so i bet you weren't expecting me for another week or two, well here i am back on my regular schedule though i might be busy so it might be every other week i update instead of once a week. anyway enjoy season 3. american? haven't seen it yet? go to casttv. they have all the episodes up the day they are on tv in the U.K. i'm jumping right into this. this episode is off in my opinion, no my best, but then we go from one episode straight into another. the next is a... well not a filler, but an original episode. so like usual enjoy. i would like to take this time to also add a disclaimer stating i do not own Merlin and that i would like to thank all those who reviewed: AnGelFacE S2, doctorwhofreak 4890, halogirl810, TheMsMorra, Miss Papillion, TwinPhoenixOfDark, TopGearGirl, star145, Anne Boleyn, x-LightUp-x, a mysterious nameless person, BiteMeBlondie, Lily Luna Snape Riddle, EvilPurpleCookiePenKeyMonguin, glass-bottles, J.T.A., and Nimways Emrys. thank you all. i love seeing reviews. =D if i forgot someone my apologies. fanfic might have deleted your name because it was too long and it does that or i may have accidenltly overlooked you sry. enjoy.

"Artemis!" Gwen called opening the door to their home. It was cluttered with things and Artemis's stuff was everywhere. Artemis hadn't been doing much but sleeping and obsessing over paper work that was in some strange language for hours at a time. Sometimes it was not until the sun rose that she went to bed.

"Whatever you want the answer is no," she groaned turning over and pulling the blanket over her head to try and block out both Gwen and the sun.

"It's important. Wake up."

"Go away," she moaned.

"Artemis," Gwen said.

"No." Gwen ripped the blanket off Artemis causing her to groan again and curl her legs up to her chest.

"Morgana is back." One sentence made Artemis's eye fly open and the pillow to fly off her head and hit Gwen in the face.

"Say that again," she said.

"Morgana's back," Gwen said throwing the pillow and to Artemis's bed. Artemis stared at Gwen before she stood. She threw around her clothes before pulling on a pair of trousers and a pair of black leather boots.

"Well? What are we waiting for?" Artemis said sounding both happy and excited. Gwen laughed at Artemis's sudden eagerness. Together, they went to the palace. Artemis knocked on Morgana's door.

"Enter," Arthur's voice said. Gwen and Artemis entered. Arthur was sitting next to Morgana talking to her on her bed. She saw the two women and stood.

"Morgana," Artemis breathed. Morgana smiled. They embraced. "It is so good to see you alive and well," Artemis said pulling away from her. They kept each others hands.

"And you as well. I heard a lot took place while I was gone."

"Indeed it is. I have missed you terribly." Artemis smiled. "I will tell you everything in due time. I am afraid however I cannot spend the day with you. I have mountains of paper work lately."

"Paper work?" she asked confused.

"Yes… it's rather tedious. It's for… well it's not really important. How are you? I worried so for you."

"I am alright now. I am home, and that's all that matters." Artemis nodded.

"It is true, and it is a pleasure to have you back. It was not the same without you. Uther will surly throw you a feast."

"Will you be there?"

"I cannot. I have segregated myself terribly from the court. To go back now would be like a maid sitting at a table of royals."

"Come as my guest then. I have missed you Artemis. You understand me better than anyone." Artemis smiled.

"I am regretful, but please know the pleasure that I feel from your return."

"I do," Morgana confirmed.

"I must go. I will see sometime later?"

"Of course," Morgana said pleasantly. "I will see you."

"Indeed." Artemis let go of Morgana's hands and Morgana did the same. Artemis turned away to walk out the room past Gwen who was now greeting Morgana. Artemis's eyes had a dark look to them, and she had a deep frown on her face.

The next day Artemis sat down next to Merlin as they watched Arthur sword fight blind folded. Artemis's eyebrows were furrowed with worry.

"What?" Merlin asked noticing the look on her face.

"Morgana cannot be trusted," she said.

"What makes you think that? She seems fine to me."

"Trust me Merlin. Her magic is black." Merlin stared at his sister.

"But Arthur tells me that when you greeted her that you were the happiest you've been in a while."

"It was a lie. I'm putting on a front. I plan to act this way to her for a while now. Keep friends close and enemies closer," she said.

"I must change weapons," Arthur said walking toward them removing his blind fold as Merlin stood to get a new weapon. He was surprised to see Artemis sitting there. She didn't acknowledge him. She stared the other way. "Hello, Artemis."

"Hello, Arthur," she said not looking to him. Their relationship was a hello when they saw each other and nothing more.

"What did you think?" he asked Merlin.

"I've seen better," Merlin said.

"Of course. Well you are the expert at fighting with your eyes closed," he said as he drank out of a goblet.

"You didn't see what I did when we were rescuing Morgana," Merlin said.

"Because you were hiding behind a tree."

"No I was not," Merlin argued. Arthur gave him a doubtful look before turning back to the knights.

"I'm not going to use a blind fold this time," he announced to them. "I'm just going to fight like Merlin here." Arthur started to do a feeble, humiliating impression of Merlin. The knights laughed. Arthur started to fight them for real again. Merlin's eyes flashed gold. Arthur's sword flew out of his hand and the knight's weapon hit him in the stomach causing him to fall to the ground in mud. Artemis and Merlin laughed together.

Artemis bursted through the doors to Uther's chambers. She looked down at Uther, who was unconscious in his bed, then at Gaius.

"What in the hell happened? One minute I'm sleeping the next I know Merlin's practically busting down my down telling me Uther's lost it."

"Uther thinks he saw something in the well."

"What?" Gaius was silent for a moment.

"Igraine." Artemis narrowed her eyes and looked down to Uther. She put a hand to his head. "If he gets worse, let me know, yes?" Gaius nodded. "It could just be too much to drink and a guilty subconscious." Artemis ran her fingers through her hair before walking out the door. Turning a corner, Artemis ran right into Arthur. "Sorry, Arthur."

"It's alright," he said seeming out of it. She walked past him. "Artemis?" he called stopping her.

"Yes?" she asked not turning to him.

"Do you know what's wrong with him?"

"No, sire. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," he said. She turned to him. She hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. "If he gets worse, Arthur, come to me. I will see what I can do."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

A knock on Gwen and Artemis's door made Artemis sigh. She was sitting at a table looking over papers with a candle light. Gwen made to get the door, but Artemis stopped her.

"It's for me." Artemis went to the door and answered it.

"Artemis," Arthur breathed. He looked broken up. "He's gotten worse."

"Come in," she said. Artemis turned and went to her trunk. She unlocked it and started to pull out a case and a leather-bound book that was locked with a buckle. She stood with the case and book in her hands. "Let's go." Arthur lead Artemis to Uther's room. He was back in bed. Gaius was examining him. "Do you mind?" she asked. Gaius shook his head. She opened one of Uther's eyes. He didn't respond. "Where's Merlin?" she asked.

"I have no idea," Gaius said.

"Hm," she said as she opened his mouth and seemed to check his throat. "I hope where ever he is he has a good excuse." Artemis pulled away with a sigh. She rubbed her forehead.

"What's wrong?" Arthur asked jumping to conclusions already.

"Hm?" she questioned. "Oh, nothing. I just have an awful headache. As for Uther…," she said looking down at the King. "I can only give him something to help the anxiety of it all. I do not know what is ailing him. I am sorry, sire," she said turning to Arthur. "I will continue to try if you wish."

"Please," he said somewhat begging her maybe not with his voice but it was obvious in the look he gave to her. Artemis nodded. Arthur soon left.

"I hope you don't use magic on him," Gaius said.

"No spells," she said. He gave her a doubtful look. "I promise." Gaius hesitated and nodded before leaving. "Potions on the other hand," she said going through the box she brought with her.

"And a dash of Dittany," she muttered finishing the mix. She ladled a bit of potion in a bottle and added a drop of salamander blood. She shook up the mixture before tilting Uther's head back and pouring it into his mouth. There was no response. Artemis groaned and let Uther's head fall back onto the bed. The door creaked open. Artemis's hand threw her book shut and pushed some of the ingredients out of sight.

"Any luck?" Morgana asked. Artemis gave her what seemed like a genuine smile.

"No. I'm afraid not. I think a enchantment was involved though I'm not sure."

"An enchantment?" Morgana asked pretending to play dumb.

"Yes. Uther has many enemies. Many of them are magical beings." Artemis turned and hastily put the ingredients away. Morgana did not know that Artemis was a witch and Morgause did not know she was also called Artemis. If Morgause warned Morgana about her, it was not a big deal. Amborsine does not exist in clicked the medicine case shut. "The anxiety should be dulled down now. He should be able to rest peacefully for tonight. If he sees a vision tonight, it will mean nothing, but still… there is nothing more I can do. When he is awake no amount of medicine will be able to help him, but while he sleeps it is much easier." Artemis took her book and her case and left Morgana behind. She could do no more damage than what was already done. Walking out of the room, she ran straight into Gaius. "What now?" she asked with irritation. Morgana comes back and suddenly everything is disheveled. It annoyed her beyond reason.

"It's Arthur," he said.

"What about him?" Gaius sighed and began to tell her what he told Arthur and his response.

Artemis knocked on Arthur's open door before she entered. He looked up at her. He looked to be trying to be concentrating on paper work, but she was sure there was too much on his mind for him to do that.

"Artemis," he said surprised. She hadn't visited him like this in his chambers for over a year.

"Sire," she said.

"Please, come in," he said standing. She sighed and walked further in.

"How are you holding up?" she asked.

"I could be better," he admitted. There was awkward silence. Artemis's eyes lingered to the ceiling.

"Gaius only meant the best. You know that, don't you?" she asked.

"He shouldn't have suggested it," Arthur said defensively. "My father will be fine. There is no need for me to take control." Artemis took a step closer to him.

"Arthur," she said. "We aren't giving up on Uther. That isn't the reason for you assuming control. The kingdom needs you. You must assume control. It's the right thing to do."

"Are you telling me this as a Servant of the World?" he asked bitterly turning to look out his window.

"No, I am telling you this as a citizen of Camelot. This is my home, and I do not want to see it fall because you refuse to take Uther's place until his health returns."

"Then go find another home!" Arthur snapped. "You probably have a hundred different kingdoms you call home. A hundred different friends, a hundred different lovers."

"No," she snapped back, "you are wrong. I care about Camelot more than any other place. I have called Valde my home, and I have called Ealdor my home, and I have called Camelot my home. My light burns brighter here than anywhere else. My friends here mean much to me, and if you think different than you are a fool. I hope Camelot falls because of your damn decisions, you arrogant child!" she yelled before turning walked away in anger.

"What did you say to him?" Gaius asked the next day. Artemis and him sat together in his home. Artemis was leaning back on a chair with her feet on his table.

"Well, we more argued than spoke," she said. "Why?"

"Arthur's taken control, Artemis," he said. "Whatever you said shook some sense into him. He's ordered a siege. Cendred's army is approaching us quickly."

"Good," she said satisfied. "Where's Merlin and where the hell has he been?"

"He's with Arthur, and he was caught eavesdropping on Morgana and Morgause and was nearly killed."

"Ah," she said with nod. "Well good to see him risking his life to save the kingdom… again," she said.

"It was also discovered that mandrake root was the cause of Uther's suffering. Merlin destroyed it."

"Mandrake? Huh," she said thinking. "So that's why my potions didn't work."

"Potions?"

"It's not important. Anything else new?"

"I think that you should go to Arthur," Gaius said mixing a potion.

"Why?"

"Because right now he needs someone to lean on, and he is very comfortable leaning on you."

"But Gaius," she started.

"Don't tell me that going to Arthur will do nothing, that seeing him will do nothing. I may be old, but I know love when I see it even when you denied it and crushed Arthur doing so. Deep down Arthur knows this. You're support and faith would mean a lot to him," he said. She sighed and pulled her feet off the table and stood. "Well?"

"I'm going. I'm going," she said before walking off Arthur's chambers. She knocked on his open door he was inside looking out the window thinking. He turned to her. "May I come in?" He nodded. "How's your father?" she asked walking closer to him.

"I could do with him here," he admitted.

"You should have more faith in yourself," she said.

"What are the people saying?" he asked.

"They are glad that you have taken charge."

"I have committed them to a siege." There was silence between them. How was Artemis supposed to respond? "There will be casualties, Artemis." She closed to space between them and put her hand on his arm about to be lost in her words.

"I trust you Arthur," she told. "More than Uther, more than Merlin, more than any man. Worry is not a wise counsel. Forget everything else, you have to follow what you believe is right. Remember what I said Arthur? Faith makes a strong king. You have my faith. I swear that you will never loose that." He finally acknowledged the hand on his arm, and gently pressed on her hand with his opposite hand. He kept it there, and they stared at each other. Emotions raged through Artemis. Guilt, grief, lust, love… love. "I… I should go sire," she said pulling away. She turned away.

"There's no need to call me that," he said.

"There is every need, sire," she said before leaving.

Cendred's army approached. Artemis was in leather armor with her sword at her side. It wasn't the Servants' armor it was a different set she had. She would not fight this battle as a Servant of the World; she would fight it as a soldier of Camelot. Arthur passed her among the other soldiers and they caught each other's gaze and held it before Artemis looked away. Arthur reached the end f the corridor they were in and pulled out his sword.

"For the love of Camelot!" He yelled raising his sword.

"For the love of Camelot!" they chanted back. They moved out an prepared for the coming battle. The signal was given to the opposing side and suddenly it was war. Cenred's men storm them or tried, but they managed to push them back. Balls of fire flew threw the sky and hit the walls.

"Hold the line!" Leon screamed. The clashing of steel hitting steel was all that filled Artemis's ears. They were beating back Cendred's army easily. Suddenly out of no where, it felt as if Artemis's head was going to explode. She clutched her head in pain, and staggered backward. She looked around for the source of the magic causing the pain, for she knew it was magic. She saw Arthur fighting… a skeleton.

"What the hell?" she muttered. She caught a sword flashing at the corner of her eye and moved right on time. She fought the skeleton, and swung her sword hard cutting his spinal cord in half. It still moved, but it was a useless fighter. Artemis looked around and saw Camelot struggling to fight on two fronts. She jumped into the fight with the skeletons. It was moments later when just as suddenly as they appeared they fell into just bones. The headache subsided. Camelot started to push back Cenred again after loosing ground previously from attempting to fight on two grounds. Within minutes, the army withdrew. Camelot had won.

"It is a victory and a lose," Artemis muttered as Merlin paced in front of her. He worried about Morgana, who had been the one who summoned the skeletons. Artemis was leaning over paper work again.

"What is so important that you are ignoring this?" Merlin asked frustrated with Artemis's lack of interest. Artemis sighed and looked up.

"If you really want to know, I am translating the original prophecies about you and Arthur," she said.

"Oh… why?" he asked. She sighed.

"Because some of the Masters are trying to claim that the prophecy was either translated wrong or it was not fully complete."

"Why would it matter?"

"Because if Arthur is not the great king he is supposed to be then they will bring Uther on trial as well as Arthur."

"Oh, so that's kind of important," he said. Artemis gave him a look of 'no really.' "Sorry," he said. Artemis sighed and stood. She pulled on a cloak. "What're you doing?" he asked.

"They're right," Artemis said.

"What? Who's right?"

"Those who claim that the prophecy is not complete. There's a part of it missing."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"I'm going to find the missing piece."

"How?"

"The Ruins of Lumen is where the prophecies were held once. In a panic a page of the prophecy was left behind."

"In a panic?" Merlin asked.

"You remember the Ruins of Asvadar?" she asked.

"Yeah?" he said.

"Well, the Ruins of Lumen is just like that, but it's a little different. Those ruins aren't filled with dark magic like Asvadar, but those sorcerers that made Asvadar dark attacked the Ruins of Lumen. The sorcerers that once lived there were scared of their prophecies falling in the wrong hands so they quickly moved them and abandoned the ruins. The dark magic could never spread their. It was impossible."

"So you're going to try and find a piece of paper that is possibly hundreds of years old inside a falling down building?"

"Yes," she replied writing a note quickly and setting it on the table. "I'll be back in a few days." Artemis left the house and pulled herself on Libera. She rode of Camelot.