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King Olaf knew something was off with Vivian. While he knew that she enjoyed watching foolish young men fruitlessly fawn over her, he also knew that she was entirely uninterested in men. In fact, she was in a long-standing courtship with Lady Theophania. She had told him point blank that the only reason she had not made it public knowledge was so she could help him manipulate the previously mentioned foolish young men. She even told him her plans to get married exactly 2 months after his funeral so as not to the mourning period.
That is to say, her seeming to be in love with Prince Arthur made very little sense. Prince Arthur being in love with Vivian made perfect sense, many men were extremely attracted to her blond hair and the power she wielded as an unmarried female heir, and he was ready to call for a duel as he had for all the other entitled idiots. But then Vivian had run half dresses across the castle to tell him she was in love with the prince, and he saw the workings of magic.
Uther was too full of fear and hatred for magic to use it in such a way, which left the other kings. He sent out his most trusted servant, James, to keep an ear out and find out what on earth was happening.
Less than two hours later he returned with the idiot prince’s personal manservant. Who apparently didn’t have a self-preserving bone in his body.
“Your Highness, your servant suggested you wouldn’t kill me for saying this,” he began before actually being given permission to speak, “but I must inform you that your daughter is under a powerful enchantment.” He continued, still without letting the king speak.
Olaf was too shocked by the complete disregard for protocol to do much more than widen his eyes before the boy continued.
“I know it sounds ridiculous and like a trick by King Uther, but I implore you to believe me that it is not.”
Wow. Absolutely no sense of self-preservation. And he’s still talking! Something about the research he has done to narrow down the list of what specific spell it could be and dangerous allegations against King Alined and particularly his jester.
Olaf was suddenly very glad he had not outlawed magic, because if this sort of vigilance was needed against it when people wanted the king dead, he would lose his mind within a week.
When the boy finally finished speaking, Olaf had to commend him for the research he had done to try and help both his own master and Olaf’s daughter.
“Thank you for your vigilance uh….”
“Merlin.”
“Merlin, but nothing you have laid out has presented a way to save my daughter. It rather sounds like you’ve narrowed it down from 300 options to 50, which is still too many. Now how do you intend to help my daughter?” He said just shy of a command.
“Well, there are three options. One: get the caster to undo it, but that’s unlikely to work because I think King Alined’s threats hold more weight than mine. Two: find out which spell it is and use the correct antidote, which might not work because I’ve already narrowed it down as much as I can. Three: have a kiss from their true love as that will break all enchantments anyway, but I can only guess at Arthur’s true love and have absolutely no idea about Vivian’s”
Olaf took a deep breath to restrain himself from slapping the servant. Why did he not lead with that?
“I know who Vivian’s true love is, so you need only contend with your master.” He saw that Merlin was about to interrupt so he added, “I can keep her from doing something irreversible. We will have peace if I have any say in it.”
“I can handle Arthur then. Thank you, Your Highness.” He bowed and left the room, yet again without following proper protocol.
Oh well, time to check on Vivian and prepare enough headache tonic to last the next two days.