"And as a bonus, the winner will have the honor of taking my daughters hand in marriage!"

My eyes widen in surprise, and I stare at father shocked.

"WHAT?!" I hear Douxie shout surprised, his eyes wide as well and mouth hanging open in shock.

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:

"Father, you can't be serious!" I ask him shocked.

"Oh, I am very serious my daughter. You've been of age since you were 16 but because of my love for you I've let you draw this out as long as you wished. But now you need a prince, worthy of ruling this kingdom." Father explains.

"You want some prince to rule while I sit idly by like the quiet queen I am?! No way in hell!"

"You better watch your language young lady!" Father growls at me.

I huff and walk of off the stage and back towards Douxie, Claire and Steve.

Douxie sighs and immediately wraps his arms around me in a hug.

"It didn't happen like this, I'm guessing." Claire says.

We both nod.

"Don't worry Mailin, I'm sure once your past self tells your father she's dating past Douxie then maybe he'll be ok with it." Claire says comfortingly.

"It did happen that I told him. And he was not fond of us at first but once he got to know Douxie more he was alright with us." I explain and sigh again "for now we just need to make sure everything is safe in case Morgana attacks."

Douxie and Claire nod in agreement. Steve comes walking up to us, carrying many muffins.

"We know Arthur is the main target. I'll draw stasis traps around the perimeter, put up defensive wards-" Douxie takes the muffin Steve holds out to him and eats it "I forgot how good these tasted." Douxie says happily and I chuckle. While he eats another one Claire speaks.

"Guys, this is Morgana we're talking about. We can't just wait for her to slice our throats."

I flinch.

"Why not?" Steve asks while eating.

"She'll find a way in." Claire answers his question, and we turn as a boy screams.

A little boy and girl are playing with toys what father did to Aunt Morgana.

After that Archie flies towards us.

"No sign of any sorceresses. Then again, all you humans do look alike."

"She is crafty. She'll try to infiltrate the tournament. We have to go on the offensive, root the witch out!" Claire says.

"You do that, Mailin and I will secure the castle." Douxie says, high fives Claire and we part ways.

Douxie and I make our way through the town and throw protective spells on the houses.

Then we do the same with Merlin's tower.

"And there. The King's chambers and Merlin's tower completely warded. No evil sorceress is getting in now, eh, Arch?"

"Oh, you've done it alright, maybe overdone it." Archie replies and Douxie winces as a guy gets stuck in one of the spells. He helps him out and the guy leaves.

Sir Galahad comes running in and grabs Douxie "Oy, the king summons you! Come with me at once!"

"What-?" Douxie asks confused as Galahad takes him, I follow them, while thinking worriedly "what if father found out about us?"

Galahad brings Douxie to where the tournament is held, and I nervously sit down next to father again.

"We have reached the time that's not the beginning, but not the end. A half-time, if you will. Enjoy the match of misfits, my lord!" Galahad announces and I sigh relieved, father hadn't found out about me and Douxie yet.

After Archie defeated the gnome, the next fight starts.

"Now, the formidable Knight of Skulls and his challenger, Sir Clairee of the house Nuenz!" Sir Galahad announces.

I gasp "Claire?" I see Douxie jump to the front row and hear him ask "what is she doing?"

Claire defeats him at the end with a spell.

"Sorcery? That is forbidden!" Father shouts angrily.

Sir Lancelot removes Claire's helmet and the crowd gasps.

"The witch is disqualified!" Sir Galahad shouts.

"Well seeing how there's no winner, I guess I won't be married off today." I sigh relived.

My eyes widen as I hear footsteps approach. I turn, just in time to blast a man, about to kill my father with a green glowing blade, with my magic who yells "Hail Morgana!"

My spell throws him out and he lands on the grass on front of the stands. A post with weapons falls on top of him. A glow emits from it and a changeling jumps out.

"A changeling? Protect the king!" Douxie shouts.

I had already jumped out of father's booth and walked towards the changeling, my hands glowing.

"How dare you try to assassinate my father?!" I growl, my voice growing in volume with my magic power, as my eyes glow bright rosé.

The changeling laughs and throws his knives, killing two knights with them.

Father jumps out of the booth holding his sword, ready to attack.

The changeling frees Bular and Bular is about to attack father, but Douxie stands in front of him. He puts up a magical barrier around them, like a hamster ball and the roll back after Bular hit them.

Bular follows them and I as well. Bular slams Douxie against a wall and attacks father again. The two battles when suddenly huge explosions go off which tear a hole into of one Camelot's walls.

Bular escapes and the changeling attacks father from behind.

"Father watch out!" I cry out worriedly.

The changeling bounces off a blue magic shield and I sigh relieved as Douxie, Claire, Steve and Sir Lancelot stand around father protectively.

"Stay back!" Douxie shouts warningly.

"I've already won." The changeling grins and sets of more explosions, which don't go off immediately thanks to Douxies spells.

"Merlin's tower!"

"Good call with the defenses, Doux!" Claire and I tell Douxie.

"Yeah, but they won't last long." Douxie replies worriedly.

"Oh, no! Douxie!" I call out worriedly.

"What?" Douxie asks.

"The other Douxie! With the cute man bun, in the tower?" I clarify.

"Oh, fuzz buckets!" Douxie curses as he realizes who I'm talking about, and we hurry to the tower.

In front of us are the explosions, quickly expanding and threatening to break Douxies spell any second. People are screaming and fleeing.

We open the door to Merlin's room and the explosions right behind us.

"We have to go!" Douxie shouts.

"But I'm in the middle of creating-" Merlin gets cut off by the other explosions bursting through the windows.

"Dworkstone"? Merlin asks as he backs away.

We run to the door, but the explosions cut off that exit too and now they're closing in on both sides.

"We need a way out." Merlin says.

"Already ahead of you." Claire opens a portal, and we jump through just in time.

We fall out around father and immediately get up, ready to fight. Well, past Douxie lands with a scream in a barrel.

"Camelot is closed, Morgana." Claire says to the changeling. Douxie ties him up with blue magic chains and Steve hits him with his tooth hammer.

The changeling cuts through the chains with his knives but before he can attack Claire opens a portal and lets him fall from the sky. Douxie catches him in a bubble and he and Merlin both fire their magic at him.

The changeling explodes in a tornado of fire.

Douxie sighs relived, and Merlin gives him a thankful look which makes him smile.

I throw myself at him and Douxie laughs as I hug him tightly. He hugs me back and we just enjoy each other's embrace.

We then walk over, hand in hand, to father and Merlin as they asses the state Camelot is in.

"We need allies in the war to come." Merlin says.

"Our enemies are many, but how will we face them alone?" Father asks Merlin. "I am a king with half an army."

"Then we go to the good trolls." Douxie tells father.

Father looks at him, notices our joint hands, smiles at me softly and nods.