Arthur's Sons (Book 1)

The Labyrinth of Gedref (Part 1)

Merlyn being stuck out in the woods with Arthur and his hunting party was becoming a cliche but she usually got her revenge by making as much noise as humanly possible to chase off the game Arthur was hunting, which in turn would slowly whittle at his temper until he snapped and gave up.

This time though she wasn't so lucky. "Merlyn." Arthur whispered causing her to pause mid-step and turn toward him.

"What is it?"

"I don't know. We will surround it. I want you to go in there and flush it out." He told her and she simply deadpanned.

"You want me to go in there? You just said you don't know what it is. It could be dangerous."

"Let's hope so. Now go." Arthur grinned, the twins had accompanied them on the hunt and Rowan rolled his eyes before going to his mother's side and following her while his brother stayed back with their father. Merlyn and Rowan crept silently through the underbrush and Merlyn quietly notched an arrow ready to fire if necessary. Rowan had both daggers ready as they slunk through the trees, a flash of white and both raised their weapons ready.

From behind a tree, a pure white unicorn stepped forth gracefully shimmering in the light of the sun, Rowan and Merlyn gasped quietly and lowered their weapons putting them away. They both approached slowly as not to spook the creature, Merlyn held her hand out and the unicorn neared and placed its muzzle in her palm nuzzling her and nickering gently. On contact, she felt the pure magic radiating off the unicorn and gasped as it filled her with a sense of peace and serenity, Rowan stepped up cautiously and the unicorn turned to him and playfully nibbled at his hair causing him to giggle and stroke the beasts pure white fur. The moment was broken when she heard a twig snap and she suddenly remembered they were surrounded, she turned to the unicorn and tried to push it away to flee.

"Go. Go! Please, go. Shh. They're gonna kill you. Please, go!"

Merlyn turned frantically to see Arthur hold up his crossbow and shouted at him. "Arthur! No!" But it was too late Arthur loosened the bolt and it struck the unicorn in the side, it cried out in pain and Merlyn felt the magical backlash like a blow to the gut. The mighty beast fell to the earth and Merlyn cried out in panic rushing to hold the beast head in her lap as it took its last breaths, Rowan sat by her and cried stroking the unicorn's mane easing its pain as the others rushed down.

"Ha-ha! A unicorn!" Arthur cheers and Merlyn turns her tear-filled eyes to glare at him.

"What have you done?" She whispers hoarsely and Arthur's smile falters slightly.

"Don't be such a girl, Merlyn." Arthur teases rolling his eyes, Merlyn surges to her feet stomping toward the Prince who backs away. Before Merlyn can slap him senseless she sees a man cloaked in white looking forlorn at the unicorn before disappearing in the blink of an eye. Arthur looks to where her gaze had been drawn to see nothing and turns back to her.

"Seriously Merlyn it's just a unicorn." Arthur huffed crossing his arms and this time Merlyn does slap him. Hard.

"You're a fucking wanker Arthur Pendragon! You don't realise what you've done!" Merlyn roars at him and the knights surrounding them gasp in shock as Merlyn backs him up to a tree. "You've taken an innocent life, magic will demand recompense and I hope you are prepared to pay the price!" With that, she storms off toward where they had left the horses and the twins stare wide-eyed at her retreating figure.

Arthur sighs and rubs his stinging cheek before nodding to his men who go over and cut off the unicorn horn, Arthur notices when both boys flinch and seem to look over their shoulders like they are waiting for something but Arthur ignores it and takes the unicorn horn and begins walking back to the horses without a word.