| i feel like anything that would follow the last chapter will be anticlimactic in comparison, so sorry if it's not super great |

"what do you mean i missed gwaine?"

[3.9 — The Eye of the Phoenix]

Quietly, Lia crept through the corridor and into the antechamber that led to the Throne Room. Merlin did not hear her approach, too consumed with spying on Arthur through the crack in the door. He startled when she set her chin on top of his head but relaxed, knowing it was her.

Lia peered into the Throne Room, which was dimly lit. Arthur was kneeling in the center of the room, dressed in a simple tunic and some kind of white ceremonial robe. She both understood and did not understand what the Prince was doing, as it was something her father had done in his youth as well — Lia just hadn't paid much attention to any of Florian's stories about battles and quests, finding them a bit boring.

"What's he actually doing?" Lia whispered.

"Thinking," Merlin replied, just as quietly. Had Arthur heard them, he'd never stop yelling at them for disturbing something so important.

"About?" she pressed.

Merlin moved so that Lia's head rested on his shoulder while he grinned slyly at her. "You." Lia rolled her eyes and knocked her head against his in lieu of hitting him. He shushed her before closing the door so that they'd be free to talk. "He has to decide upon a quest."

"And crouching on his knees all night is going to help?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes," Merlin told her. "He has to transcend his body so that the quest is revealed to him in a vision."

"And you're going to stay here and watch him?" she asked, biting back a smile. Merlin also realized how ridiculous the whole transcending thing sounded, but held back his mocking comments, knowing how important it was for Arthur.

"Lia, this is one of the most important days in a prince's life," he reminded her. "You know how significant it is."

"Well, then I suppose I'll be waiting with you," Lia said, sliding down the wall to sit on the floor.

Merlin copied her actions and chuckled. "You should go to bed. It's one of your last nights before moving into your new chambers."

"Perhaps, but I cannot enjoy my last nights sharing a room with my best friend if my best friend isn't there," she pointed out. "It's horrible timing, really. Next time Arthur must go through a life-altering ritual, I'd prefer it to be at a more convenient moment."

"I will be sure to let him know that," Merlin said, chuckling. "Really though, you should get some rest."

"Got a perfect pillow right here," she said, smiling sweetly as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "We can just stay up and talk all night like when we were little. That way we're the first ones Arthur sees once he's finished transcending or whatever."

| | |

Uther's eyes landed on the sleeping bodies of Merlin and Lia as he and the council descended the steps. He refrained from rolling his eyes as he nudged the servant with his foot. Had he not had to check on Arthur, Uther would have reprimanded Lia on how improper it was for a princess to fall asleep in the corridor.

Lia and Merlin groggily got to their feet and followed the council into the Throne Room. Arthur had not moved in the night, remaining in his kneeling position. Uther walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder, breaking his trance.

"It is time," Uther said, stepping back. Slowly, Arthur got to his feet and faced him. "What is the quest you have chosen?"

"I can see but one path, Sire," Arthur said. Lia thought he looked a bit dazed and wondered if all the transcending nonsense was more than just nonsense. "I am to enter the realm of the Fisher King and find the golden trident spoken of in the legends of The Fallen Kings."

Lia's eyes widened, remembering growing up on frightening stories of the Fisher King and his realm. Clearly, she was not the only one to worry about Arthur setting off on such a dangerous quest, but Uther masked his concern well.

"You do understand that if you are to prove yourself worthy of the throne, you must complete this task alone and unaided?" he asked.

"I do."

Lia and Merlin shared an anxious look. They both knew that Arthur rarely completed any task alone and unaided, though the Prince had no clue of Merlin's involvement. That would certainly make this quest more interesting.

| | |

That morning, Merlin sat at the breakfast table anxiously stuffing his face while Lia and Gaius watched him carefully.

"You'll get hiccups," Gaius warned, causing Merlin to slow down a bit.

"Who was the Fisher King?" he asked.

"He was a sorcerer who lived many hundreds of years ago," Lia told him. "Father's knights used to tell me scary stories about him growing up."

"And?" Merlin pressed, wanting to know what made him so scary.

"Legend has it he was wounded in battle. The wound festered and the infection spread, not just through his body, but through his lands as well," Gaius explained. "His mighty kingdom was reduced to a wasteland, and it has remained that way to this very day."

"I don't understand. Why is Uther so worried?" he asked, shoving more bread into his face.

"Some believe the Fisher King's still alive, Lin, kept from death by his magic," Lia said.

"Do you both?" he asked, glancing between Gaius and Lia, who were frowning.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not," Gaius said. "But the people of the north call the area The Perilous Lands. Few who have ever ventured there have lived to tell the tale."

"Merlin, I know he's meant to go alone, but this is no ordinary quest," Lia warned. "You must go and keep an eye on him."

"He's not going to like that idea," Merlin muttered.

| | |

While Arthur sat at his desk, combing over maps of the Perilous Lands, Merlin made his bed — it was one of the rare mornings when he didn't tease the Prince about not doing it himself, knowing he had more important things to worry about.

As he finished fluffing the pillows, a hiccup escaped Merlin's lips. He sheepishly looked over his shoulder at Arthur, who did not look amused. "I ate too quickly."

Another hiccup sounded and Arthur sighed. "Merlin—"

"I can't help it," he interrupted.

"I need to concentrate," Arthur insisted, doing his best to not get annoyed. There were ten seconds of peaceful silence before he hiccupped once more. "I am trying to prepare for one of the most important moments in my life."

Merlin nodded apologetically before looking at Arthur's desk. "All these maps—" Merlin tried to muffle the next hiccup, but it was useless. "—none of them are the same."

"Well done, Merlin. Do you know why?" he asked, annoyance clear in his tone.

"No."

"Because hardly anyone's ever been there."

"Couldn't you have chosen something a bit easier?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm meant to be proving my worth to the people. A quick trip to the lower town to collect a bundle of herbs probably won't cut it."

"But the Perilous Lands are... perilous. Maybe I should come with you," Merlin mumbled.

Arthur couldn't believe his ears. "What for?"

"To help out.

"You really don't get it, do you? The task must be completed alone and unaided," Arthur said, snatching the map that Merlin was holding out of his hands. "That's the way it's been for hundreds of years. It's not about to change for you. Now, if you don't mind, I have some important preparation to do."

Merlin nodded and left Arthur alone, but not without one last hiccup to drive the Prince mad.

| | |

Lia was accompanied by Morgana and Gwen as they walked through the markets in the lower town, with Leon silently trailing behind them as an escort. Lia was picking out things like curtains and decorations that would be for her new chambers, as well as some fabric, as Uther wanted some nicer dresses made for her.

Gwen had picked up some sheer orange fabric and draped it over her head, silently asking what the others thought with a smile on her face. Before either girl could decide, an elderly woman grabbed Morgana's wrist, startling them.

"Please, please, just spare me a few minutes of your time, Sister," the woman muttered. Morgana, recognizing her as Morgause in disguise, nodded and moved to go with her.

"My Lady?" Gwen called, moving to follow after her.

Morgana looked at them over her shoulder and smiled. "It's alright, Gwen, Lia. I won't be a moment."

Both girls nodded and turned back to the booth, unaware that Morgause was taking Morgana away to plot Arthur's death. Lia grabbed the orange fabric and held it up to Gwen's face one more. "Orange is such a lovely color on you," Lia told her. "Let me get it for you."

"Oh, no," she said, shaking her head. "I couldn't."

"Gwen, you work so hard for Morgana already, and now Uther is commissioning you to make all these gowns for me in your free time. Let me get you something nice," she said, neatly folding the fabric and putting it in her basket. "And this cream color will pair lovely with it as well."

Gwen smiled softly and nodded, accepting the gift. Then she looked over the market stall and selected a soft blue-colored fabric. "I'll make you a wonderful dress out of this. Arthur loves you in blue."

Lia's cheeks heated up and she looked at the ground. "Oh, stop it."

"It's true," Gwen said in a singing tone. "Whenever you wear that one blue dress, he never takes his eyes off you. I'll simply recreate a nicer version to appease the King."

"Who could ever appease Uther?" Lia asked in a playful tone. "Certainly not I. Here I am changing everything for him — moving rooms, changing my wardrobe, altering my role on the council. I mean, he won't even let me travel to the markets without a guard."

"Are you saying you do not enjoy my company, My Lady?" Leon asked, from a few feet away. He smirked playfully at Lia, who chuckled.

"I always enjoy your company, Sir Leon, but you happen to have been forced into spending time with me for the afternoon," she reminded him.

"It is no trouble to ensure your safety, My Lady."

Lia groaned and leaned her head on Gwen's shoulder. "Stop calling me that."

"But the annoyed look on your face brings me such joy," he teased.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say Merlin is rubbing off on you."

Gwen chuckled and finished picking out all the fabric she would need. "You two bicker like a—" She cut herself off with a gasp, startling both Leon and Lia. Gwen, thinking she had seen the evil sorceress Morgause in a mirror's reflection, turned quickly to check, but only saw the old woman from before.

"What is it?" Leon asked, moving to her side.

Gwen kept her gaze on the woman as she walked away until Morgana returned to the stall, continuing to look at fabric. "My Lady, are you alright?" she asked, a hint of worry in her tone, though neither Lia nor Leon understood why.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Morgana asked, smiling and clearly unharmed.

"I - I thought—"

"That poor woman didn't have a penny to feed her family. I felt duty-bound to help her, Gwen," Morgana explained, moving on through the market.

"Your kindness knows no bounds," Lia said, joining Morgana's side and linking their arms.

Gwen stayed behind, keeping a careful eye on Morgana. She could not place it, but something was wrong. And somehow, Morgana was involved.

| | |

Early the next morning, Lia was up and standing outside of Arthur's door, knowing he had to depart soon. In fact, she was meant to be with Uther and Morgana to say goodbye. But Lia wanted a moment alone with him away from their prying eyes. So, when Arthur opened his door, dressed in chainmail, she was there waiting.

"I know you have to go, but..."

"I'll be careful," he promised her, taking her hand in his.

She nodded, knowing he'd be true to his word. Then with her other hand, she pulled the pink ribbon from her hair and held it out. Arthur smiled softly and took the favor, gently brushing his thumb over her knuckles as he did.

"Bring it back to me," she whispered.

Arthur held her chin and placed a gentle parting kiss on her lips. "I shall count the moments until I see you again."

| | |

As Arthur approached his horse in the main square, Lia and Morgana stood on either side of Uther to see the Prince off. As Merlin handed the reins of the horse to Arthur, he nodded to them and the council, who nodded back. Arthur met Lia's eyes and moved his hand to his chest, right over his heart where her ribbon was tied to his chainmail hidden behind his armor.

"You look troubled, Sire," Morgana noted. She was far too consumed with her plan to notice the touching moment between Arthur and Lia.

"He is the sole heir to the throne, Morgana," he stated.

Lia bit her lip and nervously looked to the ground, knowing she could not say anything — an action that did not go unnoticed by Morgana. Lia's fear of Uther was the only real thing keeping her from telling Morgana who her real father was.

"Don't worry," Morgana said, biting back a smirk. "I'm certain a Pendragon will rule over Camelot for a long time to come."

"He will return safely to us, My Lord," Lia assured him, certainly more sincere than Morgana.

As Arthur rode out of Camelot, Uther managed to smile at Lia. "Now I finally know where you get that optimism from — your mother. Illya showed the same faith when Florian set out on his own quest such as this."

"I grew up hearing about how he faced a Gorgon that was terrorizing the western shore. He heroically defeated her and revived all those that had been turned to stone by her magic," Lia said, smiling from the memory. "One day, Arthur shall tell his own children of how he survived the Perilous Lands and retrieved the Fisher King's trident."

"Yes, he will," Uther said, appreciating her hopefulness. It helped him to worry less now that Arthur was out of his sight. The council began to part, but Uther stayed by Lia's side. "I trust the servants are making quick work of moving your things."

"Of course, Sire," she told him. "They've been quite careful with my things, which I appreciate. I suspect everything will be done within the hour, as I do not have much."

"Perhaps we can do something about that. It would be some time before such a journey could be made, but perhaps a trip could be made to Lórien to retrieve some of your belongings. The five kingdoms are still adjusting to your existence, but once things have settled and land disputes have ended, a group of knights could venture to Lórien."

"Land disputes?" Lia questioned, frowning. "What is there to dispute? The land has remained untouched for twelve years and it should remain so."

"Make no mistake, Illyria, it is your land," Uther assured her. "But you must know how valuable it would be to the surrounding territories. No one has yet dared to take it for fear of magical retaliation from the Druids and a number of other beings, but I fear it will not be long before the other rulers approach you."

Lia slowed her pace before coming to a stop. "Approach me?"

"With offers," he simplified.

"You don't really mean land disputes, do you?" she asked, biting the inside of her cheek. "You mean propositions — unions."

Uther nodded a bit hesitantly. "I do not wish to overwhelm you, and this can be discussed at a later date in a council meeting. But your loyalty to Camelot is a great asset. Many, Cenred and Alined included, may try to come for that, just as Drachen did."

"Do not worry, My Lord," Lia said, forcing a smile. "I can assure you I will not be accepting any marriage proposals anytime soon. My father taught me to not let the fears and insecurities of weak-minded Kings sway my decisions. The kings of Essetir and Deorham would be fools to ever think that I would even consider betraying Camelot."

He was relieved by her words but did not voice it. Lia had been living in Camelot for years, but he still had to be certain that she was loyal to his kingdom.

"Now," Lia said, wanting to be done with the conversation, "I believe I must check on how my new chambers are coming along. I shall see you at dinner with Morgana, My Lord."

Once she was safely around the corner, Lia's posture dropped and she stormed through the corridor. It hadn't even been a full week since Uther found out she was a princess, and already he was viewing her as some sort of pawn to wield against the other kingdoms. Of course, she would never consider marrying someone from a rival kingdom and bestowing on them the land of Lórien.

Lia did not point out to Uther that even if there were actual land disputes, they'd never get past negotiations. Druid magic had been protecting the land for years, subtly keeping invaders and looters away, stopping them from stealing land that was not theirs. And, well, Drachen had done a fine job at keeping the palace untouched.

Lórien belonged to Lia. It was all she had left of her home, and she would not be handing it over to some arranged husband or rival kingdom or even to Uther.

| | |

While Lia was busy settling things in her new chambers, Gaius and Merlin were both combing through every book there was to try and find out what Morgana had given Arthur. He was wearing some sort of bracelet with a magical stone in the center. Merlin had felt drawn to the magic it possessed, which worried him greatly, knowing it was more than a favor of good luck.

It took far longer than they would have liked to find out that she had given him the Phoenix Eye, which would slowly drain Arthur of his energy until he died. As Merlin rode out of Camelot to find some help, Morgana was beginning to weaken the Prince while he slept.

Morgana sat at her desk and carefully made an effigy of Arthur's likeness before setting it on fire. She set the figure into a box, where it continued to burn until it was nothing but ash. As Morgana's eyes glowed gold, so did the Phoenix Eye around Arthur's wrist miles away, slowly beginning to drain his life force bit by bit at a time.

Just as Gwen entered the room, Morgana hastily shut the box and stood to her feet. "What is it now?" she asked defensively, startling Gwen.

"I just wanted to see if there's anything you needed," Gwen told her, frowning.

"No. Get out," Morgana ordered.

Gwen paused, smelling something odd. "Is something burning?"

"I said get out!" she snapped.

As she left, Gwen could not believe Morgana's attitude. Just as it had in the markets, her suspicion of the ward crept back upon her. Gwen just was not sure what she was hiding.

| | |

Merlin did not ride for the Perilous Lands right away. He had an important stop to make and soon found himself in Mercia. More specifically, he found himself in a tavern. He could hear the ruckus before he even opened the door.

Men were shouting, furniture was being thrown, and the very man he was searching for had just been shoved across the bar, knocking all the drinks off. Merlin walked over to him and smiled.

"Hello, Gwaine."

Gwaine peeled his face off the bar and grinned brightly at him. "Ah, Merlin! How are you?" he asked, sliding off the bar.

"Give me my money," the man who had been attacking Gwaine demanded.

Merlin looked over the intimidating man and the others standing behind him before glancing at Gwaine. They wasted no time, bolting from the tavern with the thugs hot on their heels. They ran through the town, knocking over carts and bumping into people as they were chased by the men.

"Remind me again what you're doing here," Gwaine asked breathlessly as they paused at the top of the castle wall.

"Arthur's in trouble," Merlin said. "I need your help."

"You just needed my help last week," Gwaine complained. "What kind of trouble?"

"There!" one of the men shouted, spotting them on the wall.

"He's gone to the Perilous Lands," Merlin explained as they ran across the wall.

"What, you serious?" he asked in disbelief. Even he would not do something so stupid unaided.

"Yeah."

They stopped at the end of the wall and glanced at the approaching thugs. "Just now, sounds pretty attractive." They climbed onto the top of the castle wall and looked down, where some horses were resting and eating. "All right, go for the horses."

"You have got to be joking," Merlin muttered.

Gwaine simply shrugged before throwing Merlin over the edge and onto a stack of hay. Then he jumped himself.

"Come on," he said, grinning as he pulled Merlin towards the horses. They laughed as they escaped the thugs, who had no chance of catching up with them.

| | |

Arthur, who was exhausted from a fight with bandits that he almost had lost, rode through the woods. Soon, he arrived at the border leading to the Perilous Lands where there was a bridge. As he approached, there was a Dwarf waiting for him.

"Who is it that wishes to cross my bridge?" the Dwarf, whose name was Grettir asked.

Arthur sheathed his sword, not thinking the small man would be a threat. "A knight on a quest to find the trident of the Fisher King."

"Then you must be Courage," Grettir said, smirking at Arthur.

Arthur, confused by the name, pursed his lips. "No, I'm Prince Arthur of Camelot."

Grettir smiled and stepped forward to shake Arthur's hand. "I'm Grettir. I have to say, you're not as short as I thought you'd be." Arthur held off a smile and moved to cross the bridge, but Grettir stopped him. "Before I let you pass, I'll give you a little advice, as Courage, there are two more things you'll need to complete your quest: Strength and Magic."

"I don't condone the use of magic," he told him.

"You'd be wise not to dismiss it so freely. The rules in the land that you are heading to are quite different to those in the world that you know," he warned.

Arthur eyed the horizon in the distance, wondering just how different Grettir meant. "Thank you for your help."

Grettir stepped to the side, allowing Arthur to step on the bridge. However, the Dwarf spotted the jewel on his wrist and stopped him. "That's a very beautiful bracelet."

"It was a gift from someone very dear to me. She hoped it would bring me good fortune," Arthur explained.

Grettir smirked, knowing exactly what kind of fortune it would bring the Prince. "Did she now?" He let go of Arthur, who stood straighter and continued down the bridge. "How very thoughtful of her."

As Grettir cackled, Arthur turned to look back at him, but the Dwarf was gone without a trace. Unease settled over Arthur, who faced the bridge once more, drawing his sword.

| | |

The next day, Morgana had been extra sweet to Gwen, hoping to make up for her behavior. Of course, she also just wanted the servant out of her way so that she could continue to use her magic to drain Arthur of his energy. So, she gave Gwen the day off.

Gwen had stayed away for most of the day, settling for helping Lia settle into her new room and work on all the new dresses for her. She also did not bring up any of Morgana's odd behavior to Lia, not wanting to worry Lia — or cause Morgana to be suspicious of her.

But eventually, Gwen decided to do some investigating. As Morgana entered her chambers, she was none the wiser to Gwen's presence, who was hiding behind the changing screen. She watched as Morgana pulled out a box hidden in a cupboard and set it on a table. Then Morgana's eyes glowed gold and the contents inside the box caught on fire.

Gwen's fears had been right. Morgana was using magic, she just did not know what for. But the menacing smirk on the ward's face told Gwen that it was for something horrible.

| | |

Gwaine and Merlin, who were less than a day's ride away from Arthur, quietly crept towards the bridge leading to the Perilous Lands. No one appeared to be guarding it, but Gwaine still silently motioned for Merlin to stay put while he went to scout the perimeter.

Merlin nodded in understanding, but as soon as Gwaine was gone, he headed for the bridge. As he approached, Grettir appeared seemingly out of thin air, leaning against the handrail.

"So, Magic has arrived," he said.

"What?"

"There is nothing to be afraid of. Your presence is essential if Arthur is to succeed on his quest," he told him.

"How do you know about Arthur? Who are you?" Merlin asked.

"The Keeper of the Bridge. I only wish to see the Fisher King's lands restored and prosperity reign again. Until your mission is complete, this cannot happen," Grettir explained.

"It's not my mission, it's Arthur's."

"That's what you choose to believe. It's no accident that Arthur chose this path or you chose to follow him," Grettir told him. Then Gwaine wandered over, who did not notice the other presence until he spoke. "Ah, Finally! Strength has arrived, the trio is complete. I had hoped for Heart to accompany you, but she was at least with Courage in spirit."

Grettir had patted his chest in the same spot that Lia's ribbon had been tied to Arthur's chainmail, though neither man knew what he was talking about.

Gwaine instantly drew his sword and pointed it at Grettir while Merlin held him back. "Who's he?"

Grettir's eyes glowed gold and he used his magic to turn Gwaine's sword into a large bouquet of flowers. "I mean no harm to either of you. And I'd thank you to mean no harm in return."

Gwaine looked between him and the flowers with a dumbfounded expression. "Where's my sword?"

"It will return to you once you reach the other side," Grettir explained. Gwaine pouted before crossing the bridge. Before Merlin followed, Grettir spoke to him in a quieter tone. "The Fisher King has waited many years for this day. Do not deny him what he wishes."

Merlin nodded, though he didn't quite understand. Then he followed after Gwaine, listening as Grettir gave one last warning.

"Remember, nothing is as it seems."

| | |

That night, once Gwen was sure Morgana had not sensed her presence in the room, she headed to the physician chambers. Gaius woke up to her frantic knocking and let her into the room.

"I'm sorry to wake you," she said quickly.

"Don't be silly," he told her, sensing her worry.

"I'm not sure who else I can talk to," Gwen said.

"What is it, child?"

"It's Morgana."

Gaius did his best to keep his face neutral, wondering what she could have done to scare Gwen so much. "What's happened?"

"She - she had a box, and... her eyes, it was like they were on fire," she explained. "What do I do, Gaius? She's using magic."

"Everything may not be as it seems, Gwen," he said in a calming tone.

But Gwen was having none of it. "No, no. I know what I saw. I've known Morgana for so long, I didn't want to believe it, but she... she isn't the person I knew. She's changed, Gaius. I don't think she means well to any of us anymore."

"I wish I could say otherwise, but I fear you're right." Gwen didn't know if hearing Gaius agree with her made her feel better or worse. "Gwen, you cannot give Morgana any reason to believe you suspect her of having magic. There is no telling what she could do."

"B - but she could be dangerous. We need to stay away from her. Oh, and we must tell Lia! They spend so much time together, and they're going on a horse ride tomorrow—"

"Guinevere, you must keep this to yourself," Gaius said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Anyone who knows would be put in danger. Of everyone in Camelot, Lia is the one person I believe Morgana does not mean to harm. You must focus on keeping yourself safe."

| | |

Early the next morning, Gwaine and Merlin finally reached the Dark Tower, where Arthur was meant to retrieve the trident. They had traveled all through the night and finally caught up with the Prince.

"There it is," Merlin said, looking at it in the distance.

"Shit," Gwaine breathed out, squinting at the sky. They both spotted the two large creatures flying through the sky. "Those are those things. The dragon thing that Lia took control of in Lórien."

"Wyvern," Merlin muttered. He didn't know how to feel about the presence of the creatures because they were very dangerous. But he was a Dragonlord and knew for a fact that he could communicate with them even if they were not real dragons.

"It's like they're hunting something," Gwaine commented, watching as they seemed to circle and dive towards their prey.

Merlin caught a flash of something in the distance. "What was that?"

"Sword."

"It's Arthur."

| | |

Arthur was less than pleased with Merlin and Gwaine's arrival, even if they did save his life. Once Merlin had removed the Phoenix Eye from Arthur's wrist, his strength began to return to him slowly. And he certainly had enough strength to yell at them.

And Arthur got even angrier when Merlin ended up getting trapped in the Throne Room.

"Merlin?" Arthur called, as he and Gwaine pressed their ears against the stone door to try and hear. "Merlin! You alright?"

On the other side, Merlin was pressing against the door, which did nothing to move it. He shouted their names, but could not hear anything from them. After a moment, Merlin gave up on escaping and turned to walk towards the throne. But he froze when someone spoke.

"So, Emrys, you are here at last," a low, ancient-sounding voice said.

Merlin stepped around to the front of the throne and saw the Fisher King sitting there, covered in cobwebs and still very much alive. He bowed lowly to show respect.

"So, you are still alive," he noted. Gaius and Lia had been right.

"For now," the Fisher King said ominously.

From the other side of the door, Arthur and Gwaine were searching for a way to get inside the Throne Room and rescue Merlin. Arthur found a loose brick that he realized must have led to a hidden notch.

"Now I'm sure if we just reach in here—" Arthur stopped himself when he removed the brick, and countless bugs poured out of the hole. The last thing he wanted to do was stick his hand inside there. "—we'll be able to find something to release the door."

"Go on, then," Gwaine said, playfully slapping him on the back. "Don't be such a princess. You aren't Lia. It is your quest, after all."

Arthur scowled at Gwaine before tightening his glove to ensure no bugs crawled inside. Then he reached into the hole to begin searching for the handle.

Merlin could hear a faint crumbling sound and he realized that Arthur and Gwaine must have been close to getting through. "That would be—"

"Your friends Courage and Strength," the Fisher King said. "I know. Without their help, you would not be here."

"What is it you want?" Merlin asked.

The Fisher King sighed weakly. "I want an end to my suffering."

"You want to die."

"I have been waiting all these years for the arrival of a new time. The time of the Once and Future King and Queen," he told him.

"I've heard these words before," Merlin said, remembering his first meeting with Kilgharrah.

"And you will hear them again. For that time is dawning, and my time finally can come to an end. This is why you were brought here. For this is not Arthur's quest, it is yours. Arthur thinks the prize is the trident." The Fisher King let the trident clatter to the floor, showing just how meaningless it really was. "But the real prize is something far greater."

Merlin spotted a small glass vial in the King's hand, that appeared out of nowhere.

"Water from the Lake of Avalon. I've kept it safe these years, waiting for the right person to claim it. And that is you. You are the one chosen," he explained.

"What are you talking about?" Merlin asked.

"Albion's time of need is near. And in that dark hour, you must be strong, for you alone can save her. Your powers are great, but you will need help. And that is what I'm giving you," the Fisher King told him. After a moment, Merlin took the vial. "When all seems lost, this will show you the way."

"Thank you," Merlin said softly, taking the King's warning to heart.

"I have given you a gift. Now you must give me one in return."

"But I have nothing to give."

The Fisher King slowly stood from his throne, groaning as he moved after so many years of sitting still. "I think you do."

Merlin thought for a moment before pulling out the Phoenix Eye bracelet. "If I give you this, you will die."

But that was exactly what he wanted. The Fisher King held out his arms and nodded. Merlin dropped to one knee and placed the bracelet on his wrist. The stone in the bracelet shined brightly, draining what was left of the ancient king. And then he disappeared in a whirlwind of dust, finally done with his existence.

"Thank you," the King spoke in his head.

A moment later, the stone door opened partially and Arthur rolled under it, followed by Gwaine. When they got to their feet, they both were surprised to see Merlin unharmed. They had been expecting some great trap to be waiting for them.

"Merlin," Arthur said, clapping him on the back as he passed. Gwaine smiled at Merlin and gave him a hug while Arthur bent over to pick up the fallen trident. "Ha! Look what I found! Let's get out of this place."

As Arthur walked back to the exit, Merlin and Gwaine shared a look. Merlin was simply amused, used to Arthur and his behavior on quests. Gwaine scoffed at his ungrateful attitude before following after him. Merlin glanced once more at the now empty throne before leaving as well.

The three of them quickly left the Perilous Lands, not wanting to run into any more Wyvern. Gwaine stuck with them right up until they reached the northern border of Camelot, at the edge of a wheat field.

"This is the border. By Uther's decree, I can go no further," he said, stopping his horse.

"I'm sorry, Gwaine," Arthur said, actually meaning it. "Nothing I can do to change that."

"Maybe one day," Merlin said, hopefully.

"Yeah," Gwaine said, grinning. "When Camelot gets itself a half-decent king.

"Careful," Arthur said as Merlin snickered. "He is my father."

"Well, you can't have everything, heh?" he joked.

"Where will you go this time?" Merlin asked, smiling.

Gwaine licked his finger and stuck it in the air, pretending to feel the wind. "I think I'll ride south," he decided.

Merlin shook his head in disbelief and chuckled. "You can't keep living like that."

"Yeah, but it's fun trying," he said as Arthur nudged his horse forward.

"Thanks, Gwaine," Merlin told him before following Arthur.

"I'll remember this, Gwaine," Arthur said, looking back at him.

Gwaine nodded with a little smirk on his face. "Give the Princess a kiss for me!"

| | |

As Arthur and Merlin neared Camelot, Merlin grew excited over everything that had happened. "I've got to say, that was a good quest. Did you meet that man on the bridge? And then the Wyverns! Much more intimidating than the single one in Lórien. And, oh, the door to the throne room! That was so close!"

"You do talk some nonsense sometimes, Merlin," Arthur said, shaking his head. "I mean, what on earth would you even know about it? It's not like you were there."

"Of course I was," he said, frowning.

"You were not there. You have not seen me for days. You've been on a little trip to pick herbs or whatever it is you do in your spare time," he stated, giving Merlin a pointed look, who finally got it.

"Ah, of course. If your father was to find out you weren't alone—"

"Yes, Merlin. So, just keep your mouth shut," Arthur instructed.

"Absolutely, Sire. I'd do anything you say... for a price."

Arthur sharply looked at him. "What kind of price?"

"A day off."

"Hmm. I think you've had too many of those herbs that you've been picking," Arthur stated, rolling his eyes.

"Well, you'll have to bribe Lia to keep her mouth shut too," Merlin told him.

"Of course, you told her," Arthur said, sighing. But he also knew Lia would not dare tell anyone about it.

"Yeah, and she'll be furious once she finds out we saw Gwaine again without her."

"I am sure she can handle it."

| | |

As Arthur rode through the square, Morgana spotted him from the window. Her jaw dropped, not believing that he was alive, and the cup she was holding fell to the ground. Gwen glanced at the cup before going to Morgana at the window.

"My Lady?" As Gwen looked out the window, she too spotted Arthur dismounting his horse with the trident in hand. "Arthur! Oh, thank God."

"Isn't it wonderful? I'm so happy," Morgana said, her tone sounding harsh.

Gwen eyed her carefully, taking note of how not happy Morgana appeared. She worried that the spell Morgana had been performing had something to do with Arthur. It was the only explanation as to why she seemed so shocked by Arthur's safe arrival.

Morgana was dangerous, she realized. Dangerous enough to try and kill Arthur, someone she had grown up with. Gwen truly did not know what her friend had become, and that terrified her.

| | |

"What do you mean I missed Gwaine? Again!" Lia shrieked in disbelief. "Why'd you even tell me this, Arthur? Now my day is ruined."

Arthur, who had come to see Lia in her new chambers after he had presented the trident to the council, scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Well, I had hoped the safe return of the man you love would brighten your day."

"I suppose," she muttered, sighing for effect.

"Illyria, are you really going to pout all day about this?" he asked, chuckling.

"I might," she said, turning her nose up at him. But then she smiled and wrapped her arms around Arthur. "Gwaine or no Gwaine, I am so glad to see you safe. You have no idea how worried I was."

"Well, I had to return something to Camelot much more valuable than the trident," he said softly. Arthur pulled out her pink ribbon and reached around her neck to messily tie her hair back with it while she grinned up at him. Once he was finished, he brushed a few stray hairs out of her face before cupping her cheek. "Perfect."

"My hero," she said, leaning into his touch.

"So, how are you liking your new chambers?" he asked, continuing to hold her in his arms as he looked around the room.

One could have easily fit three of her old rooms into the new one. Lia now had a queen-sized bed that felt like sleeping on a pile of feathers. There was a lovely pink flowery quilt, gauzy white curtains, a large wardrobe, bathtub, dining table, desk, and a huge fireplace. It was, well, a room fit for a princess.

"It's nice," she admitted. "I miss Merlin and Gaius, though. I've been falling asleep to the sound of Merlin's snoring for ten years now. Though, I am close enough to you that I'm sure I can just listen really carefully and be able to hear you."

"I do not snore that loudly," he said, scoffing. "Though you will not hear me complaining about how conveniently close you are to me now."

Arthur was right about convenience. Their chambers were now in the same corridor, only a few doors apart and across the hall. For two young lovers still hiding their feelings from the world, it was nice to be so close to each other.

"I can come by and annoy you and Merlin whenever I like now that I have no job."

Lia was joking, but the statement made her sad. She'd never let Arthur know that though. He had enough to worry about with the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders. There was no reason to burden him with complaints about how she hated all the adjustments being made in her life. And he certainly did not need to worry about potential marriage proposals and the territories that belonged to Lórien.

"You could never annoy me," he said, kissing the top of her head. Lia snickered and smirked up at him. "I'm gonna regret saying that, aren't I?"

"That sounds like a challenge if I have ever heard one, My Prince."

"It's a good thing you always miss Gwaine," Arthur grumbled. "You two would become a hazard to the entire kingdom, no doubt."