Elizabeth's POV

Arthur is out hunting with Merlin. I didn't go with as I am not a huge fine of hunting. I'll eat whatever they catch. I just can't see the poor animal die. Since the Edwin nicident, father has upped security around me again. Which sucks, because I want to take Bloom for a ride. Instead I am in a boring council meeting.

When Arthur and Merlin appear with two strangers. An older man and young woman. She is beautiful, but something seems off about them. I feel like their intentions aren't pure. Just like Edwin's were not. "My name is Aulfric, heir to Tír-Mòr. This is my daughter, Sophia" the man states.

"You're a long way from home. What brings you to Camelot?" father asks them.

"Our home was sacked by raiders. We barely escaped with what few possessions we could carry" Aulfric explains. I notice Arthur leaning on a pillar cannot take his eyes from Sophia. I roll my eyes.

"These are dangerous times. What will you do?" father asks him.

"We travel west to Caerleon where we have family and, I hope, a new life" Aulfric explains.

"You must stay here awhile, break your journey. A noble family like yours is always welcome in Camelot" father tells him. Arthur stares at Sophia when she exits with her father. She stares back at him. Honestly, she's not that pretty. Morgana is more beautiful. But I am biased as I've always been close to Morgana and would love for her to become a member of the family.

Speaking of Morgana, I promised to spend time with her. I leave to go find her. I do so and see her looking at Sofia like she'd seen a ghost. "Are you ok?" I ask her.

"Yes, who was that?" she asks me.

"Lady Sophia Tír-Mòr. Merlin and Arthur rescued her in the woods, along with her father. Well, Arthur did most of the rescuing according to his version" I tell her.

"She can't stay here" she states.

"Oh I'm glad I'm not the only one who senses something off about her" I tell her. "But unfortunately father said that she and her father are welcome in Camelot. Is everything ok?" I ask her.

"Yes, thank you" she says. "I know we agreed to spend time together, but I must go see Gaius. I've had another nightmare and wish to get a new tonic to help me sleep" she states.

"Of course, I hope you can get some sleep. I hate saying you so tired" I tell her. She leaves and I decide to go see my old friend. "I'm sorry, no meat today" I tell him sheepishly. He snorts looking a little disgruntled. "I promise, next time I'll bring double" I state and he smiles. "A lot has happened since my last visit, would you like to hear?" I ask and his nods his head. As he lays down.

"Well after the plague, which was caused by a magical creature called an Afanc. Which Merlin and Arthur destroyed. A sorceress tried to poison Arthur. But Merlin ended up poisoned instead, it nearly lead to a war with Mercia. But Arthur found the cure for Merlin and Gaius proved the same sorceress who released the afanc was behind the attempt on Arthur's life. I have no idea who she is, but I heard Father and Gaius mention the name Nimueh. Have you heard of the name?" I ask him.

He nods his head. "If only you could talk, you could tell me who she was and why she seems to have it in for my family" I mutter and he chuckles. "Anyway, after that Camelot was attacked by a griffin. Also someone new come to Camelot" I say smiling as I think of Lancelot. "His name was Lancelot and he longed to be a knight of Camelot. He faked his seal of nobility and became one. We grew close" I state. "But he got outed as a lair and was striped of his new status. Even after he killed the griffin, father refused to let him be a knight again. But allowed him to leave Camelot freely" I explain.

"Then about a week ago. Morgana and I were enchanted or something like that. We both nearly died. But a man came claiming to have a cure for all illnesses. He cured us. But it was only after that we learned he was the one who enchanted us. Just so he could try to kill my father. He's dead now" I state.

"I should get going" I add as I get up. "I promise, next time I visit I will have meat" I assure him. He nods head and gets ready to fly away. "Wait, do you think I'll ever see Lancelot again?" I ask him. He just stares at me before flying. Well he didn't shake his head, I guess it's a maybe or he doesn't know. I sigh and leave.

(Next day)

So Arthur was supposed to be on patrol this morning with father's guard. But instead I see him sneaking off with Sofia as I stand with Morgana and Gwen. And the worse thing, he let her take my horse. How dare he let a stranger ride Bloom without my permission? Especially after what Morgana just told Gwen and I about Sofia.

"You're sure it's her?" Gwen asks Morgana.

"I could never forget that face" Morgana tells us.

"You should speak to my father" I tell her.

"And tell him what? That I can see the future?" she asks.

"If you think Arthur's life is in danger" Gwen states.

"You know how he'd react" Morgana states.

"You're his ward, he sees you as another daughter. He wouldn't harm you" I tell her. At least I hope he wouldn't.

"He hates magic more than he cares for me" Morgana tells me.

"That's not true" Gwen and I assure her.

"Would you care to put it to the test?" she asks us. I remain silent. Had I be in her shoes, I wouldn't test it.

"But what else can you do?" Gwen asks her.

"I'm going to have to try and stop her myself" Morgana states.

"We'll help you" I tell her and Gwen agrees. "Let me know once you think of a plan" I tell Morgana. I hug her. "Don't worry nothing will happen to my brother" I assure her. She gives me a small smile and I leave. I decide to go walk around town.

When I get to the lower town. I see Merlin in the stocks. "Let me guess, Arthur had you lie for him?" I ask him.

"Yep" he says. "But it's fine,  I forgot how much fun this was" he states. And he is pelted with more rotten tomatoes.

"Yes, looks like a lot of fun" I tell him. "When you see Arthur, tell him never to take my horse without permission again. Otherwise I'll tell father the truth about his absence" I tell him.

"Noted" he says and I leave him. I return to the castle. I see Arthur and storm over to him. I whack him across the back of the head taking my horse's reins.

"Ow, what was that for?" he asks me.

"For taking my horse with out asking and allowing a stranger to ride her!" I snap.

"You said she needed a ride" he states.

"Yes, you promised we'd go on a ride together" I remind him. "Don't take her again" I tell him and lead her to the stables. "I'm sorry girl, are you alright?" I ask and she nickers softly nudging me. "How about a bath?" I suggest and she nods her head happily. I laugh lightly and take her to the wash bay. I remove the saddle and tie her to a post. I give her a wash, then dry her with a towel. Before brushing her completely. I even braid her man before deciding to return to the castle for the night.

As I head for my chambers. I see Morgana leave Arthur's. "You're brother is intolerable" she tells me.

"What else is new?" I ask her. "Did you warn him about Sofia?" I ask.

"Yes and he thinks I'm jealous" she states.

"Are you a little?" I ask.

"No, I just don't want to see him get killed" she states.

"Don't worry, we'll protect him" I assure her. "I'll talk to him tomorrow after the knighting ceremony. He'll listen to me" I tell her and she nods her head.

(Time skip)

Except Arthur wasn't at the knighting ceremony. Merlin covered for him again and ended up in the stocks again. After the knighting ceremony I went to the stables. I was relieved to see Bloom in her stall. At least Arthur didn't take her again. But I didn't see Arthur all day, so didn't get a chance to talk to him about Sofia.

Anyway, I'm in the council room with father and Morgana. Reading some papers. With members of the court when Arthur appears with Sofia and her father requesting an audience. "I request this audience, Father, to discuss a matter of great importance. It cannot have escaped your attention that I and Lady Sophia Tír-Mòr have grown very close" he states.

"Not too close, I hope" Father teases.

"We're in love" Arthur declares. Uther and Morgana exchange a look. I to look at Morgana. "Which is why I come before you today to ask your permission to marry" he states. I look at Arthur shocked, he wants to marry her?

"I assume you're joking" father says with a laugh.

"No. I'm going to marry her" Arthur states.

"Arthur you've only known her for two days" I state.

"We're in love" he declares.

"Yes, you've said that" I state.

"In love? We had no idea that you were such a romantic had we Elizabeth, Morgana?" father asks us.

"No, he's full of surprises" Morgana states and I nod my head in agreement.

"I'm going to marry her. I don't care what any of you think about it" Arthur tells us.

"I thought you'd come to ask my permission?" father asks him.

"Out of courtesy, nothing more" Arthur states. Arthur turns back, takes Sophia's hand and they walk toward the door. With her father.

"Guards, close the doors" I order and they block it. As father stands from his throne.

"You've forgotten whose court you're standing in" father tells Arthur.

"You won't stop me. If I want to marry her, I will" Arthur tells him.

"You leave us no choice Arthur. Arrest Sophia and Aulfric Tír-Mòr" I order the guards. They take them both into custody.

"What are you doing?" Arthur demands glaring at me.

"Inform the executioner his services will be required tomorrow morning" father tells a knight.

"You can't do this" Arthur states.

"Yes! I can! And unless you show me and your sister some respect, I will" father tells him. Arthur reluctantly bows his head. "Release them" he orders and they are released. He turns back to Arthur. "You've got your whole life ahead of you. Sophia is no doubt your first love, but she certainly won't be the only one. Enjoy yourself while you can" he tells him.

When father leaves the chambers. Morgana and I follow him to the courtyard corridor. "You both are not planning on springing any surprises on me, are you?" he asks us.

"No father" I assure him.

"Don't you think you should be taking this a bit more seriously?" Morgana asks him.

"He's young, foolish and in love. Give it a week and he'll be chasing after the next girl that catches his eye" father tells us.

"Sophia will never let that happen" we tell him.

"Do you both bear a grudge against our guest?" he asks.

"Other then the fact Arthur allowed her to use my horse without permission you mean?" I ask him.

"There's something about her I don't trust and Elizabeth agrees with me. You've seen the way Arthur changed since she's arrived" Morgana states.

"He's a fool in love" he tells us.

"She's dangerous" Morgana tells him.

"Dangerous? To who?" he asks.

"Arthur" she states.

"Why do you say that?" he asks.

"I just have a sense, a feeling" Morgana states.

"I have the same feeling, it was the same one I got around Edwin and he tried to kill you" I remind him.

"And what has she done to make you both have this feeling?" he asks us.

"Nothing, yet. It's what she's going to do, I don't know how to tell you this" Morgana states. I look at her, was she going to tell father about her dreams?

"Try. Whatever it is, you can tell me" father assures her. They stop and face each other. Father waits for Morgana to speak. As I stand behind her.

"I've just seen girls like this before. They string men along and then drop them. I don't want to see him get hurt, neither of us do" Morgana tells him.

"I know you both want to protect him, but some lessons we have to learn for ourselves. He'll hurt for a week and then Sophia will be forgotten" father assures us.

"I hope so" she says.

"Are you sure there's nothing else behind this?" he asks.

"Yes, it's nothing" she assures him and he leaves us.

"Are you ok?" I ask her concerned.

"I will be once this Sofia leaves" she states.

"Maybe we should tell Gaius that you keep having the dream, maybe he can find someone who can help Arthur" I suggest. She nods her head and we left to go tell Gaius. He told us to stay in his chambers before leaving. No doubt to go find Merlin and tell him about Arthur being in danger.

I don't know what happened. But Merlin managed to bring Arthur back after he tried to run away with Sofia. Who never returned to Camelot. Neither did her father. Merlin ended up in the stocks again after covering for Arthur's third absence in three days. Oh well, all well that ends well.

A/N

Picture above of Sofia and Aulfric.