The Witch's Lock and Key

“Let's see... where do I begin?” Arthur mused. “Perhaps I should start with the fact my father is a tyrannical maniac who cares more about power and image than his own son?” Arthur sighed as he stared thoughtfully into his tea.

“Sounds like the average king.” Guinevere muttered softly. “It must have been tough growing up like that.”

“You have no idea,” Arthur chuckled bitterly into his teacup. “I was supposed to sit quietly and look regal, while my father molded me into his version of the perfect successor.” Arthur paused, his gaze distant. “But I'm a person, with thoughts and feelings like any other mortal.”

“Huh,” Guinevere muttered quietly. She was very surprised with this stranger’s honest vulnerability and almost felt bad about drugging his tea.

Arthur, oblivious to her thoughts, continued his confession, his words growing more impassioned as he went on.

“I couldn't take it anymore. The constant pressure and the endless expectations. One night I just snapped and left in the dead of night, leaving my old life behind me.” He took another sip of his tea, his round cheeks pink from his passionate state.

Arthur stifled a sudden yawn behind his hand, as he tried to fight the overwhelming drowsiness that creeped over him. Guinevere took this as her cue and quickly got to his side.

“You must be tired from all that traveling.” She gently took the teacup from his hands and set it down.

“Tired...? No, no I'm-” He swayed on the couch before slumping sideways against its armrest with a soft thud.

“Sorry, love.” Guinevere grinned down at him as she watched the drug take effect and bring him to a deep sleep.

That morning a kick to the shins jolted Arthur awake. He let out a strangled swear before his bleary gaze landed on Guinevere, glaring up at her through his mess of sleep-tousled blonde hair. His eyes widened as he attempted to stand up, only to find his arms and legs bound tight to the lounge chair.

“Bloody-” He struggled against the restraints, realizing with growing dread that he was completely immobilized. “Why am I tied up like this?!” Arthur demanded.

“Because I plan on trading you.” Guinevere stated plainly as she stuffed her large pack.

Arthur's jaw dropped in utter shock at her blunt and rather pragmatic answer.

“Trade me? Are you mad?! Do you have any idea who I am?!” He sputtered, his regal composure now completely shattered.

“No point in struggling,” she said frankly. “You are far outmatched here, these are the ancient woods. Did you honestly think everything would just fall into your lap?” Guinevere looked him up and down. “How naïve.”

Arthur’s face burned red with a mix of embarrassment and fury, his bound limbs trembled slightly as he glowered up at her.

“Naïve? I left my kingdom because I knew the world wasn’t some fairytale!” He spat out the words like they tasted bitter.

“I suppose this'll be a long couple days.” Guinevere mumbled to herself as she slung her pack over her shoulders.

“Where are you taking me, witch?!” Arthur demanded sharply.

“Fae world.” Guinevere muttered out carelessly.

“Wait, Fae world?! You can't be serious!” The horrifying possibilities flooded into Arthur’s mind, the blood draining from his face.

Guinevere glanced over at him and huffed slightly when she saw the fear in his eyes.

“Oh don't look at me like that. I'm only doing what I must. It's nothing personal.” She looked out the cottage window to avoid his gaze.

“Right. Nothing personal.” His voice was flat, but there was something raw beneath it, like a prince who just realized he'd traded one cage for another.

“Merlin should be here soon,” Guinevere grumbled under her breath.

Before Arthur could even register what was said, a tall guy with short dark hair poofed right next to Guinevere.

“Bloody!” Arthur swears loudly, nearly falling off the chair.

“Really, Merlin?” Guinevere scowled at him as she pushed her coiled brown hair out of her face.

“What, my ears were burning. You know I can't help it.” Merlin was rather calm, though his grin gave away his amusement.

“And who exactly is this?” Arthur enquired pointedly, gaze flickering between the two of them with an exasperated expression.

“This is Merlin, he'll be helping me with the whole uh... expedition.” Guinevere explained as she adjusted her pack.

Merlin bowed before Arthur with a glint in his eyes.

“So this is the fool you wrote to me about.” Merlin watched the prince with hungry eyes.

Arthur's glare became even more acidic. First he had to deal with Guinevere drugging and tying him up, and now her accomplice was openly mocking him too?

“I am not a fool,” he retorted indignantly, his voice rising, “I am royalty. I deserve respect.”

Merlin raised an eyebrow with a humoured smile, then glanced at Guinevere who crouched down to face Arthur directly with a dangerous look.

“Listen here, prince, I know you're used to everyone catering to you but in this part of the woods, you have to earn respect.” She stood up and nodded at Merlin, heading to the cottage door.

Arthur’s jaw clenched at the way she said ‘prince’ like it's a curse, but then Merlin stepped closer with an ominous grin causing his heart rate to skyrocket.

Merlin chuckled and flicked his fingers. The ropes suddenly glowed brighter before lifting Arthur effortlessly off the chair and into midair, Arthur's princely composure completely gone as he sputtered out uselessly.

Outside the cottage the early sun glistened on the morning dew and Merlin unceremoniously dumped Arthur onto his horse causing Arthur to let out an undignified yelp.

Guinevere saddled her horse as Merlin efficiently tied Arthur down, ignoring his protests.

“You’ve under-packed.” Guinevere said bluntly to Merlin who just grinned while he hoisted himself up onto his horse.

“And you over-packed.” Merlin teased with an easy smile, which earned an eye roll from Guinevere before she set off, leading the way to the Fae world.

“Merlin, I swear to every god in existence,” Arthur gritted out from between clenched teeth, “If you don't untie me this second, I will have your head for treason when I get back to my kingdom!”

The wizard merely whistled and nudged his horse forward with an amused smirk. Arthur argued tirelessly as Merlin followed behind Guinevere.

The trip to the Fae world was miserable and Guinevere was about ready to kill them both thanks to Arthur's constant complaining and Merlin’s incessant need to treat everything like a game.

Arthur himself was thoroughly exasperated from two straight days of traveling and spending more than half the time being tied to the back of a horse. But as they reached the deepest part of the woods, the Faerie circle came into view causing him to finally fall silent as his eyes widened.

They took in the sight before them, a perfect ring of mushrooms with their tops glowing an unnatural blue hue.

Guinevere slid off her horse and ignored the anxiety that began to claw at her throat. She looked to Merlin who was already using his magic to move Arthur to his side and tying his hands up.

“Are we ready for this?” Guinevere asked as she tied up the horses and retrieved just a few items from her pack.

“Of course we are.” Merlin grinned as he tugged on the magic rope, pulling Arthur close to his side.

Arthur glanced between Guinevere and Merlin, his composure crumbling as he realized they were actually going through with this.

“Let's just get this over with.” Guinevere stepped into the circle with Merlin following suit.

Arthur let out a panicked gasp as he was dragged into the Faerie circle against his will. Within seconds, the world around them shifted, the glowing mushrooms morphed and spun like a whirlwind of blue light. As colors blur past, a dizzying sense of vertigo washed over them all.

They soon found themselves in a forest full of flowers with piercing colors, trees with spiraling branches, and the scent of an intoxicating perfume that wafted through the strangely lit forest.

“Gods I hate it here.” Guinevere grumbled and immediately began to lead the way, not wanting to linger.

“This is…” Arthur muttered as he drank in every bizarre detail with a mixture of wonder and trepidation.

Guinevere rolled her eyes as Merlin chuckled and practically cooed at Arthur's behavior.

“Merlin, stop.” Guinevere didn’t even look back as she made a path through the colorful foliage.

“What? He's kinda growing on me.” Merlin’s warm tone made Guinevere snap, her nerves taking over as she spun to face them.

“We don't have time for this, Merlin! Who knows what's happened to her since she was taken!” she shouted.

“Her?” Arthur asked as he glanced between the two of them. “Someone was taken here?”

Guinevere clenched her jaw and glared at Merlin, a warning and a scolding all in one look.

“I get it, my bad.” Merlin held up his hands in surrender, his playful tone faltering.

Guinevere turned back around with balled up fists and made her way through the dense forest. Merlin tugged on the rope and pulled Arthur along, following her lead.

After a few minutes of silent trekking, Arthur finally broke the silence with a question. “So… who was taken here anyway?”

“Her name is Morgana.” Merlin murmured quietly to Arthur with a grin.

Arthur's eyes widened as he found where he knew the name from. That was a royal name, one that carried weight in his kingdom.

“You're trading me for a princess?” Arthur struggled against the ropes again, this time with more urgency.

“She's more than just a princess!” Guinevere yelled out.

Arthur's eyes widened at her outburst and his curiosity grew. His wrists rubbed together uselessly as Merlin tugged him forward.

“Just how important is this princess, huh?” Arthur continued his questioning.

“None of your business,” Guinevere said firmly as she cut through the twisting woods.

“Real important.” Merlin smirked at Arthur with a knowing look in his eyes.

“Merlin, I swear to the gods-” Guinevere warned him through gritted teeth.

Arthur locked eyes with Merlin, reading the wizard's smirk and the hidden meaning in it.

“Let me guess,” He said slowly, each word deliberate, “This princess… she's not just any royal, but someone with exquisite beauty… am I correct?”

Guinevere suddenly poofed right in front of Arthur, curling tendrils of faint light seeping from her skin.

“He's just an idiot, ignore him.” Merlin said quickly as he pulled Arthur behind him with a nervous chuckle.

Arthur’s dignity took another hit as he was literally dragged out of the line of fire. He shot Merlin a sharp glare, annoyed by his meddling.

“What's happening to you?” Arthur enquired bluntly.

Merlin reacted quickly, poofing Arthur and him out of the way just before Guinevere sent a blast of blinding light right where they once were, leaving a path of singed foliage that now oozed glowing liquid.

Arthur stumbled slightly as he materialized safely behind Guinevere, his eyes widening at the scorched path.

“You good?” Merlin asked Guinevere, out of breath from having to poof both himself and Arthur out of the way.

“Yeah.” Guinevere forced out as she turned to walk in the right direction again.

Merlin pulled Arthur along, this time keeping a safe distance.

Arthur watched Guinevere warily before muttering under his breath to Merlin, “Since when do witches have magic that can melt trees?”

“When a witch truly loves someone, their magic shows up in powerful ways.” Merlin kept Arthur close as he spoke quietly.

“Ah,” Arthur murmured, his gaze flickering between her and Merlin, “The way she reacted when I mentioned the princess's beauty... there's a certain... protectiveness.”

Merlin chuckled softly then tussled Arthur’s curly hair despite his bristling.

“So the prince does have a brain.” Merlin teased lightly then watched Guinevere for a moment. He sighed just enough to be barely audible. “That's why we have to trade you for Morgana.”

Arthur's expression grew serious, the weight of the situation settling back in. Though he couldn't linger on it for long, since creatures with many ravenous eyes and sharp teeth bared materialized from the shadows.

“Oh bloody hell!” Arthur was seriously regretting leaving the safety of his kingdom at this point.

Everything dissolved into chaos as the large creatures attacked. Merlin and Guinevere whirled into action, fighting with whatever magic they could muster. During the mayhem, however, Arthur found himself suddenly free from Merlin's grip.

Arthur darted away from the chaos, his heart pounding in his chest as he managed to maneuver through the dense forest. Once he skidded to a halt, his breaths came in ragged pants and his gaze shifted to a glint of light. His eyes widened as he noticed a sword in stone.

Arthur approached the sword cautiously, his curiosity growing with each step. The blade gleamed with an almost unnatural glow, as if waiting for something to happen. He raised his hand, his fingers nearly brushing against the hilt.

A sudden, sharp crack of magic split the air behind him. The creatures screeched in alarm, and Arthur whirled around to see Guinevere and Merlin mid-battle, both bleeding from shallow wounds but still fighting valiantly. His gaze darted between them, and then back to the sword. His jaw tightened with a newfound resolve.

Without hesitation, Arthur grabbed the hilt of the sword and yanked it free from the stone with a mighty heave. A blinding flash of light erupted around him and the blade hummed in Arthur’s grip, powerful and alive. He didn’t have time to question it as he ran to the fight.

“Merlin! Guinevere!” he bellowed out, “Get behind me!”

Guinevere's eyes displayed her mistrust whereas Merlin's showed his eagerness to play. Reluctantly, Guinevere poofed along with Merlin to get behind Arthur.

The colorful creatures lunged, only for Arthur to swing the blade in a wide arc, a shimmering wall of light flaring out from it and sending them scrambling backward with furious shrieks.

Merlin let out an impressed whistle from behind Arthur's shoulder, watching the creatures scurry away and disappearing into the woods.

“Well... that's new.” Merlin chuckled as he managed to even out his breathing.

“So, you have a magical sword now?” Guinevere's hand glowed weakly over her wounds as she caught her breath. “And you what, saved us from the kindness of your heart?” Her voice was acidic as her eyes bored into Arthur's.

“And here I thought I was doing so well playing the hero today.” Arthur tried for a smirk, but it felt more like a grimace.

Guinevere huffed and stomped off to sit on a distant rock, her back turned to them.

“She just wants to save Morgana. She's actually pretty nice when you're on her good side.” Merlin meant to sound playful but it came out too sincere.

“I suppose I'm not exactly on her good side then, am I.” Arthur said bitterly, looking from Guinevere to Merlin.

Merlin chuckled and patted Arthur's back with an easy grin, but then his hand lingered there as his expression softened.

“For what it's worth, you actually have grown on me,” he admitted earnestly.

Arthur's gaze softened slightly, taken aback by Merlin's honesty. He leaned into the wizard's touch for a brief moment but then he shook his head and smirked, attempting to mask his vulnerability.

“Wow, that must've taken a lot out of you, giving me that compliment. You're not feeling all soft for me now, are you?” he teased Merlin.

Merlin chuckled and lightly smacked the back of Arthur’s head before he let his hand fall to his side.

“Careful, I might just team up with Guinevere to try and overpower you.” He jested.

“Please, I'd like to see you two try.” Arthur retorted. “I have this magic sword now. I think I could take you both.”

“Yeah... that's why she's brooding, knows she won't be able to save Morgana now.” Merlin lost his playful tone as his gaze landed on Guinevere’s sulking form.

Arthur followed Merlin's gaze and stared at her for a moment, guilt flickering in his eyes.

“It's... not fair,” He muttered quietly, the words slipping out before he could stop them.

“Welcome to the real world, it sucks.” Merlin chuckled weakly.

“Yeah? Well, maybe I don't have to accept that it sucks,” he said too quickly. “Someone’s got to fix it,” Arthur muttered under his breath.

“That sword… it's like destiny, right?” Merlin grabbed Arthur's shoulders to face him directly with wild eyes. “Maybe you're destined to save Morgana.”

Arthur's eyes widened at Merlin's words, his heart pounding in his chest.

“And how do I do that? I can't just march into the Fae realms and demand the princess back.” Arthur’s self doubt crept into his voice.

“We're already here! All we need to do is fight like hell.” Merlin grinned with fierce excitement as he leaned in close, their faces inches apart. “Don't you want to be more than what your father demands of you? Don't you want to earn the respect of your people?”

Arthur's breath hitched, his grip on the sword tightening as if it was a lifeline. The challenge in Merlin's words struck something deep inside him, a fire that had been smoldering for years.

“Of course I do,” He shot out, feeling an undeniable pull toward this reckless plan. He exhaled sharply before glancing at Guinevere again. “But what about her?”

“Leave her to me.” Merlin confidently walked over to Guinevere, leaving Arthur to watch as the two had a quick argument.

“For the record, I think this is a terrible plan,” Guinevere grumbled as Merlin ushered her to where Arthur stood waiting.

“Glad to have your enthusiasm,” Arthur muttered sarcastically.

Arthur was starting to realize that this wasn't the cage he thought it was, but was instead his opportunity to actually take charge of his life, and maybe even do some good with it.