The King

Chapter 3

Narrator POV

The kingdom held a feast that night, in the new Prince's honor. He did not join, as there would be many drunken nobles and adults, no place for a newborn child.

Arthur gladly joined into the festivities, but he could not bring himself to be joyful. All he could think about was Merlin, and the note.

Gwen too came to the celebrations, leaving their son to Freya, the nanny. After more than one or two drinks, Arthur and his queen returned to their chambers, but the thought of Merlin and the note still remained, even into his dreams.

"Sire! Sire wake up!" Whispered Lancelot.

Arthur's eyes shot open and Lance put his hand over his King's mouth so that he would not awaken the queen or the child.

"Leave a note for Gwen, I'll explain on the way" Arthur nodded, as he trusted the Knights with his life.

Arthur's POV

"Where are we going?" I breathed finally now that we were out of Camelot's walls.

"Gwaine and I were hunting, and we stumbled across a small hovel." Gwaine, behind Lance, nodded, making the story valid.

Gwaine began to speak. "The hovel belonged to Morgana... We could hear Merlin's screams from outside" he took a deep breath.

"That's where we're heading."

"I know"

"Good"

The two Knights and the King rode thought the forest, and watched the sun rise as they came upon a small mud hut.

Lance and Gwaine bursted in, swords drawn.

"I've been expecting you, although I though my brother would be here too."
Morgana scowled

Gwaine scowled back, "he's the King, and his son has just been born, he obviously has things to tend to in Camelot."

Morgana nodded, but didn't notice the large crack in the wall just behind her.

"I guess you'll have to satisfy my lust for blood." She grinned

Suddenly the wall behind Morgana split open and I jumped on Morgana. Before she could react, I cuffed her, ones that bore the mark of the old religion, rendering her magic useless.

"You.. You fools!" She yelled, but fear clouded her emerald eyes.

I moved to cut down Merlin, and the horribly skinny boy collapsed in his arms. He was shaking violently and his wounds and clothing were saturated in blood and dirt.

"'Thur... Y..ou c..came." Merlin managed to squeak before he fell unconscious.

"Kill her." I grunted. Gwaine nodded, taking Excalibur from my hand. He stabbed her through the heart, twice. I smiled when her breathing came to a stop.

I picked up my fragile servant and put him gently on my horse. I hopped on behind him and steadied Merlin on the saddle.

My Knights started the same as I, as we knew each other's minds well.

We reached Camelot by dusk, and Peter came to put away our horses.
I took Merlin into my arms and ran as fast as I could without hurting him to Gaius' chambers.

We got to Gaius' chambers, and laid Merlin one of the many cots in the room.

The old physician immediately frowned at his ward.

"Is something wrong?" I asked

"She... She was preparing to rip his soul from him." He said calmly.

I was a bit shaken by this, but Gaius treated him and he stopped shaking.

Gwaine and Lance retired to their chambers, but I pulled up a cot next to Merlin.

We slept, but were disturbed by a huge blue light floating over Merlin.

It was Morgause.