Elizabeth

The Nightmare Begins

Uther, Arthur and I stood in Morgana's chambers the morning after a terrible storm due to a fire having been lit in her room. Merlin was cleaning up the burnt fragments of the curtain and the broken glass from the floor.

"I came back in with some extra blankets. There was a candle, but I put it out." Gwen told us.

"Are you sure?" Uther asked her.

"I blew it out, I swear." she told him.

"Gwen's been Morgana's servant for years. If she said she blew it out, I believe her." Arthur told his father.

"She could've been burnt alive." Uther said.

"Lightning struck the castle roof last night, that could've started the fire." I told him.

"Perhaps." Uther said.

"What other explanation is there?" Arthur asked him.

"Someone started the fire deliberately." Uther said.

The three of us were walking down the corridor talking about what could have happened.

"How did they reach Morgana's chambers unchallenged?" Uther asked.

"I don't know. There are too many guards. It shouldn't be possible." Arthur told him.

"And yet they managed to do so." Uther said.

"I can't explain it." Arthur told him.

"Well I can. They used magic. Arrest all those we have under suspicion." Uther demanded.

"That's gonna take time." I tried telling him. Uther stopped walk and put his face close to mine and Arthur's.

"My ward has been attacked. Time is something we do not have." Uther told us.

Arthur and I passed Merlin just as Merlin was about to head up.

"Ah, Merlin. I need you to... What are you hiding behind your back?" Arthur asked him.

"Nothing. See?" Merlin said showing us one hand.

"What are you up to?" I asked him smiling.

"What, nothing, honestly. I would never lie to you two. I respect you far too much for that. You wanted me to do something." Merlin said looking at Arthur and avoiding my gaze.

"My chainmail needs cleaning." Arthur told him.

"Oh, well...I'll see to it right away." Merlin said. Arthur gave him a strange look before we walked away from him.

"I think that's sweet." I told Arthur as we continued walking.

"What is?" he asked me.

"He's bringing flowers to Morgana. He's worried about her." I told him.

"Nothing could happen between them." Arthur told me.

"I know. But it's still sweet." I told him. He smiled and we continued walking in comfortable silence.

"This is a list of people that you've asked for." Sir Leon told Arthur as we walked to his chambers.

"You sure this is all of them?" Arthur asked as we entered his chambers.

"Names and last known dwelling places." sir Leon told him.

"The King suspects the fire was started by sorcery." I said.

"Indeed, My Lady. I've included the details of everyone we suspect of consorting with sorcerers, witches, or druids." Sir Leon told us.

"Gather the men. We'll arrest them immediately." Arthur ordered Sir Leon. Sir Leon bowed to us then walked out. Arthur turned to Merlin who was cleaning his chain mail. "I thought I told you to do that yesterday."