Hopefully the length of this chapter will make up for the lack of updates, honestly, I had finished writing it in July but only typed it up today.

A big thank you for all those reading and favouriting, I hope you are still enjoying it as much as I do writing it.

A big thank you to my reviewers Babynora1983, AmalieNico, Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967, TheOneWithAllTheDreams and Fanficqueen306. As Well as AuyikmoraTano, Sumtimes. .No, Belladu57, AFletch1639 and FlowerGirl21


Unexpected Plans

"Emma, you can't just walk off like that!"

Arthur burst into her room, his red shirt now casually thrown on over his torso, hiding the tight bandages covering the sore and bruised muscles from his earlier joust.

Whereas Emma had taken up the position of lying face down on her bed, unmoving and unresponsive, having given up on the day and the problems she was now faced with.

"Are you even listening to me?"

The Prince of Camelot stood for a few moments before releasing a loud frustrated and annoyed sigh before moving closer to her.

"Emma?" Arthur's voice was cautious as he leant towards her unmoving body.

"Emma, are you alright?" He reached a hand out towards her and placed it gently on her shoulder, only to have her flinch away.

"Are you seriously going to act like this?"

Emma did not respond, everything felt heavy, the whole realisation of her situation had begun to crush her and she didn't know how to escape it. When she had exclaimed earlier that she had, had enough she hadn't expected her body to fail her.

"You're being childish, only because you didn't get your own way!"

Her head snapped to him, her eyes blazing with fury as she forced herself up. She was already a ticking time bomb and his attitude was not helping at all.

"My own way?" She hissed.

"Do you honestly believe any of this is my own way?!"

Emma threw herself off her bed, her hands balled into fists.

"It's so Goddamned easy for you, isn't it? The great Prince Arthur! While I get to get transported from my perfectly ordinary life, with my family to this crappy place. But no, according to you that's having it my own way!"

"Emma." Arthur's voice came out as a warning.

"It was my own way to get shot at, to have people I have never met, decide they want to kill me."

"What has got into you?"

"And to top it all off, the one chance," tears of anger began to uncontrollably escape down her cheeks. "The one chance I had, the one tangible clue and connection to my home and I get locked in the castle like some damsel in distress! But no according to you that's my own way!"

Shaking with fury and out of breath from increasingly yelling louder and louder, They were both confronted with stunned silence. Arthur moved carefully towards her, causing Emma to tense up defensively, he gripped her arms to her side before she could evade his grasp.

"Emma." Arthur tried to keep his voice calm, as some of the uncertainty he felt showed on his face, he tried to look her directly in the eye as she avoided his gaze.

"Emma, look at me."

Emma looked at her feet.

"Fine, just listen. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. Sometimes, I don't know what to say. I have no idea how you're feeling or how your coping if I'm totally honest. But bottling it up is not going to help, we're all just trying to keep you safe. Magic corrupts, Em."

Slowly raised her eyes to his and also had the wind knocked out of her due to his bright blue eyes.

"I've seen what magic can do, what if this woman what trying to continue the Sect's work? I'd rather have you alive, who else is going to yell at me?"

His gripped tightened on her arms as if he was trying to comfort her but was not quite sure how to.

A loud knock on Emma's open door broke the atmosphere.

Emma turned her head away as Arthur permitted entry to her room. A young uneasy Camelot guard entered looking rather uncomfortable.

"What is it?"

"Prince Arthur, his Majesty the King requests for you and Lady Emma to join him immediately in the meeting room."

Emma had to stop herself from groaning aloud, she could not deal with Uther and his questions in the emotional and mentally exhausted stated she had ended up in.

"I can't." She whispered, not wanting her unexpected guest to hear her.

Arthur shushed her consolingly and pulled her into a close embrace, his lips close to her ear.

"It's fine, stay here and rest. I'll send Gaius to check on you later."

Arthur stepped away and headed towards the guard.

"My Lord, the King commanded both of you…."

Arthur cut him off.

"The Lady Emma is not well and will be unable to attend. You will stay outside the door to guard her until I return with the court physician."

He tried to give her a reassuring smile across the room.

"Go and rest, Emma. You look like you need it."

He left, the guard walking in front of him as Arthur shut the door.

Emma's arms crossed over her torso, missing the warmth of Arthur's embrace. She chastised herself at her behaviour, she wanted to let Arthur know her feelings, however, after what she witnessed that afternoon only served to reinforce her original plan of setting Arthur and Gwen together whilst hoping and praying that her feelings would diminish. Deciding to follow the Prince's advice, Emma climbed back onto her bed and resumed her earlier position.

Her eyes closed, as her ears listened for any noise, movement or voices. The guard outside jingled in his chainmail as footsteps walked along the corridor outside her room. Apart from those varied sounds, it was relatively peaceful, Emma revelled in it. Alone and astonishingly calm, its was just Emma and her thoughts and wearied emotions. She allowed the events of the day swirl and dance, mingling together in an internal torturous picture show. Defeated, she attempted to bury herself deeper in her pillows, Emma pondered her options, about the strange woman who had disappeared as quick as she had appeared. Who was she? Would Emma ever see her again and get the answers she so desperately desired?

Time began to slip away from her as the sun descended to the moon's glow, in her musings she had not realised how long she had been lying there, or how she had fallen asleep without being aware of it. Her peace was disturbed by a large number of footsteps and their voices echoing in the corridor next to her and Arthur's respective rooms. With a heavy heart, she hoped they would pass her by but knew that with her luck she should be so lucky.

The door was set upon without any knocking or thought on the rooms occupant and it was soon filled with opinions and business of Uther, Arthur, Gaius, Merlin and a variety of Knights on the King's counsel. Emma continued, quite stubbornly to lie unmoving on her bed, finding it easier than acknowledging the men in her room.

"Gaius, make sure you examine her thoroughly, she may have been placed under some enchantment."

Her ears pricked up with the sound of Uther's voice, only the paranoid King would assume witchcraft, in the face of overwhelming emotional duress. Emma inaudibly scoffed at Uther's inquisition, keeping her eyes closed she felt the intangible presence of someone looming over her.

"My Lady, are you awake?" Gaius' voice spoke close to her ear, maybe, just maybe if Emma stayed still enough they would all leave her alone.

Gaius' cold and wrinkled hands gripped at Emma's wrist to feel her pulse, unconsciously she held her breath as she waited for Gaius to finish. The pressure on her wrist then moved to Emma's shoulder as the usually gentle old man forced Emma's body to twist so she was facing them. Instinctively she winced against burning lights that illuminated her room against the moon filled sky outside. Before she could attempt to return to her comfortable hideaway, Gaius placed Emma's chin is his one hand and widen her eye with the other.

"Gaius? What are you doing?"

The physician ignored her question and proceeded to examine her other eye. Extremely concerned by being poked and prodded without an explanation, Emma opened her mouth to object fiercely, only to have Gaius use his fingers to open her mouth wider and peer inside.

"Merlin."

The young warlock did not need Gaius to elaborate as he immediately restrained Emma's arms before she could knock Gaius away. She attempted to yell "Gaius! Merlin! What the hell!" But having her lips forced open so she could not form words, it came out as a series of sounds and squeals.

"Well, Gaius?" Uther's voice cut through the room as he lost patience waiting for results as Gaius' finger freed her mouth before she had to resort to biting him.

"Is she under some enchantment?"

"I cannot be sure, everything seems to be in perfect order."

Emma inaudibly jeered at the conversation, of course, Uther would come to the conclusion that anything strange in someone's behaviour or mood would automatically constitute witchcraft and sorcery.

"Is there anything you can do to make sure?" Arthur appeared next to his father, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Gaius, I have a castle full of important nobles, I cannot have one of my ward's implicated with magic."

"Isn't anyone going to ask my opinion on this matter? Because I can tell you right now that I'm not enchanted, at all. So can all be on your merry way."

No one moved, no one even acknowledged that she had spoken at all. Emma laid her head back, coming to the conclusion that her participation in the situation would not actually provide any solution. She waited as the conversation became a debate, and wondered how long this was all going to take and whether the search party had made it back from the market with any useful information.

"Emma I have received an account of what happened this afternoon." The King had moved closer to her bed causing Emma to sit up defensively.

"This woman, this sorcerer, did she speak to you?"

"No Sire."

"Are you certain?"

"Yes Sire, there was no choice for me to speak to her. She moved too fast for me to catch up and then I was stopped at the gate."

"And you saw this object in her hands?"

"Yes, a mobile phone. Did you find her?"

Emma looked around at the faces invading her private quarters, no one dared to answer her.

"Arthur, send another search party into the town, I want this woman found."

"As you wish."

Arthur began to leave when his father signalled for the attention of the room.

"Lady Emma will be guarded at all times and will be escorted wherever she goes until this sorceress is captured, is this understood?"

Uther observed everyone pledge to his orders.

"Gaius I leave her in your care."

The old physician bowed his head to the King as both he and his son left the room, with their accompanying knights, leaving Gaius, Emma and Merlin alone.

"What the hell just happened?" Emma exclaimed loudly as she sat stunned with the events that just transpired, and the fact that the rare occurrences of freedom were going to be non-existent whilst this woman roamed free.

"That, my dear, was everyone trying to keep you safe."

"Safe? They think I'm enchanted! They think this woman has done something to me!"

"Hasn't she Em? Look at you! You have moved in hours, you haven't eaten and your eyes look like you haven't slept in years. Not to mention the whole castle hearing you and Arthur earlier."

Emma's cheeks flared red with her embarrassment.

"Merlin, I've had a really testing and trying day, everyone has their own way of coping and unfortunately mine got invaded quite a few times."

"We're worried about you, Em."

Merlin sat on the edge of her bed, worry and frustration etched into his face.

"I know Merl, it's just, this was my one chance." Emma sighed, tearing up slightly "Do you really think I'm enchanted?"

The old physician and the young warlock regarded each other.

"Guys?"

"It's possible but if you haven't had verbal contact it's highly unlikely."

"Unless they have got something of yours. Like this machine you were on about."

"The mobile? That wasn't mine but it's from where I'm from."

" We shall have to wait and see," Gaius concluded.

"Did the guards find anything at all?"

"Nothing, I'm afraid."

"Do you think they will?"

Both of the silences gave Emma her answer as Merlin moved uneasily. Gaius, however, began to rummage through his well-known medical bag, finally revealing a familiar bottle and its red potion.

"Oh Gaius, not again."

"You need sleep and rest, and you have a busy day tomorrow, you will need your wits about you."

"I can't even think of tomorrow at the moment."

"Em." Merlin intervened.

"Fine."

She held her hand out for the sleeping draught with a face of disgust.

"The guards are just outside the door if you need anything."

"Got it, Gaius."

Goodnight Em."

"Goodnight Merlin, Goodnight Gaius."

Gaius collected his equipment and both men headed towards the wooden door.

"Oh, and Gaius," Emma called out, causing the old physician to turn to her. "Next time you put your fingers anywhere near my mouth I will bite."

Emma downed her red nightcap as both men chuckled out the room.

Emma was keenly aware that she was more than probably dreaming, be it either instinct or imagination, she was certain of someone was on the bed next to her. It took her brain a few moments to register that her eyes were indeed open, peering into the darkness of her room, she focused on the cause of the slight pressure on her forehead. With his hand placed next to her head to steady himself, Arthur was leant over her, kissing Emma on the forehead. She gasped out his name, causing the Prince to freeze in his actions.

Emma jolted awake, disorientated and dazed, she blinked against the light, a stark contrast to the darkness of night she was sure she just experienced. Her hand traced the spot where she was certain Arthur's lips had been placed, it had felt so real, but was it possible?

"My Lady, is everything alright?" Gwen walked to the side of her bed curtain, having started to sort out Emma's room and having been busy preparing Emma's clothing for the day.

"Yes, it's just," Emma left her sentence hanging, her thoughts elsewhere and her fingers still tracing out lips on her forehead. The silence between them was awkward as Gwen continued to carry out her duties, a dress for the day already picked out and hanging off the dressing screen.

"Gwen, what time is it?" The memories of Gwen and Arthur the day before resurfacing causing her to feel a profound sense of ineptitude in the conversation department. Internally Emma began arguing with herself, a part of her needed to know what happened between them, needed to know that her plan to get them together, although she had done nothing to actually help evolve Arthur's and Gwen's relationship. But the other more emotional part didn't know if she could handle the truth if she was ever confided in and Emma knew her friendship with Gwen was not as close as it could have been.

"It is around about eight in the morning, there is plenty of time for you to get ready and have something to eat before the jousting today."

"Wait, they're still doing the tournament? After yesterday?" Emma was suddenly alert, a normal rational person would call of the jousting until the wanted person was found. If what Arthur, Gaius and Merlin had said about the woman creating a supposed trap, surely the populace would be safer not being huddled together in a small space. However, the suspected sorceress intended target was Emma, a crowd of people wouldn't likely be a problem.

"Don't worry, King Uther has ordered more guards around the castle and the arena, you'll be safe."

Emma sighed.

"It's not that I'm worried about." She whispered to herself under her breath, bringing her knees to her chest. Forcing herself from her temporary melancholy, Emma moved from her bed to the wooden table and a plate of cold meats and bread. She picked and played with it, seriously contemplating how she was going to make it through the day relatively sane.

Still wearing the previous day's clothes and with her braid all knotted and frizzy from having been slept on, Emma decided she might as well look presentable as she began to yank and pull at her hair to unravel it. Would she see that woman again? Would she be willing to talk? Or had the famous Camelot knights hunting her, scare her off?

With her head still lost in her musings, Emma moved behind the screen next to a large tapestry of a lady and a unicorn to change.

"Are you excited for the feast?" Gwen tried to make small talk as she unlaced Emma from her gown, ready to dress her in a new one.

"I hadn't really thought about it after yesterday."

"I wonder who will be escorting you tonight. The talk of the market is that it will be either Arthur or Sir Richard."

Emma mentally groaned, after the events she had already suffered, she now had the challenge of trying not to make an absolute embarrassment of herself in front of Camelot's elite as well as trying to remember all the things she had been taught in preparation for the evening ahead.

"Hang on, aren't you meant to be with Morgana?" The thought had stuck Emma suddenly as she was halfway through getting into her new clean Pendragon red dress.

"She wanted me to help you first, she was worried about you after yesterday."

"I'm sorry, Gwen." Emma blurted out, as Gwen laced her in.

"You probably wanted to be with Morgana and instead, you're having to play nursemaid to me."

"Honestly, I don't mind, it seemed like you needed some help this morning. Are you sure you are alright?"

"Honestly Gwen, I can't tell anymore." Emma was close to revealing her confusion, her frustration that she couldn't go after that woman, her confusion with Arthur and truthfully, a little scared of what could happen.

Her mind raced with imaginings, overthinking every little detail that she glimpsed and experienced all because of a mobile phone.

"Trust in Arthur." Gwen's voiced surprised Emma. "Rely on him, he always tries his hardest for his friends."

"I don't want to burden him, he already has so many responsibilities and duties." Emma moved to her dressing table, observing her wearied and anxious face stare back at her.

"You know Arthur is stronger than he looks."

"But it's not fair of me."

Gwen chuckled to herself.

"He always complains you are far too independent for your own good."

"He said that? I don't think I'm that independent, well at least not as much as I use to be."

Gwen smiled to herself as she brushed through the intermingled browns and blondes of Emma's hair.

"He mentions it almost every time I see him."

The ladies maid had not spoken with the intent to cause harm but Emma saw the flash of hurt reflect on her face, with all the effort she could muster she attempted to compose herself as perfectly neutral.

"You and Arthur must be very close." Emma surprised herself as the words slipped from her mouth, her brain barely able to register how they had escaped. Maybe her subconscious had decided it was desperate to know the depth of their relationship, even if it broke her heart.

Gwen stopped her actions, her hands dropped to her side, startled at Emma's suggestion.

"If this is about what you saw yesterday, it's not what it," Gwen was cutting off as someone began knocking her door, cutting the conversation short.

Emma shouted towards the unknown visitor to enter, if the guards had not stopped them, then assumedly it was someone without the intention of trapping or killing her. The door opened with a small creak from its metal hinge as the long-robed figure of the famed court physician entered.

"Gaius, I thought you would be down at the arena."

"I have been, Prince Arthur has sent me up here to check on you."

Emma's eyes flickered to the reflection of Gwen who had busied herself with finishing the intricate braid on her head. Silently, Emma wished they hadn't been interrupted but with Gaius' arrival, she suddenly remembered Arthur's injury and felt increasingly foolish for having placed it in the back of her mind.

"Is he alright? I mean he took quite a hit yesterday and who knows what will happen today."

"There is no need for concern, Arthur has got off lightly with a bruise and some slight swelling. It could have been a lot worse."

"I still have to worry Gaius, you saw how unpredictable jousting turned out to be yesterday."

"Arthur has been trained since birth, he will be fine. I was sent here to check on you, not to discuss the dangers of jousting."

Emma sighed and was extremely tempted to pout, from what she knew of Arthur, he would ignore the extent of his injuries and do his best to perform his duty to people of Camelot or it could be as simple as Gaius said and it just looked worse than it was, however, that didn't explain the bandages Emma saw the day before. Gaius had waited patiently as she debated with herself, she caught his reflection in her mirror, snapping her back to reality, lest the old physician decided to see if Emma would carry out her previous threat and therefore, bite him.

"I'm fine, Gaius," Emma said in haste. "Honestly, it was just a really tough and emotional day yesterday. But I'm definitely not enchanted, so that's something at least."

Gwen finished her work and stood back a little, examining every detail until she was pleased with it.

"Is there anything else, milady?"

"No, thank you, Gwen, I'll be fine. Thank you for this morning."

Emma gave a quick smile, unhappy that she had missed her chance to retrieve information from Gwen but at the same time, she was strangely relieved.

"And will you thank Morgana for me. I know I have probably increased your workload for the day."

"It was no problem, honestly."

As soon as Gwen had left, Gaius turned to her with a raised eyebrow.

"Has something happened?"

"No, why?"

He shook his head as if to shake off his imaginings, however, the sceptical look stayed on his face.

"Are you alright? Gaius?"

Had he noticed the atmosphere between them? Was the tension so obvious?

"It's nothing, a passing thought. Now, tell me, are you in any pain? Any aching?"

"Gaius, I am in perfect health." Emma's brain added a quick but she's in love with someone she shouldn't be and suspended to be kidnapped or killed at a moment's notice, fortunately, she didn't voice it.

"And no problems with the shoulder?"

"No change from the last time you checked, I have full rotation of my arm again."

The sceptical look seemed to deepen, he lifted her chin, making her give full eye contact as he examined her face closely.

"Your eyes aren't as swollen as last night, but you still look worried."

"Wouldn't you look worried after yesterday? God knows what will happen today."

"And you are sure you have had no contact with this sorceress, she didn't send any messages or tried to speak to you at all?"

Emma was taken aback.

"What? No! I don't even know who she actually is or if she was found."

Gaius hummed in response, neither agreeing or disagreeing.

"We'd better take you to the king, I imagine he is wondering where we are."

The young woman quickly grabbed the shoes that Gwen had readied, slipping them in quickly, she began her escorted walk through the castle, past the guards assigned to her room who immediately began to follow a few paces behind them, increasingly unnerving Emma with each passing step.

She leant into Gaius, not wanting to be overheard.

"Does the king still believe me to be enchanted?" She whispered.

"I'm not sure, but I do know he believes this sorceress will try to lure you to her."

They walked in silence as Emma processed the gravity of Gaius' words, even if the guards found this woman, Uther would never let her near her, and with the little she knew of Uther, pleading and begging would do no good.

The man in question was waiting impatiently at the gate leading to the arena, how long he had been waiting Emma had no clue. Gaius bowed to his King as they approached and then left them to go to the arena to prepare for the casualties of the day.

"Finally." Emma curtsied her greeting as she rushed to Uther's side.

The day before she had been excited, ready to witness this strange sport, but barely twenty-four hours later she was sick to the stomach with nerves. More guards appeared to escort them for the short open walk to the Royal box which only served to increase her anxiety as she began to feel overwhelmed by the amount of security she had unwillingly caused.

Emma stayed a step behind Uther as he led her towards the Royal box, seemingly unaware of all the guards surrounding them. She sat in her assigned seat at the King's side, her eyes automatically scanning the crowds, searching for the cloaked woman. The probability of her turning up was exceptionally slim, but if the woman was bold enough to be near a guarded castle gate with twenty-first-century technology in plain sight it would not be ludicrous for her to appear at the joust itself. Once Uther was seated comfortably, two guards appeared either side of him, guarding the occupants of the tent, he gave a brief speech and signalled for the festivities to begin as loud trumpets sounded, heightening the crowd's excitement.

The day's competitors entered on horseback, their crests gleaming colourfully as they paraded around the arena, however, Emma's attention was elsewhere.

"There is no need to be frightened, the guards will find her before she even tries to set foot back in the citadel."

"I am not frightened, Sire."

Uther gave her a piercing look and ended the conversation before it could start. Maybe he didn't believe her, honestly, she was not certain if she was frightened of being a supposed target or frightened of losing the closest connection to modern society since her arrival.

"How many jousts are happening today?" Emma forced her eyes away from the crowds enclosing the space and attempted to focus them on the small number of knights still on the arena floor. Out if the four remaining knights, only one would be proclaimed as champion and have the debated honour of taking Emma to her first Royal feast. Something Emma had forgotten in her anxiousness and grimaced at the thought of.

"Three, if everything goes as planned." Uther's voice was cautious, wary of her quickly changing the subject.

"And who, might I ask is the favourite to win?"

"Arthur, naturally, he has been declared the champion in the jousting tournament for over three years."

Emma's thoughts wandered as did her eyes, as they resumed their earlier charge of observing the faces masses of people in the stand. The knights left the arena, some, to prepare themselves hastily to reenter the arena for the first joust of the day, whereas the others left to watch and wait, observing the strengths, weaknesses and tactics of the men that may be their opponents depending on the outcome.

Squires appeared with the standards of the first contestants, placing them across from the royal box for all the crowd to see, the first match was to be the great red and gold dragon of Arthur against the green and silver snake of Sir Francis.

The stands went wild as their beloved prince appeared, with Merlin running behind with Arthur's lance in hand, readied to be given at a moments notice. Emma tried to relax back into the cool, carved wooden chair as she attempted to stop her eyes from searching the faces of all the excited onlookers, telling herself to focus on the two men racing at each other at breakneck speeds.

It was futile, her mind thought one thing as her heart searched desperately in hope, in her frustration she completely missed Arthur unseated Sir Francis with one well-aimed blow, dropping his lance as he led his steed to the side of the field, rolling his shoulder in discomfort. The small unconscious action had captured Emma's attention, her thoughts mingled between desperation of home and concern for the extent of Arthur's hidden injuries.

"Is Arthur alright?" She turned to Uther and Morgana, wanting reassurance, however, Morgana seemed to be as transfixed as her.

"I don't know, he doesn't seem to be in pain."

"Gaius said it was bruised and swollen, but it was bandaged up yesterday."

Uther interjected.

"I'm sure Arthur is fine, Gaius informed me it is nothing serious."

"Is Arthur going to be fine for the final? If it gets too painful will he be able to ride or hold his lance?"

The king did not answer as the next competitors entered, Emma tried to mouth an idea to Morgana that she was going to check on Arthur but the look Uther gave dashed it immediately. Emma could feel a tension headache growing when Sir Richard won against Sir John by winning the most amount of points during the three runs as Sir John refused to be unseated by the repeated blows, even when one hit his helmet much to the collective gasp of the crowd.

The sun was high in the sky as the morning became the afternoon and final match was being prepared on the arena floor below. The chest of gold coins for the tournament's main prize was paraded into the Royal box and brought before Uther if Emma had thought the crowd was excitable before she was at a loss of how to describe the level of exhilaration displayed around her.

The two finalists rode onto the field following behind their crests, Prince Arthur and Sir Richard walked their horses around the wooden barrier in the middle to the cheering of the exuberant spectators. Emma's eyes followed Arthur with interest, the ribbon she had bestowed on Arthur the previous day, the one she had seen discarded in his tent was once again tied to his arm for all to see.

She eyed him suspiciously as the standards with the family crests were hung, displaying the for the last time the competitors of the match. The two men manoeuvred their horses to their respective parts of the field, as an anticipated silence descended, Arthur received his lance and Emma was sure she saw him wince. Worry and concern did not have a chance to register in her brain as Sir Richard and Arthur lowered their visors and began charging at each other, both hoping to end the match as quickly as possible. Neither men fell as Arthur's lance glanced off Sir Richard's side as his opponents lance burst on Arthur's already injured shoulder.

The cheering resumed as Arthur signalled for Merlin to bring him a fresh lance, as soon as he gripped it Arthur was off, whether Sir Richard was ready or not. Emma gripped her seat in anticipation, Arthur was already halfway down the arena before Sir Richard had started his run.

With determination and more luck than sense, both lances were poised to attack, within seconds their weapons were in touching distance. Immediately both knights were surrounded by a hail of splinters as both lances shattered spectacularly and Arthur emerged, unscathed and victorious as Sir Richard plummeted to the arena floor.

The crowd went wild as Arthur removed his helm, his arm raised in triumph with Emma cheering as loud as she could, the sorceress being pushed to the back of her mind for a moment.

After all the excitement from the earlier tournament, Emma was pacing anxiously around her room, bathed and dressed in the most expensive dress she had ever worn, waiting for Arthur to escort her to her first official royal feast, she was far too nervous to be worrying about supposed traps and threats.

After Arthur had won, she had hoped she would be able to walk through the crowds, mingling within them with the hope to draw the strange woman out and optimistically, talk to her. However, Uther had almost seized her arm and basically frog marched her back to the castle.

She was halfway through reciting the names of nobility who would be there as Arthur waltzed into her room and froze when he saw her. He was dressed in a rich red shirt, with a matching red embroidered jacket, with brown trousers and dark boots. Emma blushed, highly expecting to be chastised for her appearance, however, when he hadn't spoken for a while she began to get seriously worried.

"It's completely wrong, isn't it? They'll all going to laugh at me." Emma gestured to her dress and how much it revealed her pale shoulders and neck.

"No." He cleared his throat loudly. "No, it's erm, fine. Come on or we're going to be late."

He offered out his arm and she took it gratefully, as her dress was much longer than she was use to and she did not need to add the worry of tripping over to the many burdening her shoulders.

"How are you feeling? With the shoulder I mean? You looked pained with it today."

"Much better once Gaius removed the splinter. How about you? After yesterday, even though you looked as white as a ghost in the stands."

Emma scoffed.

"I have no other choice at the moment, but to be alright. Otherwise, I'd might as well be the fool at the feast."

They slowed their pace, Emma's arm still in Arthur's as they kept up the small talk through the corridors and stairwells towards the great hall doors. Every know and then Emma was thought she saw Arthur staring down at her, gazing, making Emma feel rather hot and self-conscious.

"You'll keep me from doing or saying something entirely stupid, won't you? I could really do without turning the court against me." Emma whispered quickly as the great hall came into view.

"Stop panicking, you've faced far worse than a room full of nobles."

"You tell me to stop panicking quite often, I'm started to believe you've jinxed the phrase. Anyway, the situations I have been in I knew their intentions, I've always been lead to believe the aristocracy say one thing to your face and plot another thing behind your back."

"Emma."

"Arthur."

The trumpets signalled their arrival as a herald proclaiming the arrival of their champion and the king's new ward to the large gathering of people. If Arthur had not gently tugged on Emma's arm she was certain she would have been glued to the spot, there were so many people all dressed in their finest clothes almost all of whom were strangers to her. The hall was all colour and noise, with musicians playing from the balcony above the hall. Arthur lead her forward nodding his head to a few acquaintances as they headed towards the King, Emma performed her required deep curtsy as Arthur bowed in respect. For once the king looked pleased as he signalled his acknowledged of their deference.

Emma was quickly assaulted with a large amount of nobles interested in the strange and mysterious woman, who had been almost entirely hidden from their power hungry and gossiping ways. Having grown up surrounded by these people, Arthur managed to manoeuvre around most of their imprudent questions which had left Emma quite astounded by their audacity.

She was Merlin from the corner of her eye, refilling the goblets of the guests, Emma gave a smile and a quick wave as Merlin sent back a quick grin before having to return to his duty. Arthur released her grip from the crook of his arm, his mouth dangerously close to her ear.

"I'll go get us some drinks." Emma nodded, feeling vastly exposed and vulnerable without Arthur by her side in a room full of strangers.

"Milady," a young man bowed before her as she performed the appropriate response.

"I recognise you from the field today, Sir Richard I believe."

"I am humbled that a lady such as yourself would remember a lowly country lord as myself."

Emma laughed humourlessly, quite uncomfortable.

"I wonder if I might ask if the rumours are true and you are indeed a sorcerer slayer from another world."

She grimaced, her eyes scanned the room for Arthur, who had the experience and tact to not cause offence by not answering, however, Arthur had seemed to have forgotten about the drinks and was in deep conversation with some of the knights from the tournament. Morgana was happily chatting with some of the noblewomen and Merlin and Gwen were busy working. This time, Emma would have to save herself.

"You make me out to be quite the rogue, sir."

"Ah, My Lady, I meant no such thing."

All the lessons she had received seemed to vanish as she found herself unsure how to continue the conversation or how to end it amicably.

"Well Sir Richard, if you'll excuse me, I hope you enjoy the feast." She curtsied and began to mingle throughout the persons in the room, feeling rather alone.

Emma tried to keep the feeling of being out of place from her face as her smile began to feel increasingly forced. She managed to earn herself a reprieve as stood in a door alcove watching the movements of the room. A hand covered her mouth as she turned to see her attacker as well as try and scream, Emma stopped as soon as she saw her. The woman in the blue cloak stood hidden by the doorway, her blonde hair cascading down in curls, her dark eyes staring intently on Emma.

"I will release you if you promise not to scream."

Emma nodded as best she could in agreement.

"You have been looking for me."

Emma found her voice had left her as her mind emptied of all the questions she had prepared in case they should have met again, however, she merely nodded.

"Who are you?" She blurted out in a hushed whispered, surprising herself. The woman smiled in response.

"I am Morgause." The name itself should have caused alarm bells to ring in Emma's subconscious but the turn of events had left her shocked.

"I believe you were interested in this." Morgause reached into her sleeve and pulled out the mobile device from the previous day.

"Yes, how did you get it?" Emma asked, checking over her shoulder as the room filled with important people behind her.

"I brought it back."

Emma had to control her voice.

"What do you mean bring it back?"

"You cannot suspect I got it from here."

"That's means you got it from where I'm from."

Morgause nodded as Emma beamed.

"Then you know how to get there."

"Of course."

"This is going to be extremely rude of me but I need you to send me back, you see I brought here from the future by a sorcerer with horrible intentions and I really need to find a sorcerer to send me back."

Morgause's face softened.

"Oh you poor dear, of course, I will help you."

" You will?" The disbelief echoed with each word.

"I will, but it will take some time to set up."

"I will wait for as long as you need me to. But what can I give you in return?"

"Nothing, you see helping you aids me. Will you be content to wait?"

"Of course, thank you, you honestly don't know what this means to me."

Emma could have hugged this stranger but Morgause drew away.

"I must go, tell no one of our meeting."

"I swear, thank you."

Emma instincts flared causing her to turn as Arthur walked towards her, she quickly turned to warn Morgause only to find empty air, much to her relief.

"Where have you been? Are you alright?"

"When you didn't return with drinks, Sir Richard came over."

"Ah."

"So I decided to find refuge here, observing the general splendour of the room."

"And far from Sir Richard?"

"Of course, there was only so much of being a sorcerer slayer a woman can take." Emma could not stop smiling, her spirits lifted.

"The food will be served soon, then there will be speeches. Shall we?" Arthur offered her his arm, she took it and gave him a breathtaking smile, stunning him out of his words.

"You're not going to leave me this time, you're meant to make sure I don't look a fool."

Arthur gave a secretive smile.

"Oh, you'll never look like that, not tonight."


Thanks you reading, until next time!