"And Merlin, it would be good if the bags were to arrive before our guests did," Arthur huffed, glaring back at the warlock.
Merlin gave him a harsh look over the many heavy bags he was carrying. He stomped ahead, roughly knocking one of them into Arthur as he went.
"What is it, Arthur? You seem troubled." Gwen asked.
"My, er, my father had some surprising news for me. He expects me to marry."
"Marry?" she said quickly, face blank.
"Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to."
"I wasn't worried."
"No. No, why would you be?"
Gwen looked away and walked off.
"Wow, you're an idiot," Mordred said.
"Shouldn't you be helping Merlin?" Arthur snapped.
"I'm never going to date. You guys all make it seem awful. You and Gwen keep going back and forth, Freya and Merlin can't stop making eyes at each other, and you and Merlin -"
Arthur grabbed him by the back of the shirt and tossed him down the hall.
Merlin, look at Gaius.
Merlin looked over to where Mordred was standing behind Gaius to see him trying not to laugh as the princess's nursemaid tried to flirt with the old man.
Merlin bit his lip and let his laughter fill their heads, Mordred's soon joining.
You two are awful. I think they look cute, Freya huffed.
Arthur sighed when he came into his chambers to find Leon, Merlin, Mordred, Freya, and Guinevere lounging around. "No, not right now. I have enough problems to worry over."
They shared a look and Merlin said, "Yeah, that's fair."
Arthur held up a hand as the girls went to leave. "What happened?"
"Elena's nursemaid is a pixie."
"A what?"
"Servants of the Sidhe," Merlin explained. "Mordred and I saw her with a giant purple frog's tongue while collecting ingredients for Gaius so Freya searched Elena's room and found this gold dust. Between that, the tongue, and her crush on Gaius, we figured she must be a pixie. The dust would be pixie dust and pixies are weak for older men."
"You think Elena might be a Sidhe?" Arthur asked. Merlin opened his mouth and he shot him a look. "Don't."
"Wasn't one of your old girlfriends a Sidhe?" Mordred said. "Maybe you attract them."
Arthur grabbed an apple out of the bowl by the door and threw it at the boy.
"Old girlfriend?" Leon asked as Freya grabbed the fruit out of the air.
"Long story. And we don't think she's a Sidhe," Merlin said "Well, not exactly. Mordred thinks she's a changeling."
Arthur frowned, the word sounding familiar.
"It's when a human baby is inhabited by a Sidhe. Eventually, it will take possession of her entirely."
"And my father wants me to marry her," he groaned, running a hand over his face.
"The Sidhe might want that too. Then they'd have one of their own as Queen of Camelot."
"Well if I wasn't sure I couldn't marry her before, I certainly am now."
"Can you talk to your father?" Leon asked.
Arthur shook his head. "He'd just think I'm trying to get out of the marriage. He'd never believe it, especially when it's just the word of servants against that of a royal family. Is there a way to get the Sidhe out?"
Merlin and Mordred glanced at each other. "I don't know anything about Sidhe magic."
"Neither do I."
"Then learn. I'll try to put an end to all this marriage talk."
"I guess it didn't go well then?" Merlin hummed as Arthur stomped into the room.
Uther's declared he will be marrying Elena, whether he likes it or not, Mordred said, following him in. It was probably a good thing you and Gwen weren't there. The way he was talking about love, he would have been sending you two looks the whole time.
Merlin flushed and threw a pillow at his head, ignoring Arthur's annoyed huff. Get to reading already. I snuck a look into Elena's chambers and we were right. Poor girl, no wonder she's got a wind problem. You should see what she's got trapped inside her.
Mordred rolled his eyes. I don't get dating.
Good, you're too young for it anyway.
"Anything yet?" Gwen asked and the warlocks both groaned.
"They found a potion, but they have no idea how to make it," Arthur said. "It's all in riddles or something."
"Not riddles, they just don't use the proper term for anything! " Mordred muttered. "What is a secret kept in a shell?"
"A pearl?" she suggested.
Merlin dropped his head onto the table and Mordred threw a crumpled piece of paper at him.
"Those two are useless," Arthur said.
Gwen chuckled and came to his side. "Can I talk to you in private?"
He nodded and they stepped into Mordred's room. "What's wrong?"
"It's about the marriage. Mordred told me about the argument you had with your father."
Arthur took her hands. "I don't care what he says, I will marry for love, nothing else."
"It may not be in your power to do so," she argued. "The -"
"Guinevere," he said, placing his hand on her cheek. "I promised that things would change when I am king, and they will."
"You may not be able to wait that long."
"Would you not wait for me?" Arthur said, stepping back.
She saw the doubt in his eyes and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I would wait an eternity for you, but you are expected to marry, to father an heir, and you may not be king for years yet. We can wait, but your responsibilities will not. I love you, Arthur, which is why I cannot sit back and watch you risk your future."
"And what if I do this? What kind of future will I have if I am miserable?"
"I don't think she will make you miserable. She has a good heart, beneath the Sidhe infesting her. Once it is removed, I think you two could get along."
"Or I could grow to resent her as my mother did my father."
"You are not your mother and she is not your father."
He ran his fingers through her hair. "If I marry her, what will you do?"
"I will watch you grow into the King that Camelot deserves. I am still your friend, even if that is all we can ever be."
She felt him open his mouth to say more, but she couldn't handle it. She pulled away, keeping her head down, and gave a shallow curtsy. "I need to get back to Morgana before she suspects anything."
"I… Of course."
Gwen darted out the door to the hall, tears in her eyes.
Merlin jerked awake as magic ringed in his ear. He looked up to see a blue light hovering over him.
"Rrow!"
He heard Mordred mumble and start to wake in his bed, but he, like the rest of the world, slowed as a mass of black jumped from the bed to pin the blue light to the ground.
Beneath Cavall's paw, a Sidhe hissed and squirmed. "Release me!"
"I remember you," Merlin said, sitting forward so he could look down at the creature. "You're the Sidhe Elder that Aulfric spoke to."
The Sidhe looked surprised, then scowled. "Emrys."
"That's me. And you are?"
His only answer was to move his staff like he was going to blast Merlin.
Cavall hissed and pressed down.
The Sidhe turned his attention to the cat. "What reason do you have to align yourself with Emrys, Gyfaredd Ddof? We would be happy to barter."
The cat hissed and leaned down.
"Wait!" Merlin called, but it was too late.
Cavall swallowed the Sidhe whole.
Merlin? Mordred mumbled as time returned to normal and the older warlock jumped. What's wrong?
Cavall just ate a Sidhe.
Mordred blinked at him and sat up. He what?
Nodding, Merlin watched Cavall yawn and jump back onto the bed.
How?
It was going to attack me. Grunhilda must have seen me running from Elena's room and sent him after me. Cavall pinned him down before he could do anything.
And then he ate him? Mordred said, running his hand down the cat's back cautiously as if he expected the Sidhe to burst out any second.
Could he?
No, I tried to talk to the Sidhe, but he just called me Emrys and started trying to bargain with Cavall for some reason. Called him… Gyfaredd Ddof? I think.
Mordred's jaw dropped.
What?
Gyfaredd Ddof! You have an actual daimon from Annwn as a familiar! Why didn't you tell me?
Merlin blinked.
"Keep that beast quiet or it's sleeping in the dog kennels from now on," Arthur growled, opening the door.
"Did you know Cavall came from Annwn?" Mordred shouted, pointing at Arthur accusingly.
Arthur turned to Merlin, who shook his head. "I don't know what he's on about."
"You said the Sidhe called him Gyfaredd Ddof!"
"Sidhe?"
"A Sidhe tried to attack me. Cavall ate him," Merlin explained. "That's what he called him, yes, but I don't know what that means, nor what a daimon or familiar is."
Mordred glared at him, which turned into a bemused frown. "Really?"
"Yes."
He glanced at Arthur. "You…" He turned to Cavall, who seemed to be annoyed at the fact his pets had stopped. Mordred ran his fingers through his hair. "Only Emrys would have a familiar from Annwn and not even know what a familiar is."
"Explain," Arthur grumbled, rubbing at his eyes. "Or you're going to spend my wedding day in the stocks."
"Familiars are spirits tied to a sorcerer's magic to aid them," Mordred said. "Usually they're just animals or nature spirits, like the spirit of an old oak for example. There are legends of sorcerers that have more mystical spirits, but they're still just creatures of the natural world, not otherworlds like Avalon or Annwn."
"And you think Cavall is a familiar?" Merlin asked.
"I know they are. I've known since I met them. You can feel the tie between them and you."
He frowned. Tie? He reached out to the cat with his magic and could feel something. A sort of string that led between them. "I guess I can feel something, but couldn't it just be from when I brought him to life."
"He used to be a toy," Arthur explained when Mordred looked confused. "Merlin brought him to life when he first started learning to do actual spells and never figured out how to reverse it."
Merlin pouted. He had, in fact, learned how to reverse it, but by then he couldn't bring himself to turn the cat back.
Mordred made a choking sound. "Spells like that only last a day or two at best."
Arthur shot Merlin a look and he shrugged. The book hadn't said that. "But he's still around."
"Because you tied a daimon to him!" Mordred said, throwing up his arms. "The daimon's keeping the spell going."
"And a daimon is?" Arthur pushed.
"A lesser deity or similarly powerful guiding spirit, depending on how you want to label it."
Arthur sputtered as Merlin gasped, "You think Cavall is a god?"
"Gyfareddau is a triple spirit composed of Gyfaredd Wyllt, the spirit of wild spells; Gyfaredd Ddof, the spirit of tame enchantments; and Gyfaredd Rydd, the spirit of free charms. They are of Annwn and tied to magic itself. The Sidhe wouldn't use a name like Gyfaredd Ddof lightly. And if Cavall contains Gyfaredd Ddof, he'll also embody his other aspects."
Merlin looked down at the cat. "No." He shook his head and pushed past Arthur. "Nope. I refuse to believe that."
"Merlin, how in all of Albion did you manage to accidentally tie yourself to a lesser god!?" Arthur asked, following him.
"I didn't. Cavall is a cat! Just a normal, everyday cat."
"By the gods, I saw Uther sneaking them fish. I watched the magic-hating king fawn over a triple spirit of magic!" Mordred muttered.
"He's a cat!"
"That's it, then?" Gwen asked, looking at the bottle Merlin held up.
"We hope," Mordred muttered. "Stupid Witches of Meredor and their awful recipes."
"It will work. It has to," Freya said. "We've got a different problem though, how do we get it to Elena with the pixie hovering over her?"
"Maybe Cavall will eat her too," Mordred offered.
"I have an idea," Merlin said, ignoring him.
Merlin smiled as Grunhilda ran past his hiding place.
"She bought it, then?" he asked when he met Freya outside Elena's door, Sidhe staff in hand.
"Yes. She's off to meet Gaius in the vaults. We'll need to hurry." She knocked on the door.
"Grunhilda?" Elena asked, opening it.
"No, sorry, she's been preoccupied and asked me to help you get ready."
Her eyes shifted to Merlin.
"I thought you might need a tonic to calm your nerves. I'm the physician's apprentice as well as Arthur's servant," he said, holding up the potion.
"You are very kind," she said, letting them in and taking the bottle. She took a sip as Freya went to gather the princess's jewelry. "I cannot believe this is actually my wedding day."
"You have to drink it all to feel the effect," Merlin said.
"Oh." She took another sip. "I wish my mother was here."
Merlin rolled his eyes and walked up to pinch her nose. "Elena, this is gonna make you feel a whole lot better!" he said before pouring the bottle into her mouth.
She swallowed and her eyes rolled back. She collapsed into fits until a Sidhe flew out of her mouth. Merlin blasted it with the staff, then went over to check on her.
"How do you feel?" he asked as she roused. "I think you fainted from all the excitement."
"Fainted? I feel… amazing," she said, rising and walking towards the window with grace. "I haven't felt this good in years! Where is Grunhilda?"
Freya and Merlin shared a smile.
"As I said, she's busy. I'm here to help," Freya said.
"I'll leave you to it." Merlin gave the princess a bow and slipped out of the room.
He made it two corridors over before he came face to face with an angry pixie.
"Why don't you wear this dress?" Freya said, pausing by the princess's trunk as she spotted a soft pink gown.
"Grunhilda said I should wear this one," Elena said, gesturing to the dress she was already wearing.
"It's rather plain though, isn't it?" She pulled the dress out and held it up. "Which do you prefer?"
"Me?"
"It is your wedding."
"It is," she sighed.
Freya frowned and set the dress down. "You don't sound too happy about that."
"I am, or at least I'm trying to be. For my father, and my people." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter."
"I think it does. Your father loves you, doesn't he?"
"Of course, and I love him. That's why I have to do this."
"But surely if your father loves you, he would want you to be happy."
"You don't think I'd be happy with Arthur?" the princess asked, sitting down on the bed.
Freya considered her words before sitting next to her. "I think both you and A-the prince are good people and could come to be good friends, but a marriage needs more than just friendship to truly work, doesn't it?"
"I suppose. But Grunhilda said all that matters is that we respect each other, and I believe we do."
"I believe you do respect each other, but I also believe that marriage only needing respect is just what some nobles tell themselves to feel better about shoving a pair together despite no love existing between them. You know noble life far better than I, though. How many happy marriages do you know of that function in such a way?"
Elena frowned down at her lap. "I… I think I would like the pink dress."
Freya smiled and stood. "And the flats, I think. Those shoes Grunhilda picked out look like torture devices. It's not as if anyone will even see them."
The princess smiled at her. "Thank you, um…"
"Freya, Your Highness."
"Thank you, Freya. And please, call me Elena. You've been so nice to me."
"It seemed like you needed someone on your side."
"So the Sidhe's gone, the pixie's dead, and I have your ceremonial sword," Merlin said.
"Is that for me to fall on?"
"Hopefully not." He studied Arthur. "What's wrong?"
"I know I'm doing the right thing for Camelot. And for Gawant. It will make both our kingdoms stronger and help our people. But…"
Merlin came forward and slipped the sword onto Arthur's belt. "Do you want to know what I think?"
"For once, I might actually allow you to blather on."
Merlin met his eyes. "I think you're mad, I think you're all mad. People should marry for love," he took Arthur's hand, "not convenience. And if Uther thinks an unhappy king makes for a stronger kingdom, then he's wrong. 'Cause you may be destined to rule Camelot, but you have a choice," he placed his forehead against Arthur's, "as to how you do it."
They stayed like that for a breath before Merlin pulled away.
Leon opened the door. When he saw Merlin, he sighed with relief. "Everything's fixed, then?"
"All set."
"Is it your wish, Arthur, to become one with this woman?"
"It is."
"Is it your wish, Elena, to become one with this man?"
"It is."
"Do any say nay?" The officiate looked around as he gave a moment of silence. "Then as we gather here today, we are all witness to this rite -"
"Wait."
Elena was surprised when it was not only her voice that rang out. She met Arthur's eyes for the first time since coming to the room and relief washed over her.
"There is something you would like to say to each other?" the officiate asked.
"Something I think we both have been wanting to say for a while," she said and Arthur smiled at her.
"Something from the heart we dared not speak. Elena, you are a wonderful woman, and a beautiful bride, but I cannot deny my feelings."
"You do not love me."
He shook his head.
"Nor do I love you."
"Then we are both here out of duty."
"And we are in agreement." She glanced to the side to see her father was sad, but smiling. "We can not go forward with the marriage."
"I'm sorry."
"As am I, but it is what is best."
"For us, and our kingdoms."
She squeezed the hands she was still holding then let them go. She walked down the stairs and her father met her to lead her out.
"I'm sorry, Father," she said once they were alone. "I know you wanted this."
"I wanted this because I thought it would be what is best for you. If it made you this unhappy, then clearly I was wrong."
"It didn't make me unhappy, but it did not make me happy either. I think the marriage would have been fine."
"But you hope for more than fine," her father said, patting her hand. "And I hope for that as well."
"I saw Uther's reaction…"
"I will speak to him. You were both right. Hopefully, he will see that. I know he loves Arthur as I do you."