Arthur spent most of breakfast asking questions, finding out what he could about the new members of his Round Table. Gavin was a druid like his wife, and was a skilled healer. The twins had no magic but did have some martial arts training. Jaxson was lethal with daggers, while Jazmine preferred sai.

Jaxson also mentioned some basic computer skills. "I'm not as good as Branwen, though," he admitted.

Arthur's eyebrows rose and he stared at Branwen. "Computer nerd?"

She shrugged. "Come to find out, programming's not that different from spellcrafting."

"Merlin's not bad, either," Jaxson added.

"Yes, well," Branwen sniffed, "Merlin cheats."

"It's not cheating!" Merlin protested indignantly. "It's utilizing available resources."

"And heaven forbid anyone try to do anything on your laptop with all the hoodoo."

"Hoodoo's American magic." His eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You've been watching Supernatural again, haven't you?"

"What? Jared and Jensen are cuties."

"Not to mention Misha," Jazmine added.

Merlin's face fell as they giggled. "And I'm not?"

Branwen took Merlin's pouting face in her hands. "You, my love, are the cutest." She kissed his nose. "But you still cheat."

He wrapped his arms around her with a predatory grin. "I'll show you cheating."

"Ooh. Promise?"

"Whoa-kay!" Jaxson held up his hands against the onslaught of affection. "Someone rein in the old people!"

Merlin scowled at him. "Watch it, kid."

"Or what? You'll come after me with your cane?"

"It's a staff and you bet I will."

"Alright, children," Gavin interrupted, "now might be a good time to bring Arthur up to speed."

Merlin sighed. "Yeah, you're probably right." With a glow of eyes, the dishes magicked themselves away. His demeanor turned solemn. "Do you remember how the prophecy said you would return when Albion's need was greatest?

Arthur nodded.

"Well, about the time you were reborn, Branwen and I discovered that someone had found the Crystal Cave and had been looting it. We set up wards to prevent any further thefts, but dozens of crystals had already been taken." Merlin frowned at the memory. "And then, just a couple of years ago, people in the magical community started disappearing. We learned that every one of those missing had a crystal, or a piece of one, in their possession before they vanished."

"So, this person stole the crystals, distributed them, and then kidnapped the people who had them?" At Merlin's nod, Arthur asked "Why hasn't this been all over the news?"

"The disappearances have been few and far enough between to not raise suspicion. And we didn't want to draw attention anyway, so we've been dealing with it ourselves."

"Do you have any theories about motive?"

"No."

Arthur frowned. Another royal may have been on the throne, but he considered the citizens of the United Kingdom – Albion in all but name – to be his people, even now. And someone had been spiriting them away for who knew what nefarious purpose. It had to stop. "So, what's our plan?"

Merlin exchanged a look with Branwen. "Well, we found a crystal fragment in a bracelet at a secondhand shop. Branwen purchased it just the other day."

"Can I see it?"

Merlin nodded at Branwen, who lifted her hand to let him inspect the bracelet on her wrist.

Arthur gaped at her in horror. "You're wearing it?!" He turned to stare at Merlin. "You're using Branwen as bait?"

Jazmin made an expansive gesture. "Thank you. See? I'm not the only one."

Branwen ignored her and instead addressed Arthur. "I'm the logical choice. For all we know, this could be a trap specifically for Merlin. So I get taken, scout out the situation, and send intel back. Then Merlin can prepare and," she shrugged, "cue the cavalry."

Arthur opened his mouth to protest, but Merlin cut in. "Look I don't like this, either, but it's the best plan we've got at the moment. I've added an enchantment to the setting that will leave a trail should Branwen be… incapacitated. Of course, now that you're here, I'm much more confident in the success of our 'cavalry'. Oh!" He snapped his fingers, "That reminds me…" His eyes went golden and a very familiar weapon appeared on the table.

Arthur's eyes widened and he barked out a surprised laugh. "My sword! You saved it for me?"

"Nah. I actually threw it in a lake. Freya gave it back to me, though." He took a sudden interest in a spot on the wall. "You know. Eventually."

"Ah, yes. Your 'Lady of the Lake'. Oh, and speaking of the legends, imagine my surprise when I discovered that my sword allegedly had a name."

Merlin grinned at him. "So I embellished the stories a little. Sue me."

Arthur shook his head. "Really, though, Merlin? Excalibur?"

"I thought it sounded cool."

"Which is why we don't let you name things anymore, love."

Merlin wrinkled his nose at Branwen, who mirrored the expression.

"So," Arthur interrupted before their behavior could escalate again, "What's our next move?"

Merlin shrugged. "We wait."

OoOoOoOoO

Arthur was panting, debating the wisdom of removing one hand from his sword to wipe away the sweat that kept dripping in his eyes. He turned slowly, keeping his opponent in sight as she circled him.

When Jazmine had approached him the day after his first breakfast at the Round Table and invited him to spar, he'd agreed, eager for the opportunity to see her in action. Well, to have a legitimate excuse to stare at her, if he was honest, and he'd had the very chivalrous intention of going easy on her. That intention shattered, however, when it had taken her less than a minute to block his sword and deliver what would've been a killing strike. The magic of the pub's private courtyard kept their blades safely blunted, but her blow had still bruised, both his body and his ego.

But then she'd looked so… disappointed, as if he'd let her down in some way, and he discovered that he really didn't like that look on her.

At all.

So he'd thrown caution to the wind and gone after her with everything he had.

After a flurry of surprised defensive moves, she'd found her footing again and then she'd laughed, and Arthur's heart had lurched in a way that had nothing to do with exertion.

"I'm impressed." Her voice drew his thoughts back into the present. "It's rare to find someone so skilled with a sword in this day and age."

"Well, I am the Once and Future King."

"Indeed, Sire."

"I thought I said not to call me that."

She shrugged. "You started it."

"I suppose I did."

"Care to start something else?" Her eyes twinkled with mischief and he couldn't help but grin.

"Don't mind if I do." A notion occurred to him and he pursued it without thinking. "Merida."

Her mouth fell open. "I can't believe you just called me that!"

"Well, if the shoe fits..." His eyes wandered upward, "...or the hair..."

Her look of indignation turned more calculating. "Well, I may vaguely resemble a Disney princess, but I know for a fact that you're a bona-fide Disney prince... Wart."

It was Arthur's turn to look utterly scandalized. "Oh, you'll pay for that."

"Bring it."

Before they could fully engage again, though, a disgusted noise came from the direction of the pub's door.

"Ugh. You two are starting to sound like Ye Olde Married Couple."

Arthur watched an attractive blush bloom across Jazmine's cheeks even as he felt the heat rise in his own face.

"Is there something you need, brother mine, or did you come out here just to run your mouth?"

He smirked at her obvious discomfiture. "I came to tell you that breakfast is ready. Consider the commentary an added bonus." His eyes widened and he ducked back through the door, Jazmine's thrown sai thunking against the doorframe. She sent an irritated huff at his retreating back.

"Wait. Breakfast?" Arthur asked. "It feels like we've been out here for hours."

She smiled at him. "We have. Time moves slower out here. Come on!" She grabbed his hand and his heart did another flip. "I'll show you something else that's cool!" She dragged Arthur behind her and picked her sai up off the ground before pulling him inside. She stopped just on the other side of the threshold and turned to him. "Now, how do you feel?"

Arthur, still tingling from whatever the doorway had done, took stock. His fingers went first to his hair, no longer plastered to his forehead, then slid down his shirt, no longer damp with perspiration. "I feel," he lifted an arm and sniffed cautiously, "… clean."

Her smile was dazzling. "Right?"

"This is Merlin's doing, I take it?"

"Well, he cast the spell, but Branwen constructed it." She shook her head. "The two of them individually are brilliant, but the things they do together boggle my mind."

"Can't argue with that."

She turned serious. "And I really don't envy whoever is behind these disappearances, because once they take Branwen, they're going to have a very, very bad day."