Enchanted

Marayna sighed, managing to stifle a yawn as she listened to her uncle drone on and on about anatomy. Apparently, since Merlin had shown such an interest in the subject, Gaius had deemed it necessary for her to learn it as well. Much to her utter dismay. She was a fair hand at herbs and helping tend to wounds, often visiting the physician of East Anglia to escape the prince. She'd seen her fair share of wounds and illnesses while there, the knights from practice, the townspeople...but she wasn't entirely interested in learning more about it. She sort of absorbed it by osmosis, picking things up here or there, but really, healing was not her expertise nor was healing magic. She'd noticed, she and Merlin, while paired together were very strong, their magic working in tandem with each other, however, she'd also noticed that, when apart, their magic took on very distinct qualities. At first, they'd thought it was just that Merlin was more prone to accidental magic as he was often accident prone in life as well, while she was just more focused and in control as she was usually the one keeping him straight. However, after talking to the Dragon as often as she had, she was starting to think, perhaps, they both just utilized different types of natural magic based on their personalities.

Merlin was often the first to react to something, using the magic to stop an attack or protect someone else, defensively. He rarely ever used his magic to openly attack someone unless the situation was dire, like with the Sidhe. He was protective by nature, the true epitome of the older brother, wanting to protect those he cared about, not let anyone get hurt. And his magic seemed to reflect that. It happened when he tried to stop people from being hurt. The times when he really had to concentrate his magic was when he was actively trying to 'attack' someone, like Lady Helen.

She, on the other hand, was more of a 'spitfire' as her mother used to say. She and Merlin weren't very accepted in their village, only really Will talking to them at times. She hated when the other children picked on her or Merlin but, unlike her brother who would only rise to the bait when defending her because she started in on them, she did not sit by at all. She fought back, she stuck up for him, she had no qualms pushing a boy into the mud or pulling a girl's hair to get them to stop. She was more active where Merlin was passive, more offensive where he was defensive. She had to admit, she rather liked a fight or two. Her time in East Anglia, the friends she'd made, had made her see how exciting and invigorating a fight could be, especially when won. She'd rather take an active role in stopping someone than just block an attack. And her magic seemed to agree. Perhaps that was why her magic was more controlled, it needed to be more concentrated to launch an attack rather than reactively defending.

When they worked together though they were at their best, offensive and defensive, no one stood a chance between them.

And now, she had to think, Morgana fit in with them as well. She wasn't quite sure what Morgana was, active, passive, or something else entirely. She knew Morgana hated seeing injustice happen, she would fight, but she also was protective, as they'd seen with Mordred, but then...given her healing abilities, her natural ones and her sight, she was something else entirely. It was like...if anyone got past her and Merlin, Morgana would be the last line of defense, whether as a healer of the wounded or seeing an attack coming and stopping it. They really did make quite the team. And truly, she could see the relationship between Merlin and Morgana growing, they were perfectly matched, both more defensive and helpful of others.

She'd mentioned it to Merlin the other day, he'd just grinned and said like her and Arthur were. To which she wasn't sure what he was saying. He'd mentioned, if it was true, then she and Arthur were quite the pair as well. Both of them were more likely to take a stand, to fight, to actively attack in order to defend. They fit together just as well as he and Morgana did.

She couldn't think much on that as she yawned, this time unable to hide it.

"Am I boring you?" Gaius asked, giving her the 'eyebrow of doom' as they liked to call it.

"Not at all," she smiled cheekily, "It's so thrilling to find out what fingernails are made of."

He rolled his eyes but sighed and smiled he should have expected this from her, at least she'd stayed awake, Merlin had fallen asleep, "Off you go," he gestured to the door, "I'm sure Arthur needs you and Merlin needs you to keep him from murdering the prince in his sleep by now."

She laughed, hopping up and running out, who would have thought she'd be eager to help muck out the stables if it meant not having to endure another lecture.

~8~

Arthur stood in his quarters, his arms crossed as he eyed his two servants as they stood before him, both covered from head to toe in dung. To be honest, the only part of them he could see clearly were their eyes, everything else, from their skin to clothes was nearly black from the sheer amount of dung clinging to them.

"Do I want to know what happened?" he asked, sighing.

Marayna smirked and shook her head.

They'd gotten into a dung war in the stables. Well, actually it had started with them throwing dung at the new stable hand, a rather irritating boy who thought he knew everything about horses...even when he didn't know how to properly saddle one. He'd been lounging around, watching them work and commenting repeatedly on their efforts. And then he'd decided that a great way to 'motivate them' was to start in on their outfits. Merlin was very particular about his neckerchief and she already hated her dress so really, it wasn't any surprise that said stable hand had ended up with varying bits of dung flung at him from random directions, most of which couldn't possibly have come from them, oh no, not from them.

It wasn't like they had magic and could make the bits fly at the boy from all directions.

Not at all.

Unfortunately one thing had led to another and before they knew it, they were flinging dung at each other as well, one random fling gone awry and soon enough they were both at war with each other, but a friendly war, not a true war…no, that would have seen one of them not walk out alive. Not that they ever let themselves get that cross with each other, they were all each other had, so it had been left to the dung to be used as their only weapon and it wasn't until one of the knights had been passing and seen them that they had realized they were covered in mud and dung. They'd actually started laughing at that rather hard, because the knight was staring at them as though they'd gone completely mad, which they might have.

They'd gotten up and, still covered in the grime and waste, continued to muck out the stables as though nothing were wrong…before proceeding to head back to the castle, unmindful of the stares they were receiving from noble and villager alike. She knew why Merlin was so calm and unaffected, his mind seemed to forever be on Morgana, which she was thrilled about because whenever his mind wandered to the ward of the king…her brother smiled. She loved his grin, it was just infectious and bright. He didn't mind many things when he was thinking of Morgana, which was probably a good thing as Arthur seemed to have realized he wasn't getting quite the same reactions out of his one servant and tried to get a rise out of Merlin lately.

SHE on the other hand, just…didn't care. People had looked down on her all her life, whether for being a peasant or a woman or even for her birth status in Ealdor, what the union of her mother and father might or might not have been. She was used to it. At first it bothered her, but when she had met quite a few friends that didn't care what she was but just cared for HER, she had started to not care what others thought either. Those who minded her didn't matter to her, and those who did matter to her truly didn't mind her. And THOSE were the people whose opinion she concerned herself with.

Though she had to admit, that Arthur was slowly becoming one such person yet, and this was true for all the people who mattered in her life, SHE had the final say about how things affected her and her opinion of herself. Arthur might very well be disgusted with the sight of her like that, but she wasn't going to let that make her feel disgusted of herself though, no. She had had fun with her brother and that was all there was to it. Arthur's opinion did matter to her, but not in a way where she based her entire life and every decision on it. She wasn't that simpering.

"Probably not," Merlin grinned.

Arthur shook his head, "Go wash up," he sighed, waving them off, "The Lady Latrona will be arriving shortly and I can't have my servants covered in dung!"

"What's so special about her?" Marayna remarked as she moved to try and ring out her hair. She usually left it hanging mostly, tying it back only when she had to work or if Morgana styled it up for a banquet or feast."

"Nothing," Arthur turned to head to the window.

"Must be something," Merlin agreed as he tried to wipe some dung off his face, they were both stalling a bit, because Arthur had ordered them to go get ready, likely in their rooms, which would mean they weren't needed in HIS rooms for a while, so if they could leave him a bit of a parting gift of leftover dung that would be fantastic because they wouldn't be the ones cleaning it. If they tried, they'd just get more of it everywhere else, "You're in a mood."

"So what is she?" Marayna asked, "Rude? Obnoxious? Arrogant? Your twin sister?"

Arthur rolled his eyes at her remarks and turned to face them once more, "If you must know she has…a bit of a reputation," he told them, "One that I would rather avoid getting caught in and so, if my father orders you both away because of…that…" he gestured at the dung, "Then I shall be forced to entertain her alone and I'd rather not have that."

"What sort of reputation?" Merlin frowned.

He sighed, "She has had…6 husbands in the last 8 years," he explained, "They have all died under…quite mysterious circumstances. And each man has been greater than the last."

"Fatter?"

"Yes, Merlin," Arthur stated dryly, "They've been greater in girth and it was their own weight that killed them."

Marayna laughed at that, smiling at Arthur for his use of sarcasm, he was learning quickly wasn't he? "You mean greater as in…"

"Her first husband was a mere knight, but then her next was a Baron, then a Viscount, Earl, Marquis, and her last was a Duke."

Marayna frowned at that, "So she's working her way up the ranking system?"

"It appears so," Arthur nodded, "She's changed her title so often, everyone merely refers to her as 'Lady' Latrona until she weds again."

"What's after a Duke then?" Merlin asked.

Arthur looked away and it was Marayna who answered, "Prince, Merlin, the next on the chain is a prince."

"YOU'RE a prince," he told Arthur, who rolled his eyes.

"No, Merlin, truly? I hadn't the faintest idea of that," Arthur shot back.

"You think she's going to try to get you alone and what?" Merlin shook his head, "Try and marry you?"

"And then kill him," Marayna guessed, "And then…" she blanched, suddenly looking rather ill, "Oh that's disgusting."

"What?" Arthur scoffed, "Marrying me is disgusting?"

He…actually felt a bit hurt at that, at how she had reacted to the thought of marriage, marriage to him. He…he knew it was impossible, he knew that he would never be allowed to marry a servant, not while his father was alive at least, and he couldn't even say he wanted to marry Marayna, he was really…only just starting to get to know her, really know her. He knew he was attracted to her, that much was clearly obvious and…her personality, while grating at first, had grown on him, he liked how she challenged him, how she didn't let him get away with things, how she opposed him. He liked her very much, yes, but…he was still learning about her and marriage, that was quite a ways off.

But it still hurt.

"No…marrying Uther is," she shivered.

Arthur blinked, "How on earth did you get marrying my father from her possible intentions to wed ME?"

She looked at him, "Because with you dead she would be the grieving widow who lost her husband and HE would be the grieving father who lost his son. It's happened before, a king marrying his daughter-in-law when his son dies. Maybe that's her plan in coming here, maybe she's not after you but Uther."

"It'll be alright though," Merlin laughed, "Just don't marry her. It's not like Uther would allow it after Sophia."

"Yes…" Arthur trailed off, "Yes, perhaps you're right for once Merlin," he nodded to himself, "I have no desire to marry Lady Latrona."

"Then you've got nothing to worry about," Merlin pointed out.

Arthur nodded a bit more and looked over at his servants, "Well? Go wash!"

They laughed as they turned and left the room, Arthur watching them go, wondering if it was at all normal to find a woman covered in dung still attractive. To be honest though, he hadn't even really noticed the dung on Marayna, to him…she was still just…her.

~8~

Merlin and Marayna stood on either side of Arthur, but behind him, as the prince stood to the right of his father, Morgana on his left with Gwen beside her as they waited on the steps that led to the castle for Lady Latrona's carriage to arrive. Luckily, unlike most other nobles, this particular lady was quite punctual and they were not waiting long. Uther stepped down the stairs and to the carriage's side, opening the small door to allow the lady out, offering her his hand for balance.

Marayna eyed the woman as she straightened to face the nobles of Camelot that had gathered to greet her. The woman was tall and thin and reminded her very much of a bird, of an ostrich, as one of her uncle's books on animal anatomy had shown a picture of it. She had a very long neck and a very angular face, very sharp and, what she assumed, might be considered aristocratic. She had short red hair, that was curled and pinned to her head, with a sort of emerald green veil cascading over her hair and back of her neck. Her dress was quite gaudy really, as though the woman were trying too hard to show off the wealth she had undoubtedly gathered through her various marriages. There were actually gems and pearls sewn into the dress. It was more like a ridiculous costume than anything. Marayna though DID notice that the woman was not at all as old as she and Merlin had assumed her to be. She appeared just a few years older than Arthur, she must have been one of the noblewomen who married young, probably an arranged marriage of some sort.

"King Uther," the woman greeted, her voice a bit raspy despite her youthful appearance, "Might I thank you for the honor of allowing me a visit to your glorious kingdom.

Uther grinned at the praised, "The honor is all mine, my Lady," he charmed the woman, "Camelot shall shine brighter with you here."

"You charmer," the woman laughed, making Uther laugh as well, though it made everyone else shift uncomfortably when she lightly slapped his chest in jest and left it lingering just a moment too long.

"Please," he turned, gesturing to the stairs as Arthur and Morgana stepped up to be introduced, "My ward, the Lady Morgana," he nodded at her.

Morgana gave a half-curtsy, "Lady Latrona," she greeted cordially, though she appeared a bit tense as she looked at the woman.

"Lady Morgana," Latrona nodded back.

"And my son, Prince Arthur," he smiled at Arthur as he gave more of an actual bow.

"Lady Latrona, welcome to Camelot," Arthur offered.

"Why thank you," she grinned, Marayna, Morgana, Merlin, and Gwen able to see how she was eyeing Arthur up and down. The prince himself appeared aware as he subtly began to stiffen in place, "It certainly has been a most welcome welcome indeed," she chuckled at her small joke, "You know Uther," she turned to him, "I think I shall have the most magnificent time," she glanced at Arthur out of the corner of her eye, "Camelot certainly as many…exquisite sights."

Marayna blinked, before looking at Merlin, 'Is she joking?'

But Merlin could only shrug, until Uther called him down to take Lady Latrona's things to her rooms.

~8~

"Burn these clothes!" Arthur ordered as he stormed into his rooms, trying in vain to pull his red tunic over his head, forgetful of his brown leather vest that was currently closed over it he was that desperate to have the offending garments removed.

Merlin and Marayna snickered behind him as they followed him into the room. Lady Latrona…well, she certainly was something, that was for sure. The woman had managed to position herself at dinner beside Arthur. It had been…more amusing to Marayna than anything to see the look of discomfort on his face when the woman, who really was only a few years older than him, started to attempt flirting with him. She knew she should have been alarmed, should have felt threatened or angry or jealous as other women would as some other woman flirted and flounced before the man that held her eye. And she was certain she would feel something like that…if Arthur had been receptive to the advances.

She really was FAR more entertained by his reaction. Whenever the woman got too close, her low-cut dress dipping just a bit too much, Arthur quickly looked away or tried to turn his attention elsewhere, leaning back so much he nearly fell off his chair. The woman would try to subtly dab perfume on her wrists and neck and bosom, but Arthur grimaced at the scent. When she'd laugh, Arthur would wince at the cackle (it really DID resemble something like a donkey's bray though). Her touches made him tense and shift, trying to pull himself away from her and he kept trying to talk to Sir Percival beside him, but to no avail as Latrona would just clutch the fabric of his sleeve till he turned back to her. And her dancing…Marayna had had to hide behind a pillar, using Merlin's neckerchief as a gag to hide her howls of laughter.

They honestly had NO idea how the woman had managed to secure six husbands if her efforts with them were the same as with Arthur.

Though…there was ONE thing about Latrona that did bother her was the fact that the woman was of noble birth, Latrona WAS better suited for Arthur than…well SHE was. She knew that she, repeatedly, told others that she felt she wasn't the right match for Arthur (everyone as in Merlin, and Gwen, and the Dragon) but those were her feelings in the long run. She…she DID care for Arthur, very much, more than she ever thought she would care for someone. But she knew that the likelihood of her actually marrying him, despite the Dragon's words, were slim and especially if Uther insisted on seeing his son wed (and approve his choice of partner and future Queen) before he died (which he likely would) then she knew there was NO chance she'd be the Queen.

She knew that was not likely to happen, marrying him, but…for now, in the present, she…she was starting to think she should just…see where the relationship went. Her mother had proven to her that love was a gift, love was something so precious and should never be taken for granted, that when one found it, they should embrace it. She was slowly starting to feel that way. That she should live in the moment and what happened would happen, she would accept whatever came of it. She had asked her mother once why she had never married after their father, she and Merlin were of the impression he'd died just after she'd been born, but…her mother had said that she had not felt love for others the way she felt for their father, but that she didn't regret the time she had with their father for it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

She would see where things went with Arthur and, in the future, when it was time for him to wed someone else…well…she would deal with it. She would use her time now to prepare herself for that moment.

"It wasn't THAT bad," Marayna quipped as Merlin moved to help Arthur, who had gotten trapped in his shirt.

"Oh really?" came Arthur's muffled reply as Merlin finally managed to pull the shirt off him, "Well next time YOU can sit there and fend off the advances of a station seeking noble."

Marayna just blinked, "I had to fend off Richmond for a YEAR," she reminded him dryly, "I would think you, the most 'fearsome warrior of Camelot' could fend off one woman for a few nights."

"Yeah," Merlin shrugged as Arthur moved behind his changing screen to remove his pants, Merlin tossing the breeches he wore to sleep onto the top of them for the prince, "She'll only be here for a few nights more, you'll be in training with the knights all of tomorrow and the day after. Tonight's feast was just to welcome her so Uther will probably entertain her the rest of the time."

"For once I hope you're right Merlin," Arthur grumbled, not seeing Marayna roll her eyes at Arthur's dislike of being around Latrona, SHE was of the belief that Richmond was FAR worse than the woman would ever be.

Arthur stepped out from his screen and looked at his servants before sighing, "Go on," he waved them off, "I can see myself to bed this once," he rolled his own eyes.

Merlin nodded and headed out, Marayna gathering the clothes a moment before she followed, "It'll be over soon Arthur," Marayna called from the doorway, giving him a nod before she slipped out after her brother.

Arthur sighed and walked around the room, blowing out the various candles till the only one left was the one on his bedside. He'd JUST sat down on the edge of his bed, leaning over to blow the candle out…when there was a knock on the door.

He paused, looking over, narrowing down the list of who it could be by the fact that they'd knocked. It couldn't be his father or Morgana or his servants, perhaps it was Gaius or Gwen or one of the knights. He sighed and pushed himself up, heading over to the door and opening them. He had to blink though when he caught sight of who was standing beyond it…because he was NOT expecting her to knock.

"Mara?" he frowned, "Did you forget something?"

"I think I just might have," she smirked, before striding right up to him and kissing him firmly.

Arthur's eyes widened for a moment before they fell shut, his arms winding around her as hers wound around his neck, pulling him closer. He hadn't even realized that they were moving till his knees hit the bed and he fell back on it…

And THAT was when he realized something was wrong.

Because that…was NOT like Marayna at all.

"Mara…" he pulled away, looking at her in the dim light of the candle, "What's wrong? This isn't like you?"

"Isn't it?" she asked, before laughing.

He frowned, sitting up and pushing her off of him, THAT wasn't her either, that wasn't her laugh! Her laugh didn't sound like…like…like a donkey's bray. But that didn't make any sense, because the only person that sort of sound reminded him of was…Lady Latrona, and that was NOT her standing before him yet…it sounded and acted just like her!

"Ooh," the woman-who-was-not-Marayna pouted, "You've worked it out haven't you?" she got up, her hand idly coming to rest on the gaudy blue gem dangling around her neck, "Odd, they said you were slow."

"What?" Arthur shook his head…before he realized what was happening, "Magic!" he shouted.

The woman held out her hand, her eyes flashing gold, and he fell back on the bed, frozen, unconscious to boot. The woman smirked and walked around the bed to where his head was resting. She reached up and unclasped her necklace, removing it and holding it in the palm of her hand, smirking at it. She watched as it began to glow a brilliant blue, before she placed it down on Arthur's forehead.

"Rest well, Prince Arthur," the woman remarked, moving to look at herself in the mirror, now revealing her true appearance, the Lady Latrona, glancing over her shoulder at the man, "For when you wake…you won't be able to take your eyes off of me."

~8~

Marayna was sleeping soundly in her room, it was rather quiet now that Merlin seemed to have taken to staying with Morgana most nights. Not that she ever told her uncle about that, no. Merlin was always sure to be back before Gaius woke so that the man was none the wiser about where his nephew got to. She wasn't worried about Merlin and his love, no, she knew her brother was the most honorable man there was, he had no lewd intentions with Morgana and if he said that ALL they did was sleep beside each other, then she believed him.

She knew that's she probably should have warned him away from the ward of the king at some point, that the woman would be expected to marry a nobleman or some other rubbish. But she could see it in Morgana's expression and reactions that she loved her brother very much. And there was less pressure on her to wed than Arthur, Arthur would be king, he'd need a queen. Morgana, at most, might be someone else's queen…

Though she was rather hoping that someone else would be Merlin. It would be lovely for him and Morgana to be allowed to be together as they so obviously loved each other. That was something she never understood about nobles, how they married and what they married for. One would thing that a kingdom would need a happy king to be a prosperous place, to have him merciful and kind to his people, not an unhappy one who would be bitter and cross the entire time because he himself was in a strained and loveless relationship. That never sat right wit…

She flew up in bed with a gasp and a cry of pain, her eyes already tearing from a sharp jab that struck her chest as she clutched at it with a hand. It was like the pinch she'd felt with Sophia, but the last few, not when he'd been drowning, but when Sophia had completed her enchantment on him.

"You've GOT to be kidding me!" she grumbled under her breath as she struggled to do just that, breathe that is.

'MERLIN!' she shouted in her mind, hoping her brother would hear her all the way across the castle. He should be able to, she'd been able to hear him from Morgana's chambers when Gaius had kept him back to talk of anatomy before.

'Aya?' she heard a frantic reply, though one with just a hint of sleep to it, it seemed she'd woken her brother, well that was good, because she needed his help, 'What is it? What's wrong?'

'Arthur. You need to go check him, right now!'

'What? Why?'

'I think he's been enchanted again. That…that pinch happened, but worse this time.'

Her brother was silent for only a minute though she got the impression from his tone when he responded that he'd been cursing out loud, 'I'm on my way right now.'

'Thanks,' she swallowed, turning to try and get out of the bed despite the pain in her chest lingering. She wasn't going to let him investigate by himself but…he was on the other side of the castle, he was only a hall over from Arthur while she was an entire castle's length away. He'd be able to get there first and check, maybe even catch sight of the enchanter, though she had a fairly good idea who it might be given there was only one new person in the castle.

She winced, pushing herself to her feet and rushed to grab her dress to get out there and help her brother deal with another enchanted Arthur.

This was starting to get ridiculous.

~8~

True to his word, Merlin rushed to Arthur's room, only waking Morgana for a moment to tell her what might be happening. It was…an amazing feeling to be able to do that, to tell someone else about magic that might be going on, to be able to have more help, to be able to warn someone clearly and openly and keep them safe. He knew that it could have been dangerous, to tell Morgana about his and Marayna's magic, it had been even more so to tell her about her own but…he and his sister had experienced exactly what Morgana had growing up. Their mother hadn't told them that what they could do was magic for ages, they'd thought there was something wrong with them, they'd thought the villagers were right when they'd whisper about them being 'demon children' or something similar. They'd thought they were evil for so long and tried to hide their gifts, tried to be good, and it wasn't till she'd sat them down and told them what it was that they realized it was just something special they'd been born with. True, they were near enough to Camelot to know that the kingdom thought all magic users evil, but their mother had said they were not, their mother had said she had never met anyone as good as them and their mother was always right, so Camelot had to be wrong.

But still, it hadn't been till she'd told them what it was that they stopped being scared of what they could do and had actively tried to control it. Now that they knew it wasn't some demon inside them trying to get out but just a talent they had, they had just a little more control over it. They were more aware that they had to hide it and be careful. And that was all he wanted for Morgana, if she knew what she was and what she could do, she wouldn't be scared of it, but equally she would know to be cautious with Uther. She had nearly told him about her dreams earlier, when Sophia had been around, and that could have been disastrous. They didn't think the king would EVER sentence Morgana to death, but they did know he'd 'punish her' for wanting to 'learn' magic. Now that she knew what magic she possessed, she would be sure not to speak of it around Uther.

Though…speaking of the king, there was clearly one magic user that they might have to bring up to him he realized. He'd just rounded the corner to Arthur's chambers when he heard the door opening and jumped back around the corner to peek past it. He frowned as he saw the Lady Latrona saunter out of the room, grinning as she tossed a small, glowing blue gem in her hand before she walked off, placing the gem around her neck in the process.

He let out a breath and hung his head, he'd felt the magic shimmering off the gem, and didn't even have to guess what had happened. Marayna had been right, Arthur had been enchanted…again.

Well that was just…ridiculous.

He knew that no one but him, his sister, Gaius, Morgana, and Gwen knew Arthur had been enchanted by Sophia, but still…again? Someone had actually tried again? And so soon after the first? Well, at least they had experience in it now and all they had to do was work out what that blue gem was so they would know how to help Arthur. He stepped around the corner and headed for the prince's room, thinking about the gem. That was the problem with magic, there were so many things that gem could be that it was hard to tell whether a simple counter spell might work to reverse the enchantment, or if the gem had to be destroyed, or if the gem was merely a tool and Latrona herself had to end the enchantment. He was getting a headache just thinking about what it could all mean, before he pushed the door to Arthur's chambers open…and froze.

"You're dressed," Merlin stated, blinking as he saw Arthur was in fact dressed and already at the stage of putting on his belt, the last piece of his typical outfit, his red tunic and brown pants with his brown jacket over it.

"Your powers of observation are astounding Merlin," Arthur remarked dryly, though there was an odd smile on his face.

"WHY are you dressed?" Merlin continued, "It's barely dawn, you always try to sleep in on days you don't have to train with the knights…"

"Why waste such a beautiful morning?" Arthur laughed, "Why miss time spent with the mostly beautiful company?"

Merlin stared at him a bit…he'd never heard Arthur utter the words 'beautiful' so often in one go. Well, that settled it, the prince had to be enchanted. And it made sense it was Latrona, given the concerns both Arthur and Marayna had had just the day before about the woman…now they knew how she'd managed to ensnare her past husbands, she'd enchanted them, she had to have. But really? What was the woman thinking? She'd JUST arrived and Arthur's reception of her had been less than warm, Uther was aware his son disliked the woman and was uncomfortable around him. Latrona would never be able to argue that it was 'love at first sight' or something to explain such a change in his son. At least with Sophia it appeared almost a subtle shift, with him acting just a little more out of character each time he was with her. This was just…well, if Uther didn't cry magic at such a sudden shift in his son he would sincerely worry about whether the KING had some sort of mental affliction.

"You…didn't seem to like her company much last night," Merlin remarked, trying to…he wasn't sure what. He might be trying to get Arthur to realize he'd been enchanted without saying it, his sister had said the same outright to the prince and she'd been strangled for it. He was NOT about to let that happen again, if Arthur came at him or his sister in such a manner he'd not hesitate to throw the prince back with magic so hard he knocked him out. But…it could also be that he was trying to stall Arthur from going anywhere with the noblewoman, clearly he was dressed and ready to go somewhere with her and that would NOT be good.

"What?" Arthur actually started laughing at that, which made Merlin frown in confusion, surely the enchantment couldn't be so deep that it had actually warped his memories of before he'd been enchanted…could it? But Arthur just shook his head, clapping Merlin on the shoulder as he passed him, "Oh Merlin, I've always enjoyed her company, from the moment she arrived in Camelot, though you'd best not tell her that. She'll never let me live it down."

Merlin blinked, "She's only been in Camelot a day!"

"Has that mental affliction of yours acted up again Merlin?" Arthur began to eye HIM oddly now, "She's been in Camelot months already!"

"Arthur…" Merlin began slowly, "Lady Latrona only arrived yesterday."

"Yes Merlin, I'm well aware of that, thank you," Arthur rolled his eyes, "I was not speaking of Lady Latrona."

"Then…who?" Merlin shook his head, he was getting more and more confused as this conversation went on.

"My fair Mara," Arthur smiled softly, "We shall be spending the day together."

"Mara as in Marayna," Merlin blinked again, "As in…my sister AYA…THAT'S who you're talking about?"

Alright, he could admit it, he was entirely lost now. How was Arthur enchanted to love Marayna? He was nearly certain that the prince already loved her (if he would just stop being a dollop head and admit it) so what point was there to enchant him to…his eyes widened. If Latrona had enchanted him to be more open about his love for Marayna…she might end up executed! It would follow the same path that Marayna and Arthur had worried of for Uther, that she'd be there to help the grieving noble and worm her way into his heart. But…then why bother enchanting him like that? If she had the power, why not enchant him to just love her?

He was getting a headache now.

"Yes," Arthur dragged out the word, as though he were speaking to an idiot, which Merlin did quite feel like at that moment, he really was having a difficult time following all this, "Now, I'm giving you the day off…"

"The day off?" Merlin looked at him, Arthur hadn't given them a day off since…well, he never gave them a day off unless they'd nearly died or something.

"Well I can't give one of you the day off without the other," Arthur argued, "Mara would never agree to spend the day with me if she knew YOU were handling all the chores so that just leaves giving you both the day off, doesn't it?"

"I…suppose…" Merlin agreed, watching as Arthur nodded and headed for the door, him slowly following after. But then something happened that made him want to call it quits because if he thought he'd been lost before, it was nothing compared to now.

Arthur stepped out of his rooms, right as Marayna had reached them, and froze, stiffening with his lips pursing together as though he were trying his best not to let on how displeased he was about something and be seen as polite, "Lady Latrona," he gave her a brief nod before rushing off down the hall.

Marayna blinked and frowned at Arthur's retreating back, before turning to her brother, "Did he just call me Lady Latrona?" she had to ask, to make sure she hadn't just imagined that.

Merlin let out a groan, "Yep."

"Why?"

"I have no idea," Merlin rubbed his head, that headache was getting worse now. He let out a breath and looked down the hall before nodding his sister into Arthur's chambers with him so they could talk, "He's enchanted alright, I saw Latrona leaving with some sort of gem and she seemed pleased. Arthur was already dressed when I got here and ready to leave to meet her, or…I thought he was going to meet her, but…" he looked at her.

"But what?"

"But then he said he was spending the day with YOU."

"Well, clearly he isn't if he just walked past me."

"I know, but he was going on about how he wanted to give us both the day off to spend time with you and…oh," his eyes widened, "She enchanted him."

"Yeah, I got that part Merlin," Marayna rolled her eyes.

"No, I mean…she enchanted him, yeah, he's definitely not acting like himself, but…I think there's more to it. I think she enchanted him to, I don't know, see her as you and you as her."

"Come again?" she shook her head, that made no sense to her…and she'd had years of her brother not making sense.

He sighed, "Latrona enchanted Arthur so that, when he looks at her…he sees YOU instead."

"Oh," she nodded, it did make sense, it explained why he'd looked at HER and called her Latrona just now, because he'd seen Latrona instead of her, "So…what do we do?"

"I dunno," Merlin rubbed his head.

They couldn't follow Arthur and Latrona wherever they went, Arthur would think it suspicious, with how often they complained about their chores that they'd willingly follow him around…or at least that Merlin would, he'd only see Latrona sneaking around after him too. Not that Merlin wouldn't want to make sure his sister was alright, but he'd left her alone with Arthur in the woods during the Forest Bull incident, it wasn't hard to imagine he'd be alright with the two going off somewhere on their own again. And if SHE followed and Arthur saw her, well, that would cause all sorts of commotions. There was also little fear that the enchantment HADN'T set in, from how Marayna had described her 'pinch' it was already the end of the enchantment, it had been cast completely and Arthur was under it. There was no fear that Latrona would use more magic on him.

Not to mention, Arthur would be aware that Uther would never allow him to go gallivanting off somewhere with a 'servant' while a noblewoman was visiting. Council meetings he could get away with missing, but a visiting noble he would not. And since he thought it was Marayna with him, he wouldn't risk straying too far from Camelot. Which meant, as long as they were in public, Latrona couldn't risk using more magic. They had to wonder though if Arthur would even notice that no one was stopping or staring at him or whispering for walking about with his arms around a 'servant' because what everyone BUT Arthur would see was him walking with a noble?

Well, they supposed they'd find out eventually, but first…they had to find out what that gem was.

~8~

"Why do you have so many books about geology uncle?" Marayna grumbled, her voice muffled as her face was pressed against a thick open book, her nose wedged in the crack of it. She, Merlin, Gwen, and Gaius had been at it for the better part of the day, trying to find a rock of some sort that matched the one Latrona wore while Morgana remained with Arthur and Latrona to keep an eye on them, as it wouldn't be quite as suspicious for her to be seen lingering around them than the servants.

Unfortunately Gaius wasn't in the room at the moment, he'd gone to the library, to one of the old tomes that still existed there about magic. Uther, while he'd been completely insane in the Great Purge, had, at some point, realized the need for keeping a few books detailing magic and magical objects, should any be used against Camelot in the future. Geoffrey was in charge of watching them, making sure no one but those the king trusted most would be able to obtain them. At first, Gaius hadn't believed that Latrona had enchanted Arthur, it wasn't until Arthur had visited to ask if Gaius could make, or could recommend someone to make, a perfume for Marayna…with her sitting right there and that, when he'd looked at Marayna, had asked if the Lady Latrona was well, to which Marayna had sighed and muttered about a headache.

A very real headache actually.

After that Gaius had had them searching through his books about rocks for any that might resemble the one Latrona wore, it was meant to be a way to determine if it was merely a regular rock, and so the magic and enchantment was coming from Latrona, that the rock was just…a tool to channel the magic or amplify it, like some clear crystals were. As they'd searched all day and hadn't found anything, it could be guessed that the rock WAS magical itself.

And that had sent Gaius off to Geoffrey to search some of the old magical books for a reference to it.

It appeared though, that it may have been a tiny hint of her 'guessing things' to ask that out loud as the door to the chamber opened and Gaius entered with a book, "Science is not just the study of different ingredients in a tonic Rayna," he answered, having heard her question, "It is the study of…"

"Everything," Merlin and Marayna answered, having heard it enough times.

"Have you found anything Gaius?" Gwen asked, closing her book and stacking it on a neat pile beside her, always the tidy one and knowing how important Gaius's books were to him, she tried to be respectful of their placement…Merlin and Marayna just shut theirs and pushed them into a pile on the center of the table before turning to their uncle.

"Yes, I believe I have," he nodded, walking over to them. He sighed at the sight of his geology books just clumped in a pile before he shook his head and set the book down on an open space, opening it to a page he'd marked, "Is this the stone?" he asked Merlin, knowing the boy had gotten a better look at it while he'd seen it in her hand. It would have been improper for any of them to look at the stone too long from where it naturally hung, around the woman's neck just above her bosom, likely meant to draw attention there while also making another flustered that they'd allowed their attention to be pulled there.

Merlin leaned forward and looked at the page, seeing it was a slightly colored sketching of the stone, "That's it," he nodded. He could recognize it because it was such an odd shape. He knew most stones and gems, from what he'd seen of Morgana wearing, were meant to be cut on angles and things. But the stone Latrona wore seemed to be the reverse of it. It appeared to be cut in the shape of a diamond, but instead of wearing it with the flat part out, it was worn with the pointed end out, set into a golden circle of sorts for a base. It was exactly like he saw on the sketch, the rim of the necklace with the point of the gem sticking out.

"Then, it appears, we are in luck," Gaius let out a relieved sigh.

"Arthur's enchanted," Marayna deadpanned, "How is that lucky?"

"It is lucky because the GEM is the source of the enchantment," he explained, "We need only destroy it and the enchantment will be over."

"What sort of enchantment is it anyway?" Gwen had to ask, she wasn't really as experienced in this as Gaius was, nor even as Merlin and Marayna were. She knew they hadn't been studying their magic long, but they HAD had it for their entire lives, this was all new to her.

"It is quite a simple one really. The enchanter uses an incantation to activate the gem, which then makes the person they wish to enchant see them as the one they truly love…"

Marayna shifted a bit at that as the room fell silent, realizing the implication of that. Arthur was seeing the enchanter as Marayna and that meant…he loved her then. Well, she was sure he might possibly be starting to as she could admit that, well, yes, she DID love him as well. But…Arthur was stubborn, he was a fighter, and he was a man, so she could assume he'd be denying that for ages before he finally came forward with his feelings. He may care for her, yes, he valued her, alright, but love? It might just be her own personal beliefs on it that were keeping her from accepting that entirely but…it was understandable, wasn't it? Ever since she'd been a little girl she'd been sure, entirely and completely sure that no man would ever love her, so to hear that this gem and Arthur seeing her instead of Latrona meant that he loved her?

She was a bit cynical of that, she wouldn't truly believe it till she heard the prince himself say it to her.

Gaius cleared his throat, "And because the enchantment allows the enchanter to take on the appearance of that person," he continued, "It also manipulates the enchanted as well. It makes their feelings amplified, it makes them less inhibited around that person."

"Which explains why Arthur was so unconcerned about being seen spending the day with what he thought was a servant," Merlin nodded.

"So basically, all we have to do is somehow go up to a noblewoman, steal her jewels, and destroy it?" Marayna blinked, "Well that won't get us thrown in the dungeons and executed at all," she rolled her eyes.

"It won't," Gwen actually agreed, "Because if Uther finds out it's an enchantment, which…Arthur would probably vouch for, he'd probably throw you another feast," she nudged Marayna.

She groaned, "Maybe we should just leave him enchanted then, I hate feasts!"

Merlin and Gwen laughed at that before Gaius got them to calm down and try to work out what to do about Latrona and her necklace…

~8~

Of course, for all their planning, to go to Latrona's room after the small feast that night for her, apparently it was a tradition to hold one for her each night she visited, and to steal the gem back and destroy it in the dead of night…Arthur had to go ahead and waste those plans…when he decided to announce, as he stood before his father with Latrona beside him, his engagement to the noblewoman.

Merlin would have laughed at how his sister had hung her head, pressing her face into her hand and shook it at how completely and utterly exasperated she was at the situation. It was entirely far too much like with Sophia and she'd have thought that, even enchanted, his mind would have learned that to announce such a thing TO the king, instead of asking permission, was the worst way to go about it. But, then again, maybe his enchanted mind HAD learned from it as he was announcing he was engaged, instead of asking permission to marry this time.

Uther though, was still NOT amused.

"Again Arthur?" he had to ask his son, looking at him as though he expected it to be a jest, "I take it you are over Sophia then?"

"I am," Arthur nodded, standing at his full height, "And I am serious about this father, I have never loved anyone the way I do Mar…"

"My Lord," Latrona cut in, seeming just the tiniest bit flustered at what Arthur had been about to say out loud, WHO he'd been about to call her, but thankfully had cut in before he could finish, making it seem like Arthur had been about to say 'My Lord' instead, "I know this may be sudden, but…when one is in love…" she smiled at Arthur who gazed softly at her back…which only served to make Morgana turn a bit green as everyone else in the room saw Latrona instead of Marayna, "One cannot help it."

"Yes one CAN," Uther's eyes narrowed, "Guards!"

The guards started to approach Latrona who sighed, "Then you leave me no choice," she glared at Uther, her eyes flashing gold as a plate fell to the floor with a clatter, a gasp ringing out, and the king was on his feet in an instant at the blatant use of magic.

"Stop!" he shouted at the guards, but not for the reason anyone expected. It was not because of Uther's shock at a magic user being in Camelot, it was not even because the woman had enchanted him, no…it was the source of the gasp from a maidservant and the dropping of the plate in her hand that had caused him to give the order.

It was the fact that Arthur had pulled his sword from its sheath…and was pointing it at his own heart, his expression now blank, as though he wasn't even aware he was doing it.

Latrona smirked, seeing the power she now held, "One wrong move Uther, one command…and your poor boy's heart will break," she laughed, "Oh, did I say break, I meant stop," she looked at Arthur who pressed his sword a bit more to his chest, making his shirt crease at the added pressure.

"What do you want?" Uther sneered at her.

"I want Camelot to burn," she shot back, "I want…

Merlin looked at his sister, ignoring the tirade Latrona was going on about the grievances against the magical community created by Camelot and Uther and how she wanted the kingdom to fall so magic could rise and so on and so on…only to frown, "Aya?" he whispered, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder.

But she didn't answer, just stared straight across the room at Arthur, pressing his sword to his own chest, completely under the control of Latrona, knowing that, in a single instant, he could end up impaling himself, that he could kill himself and…she was scared. She'd never seen someone do that before, turn their sword on themselves, and to know he was being controlled, that someone was able to control him to do that…she was terrified that he'd really do it…

Merlin looked back at the scene unfolding, he'd seen it, the paralyzing fear in his sister's eyes, the tears in them as well, and he knew that he had to do something, not that he didn't already know that given that Arthur's life was on the line. But…he had to do it NOW. He looked across the room, to Morgana who had stood when Uther had, and caught her eye, 'Gana…' he called, 'I'm going to cause a distraction,' he told her, going with the first thing that popped into his head, 'I'm going to magic the gem off of her in the middle of it, tell Gwen to catch it when I do and give it to you, you've got to destroy the gem.'

Morgana nodded, looking around before she found a solid slab of rock, one of the rocks that the kitchen servants used when carrying the hottest of plates. They'd place it on the slab, which wouldn't heat up, and place it on the tables for the nobles. They were small, a bit heavy, but there was nothing on it at the moment, and it might just be heavy enough to shatter the gem if she tried. She turned to Gwen, reaching back to subtly pull her closer, whispering the plan in the girl's ear before Gwen moved to the side of the room, in line with Merlin, with Latrona in the middle of them and nodded to him, she was ready.

Merlin looked around the room once more, before grabbing his sister's hand to reassure her, feeling her shaking as she kept her eyes locked on Arthur. They both knew he couldn't try to tackle the man or risk too obvious magic…they had to wait. Luckily though…Latrona was the extravagant sort, the one who, when speaking, flapped her hands all over the place, and she was getting angrier the longer she ranted about the evils of Camelot.

Merlin waited only a moment longer, for the noblewoman to let out a vicious shout and fling her hands out in anger…and his eyes flashed gold, the windows around the room shattering, making even Latrona flinch and everyone think that SHE had done it. As the woman flinched and ducked from the flying shards of glass as everyone else had done, save Arthur who just stood there ignorant of it all, his eyes flashed again and the necklace went flying off her neck, Gwen jumping to the side to catch it, before she tossed it to Morgana.

The court watched as Latrona straightened, as they all did as well, and began to feel for her chest, feel for her necklace, all too aware it was gone, "Where is it?!" she cried, frantically looking at her dress…till they heard a cracking noise.

Everyone looked over to see Morgana with a stone slab in her hand, pounding it against a blue gem on the table before her, cracking it more and more and more.

"NO!" Latrona screeched, lifting a hand as though she were going to magic Morgana…only to be tackled to the side by Merlin to stop her, the boy knowing he couldn't risk magic again with everyone now focused.

No one besides Gwen noticed the faintest flash of gold in Morgana's eyes as, with the last pound of the slab, the gem shattered completely, sending out a small pulse of blue energy.

Arthur blinked, looking around before he frowned at his hands, "What…" he dropped his sword and turned to his father, confused, "What happened?"

"Guards seize her!" Uther shouted, as the guards rushed to Merlin, grabbing the woman from him and dragging her out of the room as she screamed obscenities at them.

"I don't understand," Arthur shook his head as Uther made his way around the table and to Arthur, "Father…" but he was cut off as Uther reached out…and hugged his son, a very manly hug, one that was more a hug from a king to a prince, but that was to be expected in front of the other members of court.

Arthur looked over the man's shoulder to Morgana and gave her a confused stare. But she just shook her head and smiled, though she had tears in her eyes as well. He frowned, seeing her gaze on something else, and looked to the side as his father pulled back to start on a speech to the court about the evils of sorcery, only to see Merlin holding Marayna in a tight hug off to the side, the girl clearly upset about something from how tightly she was holding her brother.

He swallowed hard, unable to shake the feelings that coupled inside him, the first that he got the impression it was something HE had done that upset her and…the feeling that he really wished he were Merlin (as odd and completely idiotic and had to be a sign of some lingering enchantment), because then…HE'D be the one holding and comforting the girl instead.

Merlin glanced back at him, at the room in general, before he turned and led his sister out, knowing that she hated seeming weak or upset or weepy around others and that she really needed a moment to gather herself before she stepped back in. Arthur sighed as he watched them go, knowing he'd have to speak to them soon about all of this, he really had no idea what was going on.

The last thing he remembered was a sort of fuzzy memory, like a dream, him and Marayna kissing before he fell asleep with visions of her in his head.

~8~

Marayna twisted and turned in her bed, her face scrunched in pain as a nightmare of her own played out, ironic as the one who typically had nightmares was across the castle and sleeping peacefully for once in the arms of the man she loved. And that was just it, wasn't it? The man she loved was giving her peaceful dreams…where as the man Marayna loved was the cause of her nightmare this time. It was playing out again, the dream, the horrible dream that wasn't a dream but a terrifying memory…of Arthur, of his latest enchantment, of how he'd turned his blade on himself and nearly…

She sat up in bed with a gasp, tears in her eyes as she panted, the dream playing out again, the memory. She swallowed hard and closed her eyes, running a hand through her knotted hair. She was starting to think she should request some sleeping potion from Gaius like Morgana did, this was the fifth time she'd had that dream in a row. It was natural, she was sure, given what she'd seen Arthur willing to do under the enchantment, but…she knew it was also guilt.

Because she'd frozen.

She'd frozen the moment she'd seen him turn his sword to his own chest. Her mind had shut down, she hadn't moved, she hadn't thought or spoken or reacted it was just…she didn't know. She'd never been so scared as to think he might actually do it, as to know Latrona would have MADE him do it with no qualms. It had terrified her so much that she had just…shut down. If it hadn't been for Merlin, Gwen, and Morgana, who had later, upon request from Merlin, claimed that when the windows shattered Gwen, who had seen the necklace flashing with magic, used the distraction to run to Latrona and grab the gem off her before she tossed it to her to break, the two of them thinking it might have something to do with her control of Arthur. Gwen had been honored as well with a small feast, much like Marayna had for helping Aurora and they had been thrilled she had gotten recognition for her hand in helping save the kingdom, they didn't so much mind their friends getting credit for things they had a hand in.

And for as joyous as that feast had been, the very next night, Latrona having been executed that morning for her crimes, SHE had had a nightmare. She didn't often have nightmares, nothing really got to her that way unless it was Merlin in danger, and she'd been there for him the entire time she'd been in Camelot, he hadn't been in danger without her there too so she hadn't had nightmares in a while. But then…with Arthur…she'd dreamed about that event every night since it had happened and…she didn't know how to make it stop.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting out a breath, before she laid back down and turned on her side, looking across the room at the empty bed her brother rarely slept in anymore. She sighed, she was very happy that he was happy and that he was there for the woman he loved but…sometimes, like now, she just…wished he could be there for her too.

They had always been together, her and Merlin, their whole lives. When she'd been sent to her Aunt Elaine's, it was supposed to only be for a short while, to train to be a lady-in-waiting, so she had some sort of skill to offer when she and Merlin arrived in Camelot as Merlin could have been Gaius's assistant and she would need a skill or qualification of her own. That had been the first and only time they'd ever been separated. She was glad that her brother was branching out, while they loved their own bond with each other, how they were there for each other they both knew that, in order to grow, things had to change.

And she was thrilled that Merlin was there for Morgana, that Morgana was there for Merlin when she couldn't be…she was over the moon that the two loved each other. But, at the same time, she was a bit saddened that the person she loved hadn't exactly said anything of the sort back to her in his own voice. Seeing Merlin and Morgana together, seeing her brother drifting from her to the noblewoman, she was happy for him but it just made her wish that she had someone there for her too.

A/N: I just want to say I'm SO sorry this is so late. I've been trying to log onto my account every 10 minutes since the time I usually post and it kept saying those 'error' messages :( And since I wasn't logged on I couldn't even use my trick with the URL :( BUT! It finally started working like 2 minutes ago so I'm writing this note and hoping I can post before it glitches again.

As for the chapter...poor Marayna :( I sort of wanted to hint at the distance that is coming between her and Merlin, not a bad distance, they're just...falling in love with Arthur and Morgana, but that it's hard when one love is returned and the other isn't quite just yet :( But I can say that someone will notice Marayna's nightmares soon and 'be there for her' ;)

Some notes on reviews...

I can't say about Mordred just yet, I want that to be a secret what'll happen with him }:) But I can say that he was one of my favorite characters to write for this story :)

I have a twist for who will be the antagonist IF Morgana doesn't go evil, but we'll have to wait and see }:) I can't say about Morgana's fate though, that'll be a secret till Series 3 :)

I think it would break my heart if Morgana goes evil too, but we'll have to wait and see }:) It broke my heart to write my one DW story but I kept the pain going for quite a while, so you never know with me ;)

That's ok about reviewing, I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far :) Oh I've got a lot of twists involving Lancelot, I'm very excited for him and Gwen :) But I can't say just yet what'll happen to him ;)

I've actually got a note on my FF profile for Leena's section (and on my 'Upcoming Stories' page on tumblr) about Sherlock. Series 3 will be up tomorrow actually with Welcome Holmes ;) AND I'll be giving short teasers, 1 for each episode, periodically on my tumblr today (appearing on her TJHC page) to lead up to it ;)