River wasn't exactly sure how he felt about that. It's not like he shares Merlin's feelings for Quinn, he loves her as a brother would love a sister, but he still felt the sting of jealousy in his heart.

Once he and Quinn were inseparable, they did everything together, but now as he watched the couple he realized that things had changed.

River didn't hate or dislike Merlin, in fact he thought Merlin was suited for his friend, and he simply loved how Merlin could always bring a smile to Quinn's face.

From the bench he was sitting on he could see the couple clearly, but they seem not to notice him, they were simply too caught up in their own world to notice anyone else around them.

River was happy for Quinn, he truly and sincerely was. But that happiness also brought dread.

Did he truly want to shatter that happiness? Yes, Elitherine saved him from that nightmare, but can he truly turn his back on someone that risked her life for his? Could he live with himself?

River knew that someone was supposed to guide him, does that mean that Elitherine was supposed to be his guide, or was it Quinn?

River was broken out of his chain of thought once again when he noticed Merlin and Quinn lean closer together.

River didn't expect that, but worst of all he didn't expect the pain he felt within his heart.

Getting up from the bench he turned his back on the scene that was playing out before him, and walked away.

It wasn't a pain of jealousy he felt, it was the pain of guilt.

"Yes" said Quinn laughing. "I couldn't help but laugh it was hilarious!"

"So the King merrying a troll was amusing to you?" Merlin asked unable to contain his own laughter.

"Yes!" Quinn managed to say between breaths. "Uthur deserved it"

When they had collected themselves, Quinn asked. "You didn't find it funny?"

"Oh I did"

She smiled. "Thought so" her smile faded. "Can I ask you something?"

"I'm a open book"

"How did you save Arthur?"

That was unexpected. He expected her to ask to teach her how to control her magic, but he should have known.

Quinn was always unpredictable, but he liked it.

"I went back in time"

"You what?"

"You said you know everything"

"Yes"

"Then you should know when Modred was dying the diris gave Arthur a choice to save Modred-"

"If he would bring back magic and except the old religion" Quinn said, finishing his thought. When he just stared at her in disbelief, she smiled and said "I remember, you are a TV show in this world, remember?"

"Right. As you know I made a mistake that night. After a year I discovered a spell making it possible for me to go back in time. I decided to go back in time at that moment and change my answer. Arthur accepted the diris's offer, but Modred didn't make it. But Arthur was true to his word"

"So you told him about your magic?" She grimaced. "I can only guess how well that went"

"Not right away I didn't. I had to reveal my magic to save his life. Morgana had to be stopped, I had no choice. And no it didn't go well at first, but then eventually he realized all I had done for him"

She smiled. "I'm happy that things turned out better than I remember"

"Yes" he agreed. "You are alright having Magic?"

"Why wouldn't I be? Besides you can teach me all that you know"

"As you wish my lady"

She laughed as he took her hand and kissed it.

"Here" he held out his hand, and whispered. "flos" a red rose bloomed in the palm of his hand.

Quinn smiled when he handed it to her. "Thank you" she said accepting the rose.

"I can show you all you want" Merlin took the rose and tucked it behind her ear. "Beautiful" he caressed her cheek softly. "And I'm not talking about the rose"

Merlin looked at Quinn as her hair blew gently in the breeze. In that moment Merlin was lost in her eyes.

Her one blue and one green eyes seem to be so full of life, he simply couldn't help but fall into them.

Her smile that could steal his breath without her even trying to, her heart that was as big as a kingdom, a single touch from her that could make his heart pound, he allowed himself to fall into it all, into everything that she was.

"What?" She asked, reaching up a hand to brush at her own face. "Is there's something on my face?"

"No" he replied taking her hand.

She met his gaze. Merlin stepped closer. Everything around them seem to fade away until it was just him and her standing beneath the trees.

Quinn was breathless, her heart was beating a mile a minute. Everything that was occupying her mind slowly faded to the background as Merlin stepped closer to her still holding her hand.

She was lost, lost in his piercing blue eyes, lost in his smile, lost in the moment, and for once she didn't mind being lost.

"Love can be so mysterious, and it's unexplained how it draws us to the unexpected person, do you agree?" She mumbled as Merlin leaned forward.

"Yes"

When Quinn and Merlin's lips met it was like nothing she's ever felt before.

She had kissed and had been kissed before, but this time was different, this time it felt like the first time, and right, it felt right.

The kiss was gentle, almost like a flower petal as it falls to the ground. She melted into the kiss, and allowed the moment to take total control.

At this moment in time she didn't care what may come, nothing seemed to matter accept what's happening in this moment.

Merlin placed his hands on her hips pulling her closer to him, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, not wanting to let go of this moment.

There was something in the back of her mind trying to get her attention, but she paid no heed to it as Merlin's hands found their way to her hair, her hands resting on his face.

Merlin was the one who pulled back. When Merlin broke the kiss she opened her eyes that she hadn't realized closed. Merlin was smiling his goofy smile.

"I'm sorry" he said, slightly breathless.

"What for?" She asked a little confused.

"I was supposed to ask first"

Quinn couldn't help but laugh.

"And since when do you ever listen to Arthur?"

Merlin was about to reply when they heard a familiar voice behind them.

"Don't mind me"

Quinn and Merlin jumped apart as they turned to a very amused looking Arthur and Knights, all wearing the matching grin on Arthur's face.

Quinn instantly regretted showing Arthur and the others around the city.

But before Arthur and Merlin could do their normal banter, they were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Oh good, all of you are here"

They all turned to see Elitherine standing there smiling as if she won something.

Merlin took Quinn's hand as Arthur and the Knights took fighting stances around her.

"Now this is going to be fun"

"What do you want from me?!" Quinn demanded, stepping forward. Merlin still holding her hand stepped forward as well.

Quinn won't let these innocent amazing people get hurt because of her.

Elitherine smiled. "You and only you can guide him, you and only you can decide the future of this world. As for what I want from you, it's simple. I Want You to rule the world by my side. You and only you can guide him"

"Who?"

"Me"

Everything seemed to freeze as River, someone she thought as a friend stepped forward and stood by the enemy.

With love to all :-)