The cheerful sounds of the banquet immediately descended into screams of panic and terror as the sorceress took to the balcony. Arthur instinctively charged forwards, sword swiping, eyes fixed and focused. The sorceress batted away his assaults as though they were pesky flies, although it was clear with every stroke that her defence was weakening. That strike to the head with a high-heel had done her more damage than she dared to let on.

Merlin stood frozen at the edge of the scene. Watching. Transfixed. It so often pained him how easily he could get them all out of difficult situations like this with just the flick of a finger, and yet he couldn't. However, as he watched, he noticed something glinting within her gnarled and withered grasp. The vial! Merlin wasn't sure exactly what that vial would do, but while she held it, she still had the upper hand over Arthur. He had to get it.

Merlin darted forward, racing into the fray. He slipped under Arthur's arm, ignoring his surprised protest, and could feel his hand closing around it. Time seemed to slow down. The sorceress didn't know what had hit her. The cold, smooth glass was almost within his grasp. He reached for it further, every second seeming like an hour, the tension boiling up in his throat. His fingers tightened, clutching around the big, fat… nothing?

Merlin stumbled forward as everything around him seemed to spin and blur and he felt himself falling into the emptiness before him. With a yelp, he tripped over his own stupid dress and fell upon the floor. Wrenching his body back around, he saw the sorceress reappear in a cloud of smoke, having evidently disappeared from her previous spot in Merlin's line of attack, like the coward she was.

She registered the disgust on Merlin's face and laughed tauntingly, toying delicately with the vial. "Why thank you, my dear. I had almost forgotten about that."

Merlin snarled angrily in return.

"Oh, darling, don't be like that." She reproached. "It does no favours for your complexion. Now just sit there and be quiet, like a good damsel, yes?"

"You absolute cockroach!" Arthur roared from behind her as he swung his great sword down.

But the sorceress just raised one hand, and Arthur's rag doll form followed her motion, slamming into the pillar behind him and hanging there. Arthur struggled against the magical forces holding him, but the sorceress didn't even bat an eyelid and instead spoke with a quiet so dreadful it rung out clearly over the shrill shrieks from below and the gasping protests of Merlin and Arthur.

"I am so sorry it has come to this."

Silence descended upon the room.

"I am so sorry that your prince has failed to save his damsel in distress."

All eyes were upon her.

"I am so sorry that your prince has failed to save you all."

Stifled gasps rose from the apt audience.

The sorceress raised one arm. The one holding the vial. And held it directly over the edge of the balcony.

People began to scuttle away.

"Don't move." The words sounded from her lips and all movement ceased instantaneously. "Is the king here?"

Bravely, Uther stepped forward. "What do you want?"

"I want the end of Camelot." The sorceress raised one eyebrow.

Arthur shouted out from behind her in a desperate objection, but with a single click, his voice was muffled and he was left silently struggling.

"I'm afraid I can't give you that." Uther declared.

"I'm afraid it's not your choice." The sorceress giggled.

"I will stop you." Uther drew his sword.

"There is nothing you can do now. One movement from me, and this room collapses into the fiery pits of hell, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Your prince has failed; you stand before me at my mercy. There is no one who can stop me now. I would say I'm sorry, but quite honestly, I'm not. Goodbye, your –"

The rest of her words turned to a choking gargle as a sword protruded through her heart and then rose again to slice off her head. Her body crumpled and her grasp grew slack upon the vial. Terror rose in the room once more, as the vial began to fall. However, time seemed to slow down and a pale, dainty hand reached out and plucked the vial from the air, pulling it safely back over the balcony.

Belonging to the hand was a beautiful, angelic face – splattered in blood and sweating though it was – owned by a mysterious woman. In her hand she held Prince Arthur's sword, and in her other hand she clutched the vial.

"For the last time," Merlin muttered. "I am not a damsel in distress."

The crowd gazed up at their anonymous saviour; this stunning, yet strangely familiar, figure standing before them, with hair the colour of coal and eyes the colour of a warm, sunlit sea. And a dress that didn't quite fit and was quite torn. And no shoes on. And really bad posture for a lady.

"Who are you?" Uther spoke in wonder.

"Trust me, father. I've been asking the same question all night." Came Arthur's voice from behind Merlin.

Merlin simply laughed enigmatically. "I am just a woman from one of the nearby towns, my lord. I am no one special."

"You have just saved us all! The kingdom owes you a grave debt, my lady. Please, won't you tell me your name?" Uther insisted.

Merlin panicked, he hadn't thought this part of the evening through. To be fair to him, he really hadn't expected any of it to go this way.

"I'm afraid I can't my lord." Merlin stuttered.

"You can't?" Uther asked in a preposterous tone.

"I must keep my identity a secret." Merlin fumbled. "I'm not supposed to be here, you see." Well, that technically wasn't a lie.

"Of course, my lady." Uther chuckled. "But you must let us thank you."

"I need no thanks but the assurance of the safety of my king, my prince and my people." Merlin spoke, beginning to rather enjoy this status of pompous, mysterious hero. Or heroine, he supposed.

"You are too generous and honest. Camelot needs more citizens like you. I could only desire that we had someone as loyal as you looking after our royals and our kingdom always." Uther conceded. "At least, you must come down and enjoy the celebrations. The rest of the evening must be held in your honour."

Merlin smiled graciously. "Thank you, your majesty. I suppose that I can manage that."

He turned and started back towards the chamber, picking up his shoes on the way. As he began to descend the stairs however, he felt a hand upon his arm.

"My lady." Arthur's deep voice spoke from close by Merlin's ear. "Can you not at least tell me your name? Or something about you? Anything?"

Merlin stopped and looked at the handsome prince. Looked right into his gorgeous eyes like he had otherwise never dared.

"I can't tell you my name, my lord. But I will tell you something about me."

"Please do." Arthur nodded, excitedly.

Merlin took a deep breath. "I… well… I… I think…"

"Yes?" Arthur encouraged.

"I think… I think… I think you're an absolute prat. I think you're big headed and arrogant. I think you're rude and conceited. I think you're ungrateful for everything everyone does for you." Merlin stuck his chin up in the air.

"Are you quite done?" Arthur glared angrily.

"I think you're annoying and insolent and self-centred and stupid and loyal and honest and kind and true and handsome and strong and talented and the best king Camelot will ever have." Merlin couldn't help a slight smile slip onto his face.

"Anything else?" Arthur relaxed, grinning too.

"I think I'm in love with you." Merlin blushed. Somehow this façade gave him a strength he could never have alone.

"Well, I think I'm in love with you too." Arthur responded steadily.

"Prat."

"Turnip."

"Hey! I'm a lady! You can't call me a turnip!" Merlin protested.

"If I know one thing about you, you're definitely not a lady." Arthur smirked.

Merlin's heart stopped suddenly. Did he know? Oh my, he knew!

"You're something so much better." Arthur finished. "You're a heroine and a saviour and a person that is beautiful on the inside, not just the outside. I love you for who you are, not what you are."

Merlin nearly melted. Somehow up to now this hadn't felt real. But hearing Arthur say those words and realising that there was a possibility that Arthur wasn't in love with Merlin's girl pretence, but actually with Merlin himself… well, it was overwhelming to say the least.

And that just made everything so much harder when he knew that he would have to go back to… the way things were before. And Arthur would never know. He wondered if Arthur would even remember him tomorrow. Bet you he wouldn't.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked, nervously.

"Nothing." Merlin stated abruptly, holding back tears. "We should get back to the feast."

"Was it something I said?" Arthur pushed.

"No. Yes. Sort of." Merlin sighed.

"What is it?"

"It's just that you're a prince and I'm not a princess. At all. And when this night is over…" Merlin trailed off.

"I'm not going to let you go. You're going to stay here, with me. Forever."

"Oh please." Merlin's voice nearly cracked. "You won't even remember me in the morning."

Arthur laughed. "Trust me. I'm never going to forget you."

"You say that…" Merlin trailed off.

"Look." Arthur gently took Merlin's hands. "I promise you I won't forget you and I honestly want you to stay, if only for a while, before we sort out how things are going to work on a more permanent basis. But for now, if you'll let me, I'd like to help you enjoy the night – you've definitely deserved it – because even if there will be problems in the future, we still have tonight."

Merlin looked up at him and nodded. "Alright then. Alright then. Alright then, let's go. Come on, prat."

"Hey!" Arthur mock-scowled. "What was that for?"

"I guess it was because I love you?" Merlin tried, batting his eyelashes shamelessly.

"Alright then." Arthur imitated. But instead of calling Merlin a name, he grabbed him and pressed him against his own body, kissing him intensely. When he pulled back, he grinned and breathed a contented sigh.

Merlin, now considerably flushed, glared back at him. "What was that for?"

"I guess it was because I love you." Arthur returned. And extended his hand to Merlin.

Graciously, Merlin took the outstretched hand and the pair descended down the staircase.

They were nearly at the bottom when Arthur paused and looked at Merlin and said "Did I ever thank you for saving my life and my father's and my kingdom?"

"No." Merlin raised his eyebrows. "I told you; you are an arrogant, conceited, ungrateful prat."

"Is it too late now then?" Arthur asked hopefully, almost looking worried.

Merlin pretended to consider it. Then smiled. "No, of course it's not."

Arthur grinned in relief. "Well then thank you very much, my lady, for saving my life, my father's and my kingdom."

"You're very welcome… prat." Merlin teased. "Now, come on. I want to actually enjoy this night as opposed to being stuck with you in this dingy staircase."

The couple continued walking, heading back to the banquet. As they went, it could be heard of Prince Arthur that he reckoned he could think of a few ways for them to enjoy the night alone in that dingy staircase. Which was promptly followed by a weak slap from Merlin and a shared smile. Because whatever tomorrow may bring, they still had tonight.

.

Wow that was not meant to be that soppy... I am seriously so sorry. Don't worry, however, this is not the end! There will be more coming, probably only one last chapter of the morning after. Thank you so much for reading and I hope you're enjoying! Thank you also for all the reviews and favourites and follows; it's so lovely to hear your ideas and to know you're enjoying it and it's also good encouragement to write the next chapter!