Part 1- Destinies are Troublesome Things

"Prat"

"Idiot"
The two men glared at each other from across the room. Between them lay several cushions, which had been lobbed in the general direction of the scrawny servant who was now cowering under the table. Arthur folded his arms and glared harder. This provoked a stifled giggle from the long forgotten onlooker in the corner. Arthur then turned his not-so-very-steely glare on his wife, who produced another, slightly less stifled giggle.

"Gunivere," Arthur began darkly, "if there's something you'd like to say…"

"No no, don't mind me…" Gwen giggled. Arthur's glare became more threatening, "Well, I might just like to mention that the doors are open…"

There was a loud snort from the corridor, and the sound of several sets of quickly retreating footsteps. Arthur turned to Merlin and rolled his eyes.

" What!" Was Merlin's indignant response, "You can't seriously be suggesting I left the doors open on purpose! Arthur! What do you take me for!?" There was a mischievous glint in Merlin eye, provoking an immediate response from Arthur, who had just finished checking for any lingering servants to swear to secrecy over the new hole in his belt,

"I take you for a person who just loves cleaning out my stables, and as I'm such a kind, fair, noble King, I'm going to let you do just that! Off you pop!" Arthur grinned cheerfully as Merlin stalked out of the room, giving the King the evils over his shoulder.

By this point, Gwen had regained her composure and glared at the King, before resuming searching through her wardrobe.

"What!" said Arthur, imitating Merlin.

"That was unfair Arthur, you know he was only joking when he called you fat." A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, but it quickly vanished.

"I know, I know, and he knows that I'm just joking when I send him to do the stables!" Arthur finished triumphantly, with the heir of a toddler having just succeeded to count to ten.

"I'm not sure Merlin sees it that way" Gwen replied coldly

Arthur could feel a guilt trip coming on, and so quickly changed the subject

"Are you coming to the meeting tonight?" The Queen shut the wardrobe door with far more force than was really needed and gave him a look which clearly said 'I know exactly what you are doing and I don't like it', but she chose not to pursue the subject of Merlin and replied "Possibly," she paused and then grinned, "If you're on you're best behaviour"

Arthur smiled thankfully back at her and pulled her into a kiss.

The Round Table meeting had finished, and all its members (not including Merlin, who was serving) were enjoying a feast. After a drunken Arthur had finished a joyful duet with Gwaine- Merlin had no idea where the noblemen had learnt a song like that-, Merlin became uneasy. The air in the room began to stir, although no one else seemed to notice. He continued to pour wine into Arthur's overfull goblet, assuming it was just a draught. A significant breeze began to blow, and heads started to turn towards the King. The Queen began to gather her shawl around her, and unconsciously shifted closer to Arthur. A large gust, and the knights began to draw their swords, Arthur at their head, suddenly alert once more. Soon great gusts began to force them to take cover; they could hear the guards banging on the outside of the door, trying to reach the occupants inside. A whirlwind erupted just in front of the table, and began to blow fiercer and faster, Merlin tried to watch but he soon became too dizzy to focus, and suddenly, as quickly as it started, it stopped.

Before them stood a girl. She had long, flowing dark black hair, falling into her piercing blue eyes. A soft smile settled itself on her rose lips as she held her arm out in front of her. She was eerily beautiful with her perfect, olive complexion and her flowing dress swirling up dust on the floor. The Round Table stared at her, transfixed. Arthur was the first to move. He strode forwards, and levelled his sword at her throat. She did not back away, but merely smiled. Her blue eyes flashed gold, and Arthur's sword vanished. He turned to Gwaine, reaching out to take his, but turned back to face the woman still unarmed. There wasn't a single weapon in the room.

"I mean you no harm,"

Her dancing, singsong voice was soft, and yet everyone could hear her perfectly well. Merlin tensed his magic, letting it flow beneath the surface, but he did not let it loose. One thing Merlin had learnt over the years was that there was no need to rush with magic. You had to trust and wait.

Arthur spoke, his loud clear voice echoing around the room, "Who are you, Sorceress?"

Although the words were not directed at him, the malice in Arthur's voice still hurt Merlin. He kept his face a mask, letting no emotion seep through. Giaus spared Merlin a sympathetic glance, but nothing more.

The visitor spoke again, "I mean you no harm, and I would thank you to return the favour." Her voice was a little more pushing this time. Suddenly, all the Knights crashed back into their seats and fell silent. From Arthur's expression, Merlin could guess that this was not his preferred way to face an unknown threat, but that he didn't have much choice in the matter. In any other situation it would have been funny. She spoke again,

"I am Destiny's messenger. I have always been, and I always will be. I carry messages between Earth and Albion, the land of the dead. I come with a message for Emrys." There was a heavy silence at this statement. Some looked confused, others wary. "Magic wishes him to know this: everything is in place, the Earth is waiting. He has one year to fulfil his Destiny, or his Magic will take over. She will reveal his secret to those whom he guards it most carefully from. He has 3 choices. He can reveal himself to the King now, and face the consequences. He can try and prepare him for Magic's revelation of all his secrets, and hope he can do enough. Or, he can let Destiny take over. We are waiting, Emrys."

She paused and stopped addressing the whole room and turned instead to Arthur, who seemed to be just as confused as the rest of the Round Table.

"Arthur, my King," she whispered in her singsong voice, "You can search for Emrys, if you wish. If you can find him, then Magic will let you take over from there. Good luck. Good luck and may the Gods be with you, Arthur Pendragon."

And with that, she was gone.