"Merlin…" Arthur said after the servant let out three separate hiccups in just one minute, distracting him from his work every time.

"I can't help it," the warlock answered quickly.

"I need to concentrate."

Merlin nodded and there were a few moments of blessed silence, then he hiccuped.

"I am trying," Arthur said slowly, "to prepare for one of the most important moments in my life."

Merlin nodded again and Arthur went back to his work.

"All these maps…"

Arthur threw down the papers he was holding as Merlin walked up to his desk, choking down a hiccup.

"None of them are the same."

"Well done, Merlin. Do you know why?"

"No."

"Because hardly anyone's ever been there."

"Couldn't you have chosen something a bit easier?" Merlin asked, grabbing one of the maps and looking it over.

"I'm meant to be proving my worth to the people. A quick trip to the lower town to collect a bundle of herbs probably won't cut it."

"But the Perilous Lands are… perilous," he set down the map. "Maybe I should come with you."

Arthur reached up to grab a fistful of Merlin's shirt. He pulled him down until they were nose to nose. "I'm going to say this once and only once, if you interfere in the quest or pull any of your tricks, I will clap you in irons and leave you in the deepest part of the dungeons for an entire month."

"But -"

"Merlin."

"Right, fine, alone and unaided it is."

"I'm serious." Merlin nodded and Arthur let him go. "Good. Now, if you don't mind, I have some important preparation to do."

Merlin started to walk away, then gave another hiccup.

"Enter," Uther called as his servant dressed him.

"My Lord."

He smiled and waved off the servant to greet Morgan. As he pulled her into a hug, he asked, "Is something wrong?"

"I… I am worried for Arthur."

"As are we all. But we must have hope that Arthur will be victorious."

She nodded and held out a bracelet. "Would you give this to him for me? I got it for him as a good luck charm, but I worry if I try to give it to him he'll only mock me."

He shook his head. Women and their superstitions. "Of course. You two should learn to set your bickering aside, though. You are no longer children."

"I know you have to go, but…"

"I'll be careful."

"Please do, I fear Morgana is planning something."

"Morgana?"

Guinevere bit her lip. "It was only for a second, I might have been seeing things, but there was an old woman at the market. She pulled Morgana aside to talk. Morgana said she was just a beggar, but when the woman passed the mirror, I swear she looked like Morgause in it."

Arthur frowned. "Merlin said mirrors can sometimes reveal glamours."

She took his hand. "You need to be cautious, for me."

He smiled and kissed her.

He met his father and the council at the steps. He gave a bow, then descended to where Merlin was waiting with Llamrei.

"No tricks," he whispered.

"I -"

"I can handle one mission on my own."

"I know, just be careful."

Arthur bowed his head for a moment of silence then finished checking over his mare. Once he was seated, he glanced down to see Merlin eyeing his wrist. He turned it to better show the bracelet. "Beautiful, isn't it? It was a gift from my father."

Merlin moved closer, acting as if he was adjusting the saddlebags. "It's magic."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I can feel it, Arthur. It sings like the Crystal Cave and the Mage Stone. You can't wear it, not until we know what it does."

"My father gave it to me. He wouldn't give me something magical."

"Not on purpose. Where did he get it?"

"He didn't say."

"Please, Arthur."

Arthur saw the nerves on the boy's face and rolled his eyes. If he didn't handle this, Merlin would probably chase him down as soon as he was out of sight. "Fine, but I'll take it off once I'm out of the city so my father doesn't take offense. In return, promise me you won't follow."

"I won't. I promise."

Arthur nodded then kicked off.

Once he reached the gates he slipped the bracelet off with a frown. His father didn't give him many gifts. Sighing, he stuck it into his pocket and continued on.

"He's stopped to rest for the night. He's not wearing the bracelet."

"Are you spying on Arthur's quest?"

Merlin glanced to the door to see Gwen shutting it. His head jerked back to the candle flame to see the vision of Arthur was gone. "No! I finally had it!"

"That would be a yes," Mordred chuckled from where he was bent over a book.

"He's using his need to practice his scrying as an excuse to mollycoddle Arthur," Freya said. She held up her latest carving. "What do you think?"

"Nice dog," Mordred muttered.

"It's supposed to be Cavall."

"You've improved," Gwen said, coming to sit with them at the dinner table.

Merlin held his hand over the candle and made a swooping gesture, like waves on water. Gwen didn't see a difference in the flame, but Merlin looked entranced.

The door opened and all but Merlin looked towards it.

Leon raised an eyebrow at them. "You know, these are the prince's chambers. No one is supposed to be in here while he's gone."

"You're in here," Mordred shot back.

"I'm running an errand for the king." He pointedly walked over to Arthur's desk to grab a few reports off the top. "I won't say anything, but try not to get caught while Arthur isn't here to protect you all."

"Arthur's right," Merlin muttered once the door had shut behind the knight, not looking up from the fire. "We have started corrupting his knights."

"You. He said you were corrupting them," Gwen pointed out.

"Who is it that wishes to cross my bridge?"

Arthur sheathed his sword, even as he watched the short man with caution. "A knight on a quest to find the Lance of the Fisher King."

"Then you must be The King."

"No, I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot."

The man approached and held out his hand. "I'm Grettir," he said, shaking his hand. "I have to say, you're not as short as I thought you'd be. Before I let you pass, I'll give you a little advice, the rules in the land that you are heading to are quite different to those in the world that you know."

"What do you mean?" Please tell him it wasn't another magic thing.

He smiled. "You've met Gyfareddau, have you not?"

Of course it was another magic thing. "What does this have to do with that stupid cat?"

Grettir hummed. "What indeed?"

Arthur studied him and thought over his words. "Are you trying to say the Perilous Lands are in Annwn?"

"Very good." He stepped to the side so Arthur could pass. "The lands exist between my world and yours. They are Albion, but they are also Annwn. You would be wise to keep that in mind as you continue."

"You-You are from Annwn."

Grettir merely smiled and gestured him on.

Arthur hesitated, then moved forward. "Thank you for your help."

Grettir's face scrunched up and he nodded. As Arthur passed him, he added, "That's a very beautiful bracelet."

Arthur turned back to him, wary. "It was a gift from someone very dear to me. He hoped it would bring me good fortune."

"Did she now?"

Arthur froze. "He."

"Are you so sure?"

His father had given it to him, but it was magic. Where could he have gotten a magical bracelet, but from his magical daughter. "What is it really?"

"A token of death."

Arthur nodded, knowing that was all he would get from the mysterious entity, and continued across the bridge.

"The Fisher King has waited many years for this day. Do not deny him what he wishes."

Arthur glanced back, but Grettir was gone.

Freya cocked her head when she slipped out of Lady Olwyn's chambers to find Gwen waiting for her.

"Morgana gave me the night off," she answered the unasked question as they turned towards the kitchen.

"Why?"

"She looked spooked when I came in last night," Gwen whispered, "and her room smelled like smoke so she must be performing the spell on the eye and was worried I'd walk in on her."

"Well, at least you get a night off out of it. You should spend it with Elyan."

"I will. I just wanted to let you know I wouldn't be meeting you after work and make sure you'll be okay walking home alone."

"I'll be fine," Freya reassured. "Was it only going to be tonight, though? Lady Olwyn leaves at noon tomorrow so after I clean and close her room I'll be free. I was thinking about stealing Merlin away for the night, but we could make it a girl's night instead if Morgana lets you leave early."

"I don't know. She didn't say. I'll have to check."

They stopped when they reached the kitchen and Freya pulled Gwen into a hug. "I'll see you later tonight, then. Have fun with Elyan."

"Thank you."

Arthur got himself stuck in a mud pit, Merlin said.

I'd think that was hilarious if I didn't know he's going to make us clean all the mud off his armor when he gets back, Mordred groaned.

"Mordred, do you know any magical creatures that look like small angry dragons and screech instead of roar?"

"Wyverns?" Freya offered.

"Yeah, that sounds right," Mordred agreed. "They're related to dragons."

Merlin stood and Gwen grabbed his arm. "Don't."

"But -"

"He needs to do this on his own. You can't interfere."

Merlin frowned and sat down to watch as Arthur faced off against the beasts.

The prince swung his sword around to keep them back until he saw an opening and stepped into one of the wyverns' attacks to slice its wing. As it fell to the ground, he spun around and drove the sword deep into the other's chest as it tried to pounce on him. Arthur put down the wounded one, only for the sounds of more wyverns to echo through the field. Arthur ran into the castle and -

Emrys, an ancient voice called and the candle went out.

Merlin tried to light the candle again, but it did little more than flicker. "No!"

"What happened?" Gwen asked.

"Something's blocking me from scrying Arthur."

"He might be too deep into Annwn," Mordred said. "Maybe Cav-"

"He's a cat," Merlin hissed. He glanced at the black lump of fur asleep on Arthur's pillow. "Can you see into Annwn?"

The cat whined and curled up tighter.

"No," Freya translated.

Merlin tried to light the candle again.

"He'll be alright," she said, grabbing his hand.

"I hope you're right."

Arthur growled as he marched back down the stairs. Nothing, he'd found nothing so far. He marched past an opening and frowned, doubling back. Just past the opening was a throne room that looked too large for the tower.

He raised his sword as he approached the room.

The floor sank under the weight of his foot.

He threw himself forward as the pressure plate sent a slab of stone down to block the entrance. He pushed himself to his feet and started checking the frame for a lever to release the door.

"So, King Arthur, you are here at last."

Arthur spun around and that was when he realized the throne wasn't empty.

He raised his sword once more and approached it. "You must be the Fisher King."

"I am."

He came around the throne to see a man covered in cobwebs that gave off an air of ancient power. Slowly, he lowered the sword. "I am Prince Arthur of Camelot. I'm not a king."

"For now."

His eyes shifted to the lance in the man's hand. It was made of pale white wood with a white metal point from which blood dripped down. "I am on a quest to prove myself worthy of the throne. I must return with your lance to do so."

The man watched him for a moment. "That may be your quest for the throne of Camelot, but it is not for the throne of Albion. I have been waiting all these years for the arrival of a new time: the time of the Once and Future King."

"I've been called that before," Arthur said, hesitant.

"And you will be again. For that time is dawning, and my time finally can come to an end. This is why you were brought here. The lance is yours to take. It is no prize at all." He let go of the weapon and it clattered to the ground. "The real prize is something far greater." He turned his hand over and a vial of water appeared atop his palm. "Water from the Lake of Avalon. I've kept it safe these years, waiting for the right person to claim it. And that is you. You are the one chosen."

"Why me?" Arthur asked.

"Albion's time of need is near. And in that dark hour, you must be strong, for only you and Emrys together can save her. His powers are great, but he will need help. And that is what I'm giving you."

He held out the vial and Arthur sheathed his sword, kneeling to accept the ancient king's gift.

"When all seems lost, this will show the way."

"Thank you."

As he stood, the king said, "I have given you a gift. Now you must give me one in return."

"What is it you want?"

The man sighed. "I want an end to my suffering."

"You… want me to kill you?" How was that a gift?

"Like my kingdom, I am not of the mortal plane and as such can not be killed by a mortal weapon. I need something far more powerful."

Arthur shook his head, then remembered.

A token of death.

He pulled the bracelet out of his pocket. "Do you know what this is?"

"It is an Eye of the Phoenix. Contact with it will burn away your life force."

What a wonderful gift, Morgana. "Will it kill you?"

The king nodded. He held out his arm and Arthur knelt before him once more. Before he could place it on him, the king said, "The land of Albion is to be yours, that includes Elmet."

Arthur's eyes widened at the ancient name of the Perilous Lands, realizing what the king meant by the statement. He bowed his head. "Thank you."

He slipped the bracelet onto his wrist and the king patted his hand before raising his arm and being whisked away.

"No, thank you," his voice echoed after him.

Arthur bowed his head, giving the fallen king a moment of silence before grabbing the lance and heading to the door.

"Is Merlin spying on Arthur again?" Gwen said as she moved one of her pieces across the draught board.

"No, Gaius finally pinned him down so he's cleaning the leech tank," Freya chuckled into her cup. She moved a piece of her own, then topped up their drinks with the wine Merlin had gifted them for their Girls' Night. "Mordred got dragged into helping too."

"Poor boys," Gwen said, but she couldn't keep the smile from her face.

"Enough about them. How is your new dress coming?"

"It's not turning out how I thought. It's gorgeous, but not me. I'm thinking of selling it. I know Áine was fawning over the fabric when I showed it to her and she earned a big commission two days ago so she'll be itching to spend money."

"You'd get a good price for it from what you've told me, but are you sure you want to sell?"

Gwen nodded as she reached down to give Cavall a piece of chicken and stroke their back. "It just doesn't feel right for me."

"Well, at least your hard work won't go to waste. My carvings certainly won't sell for anything."

"You really are getting better," she reassured.

"I wish I had my Uncle Gahmuret's skill. He was amazing at carving," Freya sighed. She leaned back and took a heavy drink. "He tried to teach the boys, even though neither of them cared for it, but didn't bother with my cousin Dindrane and I."

Gwen laid her chest down on the table, putting her chin on her crossed arms. "You know, I think you've mentioned your aunt and uncle and cousins before, but you've never talked about going to see them or sending them a message."

Freya threw back the last of her wine. "They're not around anymore. Five years ago, Cenred's army started raiding villages bordering Essetir and the village they lived in was targeted. My parents received word that all five of them died in the raid."

Gwen set down her cup so she could grab both of Freya's hands in hers. "I'm so sorry."

Freya smiled and squeezed her hands. "It's okay."

They had a moment of silence, then Gwen sat up and grabbed her cup. "Do you want to talk about them or do you want a distraction?"

Freya considered for a moment, then got some more wine. "Distraction."

Gwen nodded, then moved her piece across the board in a series of jumps. "I win."

"What!?"

"It's from the Lake of Avalon?" Mordred asked, turning the vial over in his hands.

"That's what he said." Arthur knelt so Merlin could pull off his chainmail.

"Do you believe his warnings?" Freya asked.

"Of course not. Arthur never pays attention when people try to warn him about the future."

Arthur smacked Merlin's head. "It wasn't much of a warning, to begin with. Albion's darkest hour, what does that even mean? And how will some water help?"

"I guess we'll have to wait and see," Gwen said, taking the vial from Mordred and setting it atop the books that she was carrying over to the wardrobe.

"You know, it sounded like a pretty fun quest overall," Mordred hummed. "There was that dwarf on the bridge? Oh! And then the wyverns! What was it like fighting them?"

Arthur frowned. "How did -" He scowled at Merlin. "I told you -"

"I was just watching!" Merlin said, throwing up his hands in surrender. "I swear, I didn't do anything else. I just wanted to practice my scrying."

"He worries," Freya said. "It's adorable."

"He's paranoid and it's annoying," Arthur countered.

"Can I learn how to sword fight?"

The group turned to Mordred.

"You?" Arthur asked.

"Yes. I'm tired of being the only one who never fights. Even Gwen knows how to sword fight!"

"You're a child," Arthur said and Merlin nodded.

"I'm fourteen! I'd be a squire by now if I was noble."

"He's got a point," Gwen said.

"I'm pretty sure he's eleven," Arthur muttered.

"Ten?" Merlin offered.

"He was nearly thirteen when we met," Freya said. "You two need to accept your son is growing up."

"Wh-He is not our-our son!" Arthur sputtered.

"I'm only five years older than him!" Merlin said, shaking his head. "If anything, he's an annoying little brother."

Arthur pointed to him. "Yes, exactly."

Gwen and Freya shared a look.

"I'll be your second cousin if it means I can learn to sword fight," Mordred said.

"I was sixteen when I started to learn," Merlin pointed out.

"You didn't come to Camelot until you were sixteen," Gwen said.

"Irrelevant," Arthur waved her off and she gave him a look. "Fine. We'll go down to the training fields in the morning."

I regret everything, Mordred moaned.

I did try to save you from yourself, Merlin moaned back.

"Get up, you lazy bums."

I think he's somehow even worse with you here, Merlin huffed as Arthur nudged his side with his boot.

"Stop talking and get on your feet."

I'm putting some of Gaius's toad paste into his soup tonight.

Merlin snorted, then mimicked waving a flag. "We surrender, oh great King of Elmet. Please have mercy."

"Shut up, Merlin. You'll get some mercy after you complete your forms."

They both groaned and climbed to their feet.

"I see Mordred's joined in," Leon said, coming over. "Or is this punishment for turning your chambers into a clubhouse while you were gone?"

"What?"

Traitorous knight, Mordred huffed as Arthur glared at them.

Maybe we should take over Camelot after all. Then we can lock Leon and Arthur in the stocks.

Mordred gave a snort and Arthur focused on him.

"You think this is funny? Leon, would you mind sparring with Merlin? I think Mordred needs some one-on-one training."

"Of course not, Sire."

Mordred shot Merlin a glare and he gave an apologetic smile in return as he followed Leon to a clear space.