Wow. So people are actually interested in this one over the other two posted at the same time. This amuses me, as this was actually the story that I'd forgotten about before I opened my 'Fanfiction' folder. Not to say I'm not interested in it as much as the other two. Anyway, on with the story.

The first few days were uneventful. I stayed low, ran around on errands (Arthur wouldn't have me helping with the more physical tasks. He said it was because I was a girl, but he seemed just to like giving Merlin (That's how he actually pronounced it, most of the time) bad things to do), and pretty much got to know people.

On the third night, I got serious. I locked the door to the bedroom and shifted form, leaping gracefully out of the window. I had hidden a magical message that would have come up on Uther's table at dinner, telling him that I would 'be arriving in the great hall at nightfall'. I didn't even mean it to rhyme when I wrote it, but, hey, added bonus!

Of course, I also had to excuse myself before Arthur came back from dinner, using the 'feeling ill' excuse, and he ended up just letting me off anyway. I'm sure he wouldn't have done it for Merlin… but I don't think I could have not given anything away had he came back saying, 'there is a sorcerer coming to the castletonight, Merlin.'

As it was, I had snuck to the side windows of the great hall. Looking in, I saw that the King had gathered up most of his guards and knights, positioned with weapons at the ready, facing towards the door. I let out a small chuckle. It still amazed me how Uther had managed to keep his kingdom – any good sorcerer/ess would have easily been able to defeat practically all of them with one spell.

Arthur stood to one side of him, with Merlin behind, and Gaius on the other side. They all looked serious (and slightly worried), but Merlin's expression was the strangest. He seemed, I don't know, resolved. As if he knew something he could do that had dangerous consequences, and yet he was willing to do it.

Silently, I whispered a quiet spell that allowed me to pass through the thin glass on the windows. Sometimes, being half- whatever I was, was brilliant, especially with the heightened magic it gave me. I tip-toed behind Uther, and reached up to whisper in his ear. It seemed no-one had seen me.

"Boo."

He leapt into the air and spun to face me. "GUARDS!" He shrieked. I laughed, and that alone made the guards pause. It was quite comical – if someone thought you could outsmart or overpower them, they often wouldn't try.

"Oh, Uther, I'd heard tales of you, but you are hilarious. So many guards, and all of them could be overpowered by a sorcerer. But then again, most people could, so that shouldn't be taken offensively."

He shouted again, "Guards!" And they began running towards me. I sighed, and murmered some words. They slowed down, and froze in position.

"And the same to anyone else who attacks me. I do not like fighting."

"But it is your kind that cause it!" Arthur had spoken up.

"Why, Arthur, you are sadly mistaken. I am a pacifist, as are many of my kind. Only idiots or those who are power-hungry desire violence.

"Anyway, that is not why I am here." I turned back to Uther. "I wish to pose you a challenge."

He interrupted me, "I do not deal with sorcerers" he spat.

"Well, that is a shame… would you not be tempted by many thousands of gold coins and a chance to disgrace a powerful sorcerer?"

He continued to glare at me, but stayed silent, allowing me to pose my challenge.

"I shall be staying within the city for thirty days. I shall not leave. Find me, and I will give you ten thousand gold coins. If you don't find me, I shall take one hundred gold coins from you. Also, I will not use any actively offensive or defensive magic. If you find me, you find me. What do you think, Uther?"

"Fine. But when we find you, you will be executed."

To be honest, I thought he would take a little more persuading.

"The bet is on, Uther." I unfroze the guards, and ran back to the window, passing through it magically. I climbed up the wall above the window, and looked down. Arthur was peering around, but he didn't look upwards. No-one ever did.

"She's gone."

I raced back to my (or Merlin's) room, and sat down in the corner. If Merlin or Gaius decided to come up, I would shift forms, but for now I decided to give Kara a rest, and stayed as Elise.

Review pleeease so I can writey (or just suggest random plot ideas – I'm sure I could fit more in! I have an idea where I want this to go, but not many events that could fill in the space between now and then.)