Krip A/N: First off I am so sorry this took so long! I've had a lot of other projects going plus I just started back at uni so that's always a hassle. However seeing as the new series of Merlin starts this Saturday I figured I should try and get a new chapter out to celebrate and mark the occasion - so excited! This chap's also a little longer than usual to make up for the wait. Anyway hope you enjoy and if you do please feel free to leave a comment we'd love to hear from you! And now a word from the mage . . .

Mage A/n: Hi Lords and Ladies, I have a bit more than a word to say. First off, 3 days until Merlin! I can not wait. Secondly the next part of this will be up soon (seeing as I have a day of from Uni at the mo, I will write it and put it up in the next week or so.). Finally, thank you to all the amazing people who read, reviewed, alerted and favourited this fic. Once again Krip has written an amazing piece and we both hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I better remind people that neither of us owns Merlin or anything associated with the show. If we did, it wouldn't be pre-watershed.

Spoilers: S03EP10, S02EP10, S0107, S01EP03, and seeing how it is set during these episodes S02EP05&06

'Love' spells and True love

A few entries back in this glorious and vital guide I briefly mentioned a particularly embarrassing incident that befell my son Prince Arthur. This incident was of course the lust spell placed on him by that crazy old sorcerer, Drag . . . something - was it Dragoon or Dragon? (who once again certainly did not escape! I know exactly where he is, I'm just . . . Monitoring him from afar to . . . gather some vital information about the habits of less dangerous magicians . . . . Yes, that's all . . .). This lust spell such as it was caused my son, the heir to the throne of Camelot, to believe temporarily that he had 'fallen' for a mere serving girl (who I'm still certain is not as entirely innocent as she seems - I swear the day one scrap of solid evidence comes forward against her . . . )

Now, the reason I continue to refer to this event as a 'lust' spell is because that is precisely what it was. You see, these vile, wretched sorcerers allow their pride and self-inflated egos get the better of them, just because they can perform a few magic tricks (which admittedly can be seen as fairly impressive to some - but that's besides the point.) they believe they can control that which is not theirs to control. Of course there are some magic users who are more 'powerful' than others just as there are some warriors stronger than others but even these more formidable sorcerers have a tendency to be led astray by their own sense of hubris. The evil in their veins corrupts their minds - they call them 'love' spells and they genuinely believe that is what they are - these animals are so boastful they actually believe they can effect and change real feeling. Well fear not brave soldiers for I am here to tell you that this is entirely untrue. Do not let yourself believe that a magician can change the true direction your heart lies in for this assumption is utterly false. A sorcerer may believe that they can inspire true feelings of love in a person, that they can permanently manipulate an innocent's heart to their own gain but in reality all the feelings their spells provide are mere illusions. Listen well and heed the truth of my words . . . Believe me I've had much more experience than I would like with sorcerers and their infantile lust potions to know that they never last and they never truly work . . .

Being as I am, in a position of tremendous power it is only natural that the more greedy and less vengeful users of magic should try everything in their ability to obtain the power I possess. Unfortunately it would seem that the most popular and in their minds easier root to take is that of my son. Now as . . . satisfied as I am with Arthur's instincts and ability to defend both himself and Camelot when the need arises, even I have to admit that the boy does have a tendency to inadvertently allow himself be drugged and/or rendered unconscious . . . Frequently. This is understandably inconvenient at the best of times, but even more so when the drugging or unconsciousness is used as part of a sorcerer's plan to . . . Effect him for a longer period of time. No less than three times in the past few years has my son come under enchantments designed to sway his feelings and each of these times, after suffering through some embarrassing declarations of false feelings, Arthur has overcome his ensorcelled state rendering the enchanters plan a failure.

One such instance is particularly memorable to me because on that occasion Arthur's misguided 'feelings' very nearly brought about a war! During peace talks no less! I am of course referring to the time when Arthur was spelled to outwardly appear to love the . . . Enchanting Lady Viviane. To this day I have no idea of the sorcerer who cast that particular spell (after all Viviane is clearly far too air-headed to think of sorcery, plus she's a noble and as I've already stated nobility does not dabble in such arts - unless it's merely for show such as the trickler that was brought to Camelot for our entertainment). Nor do I know how Arthur managed to free himself of it - all I do know is that Arthur's behavior those few days was . . . Mortifying to say the least.

Although I do not know how Arthur managed to un-ensnare himself from his 'affections' for Lady Vivian it would seem that one method of dispelling the lust curse is through . . . physical trauma - as evidenced during another attempt to win Arthur's heart through impure methods. On this occasion the object off the curse and no-doubt the perpetrator of it was a girl called Sophie? Sophia? She and her father claimed to be nobility but I had never seen the charlatans before and doubtful ever will again - if I do it'll be through the flames of a pyre. Though I know not how such a thing were possible it would seem that Arthur's mostly-useless-excuse of a manservant followed his prince when he planned to elope with his enchanter, somehow he managed to knock Arthur unconscious which apparently broke the spell as he was back to his usual self when he awoke (to allow Arthur some sense of pride over the incident I pretend to him that I was not stood outside his chamber door while the boy and Gauis explained the events that broke the curse to him - after the embarrassment of realizing what he almost did whilst under the influence of magic it is only fair that I keep that much to myself.) How that peasant managed to knock a warrior prince out cold will always be a mystery to me though . . . Perhaps he's stronger than he looks . . .

There is one other occasion that troubles me. The case of Arthur's 'lust' over the serving girl Gwen. Although that appeared to be caused by the old, senile, sorcerer something about her is highly suspicious . . . Whatever her true plans are I am in no doubt they are nefarious, after all Arthur was not the only one to fall victim too her . . . charms. I recall an instance when she had lured the bumbling manservant into her trap, he even attempted to save the witch by confessing to enchantments himself! As if such an idiotic excuse for a boy could ever possess magic! It just goes to show the cunning of the girl that she bewitched him so, probably in an attempt to get close to Arthur. I do not trust her and yet I cannot accuse her - Morgana seems so attached to her that I fear what she would do should I sentence her maid without solid reason. No, I'll bide my time - she'll slip up eventually and this time she won't be able to weasel her way out of it!

I have now given you several examples of how sorcerers can manage to falsify the initial symptoms of love but not the emotion itself. True love cannot be replicated by any magic - take my word for this friends, I know because the utter warmth and adoration I feel for my beautiful new queen is too pure to be replicated by such a scourge as sorcery! The love me and my precious Katrina share is unparallel and untamable. Although I do sense that perhaps some citizens and even those close to me such as Gauis and my own son disapprove of our union. I'm not sure whether this stirs greater sadness or angered disappointment in me, I understand that change after so long is difficult but they needn't take things so far! I swear if one more person calls my wife a troll . . .