The wind howled softly through the trees surrounding Merlin's small cottage, stirring the leaves and carrying the earthy scent of the forest. The moon bathed the clearing in pale light, casting shadows that danced along the stone walls inside the cottage.
Felicity paced frantically, her heart racing as she searched for any sign of her grandfather. Where could he be?
"Grandfather?" she called, her voice echoing through the cottage's dim interior. She pushed open the door to his study, the smell of old parchment and dried herbs filling her nose. "Where are you?"
Silence greeted her, broken only by the distant chirping of crickets outside. Her fingers trembled as she gripped the edge of the table. This is one thing I can't do alone. It didn't matter how much Merlin had trained her in spellwork and wand techniques, breaking Morgana's enchantment was beyond her skill. She needed him, and he was nowhere to be found.
Biting her lip, Felicity yanked open a drawer and pulled out her wand, sliding it carefully up her sleeve. She wouldn't risk leaving it behind for Morgana to find. Not when the witch had already infiltrated their lives so deeply. Not when the man she loved was slipping away.
She hurried toward the door, shouting again into the night, "Grandfather! Please!" Her voice cracked. "I need you!"
The wind rustled the trees, carrying the sound of her desperation away into the dark. For a moment, she stood frozen, listening to the breeze and the hum of insects. She could feel the forest watching her, as though it understood her panic and grief. But Merlin didn't answer.
"What's all the commotion?" Another voice emerged from the shadows.
Felicity spun around, gasping as she saw Gavin approaching from within the forest. He moved slowly, almost dreamlike, the soft glow of moonlight highlighting the sharp angles of his face. His gaze was distant, glassy, as though he were caught between reality and a dream. His smile, lazy and crooked, was the final confirmation Felicity needed: Morgana's spell had taken full control.
Her heart clenched. I'm running out of time.
"IâI was looking for my grandfather," she stammered, stepping back as Gavin drew closer.
He cocked his head, folding his arms across his broad chest. "A problem Merlin can solve but not me?" His voice was warm and playful, but there was something offâsomething unnatural, like a puppet being guided by invisible strings.
Her pulse quickened. "Not this time," she managed, her voice trembling. "It's... complicated."
Gavin chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. "Why don't you give me a chance? I'm a prince, you know. Soon to be king. I'm pretty good at fixing things." He winked, his charm disarmingâbut only for a moment.
Her breath hitched. I'd rather tie you up and silence you than let you help.
"As much as I would love your assistance," she said carefully, forcing a smile, "this is something only Merlin can handle."
But he wasn't listening. He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, his hand gently cupping her cheek. Felicity shivered under his touch, warmth spreading through her even as her mind screamed at her to pull away.
"Oh, my lovely fairy," he murmured, his eyes gleaming. "You've forgotten, haven't you? I'll be king one day. I can solve any problem that comes your way."
Her chest tightened. "What does that have to do with anything?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"As king," he said, his thumb stroking her cheek, "I'll have power beyond imagination. No dilemma will be too great."
She rolled her eyes, though tears stung them. "Someone has an ego problem, don't they?"
He threw back his head and laughed, the sound warm and carefree. For a moment, she felt like she had her Gavin backâthe man who had fought beside her, who had trusted her. But this laughter wasn't real. It was Morgana's spell twisting him, feeding him a false sense of joy.
"I can't help it," he said, still chuckling. "I've never felt this happy before."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She struggled to breathe, the weight of her emotions suffocating. It's just the spell, she reminded herself. He doesn't mean it.
"I'm glad you're happy," she said, forcing the words out through clenched teeth. She looked down at her hands, her fingers trembling as she fought to stay composed.
He lowered his hand from her cheek and took her hand instead, interlacing their fingers. "So, tell me," he said softly. "What's bothering you?"
She bit her lip, willing herself not to cry. But her resolve was crumbling, the anger and heartbreak she'd been holding back bubbling to the surface. He won't remember this, she thought. He won't remember any of it once the spell is broken.
Taking a shaky breath, she looked up into his eyes. "Someone dear to me is under a spell," she whispered. "And I don't know how to save him."
His brow furrowed, the playful light in his eyes dimming. "Who's under a spell?"
Her foot tapped anxiously against the ground, the urge to run building inside her. She had no choice but to say it. "You are, Prince Arthur."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then Gavin's eyes widened, and laughter spilled from his lipsâloud, disbelieving, like the punchline of a joke. "Me? Under a spell? Come on, Felicity. That's ridiculous."
"It's the truth," she said, her voice hardening. "Morgana has enchanted you, and you don't even see it."
"Oh, my sweet Felicity." He cupped her face again, his gaze locking on hers. "The only spell I'm under is one of love."
Her gut twisted. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "Exactly," she whispered brokenly.
"And who, pray tell, cast this spell?" he asked, still grinning.
"Morgana," she said, the word laced with venom.
Slowly, his smile faded. His hands dropped from her face as suspicion flickered in his eyes. "Morgana cast a spell on me without me knowing?"
"Yes," Felicity replied, her breath quickening.
He shook his head, taking a step back. "I don't believe you."
"I knew you wouldn't," she said, her voice cracking. "Which is why I brought something to help."
Before he could react, Felicity pulled her wand from her sleeve and waved it over his head, whispering the incantation with precision. Gavin's eyes widened in panic as his limbs locked in place, the spell freezing him where he stood. He tried to speak, but no words escaped his lips.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, tears sliding down her cheeks. "But I'm not letting you fall into her trap."
Her mission was clear: take him somewhere safe, away from spies, away from Morgana, and break the spell before it was too late.
* * * *
Felicity's breath came in short, ragged gasps as she dragged Gavin's limp form through the tangled undergrowth. The weight of himâboth physical and emotionalâcaused her muscles to scream in protect. Sweat slicked her brow despite the cool morning air, and her fingers, wrapped tightly around the ropes binding his wrists, throbbed with effort.
After she had frozen him, she realized it would be easier to hide him if he were asleep. So, after another incantation, she put him to sleep and tied him up.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "But I can't let her win."
The forest seemed to echo her distress. The leaves rustled as the wind weaved through the branches, and the distant song of a bird broke the eerie silence that clung to the early morning. Each sound heightened her nerves, but she didn't stop moving. She couldn't. Time wasn't on her side.
The cabin finally appeared through the trees, standing like a forgotten relic of the past. Its wooden beams were weathered and covered in moss, and the windows were caked with dust and grime. A few loose shingles hung precariously from the sagging roof, creaking as the wind shifted. The porch steps groaned under her weight as she dragged Gavin up and through the crooked front door, which banged shut behind them with a hollow thud.
She knew this cabin well... since this was where she had been born and grew up.
Inside, the air was stale and smelled of mildew and decaying wood. Dust floated lazily in the beams of morning light that filtered through the cracked shutters. A broken table lay in the corner, its legs uneven and splintered. The only furniture intact was an old wooden chair near the hearth, its surface rough and worn from years of neglect.
Grunting, Felicity propped Gavin up against the chair, sweat dripping from her forehead. She tied his wrists and ankles securely with thick rope, her hands trembling as she worked the knots tightly. She winced when the rope scraped against his skin, but she didn't loosen it. She couldn't risk him breaking free before she could explain.
"I'm doing this for you," she murmured, as much to convince herself as to him. "You'll see. You'll understand."
She stepped back, her chest heaving as she wiped her palms on her cloak. Gavin's head lolled to the side, his hair falling across his forehead. He stirred slightly, a low groan escaping his lips. Her heart skipped a beat.
He was coming awake. She wasn't ready yet.
Her mind raced, scrambling to find the words she needed to say when he woke. How could she convince him of something so unbelievable, something that even she had struggled to accept?
I must tell him the truth... Tell him what I saw.
She turned toward the window, brushing the curtain aside just enough to peer out. The forest was quiet, the mist curling around the trees like ghostly tendrils. No sign of Morgana. Not yet. But the witch would come for himâof that, Felicity was certain. She didn't know how long she had before Morgana realized Gavin was missing, but she had to act fast.
Behind her, Gavin groaned again, his head lifting as his eyes fluttered open. He blinked, disoriented, before his gaze settled on the ropes binding his wrists. His body tensed, and he yanked against the restraints, the chair creaking under the pressure.
"Felicity?" His voice was groggy but tinged with confusion. "Whatâwhat's going on?"
She swallowed hard, stepping into the light so he could see her more clearly. "I had to do this," she said, her voice shaking. "You wouldn't listen otherwise."
His brows furrowed as he struggled against the bindings. "Listen to what? Why am I tied up?"
She took a step closer, trying to steady her breathing. "I'm saving you."
"By kidnapping me and binding my hands and feet?" His voice rose, frustration creeping into his tone. "Have you lost your mind?"
"No," she said, her voice firm this time. "But you're about to lose yours if you don't listen to me. Morgana has you under a spell, Gavin."
His body went still, his eyes narrowing as if he were trying to piece together her words. "Morgana? What are you talking about?"
"Guinevere is Morgana!" Felicity shouted in desperation. "I saw it with my own eyes. After you left her estate last night, she transformed back into herself. She's been using Guinevere's face to fool you, to gain your trust."
Gavin shook his head, pulling harder against the ropes. "That's impossible. I've spent time with herâshe's not Morgana. She's kind, thoughtfulâ"
"She's a witch!" Felicity snapped, her fists clenching at her sides. "She's using magic to make you think you care about her, but it's not real. It's a spell. Everything she's done, everything you feel for herâit's all part of her plan."
He froze for a moment, breathing heavily, before lowering his gaze. "You don't know that for sure. Morgana's powerful. What if she made you see something that wasn't real? What if this is just her way of messing with you?"
Felicity's throat tightened, tears threatening to spill. "I know what I saw," she whispered. "I heard her talking about you. I heard her say she was going to twist your heart, make you her pawn, and destroy Camelot. She's using you, Gavin. Please, you have to believe me."
He looked away, his jaw clenching as silence fell between them. The only sound was the distant creak of the cabin settling under the weight of time. For a moment, Felicity thought she had lost himâthat he would never believe her.
But then he sighed, closing his eyes. "You kidnapped me, tied me to a chair, and dragged me to the middle of the forest... because you thought this was the only way to get me to listen."
Her voice trembled. "Because it is."
He opened his eyes, and for the first time, she saw something other than doubt. There was pain, confusion, but also understanding.
"You really believe this," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
"With everything I have," she replied, her tears falling freely now. "I don't care if you hate me for this. I don't care if you never forgive me. But I couldn't just let you walk into her trap."
Gavin was silent for a long moment, his gaze locked on hers. Then, finally, he nodded. "I will need proof."
"No," Felicity said firmly, pacing the floor in front of Gavin. The wooden boards creaked beneath her boots as she turned sharply on her heel. "Taking you back to Guinevereâwho is really Morganaâisn't an option. Not until I figure out how to break the spell she's put on you."
Her words faltered as a new thought, one she couldn't ignore, began to echo in her mind. It started faintly, then grew louder, like a distant whisper turning into a command. The voice was familiar, filled with warmth and wisdom.
True love's kiss will break any spell...
She stopped pacing, her breath catching in her throat. The voiceâit sounded like Merlin. Could it be another one of his cryptic messages meant to guide her when he wasn't there? The phrase repeated, insistently, as if demanding her attention. True love's kiss...
Her heart pounded so fierce as she turned to face Gavin. He sat in the chair, bound and unmoving, his eyes locked on hers with confusion and something elseâa flicker of the man she knew before the enchantment. She felt it in the way his gaze softened when he looked at her, even now.
She clenched her fists by her sides, struggling against the wave of doubt threatening to drown her. It can't be that simple. What if it doesn't work? What if I fail and this only makes things worse?
But deep down, she knew the truth. This wasn't just about whether she loved himâshe did, completely. It was about trusting that Gavin loved her, too, even if Morgana's magic had buried those feelings beneath layers of enchantment.
He had told her before, in moments of vulnerability, that she was the one who grounded him. He had sought her out after every battle, found comfort in her presence, and confided in her when no one else could understand the weight of his destiny. The spell might have clouded his mind, but it hadn't erased everything.
Her breath trembled as she stepped toward him, her fingers brushing against the ropes binding his wrists. He tensed under her touch, but he didn't pull away.
"This might sound crazy," she whispered, "but you've always trusted me before. Please, Gavin my love, trust me now."
Gavin blinked, confusion etched across his face. "Felicity, what are youâ"
Before he could finish, she leaned in, her lips pressing gently against his.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The room fell silent, the air still and heavy. Her heart raced as warmth spread through her chest, the depth of her feelings pouring into that single kiss. She felt every memory of their shared momentsâthe laughter, the battles, the quiet conversations beneath the starsâflood her mind.
Then, something shifted.
The warmth of the kiss pulsed between them, a spark of magic igniting like fire beneath her skin. Gavin's body tensed briefly, and his breath hitched as if he had been jolted awake. The air around them seemed to hum, and Felicity felt the weight of the spell lift, like an invisible shroud being ripped away.
When she finally pulled back, her breath ragged, Gavin's eyes met hers. They weren't clouded anymore. The distant, dopey glaze was gone, replaced by clarity and recognition.
He blinked, his gaze sweeping over her face as if he were seeing her for the first time in days. "Felicity..." His voice was soft, almost hesitant, as if testing the reality of the moment. "Whatâwhat just happened?"
Tears welled in her eyes, but this time, they were tears of relief. She cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs brushing lightly against his cheeks. "I broke the spell," she whispered. "Morgana's magic is gone."
Gavin stared at her, his brow furrowing. "I was with Guinevere, wasn't I?"
"Her real name is Morgana," Felicity replied.
"Morgana?" he murmured, horror lacing his voice. "I trusted Guinevere. Iâ" He stopped, shaking his head as if trying to rid himself of the lingering traces of the spell. "She almost had me."
"But she didn't," Felicity said firmly, her hands still cradling his face. "I wouldn't let her."
He closed his eyes for a moment, exhaling deeply. When he opened them again, the vulnerability in his gaze made her heart ache. "You saved me. Again."
"I wasn't going to lose you," she whispered, her voice breaking.
He leaned forward, pressing his forehead against hers. "I don't deserve you," he said softly, his breath warm against her skin. "Even though I want you more now than ever before."
"We deserve each other," she replied, her fingers threading through his hair.
"Untie me."
Without a moment's hesitation, she untied the ropes binding his wrists and ankles, her fingers working quickly and with purpose. The moment he was free, his arms shot forward, wrapping tightly around her as though he feared she might vanish. He pulled her onto his lap, their bodies colliding in a rush of warmth and relief, the tension of their separation melting away in the safety of each other's embrace.
"Do you know how much I love you?" he asked.
The way he looked at her was nothing like the starry, distant gaze he reserved for Guinevere. This was differentâdeeper, rawer, and entirely real. His eyes weren't clouded with fantasy or longing for something idealized; they were steady, grounded, and filled with a warmth that saw her for exactly who she was.
In that moment, Felicity understood what true love really meant. It wasn't a dream to be chased but a presence that anchored you, a gaze that made you feel known.
She leaned in and kissed him again, more tender with her actions, showing him her heart. As she pulled away, she smiled. "I hope it's as much as I love you."
"That, and much more." He smiled. "Now, let's stop Morgana."
She nodded. "I would love nothing better, if only I knew how."
He chuckled. "Believe it or not, I think I know a way. But we will do this together."
She smiled through her tears, knowing that for the first time since this nightmare began, they had a chance to rewrite the story.