CHAPTER SEVENTEEN ,
episode one, the curse of cornelius sigan.

PRINCESS ISABELLA of valour and camelot couldn't sleep. she was so exhausted from visiting the villagers and people of camelot all day and the silly miners would not stop...mining!

the dark haired girl groaned in frustration and got out of bed, leaving her chambers to go for a walk to clear her head.

"hi, isabella!" merlin suddenly called out as he ran past her, almost causing her to trip over his feet.

"merlin!" she raised a brow, calling him back with a hand on her hip.

"i've got to go!" he replied back as she sent him a look, causing him to sigh, turn around and walk next to her at her pace.

"why are you out of bed?" he asked her curiously as she scoffed.

"why do you think? the mining men are being too loud!"

merlin nodded in agreement as they came to arthur's chambers. "merlin!" the man called out in annoyance.

the prince looked confused seeing isabella cheerfully come inside, squinting and blinking at her. "morning arthur."

"i-" the man began but shook his head. "what..." he blinked, before turning to merlin.

"are you deaf?" he asked merlin as a loud bang could be heard beneath them.

"i wish." the warlock huffed.

"i want you to go down there and tell them to stop." he told him tiredly.

"but they are working under the kings orders." merlin replied, both of them watching as isabella ate the fruit on arthur's table.

"yes. and you are working under mine." arthur told him before going back to his bed. "joining me?" he asked isabella with an arrogant smile.

"you wish." isabella scoffed, turning around to leave as arthur laughed and merlin grimaced in disgust.

"honestly." isabella huffed as merlin caught up to her.

"ever since he heard me muttering about how i would be...slightly sad if he died he will not stop...making weird comments. like he is teasing me." she complained as merlin followed her, reminding her of a lost puppy.

"i think, one would call that flirting." he replied as she spun around to face him, her hair smacking his face as he winced.

"one, i never asked for your advice. two, never say that again to me." she said, before going up the stairs to her chambers, sighing in content when the miners stopped. no way was he flirting.

she barely even knew that that was!

GAIUS AND merlin had discovered some sort of underground treasure with a large stone in a statues chest. so they put guards on the door and only arthur kept the keys.

isabella went down the steps in the courtyard, thanking a knight for their arm to help her, and rolled her eyes when she saw merlin get on his hands and knees so arthur could step on his back and get onto the horse.

"arthur!" she snapped, merlin jumping in response which caused arthur to trip.

"why do you always do that?" arthur sighed.

"i know right?" merlin huffed.

"no, you! jumping whenever someone says something." arthur argued.

merlin pulled a face as they both turned to isabella, arthur smacking merlin's arm to get him to bow. "you might be friends but you still bow in respect, idiot." arthur told him.

isabella rolled her eyes once again. "why are you using merlin as a stool?" she asked in annoyance as arthur looked slightly stunned.

"because he was there." he lied as isabella squinted, trying to see if he was lying.

"why is that strange man staring?" isabella thought out loud as arthur got onto the horse, but the saddle came undone as arthur fell to the floor, "merlin!" he yelled.

"i don't understand." merlin looked at him in shock as isabella eyed the unknown man curiously as he brought arthur's horse back. almost as if he was waiting for him.

"well, there's a suprise!" arthur replied sarcastically.

"i did that girth up myself." merlin said in disbelief.

"i think that might have been the problem." arthur smiled sarcastically at him. merlin's face dropped.

"it wasn't my fault."

"do you want me to fit your girth properly for you, sir?" the strange man walked over with arthur's horse.

as arthur went to reply, isabella beat him to it."no thank you, you can go now." she told him as arthur sent her a look.

"isabella." he warned before turning to the man. "thank you."

"it's an honour to be of service to the prince. oh, and of course your grace." he bowed when he noticed isabella who sighed.

"of course it is. thank you but goodbye."

arthur hushed her impatiently, "an honour. do you that, merlin?" he grinned as merlin rolled his eyes.

"allow me the honour of brushing your clothes down." the man said as he brushed down arthur's coat and isabella and merlin shared a look.

"the honour." arthur made sure to whisper to them both with wide eyes and an arrogant smirk.

"anything else i can do for you, sire? your grace?" he asked with a smile as isabella eyed him.

"well, you can give merlin here a kick up the backside." arthur smiled happily.

"arthur." isabella snapped, "leave the boy alone. merlin, have the afternoon off." she told merlin who didn't wait for arthur to speak before running off.

"i wouldn't wish do deprive you of the pleasure, sire." the man chuckled as isabella turned to him.

"ha. what's your name?" arthur asked.

"cedric. i've come to camelot in search of work." the man replied, looking at him expectantly.

"good. you can be a beater on the hunt. we're short of a man or two." arthur shrugged, turning to get on the horse.

"can i come?" isabella asked as arthur went to nod, before cedric interrupted. "a lady should not take part in such activity. you know where your role is i'm sure?" he asked as merlin's jaw dropped and isabella looked stunned.

"let us not go there, cedric." the french woman began calmly. "i may be a lady but we both know that i am more powerful than you. you see those guards over there?" she pointed to the guards a few feet behind, since they always followed her closely behind everywhere. he nodded slowly. "one wave of my hand and you will be gone...physically." she smiled, before stepping away to let arthur get back on the horse.

cedric cleared his throat as arthur looked proudly at her, and merlin picked up the beater stick they used for hunting. "here. you'll need a beater." he smacked the stick into cedric's stomach. "oh, sorry." he said sarcastically as cedric groaned.

"have fun, arthur. bring me back an alive bunny rabbit." isabella grinned hopefully.

arthur sighed, "i am not bringing you a rabbit."

the girl rolled her eyes and headed into the courtyard, muttering curses at the man in french.

"isabella." a voice called out as she turned around to see lily, the girl from ealdor. she had a troubled expression on her face. isabella immediately crouched to her level, frowning.

"lily? are you alright? why have you come to camelot? and...how?" she asked, lily had a mysterious look on her face as she held onto isabella's hands.

"be careful, izzie." the girl said quietly as isabella frowned.

"careful? why?"

"there was word near ealdor that a man would come here. to camelot. he has bad intentions. i came to warn you." she told her as isabella looked at her curiously.

"where is your mother?" isabella asked as lily sighed, wanting isabella to understand that something bad was happening.

"back at home...i snuck out again." the young girl replied hesitantly.

"lily you know you shouldn't do that. your mother will be so worried." isabella told her gently as lily nodded.

"i know. but i had to tell you. i have a bad feeling." lily said quietly as isabella picked her up, and smiled kindly at her.

"thank you for telling me, lily. but i can assure you that everything is perfectly fine here. now, shall i find some food and water and take you back to ealdor?" she suggested as lily nodded with a small smile.

isabella did as she said she would and soon enough found a pony for lily and the two, plus three other guards, set off for ealdor.

it took a long while but isabella made sure lily had food and water on the journey, having no clue that arthur didn't know where she was and was dramatically storming around the castle yelling at random people to find her.

"arthur! will you be quiet." morgana exclaimed in annoyance as she caught up to the boy who was still walking through the village.

"well, where is she?" arthur replied, frustration in his voice.

"she is with lily from ealdor. the poor child travelled all the way here with no parents and seemed to warn her about something." morgana replied calmly as arthur frowned.

"she's alone? with lily? going through the woods? to ealdor? on her own?" arthur asked in disbelief as morgana rolled her eyes.

"no, guards went with them." morgana reassured as arthur sighed in relief, morgana smirked at him.

"you care so dearly for her." she pointed out as arthur rolled his eyes, turning to face her.

"shut up, morgana. goodbye."

"where are you going now?" morgana laughed as the prince stormed off in a huff.

"i am going to tell the guards to tell me when she is back."

princess isabella and the guards soon returned to camelot, the dark haired girl was now tired after being on a long journey. she joined morgana in the great hall for dinner so morgana filled her in with everything that happened on arthur's hunting journey, and how cedric had saved him.

isabella had guessed that it was merlin who saved him and cedric took the credit for it.

"there you are." a voice called out as she turned to see arthur walking into the great hall, sitting down next to isabella who sent him a smile.

"my apologises. after you left, lily from ealdor needed my help. i had to take her back. guards came with me, of course." she reassured as arthur hummed in understanding.

"morgana informed me." arthur began, eating a slice of bread. "no one else seemed to know."

"it was a last minute decision. i told the remaining knights to tell uther and morgana." she replied simply, before smiling once again.

"if you don't mind, i am getting tired. long travels. i hope your hunting trip went well." she stood up as arthur nodded understandly, and morgana joined her as they went to their own chambers, saying goodnight.

ISABELLA WAS starting to get concerned. almost every night she would wake up to morgana screaming and calling for her or gwen's name, in a panic about a dream she had.

"what is the matter?" isabella called out as she rushed into morgana's chambers. the ward was crying, and reached out to hug isabella who did so immediately.

"there is nothing to be afraid of, ana. you are safe." isabella reassured, squeezing her tight before pulling away to see what happened.

"what was the dream?" she asked as morgana couldn't reply, too shaken.

isabella sighed and glanced out the window. the sun had risen by now anyway, so she decided to get herself ready, calling gwen to help morgana and then try and entertain herself by walking around the castle with a book in hand.

merlin walked past her and she smiled, joining him. "breakfast?" she asked and he nodded, handing her a bit of bacon as she grinned up at him.

"what is cedric like?" she asked curiously as they neared arthur's chambers.

"insufferable." merlin replied simply, opening the door.

"is that lunch?" arthur asked as they both walked in, isabella turned around with a frown seeing cedric put food on arthur's plate.

"no, it's breakf—" merlin began, but he too frowned at the sight.

"what is he doing inside the castle?" isabella titled her head as cedric looked offended and arthur sent her a look.

"he has a position in the royal household after saving me yesterday on our travels." arthur replied simply as isabella looked confused.

cedric winked at merlin smugly as isabella caught it and sent him a glare. "do not disrespect merlin." she told him as cedric looked away, pretending to have done nothing.

"is there anything else you need doing, sire?" merlin almost sighed at the prince who shook his head.

"hm, no. i think cedric has got it all covered." arthur smiled falsely at merlin who ignored it and turned to leave.

"oh! i regret sire. there is one thing i failed to do." cedric said slowly, faking disappointment. arthur raised a brow, gesturing for him to continue.

"muck out your horses." cedric said, glancing up at merlin who glared slightly at him.

"off you go." arthur said to merlin.

"no." isabella began making them all turn to her, arthur almost sighed at the girl, waiting for a big speech.

"merlin, before you do that, since arthur wants to be an arrogant toad with no respect, you can have some of my breakfast in the great hall. it is far nicer than whatever that is." isabella said simply, spinning around, hair almost whipping merlin's face again as she went to leave. 

"if i may speak. you shouldn't let her address you like that sire." she heard cedric say to arthur as she scoffed at merlin who shook his head.

"what a nasty man. first taking credit for your actions then taking over your role and now disrespecting me!" the princess ranted as merlin jogged to catch up with her on their way to the great hall.

"i don't trust him." merlin admitted as isabella hummed in agreement.

"there is something off about him. i'm glad you understand." isabella replied as they sat down to eat, morgana joined them after gaius treated her, and so did estella and gwen.

the five of them ate breakfast, since the king wasn't there they knew it wouldn't be an issue to let their maids and merlin to join them. isabella was glad of the friendships she had made with them since being in camelot.

THE PRINCESS was shocked to see all of the horses escaping the barn, merlin was supposed to be mucking them out, not letting them go. she found arthur trying to round them up, but it was no good.

they both went to the stables and saw merlin asleep, using horse manure as a pillow as she grimaced, holding her nose because of the stench.

merlin woke up, slowly looking around before seeing them both. he widened his eyes, "sire, your grace." he jumped up as arthur frowned at him.

"what are you doing?" isabella asked in disbelief, merlin blinked.

"um...nothing." merlin tried to play it off as the prince and princess shared a look.

"i can see that." arthur replied sarcastically as isabella lightly smacked his arm.

merlin groaned, holding his head in pain as he looked around. "i wasn't sleeping." he told them surely as isabella bit her lip to stop her from laughing.

arthur nodded sarcastically, getting him to continue. "i was...i was just bending down." merlin finished, nodding.

"looking for something?" arthur asked, standing up straighter as isabella sighed, knowing where this was going.

"yes." merlin lied.

"perhaps we are looking for the same thing." arthur hummed, glancing over at isabella, who giggled slightly despite the situation not being funny.

"what?" merlin asked, confused as to what was going on.

"oh, i don't know...the horses, merlin!" isabella exclaimed in annoyance as arthur looked at merlin in disappointment and irritation.

"the horses." merlin repeated, confused, before his eyes widened and he gasped, noticing they were gone. "oh!"

"one mistake i can understand. everyone has a bad day every now and then. but this is one thing after another!" arthur exclaimed as merlin looked confused and slightly upset.

"arthur." isabella spoke quietly as arthur shook his head at her.

"no, isabella. this is bad." arthur replied.

"i...i don't know what happened." merlin put his head in his hands in bewilderment, making isabella believe him.

arthur mocked his actions, about to reply when cedric walked in. "sire ." he called out with the horses in hand.

isabella rolled her eyes. of course he was the hero. she walked over and snatched the reigns of her horse out of his hands and tied zola to the wall. "please, don't be too hard on him." cedric said fakely.

"he is a good servant. he's...just tired." cedric finished.

merlin gasped, "i am not!" he replied.

"maybe...maybe if he had the evening off." cedric began as merlin shook his head in annoyance.

"no! i do not want the evening off!" he continued as cedric ignored him.

"a good night's rest."

"i did not fall asleep!" merlin yelled making isabella and cedric jump.

"i am more than willing to take over his duties tonight." cedric said slyly.

"perhaps you are right." arthur began.

"no!" merlin pointed a finger a arthur.

"shut up merlin." arthur replied blankly.

"can you not see what is is attempting to do? he is trying to get rid of me! he's disrespected isabella and you are still believing his lies—." merlin exclaimed and isabella silently cheered merlin on. "and if you weren't such a clotpole you'd see that!" merlin finished as isabella widened her eyes, and so did merlin.

arthur faced him with a raised brow. "a what?"

merlin blinked and stood up straighter, awkwardly looking at him, wanting to go back in time.

"clotpole. he said clotpole." cedric replied, sighing dramatically at merlin.

arthur turned to merlin with a look of disbelief. "cedric is right. he can look after me tonight. you can go home and think about wether you want to be my servant or not." arthur told merlin with anger laced in his tone.

isabella rolled her eyes at the man, watching as cedric patted merlin's jacket and handing it to him. she forcefully pushed past the man, motioning for merlin to follow her out. "you need to think about your actions. you are believing some strange man over your friend who has been here much longer and has shown you kindness and trust over these past months. remember who your true allies are." she told arthur before leaving.

"i'm sorry about him. i do not know what has happened. i really do not trust cedric. how would you randomly fall asleep like that? he must've planted something." she ranted to merlin who glanced down at her.

"you believe me?" he asked and she nodded almost immediately.

"of course i do. you're my friend." she said as if it was obvious.

"we need some sort of proof about this man. lily warned me about a man coming to camelot with bad intentions, maybe it is cedric." she told the much taller boy who nodded slowly.

"that does make sense." merlin agreed as she nodded, smiling sympathetically at him.

"i'm sorry merlin." she said again, standing out side of gaius's chambers. "arthur doesn't realise how lucky he is to have a servant as loyal and caring as you."

merlin shrugged it off. "i am fine, bella. truly. i'll see you tomorrow." he said and she nodded with a kind smile, before turning to leave to go to her own chambers.

THE WARNING bell had been going off all of the next morning due to one of the jewel's from the caves being stolen. merlin had told isabella that the only people with access to arthur's chambers last night was him and cedric.

so, merlin had gone to tell arthur and try and convince him that cedric had been possessed by an evil spirit. the curse of cornelius sigan. the jewel cedric had taken held the soul of the ancient sorcerer sigan.

unfortunately, merlin decided to launch himself at cedric to start a fight, arthur watched in disbelief at first, but then decided to stop merlin and put him in the cell. merlin had told isabella all of this later that night when she finally realised he had been locked up.

on her way back to the courtyard, she frowned at all the people screaming and running from something. her eyes widened in fear as a large beast dropped in front of her, a scream escaped her lips as she ran back to the castle, bursting into the throne room where king uther was.

"isabella, what is it?" uther asked, noticing the shaken look on her face.

"outside—a beast—" she said between breaths as the king shot up from his seat to look, his eyes widened as he looked over camelot.

"where has this beast come from?" the king asked as arthur rushed inside, having seen the beasts too.

"there is more than one, father. we have had several reports." arthur told him, knights behind him. "there is panic in the lower town, people are fleeing the city."

"one  almost attacked isabella." the king replied slowly as arthur glanced at the princess who's eyes were filled with tears, he walked over to hug her, holding the back of her head as she sniffled slightly.

"you must hunt these creatures down and kill then." the king told arthur who nodded. "yes, sire." he pulled away from isabella, sending her a reassuring look before leaving.

the two stayed in the throne room, shaking slightly whenever a beast would roar loudly as gaius rushed in, "have you seen what is happening?" uther asked loudly.

"it is as i warned you, sire!" gaius replied as uther shook his head firmly.

"it cannot be sigan." the king told the physician who stepped closer in a panic. "it is his revenge. he has come back from the dead." he replied, trying to reason.

"then he shall die again." the king exclaimed loudly as isabella jumped at the sight of a beast flying past the window, almost creating an earthquake in the throne room.

"you do not understand, sire. you cannot kill a man who has conquered mortality." gaius replied calmly.

"do not tell me what cannot be done!" the king yelled. "camelot will not fall to a sorcerer while i am king!"

the wall began to crack as they jumped, looking up at it in shock as isabella rushed over to them both, her heart racing. "isabella, go to your chambers. guards are on the door." the king told her .

isabella ran out, but not to her chambers. she found morgana with a guard carrying a man into another hall where lots of the injured were and decided to help them carry him in.

"you both shouldn't be doing this." gaius called out, he had left to king to treat more patients.

"it is exactly what i should be doing. we cannot sit by and watch." morgana told the man, putting a cold flannel on an injured knights head.

"you both need rest." gaius told them in disbelief.

"we are unlikely to get it with all of this going on." isabella replied, getting a bandage and handing it to gaius.

"i'm going out there." isabella said before running out, not giving any time for morgana or gaius to stop her.

she looked around to see arthur on the floor and rushed over, her eyes widening in shock noticing a beast flying towards him. so she grabbed arthur's arms and dragged him out of reach, huffing slightly. "you're heavy!" she exclaimed.

"isabella!" he called out in shock. she smiled, "arthur." she greeted awkwardly.

"that thing could have kill you." he looked at her in disbelief and she shrugged. "it's fine—a prince is more important than a princess anyway—and it still might!" she cut herself off by pulling him back down, seeing the beast fly at them. 

she dragged him back up, complaining about him being no help and they both ran inside the castle. she frowned noticing he had a large wound on his chest. "you didn't tell me about this."

"i didn't have a chance too—i was laying on the floor and then all of a sudden you dragged me up and called me heavy." he smiled sarcastically as she smiled the action, rolling her eyes.

"i'll get something to stop the bleeding—and a bandage." she replied softly, turning to leave as he held her hand to stop her from going.

"thank you." he replied as she avoided his gaze, but nodded. "of course, arthur. i wasn't going to leave you there."

"and...you are more than just a princess to me." he said, trying to find the right words as she raised a brow, not getting his attempt at 'flirting' as merlin called it.

"well, i can't be. i am a princess—i can't be more than that. well, not yet anyway." she said in a confused tone as he just laughed at her cluelessness, and she smiled awkwardly, unsure of what was so funny.

"i'll be back." she told him and he nodded, his gaze softening into a smile as she turned to get some bandages and a cloth.

she returned moments later, "there is no doctor free. so you are stuck with me trying to save you." she teased and he chuckled.

"well, i have no hope then." he replied and she rolled her eyes.

"you have no faith in me." she replied as his eyes softened, and she huffed. "well...i—i cannot do it with you like that." she said awkwardly, getting slightly flustered as he frowned.

"like what?"

"i cannot put a bandage over your armour." she said in embarrassment as he stared at her for a few moments before laughing.

"you want to see me shirtless don't you." he said arrogantly as her face dropped, looking at him in annoyance, which made him want to tease her further. 

"very funny. but no." she replied, a hand on her hip as he shrugged, but took of his armour as she tried to focus on his wound and not his smirking face.

"arthur, i hope you know i do not know what i am doing—so if i infect the wound and you die it's really not my fault." she warned and he grinned, nodding.

she first cleaned the wound, remembering seeing morgana do it to a patient a few moments before. the white cloth had practically turned red now, and it was starting to get on her hands which made her feel slightly uneasy. he was loosing a lot of blood.

she held the cloth there, ignoring his wince in pain and waited for the bleeding to stop slightly, before getting a bandage and wrapping it around his chest on the wound, tying it up.

she put her hands on her hips and looked at the bandage proudly. "looks like you will survive." she shrugged, wiping her hands on her now bloody dress and smiling at him.

"thanks." he said between a laugh, before uther came in, calling out for him. "arthur!"

"it's nothing." he said, wincing slightly at the pain still as isabella shook her head.

"have we driven the creatures out?" king uther asked in a panic.

isabella's face dropped at his words. he was more concerned about his kingdom then his own son. "they have control of the lower town. the market has been all but destroyed." arthur replied hesitantly.

"how many dead?" the king asked as he scanned the room.

"too many to number." arthur told him as uther slowly turned to glance at them both.

"i am sealing the citadel." he announced to them as her eyes widened in shock. "you can't." arthur said in disbelief.

"i have no choice!" uther replied back as he turned to everyone, "i have to protect those who have a chance. if i do not we will all fall." he finished as arthur struggled to get up which made isabella frown at him.

"where are you going?" isabella asked, as arthur limped slightly. "there are people trapped on the drawbridge." he replied, trying to get to the door.

"i forbid you!" uther shook his head as morgana, estella and gwen walked over in shock.

"i am not leaving them to die." arthur replied, turning to leave. "arthur—it is suicide!" the king pulled him back, making arthur turn to him.

"it is my duty to camelot and to myself. i have to save our people!" he finished before leaving the room, as isabella followed him quickly.

"arthur, please. you are injured. you cannot save everyone." she told him as she caught up to him.

he turned back to her, guards and knights following as isabella looked up at him nervously. "do you still have faith in me?" he asked as she frowned at him.

"always." she replied without hesitation as he wrapped his arm around her, nodding.

"well then you know i'll come back to you." he told her as she hugged him back, staying there for a few moments before nodding and letting him go.

he rushed off as she watched his figure getting smaller and smaller as he ran to the courtyard and frowned. there must be something merlin could do to help.

she was about to go to the dungeons, when she saw gaius whispering in a hushed tone by a hidden wall. she slowly walked over and her eyes widened seeing merlim had escaped from his cell. "merlin!" she whisper yelled as she ran over to them, merlin smiled lightly as gaius continued to speak.

"there is only one who knows how to defeat sigan...the great dragon." he said quietly as merlin's face dropped, shaking his head slightly.

"he helps no one but himself." merlin replied, looking away as gaius glanced at the disappointment on isabella's face.

"for arthur's sake, you must go to him now. isabella go with merlin." gaius told them and isabella nodded hurriedly.

"i cannot." merlin replied. something must have happened for him to be so defiant. "we have no choice." gaius said in a warning tone.

merlin sighed and nodded, before turning around, making sure isabella was following before going to see the great dragon in the caves.

"hello?" merlin called out, but there was no reply.

"please, i need your help!" merlin yelled loudly in despair as isabella sighed in frustration, however she turned around when she heard the flapping of wings, and a chain against rocks.

the great dragon flew down in front of them, and had an angry look on his face, but he still bowed his head at isabella who curtsied with a kind smile.

"you told me i would not see you again." kilgharrah accused, looking suspicious.

"i am not here for myself. we are here for arthur." merlin replied, for some reason not liking the great dragon at all.

"arthur's path lies with yours. you have made it clear you do not walk in step with me." the dragon replied hastily.

"you know what cornelius sigan can do. you are not evil." merlin argued, staring straight back at the dragon who didn't even flinch.

"at least sigan knows where his loyalties lie. you have shown that you do not." he said, venom laced in his tone as isabella glanced at merlin questioningly.

"so you will let camelot fall?" merlin asked in disbelief as the great dragon sat up, a slightly offended look on his face.

"i did not say that." he replied simply.

"then you will help us?" isabella spoke up, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. the dragon glanced at her before replying.

"to defeat sigan you will need a spell more powerful than anything you know." he told them with slightly raised brows as merlin sighed.

"please. i have to try." merlin begged.

"very well...but you must give me something in return." the great dragon said slyly. merlin's face dropped as he stared at the dragon suspiciously, "what?" he replied.

"a promise. that one day you will free me."kilgharrah spoke slowly, watching for merlin's reaction.

to his surprise, merlin laughed in disbelief, shaking his head as the dragon's gaze hardened. "if i release you, what will you do?" merlin asked.

"that is not your concern." the dragon replied.

"i don't trust you!" merlin exclaimed as isabella glanced at them both, frowning. "nevertheless, you must promise or camelot will fall." kilgharrah told him.

"we promise!" isabella said quickly as merlin glanced at her, before nodding slowly at the dragon who smirked slightly. "now please give merlin the spell, sir."

"close your eyes and open your mind." the dragon told merlin as isabella watched curiously. the dragon used his breath to blow against merlin's face, to which merlin's eyes turned gold and he looked up at the dragon in shock.

"few men have ever been gifted such knowledge. use it wisely." the dragon told merlin who was stunned. he then turned to isabella, bowing his head, "i am sure that if something should go wrong, isabella will know what to do." he sent her a knowing look, his eyes landing on her dress pocket.

she smiled, nodding at the dragon, and curtsying once more before turning to leave, having to help merlin stand up properly due to the impact of the spell.

"you made a promise, little one, young warlock. and one day i shall keep you to it." he told them. merlin glanced at him once more before leaving to save camelot.

"isabella, you must hide. stay close incase you need to use your powers—but do not make yourself seen." merlin told her hurriedly as they ran through the castle.

she nodded hesitantly, smiling at him in reassurance. "good luck." she told him, before disappearing outside as he glanced at where she was stood, before running back to where arthur was.

the princess had no idea how worried the king and morgana was, having not seen her for a long while.

she watched closely as merlin used his magic to destroy the beasts, it was just him in the courtyard with many fallen men. she also noticed him running to arthur who was on the floor, knocked out.

"who would have believed it?" a voice called out, sending shivers down isabella's spine as cedric walked towards merlin and arthur. "you, a sorcerer. a powerful one."

"i won't let you hurt him!" merlin called out, having made a promise to isabella, and it was his destiny after all.

"and you are going to stop me?" cedric laughed. isabella realised it was him who had been possessed.

"i'll stop you." merlin said confidently as he stood up to face cedric.

"he does not deserve your loyalty. he treats you like a slave. they all do." cedric pushed, trying to have merlin on his side.

"that is not true." merlin argued, frowning.

"he cast you aside without a moment's thought." cedric exclaimed as merlin shook his head, "that doesn't matter." he defended.

"but it must hurt so much to be so put upon, so overlooked, when all the while you have such power." cedric said in mock sadness as merlin looked down.

isabella frowned, shaking her head. it made her feel terrible for merlin and even estella too. she had always and would always treat them equally to how she would treat royalty but knowing others do not made her heart break for them. she hoped merlin didn't ever feel like that. she made a mental note to speak with arthur to try and get him to understand.

merlin then finally replied, "that is the way it has to be."

"does it?" cedric asked mockingly, raising a brow. "you are young, merlin. look inside yourself. you have yet to discover your true power. i can help you! think, merlin! to have the world appreciate your greatness, to have arthur and your little princess of a friend know you for what you are."

"that can never be." merlin replied with a small frown.

"it can! if you join me." cedric replied with a reassuring nod, "together we can rule over this land. arthur will tremble at your voice. he will kneel at your feet."

"i do not want that." merlin replied, glaring at the man. isabella watched with a frown, staying close by.

"you would rather be a servant?" cedric asked in disgust.

"it is better to serve a good man than to rule with an evil one!" merlin exclaimed as cedric looked at him in anger.

"so be it." he yelled. "if you will not join me, i will become you and your power will be harnessed to my will!" he continued, before gasping slightly in pain, seeking to choke on something.

cedric gasped and fell to the floor, his eyes were lifeless as isabella stared in shock, seeing a blue light escape his mouth and go towards merlin, quiet whispers escaping it.

merlin began to enchant something loudly as the light went inside of him, making merlin choke, falling to the floor as isabella shot up from her place.

a raven flew by as she ran over to merlin, her eyes wide. "merlin?" she shook him, checking over arthur who was also not waking up.

her eyes filled with tears as she stared at the two men, both almost lifeless, just as she was about to take out her agate, she heard faint footsteps and glanced over to see gaius walking towards them.

"gaius." she got up and ran over, hoping he would help them.

"merlin..." gaius's eyes widened as he looked behind isabella.

the princess turned around to see merlin stood up, the fog surrounding him as she frowned. merlin walked slowly towards them, but it didn't seem like him.

all of a sudden, merlin grinned, holding up the jewel that held the curse of sigan.

isabella practically squealed in delight as she ran over, almost knocking him down as she hugged him, overjoyed with the boy. "i'm so proud of you!" she exclaimed as gaius joined in the hug.

"well done, my boy!" gaius beamed, wrapping his arms around both of them, letting out a laugh in glee.

merlin had never felt so appreciated and loved in his life. he was forever grateful for the two of them.

isabella walked back to arthur, who was still knocked out and lifted his chest up to have him sit against her. she looked up at gaius worriedly who told merlin to help carry him in so he could treat him.

ISABELLA VALOUR sat with merlin and gaius in his chambers the next morning, gaius said he would prepare them some food. isabella hadn't seen arthur since, but had heard he had woken up.

"has anyone ever told you, merlin?" isabella began as the two sat down next to each other to eat some food.

merlin looked at her questioningly, waiting for her next words as she smiled up at him. "you are absolutely incredible. i truly believe you could grow to be the greatest sorcerer the world has ever known."

he couldn't help but grin, his eyes almost closing from how hard he was smiling. before he could reply, there was a knock at the door.

arthur walked in, with a black eye and a bruise on his temple. "i've come to see merlin." he said in a slightly sarcastic tone as merlin internally groaned.

"i have not forgotten about your lazy, insolent ways or the fact you called me a clotpole—" he began in annoyance as isabella coughed to stop herself from laughing at gaius's expression.

"however, i do have to admit that there was some truth in your accusation against cedric." he finished as merlin's eyes widened in shock.

"does this mean you are admitting that on this occasion i was actually right?" merlin asked in shock as isabella's jaw dropped and looked up at arthur.

"no way." she gasped. "are you feeling alright?" she put her hand to his head to check his temperature as he swatted it away and merlin laughed.

"not exactly, no. it means that i have a knighthood to bestow first thing tomorrow and no one to clean my armour." arthur shrugged as isabella rolled her eyes and sat back down with a grin.

arthur dropped all of his armour onto the table with a smile. "all that?" merlin asked in disbelief.

arthur nodded with a sarcastic smile. "yep." he chucked the bag at merlin's face, before turning to go.

isabella hopped off the stool, waved goodbye to merlin and gaius before joining arthur. "hopefully that was a lesson to you to treat merlin better."

arthur rolled his eyes in response. "isabella, you really need to stop giving me that kind of attitude." he replied as she grinned up at him.

"see you at dinner. i'm going to go and brush my hair." she said simply, before skipping off to her chambers as he watched with a smile, rolling his eyes.

guys the next chapter is the once and future queen the one we've all been waiting for OHMYGOD what an episode

"gwen and arthur" on spotify has been on repeat.

also, the new gif🤍