Two weeks after getting some sense smacked into her, literally, Hazel was much more respectful, polite and even a bit reserved. Whether that was because she had a change in character or because Merlin promised to wear her out if she didn't. She agreed to wear dresses, have an education alongside Arthur and most importantly, not sneak out at night anymore. And now in the cold month of February, she once again trapped in a study hall with the boy, the wizard and his owl, trying to practice her English.

Merlin lit his pipe as Arthur continued to flip through the pages of the book.

"Merlin..." the blonde squeaked.

"Why yes boy."

"Whose...Morgan le Fay?" he asked as he looked up from the book, his eyes full of naivety, to see the wizard chuckling.

"Well uh...," he paused to snicker a bit. "Don't worry. We'll get to that in a couple of years. I promise."

"Oh." he said as he looked back into the book and continued to flip through it until something stopped him. It was a small piece of paper that was just stuck in the papers. "Now what have you got there my boy?"

"I…I don't know. I think it's a letter." the boy said as he squinted to try and look at some of the writing.

"From who?"

"Don't you already know, genius?" Archimedes snapped.

"Of course not, I don't read his mail. You're lucky we're not in 1963. People'll be reading your postcards and letters every hour."

"It looks like an old letter from somebody named…Astella." Arthur said. "Who's that?" he asked.

"She must be a friend of your fathers for it to be here." Merlin told the boy after a deep thought.

"Well!?" the owl squawked. "Read it!"

"I don't know if I can."

"Oh come now boy," Archimedes protested. "You cannot be that illiterate."

"Oh leave him alone you old featherhead! I'll read it!" the elderly man said as he grabbed the letter from the boy.

"Are you sure about that?"

"If I can read your writings, Archimedes, I can read anything," he said as he scanned it. "Oh my."

"What is it?"

"It seems as if this Astella was related to the Leodegrance siblings."

"Who are they?" Arthur asked.

"Well they're the late rulers of Scotland, all were very young adolescents and some even children much like yourselves. Four sons and one daughter. They all passed away not even a decade ago, not very long after King Uther died. However, one of them, the youngest, might indeed still be alive, although it's never been proven. It is a mystery that still remains unsolved, " He looked back at the letter and read its first two sentences. "Looks like King Uther kept in touch with this Astella and asked her about the royal siblings. But it seems he died before he got Astella's answer...four years later."

"So what did she say?" Arthur asked.

"Well this letter seems to have been written after the children's death...and Astella answered," He looked down to read the letter. "I will tell you all I know."

"So what does she know?" the boy asked.

"It's a pretty tragic story, my boy. I don't know if you are ready to handle it."

"Oh don't worry. I'm ready for anything."

"Very well. Although this may be hard to swallow," He paused before reading the letter.

"Not very long ago, the four kingdoms of Scotland were ruled by the great Emperor Onyx, the eldest of the five Leodegrance children. However Cameron thought that he should be the Emperor. Cameron became so frustrated that the royal seat had been stolen from him, and so, he decided to act. And one fateful night he led Onyx and the three other male heirs outside the castle where they met a squad of armed men and were killed. Every Leodegrance child was gone…all but one. The only member of the family who was not present during the execution was indeed Onyx's youngest sibling and only sister: Guinevere-." Merlin noticed Hazel flushed red at the mention of the name.

"Guinevere?" Arthur repeated. "Say Hazel, isn't that what that ma-."

"Aaaaaarthur! I don't think Merlin wants to be interrupted." she said , before quickly swiping her two fingers across her mouth, motioning for him to zip it.

"Now uh...as I was saying: Why was she missing? Where is she now? To this day nobody knows. She went missing from the palace the night before the execution and no one is sure where she is. I understand this story may be hard to take in, but you asked for my knowledge and that is what you have gotten. Cameron has turned out country into a wicked and horrid place.

But as for Guinevere...well... I and many other people have come to the conclusion that she died eight years ago after disappearing. And since then, they say her spirit returns every July thirteenth, the night of the murder, to haunt Cameron's castle and seek her vengeance on him. Now I cannot be sure if this story is true, but that is how I heard it.

~ Astella." He put the letter down .

"Boy was that a letter," Arthur exclaimed in undertone. "But who's Cameron? And who is Astella?"

"I am not sure. There is no last name, it just says Astella. And she doesn't write anything about who this Cameron is. It must be in previous letters that were misplaced years if not a decade ago." Hazel realized she my have been a bit to quiet, suspiciously quiet, so she decided to speak.

"Pretty sad that Onyx passed away when he was only eleven," she threw out, only to have everyone in the room stare at her wide eyed for her suggestion. "What?"

"How did you know that?" Merlin interrogated.

"Know what?" the girl asked calmly, but having a panic attack on the inside.

"How did you know Onyx was eleven? She never wrote about his exact age. And how did you know it wasn't any other brother who was eleven?"

"Oh...Lucky guess?"

"Miss Hazel you know something."

"I do not." she stated firmly.

"Very well then. If you insist," he said as Hazel felt her heart beat slow down. "Oh, and, speaking of letters my boy, this came for you a couple hours ago." he said as he then pulled out a scroll from up his sleeve.

"Who's it from?" Arthur asked as he took it

"I don't know. Just go on and read it."

"But I can't read this."

"Oh for corn's sake boy!" the owl screeched again. "What is it now that you can't read!?"

"I think it's in a different language," he said while scanning the letter to find not one word in English. "Hazel, do you think you can read this?" he said, handing it to her.

"I'll give it a shot," she said as she held up the letter to her face. "It'll take a few minutes to translate though," She read the letter in her head, not knowing she would wish she hadn't in about five minutes.

Dear King Arthur,

I wish to congratulate you in taking your rightful place as King, and I know it may not have been easy on you after learning of the loss of a relative, I can relate as I ascended to my own throne after the gruesome passing of my dear young brother. I have known in the past that our lands, as incredibly close as they are, have not gotten along quite well, and I hope to change that by having a small meeting with you in the comfort of your own castle. Please respond your answer to me right away and I and some of my advisors will be arriving in your lovely kingdom to hopefully put our countries' differences aside.

~ Sincerely, Emperor Cameron Breatnach of Scotland

Hazel dropped the letter after reading who it was from. She began to start shaking. "No," she whispered to herself. "I-i-it can't be!"

"Young lady are you alright?" the robed wizard asked, but was ignored.

"What did it say?" Arthur asked, seeing Hazel terrified for the first time. Hazel shakily looked at him and shook her head. Before any of them knew it she ran for the double doors. She had to get out of here, but of course had trouble forcing the door open. Merlin ran over and gently grabbed her waist and picked her up and sat her away from the door. But Hazel didn't submit like she did in the last couple of weeks. No, she squirmed and wiggled like she never had before as she threw in several 'no's!' in between. She was like a screaming toddler fighting its mother. He sat her down in the chair and held her wriggling form down as she began to fight him. "Hazel what is the matter with you?" Arthur asked, noticing her tears.

"Is this why you really brought me here!?" she yelled at Merlin and continued to squirm. "Oh now you let me up!" she cried as she tried to kick and squirm, but lost. "Please! You don't understand! I have to get out of here now!"

"You aren't going anywhere until you tell us what is going on you impatient rodent!" Archimedes sneered.

"Archimedes!" Arthur exclaimed at the bird.

"But out of this you rude raptorial bird!" Merlin said to his pet before turning towards the trembling little thing. "Now my dear, tell us exactly what is the matter."

"Absolutely not!" she sneered, the hatred in her eyes growing stronger and stronger. Hazel scrunched her closed eyes as the man spoke in her language.

"Tha e ceart gu leòr a' bhean òg. Tha fios agam nach nochd e breitheanas sam bith dhut. Agus bheir mi air an eun a dhùnadh. A-nis dìreach innis dhuinn dè a tha a' dol. (It's all right young lady. I know he won't show you any judgment. And I promise the bird will shut up.. Now just tell us what's going on.)" Whatever he said to her it clearly calmed her down. Hazel nodded before taking a deep breath.

"What I'm about to tell you..doesn't leave this room alright?" she said looking at the blonde as he nodded. "And you have to promise that you will let me leave if he comes. If he sees me it won't be pretty."

"How do you know the Scottish Emperor?"

"I know everything about the Scottish Emperor, everything about the country and everything about the Leo children."

"So you know where Guinevere is?"

"No," Hazel answered. "I am Guinevere."

"What!?"

"You're a Princess!?" Arthur exclaimed.

"No, I'm a Duchess," she said, her face leaning on her closed fist. "I got demoted when I was four."

"Why?" Arthur asked. Hazel blushed and then pulled on her collar when she felt herself grow warm.

"I uh...stuck jam in the toes of a court lady's shoe." she admitted, rather embarrassed.

"That's all?"

"Oh did I forget to mention that I chucked an apple at her eye when she confronted me about it?"

"I believe it." Archimedes said, blankly.

"But still, you're royalty!" Arthur exclaimed, still astonished.

"Correction, I was royalty." she nit picked.

"Why didn't you say anything?" the boy asked.

"It was none of your business." she sneered, looking away.

"Well little girl you just happen to be in his castle. It is in every way his—-." he was cut off when Merlin clasped his beak shut.

"How do you know who Cameron is?" Merlin asked.

Hazel rubbed her eye with her sleeve.

"Simple. He's my brother."

"Your what!?" the boy and owl exclaimed together.

"If every little thing I say is going to be a surprise to you I won't go further deep into it! It brings back unwanted memories anyway."

"Hazel…please tell us." the little King said gently.

"Cameron is my now thirty nine year old half brother who lived with us when Onyx was crowned Emperor. The reason he killed them was for power. Cameron was the son of my mother, not the son of our father, the last Emperor, making him not a Leodegrance and not the heir. Obviously he didn't take it well and…well…you know what happens."

"Hazel, you know you should have said something. We could've helped you."

"Oh yeah? And what would you have done? You would have sent me back wouldn't you!?"

"Of course not. But if you can't go back, why do you want to leave so badly?" Hazel shook her head.

"You'll never understand, will you?" she said quite irritated. "If they find me here, it's over."

"What?"

"They have been looking for me for eight years. And if good ol' Gwenny is ever found, she is taken back to Pictland to be…to be killed. And in case you haven't figured that out, I don't want that to happen. That is why I need to get out of this castle immediately."

"Hazel it's ok. You're safe here."

"But for how long? He's already found me."

"It' ok. We can decline the offer."

"Oh you think that ever stops him? I lived with that man for five years and when he wants something he gets it. He already stole the throne and the lives of my brothers. He will send an army to kill me! And if he kills me, he will surely kill you too, in order to expand his empire," Hazel stood up and rubbed her eyes again. "It's best if you get rid of me before I get you all killed." she said before she walked out of the room.


When night fell, Hazel reluctantly yet desperately broke her promise and made another visit to the Mad Madam. She leaped off a tree, ran over to the door and pushed it open.

"There you are! You have been absent for weeks! Where were yo-"

"Forget it!" Hazel interrupted.

"Well, all the nerve," the witch coughed, completely unoffended. "Very well then Hazel, or shall I call you Guine—."

"Don't even go there." the girl snapped.

"Oh, temper, temper." she mocked.

"You're gonna turn me in aren't you!? So that's why you wanted to keep me even after this gag expired?" Hazel shouted as she flared her arms in the air.

"Wouldn't dream of it, however I've got about twelve books describing the most brutal human fate that is to be given to the doomed Duchess if ever found, shall I show you one?" Hazel shook her head in defeat. "That's what I thought. And expired? We aren't even half way there yet. So now we must continue on with our plan."

"Our plan?" Hazel sneered.

"Have you or have you not been serving me for a whole septennial?"

"I…"

"That's what I thought! You are in this till the very end Hazel. You are in this til you die. Or attests until Cameron finds you and does the job himself. You're gonna help me get that stone and you're gonna help me destroy Pendragon Pipsqueak if it kills you!"

"No I am not!" she snapped back. "It's over for both of us! I'm going to spill this tea and we're gonna be exiled to the badlands!? Or better yet the 20th century in Bermuda! Do you know what it's like there? It's cheerful! It's colorful! Your best friend will be a ray of sunshine."

"Well, props to you. You win. Congratulations Hazel, You've stopped me," she said dramatically. "But yet again if you've stopped me, who will stop….you?"

"What?"

"I have seen the future. Your future. I know the backstabbing monster you will become. The heart you will break. The guilt you will carry with you to haunt you for decades. Or however more guilt that will haunt you more than it already has."

"You don't know anything about me. What I did was a long time ago and I've forgotten about it! Nobody knows-."

"Oh don't tell me you didn't tell Marvin the truth about where you really were during the horrid execution of your poor innocent broth-."

"STOP!"

"If you want me to stop so badly then we best get to work."

"Fine."

Hazel went back to work that night.


Days had passed and Hazel was quieter than ever. She hid in her room all day too scared of what would happen if she came out. She seemed to have lost her backchat attitude (what was left of it) and became a bit of a scaredy-cat. Almost to the point where it was questionably disturbing.

"What are we going to do Merlin?" Arthur helplessly asked. "She's been like this for days," He guiltily closed his eyes and shook his head. "I wish I never gave her that letter."

"You seem very concerned." That made the boy blush.

"Well, I'm not."

"Oh sure you're not."

"Alright maybe I am. But what are we going to do?"

"I don't know my boy...Wow, did I just say that?"

"Yes." Arthur confirmed.

"This little girl has seen some stuff. She has been through more than you know. Which is why you are going to talk some sense into her."

"What!? Me!? No. Girls don't like me Merlin. They never have they never will! And I don't like them!"

"You seem to like this one."

"Of course I don't!" he tried his bet to fib. Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Alright maybe I do but just a teeny bit."

"And why is that?"

"I don't know...I guess she-."

He was about to explain but was relieved when Sir Ector busted through the door.

"Hey, your majesty!"

"Phew! Uh I mean yes?" Arthur asked, relieved.

"You have a couple of visitors."

"Oh,..who are they?"

"Well now how should I know? They ain't telling us why they're here. But it's a woman and a teenage boy. Both look concerned and they're looking for you. I think it is best if you go down right away."

"Alrighty then." he answered as he got up, trying to forget about Hazel.

He reached the outside to see exactly what was told to him, a woman and a boy in his mid teens, He had titian hair, tawny eyes, and a button nose. Those features made him look like...Hazel. He was much taller than both Arthur and Hazel and was about the same height as the woman for he had to be fifteen or sixteen years old. Arthur looked at the woman. She was dressed in purple clothes with gold outlines that covered her swan-like build. Her neck was decked out with jewelry and she had a gold fringe tiara on top of her dark brown hair. The teen did not wear a crown. He was dressed in the same style only with a red theme. The woman walked up to Arthur and bowed.

It is a privilege to meet you, King Arthur." she said in a delicate voice. She had a slight accent. Arthur grew warm and didn't know what to do.

"Archimedes what do I say!?" he whispered to the owl who had been sleeping on his shoulder.

"Hello might be a good start." the owl hissed.

"Oh of course," He dramatically bowed. "Please to meet you too Miss uh…."

Hazel had finally stepped out of her room and came to see what was happening. She walked up and sort of shyly hid befind Arthur and he didn't seem to mind.

"Oh yes I am..." the woman lost her words when she laid her eyes on the very petite girl who was peeking from behind the blonde boy. Arthur grew confused when both the woman and the teenage boy dropped their jaws open when they saw the short redheaded girl. Hazel's eyes widened as well when she saw the boy. She could only blurt out one word.

"Onyx?"

To Be continued...