Prologue

It was a dark night, like any other. We were hunting. I hate hunting. I hate seeing the life drain from the poor, defenseless animals. They had done no wrong. But the prat of a King thought that killing innocent beings that lived peacefully in the forest was fun. Fun. How could this be fun?

I shook my head. I would never understand him. Arthur. My destiny. The other side of the coin. How could he just end another being's life?

"Merlin," said King called, interrupting my thoughts. "What are you doing?"

"Hum," I asked.

"It seems as if he's daydreaming again, Princess," Gwaine said with a smirk.

My heart churned in a vicious jerk.

"Well, he should be fixing us dinner, like a good little servant is supposed to do," Arthur said with a mocking grin.

"Why don't you do it," I said, turning my back to him; pretending everything was fine. "Your last attempt wasn't poisonous' enough."

The Knights laughed at this.

"I think it needs a little more work," I finished with a grin that never met my eyes.

Arthur scowled and threw his goblet at me, which I just barely ducked. I gave him my best lopsided grin, and the Knights almost fell over in laughter. My heart ached and I wished that I could just disappear.

"Just get back to work, Merlin," the King said as his ears turned red with embarrassment.

"As you wish, Sire," I said with a mock bow.

However, what I didn't say was how my insides felt like they were ripping out. I don't remember when it actually started but it was about a month ago…