King of Camelot (Book 2)

Finding Emrys

Gwaine was gone. He left faster than he came, which was pretty fast. And Merlin was disappointed. She missed him and his charming smile. But she knew she would never love him. Not the way she loved Arthur.

She was cleaning Arthur's armor when Uther had walked in.

"Merlin! Good you are here." He said as she stood.

"How may I help you My Lord?" She asked with a smile.

"I need to ask you a couple of questions." Uther sat down at the table and Merlin felt her heart drop. Not the words you want to hear when your literally the most powerful sorcerer in all of Camelot.

Or the most powerful sorcerer ever.

She sat down at his gesture. "What do you want to know?"

"What do you know about Emrys?"

"Emrys. The sorceress?" Uther nodded. "Well, I don't know much. But all I know is that she is one of the most powerful sorceresses alive."

Uther scratches his chin. "I don't understand why she has never attacked. Or tried to at least."

"Well, she's supposed to be an advocate for peace. I've never heard of her wanting to attack Camelot." Merlin watched Uther think. He sat there for a minute or two debating on what to do.

"I think I want to find this Emrys." Merlin's eyes widened. "I'll be sending for some friends of mine. Who will hopefully be of great help."

He stood and walked towards the door deep in thought. "Sire?"

He turned towards the witch once more. "Who will you be sending for?"

"A dear friend. Aredian a witchfinder who helped me greatly during the Great Purge." Uther watched as Merlin slightly paled and squirmed in her seat.

He knew she disagreed with his stance on magic, but it never occurred to him she was afraid of people like Aredian. Or people like him.

He pushed the thought away. "Thank you Merlin. This information is very helpful. I may ask you more questions in the future." She nodded and watch Uther leave the room.

——

Lancelot was walking toward his chambers when Merlin walked past him mumbling to herself.

"Merlin?" She stopped and turned to face him but her face was blocked by her hair. "Are you alright?"

"No." She said pushing her hair behind her ear, giving Lancelot a good look at her face. Her eyes were teary. "I'm scared Lance."

Lance stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. He could feel her shake with every breath. He placed a kiss on the top of her head. She only held him tighter.

"What happened?" He asked.

"In your chambers." She pulled him to his chambers and sat down at his table. Lance sat across from her and waited for her to speak.

"It's Uther." She started looking at her hands. "Now that he knows about Emrys he wants to find her. And now he's calling one of the best witch finders he knows."

He ran his hand through his hair as he took in the information. "What's he gonna do when he finds you?"

"I-" Her voice cracked and a tear finally ran down her face. "I don't know."

She started crying. Lance put a hand on her arm, trying to comfort him.

"Merlin. Look at me." He turned her face. "You. Will be fine. You think Uther can do anything to you. He'll have to come through me. And it won't be pretty."