Elizabeth's POV

It's been about a week since the tournament. Things have been peaceful in the kingdom. No more magic or threats to Camelot. Merlin and I have talked occasionally and are now friends. I still keep his secret. Arthur never thanked Morgana. Gwen still serves both Morgana and I. The extra money has helped her and her father a lot. I haven't visited my old friend since Merlin first arrived. Maybe I'll visit him today.

Right now I am with Morgana in her chambers. When Gwen appears with the flowers I suggested she pick for Morgana. Looking very happy. "You look happy" Morgana states and I nod my head in agreement.

"I picked these for you" Gwen says handing her the flowers.

"Oh, that's so sweet" Morgana says with a smile as she accepts them.

"Something to cheer you up. I know you're not sleeping well" Gwen states.

"You're still having nightmares?" I ask concerned.

"I'm fine" she assures me. "You both cheer me up" she states.

"Would you like me to put them in water for you?" Gwen asks. Morgana nods and Gwen does so. We all just relax and catch up. Gwen tells us about how someone died in the lower town. "No idea, but Gaius is examining the body. I'm sure he'll discover a cause and a cure if needed" she states.

"I'm sure he will" I agree. Though it wasn't so simple. More people started to die. The cause appears to be sorcery. Father doubled the guards and ordered everyones houses be searched for any hint of sorcery. He also made Arthur allow Merlin to stay with Gaius. To help him try and find a cure. I decide to go visit them.

"Princess Elizabeth" Merlin says as he opens the door.

"I've come to see your progress" I state as I enter the room.

"I doubt your father would approve of you being here" Gaius states. "We have yet to discover how this spreads" he tells me. As he looks at a phial.

"What are you doing?" Merlin asks him.

"I'm examining the contents of that man's stomach" Gaius states and I wrinkle my noise in disgust.

"Will that tell you who did it?" Merlin asks.

"No, but it might tell us how it's spread. One thing I do know, this is magic of the darkest kind" Gaius states.

"Why would someone use magic like that?" Merlin and I ask.

"Magic corrupts. People use it for their own ends" Gaius tells us.

"But not all magic is bad. I know it isn't" Merlin states.

"It's neither good nor bad. It's how you use it" Gaius tells him.

"I agree" I state. Just then Arthur and some guards burst into the room. "Arthur, what are you doing here?" I ask confused.

"Over there" he tells the guards pointing. "Sorry Gaius, we're searching every room in town" he states. "Elizabeth, father wants you to stay in your room until this crisis is over" he tells me.

"Yeah, like that'll happen" I grumble.

"What for?" Gaius asks.

"The sorcerer" Arthur states and I laugh.

"Seriously Arthur, you think Gaius who has served our family for decades or your man servant is the sorcerer causing this?" I ask him.

"Just following father's orders Elizabeth" he states.

"We've nothing to hide. Go on, then. Search" Gaius tells him.

"What's all these books and papers?" Arthur asks him.

"My life's work, dedicated to the understanding of science. You are quite welcome to read through them if you wish" Gaius tells him.

"What's this room up here?" he asks pointing to the staircase that leads to Merlin's room.

"Er, it's mine" Merlin tells him.

"And what do you expect to find in there?" Gaius asks him.

"I'm looking for material or evidence suggesting the use of enchantments" Arthur explains. He goes to search Merlin's room. Gaius whispers something to Merlin. Who becomes worried. "Merlin, come here. Look what I found!" Arthur calls. Merlin goes to his room and I follow. I stand in the door way. "I found a place where you can put things. It's called a cupboard" Arthur tells him. As I notice how messy Merlin's room is.

He finished searching Merlin's room and we go back downstairs. "How long do you think it may be before you find a cure?" I ask Gaius.

"It depends on how many interruptions I get" he states looking at Arthur and the guards.

"Of course, I'm sorry" Arthur says. "We're finished here" he tells the guards. "Come Elizabeth, we'll escort you to your room" he states.

"Fine, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help" I tell Gaius.

"Of course Princess" he says. I allow Arthur to lead me from the room. The guards flanking us. "Now stay here" he tells me. "I must go inform father on how the search went" he states. "You all may return to your posts" he tells the guards. Who bow their heads before leaving.

"You know I won't stay here right" I tell Arthur.

"Just don't leave the castle" he tells me. I nod my head and he left. I decide to go visit my old friend. I am worried about him. I know no animals have been infected so far. But what if they can be and he is sick? I must know. I change clothes and leave my room.

When I reach the dungeon. I see no guards. Guess father isn't concerned about having the guards guard an empty dungeon with the current crisis. Makes things easier for me. I make my way down to the dragons lair after readjusting the bag of meat on my shoulder. I had been collecting it since the last visit, so there is more then last time.

"Hello" I say and he soon appears. "Thank god you're ok, everyone is getting sick and dying" I tell him. As I toss him some meat. He tilts his head. "They believe it's sorcery, it seems to only be happening to the lower town currently. But I was worried you were affected, I am glad you aren't" I state.

He chaffs and I toss him more meat. He eats it happily. "I wish there was something I could do to help the people" I tell him. He grumbles. "But father doesn't want me leaving my room, he'd be furious if I left the castle" I state. "Maybe throw me in the dungeon" I grumble and he lets out a dragon chuckle.

"I know you're a dragon and not much could threaten you. But please be careful" I tell him. He nods his head. I smile and hand him the rest of the meat. "I should get back before someone notices me missing" I tell him. "I'll visit again soon" I assure him and watch him fly away. I frown as I see the chain, wishing there was some way I could break it.

(Time skip)

I' in my chambers when Gwen appears with flowers. "Oh their lovely" I tell her.

"I figure I should get you some" she says with a smile. She puts them in some water.

"How's your father?" I ask her. She had told me he was ill.

"It's a miracle, he's all better" she tells me.

"That's great, I'm so happy for you" I tell her. She smiles and we hug. Suddenly Arthur storms into the room with some guards. "Arthur, how dare you enter my chambers without permission!" I snap. He usually has more manners then that.

"Seize her!" he orders pointing to Gwen. The guards seize her. "Guinevere, I'm arresting you for crimes and contraventions of the laws of Camelot, that you did practice enchantments" he states. As Morgana appears.

"Gwen?" she says confused.

"But what have I done? I haven't done anything! Help me, please!" Gwen shouts scared. As she is escorted from the room.

"What are you doing?!" Morgana and I demand.

"I found a magic poultice in her house" Arthur tells us.

"Oh, that's ridiculous" Morgana snaps.

"I agree, besides Gwen was with me all night" I lie about the last thing.

"Then how else do you explain her father's recovery?" he asks us.

"Well, she's innocent! We know she's innocent" Morgana tells him. I nod my head in agreement.

"Besides he could have had some other sickness" I add.

"What can I do? I can't turn a blind eye!" he tells us. He leaves.

"We can't let them hurt Gwen" I tell Morgana.

"We won't let them, we will prove she's innocent" she assures me. "Lets go" she says and we leave my room. We make our way to the council chamber. As we draw near, we hear Gwen.

"Why will no one believe me?! He got better, he just recovered. I didn't do anything!" she cries.

"We believe you" Morgana states as we enter the chambers. "Perhaps this is a disease that is not always fatal. Have you thought of that? Perhaps he recovered naturally" she tells the council.

"And what of this poultice that was found?" Uther asks.

"She couldn't have done it, she was with me all night" I lie.

"I don't know anything about a poultice!" Gwen shouts.

"It was found in your house. Undo this enchantment. Put an end to this contagion" father orders her.

"I can't!" she cries.

"How can she stop something she didn't cause?! This is nonsense!" I snap.

"Silence!" father snaps glaring at me. I lower my head.  "I will show you no mercy" he tells Gwen.

"I am not a witch. I don't know how to stop the illness" Gwen tells him.

"Please, father listen to her" I plead.

"I said silence, one more word out of you and you'll be grounded young lady" he snaps. He looks back at Gwen. "If you will not undo your sorcery, you force my hand and I must find you guilty" he states. "It is therefore my duty to pronounce judgment. And under the circumstance I have no choice but to sentence you to death" he declares.

Tears silently fall down my cheeks. Gwen can't die. She's my best friend next to Morgana. "I can only hope that when you die, this evil plague dies with you" he states. "Take her away" he orders the guards.

"Please, no! I'm innocent! Please, please, no! Please help me! Please, I beg you! No!" Gwen shouts as she is dragged away crying. I watch her as more tears fall from my eyes. The courtiers leave and it's only Morgana, Arthur, Father and I.

"I know Gwen, she's my and Elizabeth's maidservant, not an enchantress" Morgana tells father.

"Have you ever seen an enchantress? Believe me, they bear no sign, no mark. There is no sense of evil in the eye" Father tells her.

"I've seen the way the girl works. Her fingers are worn, her nails are broken. If she was a sorceress, why would she do this? Why would she kneel on a cold stone floor morning after morning when she could make these things happen with a snap of her fingers? Like an idle king!" Morgana snaps.

"You have no right!" he snaps.

"You have no right to cast a judgement on that girl!" she retorts.

"I have a responsibility to take care of this kingdom! I take no pleasure in this!" father states.

"But you're sentencing the wrong person!" Morgana tells him.

"She's our friend" I say lowly.

"They're right, Father. You hear the word magic, you no longer listen" Arthur states. I give him a grateful smile.

"You saw it for yourself. She used enchantments" father reminds us.

"Anyone could of placed that poultice" I tell him.

"Yes, maybe. But to save her dying father, that doesn't make her guilty of creating a plague. One's the act of, of kindness, of love, the other of evil. I don't believe evil's in this girl's heart" Arthur tells him.

"I have witnessed what witchcraft can do. I have suffered at its hand. I cannot take that chance. If there is the slightest doubt about this girl, she must die or the whole kingdom may perish" father tells us.

"I understand that" Arthur tells him.

"Well I don't!" I snap. "We've know Gwen for years, since we were children. She has never once shown any type of magic. I get that the kingdom is in danger with this plague. But how does killing an other innocent solve anything?" I ask. Before father can snap at me for speaking out of turn. Arthur draws his attention.

"I know. Witchcraft is an evil, father. So is injustice. Yes, I am yet to be King, and I don't know what kind of king I will be, but I do have a sense of the kind of Camelot I would wish to live in. It would be where the punishment fits the crime" Arthur tells him.

"I fear you're right. She's played with fire, and sadly she must die by fire" father states. I go to scream, but Morgana leads me away.

"They can't do this Morgana, they can't kill Gwen!" I cry.

"We'll save her" she assures me.

"How?" I ask.

"I don't know yet, but we will" she assures me. "Leave it with me, I don't want you to suffer Uther's wraith" she tells me.

"But I want to help" I tell her.

"You can help by trying find a cure" she tells me. I nod my head and hug her. I go back to my room and decide to try to sleep. Praying this was all a bad dream.

But it wasn't. It was real and things seem to only get worse. As Arthur finds no one else in position of a poultice. Father even brought up Gwen's execution. But somehow Merlin and Arthur managed to saved the day. They brought an end to the plague and Gwen was cleared of all charges. And released as Gaius found evidence of a sorceress called Nimueh was responsible for the plague.

Morgana, Tom (Gwen's father), Merlin and I greeted Gwen as she was released. Her father hugged her close. As she thanked us for clearing her. Morgana believed Merlin has a crush on Gwen. Though it's better then her knowing his real secret. Gwen went home with her father, Morgana and I gave her the rest of the week off with pay. As an apology from us for my father's actions. As he'll never apologize himself.

A/N

Picture above of an infect person.