enjoy.

"Let me get this straight," Artemis said confused on why Merlin was in her home. She loved her brother. There was no doubt about that, but she didn't understand why he was harassing her at this point of time. She was too stressed and too busy to pay even the littlest attention to him. As horrible as it sounds, that's the way it was.

The others of Team, as they renamed it, Dragon were sitting there as well. They were strategizing, or at least trying. Numerous dead ends and flaws hindered their plans. "Arthur wants spend the day with me?" Artemis asked. Merlin nodded. "Why didn't he tell me himself?"

"He tried. You were so busy you didn't answer him," he replied. That was true. Her and Arthur have been unable to spend any time together lately. There was a hundred things on her mind, and if she wasn't actively trying to do the things on her mind, she was constantly thinking about them. There was practically no room in her thoughts for him right now, and yet he still interrupted her dreams, thoughts, and actions.

"I can't. I am simply too busy."

"I know. He knows. That's why he wants you to have a day off." There was silence. She stared at him.

"Do you want me to tell him no?" Merlin asked.

"No," she replied. There was more silence.

"Look," Merlin said, "Arthur knows how much stress your under. He knows that you're about to loose your mind. He can see how tired you are, Artemis. He just wants you to have a day recuperate. That's all."

"Oh, just accept already," Amice said. "It's not like we'll all die without you. Plus, the boy really seems to like you."

"Really, Artemis," Ava said. "Try exercising your freedom. You're not a Servant anymore. You can be with him… sort of. There's still the whole social standing thing."

"What we're all trying to say, minus Jack who looks annoyed, is to spend the day with him. It'll be good for you," Rhian said. Artemis sighed.

"Yes… yes, of course. You can tell him yes."

"Good," Merlin said. "I'll come back in the morning." With that, Merlin left. Artemis let her head drop on the table. Perhaps spending the day with Arthur was a good thing. Perhaps it would take her mind off of things.

"What the hell am I supposed to wear?" Artemis yelled. She collapsed on her bed with clothes in her hands.

"I'm sure he wouldn't care what you wear," Rhian said flipping through a book.

"I know," Artemis groaned. "Since when have I turned into such a girl? I might as well wear nothing!" she yelled frustrated.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind that either," Rhian told her.

"Shut up," she replied. Rhian sighed and went through Artemis's clothes.

"Wear this," Rhian said throwing a blue dress at her. It only went to her knees, but who the hell cares? "He likes blue on you the best."

"How do you know?"

"Because I do," Rhian said.

"You… you look like you," Merlin said the next day. She was in the blue dress Rhian picked out with boots and her hair was left as it naturally fell.

"Is that a bad thing?" Artemis asked.

"No, it's just… for a long time now… you haven't looked like you… like you should, but you do now."

"Thank… you," she said.

"It's a compliment," Merlin informed her.

"Oh, then thank you," she replied. Merlin lead Artemis to the forest and just across the river. Arthur could be seen fixing his hair using a silver plate as a mirror. They both started laughing. Merlin cawed like a bird causing Arthur to very smoothly drop the plate and turn around to look at them. They laughed.

"Artemis… you look…," he started to saying, but he didn't seem to be able to find the word.

"I think he's trying to say you look nice," Merlin said. Artemis laughed.

"Thank you Merlin. That will be all," Arthur said in his commanding tone. Clearly telling Merlin to leave.

"Have fun," Merlin said leaving. Artemis jumped across the rocks in the stream to Arthur.

"Well, perhaps you are a romantic," she teased seeing the picnic he had managed, no doubt with Merlin's manual labor, to set up. "You just surprise me." She sat with him on the picnic blanket.

"I need to stay on my toes around you," he joked. "You're always surprising me. I think I should get a foot in this game." Artemis laughed.

"No need really," she teased. "I mean let's face it I am perfection. You simply can't compete."

"Says the one who can't swim," he said.

"Haha," she said. "Are you ever going to let that go?"

"No," he said. "I will continue to remind you as you continue to claim your perfection."

"Well, let's face it. My points are still way higher than yours."

"Oh, the points again?" he laughed. "Have I gained nothing?"

"Well, perhaps a few, but… I have lost a lot too for defecting." Arthur's smiling face turned serious.

"You're right too, you know," he said. "What you are doing is the right thing."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I know you. I know that your judgment is sound. I trust you. You should trust yourself. You're the one who said to have faith in yourself. You should follow your own advice."

"I don't do that often," she admitted. "I guess I don't trust myself. I give out advice, and words of calm, but… they mean nothing to me."

"They should. You are intelligent, wise," Arthur told her. She smiled.

"I'm not so sure."

"I've noticed how tired you are, lately, both physically and mentally. You look worn out."

"Way to win woman's heart," she told him sarcastically.

"I'm sorry. I was under the impression that I won yours long ago," he said.

"For once I have no witty remark for you," she told him. "As for my weariness, it comes with what I'm trying to do." She sighed. "I am stressed. I feel the world closing in on me. I thought I knew what it meant to be locked, and my freedom stripped away, but this… I feel this darkness looming over me. These chains restricting me, and strangling the life out of me. I… I wish I had never joined the Servants. I wish I wouldn't have been thrown into this."

"You don't mean that," Arthur said. "I know you well enough that this is just a temporary feeling. You love the Servants. They're your family. They saved you." She smiled gently. "I mean if you weren't a Servant, then what?" There was quiet.

"A shopkeeper," she said.

"What?"

"I've always figured if I wasn't a Servant I would own a shop that sells healing herbs," told him. He laughed. "What? You're telling me that you've never had a ridiculous, ludicrous idea of what you would do if you weren't Prince of Camelot?" He was silent.

"A farmer," he replied. Artemis laughed.

"That is ridiculous," she told him. "I could hardly see you toiling away on the field all day."

"Obvious, I'd bring Merlin along to do all the hard work." Artemis laughed.

"Oh, of course," she said with a nod. She laughed. "But you are not a farmer. You are Prince, and one day you will be a great King. Trust me. I know it seems like a lot of pressure I put on you, but I assure you I only expect things from the man that you are," she said. "And you are a good man. One of the best I've ever known."

"Only one of the best?" he questioned. "Who's the best?"

"Jack," she said as a joke.

"Oh, ha ha," Arthur said. "Seriously, who?" She smiled gently.

"Master Gwydion," she told him. "He always knew what was right. I wish he was still here."

"I know," Arthur admitted. "I know how broken up about his death you were… and how confused you are. I wish I could help you find what you're looking for."

"You've done enough," she told him. "You've done a lot for me Arthur, and trust me when I say thank you will never be enough."

The day passed by them. They talked quietly to each other about things that are or things that could be. Arthur was laying down while Artemis was laying down next to him listening to him talk. Her eyes were shut as she enjoyed the warmth of the sun on her face. Her body was relaxed. Arthur picked up her hand and kissed it gently. She opened her eyes slightly to look at him. She smiled gently.

"You seem better," he said. She smiled.

"You make me better," she replied. She sighed. "But alas, it can't last forever. We should go back to Camelot soon."

"Why? There's still plenty of time until nightfall. When will we get to do this again?"

"When you are a farmer, and I am a shopkeeper." Arthur laughed.

"It's just a dream. I fear I will never leave Camelot," Arthur said. "Stay still," he said suddenly serious.

"What? Is it Bandits?" Artemis asked suddenly on alert. Arthur didn't answer as he sat up and looked over her. "Arthur Pendragon, you better tell me what you see. Prepare me a little." He hit over her shoulder.

"A wasp," he told her. He laughed.

"I hate you," she yelled hitting him. "You can't just do that to me! You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Arthur laughed. She hit him again. "I hate you!" He laughed pulling his arms around her and holding her tight.

"No, you don't," he replied. She stopped struggling against him and leaned against his chest. She looked up at him.

"You're right. I don't. I love you." He looked down at her.

"That's better," he said. "I love you too." She leaned up and kissed him. His pressed his hand to her cheek and pressed against her deepening the kiss. The sound of horses approaching broke them apart. They both stared at Morgana and Uther. Artemis could see the look in Morgana's eyes. She thinks she's won.

"Arthur," Uther said surprised.

"What will you do?" Rhian asked watching her pace in front of Team Dragon.

"I'll tell you what I'll do! Nothing! I will not leave Camelot! I refuse! I will chain myself to a bloody door if I have to! Uther cannot kill me! I would be seen as a martyr! I will win this battle against him! I am not going anywhere! That's final!" Artemis through a plate at the wall for affect. The anger in her eyes dulled down and she stared at the broken plate for what seemed like forever. "I need fresh air," Artemis said finally turning and walking out the door and to the stables. She patted Libera.

"You're leaving anyway," Merlin said appearing from Gwen's house. He had been there with Team Dragon. He watched her as her eyes calculated. Artemis looked at him.

"You know me well," she replied. "A great show I put on though." Artemis sighed. "I will come back when Arthur is King."

"Why? Why give up?"

"It's just too much. I have a hundred things on my plate. I can't just do things for myself right now. There are other things that need my attention. I can't fight Uther right now."

"But you want to," Merlin said.

"Of course. I plan to leave, but I want no one knowing. I will disappear."

"You need others help."

"I know. I will be leaving for Valde. There is nowhere else to go. I have friends there who will help me."

"When?"

"A week or so," she said. "Rhian will go with me. I need to get her back to her time. A week will give me enough time to sort things out."

"You're serious."

"I am. I am not meant for Arthur. I was not meant to be part of his destiny. It's time the pattern is set straight." Merlin was silent as he watched her.

"I'm going with you then," Merlin said.

"No. Arthur needs you."

"So do you. You're my sister. I will not let you take this journey alone. I have allowed you to do so for too long. I will not let you leave alone." Artemis smiled gently at Merlin before nodding lightly.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Artemis of Ealdor, you're under arrest for sorcery," a guard said approaching her the next day with four others. Artemis swore. Her hands were tied behind her back, and without a struggle she was lead to Uther. She looked at him coolly. She saw Morgana at the corner of her eye. She looked quite pleased.

"Do you recognize this?" Uther asked holding out a poultice.

"It's a poultice. They contains herbs and sometimes trinkets. It's a lot of them time used for healing either by stealing them in water or by enchanting them by writing the marks of the Old Religion on it. Why do I care?" she asked him rather annoyed with this entire confrontation.

"Because you used it to enchant my son," he snapped annoyed with her cheeky attitude.

"Now that's just ridiculous. I don't use poultice for such things."

"Why else would my son fall in love with someone like you?"

"I don't expect someone like you to understand that," she snapped. He hit her hard across the face.

"My lord! Artemis has always been a good, trusted friend!" Morgana yelled acting worried for the sake of Gwen and all others in the room.

"No doubt she used her loyalty and position to get close to my son."

"What is the meaning of this!" Arthur yelled bursting in.

"This was found under your pillow," Uther said showing Arthur the poultice. "Some kind of love charm. You were under its spell."

"That's ridiculous."

"What would you know?"

"Because I know how I feel! I am not enchanted!"

"Then can you tell me how it came to be in your room?"

"I don't know, but I don't believe Artemis put it there."

"Until it's spell is broken I can't take anything you say as the truth. This girl," he said turning on Artemis, "is part of a group known as the Servants of the World. All Servants I have met are dark, evil, consorting sorcerers, and she is no different."

"I resent that!" Artemis yelled. "You can insult and accuse me all you want, but you do not insult my family! You are alive thanks to me! The Servants would slaughtered you and kin if it wasn't me!"

"Then you admit that your superiors want me and my family dead! This is why you enchant my son!"

"My lord!" Gaius yelled. "Whatever this poultice is I don't believe Artemis is responsible for magic."

"I don't care what you believe, Gaius," Uther said. "Arthur is under her spell! It's the only rational explanation for his behavior!"

"Father! You have to see reason! Artemis has done nothing wrong!"

"She has been found guilty of using magic and enchantments! She will be burn to the stake!"

"No," Arthur said slowly. He started to make his way toward Uther.

"Restrain him!" Arthur was restrained by guards.

"You can't do this!"

"My lord!" Gaius yelled. "At least give Artemis a fair trial!"

"I have all the evidence I need!"

"I'm begging you," Arthur said. "We will leave Camelot and never return! Just let us go! I relinquish my entitlement to the throne!" Everyone stared at him in shock including Artemis.

"My son would never do that," Uther said. "It is proof beyond doubt that you are enchanted."

"I will never forgive you for this," Arthur said.

"She will die. The enchantment will be broken," Uther said thinking he was reassuring Arthur. He put a hand to Arthur's face in a loving way. "You will see I was right. Take her away."

"No! Artemis!" Arthur yelled struggling against the guards as she was grabbed by two guards. Artemis's mind was all over. She was thinking of options in her head. She was trying to choose the best route but unsuccessfully. "Artemis!" She saw Arthur struggling.

"Arthur!" she yelled. They both pulled away from the guards and kissed one last time before Artemis and Arthur were pulled apart by the guards.

"I will always love you," Arthur told her. Artemis could see Morgana's triumphant smile as she was dragged away.

"It was Morgana," Artemis told Merlin. They were together in her cell. It would be useful if she could use magic, but her magic was not working. "That unruly…," Artemis seemed to be lost for words on what Morgana was," that unruly… harlot!" Artemis yelled finally kicking a bucket. It went flying into the prison bars.

"Arthur's doing everything that he can to convince Uther of your innocence," Merlin assure her. "He will not stop until you are released."

"You know better," she replied. "Uther is a stubborn tyrant. He would need someone to blame, and he's not going to blaming Uther any time soon." Merlin stared at her.

"I've got an idea," he said as he back away to leave. "I will get you out sister. Do not fear."

"Merlin!" she yelled after him.

The echo of footsteps caused her head to raise. She expected Merlin or Rhian or Ava or even perhaps Morgana, but it was none of those.

"It seems that you have found your pyre, Ambrosine," her cold voice said as the doors opened with a wave off her hand. The guards were unconscious on the floor. Erus entered the cell. Artemis stood and backed as far away from her as possible. "Need not be afraid. Your death will not be my doing. When Uther kills you, I will claim Martyr, and I will dethrone him."

"Why?"

"He is not fit to rule."

"What makes you think that you know anything?"

"He stole the thrown by force from his family!" she shouted. Artemis was quiet. She reflected on this.

"From Victor's?" Erus stared in something of horror, anguish, and anger.

"How do you know of him! Who told you!"

"You did. Did you forget so much, Elizabeth?" she asked. Erus stared. "I know why you hate me, and I pieced together a lot more than that, too. Gwydion told me to tell you 'he's sorry. It was his one regret. You deserved to be happy. Don't take that from me because of his own stupidity. Be better than him.' I didn't understand," she admitted. "Until I stole from the base a copy of the history of the Servants."

"You little brat," Erus hissed.

"Gwydion was the leader of the Servants. The leader of the Electus. He passed judgment on you the way you attempt to pass judgment on me. You want me to suffer as you did, but you are wrong. The world is changing Elizabeth."

"Don't call me that!"

"Why! Why is our given names different from our true names? That makes no sense! I will not be falsified by your silly games any longer! My mother gave me the name Artemis, and I will never give that up. True names are segregation! To long have you hid ourselves! It is time for the dawn, Elizabeth, and you must see that! Do not touch Camelot, or you will regret it!"

"Regret?" she laughed. "You couldn't even make me leave if you wanted! Your magic is gone. You're burnt out!"

"Leave, Elizabeth Taron."

"No."

"I said leave!" Artemis shouted. The ground shook and flames engulfed Erus as she was pulled away. Artemis collapsed.

"Arthur," she whispered hoarsely. Through blurry, unfocused eyes she could see Arthur looking over her.

"Are you alright? You've been burning up," he whispered.

"Erus… saw me," she whispered. "It turned into a fight."

"You're alright now."

"My execution?"

"The sorcerer responsible has been found. He will burn tomorrow." Artemis scrunched up her face confused until it clicked.

"Where is my brother?"

"Gaius said at the tavern."

"Tavern?" she muttered. She struggled to sit up. Arthur helped her up. She looked around still disoriented. "Where am I?"

"Ava's room," Arthur answered. "If I've been sleeping here, where's Ava been?" Arthur was hesitant to answer that.

"With Everett," he replied.

"Oh," she said blankly. "I should have known that." She pushed herself to the edge of the bed.

"What are you doing?"

"I have to find Merlin. I need to talk to him."

"No," Arthur said pushing her back down to the bed. "You're not leaving."

"Arthur, I need to speak to him," she said standing.

"No," he replied pushing her back down to the bed. "It can wait."

"But-"

"Artemis, for your own good, stop talking."

"Excuse me?" she questioned him slightly annoyed by him.

"For your health," he assured her.

"I am perfectly-"

"No, you are not. Now lay down and do not get up so help me. I will bring Merlin to you." Artemis laid back down, and Arthur left. Artemis weakly went to the door. It was locked, and Arthur probably had the key.

"Damn it," she muttered hitting the door with her fist. Arthur did not return that night with Merlin, and Artemis knew why. Merlin was the man who took her place.

Artemis watched an older man be lead to the pyre. It was Merlin. He must have used an aging potion. Artemis swore. She saw Gaius hurrying toward Merlin with what was no doubt a remedy. He wouldn't make it time, so Artemis did something stupid to distract them long enough for Gaius to get close enough to Merlin.

Artemis pulled open her window and carefully stood on the ledge. She purposely fell, and let out a rather convincing scream, and she in reality was quite terrified. She was hanging from a the edge of the roof. A fifty foot drop greeted her if she let go.

She succeeded in distracting them. All the townspeople as well as the knights and Uther and Arthur and Morgana looked up and saw her dangling over the edge of the castle. She heard her named being yelled by more than one person.

Artemis started to loose her grip. "Oh, hell no," she muttered trying to get a grip on the roof's edge, but her hands were burning. She hands gave way, and she fell.

A pair of hands caught her from the window below her and dragged her in. She looked up to see Leon.

"My lady, what were you doing!"

"Spiting Arthur," she joked.

"You nearly gave Prince Arthur a heart attack," Leon said.

"Sorry. I was… I was trying to get a better view of the man who had tried framing me," she lied. Leon nodded.

"Just don't attempt something like that again." Artemis nodded and looked out the window. She saw Merlin 'attack' Gaius before he lit up the pyre with magic. She let out a sigh of relief.

"You better go help catch him," Artemis told Leon with a practiced look of fear. Leon nodded.

"Just don't do anything stupid," he said. Artemis nodded. He left. Artemis sighed before she made her way toward Morgana to do something stupid.

She entered Morgana's room. She was looking at the window in thought.

"I'm curious," Artemis said running her hand along Morgana's table. Morgana snapped her head up. She was surprised to see her. She looked at Artemis coldly. "What did you dream about that frightened you so that I became a threat?"

"Like I would tell you," she said.

"It amuses me that you think you can win, Morgana. You are nothing but an insect to me. You are like a child throwing a fit. I have more problems and worse enemies than you. Had I been lead to the pyre I would not have died. I assure you. You can try and kill me, but in the end, I will win. I do not loose."

"We shall see," she said.

"Oh, that's cute. You put on a brave face, but I can tell you're practically shaking. In the end, it will be my hands that will soaked with your blood, and I won't even have a scratch on me. Good day, Morgana. Pleasant dreams," she said rather pleasantly before leaving. She walked down the hall and as she did a raven collided with the window making her jump. Artemis stared before opening the window and letting the bird in. She took the parcel the bird carried from it. She opened it and read.

Artemis ran her fingers through her hair. She was worried or perhaps terrified is a more correct verb. She walked down the hallways. She need to speak with Arthur and Merlin as well as Team Dragon. A hand grabbed her and pulled her behind a pillar. Arthur stood in front of her.

"What were you thinking? You nearly fell off a building!" Arthur yelled. There was something of terror in his eyes.

"I wasn't thinking," she replied dully.

"What's wrong? You look like you've been crying." She looked up at him and tears slipped down her cheeks.

"The Servants have summoned us."

"So?"

"There charging me with breaking the Law of Drust. I am to be put on trial and punished." Arthur stared.

"What?"

"Arthur… you will die if I loose." Tears fell faster.

"Then ignore it. We will hide from them," he said. Artemis shook her head.

"The summoning are sealed with magic. The names written on the paper will be immediately summoned with their will they will be teleported in front of the Electus. I stand no chance." Arthur stared. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she cried. Arthur embraced her.

"We'll get through it," Arthur said trying to calm her as she cried into him. They would be summoned as well as others at sunrise of the next day.