A perfectly made cherry pie floated mid air a few feet away from the castle kitchen's window sill. It hovered there, wobbling uneasily as it moved very slowly away from the window. Abruptly it dropped, and just before it hit the ground was steadied, and it zoomed through the air around the corner and behind one of the store houses outside, where Pacey plucked it from the air. He grinned at Joey and handed her the plate. "See, there, you almost had it."

"Almost," she sighed in disappointment as she examined her haul. "It is much more fun when there are people around. Last time, Abigail screamed so loudly and swore there were ghosts, and she wouldn't return to the kitchen for a week." She giggled at the memory.

"You'd think with Merlin, Dom and I around she'd pause for a moment and realize it was probably magic."

"Perhaps she's not very bright. Father finally allowed her the cooking staff she had wanted." She glanced down thoughtfully at the pie. "Do you think we can leave it for that poor family that lives by the river?"

He nodded, "I wanted to take a piece to Lady Jen. But I think they probably have greater need of it."

"Jen can simply get her own."

"All right," he nodded. "Perhaps I can find something else to give to her."

"If you must." Joey could hardly see why Jen deserved to get anything. She did none of the work yet always seemed to reap the benefits.

"What do you think she would like?" He wondered as they started walking.

Joey shrugged. "Jen seems to like anything beautiful."

He tilted his head thoughtfully, "I have given her everything beautiful I can think of. I need something unusual. And beautiful."

She rolled her eyes. "If you give her a mirror she may stare at her reflection all day."

He chuckled, "She's your best friend."

She sighed. "There is nothing far more beautiful than she."

Nodding in agreement, he smiled. "Beauty is nice to look at, but there is more to life that that."

"I suppose."

He snapped his fingers, and a blue flame clung to his fingertips. "Like magic." He rolled the tiny flame from finger to finger with ease, his control of the spell impeciable.

She smirked. "And there is more to life than magic."

He gave her a blank look, "Such as?"

Her brow furrowed contemplatively before she smiled. "Such as love. True and pure love."

He gave her a confused look and his little blue flame dissapeared. "Love?"

"Love," she repeated solemnly. "My father loved my mother very much."

"Oh." He frowned sadly. "He built the garden for her, didn't he?"

She nodded. "Yes, he did."

He didn't quite know what to say to her. "I suppose love is important."

She nodded a bit uncomfortably and raised her gaze as the small cottage came into view. She handed him the pie. "Here you can give it to them."

"Why?" He took the pie, "Where are you going?"

"Lady Ryan might be looking for me. I'm to meet with a Lord something-or-other."

"A Lord?" He made a face as though there were a bad taste in his mouth. "What would you do with an Lord?"

She smiled. "I guess I shall see."

"Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"I'll be sure to deliever the pie for you, Your Majesty." He grinned, bowing as he always did when he and Joey parted company.

"Thank you." She smiled faintly and headed off. Pacey watched her go and headed for the cottage. Maybe she was right...there were things more important than magic.

~*~

Joey broke into a run when the castle came into view and the wind whipped her hair behind her. She rubbed at her cheeks helplessly hoping she wasn't too dirty or else Lady Ryan would give her a scolding and ask her why she couldn't behave properly like Jen.

"Your Highness," Merlin appeared a few feet in front of her, interrupting her decent down the hill. He bowed his head respectfully.

She screeched to a halt, her face flushed from her run and her eyes burned with curiosity. "Yes?"

"You are in quite a rush, milady" He smiled kindly at her.

"Lady Ryan is expecting me. I do not wish to raise her ire."

He raised his hand and time came to a standstill. The blades of grass blowing in the wide were frozen at their angle, the two people in the distance were immobile as they smiled at one another, the clouds in the sky were motionless. Everything was motionless.

Joey's eyes grew wide as saucers. "What have you done?"

"I paused time." He answered as though it were nothing. "I was hoping to talk with you for a moment, Princess."

"What about?"

"Has Pacey been teaching you magic?" He asked bluntly, his eyes sharp and piercing.

She winced and couldn't bring herself to lie. "Just a bit."

"What has he taught you?" His asked gravely.

"Not much."

He nodded his head once, "Show me."

"I'm not very good," she said honestly.

"I don't doubt 'tis so with Pacey as your teacher." He smiled faintly, taking years of his aged face, and some of the sterness that resided there.

"Is he going to be in trouble?" she asked quietly.

"Yes." Merlin replied, "Whether you show me what you've learned or no."

She raised her head defiantly. "He is not to blame. It is my fault. I made him show me."

"There are no excuses, Princess. He is quite aware of the consequences."

She sighed and her shoulders slumped. "Are you sure there is nothing I can do?"

"To save him from the punishment that is due? No. Save yourself from your father's wrath, most likely." He shifted his stance drastically, it looked as though he were about to fall over, and suddenly there was a staff to support his weight. He continued speaking as thought it were most natural occurance. "As I recall, your father frowns upon magic, unless it is of some aide to him, as I have been."

She frowned herself at the mention of her father. "That he does."

"The way I see it, Princess Josephine, is that you must display what you have learned to me. If my suspicions are indeed correct. There may be something I can do."

"I shall try but I tell you now, I am really not that good."

"I shall be the judge of that." He smiled again, "Show me something simple."

"Something simple," she mumbled to herself as she gazed around. Her slate blue eyes settled on a twig a few feet to her right and her brow furrowed in concentration as she willed it to her as she'd done with the pie earlier.

Merlin watched with the eyes of a hawk as she grasped the twig in her hand. "Can you move things larger?" He asked, his voice giving no hint as to his thoughts.

"I can lift a pie," she offered lamely with a small shrug.

He chuckled at that, "If there was doubt before, that cleared it. Pacey was definatly your tutor." He paused thoughtfully, "You have not show your colors."

"My colors?" she questioned in confusion.

"You have noticed Pacey's blue when he performs magic, haven't you? Sir Dominic and I have learned how to conceal it when we wish, Pacey has not yet mastered the skill."

"Oh." She wrung her hands in front of her nervously. "Will you tell my father?"

He ignored the question, "Do you enjoy magic?"

She nodded. "Oh, very much so."

"Why?"

Her head tilted thoughtfully. "It is fun and I do enjoy learning about it...Perhaps, it can be useful, but there's not much I can do with it that I cannot just do myself. I suppose if I did want to take a pie to the family by the river I could have gotten it myself, so it seems rather a waste."

He nodded, "The basics do appear rather simple. Do you mind the boredom?"

"'Tis not the least bit boring."

He nodded, "Do you mind the repeatitiveness?"

She shook her head. "How else shall I perfect it?"

He nodded, pleased. "There is more to magic that stealing pies from the cook. There would be much for you to learn."

Her eyes filled with interest while she nibbled her lip. "Is there?"

"Would you like to learn?" He offered.

She nodded. "Yes, I would."

He nodded once, "I will teach you then."

Her eyes grew wide and she couldn't hide the faint excitement in her voice. "Oh, would you really?"

"If you are serious about learning the secrets of magic, I will teach you."

"I am very serious," she said solemnly.

"There are some restrictions." He informed her.

"What are they?"

"You must not tell your father of my education of you. I will take care of him. Speak of it to no one outside of myself and Pacey. Not even Dominic must know."

"I shall tell no one," she promised.

"Good." He smiled, "Your training shall begin tomorrow. I will let you know when."

The corner of her mouth turned up in a faint smile. "Okay."

Without a warning, the world came back to life. "Run along, Princess." He smiled widely. Joey bid him goodbye and ran home before Lady Ryan could start in on her.

~*~

"About time you got back," Jen declared regally, sweeping into Joey's room.

"Time had gotten away from me." A small smile tugged on Joey's lips as she ran a comb through her hair.

"Did you see Pacey?" She asked, moving behind her friend to take the comb and proceeded to brush her hair for her.

"Why do you ask when I am sure you already know?"

"Then you did." The blond grinned.

"Yes, I did," Joey said and turned her head to smile at her friend.

"Did he ask after me?" She whispered.

"He did."

"Well?" Jen stamped her foot impatiently. "What had he to say?"

Joey's brow furrowed mockingly. "I shall think of this carefully so as to make sure I get every word right."

"Jo-ey!"

The brunette giggled. "You are so silly. He merely wishes to bring you another gift. I suggested a mirror so you can look at yourself all day."

Jen stuck her tongue out at him and flushed prettily, "Why does he think he must bring me things?"

She shrugged. "I do not know."

"It is so frustrating. Why doesn't he just tell me."

"Perhaps he doesn't know what you want him to tell you." Joey offered helpfully.

"How can he not know?" She frowned, "'Tis simple, he just needs to say that he likes me."

"Perhaps," she paused contemplatively, "you should tell him first."

Jen gave her an appalled look. "I would never." She shook her head, "No, it isn't done."

"Then you must wait."

"He is supposed to come to me, and then I bestow upon him a favor." She smiled dreamily, "And then he will gallop away to distant lands and slay dragons."

Joey rolled her eyes and tried not to laugh. "Really? Dragons?"

"Oh, yes. The huge green ones, and he'll bring back their teeth as proof." She began to plait Joey's hair into a clean braid. "It would be so wonderful."

"What shall you do with their teeth?" Joey asked with a hint of a smile.

"I shall hang them from the wall in the grand hall of our castle."

"I am sure you will."

She sighed, "He's very sweet, Joey."

"You're being silly, he's merely...Pacey."

Jen fastened the end of the braid on Joey's hair. "Mayhap he's merely Pacey to you. To me he's..." she grinned. " Pacey."

Joey shook her head and smoothed out her dress. She really wished Jen would develop a crush on one of the stewards and let go of her ridiculous infatuation with Pacey. "I must go. Your grandmother must be looking for me by now."

"Oh yes," Jen suddenly remembered, "You are to meet with a noble!" She smiled in excitement. "I wonder what he'll be like. Perhaps he'll sweep you off your feet and demand your father let you marry immediately! Wouldn't that be romantic?" She eyed her friend critically, "Will you be wearing that? 'Tis dirty."

Joey glanced down at her clothes. "What is wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"The dress is made to play in. Look, you've got dust on the hem." She shook out the plain serviceable wool. "We must dress you in something fit for a princess." She clapped her hands together once, "Oh! The green silk! With the gold thread. It will be perfect."

Her face fell and she frowned at the thought of having to wear one of those frilly dresses that Jen was so fond of. "Oh, must I?"

"You do mean to appear your best for your father, do you not?" Jen gave her a skeptical look as she crossed to the bureau and started to search for the desired dress.

"I suppose," Joey said with a sigh. "But you will have to help me."

"My pleasure." She smiled, "It is the one thing I am good at." She extracted the dress and helped Joey change.

"So how do I look?" Joey asked a few moments later. She fingered the material of her dress noticing how different it felt compared to her normal clothes.

"Beautiful," Jen said wistfully. "Like an angel."

Joey waved her off. "You're just being silly again."

"Let us go," Jen hooked her arm through Joey's. "There is a nobleman waiting to fall desperately in love with you."

"He's probably old, Jen."

"Then maybe he has a son?" She waved a hand as they entered the dimly lit corridor. "Besides, what does age matter?"

"I do not wish to be married, if I can help it."

Jen's step faltered. "You do not wish to marry?"

She nodded. "I do not. I'd rather stay here. My life is already stifled by too many rules, can you imagine how dreadful it would be to marry?"

"B-but you are to be Queen someday. You must have a King."

"Let Bessie worry about being Queen."

"She hasn't wed yet. If something should happen to her, you would become the Queen." Jen seemed mystified. "If you do not wish to be Queen, than what do you wish for?"

"I like my life just the way it is."

Jen sighed, "What will become of you if you do not marry? The King will not be pleased by this, I think."

"I shall worry about that later."

"All right." She pulled Joey to halt as they were about to enter the main hall, "Whatever happens, Joey. We shall be together." She looked intently into her friend's eyes.

A slow smile spread across Joey's lips and she pulled Jen into a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered softly.

"You are my sister in heart, if not blood. There is no thanks between us." She replied hugging her back.

Joey smiled faintly and pulled away. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'd go out there wearing a dirty dress."

She laughed. "Yes, I probably would."

They stepped into the main hall, brightly colored tapestries hung from the walls, fires roared in the dozens of hearths and the tables were laid out with fresh flowers, a demand Joey's mother had made when she first moved into the castle at Camelot. It was a tradition that remained long after she passed. There were several tables at ground level for the knights, servants, and other members of the castle. Toward the back of the room, the largest oak table was placed on a dais, raised above everyone else. There sat her father, Merlin at his right, Dominic to the right of him, and then Pacey. On the King's left sat a stranger, dressed in rich velvet cloths, he had beady eyes, a weak chin that wasn't hidden at all under the pathetic growth of beard. Perhaps, if one was able to ignore all that, he would be considered handsome.

Joey resisted the urge to grab Jen's hand and run right out of there, instead she held her head up high with the same haughty look Bessie always managed.

"My Josephine!" King Michael said boisterously, holding out a hand for his daughter to join him. At the King's loud announcement, Pacey looked up from his conversation with Dominic to search out Jen, who he knew would be at the Princess's side. Instead, his eyes locked on Joey and didn't stray for a moment as she approached her father.

Joey offered him a regal smile and dipped her head slightly in greeting. "Father."

"Your sister has taken ill." He said lightly, though his eyes regarded her with seriousness. "You are to entertain Lord Winchester." He turned to the beady-eyed man. "Lord Winchester, this is my daughter. The Princess Josephine."

Pacey watched from his seat, too far away to quite hear exactly what was being said. Although, it was obvious to him, Joey looked none too pleased.

Joey nodded at her father's words and smiled sweetly, holding out her hand. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lord Winchester."

Pacey's eyes narrowed at the way the older man smiled at Joey.

"No, my dear Princess." He lifted her hand to his lips, "The pleasure completely mine. Your father has told me much about you," his eyes ran over her dress, "He failed to mention your stunning beauty." He still hadn't released her hand.

Joey continued to smile resisting the urge to tug her hand out of his. "You flatter me, Lord Winchester."

"Has no one called you beautiful?" He frowned, "It would seem to me that you would receive such compliments daily."

"Beauty fades." She smiled faintly. "I'd much rather be known and liked for my person."

"Modest too, young one." His smile became almost predatory.

"And you, Lord Winchester. What would you like to be remembered by?"

"I would like to be remembered for--" his words were cut off as a trencher full of hot stew was dropped into his silk clad lap. He jumped up with a yelp.

"Oh my." The servant, a young girl of fifteen protested. "I don' know what happened. I didn't mean it. I'm sorry, sir. So sorry." She nearly trembled in fear.

"You bitch!" Lord Winchester turned his beady eyes on the girl. He raised a hand to hit her.

Joey nearly threw herself between them. "I am sure it was merely an accident, Lord Winchester. She's new." She turned her attention to the servant. "Sarah, you shall spend the rest of the day in the kitchen, I believe it's best if you send someone else to clean this mess."

She then turned and gave Lord Winchester one of her sweetest and heartfelt smiles as she motioned for one of the footmen. "I shall arrange for you to have a room, so you can compose yourself. I am so sorry for this inconvenience but I'm sure a gentleman such as yourself will understand how it is with new servants. You have my deepest apologies."

"I'd rather have her head." He muttered, watching the girl scurry away.

Joey gazed at him innocently. "I'm sorry Lord Winchester I didn't quite catch that. What was it you said?"

"Nothing, Princess." He forced a smile as one of the footmen gestured for him to follow. "I shall return after I have changed."

She smiled. "I'll be looking forward to it then."

The King waited until the man had disappeared. "You handled that beautifully, daughter."

She felt her face flush and she smiled shyly. "Thank you, father. I hope Bessie's not too ill."

"Do not concern yourself. I am sure she will be fine." He gestured for her to sit. "You will make a man a fine wife." He smiled at her, "I take it Lord Winchester is not to your liking?"

Joey straightened her dress before she sat and she leaned toward her father. "I believe he would have hit her had I not stepped in."

"'Tis not illegal to discipline a servant."

"There are better ways," she said simply.

"He will be gone by morning." He smiled indulgently at his youngest daughter.

A corner of her mouth turned up. "Good."

~*~

"Don't look so pleased with yourself."

Pacey jumped in surprise, as he was busy trying to hear what Joey and the King were saying. "What?" He turned to Dominic.

"I saw what you did." He frowned at the younger boy. "You could have gotten Sarah in serious trouble."

Pacey shrugged, "No harm came to her or anyone aside from Lord Sleazy."

"Merlin, do you hear this?" Dominic hissed at the elder, "He has used his magic against a noble!"

"The boy did no real harm," Merlin said complacently, an almost satisfied glint in his eyes. "I'll discuss this with him."

~*~

"The man is absolutely dreadful," Joey murmured to Jen beneath her breath.

"Positively." She agreed.

Joey sighed. "This is why Bessie must be Queen."

"You best hope she doesn't marry soon. For you will be next."

Joey shuddered. "Do not even speak of such things." Jen just tilted her head to the side, her silent agreement not to speak of marriage just then. Joey smiled faintly with amusement. "Let us talk of your dragons then."

Jen giggled and glanced over to Pacey who had just been abandoned by Dominic. "'I am just foolish," she smiled at him and turned away when he smiled back. "That's all."

She pursed her lips together and raised her eyebrows. "I am sure."

She gazed at Pacey, "We will see what happens."

Joey turned toward Pacey in annoyance and quickly stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes. Her eyes settled back on Jen. "Are you talking to me or making eyes at Pacey?"

"Making eyes at Pacey," she admitted with a giggle, and turned her attention to Joey.

Joey threw her hands up. "Oh go on, what do I care?"

"You do not mind?"

"Why would I mind?"

She leaned over and kissed Joey on the head. "You are wonderful."

"Although I do not see what the big deal is, it's only Pacey."

"Yes. Sweet, amusing, mischievous, handsome Pacey."

Joey let her eyes travel to Pacey as she tried to see what Jen saw. She supposed he was cute in his own way and he did have rather nice blue eyes but she really did not see what all the fuss was about. "His eyes are very blue," Joey said softly as she stared at him interestedly.

~*~

"Pacey, you mustn't do anything like that again." Merlin warned, "No matter how much it is deserved. Leave judgment to God. Magic is not a weapon to be wielded at will."

"But he deserved it." The younger insisted, his hands folded insolently across his chest.

"Did he? How?" Merlin arched an eyebrow so gray it was white.

"He was looking at Joey like she was a sweetmeat and he hadn't eaten in days. And he was old."

"The Princess can care for herself." Merlin replied, a hint of a pleased smile on his face. "On to other matters, what was the very first thing I taught you?"

He frowned at the abrupt change in conversation, "Not to share my magic."

"And you have."

"Yes, I have." He replied honestly.

"With the Princess, no less." Merlin scowled. "I have yet to think of a suitable punishment, but beware, it is coming." Pacey nodded obediently from his chair in the large tower room. Hundreds of books lined one wall, and various instruments used to divine the future were scattered across the room; on tables, in the corners, on the book shelves. Merlin's pet dove let out a chirp from it's cage by the window. "She will be joining us momentarily."

"What?"

"The Princess Josephine will learn magic from me. You are unqualified to teach. If she wishes to learn, it shall be along side you. Not from you."

"Really?" He grinned at the thought of his friend learning magic along with him. "That is great."

Joey knocked twice on the heavy wooden door before pushing it open. She lifted the skirt of her dress so she wouldn't get it dirty. "I am not late, am I?"

"No, you are right on time." Merlin gestured for her to enter.

"I take it you ratted on me?" Pacey teased her.

She stuck her tongue out at him in annoyance. "I did not."

"You did. How else did Merlin find out?"

She shrugged. "Ask him."

Merlin chuckled, "I shall stay out of this one."

Joey looked at Pacey coolly. "Believe what you want then."

He sighed, "I believe you then." He turned to Merlin, "Are you sure she really to learn magic with me?"

"Why else would I be here?" Joey muttered under her breath.

"Yes." Merlin replied, watching Joey.

"Finally. Joey, you'll have a real teacher. You will learn so much from Merlin." Pacey smiled warmly at her. "None of the unimportant spells I have taught you."

Joey forced a smile and smoothed out her dress before sitting down gingerly on a chair by the window. "To start, we must discover your colors, Princess."

"How do we do that?"

"Usually, it something that happens naturally when one uses magic for the first time." Merlin said. "Suppressing it is something taught. I am mystified that you naturally hide your colors." He twisted the end of his long white beard between his two fingers.

"Is there something wrong with me?" she asked quietly.

"No, not at all." He shook his head. "You have a color, all creatures have them. Extracting it will just take a little work, 'tis all." He gestured to a book on the large desk beside Pacey. "Lift it."

She almost climbed to her feet and did it herself before realizing what he actually wanted. She bit her lip and performed the spell easily enough.

"Nothing there," Merlin muttered watching her carefully. "All right, try it again, think of color, any color." She nodded and tried again, concentrating on color as she performed the spell.

"That will not work." Pacey stood up and approached her side.

Joey moved back a bit in her seat. "What?"

He held out his hands to her to help her rise. "Pacey, what are you doing?" Merlin questioned curiously. The boy had always had a way of surprising him.

"I would like to show her." He replied with a brilliant smile for them both.

"You think you can?" Merlin challenged.

"I do." He smiled again at Joey. "With your permission first, my Lord and Princess."

"Granted," Merlin nodded.

"Princess?" Pacey questioned, still holding her hands.

Joey gazed down at their hands for a moment before consenting. "You have my permission as well."

"I can see your color already," he said quietly, focusing on her eyes. "It's an aura, like the color of violets." He tilted her head with a finger to her chin "To express it, Joey, you must first feel it."

"Feel it," she murmured softly, entranced by his eyes. "How do I that?"

"You must feel the magic alive in you. 'Tis in us and around us. It tingles at your fingertips, crackles in the air, pulses through the earth as it does through your heart." He touched his finger tips to the bare skin above her breast. "Do you feel it?"

She nodded slowly, her eyes wide as she watched him. "I feel it," she whispered.

"Try now," he replied, his voice low as he released her hands and took a step back. For some reason Joey didn't feel like she was quite capable of doing anything, but she tried anyway.

Pacey watched as whorls of beautiful purple, violet and magenta swirled around Joey. The light crackling around her. The book lifted from the table just as it was supposed to. "Joey, it worked!" He grinned at her as she placed the book back. The colors faded as he enveloped her in a hug.

Joey shook her head and smiled. She really should have ate more at the table otherwise she wouldn't be feeling so strange, she surmised.

"Let's move on. Joey, we've got to get you caught up with Pacey." Merlin smiled teasingly, "It shouldn't take long." The two adolescents separated and they sat down attentively.

So, Merlin thought with a smile, The Fates have changed their minds. And for once, he felt like he understood why.

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