CHAPTER TWENTY TWO,
episode five, beauty and the beast part one.

ISABELLA VALOUR felt slightly uncomfortable since coming back from the kidnapping. everyone had been careful when speaking to her or mentioning anything like it. she felt fragile and silly.

uther had ordered more guards on the door. there was absolutely no need for six guards on isabella's door and four more on the corridors leading up to it. morgana had also now been givien four outside her chambers as well.

there was guards stood everywhere around camelot for the next few weeks, worried hengist would come back for them. isabella didn't visit the village, a part of her was grateful uther had forbidden it for the next few days.

however, a month had now past and camelot was slowly becoming back to normal, and the guards on door lessened.

a woman and her servant arrived in camelot looking for help. they came with the seal of the house of tragor and uther was, naturally, interested in them. apparently, the woman had the title of a lady.

isabella, uther, morgana and arthur sat on their thrones, gwen and estella each side of the two girls as the woman and man came into the throne room.

uther stood up in shock, "lady catrina, is it really you?" he asked as the woman walked in with a sad look.

"i can hardly believe it myself." she replied, bowing for the royals.

"we heard tidings from the north that the house of tragor had fallen to invaders." the king said gently as catrina nodded sadly.

"all that you heard was true, my lord. and worse." lady catrina whispered in sadness, but slight desperation.

"your father...the king?" the king asked in shock as catrina shook her head and tears filled her cold eyes.

"gone, sire. the enemy attacked without warning. we were outnumbered five to one. he could not endure. i would never have survived had it not been for my faithful servant jonas." she whispered, motioning to the man who stood behind her.

the king sent him a respectful nod which surprised isabella. "but we did survive. and we have made it this far—" catrina cut herself off by 'fainting' slightly as uther caught her, arthur stepped forward and morgana stood up.

isabella felt slightly bad she hadn't reacted for the poor woman, but she couldn't help but have suspicions. she had heard all the way back in france that the house of tragor had been destroyed. including catrina.

"it would be an honour to help you in any way we can." the king spoke, looking at her in shock, and almost admiration.

"a bed for the night would be most welcome." she replied shamefully as isabella bit her lip to stop herself from laughing out loud.

"then consider yourselves our esteemed guests. it is the least we can do." the king replied with a nod as catrina thanked him.

merlin had the job of taking lady catrina and her servant to their room for their stay, whilst isabella and estella went for a walk in the village since she hadn't since delilah in a while.

they brought lots of new things from each of the little stalls and always payed extra, and then they took a small trip to the lower towns and gave them all to them who needed them.

after, it was time for dinner so isabella for dressed into a more suitable dress and made her way to the main hall. she walked in with a small smile as uther, catrina, morgana and arthur were already there.

she took a seat next to arthur and opposite morgana and thanked the servant when she poured her a drink.

"this is wonderful. thank you." catrina beamed.

"it's an honour. the houses of tragor and pendragon have been allies for as long as anyone can remember." the king replied with a smile as isabella glanced subtly at arthur who looked at her through the corner of his eye.

"my father often spoke of you, my lord." catrina replied as she started to cut up her food, isabella noticed she hadn't eaten any.

"and i will remember him always." uther replied.

"i'm sorry i did not get the chance to meet him." arthur spoke up as catrina glanced at him.

"i'm sorry too. for the house of tragor is no more." she pushed her food away with a sigh.

"it lives on in you." isabella spoke up, trying to be reassuring and welcoming since she hadn't spoken directly to catrina yet.

"i only wish that were true, your grace." catrina replied as isabella simply smiled awkwardly in response, having no more to say.

"it is true, my lady. your courage, modesty." uther began as arthur grimaced and glanced at isabella and morgana who also looked slightly alarmed and uncomfortable at their interaction. "and you have always been, ever since you were a child."

"i fear i am much changed since then, my lord." catrina laughed as morgana awkwardly joined in.

"yes, it is true. you are far more beautiful now." the king smiled as isabella's eyes widened and she had to shut her mouth since she was pretty sure her jaw had dropped. arthur looked as if he was about to throw up and morgana coughed to cover her snort of laughter.

arthur suddenly did a loud, fake yawn, making isabella jump at the strange noise and turn to him as he stretched his arms out. "my apologies. hard days training. if you'll excuse me?"

"of course." catrina smiled as arthur stood up, kissing isabella's temple as the girl looked up at him in annoyance.

"unfortunately for me and morgana, it takes us a long time to get ready for bed so, we should be getting to our chambers too." isabella spoke up with a smile, catrina seemed to pause, probably having to try and understand her accent, but nodded.

"i understand. the joys of being a woman." catrina laughed as isabella thanked uther for the dinner and stood up along with morgana, sharing an amused look before rushing out, laughing when they were out of sight of catrina and the king.

"that was extremely uncomfortable." morgana said between giggles as isabella gagged jokingly. "disgusting."

KING UTHER had suggested taking lady catrina out for a ride and picnic the next morning, which made isabella grimace slightly as she walked towards arthur when they came back.

uther helped catrina off as the lady giggled and arthur scoffed. "honestly. look at them." he complained as merlin came over to groom the horses.

"do you not think it is odd how quickly they have become close?" merlin asked suspiciously as isabella raised a brow at him, which he ignored.

"nothing odd about that. my father is wealthy and powerful man." arthur replied before turning to leave as isabella glanced at merlin.

"you know something. what is it?" she asked as merlin looked at her, wondering if he could lie his way out of this.

"and do not try to lie." isabella said what he was thinking as merlin sighed.

"gaius used to treat lady catrina when she was young. but she had this incurable illness that made her not be able to walk for long periods of time, especially after a long ride." he began as isabella frowned and glanced at lady catrina.

"she walks as well as you and i?"

"i know. that is what is suspicious. i gave her the treatment gaius used to give her, and she had no idea what it was. i was in her chambers—" he began as isabella blinked at him.

"wait a moment, you were in her chambers?" she asked in confusion.

"yes to see what i could find." merlin said as if it was obvious.

"right..." isabella trailed off.

"and it smelled awful and the bed hasn't even been slept in. also, i saw jonas...he had a tail." merlin said as isabella's eyes widened in confusion .

"a...tail?" she asked as merlin nodded. "a green one."

"have you gone completely mental, merlin? if anyone hears you, uther will have you executed on the spot!" she whispered in shock, so no one could hear them as his face dropped.

"no! i saw it. the lady catrina is not who they say she is." he whispered as she stared at him with a nervous frown, before she sighed.

"i believe you."

"you do?" he asked in disbelief as she rolled her eyes.

"when have i ever not believed you? besides... you have always been right about these things." she told him as he grinned, nodding.

"so what are you going to do about it?" she asked as he awkwardly smiled, having no clue.

"i'll i haven't got that far yet." he admitted as isabella sighed with a nod. "of course not." she replied, turning to leave.

A FEW days had past, nothing much had happened except the lady catrina was getting closer to the king...romantically. merlin and gaius knew something about her—however wouldn't tell isabella what.

the king and lady catrina had requested everyone's presence in the throne room. estella got isabella dressed, putting her in one of many beautiful gowns and tied her hair up, leaving a few of the curls out.

moments after isabella arrived, uther and catrina walked in, hand in hand as they stared lovingly in each others eyes. morgana and isabella shared a confused look.

"thank you all for coming." the king began as isabella looked up at arthur, who had a mixture of confusion and annoyance across his face. "you are all no doubt wondering why i have gathered you here today. though we live in dark times, today i bring you light and love."

gwen, estella, morgana and isabella looked at each other with wide eyes as the king continued. "it gives me the greatest pleasure to inform you that the houses of tragor and pendragon are to be united in the closest bond of all...i am to marry lady catrina of tragor."

isabella's jaw dropped in shock, as did many others as the hall filled with claps. lady catrina whispered something to uther who smiled and held his hand up. "—i am to marry lady catrina tomorrow."

the claps started again slowly as isabella stared at the king and lady in suspicion. arthur glanced down at her and gently nudged her, she looked up at him, seeing he was clapping. so she clapped along with him hesitantly.

"you are not happy for my father?" he asked quietly, leaning down to talk to her so only she could hear.

"i am unsure of lady catrina's intentions." she spoke lowly, frowning slightly as he hummed.

"whatever do you mean?" he asked as she shook her head and smiled up at him. "nothing, arthur. i am happy for your father and lady catrina." she lied as he nodded unsurely with a smile.

catrina whispered one more thing as the king looked hesitant, but something in catrina's eyes made him nod. "this union heralds a new dawn for the kingdom...soon i shall decide if when my reign comes to an end the title shall go straight to the lady catrina—skipping prince arthur and princess isabella."

isabella froze slightly in shock. her whole point of being in camelot was to become queen one day. if that was not going to happen, there was no need for her in camelot...her father would send her home.

"—and a new queen for all here in camelot." the king continued as lady catrina's face morphed slightly which isabella caught onto, she glanced around the room to see merlin stood nearby with a look of concentration. "thank you." uther finished.

"father." arthur began slowly, "if isabella and i are not heir's to the throne, you understand her father will call off the betrothal and send her back to devlin."

isabella looked at morgana and gwen who immediately frowned, moving closer to the girl as uther simply smiled. "isabella shall stay for the wedding and go if that is what her father wishes. if not she is of course welcome in camelot, the engagement is still on in our side."

they glanced at isabella to see her reaction. her face was blank as she turned her head slightly to see estella. "send a letter to my father. convince him to let me stay." isabella ordered as estella nodded and hurried off.

the princess ignored the loud chatter and walked alongside with merlin and arthur with a permanent frown on her face—anyone would think she was about to execute somebody.

"arthur, bella." merlin called out as they reached arthur's chambers. "i'm going to tell you both something. it is not going to be easy..." merlin trailed of awkwardly.

"right." arthur frowned.

"it concerns the lady catrina." merlin continued as isabella's eyebrow raised in interest. "speak." she told him.

"you are not using my chambers to spy on her again." arthur rolled his eyes as isabella's face morphed into one of disgust as she glanced at merlin who shook his head.

"oh. no! trust me, i saw everything i needed to see." merlin said in annoyance as isabella's jaw dropped.

"merlin!" she exclaimed and arthur also looked annoyed.

"she's a troll." merlin told them quickly.

isabella took one look on arthur's face and laughed loudly, arthur joining in. "she can't be that bad." arthur said as isabella continued.

"leave the poor woman alone. it is fine you do not find her attractive, no need to call her names." she said between laughter.

arthur laughed again at isabella's words as merlin groaned in annoyance. "i am being serious. she is an actual troll."

"merlin, isabella is already stressed enough without you complaining about the person who could ruin her future. i do not care about lady catrina's looks." arthur began as isabella held a hand up to stop him.

"it's quite alright." she began, glancing at merlin with a small smile, as if to say, i believe you.

"what are we going to do if your father sends you home?" merlin asked worriedly as isabella glanced at him.

"i am home." she replied as merlin and arthur smiled lightly at her, agreeing.

"i suppose you will have to somehow sabotage your fathers relationship—or at least get him to change his mind about skipping us as the next rulers." she teased as arthur chuckled slightly.

a knock was at the door, merlin answered it, and estella handed him a letter. "it's for you." merlin said quietly to isabella.

"my fathers seal." she mumbled, opening the letter.

princess isabella valour,

thank you for your letter.

i have made the decision that unless king uther's plans change of marrying the lady catrina and not having you be next in line to the throne, you shall come home and the engagement will be off.

if his mind has not been changed after the wedding, you are to return home. camelot is no good for you.

king henry.

isabella looked up at argued shaking her head slowly as he sighed. "if your father's mind does not change...i am to return home after the wedding. our engagement will be no more."

merlin sighed, his hands going to the back of his head as arthur brought her in for a hug. "we will figure something out." he promised.

"i truly hope so."

THE WEDDING. hundreds of guests had arrived to see the king and lady catrina be wed. isabella stood next to arthur near the thrones as the knights played the trumpets.

isabella was too worried thinking about how she would be leaving camelot for good the next day, that she wasn't paying attention to lady catrina walking down to uther.

she clapped slightly when the others did, but couldn't help but notice merlin was nowhere to be seen.

"my lords, ladies and gentleman of camelot. we are gathered here today to celebrate, by the ancient rite of hand fasting, union of uther pendragon and lady catrina of tragor. is it your wish, uther, to become one with this woman?" gregory asked as uther smiled.

"it is." uther replied as isabella fought the urge to sigh. "is it your wish, catrina, to become one with this man?"

"it is." she smiled.

"do any say nay?" gregory asked as everyone stayed silent, gaius turned to look at the door, as if waiting for someone.

"with this garland, i do tie a knot. and by doing so, bind your hands and your hearts for all eternity." gregory continued when no one answered.

"i, uther pendragon, king of camelot, i shall not seek to change thee in any way i shall respect thee as i respect myself." uther continued.

"i now pronounce you to be husband and wife." gregory said as the two shared a kiss and gregory retrieved the crowns, just as merlin burst through the door.

lady catrina saw merlin and her smile turned into an dangerous glare.

part 2 next !!!