Ch. 8~ Her Song

Merlin POV

He watched everyone around him dozing off, so he covered his ears. The candles blew out with the sudden chill that came through. He watched as the woman raised her arm to throw her knife at the prince. Out of pure instinct, Merlin snapped the rope holding the great chandelier, causing it to drop on her. As soon as he did, the spell ended and everyone started waking up.

Tia POV

I lifted myself off of the floor of my alcove, pulling cobwebs off. I looked down to see the crone lying under a chandelier, and everyone else was also waking up, all except Merlin. Suddenly, the old woman lifted herself up, and then chunked the knife towards Arthur.

I screamed, knowing even I wasn't fast enough. Then, the knife embedded itself in the back of Arthur's chair. Merlin had pulled him out of the way, safely. When I looked back to the old witch, she was dead. I jumped down onto the nearly invisible platform, then to the floor and ran barefooted to Arthur and Merlin's side.

"Arthur?! Are you alright?" I put my arm under his shoulders to help him up, but he just waved me off.

"I'm fine, I'm alright."

"You saved my son." Uther came up to them. I helped Merlin stand, keeping my hand on his elbow. "You've saved my boy. You shall be rewarded."

"It was nothing, sir," his eyes were downcast in humility.

"Nonsense. Such an honorable act will be justly rewarded with a position in my household." Merlin started stuttering in his graciousness. "You will be Prince Arthur's manservant." Everyone started clapping for the king's decree.

All except Merlin, Arthur, and myself. The boys were now both stuttering, Merlin in shock, and Arthur in desperation of trying to get his father to change his mind.

"I don't envy you, chico,*" I chuckled, "Arthur can be a bit of a pompous prat, but he is a good man. That doesn't mean he'll take it easy you."

"Celestia," Uther called, "Let us have some true and loyal entertainment."

"Of course, my lord." I bowed low and then went to the center of the room. All around me, the prop layers were setting up my performance space. The music started up, and I began moving.

*Insert "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark"*

Sashay, running jump, stomp stomp clap. Twirl in place, no-hand-cartwheel, hip pop-pop-pop, and finishing move (sitting on the floor, one leg out, bowed over, hands touching ankle). The applause that followed was enough to make me smile. It had been nearly two years since my last public performance, and I couldn't help but feel that old sense of glowing pride that I'd brought happiness to these people, however shortly.

I rocked backwards slightly, and then propelled myself forward and up to my feet. Spreading out my henna and gold-painted arms, I bowed low three times, once to each table. And when I turned back to the High Table, I saw Merlin smiling in amazement, clapping with everyone else.

"Now that," Uther stood, "is the true beauty of the exotic España." He came around the table and took my hand in both of his, kissing it gently, as to not ruin the decoration (or get any of it on himself *cue hilarious memory*). "How we are so blessed to have received you into our lives, my dear, I do not know. But, I am grateful of whatever higher power has made it so."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. Usually I would continue with my routine, but I'm afraid that the witch's spell has taken more out of me than I had realized."

"Of course, my dearest Celestia. Go, rest. Arthur will escort you to your chambers, along with his new servant. Shall I have a maid bring you some dinner?"

"No, thank you, my lord. I'm not very hungry."

"Very well. Arthur," he beckoned to the younger Pendragon. "See to it that Celestia gets back to her chambers safely, and that she rests comfortably."

"I will, Father. I'll make sure of it myself."

"Good lad. But, uh," he leaned closer, "keep the boy out of her room. We can't have him seeing things he's not supposed to, can we?"

"Of course not. I'll make sure she's safe."

We made our way through the halls of the castle, trying to beat the clock. We only had five minutes until eleven, and I could already feel the curse beginning to do its work. A pain ripped through my belly, stopping me in my tracks and causing me to lean against the wall.

"Tia, come on! We're almost there!" Arthur hissed worriedly.

"What's going on? What's wrong with her?" Merlin started helping me slide down the wall.

"It's none of your concern, Marvin-"

"Merlin. My name is Merlin. And as a member of the Pendragon household, I'm at least entitled to know if some sort of illness might be spreading."

"She's not sick!" She's absolutely fine; I just need to get her to her chambers. C'mon, Tia. Sweetheart, you need to get up. We've only got two minutes."

"I'm trying, Arthur, I really am." My voice was faint. "I…ngh…it's not usually this bad." I was panting and sweating, causing the paint to run in gold rivulets down my neck and chest. I tried to push myself up, but immediately collapsed again.

"Miss Tia?"

"Hm?"

"If I may, I could carry you."

"Oh, that's sweet of you, Merlin. But, I'm afraid this paint is an awful bother to get out of clothes. Arthur, you've always been rather ostentatious. Would you mind terribly?"

"No, of course not." Seeing the skin on my arms beginning to change, he pulled his cloak off and wrapped it around me.

When he made it to my room, Arthur ordered Merlin to wait outside, and then promptly slammed the door in his face. Turning around, he ran to my bed and gently laid me down. My beloved Pequiño Rey sat back and stroked my hair away from y face, until it receded and was replaced by smooth, shiny scales.

*= Boy.