"Stop!" the King shouted, freezing the guards—and everyone else in the room—in place. "The viewings for today are hereby adjourned. Leave us alone." 

The girl heard the quiet, disappointed groans and whispers of the people, most likely blaming her for the continuation of their problems until they were able to see the King again.

She raised her palm up. "Wait," she commanded, drawing out a satchel from between the folds of her cloak as the people paused to stare at her. She placed her hand inside and grabbed a handful of gold coins.

The young woman lifted her head back up and took her hand out of the satchel, the gold coins glittering in her open palm. She chanted under her breath in the Ancient Language, her eyes flashing from brown to bright silver, as the gold coins multiplied and each handful was placed in the people's hands. 

"I hope those coins can be of aid to you all," she said, her expression softening from its icy mask. A heartbeat of stunned silence answered her before a sudden cheer, loud and deafening, filled the room.

Once the people had left and only those who were royal or served in the court stayed, the girl turned her attention back to the thus-silent King and his heir and ward.

A quick glance around her revealed that Merlin had stayed also, hanging back in the shadows and watching her with a stupefied expression, his skin as pale as the moonlight. What is wrong with that boy? He looks like he has seen a phantom, she thought.

"Who are you?" the King asked, his tone quizzical. "I feel as if I have seen you before." 

"I can assure you, my Lord, that you haven't." The young woman took a deep breath before speaking again. "My name is Freya Penhart, Queen of Atria. I have come here seeking your help for my people, sire." 

The King stood up shakily, his eyes wide. The Crown Prince and the King's Ward wore identical expressions of complete shock, their mouths hung open. A sharp intake of breath to her left let Freya know that Merlin was as bewildered as the rest of them. 

"You are Freya? I suspected you were familiar. The last time I saw you, you were but a little girl standing beside your mother." The King stepped down from his throne and embraced Freya, who had stiffened at his touch. "Your parents are dear friends of mine. Did they come with you?"

"They are dead, sire," Freya replied flatly. The King jerked back from her, appearing as if she had struck him. "They have been for fifteen years now."

King Uther shook his head, as if in denial. "They are...dead? No, that cannot be right. It could not have been that long since I last saw them."

The Prince cleared his throat. "Father, who exactly is she? She is a witch! Are you not going to lock her up?"

Freya's eyes flew to Arthur's and flashed a menacing silver. "Dare to insult me by calling me a witch once more and I will have you turned into a toad."

Arthur's mouth tightened. His lips parted to retort back when his father raised his hand. "You do not know what you speak of, Arthur. Freya means us no harm."

Freya nodded to the King and felt herself waver on her feet, the room spinning dizzily around her. The King grasped her upper arms and shouted, "Guards!" as he led her to his throne seat, gently setting her down on it.

The guards flung the doors open and rushed in, stopping short by the dais, awaiting the King's orders. "Fetch Gaius here immediately. Tell him our most royal guest is unwell." The guards nodded and left, closing the doors behind them.

Arthur drew his father to the side as Morgana knelt by Freya, speaking quietly to her as she held one of her delicate hands in her own. The Prince stared at his father worriedly. "Sire, she used sorcery on the people and threatened to turn me into a toad! Are you not concerned in the slightest about her motives?" 

"You cannot understand, Arthur," the King said, placing his hand on his son's shoulder. "Freya does not harbor any ill will toward us. Her heart is pure, just like her parents'. She is not a threat."

Arthur inclined his head. "As you say, Father." He motioned for his servant, Merlin, to come closer as the King returned to stand by Freya. "I want you to keep a close eye on this Freya and tell me if she does something suspicious." 

"Yes, sire." Merlin hesitated before asking, "Something suspicious besides her use of magic, sire?"

Arthur gave his servant a droll look. "Yes, Merlin, something besides that. She is not afraid to wield her powers here and now, after all."

"No, she is not," Merlin agreed quietly, his sharp, blue eyes focused on Freya. "She does not appear to be afraid of anything at all."

A/N: And here's chapter two! Enjoy! :)