I like Elena. I mean I know that she was totally going to marry Arthur, but I like her therefore Artemis likes her. Can't be helped. Don't hate on Elena. I mean coming on, anyone who can kick Arthur's ass in a race is my hero. 3. Anyway, here. If I finish the next one early I will post it. I'm excited for the next chapter. It's an episode chapter, but I changed it so much that I will consider it half of an original. We don't see a lot of Jack or Ajax in this one. They're important though. I didn't just randomly throw them in there. Congrats. You have officially read 40 chapters and have read over 300 pages. That's how awesome we both are. Felicitations! Enjoy.

Life went on. They could not simply sit around and wait for the response of the Electus. Jack was making Artemis want to pull her hair out, but thankfully Ajax was there to make sure he stayed in check. The times he wasn't trying to make advances were good. Artemis has always considered Jack a good friend. When he wasn't trying to make a move, he was actually a very good person, and if he and Arthur weren't both after her than they would probably get along, but that would have to be in another universe.

Artemis slammed the door shut on his face. She twitched and turned running right into another. They both fell over. Artemis dropped the book's she had borrowed from Jack. That was the purpose for her visit to his chambers.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Artemis said sitting up. She was staring at a girl with messy blonde hair. She was rather awkward looking but rather beautiful if that was possible. Artemis started collecting her books off the floor.

"No, I'm sorry," she said. "It's my fault. I'm ridiculously clumsy especially in these shoes." The girl threw off the heels. Artemis chuckled.

"I'm not good in heels either. Would you like to borrow a pair of my shoes? I have a pair of flat feminine shoes I'm sure will please whoever wished you to wear those."

"Do you?" she asked ecstatically.

"I do," Artemis said standing. "I'm Artemis."

"I'm Elena," she said with a smile.

"Elena? Princess Elena of Gawant?"

"Yes. Do I know you?" she asked.

"Oh, no, I'm Arthur's maid… well sort of… I don't really do much any more. I'm more of a visitor now."

"Really?" she asked as they started walking down the hall. "I never would have guessed. You sort of have an air of nobility."

"I'm not sure whether to take that as an insult," Artemis said with a laugh as they walked down a flight of stairs.

"Oh, I promise it is a sincere compliment. You would be the good kind of nobility," she said with a smile.

"Well, thank you." They exited the castle, and they started walking down the stairs in front of the palace when Elena fell. Artemis made to help her, but all it caused was Elena pulling her down with her. They fell down the stairs. Elena recovered easily, but Artemis had the wind knocked out of her. Elena looked down at her.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" she said. Sir Leon, who was near, went to them both.

"Artemis, are you alright?" he asked. Artemis finally came back to reality. She looked up at Elena's horrified face, and Leon's expression of worry. She laughed and laughed.

"I'm fine," she said still laughing as she stood. "Let's do that again." Elena stood.

"I'm sorry."

"I'm fine," Artemis assured her. "Let us keep going. Thanks for the concern Leon," Artemis said with a smile. He nodded and continued on with his duties. She always like Leon. He was her favorite knight... except for Arthur of course. They walked to her home, and Artemis took out a pair of white silk-like flats.

"These will be so much better," she said talking off the heels and putting on the flats. "Thank you so much."

"No problem. Shall we go back to the palace?" Elena nodded. They headed off. "So are you here just visiting, or do you have a purpose?" Elena was silent for a moment.

"My father wishes to marry Prince Arthur." Artemis blinked a few times.

"I suppose it's strategic," Artemis said.

"I don't want to. He doesn't understand me."

"Yes, Arthur's rather thick," she said with a laugh. "You seem like a very nice person. My kind of person. A bit odd, but in a good way."

"Would you like to slid down the banisters with me?" Elena asked. Artemis tilted her head.

"I haven't done that since I was a kid."

The banisters in Camelot's castle was clean and shiny making sliding down them even more fun than Artemis recalled. Artemis decided she liked Elena. She brought out the more childish side in Artemis that she hadn't seen in years.

"Come on," Elena called. She was at the foot of the stairs waiting for Artemis. Artemis slid down the banister. "Arthur?" Elena asked confused. Arthur came into view right into Artemis's path. Artemis collided into him. They fell with Artemis on top of him. Artemis was laughing.

"Hi, Arthur," she said looking down at him. He was stunned. She got off him and helped him up.

"You two know each other?" Arthur asked looking between the person he may be marrying soon because of duty and the person he wanted to marry for love. Artemis laughed and looked to Elena. Artemis nodded.

"This is my new friend, Elena," Artemis said with a laugh waving to Elena. "She convinced me to slid down the banister. I haven't done that in so long."

"I was wondering if you would like to come on a ride with me Elena," Arthur asked getting in Prince mode.

"Oh, well… would you mind, Artemis?" she asked. She shook her head.

"No, I suppose not. Go on," Artemis said. Arthur allowed her to pass him. He looked at Artemis.

"I… I do not wish to marry her, Artemis," he said.

"Let us talk of this another time," she told him. He nodded. Artemis sighed and sat on the staircase. "Hello, Rhian," Artemis said without looking up the stairs to see her standing there. "Where have you been?"

"Talking to Lady Guinevere," she said sitting down next to her.

"Lady?" she asked. Rhian smiled but shook her head.

"I'm not telling you anymore. Merlin said I shouldn't. It's bad to meddle in the past." Artemis laughed. "You seem in good humor," she said.

"Ah, it is simply a mask. I very much like Elena, but part of me wants to strangle her, which is not right at all."

"Yes, I heard about his arranged marriage."

"How old is your oldest sibling?" she asked.

"I'm not telling you," she said with a smile.

"Ugh, I am your teacher! You have to!"

"I do not," Rhian argued. Artemis glared at her, but it was unimpressive. Artemis sighed.

"I love him," Artemis said looking at the ceiling.

"I know," Rhian said.

"Do I love him in the future, or does it die like I hope it will?"

"It doesn't die," Rhian admitted sadly. "You still feel for him just as you do now. I wish I could put you at ease and say that it turns out to be a false love and you both move on, but you don't."

"But I stay in Camelot?"

"You're happy in Camelot," Rhian said.,

"Truly happy?"

"Yes, this I know for sure. I've never seen another so happy as you." Artemis smiled.

"It's probably a mask," she told her.

"Geez, you're pessimistic," she said.

"Yeah, life's been a bitch and made me like that." Artemis sighed and leaned back against the stairs relaxing. "If Arthur gets married to Elena, I'm actually going to have to poison Elena. That's sad. I liked her too." Rhian laughed.

"Are you upset?" Gwen asked.

"Can't I just sleep all day without people assuming that something is wrong?" Artemis asked pulling a blanket over her head. She had been in bed since before Gwen went off to the feast the day before yesterday. "I have a cold," Artemis lied.

"No," Gwen said pulling the blanket off her. She curled up her legs. "You're a liar." Cold water was thrown at her. Artemis gasped and sat up in shock. Rhian was the one with the bucket.

"Rhian!" Artemis yelled.

"Up, up," Rhian said.

"We've decided," Gwen said. "That you have to say something to Arthur," she said.

"I don't wanna," Artemis complained.

"Stop being a baby," Rhian said.

"I'm not a baby. I'm just a distressed person." Artemis laid back down, but her bed was freezing from the water, so she was forced to sit up.

"Arthur doesn't want to marry her."

"It doesn't matter. Uther will make him."

"I don't care. Go speak with him. Now!" Rhian commanded. Artemis groaned and stood. She pulled on trousers and boots before walking out of the house drenched in water.

Artemis knocked on Arthur's door. He answered it.

"Hi," she said pushing past him. She collapsed into Arthur's bed. He looked at her confused.

"What are you doing?"

"Sleeping," she replied wrapping herself in his blanket.

"Why are you not doing this at your house?" he asked watching her trying to get comfortable. "And why are you wet?" Artemis sighed.

"Rhian and Gwen poured water all over me and my bed and was trying to get me to come and talk to you, so here I am, but I don't want to talk. I'm tired. I wasn't lying when I told them I was sick, but I think it's more of a mental thing."

"So you decided you would find it proper to steal my bed?" he asked her confused on her logic.

"Well, I figure that this way they can't catch me anywhere but in your room," she told him.

"I guess it makes sense… in your head. Have you uh… seen Elena lately?"

"No, I've been sick."

"Ah," he said. Artemis had the blanket wrapped around her, so he couldn't see her, and he couldn't see him.

"Do you love her?" Artemis asked weakly.

"No," he said quietly. She felt weight on the bed and knew he was sitting next to her. "I will never love another."

"I don't think that's true," Artemis said thinking of Rhian. He would have a daughter with another, so doesn't that mean that he would have to love another? Arthur didn't seem like the kind of man to have children with someone he didn't love. "And even if it is… a kingdom needs a queen, so you must marry."

"And I will stop at nothing to make you Camelot's Queen. I assure you," he said. Artemis threw the blanket off her upper half.

"You can't always have what you want," Artemis said. "Life isn't that way. Even the Prince of Camelot has his limits."

"I will admit that you are right, but… I don't understand. Is what I want really so insane?" he asked.

"Yes," Artemis said. "You're a romantic, Arthur. You want to marry because you are in love. Many still marry because of duty or by force. If everyone knew that you would rather marry me, they would think you mad. I am not a lady, Arthur. I am the opposite of what a lady should be. Elena is a Princess."

"I would rather live in insanity than live without you," Arthur said. Artemis smiled. "I don't love her. I love you. You don't know what it's like to be expected to marry someone that you do not love.

"I understand. Jack and I are expected to marry." Arthur looked upset by this reveal.

"You love him," Arthur said. Artemis sat up she put her arms around Arthur and put her head gently on his shoulder.

"Perhaps a little. Jack has been at my side since I was little. He was always there supporting me, but he could never fight for me as much as you do. He could never hold me or kiss me or love me like you do. My life means nearly nothing without you."

"And what will you do if I marry Elena?"

"Well, after attempting to poisoning her, I will befriend her again, and I will continue on with my life in Camelot. I will watch it become prosperous, and I will watch you become a great king. I will be at your side always. This I promise. I will teach your children all that I know. I will tell stories to the world of how big of a prat you were." She laughed. Arthur kissed her temple gently. Artemis laid back down tired. She sighed. "Stay with me."

"You're freezing," Arthur noted as he wrapped his arms around her laying down with her.

"Yeah, it's the water," Artemis muttered as she drifted to sleep. It was the first time in years she was able to fall into sleep so easily.

Artemis stretched and yawn. Arthur pulled her back to his chest. She laid against him.

"I didn't bother you, did I?" Artemis asked. "I talk a lot in my sleep."

"No," he said. "You were silent."

"Really?" Artemis asked. "You must have kept the bad dreams away."

"You have nightmares?"

"Every night," Artemis whispered.

"About what?" he asked.

"The future," she whispered. He didn't ask anymore. He knew she didn't want to talk about it. Artemis sighed and pulled herself out of his grip.

"What?" he asked.

"You're getting engaged today," she said simply.

"Oh," he said flatly.

"I have to go," she said. "Good luck." Artemis left and found a secluded corridor to mourn.

"Are you alright?" a voice asked. Artemis looked to see Elena.

"I… um…," Artemis couldn't finish her sentence. She just shook her head trying to control her tears.

"It's Arthur, isn't it?" she asked. Artemis shook her head. "Don't deny it. I may be a lot of things, but I'm not daft. I saw the way you two looked at each other the other day. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. It's strategic," she muttered.

"I don't love him either. I'm just trying to please my father," she whispered. "I know he doesn't love me. I wish I could comfort you, but I've never been very good at it," she admitted. "Especially since I'm the reason that you need to be comforted. Oh, I know! Let's go for a ride! Do you like to ride horses?" Artemis looked at Elena. God, why did she have to be so likeable!

"Yeah," Artemis said. They went to the citadel and rode off to the forest. They rode together. "You're a good rider," Artemis said.

"I take after my mother," she said. It was a silent ride, but it made Artemis feel better. It was just a ride to the forest and back. When they reached Camelot, Artemis and Elena got off their horse.

"Thanks, Elena," Artemis said quietly. "Good luck… on the wedding thing." Elena nodded and went off. Artemis sighed. She shut her eyes trying to relax.

The wedding was the next day. Artemis wasn't expecting that. Artemis sulked on the steps of the palace. Merlin ran into her.

"Artemis!" he said surprised.

"Where are you going?" she asked. He had something in his hands covered in a blanket. She could tell it was magical.

"We're going to go kill the sidhe that's in Elena. Well, bye," he said quickly before Artemis could question him. She stared out confused.

"He didn't marry her," Rhian said to Artemis in one of the corridors. She was one of the only people that didn't go to the wedding.

"What?" she asked.

"Arthur did not marry her." Artemis jumped up and ran to the corridor that Arthur's chambers were in. He was starting to walking down the hall. She threw her arms around him and kissed him not noticing Merlin, Morgana, Elena, and Gwen.

"Hi," she said pulling away from him. Uther's voice could be heard coming down the hallway. They separated as Uther appeared in view. Uther and Arthur both entered Arthur's chambers to argue. The door shut. "Oh, hi guys," Artemis said rubbing the back of her neck. " I didn't see you there."

"Of course not. You were to busy kissing Arthur," Gwen teased. Artemis blushed.

"It's not like it's not bluntly obvious that they have feelings for each other," Morgana said as they walked down the corridor together to continue on their way to Morgana's room.

"What happened?" Artemis asked Elena.

"He stopped it," Elena said. "I am happy for both of us."

"You seem different," Artemis said.

"I feel wonderful," she said. "I have to go. We are leaving in a few days."

"I will miss you dearly."

"As will I," Elena said. She went off. Artemis looked to Merlin and hugged him.

"Brother, you have no idea how much I love you right now." He laughed.

"It was Arthur's choice," Merlin said.

"You said something," Artemis said. "Something wise for once." Merlin smiled.

"Well, maybe."

"You're my favorite right now."

"I hear Jack's furious though," Merlin said. "Something about Arthur being out of the way." Artemis sighed and shook her head.

"He really is nice. It's just he's obsessive sometimes."

"I'll take your word for it." Artemis laughed.

Two days passed and it was time for Elena and her father to go home. Right at the last minute, Artemis came running down the stairs and hugged Elena in front of Arthur and Merlin.

"I will miss you," Artemis said.

"And I you. You understand me better than others," Elena said.

"And you bring out a side of me I have not seen in many years. I hope to see you again."

"I hope so as well. Perhaps next time we meet we will be of equal status," Elena whispered. Artemis smiled.

"I don't know. Perhaps or perhaps not." Elena got on her horse. "Eerytime I slid down a banister I will think of you." Elena smiled.

"And I you. Good bye, Artemis."

"Good bye, Elena." Elena and her father rode off.

"So I am still a single man," Arthur said to Artemis as he walked beside her up the steps.

"She was too good for you anyway. She had too much spirit for a stuck up prat like you."

"Well, I was hoping to have forsaken her for someone with more spirit and someone just as lovely."

"I do not know such a person," Artemis said.

"Me neither," Arthur said. Artemis smiled. "But I suppose only time will tell."

"I have all the time in the world," Artemis told him.

Arthur went up to his room leaving Artemis. He pulled a thick leather bound book from under his bed and a scroll of paper as well as a decoder. He had already filled five scrolls and was beginning on his sixth. There had to be an answer for Artemis and him.