The hunting party walked slowly over a steep hill as the sun's first rays kissed the horizon. Led by a strong man in chain mail, the party was made up of knights wielding crossbows. However, one of them wasn't a knight and he wasn't armed. He carried extra bolts for the crossbows, and had a strained look on his face." Arthur, do we really have to go hunting this early in the morning?"

The leader of the party turned his head. "Yes, Merlin, as always the game will be out earlier in the morning when it isn't very hot out yet. Now stop complaining and at least try to keep up!" Merlin heaved a sigh and trudged on.

It wasn't until the party had reached the top of the hill that Arthur spotted what he was hunting.

"There it is," he said quietly, pointing to a buck in a clearing just in range.

A majestic buck, Merlin thought, knowing its gorgeous antlers would soon be on display somewhere in Camelot. Suddenly, Merlin had the strangest feeling: a sudden urge to save this deer. For some reason, his legs forced him to run at Arthur. "Wait!" he tried to keep himself quiet, but his body had taken control.

"What now, Merlin? You've seen me hunt before!"

"I know, but I....I..." Merlin didn't know what to say, "Something might...happen."

"Yes, the deer might or might not die. Now let me shoot it already!" Arthur took aim.

"No!" Merlin again obstructed his chances at the buck. Looking back and the doomed beast, it lifted its head from grazing and twisted in a direction somewhere behind it.

"WHAT? Merlin, my men need to learn how to hunt properly, and this buck is a perfect specimen." Arthur glared at his man-servant, but when he saw Merlin's face, he sighed.

"Ok, fine. How about this: If something goes wrong, you can say 'I told you so,' and have this." Arthur took a small sack from his pocket. Merlin was surprised Arthur kept gold on him while hunting.

"And if you win?" Merlin inquired.

"I'll put you in the stocks the rest of the day for your insolence! Do we have a deal?"

"Fine!"

Arthur nodded and took aim, telling his men to do the same. Merlin stood off to the side, trying to stop himself from flying at Arthur again. He looked back at the buck, which had begun to pace slightly, as if wondering if he should stay where he was or find a different place to graze.

Arthur raised his arm, then let it fall, signaling his men to fire. Bolts flew through the air. It was not until that moment that Merlin heard the hoof beats growing even louder. As he watched, two horses, one black and one brown with a white tail and mane, galloped right in front of the buck as he darted away...and the oncoming bolts. A scream sliced through the air. Merlin and Arthur exchanged looks, and then bolted to the scene.

When they got to the horses, Arthur's men checked the animals for injuries. Both horses were unharmed. Three people lay on the ground: one was a young woman, one a young girl, and the last a man slightly younger than Arthur. A small whimper escaped the woman. Merlin stooped to roll her onto her back. "Are you alright?" he asked.

The woamn opened her tear stained eyes. "Me? I'm fine! How are the others? Ana?" she called. Her eyes widened when she spotted the young girl. "ANA!" she shrieked. She crawled to her companion.

Merlin saw the bolt that pierced the young girl's stomach. She began to weep. The brown horse walked over and whinnied softly. Arthur looked at one of his men.

"Take the girl to Gaius!" he ordered. "Take James, that black stallion over there." the woman put in, "He's the fastest horse you'll ever ride."

The man looked at Arthur for instructions. Arthur nodded, so the man picked up the girl, climbed on the black horse, and the woman told him to run to the castle. The black horse ran so fast the man was soon out of sight.

"Where's Charles?" she asked next. Merlin looked around, and saw the man. A bolt had ripped clean through his chest. Merlin watched desperately for even the slightest rise or fall of his cheast, but he was as still as the rocks he lay on. Merlin reached for the man's hand to check his pulse, and instantly pulled back. The man was as cold as ice, and his eyes stared at nothing.

Turning his head away, he looked into the woman's clear green eyes. "I'm sorry, he's dead." The woman shook her head, bent her head and continued to cry.

Three of Arthur's men grabbed the man and began to make their way back to the castle. The rest took the bolts that were scattered on the ground and began to go back up the slope back to Camelot. Arthur and Merlin were left with the woman. Merlin helped her up.

"You sure you're ok?" he asked again.

"I'm fine," she assured. No sooner than were the words out of her mouth she yelped and fell to the ground. "My knee," she mumbled through her clenched teeth, "I fell off Alessandria and onto my knee."

Merlin looked down at her knee and was surprised. How could her knee hurt so badly if hardly any blood was spilled? Only the trim of her ragged dress had been sprinkled with blood.

Arthur and Merlin lifted her onto the brown horse, so she didn't have to walk. The second they started on their way she asked, "What castle are we headed to?"

"Camelot," Arthur answered.

The horse stopped. "Camelot? You must be kidding me?"

"No, I'm sorry."

The girl began to cry even more fiercely. "He was so close. So close."

"Who?"

She turned her head. "Charles, my brother. He wished to be a knight of Camelot. Th-that's why we came." She wiped her tears. "I apologize for my rudeness. I have yet to know your names."

Merlin was impressed by the strength in her voice. How many deaths had she suffered? Arthur responded to her.

"I am Arthur Pendragon, crown prince of Camelot." The horse bowed her head while she was walking.

"Does your horse always do that?" Arthur asked.

"Alessandria is her name, and yes. She was respecting your position." She turned her head. "This must be one of your knights, the way he is dressed so finely!"

Merlin looked at his own clothes. He was wearing his usual clothes that hadn't been washed in a few days with a red neckerchief. Merlin looked back, beginning to question this maiden's sanity.

"Er, no, he's just my man-servant, Merlin." Arthur stated bluntly, rolling his eyes.

"Man-servant?" the woman asked, confused. She stared at Arthur with a scornful look in her eyes. "You can't dress and feed yourself?"

Arthur rolled his eyes again and glared at Merlin. "Of course I can, but I am going to be king someday! Now what's your name?" The girl shook her head; as though she were still not convinced Arthur needed a man servant. "I am the Lady Cyri."

"Lady?" Arthur looked at the girl's tattered clothing in disbelief.

"My lady," Merlin bowed while walking, trying to show more manners than Arthur.

Cyri smiled. "I'll give more information at the castle, once I've seen my sister," she stated to no one in particular. "Merlin, climb on Alessandria. She will get us to Camelot faster." Alessandria lay down so Merlin wouldn't have to climb on her back.

"What about me?" Arthur asked.

"You're a prince. Don't you have your own horse?"

Cyri smiled as Merlin climbed on behind her. The mare stood back up, then bolted forward, past Arthur, past many trees, past the other knights and Charles, leaving Arthur yelling a threat at Merlin in the distance.

As soon as they arrived, Cyri and Merlin took Alessandria to the stables. Merlin then helped the Lady down and into the castle to Gaius's chambers.

"This is the where the court physician lives," he stated as he opened the door. Gaius looked up from his work. "There you are, Merlin! I've got a new patient, and-" he stopped talking when he saw Cyri. "Who's this?"

"This is the Lady Cyri, another patient for you." Gaius lifted an eyebrow then bowed. "My lady," he said, "I assume my other patient is your sister? You look just like her."

"Yes, sir. Is she....alright?"

Gaius breathed deeply. "I think she will be, eventually. We can only hope."

He smiled, and then saw Cyri's injury. "Sit down," he instructed, pointing to a chair near Ana.

Merlin helped her over. "Why did you come to Camelot?" Gaius inquired as he inspected Ana's wound.

"Well, my brother wished to become a knight." Gaius was about to ask where her brother was when he saw Merlin draw a finger across his throat, telling him not to speak about Cyri's dead brother.

"Oh," was all Gaius said, "You know, he would have to have been of noble blood. Was he?"

Before Cyri could respond, Arthur burst through the door holding two saddlebags. "My men and I searched your bags for anything that shouldn't be here."

Cyri stiffened. "Did you now?" she countered. Merlin could hear fear in her voice, and suddenly was curious as to what Arthur had found.

Firstly, he pulled out several vials and bottles filled with potions and... a gryphon feather! "How did you obtain these potions and other magical items? You don't have magic, do you?"

Cyri's fear suddenly switched to rage. "No, you fool! Do you think I'd be that stupid, coming to Camelot if I had magic? No, I don't have magic. I obtained those in my travels.. I'm sure you found something of interest in my brother's saddlebag as well?"

"Why, yes." Arthur said, and pulled a golden crown from the other bag.

"How did your brother get this?"

"From my father.."

"How did he get it, then?"

"The royal crown maker." Cyri sighed. "I am Lady Cyri, first born daughter of the king of Algerot."

Arthur's mouth stood agape. "You are the daughter of King Ferdinand?"

Cyri nodded.

"My father has been his ally for many years!" Arthur's face fell. "His son," he started, then looked at the crown. "My father must be notified, and so must yours."

"No need. He already knows." Cyri shook her head.

Gaius raised his eyebrow again. "How could he know if Charles only died today?" he asked, having known Charles and King Ferdinand.

"Angels can see everything, and Charles must have already met him again." Two tears fell down Cyri's cheek.

"Are you saying," Arthur began, "that the king of Algerot is...dead?"

Cyri nodded.

"My father must be told. Will you come see him?"

"After I've checked her knee," Gaius answered, "and only if Merlin goes to help her stand."

"Ok," Cyri finished. She blinked, and then looked into Arthur's face. "Now, about the magical items. I did collect them from warlocks, witches, sorcerers, sorceresses, wizards, among others. After they were dead."

Arthur frowned. "You stole from the dead?"

"Only as a prize," she chuckled. "They're my spoils from past kills I've made."

Gaius again raised a brow. "You're a killer?"

"No," Cyri answered coolly, "I'm a witch hunter. A special kind. Both of my siblings are to. We can feel magic, mostly when it's being used," she smiled, "but I can, if the magician if powerful enough, feel their power inside them." Cyri looked at Merlin, and she smiled wider. "I guess it's just a...talent. Don't you think, Merlin?"