The Hidden Kingdom

Chapter Six

The Lake of Avalon still looked exactly the same. The snow-capped mountains in the distance, the lines of full green trees that cast their shadows on the murky water, the strange stillness in the air. The path to the Lake was filled with scattered wildflowers of blue and lavender that Merlin remembered placing in Freya's boat. The memory of sending the boat across the water still made his heart sink.

As the Knights all got off their horses and were marvelling at the view, Merlin still sat on his horse unmoving. His eyes glistened; he could feel the magic of the place pull at him like a magnet. Suddenly, Merlin felt someone take the reins from him. He looked down in surprise to see Lancelot smiling sadly at him. "Merlin, are you okay?" He asked in a whisper.

Merlin sniffled and quickly got off the horse with a blank face, he turned to Lancelot with a fake smile, "Of course, I'm fine." He said quietly.

Lancelot raised his eyebrows at him disbelievingly, "You know Merlin for someone who holds such a big secret, you are a terrible liar." He said in a hushed voice.

A small smile tugged at Merlin's lips as he looked at his friend. "That's what Gaius says."

Lancelot grinned, "He's right."

"I've been here before." Merlin admitted as he looked away. The knights were all getting their weapons ready to hunt for their dinner.

"Was it to do with, you know your...tricks?" He asked hesitantly stepping closer to Merlin.

"Yes, there was this girl." Merlin said softly as he started unpacking his bedroll from his bag.

Lancelot smirked at him, "I see."

"It wasn't like that." Merlin said rolling his eyes. Lancelot nodded with a smile. "Okay, maybe it was, but nothing really happened, she was cursed."

"By what?" Lancelot asked curiously.

"She was captured just outside of Camelot, so I set her free and hid her in the tunnels under Camelot. I did'nt know she was cursed to turn into a monster every night until later." Merlin sighed, "She wasn't afraid of my magic, she was different too."

"What happened to her?" He asked kindly.

Merlin looked him in the eye, "We planned to run away together, live in a farm somewhere near the mountains and lakes, have a couple of cows." He chuckled.

"Why did'nt you?" Lancelot asked with a knowing look.

Merlin glanced over at the Knights to see they were all busy chatting among themselves, he turned to Lancelot with a frown. "Her curse, it turned her into this cat-like creature. They saw her within Camelot's walls and Arthur dealt a mortal blow to her side."

"Oh Merlin." Lancelot shook his head and looked quickly between Arthur and Merlin.

"She died in my arms, right over there." Merlin admitted tilting his head towards the Lake.

Lancelot squeezed his shoulder lightly with a sympathetic look. "Does Arthur know?"

Merlin quickly shook his head with a wild look in his eyes, "No, and I don't want him to."

"Mer-lin!" Arthur shouted. "Stop gossiping like a girl and get over here to set up the camp."

He looked to see Arthur glaring at him and gesturing to the tents. Merlin sighed and turned back to Lancelot to see him shaking his head.

"Merlin you can't just keep brushing these things aside." Lancelot sighed as he took a step back. "No matter if you have magic or some special destiny to fulfil, you are still human. You're allowed to want things for yourself, a future of your own."

Merlin shrugged, "I'm not sure that's an option anymore." He said quietly as he made to move towards the rest of the Knights. Suddenly, Lancelot gripped his arm to stop him.

"What does that mean?" He asked worriedly.