Elizabeth

The Eye of the Phoenix

It was a big night for Arthur. Our children were asleep in our room while he prepared. He washed his face in a basin before Merlin put on a white ceremonial robe. He then knelt in the throne room to meditate. I watched Arthur from next to Merlin.

"What do you think he's actually doing?" I whispered to Merlin.

"Thinking." He whispered back.

"About?" I asked.

"You and your children." I hit him before laughing a little. "Shhh." We moved away from the door. "He has to decide upon a quest."

"And you think crouching on his knees all night is going to help?" I asked him while giving him a look.

"Yes. He has to transcend his body so that the quest is revealed to him in a vision." Merlin told me.

"And you're going to stay here and watch him?" I asked him.

"Liz, this is one of the most important days in a prince's life." He reminded me.

"Ah." I said smiling.

"Anything magical happening around the kids?" he asked me and I sighed before sitting on the stairs.

"No, not yet. But that thought terrifies me every day." I told him.

"If that day comes, I'll be here." He said, placing his arm around my shoulders in comfort.

"Thanks, Merlin." I said smiling at him. "I better be going to bed before Igraine wakes up for a feeding." I got up and went back to my room.

The next morning, I joined Uther and the council to enter the throne room as Merlin slept on the floor. I bent down and shook Merlin awake before going to my place behind Uther. Uther touched Arthur's shoulder, waking him from his trance.

"It is time. What is the quest you have chosen?" Uther asked him. Arthur rose and turned to us.

"I can see but one path, sir. I am to enter the realm of the Fisher King and find the golden trident spoken of in the legends of The Fallen Kings." Arthur told us.

"You do understand that if you are to prove yourself worthy of the throne, you must complete this task alone and unaided." Uther told him.

"I do." Arthur told him before glancing at me.

"Who was the Fisher King?" I asked Arthur while he prepared for his journey.

"He was a sorcerer who lived hundreds of years ago. Legend says he was wounded in battle. The wound got infected and that spread through his lands. His kingdom was reduced to a wasteland, and it has remained that way ever since."

"Why does your father seem worried?" I asked him.

"Some believe the Fisher King's still alive, kept from death by his magic." Arthur said and I looked at him.

"Do you think he's alive?" I asked him.

"Of course not, but it isn't called The Perilous Lands for nothing." He told me. "Don't worry, I'll be home to you in no time."

Later that day, I was holding Nicholas while rubbing Igraine's back as she slept. I spent most days like this in the past five months since they've been born. I'd hold one while Arthur held the other or I'd be rubbings his/her back. Today was no different. As Arthur studied maps at his desk Merlin had started on his chores, only today he added hiccups annoying my husband.

"I ate too quickly." Merlin told us before hiccupping again.

"Merlin..." Arthur started.

"I can't help it." Merlin told him.