After the second and third days of the meetings, the kings and Natalia waited for Arthur at the treaty signing for quite awhile. "My Lady," Uther looks at Natalia, "I imagine you must be tired, please sit." He waved a servant over with a chair. She stopped him softly, "I doubt we'll be here much longer, thank you for your kindness." Natalia looked radiant, she wore the red dress that Gwen had recommended to her when they had first met. She knew she wouldn't have many other opportunities to wear it, and thought 'to hell with those men's ideals.' After that day there would be little reason to see them ever again. "I hope you're right," Uther rubbed his face in despair. A knight approached him before Natalia could ask what was so troubling. "I cannot find Arthur." Uther huffed, "Is there a problem Uther?" Alined asked. "No, not at all." There most obviously was, "Arthur's just running a little late, that's all." "As is the Lady Vivian," Alined smiled to himself slyly, but Natalia saw it. "Where is she?" Olaf yells at one of his knights, "One of the servants said that Arthur was seen going into her chambers." With that, he drew his sword and marched out of the great hall. Everyone followed, Eli walking closely to Natalia. Olaf barged into his daughter's room, "I knew it!" Natalia squeezed her way in unnoticed. Merlin to her right and Eli, trying not to laugh, to her right. "Abuge áglǽccræft," Merlin whispered, "I don't believe it. My mag-" Natalia elbowed him. "Father!" Vivian said lightly, "We've got something to tell you." Arthur looks at her lovingly. Olaf throws his glove at the foot of the bed. "Father!" Vivian screeched. Olaf was having none of it, "You once said that if you ever truly offended my honor, then you would happily pay the price. What say you now, Prince Arthur?" Arthur was truly confused by the king's words, "How have I offended your honor? Surely not with my love alone?!" Natalia and Uther wore the same expression and would have gladly beat Arthur together. "What an idiot." Natalia whispered to the boys next to her, "Doesn't he know that this ruins everything that we've been working for these past few days?" "Love?!" Olaf walked towards Arthur with true and unadulterated hatred, "You don't know the first thing about love! You're taking advantage of an innocent girl!" "I assure you," Arthur stands tall, "my feelings for your daughter are as real as they are strong." Olaf points his sword at the boy, "Unhand her, or suffer the consequences. Is this really worth risking your life for?" "Indeed, it is. I would rather die than deny my feelings. I love your daughter with all my heart." Arthur kisses Vivian and picks up the glove. Uther grabbed his son and walked out of the room. Merlin took Eli and Natalia by the arms, "You need to come with me." The trio goes to Natalia's room and closes the door. "Eli was right," Merlin breathes out, "Trickler enchanted Arthur and Vivian for the purpose of destroying any chance of the treaty becoming a reality." Natalia nods, "How do we break the enchantment?" Merlin scratches his head, "I haven't been able to. I used my magic and read all of the books that have love spells in them and I can't break it." "Do you know of anyone else who might know more than you?" Eli asks. Merlin thinks for a moment, "No, I asked Gaius, and he said that- wait, there might be something that can help." Merlin walks to the door, "Merlin," Eli says, "What are you doing?" Merlin looks at his friends, "I'll be back soon." Natalia looks at Eli after Merlin closed the door, "I'm going after him." Eli stops her, "No, if someone sees you walking or sneaking around they'll immediately be suspicious. No one will look twice at me." He waits for her to react. It takes a moment, "You're right, go make sure he doesn't get killed or caught." After a quick kiss, he leaves. Just as he goes into the hall he sees Merlin go up a flight of stairs. Eli makes sure to keep his distance, feeling that Merlin doesn't want to be followed. After a minute of walking, Merlin stops and looks to see if anyone was around him. Eli hides behind a pillar and then looks to see that Merlin has gone. "Shit," he runs down the hall but then stops. He looks down some stairs and sees Merlin walking down the with a torch. Naturally, he follows Merlin into the bowels of the castle. Eli starts to hear Merlin talking to someone, who was extremely amused by Arthur's situations on, "That is magic indeed!" The man said laughing. Merlin was less amused, "Everything I have tried has failed." Eli stayed out of sight. "From what you tell me," the voice said, "the spell has captured his heart." "And his heart is controlling his brain." The voice snickers a bit more, "There is no magic that can break this enchantment." "There must be," Merlin says desperately "Patience, young warlock. The solution lies in a force greater than you or I or your friend," Eli freezes, "can understand, a force that has puzzled many minds..." "My friend?" Merlin looks around him. "You can come out mortal," Eli steps out and stops breathing at the sight before him. Kilgharrah leans closer to him, "Perhaps not as mortal as you smell," Eli gives the dragon a quizzical look. Merlin rolls his eyes, "Please, I have very little time." "a force..." Kilgharrah laughs again, "Just tell me!" Merlin yells at him. Kilgharrah laughs some more, "Why, it is the greatest force of all: love." Merlin crinkles his nose, "Love?" Kilgharrah shakes his great head, "Yes, love. You must find the person Arthur truly loves. One kiss from her will break the enchantment, and he will desire Vivian no more." Merlin thanks the great dragon, and Eli follows him up the stairs, "Wait, Elijah," he calls. Merlin stops, "Elijah?" Eli laughs nervously, "I'll tell her that you'll come to find us later." Merlin kept walking up the stairs as Eli thanked him. He went back to the cave, Kilgarah spoke, "I feel that I should warn you."
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