Arthur was severally regretting retrieving Gwen from the tavern. He was regretting even more that he let her ride with Merlin. His only hope was there was a good enough distance between Gwaine and Lanval and the three of them that they could not hear. Arthur however heard her loud whispers perfectly. "He started out alright but, slowly, he became an utter mess without you. He hasn't eaten, hasn't slept much either. The night watch heard his pacing at all hours. His reports to the king have been atrocious. All the while he's denied there was anything wrong-"

"Gwen! Arthur will hear you." Arthur didn't need to turn. He could hear the blush in Merlin's voice.

"And he would simply deny it. But Morgana saw! She knows!"

Arthur did turn this time, "Will you two please keep it down? I am trying to track a beast here."

Lanval and Gwaine laughed from behind them. Perhaps they DID hear Gwen. "And he went mad when he saw your letter-"

"GWEN!" He turned to yell again but he heard a hiss from in front of them and turned. It was a large cat. Larger than any house cat he'd seen. It must have been four feet in meter and a half in length and it was crouched watching them. It eyed Arthur and his party curiously, as if trying to determine whether to pounce on them or not. "What the-" It hissed once more and turned bounding off into the woods. "Follow it."

The creature didn't seem to like that as it weaved and dove through the undergrowth. Arthur nearly lost it several time before he began to realize he was being lead into a mist he slowed looking around. The others were gone and he was alone in the growing fog. "Merlin! Gwen!" He called desperately. "Lanval! Gwaine! Merlin! Damn it. MERLIN!" He heard something fly through the air and felt a slight prick in his neck, before it all went dark.

Arthur awoke with a groan to find himself in a wooden cage. His sword was gone but he turned to find his four companions awakening as he had. He went to Merlin, the closest of them, "You alright. Peachy seeing as have been drugged and thrown in a cage." Arthur couldn't help but grin at him. "How about you?"

The genuine concern in Merlin's eyes softened his grin. When had he leaned in so close anyway? He could see the specks of green in Merlin's eyes. He wet his lips and pulled away a bit. "I'm fine."

Gwaine cleared his throat, "We've got company."

Ten men came and opened the door to the cage, the one at the front. Obviously a knight of some kind stood tall, "You're to have an audience with the queen. But for that, we'll need to tie your hands."

Arthur glared, but the man didn't wither as most did. And there was something unnerving in the green of his eyes. They were too bright. Almost as if they could see through any darkness or charade. "Fine. We will go quietly."

"Asægdnes."

Suddenly they all had their hands tied, and Arthur stepped back, "Magic?"

"We are a fey race, of course we use magic. I'd like to see you get out of those."

Of course they were magic. Who in their right mind attacked a knight of Camelot without it?

They were brought into the fairy camp and to the most extravagant of the tents, the others seemed more concerned with the draping, which seemed more expensive than all of Morgana's wardrobe combined, then the woman before them when they entered. She was dressed as royalty would be; a white dress that clung to her and draped in a white fur the likes of which Arthur had never seen. Her hair was like spun gold, and her eyes were like freshly bloomed violets. He could see the purple satin that lined the underside. Their queen stood, "I know your face golden one. A Pendragon." There was a gasp among her subjects. Merlin shot Arthur a weary look as the guards forced the five of them to kneel. "You come to my domain with not but a handful of peasants? How arrogant."

"I am not a peasant!" Lanval spoke up, finally pulling his eyes from the tent itself. The queen turned to him, and for the briefest moment her cold features seemed frozen in time. Lanval too fell silent.

She tore her eyes away and back to Arthur, "He speaks true. Noble blood runs through his veins. The same can be said for the other man behind you. They both smell of the northern freeze." Then her eyes went to Gwen, who stared back with force, "You are of the lowest birth in your party, but you carry yourself proudly. You know of labor and suffering. Honest work." Then her eyes turned to Merlin and she smiled wickedly, "But look, my subjects! A traitor in our midst." Arthur turned to Merlin who only raised an eyebrow. "Tell me, prince, did you know that in the old religion, your friend here is of blood more noble then any king? He is a Dragonlord. A sorcerer by nature, magic being deeply rooted in the core of his soul." Arthur looked at Merlin desperately, as if his eyes could plead with Merlin NOT to reveal his magical nature to the crazy woman. "Ah, if you knew would you have brought him along, I wonder. Pray tell, why is he of your trusted party if he has hidden this from you? He's betrayed his own kind. How can you be so certain of his loyalty? How do you know he hasn't bewitched you? Put a spell on you to make you blind to his treachery?" Her stare was a challenge to him. One he did not know how to answer. "Answer!"

"I trust Merlin with my life."

"Oh you do." The court around them laughed, "Of course you do. Tell me Arthur Pendragon, what do you do to beings of magic in Camelot?"

He swallowed hard, "We execute them." Merlin flinched next to him. Bugger, was this woman infuriating.

She smiled coldly, "The same punishment for traitors in my kingdom." She then took her sword and cut his bounds with one swipe. She offered him the hilt, something flashing in her eyes, "Stand and take it." He did as told and stood there, confused. "Do your father's will. Execute him. You cannot let hundreds die and one live. There are no exceptions. Magic corrupts the soul, remember? Kill him. If you are truly the son of Uther Pendragon you must. Or I will kill you myself."

Arthur looked at the sword in horror. Then back at the queen. She made no sense, talking like that. "So it is his life or mine?"

"Yes." Her gaze was serious, deadly so.

Arthur looked at Merlin, his blue eyes ready. Why hundreds but not Merlin? Why? She stood waiting for his answer. Everything Merlin said and did was for him. Whatever Merlin had lied to him about, whatever he had done with Arthur knowing. It was for him. Merlin was his. He'd always known it on some level, about Merlin's feelings. Having them out in the open was another story. There was a difference between suspecting and knowing. And under all the prattery and snide comments, a part of him had yearned for it, to stand in the light in Merlin's eyes. He wanted Merlin to love him. What that meant didn't matter at the moment and wouldn't matter if she kept her promise. It hadn't even crossed his mind that maybe Merlin had him under some spell. But that just wasn't Merlin. He couldn't believe that of his servant. "Then I guess it is mine." He dropped the sword at his feet.

She raised her eye brow and snickered, "You lay down your life for a sorcerer."

Arthur stood taller in defiance, "I lay down my life for Merlin. Magic or no, I could not kill him anymore that I could tear out my own heart. I know he'd do the same. He's probably thinking of ways to stop you right now." There was something liberating in saying that. He didn't look to Merlin, though he wanted too. The queen seemed to be looking into his soul at that moment with her piercing purple eyes.

"You are something else, your highness." She looked away at the other four with a smile of surprise, "So the prince has passed." Suddenly the court cheered. "How was my performance? Did you believe I'd kill you?"

Arthur looked to Merlin, who was watching him with a look of awe. He looked away, unable to withstand the swelling of his heart, "Yes, I did actually."

She shook her head, "I hadn't expected you to pass. Now I know not what to do with you all." She turned to another of her knights, "Scudamour, what do you say I do in this situation? He's beaten the challenge to his spirit."

"We cannot let them go free. They know the position of our camp here in the forest."

"Ah, that they do." She looked over the party one more time, eyes lingering briefly on Lanval, "One of you will stay in my kingdom as… insurance that none will attack my people. I will recall my familiar from the outlying lands so she will not attack anymore of your people. You have two days to decide who stays." She then gave a grand gesture to her people, "But tonight we dine! And you shall be our guests." The guards cut their bonds and they stood. Arthur just gave her a confused look. "Yes, prince, my guests. Or shall I tie you all up again?"

"No, that's alright, really."

"You've stumbled into our midst at a good time. Tomorrow we celebrate Callan Mai and I wish you all to be our honored guests."

"Not five minutes ago you wanted to kill us."

The queen rolled her eyes, "It was only a test of character. You passed. One who cares so unconditionally for one of our own could not betray our hospitality. Would you rather I tie you up again until you make your decision?"

"NO!" They all said at once.

The queen grinned, "Then we are clear. Tonight we celebrate the end of Spring, tomorrow the beginning of Summer, and the coming of a new age." With that she left the tent, leaving the five friends utterly confused in her wake.