Disclaimer: We don't own anything, besides our OCs

A/N: there was going to be a different chapter here, one which covered Arthur and Isabella finding out their feelings for each other. so yeah... That happened but we didn't see it.

Chapter 6

Lady Cassandra didn't know what to think when she heard her half brother, Prince Matthew, would be riding for Camelot soon.

He had an important treaty to negotiate with King Uthur in place of King Richard, Matt hadn't said why he was coming instead of their father, which confused Cassie slightly.

Uthur whispered something to Arthur, telling him something the Prince had not been expecting.

"I expect you to marry Lady Cassandra, which is why her brother has come to Camelot"

"what?" Arthur replied just as Prince Matthew walked in the door

Matthew after the formalities went to talk to his sisters.

"Matt" Cassie's eyes lit up as she saw her brother, she hugged him, since the time he had tried to kill them last, his relationship with his half sisters had improved.

"Cassie"

"You didn't say why you were coming?" Cassie asked a little confused.

"I couldn't, Father wouldn't let me, he wanted it to be a surprise. But you will be a queen someday so you have a right to know" paused, he had seen his youngest sister in some unsettling moods, he wanted to break this as gently as he could. You might want to sit down for this"

"What, Matt?" Cassie asked in an almost childlike way, as she sat down

"Father expects you to marry Prince Arthur" Matt said, expecting one of two reactions utter joy or utter disbelief

"What?" Cassie said in disbelief, the happy spark had gone from her eyes in that second. She thought of her twin's feelings for the prince. This would break Izzy's heart and drive the sisters apart forever.

"Cassie, what's wrong?"

"Matt, it's nothing" Cassie replied, looking down

"You're lying" Matt said, he could always tell when someone was lying

"I don't love him," Cassie confessed, her eyes meeting her brother's. Her could see the truth in those words.

"Father only wants what is best for you,"

"I know... But...Please leave Matt" she asked, fighting tears. "I don't love him, Izzy does" she managed to choke out, after he brother had left. And she let the tears fall, tears she had just minutes ago fought so hard against.

Isabella entered and found her sister crying a few minutes later.

"Cassie what's wrong" Isabella asked

"Father wants me to marry Prince Arthur, Matt is here to make sure Arthur proposes, then Father is coming down for the wedding"

"How could you, Cassie"

Cassie looked up at her sister, confused, tears still streaming down her face

"You know I love Arthur,"

"There is nothing I can do, Father has made up his mind" Cassie replied, tears running down her cheeks, I can't go through with it,she murmured, as her sister stormed out.

Cassie broke down again, she couldn't handle it, being forced into marriage with a man she didn't love and now her sister hated her.

She made a snap decision, she was going to go for a ride. Cassie wiped away the tears from her eyes and put on a calm face, as she headed down to the stables, she didn't want anyone to see her tears.

She felt totally alone, she had no one to turn to, she couldn't talk to Matt, and Isabella wasn't going to speak to her for a long time, Arthur probably was in the same boat as her, and Merlin and Gwen she didn't want to burden with this. And she wasn't ready to tell Merlin of her own feelings for him.

She rode out into the forest, only to be stopped by bandits. Her mind called out for help, a cry which was answered by Merlin, who's first instinct was to ride out to rescue her. Isabella too heard her sister's cry for help and went straight to Arthur.

Merlin hurried faster as he heard a scream, fearing that Cassie would be dead when he got to her, he watched in amazement as her eyes flickered gold and the wound she had just been given, healed.

But he could see that it was weakening her to do this.

he tried to think of a way to get her out of there as an crossbow bolt flew past his ear, shooting the man inflicting the wounds on Cassie.

"Get her out of here, Merlin" Arthur ordered, as the prince drew his sword and fought off one of Cassie's attackers.

Cassie whimpered as Merlin lifted her off the ground, trying to resist, her eyes opening for a second

"It's alright, it's Merlin, you're going be alright, you just have to stay with me"

Cassie seemed to relax, laying her head against his shoulder, green eyes flickering gold before they slid closed. And Merlin came to the realization not only had magic, but that was the about only thing was keeping her from dying in his arms. From Merlin's estimate she had hours, maybe a day at the most.

"I'll make you better" he whispered, as he carried her back to Camelot, trying to be strong for Cassie's sake, unsure if she could hear him or not.

He carried her back to her chambers, as Isabella went and got Gaius, pain written across the girl's face.

A/N: so how was that?

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