chapter forty-nine
049. a king in love

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    ARTHUR WAS not impressed.

    Merlin watched the annoyed scowl on his face as he looked over his horse's saddle; it set further at the joyful laughter that escaped Lady Catrina's lips as King Uther helped her down from her mare. He rolled his eyes when his father laughed, too. Merlin awkwardly brushed the coat of Arthur's mare, admittedly frowning at Catrina, ▬trying to figure out her plan and who she was. His gaze focused on her legs; not a single limp in her walk.

     The Prince scoffed and Merlin glanced up, running a gentle hand across the mare's side as he began to take off her saddle. "Honestly," grumbled Arthur, gesturing at his father and his new muse. "Look at them."

     Merlin arched a brow. He unhooked the mare's saddle and struggled to hold it up as it dropped into his arms. He groaned and heaved it to the side. He watched Lady Catrina and King Uther converse with light smiles and happy tones as they made their way up the stairs to the castle entrance. 

     He pursed his lips. "Do you not think it is ... odd?" began Merlin carefully. "How quickly they have become close?"

     Arthur sighed and brushed his mare's coat gently as well. He rubbed her neck, tender and soft. "There is nothing odd about that," he said to Merlin and his manservant tilted his head. The Prince pursed his lips and explained: "My father is a wealthy and powerful man, Merlin. And Lady Catrina has lost security and her wealth."

     The Prince gave his mare one last rub and went to leave, only to falter when he noticed who was returning from her morning walk to the markets with her maids at her side. His horse threw her head at his hand being on her snout for too long and he cleared his throat, quickly looking away from Odette. 

     Merlin noticed. He hesitated. He hadn't mentioned anything about it since they rescued Odette from Hengist▬since Arthur had told him all that he felt in complete secrecy that Merlin would never speak a single word of it. But he felt as if he was standing on a line between two worlds▬the world of Arthur's frustration and disappointment, and the world of Odette's distraught and guilt; words where they both were left with a heartbreak. 

     He hovered, before finally deciding to murmur: "Are ... are you all right?" 

     Arthur's eyes fixed on him, and Merlin saw a flare of frustration at the question▬he knew what Merlin meant. The Prince chewed back the words he wanted to say, deciding there was no point in shouting at his servant▬it wouldn't solve his heartache. "I will be better if you stop hovering and take this horse back to the stables," said Arthur before moving past. 

    Merlin watched him go with a small sigh. After he made sure Arthur's mare was comfortable once again in her stable, he dusted off his hands and returned to the castle. 

    The rest of the day, Merlin tried to keep an eye on the Lady Catrina▬hoping to see whether he could put the pieces together on whatever she, or whoever was pretending to be her, was planning on doing in Camelot. But with his duties for Arthur and Gaius, and Lady Catrina spending most of her free time with the King today, Merlin was spread thin. He couldn't even find time to snatch a glance at Jonas to see if he could see the infamous tail Odette mentioned. 

     By late evening, Merlin had grown anxious. Without Odette already caught snooping around their chambers, even if she hid her intentions well if there was any ill intent from Lady Catrina and Jonas, they were sure to be suspicious if Merlin decided to do the same when he was not expected. Yet, Merlin was desperate to find out what that ill intent might be. If Camelot or Arthur were in danger, he had to stop this before it went too far. 

     It was by complete chance he had crossed paths with her without her even realising. Merlin wandered the corridor, ready to head back to the physician's chambers for a well-earned good night's sleep when the mighty crash in the hallway adjacent caught his attention. The King's chambers were down that hallway, and it sent Merlin rigid and on high alert. He jumped and darted to the wall▬his first thought was always to find a home within the shadows; to make sure he wasn't seen. And it did him good, for as he glanced around the corner to see what had made such a loud noise, he saw the Lady Catrina storm away in the opposite direction, leaving a discarded platter of fruit behind her.

     He chose to follow her.

     Keeping at a safe distance, Merlin crept the same steps taken by Lady Catrina in the candlelit corridors of the castle at night. He took twists and turns, around bends and down stairwells. Lady Catrina was so caught up in her anger and frustration she did not even think about the possibility that someone might have heard her▬and someone as nosy and not so easily fooled as Merlin would act on his suspicions. 

    It wasn't long before Merlin learnt that the direction in which Lady Catrina was going, was nowhere near her chambers at all. 

    The young warlock frowned, following her out of the castle and down the stairs. He crouched behind the statue of Bruta Pendragon upon his mighty steed and gazed after Lady Catrina's silhouette heading towards the old dungeons▬a place that may as well be a dark pit of stone corridors near the vaults where magic users were kept during the Great Purge after the main cells in Camelot began to overflow. Merlin felt disgusted just thinking of it▬he had held a bile in his throat anywhere near them the moment Gaius had mentioned what they were. Even before them, Merlin had felt it. He had felt the misery, the death and the pain▬the agony deep within his soul. Magic or not, those cells were no place for a princess. So, what business did Lady Catrina Tregor have to be anywhere near them?

    He knew he couldn't go any further. He was sure to be spotted. Merlin glanced upwards at the turrets and tall, stone walls of the castle and noticed a window in enough proximity to gaze down at the old entrance. Merlin groaned softly to himself in dismay. 

    He quickly made his way back into the castle, climbing the stairwells and rushing through the corridors until he made it to the servants' entrance into the Prince's chambers. Merlin carefully twisted his key into the lock and winced at the slight creak the old door made as it opened. He peered inside the dark room that was still warm from the embers of the fire as Prince Arthur slept soundly on his big, luxurious bed and soft red pillows. Merlin waited until he heard a distant snore before deciding it was safe to enter. 

     Careful to not make a sound, he trod lightly on the tips of his toes. Merlin crept right up to the side of Arthur's bed. The Prince snored away, completely oblivious to what was happening right now▬it was almost amusing. His manservant delicately reached for the mirror resting on the table beside his large bed and tip-toed over to the window. 

     It was strange how noises so soft in the daylight turned into something so loud during the night. Merlin winced the sound the latch made as he opened the window, slow and with his breath hitched. He glanced over his shoulder. Arthur's nose did not even twitch. 

     Letting out a soft exhale, Merlin held out the mirror and whispered an enchantment under his breath. He watched the mirror lift from his fingers and began to hover out through the open window and down into the night air. He directed it lower and lower, tilting it just right to try and see into the old dungeons. 

    He wasn't exactly sure what he was looking for. But the sight he was met with was not what he had expected. 

     Merlin frowned when he saw two large rats. Until he realised those rats had gnarly, swollen fingers. And those fingers had dirty, yellow sharp nails. And those fingers belonged to hands just as dry, bloated and ugly underneath the silk of a gorgeous evening gown. Merlin's eyes widened, horrified as he slowly tilted the mirror to reveal more of the estranged creature▬and he almost gagged. The face belonged to not the Lady Catrina, but that of an ugly, horrifying beast. A beast with stringy, matted hair and skin as thick and as stubby as a tree trunk▬if tree trunks had warts the size of marbles. Its nose was hooked and large. Its eyes were beady and small. And its mouth▬oh, God, it's mouth! It seemed as if its jaw was too big for its face. It dropped as the creature moaned a gurgling cry▬like a strangled mule with rotting tusks for teeth. 

      "Merlin."

     He was so struck with disgust, fear and horror that he dropped the mirror. It shattered on the cobblestone ground. Merlin spun around, his scream hitched in the back of his throat.

     Arthur was awake. And he did not look happy. 

     The Prince scowled at his manservant, walking up to him with a look in his tired eyes that said that this was the last thing he wanted to have to deal with. Arthur sighed, exasperated. "I have no doubt, Merlin, that you have prepared a very good explanation for this."

    "Yes," said Merlin immediately, breathless and feeling like he was going to be sick. He then backtracked. He shook his head. "No, uh▬"

     Arthur rolled his eyes. "Apparently, I am wrong."

    He marched to the window, pulling Merlin aside by his sleeve and glancing down at the cobblestone pathway. Seeing the shattered mirror, he took a sharp breath through his nose to keep himself from losing his anger. He slowly turned back to his manservant. "Please tell me you were not spying on Lady Catrina."

     Merlin had no idea how he was going to drag his way out of this one. "I▬it is not what it seems."

    "Yes, Merlin," Arthur closed his window, frustrated, "it is exactly what it seems. You have led a sheltered life. You have no social skills, whatsoever, and Catrina is, I admit, an attractive woman. I understand completely."

     Merlin was surprised. He blinked, taken aback. "Y▬you do?"

    The Prince suddenly put on an over-the-top smile. "If I ever find you doing it again," his cheerful tone fell dry on the scolding threat he spoke, "I will feed you to the dogs. Do I make myself clear?"

    Merlin didn't care. His mind (and stomach) were reeling. He needed to get out of here. He needed to find Odette and Gaius. He needed to tell them what he had seen. "Yes," he rushed out, not really paying attention, "absolutely, sire. I▬yes, I have to▬" and then he ran out of the chambers.

    Arthur watched him go, shaking his head. 

   The young warlock sprinted across the castle and down the many flights of stairs from the Prince's chambers down to the tight, dim and dull hallways of the servants' quarters. Merlin burst open the door to Odette's quarters, without a single care if she was asleep. He ran to her bedside and began to shake her awake. "Odette, Odette! Get up, Odette▬!"

    His dearest friend jolted awake, startled. She gasped and flung her hands up as if to hit him until Merlin yelped softly and fell backwards to avoid her wild aim. "Hey!"

    Realising, Odette gasped and sat up. "Merlin!" she scolded, very annoyed. "Have you lost your mind? I was sleeping! Peacefully."

    "Forget that," Merlin got to his feet and threw her shawl at hers. Odette had no time to even blink before he was pulling her to stand. "We have to see Gaius. It is important!"

    Hearing the urgency in his voice woke Odette up more than his frantic shaking. She frowned and quickly followed him, wrapping her woollen shawl tightly around her nightdress. She would've slipped in the socks she had worn to bed if Merlin had not been dragging her by her hand all the way up to the physician's tower. 

     When they finally arrived, Merlin dragged Odette inside, confused and troubled before closing the door. Gaius was startled from his evening work, glancing over. He looked quite like Odette had▬bewildered and frustrated at being interrupted. "Merlin!" he scolded at the young warlock's urgency. "What have I told you about slamming the door?"

     "What is happening?" whispered Odette. "Why did you drag me all the way here?"

     "I am sorry," Merlin let out a long breath, "about waking you up, Odette, but this is something both you and Gaius need to hear."

     He sat down and told them all that he had seen. He wasn't exactly sure how to describe it▬he wasn't exactly sure what he had seen. But he was sure that whatever that thing was, it had been Lady Catrina; or was disguising itself as her. Once Merlin had finished, Odette looked disgusted, while Gaius looked extremely worried. 

    "What you saw is seldom seen, Merlin," murmured the Court Physician. "Trolls despise all other living things, especially humans."

    "Wait," Odette held up her hand, startled. "Trolls? Is▬is that what Merlin saw?" She had never heard of a troll outside of a fairytale book. She thought that perhaps they were the one thing in Gaius's many tales which were fiction. 

     Merlin scoffed a soft gag as they sat near the fire. "Certainly looked like a troll. With the▬the warts▬" he gestured to his face, "▬and the ... the tusks..."

     "They prefer to lurk in the darkness of their nests," continued Gaius, "feasting on rotten filth."

     "And Jonas?" asked Odette, looking both disgusted and anxious. "Is ... is he a troll, too?"

      The physician shook his head. He shrugged. "Who can tell what manner of creature he is?" For the first time, Gaius did not have an answer, and that worried Merlin and Odette even more.

      Merlin shook his head. He leaned forward and took a few breaths, still recovering from the fright it had been to see such a putrid creature. "But it does not make any sense. If trolls like to lurk in their caves so much, what is this one doing in Camelot?"

     "Trolls are greedy," said Gaius. Odette wrapped her shawl around her shoulders tighter, brows knitted together in a troubling frown. "Lady Catrina is like the rest of her kind▬She lusts after wealth and power."

      Both servants reached a realisation at the same time. They glanced at each other, their breaths hitched. "Uther's wealth and power," exclaimed Merlin softly. 

     Gaius sat back in his chair. He looked scared. Merlin and Odette never liked it when Gaius was scared of something▬it made them feel an overbearing dread and a churn in their stomach. "Then we have reached the point of no return." He suddenly stood up. "Uther has to be told."

     When he said that, Merlin and Odette's faces twisted, incredulous. 

     "Gaius," began the young handmaiden gently, placing her hands delicately on her lap like she was about to commence a trialling diplomatic talk. "Are you sure it is wise to tell King Uther Pendragon, with all of his ... tendency to be quick to anger, that his new lady friend is a troll?" her words fell away from their pleasant objectiveness to disbelief. 

      Gaius turned to her. "That is exactly what I am going to do."

    Merlin exhaled a puff of air, keeping many words to himself. "Good luck."

     The physician stopped at his door and glanced back at them. He let out an anxious breath of his own, nodding before leaving them. 

     Alone in the physician's chambers, Odette and Merlin glanced at each other. 

     After a moment's pause, Merlin said: "Should we start planning for his funeral?"

     "I think we should start planning for his execution first," replied Odette.

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      IT WAS EARLY morning when Gaius returned. Odette had left and prepared herself for the day and returned in the time he was gone, gently folding sheets for Morgana in her basket while Merlin was crushing herbs by the work table. In her rush, Odette had merely threaded her hair in one single plait down her back▬loose and gentle; it fell around her face and dusted a golden touch near her eyes. A ribbon made out of her childhood tunic tied her hair together at the middle of her back. As the sunrise washed through the windows of Gaius's chambers, warming the upcoming winter chill from the stones, it touched Odette's hair▬and for a moment, she looked like a princess. 

    Odette glanced over at Merlin, watching him for a moment. She flattened the creases in her folding before deciding to break the silence. "How is Adelynn fairing?"

    Merlin blinked, startled. "Hmm?" he met her gaze, as if shocked she'd mention Ronyn's younger sister.

    She tilted her head, taken aback by his reaction. But she supposed they were all on edge after this revelation about the Lady Catrina. "Adelynn," she repeated. "I have been so busy with Morgana recently that I have not asked her how she is doing with her lessons. I thought I would ask you. Is she enjoying them?"

     Merlin paled. "Er▬Lessons?" he chuckled; the type of chuckle he always did when he was nervous and hiding something. "What▬what lessons? I have no idea what it is you are talking about."

    Odette stared at him. She found it bewildering how Merlin could hide a secret so well from the world when it mattered the most and yet stumbled over his own words when it came to trying to keep a secret about almost anything else. And she has come to recognise that chuckle very well, because seemed Merlin has kept quite a lot of secrets from her recently. She tried not to feel hurt. "Her lessons with Gaius?" she prompted, confused. "What other lessons would I be talking about? Why, what do you think I am talking about?"

    Merlin realised his mistake and quickly recovered. He chuckled again and shook his head. "Right, sorry. No, of course. You are right. I am just tired, I did not get any sleep last night. Yes, she is enjoying them. Though, Gaius is still making me do all the dirty work." He is deflecting it. Trying to joke and make her laugh. Odette has recognised this tactic, too. 

    He had lied to her about Morgana when she had been kidnapped, and now he was lying to her about something regarding Adelynn. She pursed her lips. "Are you not telling me something?"

    Merlin made a face. "What? No."

    She frowned. "Then why does it feel as if you are?"

    He shrugged, surprised by her sudden hostility. "I do not know, you tell me."

    "It is you that is keeping things from me," Odette shot back, frustrated. Merlin quickly grew frustrated, too. "You tell me."

    "Why must I tell you everything?" he replied, quick and defensive. Her brows lifted, shocked at his tone. "Why do you have to know everything and then get upset when I do not tell you one simple thing?"

    She was baffled. She felt as if Merlin was suddenly dwindling her hurt to something insignificant, and making it seem as if she was at fault for seeing through his obvious lies. "I▬" Odette stammered, not sure how to respond. "I tell you everything, that is why."

    "No, you do not," Merlin gestured the pestle at her, annoyed. "You keep things from me, too."

    Odette felt her heart twist. She thought of Arthur. "Like what?"

    Merlin held back his next words. He sighed and looked away. Odette flushed, wondering how her simple question had so quickly turned into a disagreement between them. "Nothing."

    Both of them were glad it was then that Gaius decided to step through the door. He walked into his chambers, unbeknownst to the sudden tense air between the two servants as he closed the door and sighed. Immediately, Odette and Merlin could tell the discussion with Uther did not go well, as predicted.

    He walked towards them, and Merlin took a breath. Gaius shot her a look. "Please, do not say anything, Merlin."

    He hesitated. "I was not going to say anything."

    Gaius saw right through him. "You were going to say, 'I told you so'."

    "I never say that."

     He just arched a brow.

    Merlin bit back a grin. "Okay, I was. But I am not going to now," he held his hands up. 

    Gaius eyed her for a second longer before sighing once more and taking a seat. Merlin set aside the pestle and walked around the worktable. He leaned against the side of it. Odette stood up and walked over. "How did it go?" she asked. 

    The physician slumped. "Uther did not take to it well."

    Merlin closed his eyes and shook his head. "Gaius," he stressed before he could stop himself. "See, we told you▬" he cut himself off at Gaius's look. He pursed his lips, sheepish. "Sorry."

    Gaius sighed and shook his head. He shifted in his seat, taking a deep breath. "But I know him," he told them. "He is a proud man, but he is not stupid." Merlin made a face as if he disagreed. "He will reflect on what I said. I am sure he will."

    Odette did not hold much hope for that. She glanced at Merlin and saw him looking as though he thought similar. "Let us hope you are right," he decided to say in the end.

    After that, Odette needed to leave to tend to Morgana, and it seemed like the disagreement she had with Merlin had been left in the air with no resolution. It lingered, the tension lighter than before, but it did not leave her shoulders. He seemed adamant to pretend it didn't happen, and she wanted to get angry at him for it but knew they had more important things to worry about. Or maybe Odette was fearful that perhaps she was in the wrong. Was Merlin right? She didn't want to confront him and come to a painful realisation about herself, so she let him move past it and ignore it▬and supposed she had to try and do the same. 

    Walking the corridors, frowning to herself, Odette held little thought to what was around her. A girl who usually smiled at the bars of sunlight at her feet merely scowled, troubled and unable to help the feeling of being alone, for reasons she couldn't exactly describe.

     It seemed her day decided it would not improve from then on, for as soon as she turned the corner to walk up the griffin staircase towards Morgana's chambers, she skidded to a stop at the foot of them. Descending from the top, was Arthur. 

     Odette lost her voice for a moment▬it turned into a breathless hitch, and her heart fluttered; something both painful and light. At first, he did not notice her, and she took the moment to stare at him▬not that she was able to look away, frozen in place like a startled doe in the woods. She could not gaze at him and not find him handsome▬the way the sunlight had found a home in his flaxen hair, or how the summer sky found home in his eyes. Arthur was tall, and he was strong, and he held himself with the authority of a Prince that made his shoulders rigid and his steps filled with purpose. He was everything a prince should be in a fairytale, but most fairytales, Odette has quickly learnt, were only tragedies in disguise. 

     When he did notice her, he stopped in his path. He froze, too. At first, neither of them knew what to say to the other. Arthur then cleared his throat and nodded to her. "Odette," he said simply.

     Odette forced herself to curtsy. "Sire," she said, pained at how awkward the air was between them.

      Arthur nodded once again and then continued, prepared to walk past her just like that; to walk past her like she was just another servant in the corridors▬another dusty vase. 

     It was what Odette wanted, yes? 

    So, why did it hurt more than the thought of having him, and yet knowing she could not? 

     Just as he walked past her shoulder, Odette surprised herself. She closed her eyes and blurted out a soft: "Arthur▬"

     As she turned around, she saw him stop walking. She held her breath to see him pause, and then slowly turn around, too. Odette's heart twisted to see the gentleness he always held around her guarded away. "Yes?" answered the Prince. 

     She didn't know what she had planned to say. She forgot the moment he turned around. "I ..." she started, her heart racing. Was she about to apologise? Could she apologise? 

     Arthur's stare did not soften. "Go on, Odette, spit it out," he said sternly. "I have a council meeting to attend."

      A lump squeezed at her throat. She hated it when Arthur was mad at her. She wanted him to smile. She wanted him to softly tease her and nudge her, coaxing her smile out of her when she was upset at her favourite window when the moon had risen in the sky. She wanted him to chide her with no real frustration or anger. She wanted him to place her mother's clip in her hair after returning to her alive just as he promised. She didn't want him to frown at her. It made her want to cry. 

     She didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to say she was sorry. She didn't know how to tell him that she wished things were different. Odette didn't know how to say that the entire time she had been locked in Hengist's cell, even when Lancelot was looking back at her through the dungeon bars, she thought of him. She had just been too scared to hope. Odette was too scared to hope for herself. And now her guilt over Arthur and Lancelot twisted her heart like a knife had struck it deep, and she was slowly dying, and her words died with her. Her words that wished▬no, pleaded▬that Arthur would know all she meant and stay. Perhaps he was the rising sun, and she was the sunset▬on opposite ends, and his promise to fight the setting sun was instead a battle against her. 

    When she didn't say anything, Arthur shook his head and held back his frustrated sigh. He went to walk away once more, but Odette gritted her teeth and slumped. "Arthur, wait, please. I wish to talk to you."

     He stopped yet again. She heard Arthur's frustrated breath▬sharp through his nose. He met her gaze. "And yet you have said nothing," he told her. "But nothing is enough, Odette. You have given me your answer."

     "Answers change," she whispered, pleading. "Answers can be wrong."

     Only this seemed to anger Arthur. Even though the two of them stood in a corridor, despite it being empty, it felt as if, for once, something between the two of them was finally in a place for everyone to see. The Prince marched up to the maidservant. "Perhaps you should have realised that before you chose someone else."

     "That is not fair▬!"

    "It is not fair▬?" Arthur raised his voice slightly, and Odette hitched her breath. Seeing the look on her face, he clenched his eyes shut and took a step back, cursing his anger. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. Calming himself, Arthur met her gaze again and the knife twisted once again when she saw hurt in his eyes. "I would have fought for you," he told her in a frustrated murmur. "I would have never left you there. I would have crawled through thorns and fought every vicious beast if it was you on the other end, Odette. All I asked was for you to wait for me to make it there. To have hope."

     Odette had nothing to say to that. She felt as if she were standing on a crumbling edge, watching everything around her fall apart. Even now, she could not take the risk. Even if she could, she knew she had lost that chance. 

     Arthur seemed to be hanging on the edge of his words. He was waiting for something, and even if her response was exactly what he had expected, it still did not change the disappointment like an ache in his chest. Arthur nodded, bitter. "You still have nothing to say," he muttered and turned. This time, when he walked away, Odette did not call after him.

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    ODETTE GLUMY tossed her stew around with her spoon at dinner, staring at the meat and vegetables; feeling as dry and as dull as Gaius's cooking skills. She had barely eaten even a bite, mulling over her conversation with Arthur▬she could not stop thinking about it; about him. She didn't look at Merlin, but she knew his eyes were on her. He didn't say anything, but her chest twisted over the feeling she held as if he already knew what was on her mind, despite their secrets. 

    There were more important things than her and Arthur. She had to focus on them. She needed to focus on them. She had to do something to help her forget him. Odette took a deep breath and glanced up at Gaius sitting opposite her and Merlin. He didn't seem like he had much of an appetite either. After hearing the news of Uther deciding to have Lady Catrina's stay become indefinite, there was no laughter or smiles at this dinner. 

     "I thought you said he would think about your concerns?" murmured Odette. Despite her distrust and bitter thoughts about their King, she really had hoped that something might just go right for them, and this problem would be settled. 

     Gaius sighed, shaking his head. "As did I," he admitted, almost bewildered by the conversation he had this afternoon with Uther. "But it is no good. I can tell him she is a troll 'till I am blue in the face, he simply will not listen. He sees a charmbing, beautiful woman."

    Merlin scoffed into his soup. "Yes, with the body like a tree trunk."

    "We only know that because you saw her in the troll form."

     The young warlock set his soup aside. "So, what do we do?"

    Gaius shrugged. "We must open Uther's eyes," he said as if this were merely a simple task. "Show her for what she really is."

     Odette frowned as she tried to think, but not many ideas came to mind. however, it seemed Gaius already had a plan to play out, and when his gaze fixed on Merlin, they realised. Merlin's eyes widened. He went tense. "Using magic?"

    The Court Physician didn't look happy, but he nodded. "It is the only way to reveal her true form."

     "But she never leaves his side."

     "I know."

    Merlin stared at Gaius. He swallowed a fearful lump in his throat as he slowly began to realise what the physician was suggesting. Odette did as well, and her heart skipped a fearful beat. "You ... you want me to use magic in front of the King?"

     Gaius pursed his lips. This was the last thing he wished for his nephew to do▬the last thing Gaius himself wished to do; to put Merlin in such danger. But they had no choice. "Yes, Merlin ... I do."

     "But ... but what if the King sees?" whispered Odette, horrified at the prospect of endangering her dear friend. "What if Lady Catrina sees? There must be another way," she shook her head, stubborn. Despite hers and Merlin's disagreement earlier, she refused to willingly watch him to this. "There must be a way we can trick her, or get her alone..."

    "Odette," Merlin said softly. She met his gaze, filled with worry. She could see the fear in his own, the paleness of his cheeks▬and yet, she knew he had already agreed to do what he must, if it were to save Camelot, and to save Arthur's destiny. 

     "I am sorry, Merlin," said Gaius, pained. "I know how dangerous this is. But we cannot allow her to gain any further control over the King. Who knows what the consequences might be?"

     Merlin stood up. He took a deep breath and nodded. "I know." He glanced at the many manuscripts and leather-bound books on the shelves. "Just one problem▬I know nothing about troll magic."

     Odette set her jaw, determined. She pushed aside her meal and stood up as well. She walked to stand beside Merlin. She was always on his side, no matter what, no matter any argument or any disagreement. No matter the secrecy. That is what he meant to her, and that is what she meant to him. "Then we have a long night ahead of us."

     Merlin met her gaze. He offered her a grateful smile. 

    With each other and the candlelight as their only company, Odette, Merlin and Gaius slaved over manuscripts, books, epics and anything in the physician's library that would hold any mention of trolls and their magic. Odette didn't understand half of what she was trying to read, but she did her best▬for Merlin. Ever since she has befriended the young sorcerer, her own knowledge of magic and how it worked has grown. She could recognise a few things and could tell the difference between a simple spell and an enchantment, between a curse and a hex (or is starting to, sometimes it is just how a magic user delivers the lines of a hex and could very well change it into a curse). Even so, skimming her eyes across pages and pages of spellbooks was a perfect distraction from Arthur. 

     "Perhaps this one?" Odette had said and shown Merlin the page she had opened as the evening drew closer to night.

     He glanced at it and made a face. "No. That is a curse which turns a person into an animal. If I tried that, I would be turning Catrina into a▬a toad, or something."

     "Why a toad?"

     "Because it is an animal that matches the soul of the receiver of the curse."

     "Hmm," Odette turned back to the curse and flipped the page. "I do not see anything wrong in watching Lady Catrina be turned into a toad. It would be quite fitting. Or a rat. She would be a fine rat. Perhaps a miniature Wilddeoren."

      Merlin stifled his chuckles, and the two friends had laughed amongst each other at all the horrible animals Lady Catrina might turn into until Gaius chided them and told them to focus. 

     They continued to search the pages and pages of many books until they piled up beside their weary heads and the candles were nearly burnt all the way down the wick. 

     Until Merlin sat up and exclaimed. "I have found it!"

     Poor Gaius had already been snoring away on an open page about troll enchantments, and Merlin's loud exclaim jolted him awake. He was delerious for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just happened. "What?"

     "Here▬" Merlin shuffled to the side to allow Odette to look over his shoulder. Every tired breath she had was suddenly gone. "The Spell of Revelation. 'With which the true nature of a thing may be revealed'." He stood up and walked around the table, setting the book down in front of Gaius. Odette followed, her breath hitched with anticipation. 

     Gaius quickly skimmed over the writings. He frowned. "But this applies only to objects, things▬Not to living creatures."

     Merlin winced. "I know, but the principle's the same, is it not?" He glanced at them. "I have to try it, what other choice do we have?"

     The physician fixed his spectacles. "Very well," he sighed. "But Merlin, choose your moment very carefully. Trolls are vicious creatures. To apply this spell onto a being instead of an object ... it would require very powerful magic."

      It wasn't as if Merlin was not powerful enough, but even a great young warlock such as him might be playing with fire to see a spell such as this work on the very first try. He glanced down at the book, and then out through the chamber windows into the view of the city at night. He frowned. He seemed to be making a decision▬a troubling decision. 

    Odette watched him, intruiged. "What is it?" she asked.

    Merlin hesitated. He pursed his lips, and then relented and admitted slowly: "What if ... I were to do the spell with someone else?"

     Gaius frowned, considering his words. "Another sorcerer ... I suppose it could work. But you do realise Merlin that magic is outlawed, you would be grasping at air to try and find a sorcerer powerful enough and willing to perform magic in front of the King, here in Camelot."

      He chewed on the inside of his cheek, shuffling anxiously on his feet. He paced a few times before turning back to them. "What if ... What if I already know someone who may be willing?"

     Odette stared at Merlin in disbelief. "Who?" She wasn't sure whether she was shocked that there was another sorcerer close to Merlin's power that would help, or shocked that Merlin had not told her (or Gaius, she could guess at the look on his face) about this person until now. 

      Merlin set his jaw, shaking his head as if he was unsure on this decision himself▬as if he feared he was making a grave mistake. This was a secret he had been very determined to keep to himself. If this were different circumstances, Odette was sure he would have never spoken even a breath of it. "Let me make sure she is willing to risk her life, first▬" and without any further explanation, Merlin raced out of Gaius's chambers.

     Across the city of Camelot, outside the citadel and among the manors of highborn lords and rich merchants, Adelynn Vecentia could not sleep. She did not sleep much these days. Sleeping felt almost like a luxury▬a gift if the voices did not wake her. Taryn would not speak much outside of riddles and vague whisperings, but Adelynn had a feeling that perhaps she was lonely. If ... if ghosts in a mirror can get lonely. 

     The young Vecentia had seated herself near the mirror, holding her parchment papers on her knees as she sketched under the dim light of her candle which she brightened with soft charms whenever she needed. 

     If someone were to see some of her drawings these days, she was sure they might call in a physician to bring her treatements for her mind. Adelynn was sure she would terrify and worry her mother at the dead spiders she sketched. But she could not get the sight of that spider killing one of its own in its web in the corner of her room. Even if that summer night had been two months ago now. 

     Taryn watched her sketch her dead spider from the mirror, her face always shifting like she was merely a reflection in the water of a well. "You have talent," she mused, and her voice was muddy. "Like a spider yourself, you weave a web of art."

     Adelynn glanced at her, a little amused. She had started to get used to having Taryn around that it was not so terrifying to see her, haunting her in the corner of her gaze. "You could merely say you like my drawing. You do not need to speak riddles in a compliment."

      The ghost's face shifted once more. "Have you listened to the world around you to give you an answer as to why that spider haunts your mind?"

      She frowned at Taryn. She glanced back down at the dead spider on her parchment; a cruel drawing for a lady of her age. "It is a spider," she said, her tone flat. 

     "What does the spider tell you?" stressed the ghost, if not exasperated at her response. "Use your mind, girl▬use your magic, it has gifted you with a way of seeing the world different than others. You saw a spider kill another in its web, and now you cannot be rid of the memory."

     Adelynn sighed, annoyed herself. "You talk riddles and yet you never explain. You wish for me to understand your teachings and yet you say you are not destined to mentor me. Perhaps you should stop listening to the earth and listen to yourself."

     "I have given you answers, but you choose not to listen," responded Taryn coolly. "The world around you has given you the answers you seek, but you choose to ignore them. In the days old and long dead, you would be trained properly by a High Priestess of the Old Religion. If only these were those times, perhaps you might understand the omens right under your nose, child."

     "Spiders are not omens," Adelynn said matter-of-factly. "Besides, omens are merely superstitions."

     "You are being ignorant. Open your mind, girl."

     She huffed a frustrated breath but set her jaw and did not argue any more. Adelynn looked down at her drawing, and it even sickened her. Taryn watched her, and then, the ghost did what she least expected. The woman in her mirror sighed to herself and the reflection shifted as she shook her head. "You are scared," said the ghost in a softer tone. "You are scared of your magic, even still. The words of those ignorant of magic have poisoned your mind."

     "I am not scared of my magic," Adelynn whispered. "Magic can be a gift, that is what Merlin told me."

     "And yet you will not open your mind, child," said Taryn gently. "You will not open your heart to understand all you are destined to be. Not every child can hear magic like you do▬your connection to it is something incredibly special."

      Special. Adelynn was many things, but special was not one of them. 

     At her silence, Taryn sighed once more. "The spider is a warning," she explained to her. Adelynn glanced up at met the ghost woman's eyes in her mirror. "The Druids see a spider killing another spider in its web as a dreadful omen. Take a breath, and think to yourself, dear girl. What would you call this omen, if you were to call it one at all?"

     Adelynn didn't want to satisfy Taryn by listening to her riddles, but for some reason, this time, she chose to give them a chance. Taking a deep breath, the young Vecentia looked down at her drawing. She frowned, thinking to herself. Then, her heart twisted.

      "A spider killing another spider in its web," she murmured, her eyes widening as she realised. "The spider has been betrayed. Betrayal▬" she met Taryn's gaze in the mirror. "It warns of a betrayal."

     "Not just any betrayal," said Taryn wisely. "A betrayal between friends. Between family."

     Before Adelynn could begin to even think about what this meant, and how to comprehend what she was feeling▬the horrific tightening in her chest at the thought of such a warning▬the door of her chambers burst open.

    She spun around, shocked. Her eyes widened. "Merlin▬!" she exclaimed in a startled whisper. She watched him close the door behind him. "What▬Are you out of your mind?!" Adelynn stuffed her drawings away and glanced at the mirror. Taryn was long gone▬as if she had never been there.

    The young sorceress spun to the young warlock. "You cannot just burst into my chambers like that, what if someone were to see you, what if▬what if I were not alone or, or not decent▬" she flushed and shook those thoughts aside. She stood up. "You are▬"

     "I need your help," Merlin cut her off, and she only just realised how urgent he sounded. 

    Adelynn's shock and initial frustration slipped away. She blinked. "Help? From me?" the idea seemed very ludicrous. Why would Merlin, in all of his power, need help from someone like her? "Did you ... did you need me to speak to my brother, or...?"

     "No, no, nothing like that." Merlin took a few heavy breaths. He must have run all the way here. That thought made Adelynn a little scared. "This is a lot to take in, but, the Lady Catrina is ... well ... she is a troll."

     She stared at Merlin. Then, Adelynn burst into a soft giggle. She thought of the beautiful and well-spoken princess who had gathered the attention of the King. A troll...? Until she saw that Merlin did not share her amusement. Her smile dropped. "Wait, you are serious?"

     Merlin nodded. He made a disgusted face. "I wish I was not. But yes, deadly serious. She is a troll. A fat, ugly, wart-faced troll."

     Adelynn was bewildered. "She▬?" she thought this was some dream for a moment and she had actually managed to find some sleep. But she knew she could not dream the look of disgust and fear on Merlin's face. "Oh, Christ."

     "We have to stop her," said Merlin, "before she manages to control the King even more. We have to reveal her true self in front of everyone."

     She nodded. Then she realised. "We ... you said we ... as in us▬" she gestured between them. "You and I? Together?" 

    "The Spell of Revelation is powerful magic when it is used on objects," explained Merlin, very seriously. "If I were to use it on a being, on a troll, even with my magic I am afraid it will not be enough. But if we were to recite the spell, together. Channel our magic together, perhaps we stand a chance."

     "In front of everyone," choked Adelynn, terrified at the thought. "In▬In front of the King? You wish for me to use magic in front of the King?"

     Merlin looked pained. He swallowed harshly in his throat. "I know," he understood her fear. He was afraid, too. "I ... I do not expect you to take the risk, Adelynn. If you say no, it is okay. If you were to do this, it is dangerous, and ... and Gaius and Odette would know of your magic. But, understand that I would not be asking this of you if ... if I did not need you."

     Need you. 

     He could have said many things. He could have said he needed her help, or that Camelot needed her help. Merlin could have said things were desperate and very dire▬that it would be perilous if she disagreed. The truth was, Adelynn would have said no if he had said any of those things. The moment he said he needed her, she realised she had made her decision. 

     Adelynn took a deep breath. She glanced at the mirror once more and wondered whether Taryn was listening. Then she fixed her gaze back onto Merlin and nodded. "You have me."

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    BEING CALLED for a gathering of the Court so early in the morning and so suddenly by the King did not bode well for Odette. She and Guinevere did not have much time to prepare Morgana, so they decided to change her into her green woollen embroidered dress and added jewellery to draw attention away from her hair that had not been taken out of its morning braid. Everyone attending chattered amongst themselves, all of them sharing the same confusion▬and slight annoyance▬at being called so early in the fresh morning. Odette glanced away from her discussion with Gwen and Morgana to see Ronyn with his mother, and Adelynn across the room. Lady Elayne was whispering something to her daughter, to which her youngest seemed like she was trying very hard to not roll her eyes before fixing her posture. Though as she did, her eyes wandered, as well. Odette frowned and her gaze followed it. She tilted her head to see it find Merlin standing with Gaius and to see him meet it. 

    She did not know what powerful sorceress Merlin knew that would help him with the Spell of Revelation. However, the way he and Ronyn's younger sister shared an exchange when the two of them would not do so normally, made Odette's mind tick with a slow realisation▬A breath of curiosity. 

    "Odette," Morgana's voice made her face her mistress again, brows lifted and humming in attention. The King's Ward watched her for a moment, concerned before reaching out her fingers to fix the buttons of Odette's moth-eaten winter garment which kept her shoulders and neck warm. 

     "Oh," Odette had not realised it was not fastened properly. She flushed with slight embarrassment. She had been non-stop since yesterday afternoon. "Thank you, My Lady. I did not realise."

     "It is no fault of your own," Morgana fixed it to fit on her shoulders better, very much like a doting older sister. Odette supposed Morgana sometimes still saw her as the orphaned, lonely and yet naive fourteen-year-old girl who first came into her service▬a young innocent girl whom she needed to look after just as much as Odette looked after her. "I do wonder what Uther finds so drastic he must drag us all out of bed to be present for," Morgana grumbled that last part. She eyed Odette's winter shoulder coat and then shook her head. "You will freeze in that when winter does come. After this, I will give you one of my old fur coats, it will be much warmer. And I will buy both of you some new gloves at the market."

    Lady Morgana did not give a chance for Odette nor Gwen to protest her kindness. The two handmaidens simply had to blush in their appreciation and share tender looks with one another which spoke volumes of their loyal affection for the King's Ward.

     As the moment passed and Odette tried to wake herself up to be present for the Court gathering, she felt eyes on her▬a burning gaze that festered an ache in her chest because she knew who it belonged to even before she looked. Though, when she glanced over, like always, Prince Arthur had already looked away. 

    The door of the council chamber finall opened. The highborn members of the Court all stood still and attentive. Odette clasped her hands together at her skirts and stood dutifuly beside Morgana. She watched the King enter with Lady Catrina on his arm. She walked with such grace and beauty▬at first glance, no one would ever believe the malice and the monstrous being that hid behind her delicate smile. 

     At the appropiate time, Odette curtsied▬lower than any lord or lady. A servant such as herself was worth even less than the footprints a King left behind, and so she must bow just as low. 

     Once they passed, she stood up. Guinevere raised a slight brow at the way the King gazed at Lady Catrina with a smile on his face they have never seen before. She was dressed in a rich red gown▬the Pendragon colour. 

     "Thank you all for coming," announced the King, and there was something about the tone of his voice that felt different. Uther Pendragon sounded without weight or anger; like he was somewhere else, and even the bright gaze in his eyes was clouded over and distant. He did not seem as if he wished to look away from his Lady. Was that love? Did love look like that? Odette was sure it did not. At least, not from a man like Uther Pendragon. 

     "You are no doubt wondering why I have gathered you here today," went on the King. "Though we live in dark times, today I bring you light ..." he glanced at Lady Catrina whose smile brightened momentarily, "... and love."

     Guinevere and Morgana shared smiles that were both delighted but also disbelieving▬even they were shocked at how quickly things had escalated between the King and Lady Catrina. Odette didn't look as impressed. 

      "It gives me the greatest pleasure to inform you that the houses of Tragor and Pendragon are to be united in the closest bond of all," Uther smiled and Ronyn seemed like he was having a very hard time trying to hide his dubious expressions. "I am to marry Lady Catrina of Tragor."

     There was a delayed, scattered applause at first. A lot of people did not know how to react. They shared glances of confusion and surprise▬some even were sceptical, but no one dared to not celebrate an announcement such as this from the King. Odette applauded softly, subtly looking over at Gaius and Merlin, feeling that same dread in her stomach.

      Lady Catrina pursed her lips and carefully leaned in close to her King's ear, and he bent down ever-so-slightly to listen. She whispered words and he held up his hands to silence the applause. Odette's concern grew. "I am to marry Lady Catrina tomorrow!"

     Another delayed applause. Morgana was bewildered, but also pleasantly surprised. She chuckled softly, looking at her maids to see if they shared her reaction. However, Odette was looking elsewhere.

     She watched Gaius nod to Merlin, subtle and grave. The young warlock locked eyes with another across the room, and Odette followed his gaze. Her breath hitched quietly to see it meet Adelynn's once more. 

      Odette realised then and there. She understood. She knew what lie Merlin had been telling; the secret he was so determined to keep as Adelynn slipped behind her brother and mother without either of them noticing. No one else would notice the young Vecentia step into the shadows behind one of the concrete columns▬for what was so memorable about a fifteen-year-old girl, no matter her social status? Not wanting to draw attention to Adelynn, Odette quickly looked away, focusing on the King and smiling politely as she applauded him and Lady Catrina's news. But her heart was racing, and so was her mind. 

     The sorceress Merlin mentioned was Adelynn. It was Ronyn's younger sister. She had magic. 

     "This union heralds a new dawn..." continued the King, unbeknownst to the two magic users slipping away into the shadows, out of sight and yet hiding right under everyone's noses. A manservant to the King's son, and the youngest child of the wealthiest noble family in the Kingdom of Camelot after the royal family itself. No one noticed▬no one cared to give them a second glance. 

     Odette kept her eyes fixed on the Lady Catrina, holding her breath in anticipation. She felt satisfaction curl in her chest when her smile suddenly dropped. Odette's eyes brightened, eager as she saw her cheekbones shift underneath her skin. Her temple tensed. Her skin moved and twisted; as if something was turning beneath the surface of her flesh▬the Spell of Revelation. 

    Lady Catrina did not move, she did not show any pain▬but Odette knew she felt the spell. She knew Merlin and Adelynn's magic was doing something. 

    But that something was not enough. 

    The King finished his announcement and the Court applauded once more. Lady Catrina remained unchanged, and both Merlin and Adelynn were left dizzy with exhaustion. 

    Their plan did not work. 

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    a/n: i was gonna include the wedding but then the chapter would be ridiculously long. so i'll probably end up combining two episodes for the next chapter, which sort of works cos this is a two-parter. 

    sorry there isn't any ronyn/gwen content in this chapter, but you'll see more soon. there's just a lot of dynamics i need to work and build and start to include in this act amongst the actual plot of the episodes - it's hard, ha ha, but i love doing it. i'm trying very hard to not leave characters forgotten, which is pretty easy when you have your oc, and odette (and by association, arthur) is the main focus, and you have episodes which you are trying to fit all of these storylines into to work alongside. but its rewarding when your own plotlines and dynamics come together. 

     odette and gaius now know about adelynn which is an exciting milestone!!!! my girl adelynn is slowly transitioning from a side character to a main character and i can't wait for you guys to see her, especially in act 3. 

    bedivere will also show up more, but he's very much a side character right now. sort of like how gwaine, elyan or leon etc show up every now (though elyan should have had more screen time, they were SO lazy with him!!!!!!!!) and then, its sort of like that. he does get more important as the plot moves along, obviously. 

     there is no point adding more oc's into your story if you don't develop them. the same with relationships. especially when you're adding a relationship for the character who was apart of the canon relationship your oc is in. they deserve development and focus rather than making it seem as if you're just throwing this other character away because you don't know what to do with them. i don't want to do that with gwen. but like i said, this act is very odette/arthur focused relationship wise. and i also have like three forbidden romances that i'm developing that i'm trying to make them all be different despite being a similar trope, so ... heh. 

    i don't know what the purpose of that rant was, but sometimes i just like chatting to you guys about my characters i guess. 

     anyway, minimal editing. there is definitely a tragor spelt tregor but i couldn't find it, so.