This chapter and the next take place between seasons two and three and are a combination of three Arthurian stories.

They're also dedicated to Starlightandsunshine on Tumb/r.

Arthur scowled as a large hart fled into the forest then he and Leon turned to Merlin.

"Oops," the warlock said, giving them his vapid smile as he climbed back to his feet.

"Leon, would you mind trying to catch the trail while I deal with this idiot?"

The knight nodded and Arthur left him to it, grabbing Merlin by his neck and dragging him away. "How is it that a druid child is better at hunting than you?"

"Just because the druids respect nature doesn't mean they don't hunt," Merlin said, rolling his eyes. "Mordred actually likes it as much as you do, for reasons I'll never understand. Why any of you think killing poor innocent animals is fun will always escape me?"

"I'll keep that in mind the next time you want to eat some meat from the poor innocent animals," Arthur huffed, forcing down a smile. He gave the warlock a small shove forward. "Head back to camp."

"I'm not leaving you."

"This is our first break from searching for Morgana in months. I'm not going to let you ruin it with your antics."

"I'll behave."

Arthur studied Merlin for a moment then glanced back to see Leon had disappeared into the foliage. He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to the corner of Merlin's mouth.

Red rushed across Merlin's face as Arthur pulled back.

Arthur patted his shoulder and turned to follow Leon. "Good. So you'll return to camp, then?"

"I, uh…"

"Great."

"You, what? Y-you can't do that!"

"Make sure to take care of the horses and have a fire ready for when we get back."

"Prat!"

"I found the trail," Leon said when he reached him. He looked up, then frowned. "Are you okay, Sire? Your face is all red."

"Fine. Let's go."

"Nice shot, Leon," Arthur said, patting his knight on the back as they walked into the glade where the downed hart lay.

A hound brayed the moment the two were fully into the clearing and a group of men on horses appeared through the trees. Most of the men appeared to be knights and were wrapped in shining steel. One, however, was in rich purple finery with copper accents and wore a copper crown atop his head. When his horse stepped into the glade Arthur noticed his hair and eyes had a metallic sheen, hair glittering like strands of silver while his eyes looked like sharp bronze disks. His ears, too, were odd, long and wavy like oak leaves. The man was stunningly attractive, a handsome beauty that Arthur would have appreciated more if he wasn't staring at Leon and Arthur like they were the deer to be hunted.

"It seems we have vermin on my lands," the man tutted.

Leon bristled and stepped forward. "You are talking to Prince A-"

The man waved his hand and turned away. "I care not for your names, little humans. Take them."

The last part was directed towards his men, who immediately moved to take down Arthur and Leon. The two drew their weapons, but they were outnumbered ten-to-one. They each managed to take out a few men before eventually being knocked out.

Merlin scowled as he stared at the footprints on the ground. Footprints that disappeared halfway across the foot as if the foot had been standing half in mud and half on solid ground.

Except it was all mud!

"What did you get into this time?" he huffed, glancing around the woods. "See if I ever leave you alone again. I'm going to get you a lead."

He looked around the area, but eventually found himself back at the end of the footprints when he couldn't turn up anything else. He went a few yards back and knelt. He followed them with his eyes, checking the direction, and looking for something that might explain where they had gone. He frowned as he saw… something. He titled his head slightly and it disappeared. Slowly he moved his head around until it came into view again. It seemed to hover in the air right where the footprints disappeared, but he couldn't see what it was.

He watched it for a moment, then stood up. Testingly, he set his feet into the footprints and stared ahead.

He could see it.

Carefully, he walked forwards keeping to the imprints. To his surprise, the thing turned into a beam of sunlight, which grew into a sunlit glade. He paused a few steps away. This had definitely not been a glade when he'd been at the edge of the footprints before. And looking down showed that the footprints no longer had an edge, but walked straight into the glade for a few steps before the ground became solid enough to not hold tracks.

With narrowed eyes, he stepped into the glade, reaching out with his magic. It didn't feel malicious, but there was something in the air. A change to the normal ambient magic, subtle enough that had he not been looking, he wouldn't have noticed. It felt…

Merlin threw his hands in the air. "Of course! Of course you idiot knights managed to walk right into an Otherworld! I ought to leave you both here!"

Laughter rolled across the glade and Merlin spun around, his hand going to his sword.

A beautiful woman stood half-hidden behind a tree. She wore a yellow satin dress and variegated leather shoes. A golden frontlet sat on yellow curling hair, which hung over her shoulders. To Merlin's horror, her hair seemed to be stained with blood and her dress was torn.

"Are you okay?" he asked, cautiously approaching her.

She smiled and stepped out from behind the tree to give him a shallow curtsey. Merlin took in the way her hair glittered in the sun like a jewel and the odd shape to her ears as she said, "I am well, Emrys. It is kind of you to ask."

"Your hair and dress?"

She smiled and he saw that she seemed to have eight sharp canines compared to a human's four. "You assume I do not prefer them this way."

"You're an inhabitant of this Otherworld?"

"Correct."

"Since you know who I am, can you tell me your name?"

Her grin grew. "True names are powerful things for my people, Emrys. You would do well not to let any others you might meet know yours and I will not be telling you mine. You may call me Luned."

"Nice to meet you," he chuckled nervously. Her eyes looked like cut rubies, facets and all, he realized. "Where exactly are we?"

"We are in Gorre near Dolorous Gard, the home of King Maleagant."

"You wouldn't happen to have seen a pair of knights come through here?"

"I have not, but I know Maleagant has brought two humans to his castle. Perhaps they are the ones you seek."

"Probably," he sighed. "Could you tell me what direction that would be?"

Her grin was now wide enough that Merlin could see most of her - twice as many as a human - teeth. "Perhaps. But if I do you this favor, I would ask for one in return."

Merlin stiffened, sensing there was more to her words than she was saying. "What do you want?"

"Maleagant is a false king. He stole the crown from the true queen. In return for my help in finding your knights, I ask that you defeat him so that she may take the throne once more."

"Defeat the king of an Otherworld?"

"It is within your power," she said. "I would not ask of you something improbable. Maleagant's power lies in curses and enchantments. He can not stand to your offensive power."

"That sounds like a fair trade," he said sarcastically and she nodded seriously.

"It is. Maleagant's curses have made the castle near impenetrable. You would not reach your knights without my help."

"What kind of curses?" Merlin asked, getting worried.

"He has made it so that any who wish to enter the castle without his blessing must first defeat twenty enchanted knights single-handedly. They resist magic, can only be brought down by the sword. It is a near-impossible task for even the best of knights."

"How can you help if I have to face them single-handedly?"

She held out her hand to show her ring. "This is a ring of protection and invisibility. Should you wear it, only those of power can see you."

"I can see you and you're wearing it," Merlin said.

"You are Emrys. You are magic turned soul. The knights are not so powerful. You'll be invisible to them and will take them with ease."

"What about Maleagant?"

She shook her head. "He may not have your power, but he has power enough for this."

"Yeah, I figured." He considered everything. "So you'll show me to the castle and give me your ring, and in turn, I need to take down Maleagant for your queen."

"Yes."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"My people are incapable of lying."

Merlin stared blankly at her. "Seriously?"

She frowned and tilted her head so far her ear touched her shoulder. "You do not believe me? I suppose that's fair. Humans are quite fond of their ability to lie to one another. Such a pathetic trait." Merlin began to sputter but she continued, "I have no reason to lie to you, Emrys. Even still, you must simply agree and the deal will be struck. Should I be deceitful, about helping you with the knights, the deal will not take."

Merlin eyed her hand when she held it out. "Why do you want your queen on the throne so bad? If what you say is true, won't Maleagant be mad you helped me? You're risking a lot for her."

"Maleagant is a cruel king. He treats our people like slaves and enchants or hurts any who do not do his bidding. There was a time when knights could pass through our lands and challenge our own for peaceful sport. Now Maleagant imprisons them without thought. I believe the queen was kinder. Though I do not do this purely for selfless reasons. When the queen was on the throne, I lived in a large house with many riches to my name. I hope that should you defeat Maleagant, I will regain my standing."

Merlin nodded.

"So, I help you find your knights and you cast out Maleagant. Deal?"

He bit his lip. He still wasn't sure he could trust her, but he didn't really have any other leads on where Leon and Arthur could have gone and who knows what dangers lay out in this Otherworld. He needed to find them as soon as possible. He took her hand. "Fine, it's a deal."

Magic warmed his hand and he jerked it away. "What was that?"

She gave that overly wide smile again. "True names are not the only things that hold power with my people. I would suggest you not go back on our deal now, especially once I complete my part."

Rubbing his hand, he scowled at her. He'd heard of magical contracts and knew they could have horrible consequences if they were broken. He'd never read about a species that could make them without any sort of spell or writings though.

Luned pulled her ring off and held it out to Merlin. He took it and looked it over. It was copper and styled like a curling horn. An inscription wrapped around it, but it was in a script he didn't recognize. He slipped it on and felt its magic wrap around him.

He looked up at the woman to see her walking into the woods, gesturing for him to follow. A short walk through the trees revealed a road where a cart awaited them. Two animals were tied to the front. They looked like deer, but were two heads taller than Merlin. Their antlers swooped back instead of up and were shaped more like the Roman's fallow deers, though they still had sharp prongs jutting out.

Luned patted one on the neck before climbing onto the cart's front seat and taking their reins. Glancing a bit to his left, she said, "Climb in the back and keep low. Most will not see you, but it is best to be careful."

He did so then let her know he was ready and they set off. The trip was short and quiet and soon the trees began to thin around them until they reached a large lake. Within it sat an island connected to the shore by a causeway. Rising from the island was a fantastical castle. Perfectly square aside from the four towers rising from its corners, its outer walls seemed to be made of glittering crystal.

As they started across the causeway, she said, "Once we reach the island, you must climb out. I can not lie to the guards and they will be too precise in their questions for trickery to allow you to be granted passage. Go around to the back of the castle and you will find a dueling ground where the knights will await you. Once defeated, you will be able to pass through the gate unheeded. Journey to the center of the castle. There you will find Maleagant at a fountain spilling forth from a gilded copper horn. Remember your end of the deal."

"I will," he said, then slipped off the cart when it moved onto solid ground. He crept around the castle until he reached the dueling ground. There he found nineteen knights standing in a semi-circle around the flattened area while the twentieth stood waiting at its center.

The moment Merlin drew his sword and stepped onto the ground, all the knights came to attention and his opponent raised his blade, his head turning as he searched for his challenger. Merlin quietly approached him, then cut him down.

If the others were concerned that the knight seemed to have been taken down by nothing, they didn't show it as a second simply stepped forward into the ring and repeated the first's actions.

Excepting a few times where Merlin wasn't quiet enough and he had to fend off a knight's lunge until he could step far enough away for them to lose him, the trial continued as such until all the knights were defeated. Thanks to the ring's protection, he came out no worse for wear than a sparring match with Arthur. A bit sore and bruised, with a cut on his hand and cheek each, but otherwise unharmed.

When the last knight was cut down, a light flickered over them and magic washed past him. As one, they rose and retook the positions they'd been in when he arrived. Cautiously, he slipped around them and to the gate, which opened by itself as he neared to let him pass.

Inside was a small market that appeared to wrap around the castle proper. The people there appeared to be the same species as Luned, given their leaf-like ears and the way their hair caught the light like metal or jewels. They floated through the stalls with nervous energy, heads lowered and eyes darting about. A few looked up at the gate quickly before continuing on their way, but only two or three actually seemed to spot him with fleeting curious expressions on their face.

Making sure not to bump into anyone, he slipped through the thin crowd to the castle's entrance. A pair of guards were stationed at the open doorway, but they didn't notice as he slipped past them.

Arthur glared at the man guarding their cell, but he ignored them just as he'd done since Arthur and Leon had awoken hours earlier. The only time the man had even moved was an hour before when a servant had come down with a tray of cheese and bread and a bowl of water. The man had waved his hand at the bars of the cell, creating an opening for the servant to step through as there was no door. Arthur had tried to move towards the opening, but found his feet trapped to the ground. Leon had likewise been trapped and the spell hadn't lifted until the bars were once more whole.

Despite their hunger and thirst, neither had dared touch the offerings for fear of poison or enchantments.

They had tried to consider a means of escape, but the guard ignored them, and even if they could lure him close, they had nothing to fight him with. They'd had their weapons, armor, and even their shoes taken from them before they had awoken and the only things in the cell were the tray and bowl. The bowl wouldn't fit through the bars and the tray was too flimsy to do any harm. Even still, with no locks to pick or keys to steal, they couldn't get out even if they did knock out the guard.

Leon was across the cell from him, drawing circles in the dirt as he stared up at the window high above the cell, but he turned to the bars when a door opened somewhere out of sight. They climbed to their feet as a trio of knights marched into view.

"King Maleagant wants to speak to one of you," one said.

Their guard waved the cell open, but the magical knights didn't enter.

Arthur and Leon shared a look.

"I'll go," Arthur said and the unknown knight gestured him forward.

He shifted his feet and found he could move.

"Be careful, Sire," Leon said as he stepped up to the opening and the magical knights grabbed his arms and bound his hands in front of him.

They led him up through the castle until they reached a courtyard. There the king they had seen before waited, still in his purple and copper finery. Next to him was a large curling horn that was tall enough to reach his chest and had crystal clear water spilling from it. The king was watching the water, letting his fingers run through it when they entered the courtyard, but turned as they grew closer. He smiled at Arthur and gestured to an elegant armchair that sat nearby.

The knights led him to the chair and pushed him into it before nodding to their king and leaving. Arthur tried to stand up, but a pressure kept him seated.

"Well now, little prince. It seems I have been ignoring you. Perhaps we should begin again. You may call me King Maleagant. Would you give me your name?"

Arthur just scowled at him. "I thought you didn't care."

"That was my mistake. I wish to correct it."

"Why?"

Maleagant frowned. "I wish to use your proper name."

"And I wish to be let go. How about we trade?"

"No deal," he said quickly.

Arthur shrugged. He needed to buy time and making the king work for his name seemed as good a plan as any.

Merlin better hurry up and find him.

"Perhaps you would give me your friend's name then?" Maleagant suggested.

"What friend?" Arthur asked, playing stupid.

"The one who followed you here. Emrys."

His eyes widened. Merlin was here? Had the idiot been captured or just spotted? "Don't you lot just call him Emrys."

"Of course, but I know those of you from the human plane like to use proper names. I would like to use his."

Human plane? "You can just call him Emrys. In fact, you can call him Lord Emrys. He'll love that."

"Is it not polite in your world to use proper names?"

Arthur shrugged. "Depending on who you are. Considering I'm a prince, it would be more polite to call me Your Highness. You can call him Your Lordship if it makes you feel better. What do you mean by the human plane and my world?"

He could see Maleagant growing annoyed. "You are in the land of Gorre, a different world to yours. Now -"

"An Otherworld? Like Annwn and Avalon."

"Precisely."

"You're not a Sidhe, right?"

The king scowled and straightened up. "Of course not. My people are far greater than those diminutive creatures."

"Right, of course. Hey, where did you say Emrys was?"

"I will tell you, in return for your name."

"Deal. I'm The Once and Future King. So Emrys?"

The king's eyes narrowed. "Your proper name."

"You didn't say that. Are you going back on our deal?"

Maleagant flinched back as if he'd been struck. Furious, he said, "Emrys is on his way here to rescue you. I spotted him very near. That is why you are here."

"Hostage," he said, nodding. "The moment he gets here, you're going to threaten me to get him to do what you say."

"On the contrary. I'm going to promise to release you and your knight the moment he reaches me."

Arthur snorted. "He's an idiot, but he's not stupid enough to believe that."

"It is the truth. My people are incapable of lying."

"I don't buy it. Why would you release me?"

"I am no fool. I know I have no chance of standing against the power of Emrys. Once he reaches me, he can take you both and leave in peace. However, if you wou-"

"Sire!"

My fae have ears designed to resemble oak leaves for no other reason than the disappointment I felt when someone told me Tolkien described elf ears as being leaf-like. There are way cooler shapes that could give them then just ears, but pointy.

The animals pulling Luned's cart are Irish Elk.