The Once and Future Heir

Chapter 3

Merlin awoke suddenly to a loud scratching sound. He looked over his bed very slowly and saw little Toby curled up on the floor beside him. That eliminated one possible suspect.

Thinking it was just his imagination, he laid back down and closed his bright green eyes only to open them again to more scratching.

He sat upright, tuning his ears to listen to any noise that didn't belong. After awhile, and being satisfied that there wasn't anything there, he started to get back in bed when he heard it. Voices. Barely audible, but they were there. His heart raced as Merlin looked around the small abode for a place to hide.

His green eyes finally found the little hideaway that him and Alex made awhile back in case anyone came unexpectedly.

Quietly, he picked up Toby and crept over to the other side of the room. The moon shone through the windows, giving him just enough light to make his way over. Toby whined softly, angry from being woken up so early. Merlin shushed him, carefully opening the latch on the hideout.

After sliding his thin body through the hole, he lowered the door and relatched it. It wasn't a moment too soon when he heard his front door slam open and the thundering sound of boots stomping through the house.

Merlin peered through a little crack and gasped silently. Men, Camelot's men, searched through drawers and under sheets in search of something.

"Nobody is here, sir," a smaller, younger knight informed what looked like the leader.

The man cursed. His hand rose up and came down on the younger knights face, causing him to spin to the floor. His next words sent chills down Merlin's spine.

"Find her. FIND THAT PRINCESS NOW!"

The leader stomped his foot, shocking pretty much everyone in the room. Quieter this time but still loud enough to hear, he confirmed what Merlin was assuming he meant.

"Or else Camelot will fall, and nobody will be able to save it."
                   ~·~·~
Alex yawned loudly, stretching out her arms to their full extent. She slowly sat up, squinting from the sun shining in through the small window in her new room. For a minute she thought it was a dream, then remembered what happened just the day before.

Happily, she got dressed and slipped down to where Gaius was setting bowls on an empty table. He looked up and seemed surprised.

"Goodness. Merlin never had this much energy," he said surprisedly.

Alex smiled and plopped down on the small wooden bench. 

"So. What's for breakfast?" she asked, inviting the sweet smell to envelop her senses.

The old man grinned a surprisingly toothy smile and let out a small chuckle. "Man, you and Merlin ARE so different. Merlin never asks what is for breakfast. Heck, he never even eats breakfast!"

Alex giggled. "Well, I didn't pick up on ALL of his habits..."

Gaius slid a medium sizes bowl over to her and handed her a spoon. "Its my specialty. Cinnamon oatmeal with fresh apple chunks."

Alex's mouth watered. She scooped a spoonful in her mouth and sighed. There was just the right amount of cinnamon to give it taste and flavor the juicy apple slices. Alex stuffed her face with as much of it as possible and within five minutes it was gone. When she looked up at Gaius, she couldn't retain a snort that caused some of her oatmeal to reappear out of her nose. He lost it.

Gaius doubled over in laughter, causing Alex to laugh harder, making more oatmeal spring from her nose.

This moment reminded her of back in the woods with Merlin, when he had fallen over a tree root and fell into a huge mud puddle. This thought saddened her, ceasing the hysterical laughter they had felt before.

Tears streamed down her face as she longed for her half brother and best friend to be here with them.

Gaius was at her side in an instant, moving alarmingly fast, comforting her.

She snuggled into his baggy white shirt, memorizing his smell and the fatherly way he tried to calm her down.

"Shhh shhh it's okay, it's okay," Gaius said gently, hugging her tight.

Alex felt her eyes sag sleepily even though it was midmorning. Just as she was about to fall asleep the warning bells chimed, signaling Gaius and Alex to make their way back to the throne room.

All too soon Alex found herself half running down the hallways after the old physician, surprised by his uncanny speed. The windows and curtains were a blur. Servants and knights were running crazily around, trying to find the source of the alarm.

Finally they reached their destination, resting briefly before bursting through the doors of the throne room. Alex noticed that the long table was removed and replaced with a round table with knights all around. King Arthur and Queen Gwen stood in welcome to the two visitors. The king was grim faced and the knights were focused on studying a map.

"Gaius. Thank you for coming. The northern kingdoms have decided that because we have no tangible heir to the throne yet, we are weak and they want to overthrow us."

Alex gave a small gasp of surprise. It was only a day from when they were threatened.

Gaius nodded solemnly. He shuffled over to the table and Alex followed. After studying the large map of Camelot for awhile, Gaius pointed to a certain point on the map and tapped it.

"I'm guessing they will attack here. This is the closest forest to the castle and it will provide ample protection if they need to retreat."

Arthur nodded. "I see. Where are we going to out the people from the outlying villages?"

Gaius looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry, Sire. I'm not sure we can support all of those people."

Arthur put his head in his hands. Gwen rubbed his back. "Its ok. We'll figure something out. We always do."

A knock broke a akward silence. The doors parted to allow a messenger through. With a small, sloppy bow, he proceeded to tell them that a traveler has requested the kings presence. The king allowed it.

The messenger called out to the person standing outside the doors. A loud gasp echoed throughout the room at the sight of the traveler. A grin entered the persons face. Gwen covered her mouth and tears streamed down her face. Arthur just sat there, a smile slowly creeping onto his tired features. Alex looked angrily at the newcomer.

"SURPRISE! I'm back!" Merlin exclaimed.

I'm tired so there isn't much to say. Sorry it's so late. Happy reading!

-Hammie