Ok first off thanks for the reviews. I'm sorry if I offended anyone about the beta thing. Anyway here's the story…

When Merlin woke up he dressed quickly and pulled back the curtain, Ronelle was lying on her bed reading. When she noticed Merlin, Ronelle smiled and got to her feet.

"Ready for breakfast?"

"Yep breakfast." Trailing downstairs behind the others Merlin found himself in the dining room. To his utter amazement the others settled themselves at the table with the Lord, a boy of around ten to his right, and a girl in her late teens to his left. Gaius was there also and seemed just as amazed.

"Please help yourselves," said the lord to Gaius and Merlin when they hesitated to take anything. "Here we feel that our servants need a good meal in them to start the day, they are the ones that do all the work after all. This is my son Asher and my daughter Ceridwen."

"Arthur could take a few tips on how to treat servants from Lord Faren" whispered Merlin to Gaius.

Ronelle finished her breakfast first and Merlin was happy to let her go to wake Arthur, he was still busy eating a second helping of bacon and eggs. "Just go into the kitchen when you're finished, Kay will get you Arthur's' breakfast" she told him before leaving to wake the prince.

****

Arthur woke up feeling slightly better than he had done "Merlin!" he shouted as he lay back into his pillow. It was dark in the room, he could very easily fall back asleep, then hearing a tentative nock at the door he sat up slightly. That's weird he thought, Merlin never knocked, he usually just came sauntering in like he owned the place. "Come in Merlin" he replied as another slightly louder knock came.

As the door opened Arthur realised that this was not Merlin, the hand that was curling round the door belonged to a woman. "Sire, its not Merlin, may I still enter?"

"Yes" was all the answer he gave, as the rest of a shadowy figure moved into the room and over to the window and opened the curtains. The light that streamed from the window momentarily blinded him and h was forced to cover his streaming eyes, groaning he turned his face into his pillow.

"Sire are you alright?" a cold hand touched his bare shoulder causing him to shiver involuntarily. "Sorry sire" said the voice as the hand was removed.

"Its alright, I'm just that a little ill that's all."

"Yes, Merlin said you were unwell."

"Oh he did, did he, well would you do me the kindness of going and finding my servant? He's supposed to be here, not that he's ever on time, but I thought a change of seaniry might put a little kick into the lazy lumps work" complained Arthur sharply, he wasn't in the mood to be nice to the help.

"He's having breakfast Prince, he will be up with yours shortly" replied a slightly annoyed voice. Turning to look at his companion he recognised the servant girl from last night. What was her name Ronny, Rosy, whatever.

"Since when does he have his breakfast before serving me mine?" he questioned, earning himself another sharp look from the girl. At that moment Merlin walked in to the room holding a tray with Arthur's food on.

"If there's nothing else you need me for Prince, I shall go." said the girl, turning she whispered something to Merlin and he gave her an 'I told you so look' before she left the room.

"Breakfast Sire" asked his servant. Getting out of bed Arthur sat himself down at the table and started eating.

"What did that girl say to you before she left? She seemed angry at me."

"I don't think you'd want to know what Ronelle said to me and I'm not going to tell you; it's not really any of your business."

"It's my business if I want it to be you can't decide for me." Arthur argued voice rising.

"No, that's true but it works both ways. You can't decide for me, either," Reasoned Merlin in an annoyingly calm voice, Arthur just glared at him. "Can't you just except that there might just be things that I just don't want to share with you?"

"Merlin, go downstairs and tell Lord Faren that as soon as I've finished my breakfast I want to leave for the cave."

Merlin seemed to have realised that he had hurt Arthur's feelings "Arthur I…" Arthur put up a hand to silence him.

"Merlin just go."

Merlin left the room looking annoyed. The truth was that Merlin had hurt his feelings, Arthur considered Merlin a friend, his best friend if he let himself admit it. He shared everything with that idiot. If the boy didn't return the sentiment then… "What am I going to do?" he said to himself.

****

After he had eaten Arthur called out, the girl from earlier came in "Prince" she curtsied not looking at him.

"Are the others ready to leave?" he inquired trying to ignore the way she said Prince, as if it were a insult.

"Yes Prince" she answered still not looking at Arthur. Silently he got up and left, not noticing her trailing behind him. Outside Merlin, Lord Faren and two guards stood waiting in the snow that had fallen early that morning.

"You have to walk up there, horses can't make it" Lord Faren informed Arthur.

"Are you not coming too?"

"No, I would be of little use."

"Where's Gaius." He asked Merlin.

"He isn't coming; he's not young enough to make multiple trips up there. If you can't do anything to free them by any normal method, then Gaius will go up there and see what he can do."

"Makes sense I suppose" Arthur turned to one of the guards "Who is leading us up there?"

"I am, follow me." said a female voice from behind him. Looking round he spotted Merlin's servant girl, dressed in furs and carrying a white bird on her arm. She lifted her arm and the bird took off; not seaming to care if anyone followed, she turned and started walking. Without a backward glance to Arthur Merlin trailed after her.

"Why does she treat me like that?" he asked a guard.

"Like what?"

"Like something she has just scraped off the bottom of her shoe" stated Arthur.

"What Ronelle? I don't know Sire. You must have disrespected her." the guard answered Arthur

"How did I do that, I'd never do that, plus I've hardly spoke to her." Arthur argued angrily.

"Sire." the guard said stiffly. The silence continued for about a minute.

"So, how did I offend her."

"Only she can tell you that. I would try not to offend her if I was you Sire, people don't insult her and get away with it."

"Really, what's she going to do to me exactly, I'm the crown prince?"

"It's hard to say." The guard seemed reluctant to speak

"Tell me"

"Well Sire, bad things happen to people round that girl. No, that's the wrong way of describing it. If you wrong her then bad things happen. I mean they have to be really bad things, but all the same."

"Why doesn't anyone do anything about it?"

"Because, as far as anyone can tell she never has anything to do with it, she always has an alibi; every time. Plus every one of those people deserved what they got, if it was her the people don't care."

"You said every one? How many have there been."

"Not many, but enough to make people treat her with respect. The worst was when a noble visited with the lord about a year ago. He was horrid my Lord, no respect for anyone below him. No woman was safe, he just did what he wanted with them, when he was done he'd just walk away. There are five children of his in the village; three of the women were happily married. When they said he raped them Lord Faren was furious, but he couldn't do anything.

"Why didn't Lord Faren tell the king?"

"The noble was above him in station my Lord." The guard replied looking at Arthur as if that explained everything.

"Why should that matter, if he committed a crime?"

The guard seemed to hesitate, but before he could answer Ronelle was standing in front of Arthur looking angry, "If Merlin were to accuse you of something, who would the King believe?" she asked

"Well me of course. Why would he believe Merlin."

"Why would he believe you?" she countered

"Because I'm the Prince and his son."

"Alright fine, if it was just any other knight Merlin accused him of doing something, who would the king believe then?"

"The knight, obviously."

"Why?"

"Because he's a knight!" Arthur was starting to think this girl had problems.

"So, why does the fact that he's a knight make his word more believable? Why would Merlin's word be less trustworthy than his?" she almost shouted at him. Arthur didn't answer, he looked past her at Merlin. Why would a knights word be worth more than Merlin's? "Exactly, Arthur Pendragon, you don't know, do you?" With that final statement she strode over to a stony faced Merlin, who turned and again walked away from him.

"You definitely insulted her!" chuckled the guard nervously.

"You never got to telling me what happened to the noble." replied Arthur trying to shake off the feeling that the girl had a point about the situation.

"He tried to have his way with Ronelle, she punched him and told him he would pay for what he had tried. Within an hour of him retiring for the night someone heard screams from his rooms. He died Sire, of a hundred shallow cuts all over his body. He bled to death slowly. Normally no one would die from such injuries." Arthur shuddered.

"Where does magic come into this?"

"The cuts Sire, they should have stopped bleeding on their own; but no matter how many bandages they put on him it wouldn't stop. They even tried cutting off the blood to one of his arms, but he continued to bleed. The cuts just kept bleeding. "

"Why couldn't he tell you who did it?"

"Because every time he tried to speak blood came up his throat and started to choke him, then went back down once he stopped trying to speak. When he tried to write his hand would spasm and freeze, all he could do was scream."

"So other than the threat, what makes you think it was her and if it wasn't her what was her alibi?"

"She was in the Lords bed chambers at the time Sire, some what occupied; had been there since she punched him."

"Oh" was all the response Arthur gave as he went red.

"When the maid came screaming to the Lords about it, they went to the Noble. When she saw him she didn't look surprised or anything, just stood by the door looking at him. When the Noble saw her, his eyes went wide, I've never seen someone look so scared, didn't hear another sound from him, he just stared at her until he died."

"That is truly horrid and no one can blame her because she had an alibi." Arthur shuddered as he his eyes found her back. "But surely that is not the reason she hates me is it? I had nothing to do with that!"

"There are things that I feel I cannot tell you Sire, about that girl, it would seem wrong. Her past is an unfair one, let's just say I think she is doing incredibly well and if I was in her position I wouldn't do as well." Arthur nodded at this but made no other response.

****

They didn't talk again. Climbing up the mountainside surrounded by trees was hard the snow drifts were thick and more than once Arthur had to be helped to his feet, but it was never Merlin who helped him. Merlin hadn't once spoken to Arthur or even looked at him, obviously in a mood. When they reached the cave Arthur was surprised, just inside, the cave started sloping steeply and then levelled out. Dark figures could just be seen moving around at the bottom. He couldn't see what was so desperate that it needed his urgent attention; all they needed to do was lower a rope down to the people then hoist them out. Sighing he went over to one of the guards, ordered him to take off his pack and took out a rope from inside. Walking back to the entrance of the cave he went to throw the rope down but just as his feet were at the edge of the slope he walked into something. Falling back dazed Arthur shook his head.

"Well done Sire, truly that was genius, because no one tried that the moment they came up here the first time." came a slow sarcastic drawl from Ronelle. She looked frustrated and beside her Merlin had a look of utter amusement on his face.

"Sire I think we found someone just as willing to insult you as I am. You know Ronelle I like you more and more every second." laughed Merlin.

Glairing at them both Arthur got to his feet and went back to the entrance, holding out his hand. This time his hand came into contact with what felt like glass; cold, flat and smooth. Under his touch white rings seemed to ripple outward; effectively enabling them to see the wall. Moving to the cave wall hand still on the invisible barrier Arthur tried and failed to find an edge. "Can anything get through it?" he asked Ronelle.

"Not that we know of." She answered stepping forward to put her hand on the barrier.

"What have you tried?"

"Food, blankets, rope like you, among other things; nothing worked."

"There must be something that would go through," Arthur mused to himself, "Have you tried breaking it down?"

"It wouldn't be that simple."

"So that's a no then? How do you know it wouldn't be that simple?"

"Because it's magic, nothing's simple with magic."

"Alright I'll give you that." Arthur gave in giving her an unsure smile.

"What do you want us to do?" she asked not seeming to care that he was trying to be nice.

"We may as well try breaking it down, all we loose is time if it doesn't work. We need some more men, someone will have to go down to lord Faren and ask that some more men be sent up."

"Why exactly does someone need to go down there?" Ronelle looked at him like he was slightly stupid. Turning round she held up her arm and whistled. The white bird from earlier flew down and gracefully landed on her arm, "How many men do you want?"

"Another three maybe." Ronelle nodded and wrote it down on a slip of paper before tying it to the birds' leg.

"Lord Faren." She whispered and hurled her arm up in the air so the bird shot off as if being thrown; unfurling its wings as it went. "So what do we do while we're waiting?"

"We make something to ram that barrier." Walking up to a steady looking tree Arthur took his sword from his belt and chopped at the tree once. Looking at the dent it had made, he decided the tree could withstand being a battering ram. "This one."

"Do you want the branches chopped off before or after we cut it down?" asked the guard Arthur had talked to earlier.

"How can you chop off the branches before it has been cut down? You can't reach them."

"We climb up them Sire, we find it's easier than chopping off the branches when they're on the ground."

"Well then go ahead." The guard nodded to his companion and they both started climbing the tree. When they reached the top they started hacking off the branches; working their way back down. Reaching the bottom they started hacking at the trunk of the tree until it fell to the ground with a thud.

The whole operation took only twenty minutes, as apposed to the forty Arthur was used too. Ten minutes later Ronelles bird flew overhead then went and settled on his mistress's arm followed by three more guards.

"Have you two been showing off?" asked one of the newly arrived guards.

"Maybe, what's it to you?" retorted the other.

"It's just funny is all. Anyway can we get this over with please?" Nodding in agreement the five guards took up positions at either side of the log.

"Are you helping sire?" said one of them turning to Arthur.

He was about to say yes when Ronelle stepped in. "I don't think his highness should be aloud near any heavy objects right now. He is rather unwell, if you were to fall while carrying it then you could injure yourself."

"Are you saying I'm weak?" said Arthur getting rather annoyed at her presumption.

"No, but think about this. We took a half hour more than normal to get here, why, because you kept falling over. Do you really think you have the strength to lift that, even with help?"

Arthur visibly slumped. The girl was right of course, for some reason she seemed totally to disregard the fact that he was a prince and told him what she thought. Just like Merlin. "Alright I get it, but you still need another man to help lift it and Merlin isn't exactly Mr. Strong."

"Hey, that's not very fair!" exclaimed Merlin pouting.

"Another man, please." Ronelle countered with a snort before taking up the last place. None of the men looked surprised at this so Arthur thought it wise not to comment. "Lift"

They carried the tree to the cave entrance and putting it down, "Ok Prince do you want to give the orders or should I?" asked Ronelle impatiently, placing her hands on her hips.

"I will, save your breath."

"Very well Sire." She taunted, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Giving the orders to march at the barrier, Arthur stood back and watched with Merlin. It took five charges but eventually a crack appeared. With one last run up the barrier shattered but one of the guards at the front fell, tumbling down into the cave.

"Are you alright?" shouted Arthur; but no sooner had Arthur said this than the wall started to rebuild itself. Jumping back, Arthur watched in horror as their makeshift battering ram got sliced in half because it was in the way of the barrier rebuilding. The end of the tree started rolling down the slope.

"Look out!" Merlin shouted down into the cave, then a loud crash and a scream. "Are you alright down there?"

"We're fine it just scared the girl." came the guards voice from below.

"Great now there are thirteen people trapped in there!" cried Ronelle distressed. Merlin went over to her and hugged her.

"We'll get them out, don't worry." he whispered into her hair as her held her. Looking over to Arthur Merlin seemed to be seeking confirmation for what he just said.

"Merlin's right, we'll get them back." he backed up his friend shakily. At his words Ronelle creased shaking and pulled away from Merlin; she looked at Arthur and he couldn't help thinking how venerable she looked.

She walked over to where Arthur was still standing next to the barrier, and Arthur thought she was about to hug him; but she just shouted into the cave, "Is everything alright down there? Are the people alright?"

"It's odd, it's like their in some sort of trance. They don't register anything I say. It's warm down here though, I think the barrier stops the cold. Jenna's alright though, just a bit shock up, don't worry Ronelle." At this Ronelle seemed to loose any strength left in her legs, and she would have fallen to the ground if Arthur hadn't caught her. He was surprised by how light she was, picking her up he carried her over to a rock that was snow free and put her down.

"Jenna's ok, Jenna's ok, Jenna's ok…" She kept saying, as if to convince herself it was true.

"What do we do now?" asked Merlin.

"We leave and try again tomorrow." said Arthur

"No wait." croaked Ronelle. She got up and walked over to the cave mouth. "Do you need anything, warmer clothes or food?"

"No, we don't need anything, maybe tomorrow." Came the guards reply

"How were you expecting to get anything down there anyway?" asked Arthur

"By breaking the barrier again." She replied determined. Arthur simply nodded at this.

"Who's Jenna?" It was Merlin speaking and Arthur saw Ronelles face fall at his words.

"My baby sister." She said simply. "Lets leave this place, now." Doing what she asked, the four remaining guards and Merlin started walking away. After a moment Ronelle turned and walked to Arthur's side.

"Are you alright?" he scrutinized her face, it was white as a sheet.

"Thank you," she replied disregarding his question. At a blank look from Arthur she clarified "for caring, for caring enough to come out here."

"Don't thank me, it's my job."

"I really don't know what to think of you Prince."

"Why do you call me that?"

"Prince? What else am I going to call you?"

"Sire? Or even Arthur, Merlin calls me that I don't see why you shouldn't."

"Because… Ok what would you call me if you addressed me directly?"

"I don't know."

"Would you call me Ronelle? Because that my name." she stated. Looking at her he found her eyes on him, questioning.

"I don't know, apart from Merlin and Gwen I never really speak directly to any servants."

"Exactly, do any servants call you Arthur?"

"No." he admitted

"I'm also going to assume that if you talked to a servant you would call them Servant; like a title.

"Maybe I suppose. Yes"

"Well, I'm addressing a prince so I call you Prince." Arthur hadn't noticed it before but bitterness had crept into her voice.

"What did I do, to make you hate me?" he grabbed her arm making her face him.

"Not you… your kind." the last word coming out as a hiss, pulling her arm out of his grasp, she stalked away.

Ok need to know what you think!!. Please Review even if it's only to criticize about bad grammar. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also want to know what direction to take this love wise? Just one thing, NO ARTHUR/GWEN

I have nothing against them as characters but I don't think they go together as a couple in love. I have no trouble having them have sex or even get married but they will not love eachother!! Gwen belongs with lance in my opinion soz anyway reviews PLEASE xxx