Merlin

King Uther stops pacing, eventually sitting down upon the gilded throne. There he sits, fingers slowly drumming the polished metal. He waits, watching as the long shadows cast by the torches shrink and almost disappear as the sky becomes lighter; the warm rays of the rising sun chasing away the chill in the air. It is at this moment that Uther spots something through the window - a small speck on the horizon drawing ever closer. The king rises at once, striding briskly to the window and leaning out to get a better look. Seconds later he is dashing out of the throne room, heading down a long corridor towards a thick oak door that still stands open. Here Uther finds himself at the foot of a stone staircase, which he rapidly begins to ascend; his heart beating like a battle drum against his ribcage. Up, up, up the steps, until he reaches the trapdoor which opens out upon the highest tower of the castle - the place where all courier falcons are kept.

He is just in time. Moments later the courier hawk swoops downward, alighting upon King Uther's outstretched arm. The bird looks at him with its bright yellow eyes, before bowing its head in respect and extending its neck, presenting Uther with the scroll tucked inside its beak. King Uther returns the bird to its perch, taking a moment to feed the hawk a pair of dried grasshoppers. With trembling hands he undoes the blue sash around the scroll, and reads the short message written in black ink.

Fear not, my king. I shall arrive in Camelot soon. At dawn on the third day from now, set watch for me at the West Gate.

Your faithful servant and nephew,
Merlin.