Elizabeth's POV

Tonight father will sign a peace treaty with the Lord of Mercia. Ending war between them. Lord Bayard of Mercia has already arrived with some of his knights and servants. Father won't let me go anywhere without a guard during their stay. Encase Lord Bayard intentions of making a truce is false. It's so annoying.

Gwen is cleaning the dresses Morgana and I are to wear to the feast tonight. I've decided to go complain to Arthur about the guards following me everywhere. When I enter his room, I see him with Merlin. "Elizabeth, can I help you?" Arthur ask me.

"Can you get father to lower the security, it's getting ridiculous" I tell him.

"Afraid not, I agree with him" he states.

"But they follow me everywhere, the only privacy I get is when I am bathing or need to relieve myself. Can't they back off a little?" I ask him.

"Sorry little sister, but no" he tells me and I pout. "I know what will cheer you up" he states smiling. "Merlin, do you want to see what you'll be wearing tonight?" he asks him.

"Won't this do?" Merlin asks gesturing to his current attire.

"No. Tonight you'll be wearing the official ceremonial robes of the servants of Camelot" Arthur tells him. Arthur holds them up for Merlin and I to see. I cover my mouth as I giggle.

"You can't be serious" he says looking outraged. But Arthur was serous. He handed them to Merlin and sent him on his way.

"You know that's not mandatory, right?" I ask Arthur.

"Yes, but he doesn't" he says with a smirk. "I promise once this is over, you and I can go for a ride. Anywhere you want" he tells me.

"I'll hold you to that" I tell him. "I should go get ready, see you at the feast" I state. He nods and I leave. My guards escort me to Morgana's chambers, where I am to get ready with her and Gwen. "How come you don't have a squad of knights following you around?" I ask Morgana.

"I am not the kings daughter" she states. "Though there have been more guards patrolling the corridor outside my door since the arrival of Lord Bayard and his men" she tells me. "We should get ready" she adds as Gwen appears with our dresses.

Soon we were prepared and all three of us are escorted to the hall of ceremonies. Where the treaty will be signed and the feast held. Lord Bayard signs the treaty first, followed by my father. Who grasps arms with Lord Bayard as the crowd applauds. Father takes his seat between Arthur and I as Lord Bayard begins his speech.

"People of Camelot, for a great many years we have been mortal enemies, and the blood of our men stains the ground from the walls of Camelot to the gates of Mercia. And though we remember those who have died, we must not allow any more to join them" he states. Two serving girls appear either side of him.

"As a symbol of our goodwill, and of our newfound friendship. I present this opal necklace to Princess Elizabeth. And these ceremonial goblets to you, Uther, and to your son, Arthur, in the hope that our friendship may last" he states. It is a beautiful necklace, though I don't know if I own anything that would go with it.

The goblets are presented to Arthur and father. They are filled as Bayard continues his speech. "Tonight we toast a new beginning for our peoples. We look towards a future free from the toils of war. And may the differences from our past remain there. To your health, Uther" he says raising his own goblet. Every stands to make a toast. "Arthur" he says and he goes to drink. But stops as Bayard continues. "Princess Elizabeth and Lady Morgana" he continues. "The people of Camelot" he states.

"And to fallen warriors on both side" father finishes. We all go to drink when Merlin runs into the room. Taking the goblet from Arthur before he could drink it.

"Stop! It's poisoned! Don't drink it!" he shouts.

"What?" father asks.

"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur demands.

"Bayard laced Arthur's goblet with poison" Merlin states.

"This is an outrage!" Bayard snaps. Bayard and his men draw their swords, so do the knights of Camelot. Two stand in front of Morgana and I.

"Order your men to put down their swords" father tells him. As more guards run in. "You are out numbered" he states.

"I will not allow this insult to go unchallenged!" Bayard retorts.

"On what grounds do you base this accusation?" father asks Merlin.

"I'll handle this" Arthur assures him. He walks around the table and towards Merlin. "Merlin, you idiot. Have we been at the slow gin again?" he asks.

"Unless you want to be strung up, you will tell me why you think why you think it's poisoned now" father orders.

"He was seen lacing it" Merlin answers.

"By who?" I ask.

"I can't say" he answers. So whoever it is, must be scared for their life. Why else would Merlin not say who told him?

"I won't listen to this anymore" Bayard says.

"Pass me the goblet" father says. Arthur hands it to him and he walks over to Bayard. "If you're telling the truth, then you have nothing to fear, do you?" he asks offering him the goblet. Bayard sheaths his sword. He goes to take the goblet. "No. If this does prove to be poisoned, I want the pleasure of killing you myself" father states. "He'll drink it" he declares handing it to Merlin.

"But if it is poisoned, he'll die" Arthur states.

"Then we'll know he was telling the truth" father tells him.

"And what if he lies?" Bayard asks him.

"Then you have my apologies, and you can do with him as you will" father tells him.

"Uther, please! He's just a boy! He doesn't know what he's saying!" Gaius protests.

"Then you should have schooled him better" father tells him.

"Merlin, apologise. This is a mistake. I'll drink it" Arthur states. Merlin disagrees and drinks from the goblet. He was fine at first. But then he chokes and falls to the floor unconscious.

"It's poisoned. Guards seize him!" father orders. Bayard and his men are seized. As Morgana draws a knife and stands in front of me protectively. Gaius, Arthur and Gwen rush over to him.

"Merlin. Can you hear me? We have to get him back to my chambers. Bring the goblet. I need to identify the poison" Gaius instructs. Arthur picks up Merlin and Gwen grabs the goblet. Together all four leave the hall as Bayard and his men are taken to the dungeons.

"Elizabeth are you alright?" father asks me.

"I'm fine" I assure him.

"Guards escort her and Morgana to Morgana's chambers" he orders. "You will sleep there tonight" he tells me. I nod my head in understanding. Morgana and I leave the hall.

"Do you think Merlin will be alright?" I ask her once we're in her chambers.

"I'm sure he'll be fine, Gaius is the best physician in Camelot" she assures me.

"Thank you" I tell her.

"For what?" she asks.

"For standing in front of me, shielding me encase one Bayard's men tried to harm me" I state.

"You're like a little sister to me Elizabeth, I will always protect you" she assures me.

"I see you as a sister also" I tell her and we hug each other. We start to get ready for bed. Removing our jewelry and letting our hair down. When Gwen appears.

"My Ladies, I am so sorry I haven't been here to attend to you both" she apologizes.

"It's fine Gwen" I assure her.

"What she said, how's Merlin?" Morgana asks her.

"If Arthur comes back with the antidote in time, he'll be fine" Gwen tells us. I smile feeling relieved. Merlin has become a true friend to Arthur and I. If not for him, it'd be Arthur who was poisoned right now.

"Then he'll be fine" Morgana states. "You should be with him. We'll manage. I know what he means to you. Go" she tells Gwen. I nod my head in agreement. Gwen thanks us before leaving. "We should go wish Arthur luck" she states. I agree and we leave the room, we head to Arthur's chambers. He soon appears looking frustrated as he throws his sword onto the table.

"Say what you like about the food, but you can't beat our feast for entertainment" Morgana tells him.

"Though it would be nice if it didn't end up with someone being nearly killed" I state.

"Elizabeth, Morgana, I'm sorry, I should have made sure you both were alright" Arthur states.

"Disappointed actually. I was looking forward to clumping a couple around the head with a ladle" Morgana states.

"I'm sure the guards could have handled Bayard and his men" Arthur tells her.

"Yeah, but why let the boys have all the fun?" she asks him.

"Morgana, you shouldn't get involved. It's dangerous" he tells her.

"Spare me the lecture, I've already had it from Uther" she tells him.

"If it's any consolation, you weren't the only one" he states.

"Is that why you haven't left yet?" I ask him.

"Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right, and damn the consequences" Morgana tells him.

"You both think I should go?" he asks.

"Of course you should, Merlin is a friend to all of us and has saved you twice. He deserves to live" I state.

"If I don't make it back, who will be the next king of Camelot? There's more than just my life at stake" he states.

"And what kind of king would Camelot want? One that would risk his life to save that of a lowly servant?" Morgana asks as she offers Arthur his sword. " Or one who does what his father tells him to?" she asks.

"I know which I want" I tell him. He takes his sword. "Good luck Arthur, ride fast and be safe" I tell him. He nods and kisses my forehead before leaving. I smile and Morgana as we return to her chambers. I am proud of Arthur for going to save Merlin. I am disappointed my father would refuse to let him go in the first place. Had it been Arthur poisoned, he would have sent a squad of knights after the cure for the poison.

(Next day)

Morgana is brushing my hair as we sit in her chambers. When father appears looking furious. He had discovered Arthur's absence. "I expressly ordered Arthur not to go!" he exclaims. As Morgana puts the brush down.

"I'd say it worked like a charm, too" she states.

"Not another word" he snaps.

"My lips are sealed" she tells him.

"I should've put him under lock and key" he states.

"You can't chain him up every time he disagrees with you" Morgana tells him.

"Just you watch me! I will not be disobeyed! Especially by my own son!" he shouts.

"No, of course you won't" she says as she sits at her writing desk. She starts to write as father approaches her.

"You knew about this, didn't you? Morgana, don't lie to me" he says.

"Arthur's old enough to make decisions for himself and so is Elizabeth for that matter" she states.

"They are just children" he snaps.

"Have you seen your son or daughter recently? You have to let them make their own mind up" she tells him.

"Even if it means letting him go to his death?" he asks.

"He'll live" I say softly and both look at me. "I have faith in Arthur, so should you. You trained him" I remind father. He storms from the room. "Do you think Arthur will make it in time?" I ask Morgana.

"I'm sure he will, we have to have faith in him. Like you said" she reminds me. "How about we read for fun? Or go for a ride?" she suggests.

"Father won't let me leave the castle after Arthur rode off. But I have been meaning to borrow a new book" I tell her. She smiles and we leave for the royal library together.

(Next day)

Arthur had returned, but father threw him into jail before he could get to Merlin. He was going to let Merlin die. But Gwen got the flower from Arthur in time for Gaius to save Merlin. He also proved that Lord Bayard was not behind the attempt to poison Arthur. But the same sorceress who attacked our water.

I stand with Arthur and Morgana as we watch Bayard leave with his company. Father not far from us. "Okay. Let the bragging begin. How'd you manage it?" Morgana asks Arthur.

"I'm not sure. All I do know is I had help. Someone knew I was in trouble and sent a light to guide the way" Arthur tells us.

"Who?" Morgana and I ask.

"I don't know. But whoever it was, I'm only here because of them" Arthur states.

"I'm glad you're back" Morgana tells him.

"We both are" I tell him. "You still owe me that ride" I remind him. Before leaving with Morgana. Knowing Arthur and father needed to talk about what happened. The rest of the day was peaceful. I spent it with Gwen and Morgana.

A/N

Picture above of Merlin dressed up and the poisoned chalice. Pictures in chapter of Elizabeth, her dress, necklace and the gift from Lord Bayard.