Chapter 1
Arthur has everything he ever wanted. He was ruling a strong, fair kingdom with his beautiful and smart wife. He had the strongest knights in the five kingdoms as his trusted friends. Camelot was in a time of peace with Morgana missing. In all honesty everything was as he had envisioned, and he was horribly bored.
There was nothing for him to do as King. He had meetings every day for what felt like the whole day. When he did get time to train with knights it was clear to him that his skills were slipping from lack of use. Even his manservant, Merlin, had been making jokes about his weight gain. All in all it was humiliating.
The worst part about all of it was that it was true. He was getting weak and wasn't in the shape he was in when he became king. He would never say he was fat, but he had noticed the change as well. He felt like he was going crazy without a war to rage, a fight to be won, or an enemy to be slain. He was grateful for the time of peace in his kingdom. The druid's were now friends, no longer the treat that they use to be. The four other kingdoms were either allied with Camelot or in a very shaky truth with the kingdom. It was a great time for Camelot and its people, but having been raised to fight his whole life, Arthur did not know what to do in times of peace.
Arthur was in yet another council meeting, only half paying attention, when something caught his interest. Scouts from the far west had come to report how the villages were fairing with the upcoming winter.
"Morgana is believed to have been captured just over the border in Amata." The scout told them. "The villagers are scared that she will get free and come for them."
"Morgana was captured by Sarrum? What does he plan to do with her?" Arthur asked of the scouts. He has heard nothing of Morgana since he took Camelot back from her. He had thought she was dead until this moment.
"We uh …. We don't know what he plans. We do not even know if the rumors are true, Sire."
"Your dismissed" he waved his hand towards the door and the Scout left. He waited until the door closed before addressing his friends and closest advisors. "Sarrum is a brutal man, even to his allies. I do not believe that she went there in search for his alliance."
"She was very weak after the battle" Gaius pointed out. "Maybe she was going in search of something that could help to regain her strength"
"Do you know what it might have been?" Arthur wanted to figure out what Morgana was planning and stop her before she could attack them again.
"I do not, but I may be able to find out, with time Sire."
"See it done. We must find what she is after before she manages to get free and take it for herself." With that Arthur called the meeting to a close. He was going to have a long journey to prepare for, in the winter no less.
-0-
It took several days before Gaius was able to find any information on a magical item that Morgana may have any interest in. He had a meeting with Arthur to explain what he had found.
"It's called the Horn of the Wild Hunt." He told Arthur. "It is the only item of any magical importance that there is any mention of being in Sarrum's kingdom."
Arthur had never heard of such a thing. His confusion showed on his face. "What is this horn thing?"
"Horn of the Wild Hunt" Gaius repeated, "It is used to summon fairy folk and spirts to start the Wild Hunt. It is my belief that Morgana plans to find the Horn and bring the Wild Hunt to Camelot."
Arthur could tell from the look on Gaius' face that this was something that had the old physician and past sorcerer worried. "What would happen if she succeeded?" He wasn't sure he really wanted to know.
"Well Sire … The hurt is a terrible thing. Spirts and Faye folk will descend on the city. They are mischievous beings and when called in open areas there is little issue. When they reach a populated area though …" He sighed "Food and water disappear, they play tricks on the mind making you go insane, and anyone that is caught outside by the spirts is carried off and never seen again. It is not something I would wish Camelot to experience."
"And she won't" Arthur swore this to Gaius. "Where can I find this horn?"
"I do not know it's location for certain. The last Wild Hunt I heard of was many years before the purge. But that was located in the Forest of Nagas, deep behind Amata's borders."
"I will lead a small group. We can be in and out without Sarrum knowing we were even there." Arthur was confident in his knight's ability to pull this off without being caught. He knew that if he told Sarrum about the Horn he would use it to his own means, maybe even against Camelot. Arthur felt the only safe place for such an item was deep beneath Camelot in the vaults.
"It will not be that easy, Sire. The forest gets its name from the creatures that exists inside of it. They are half man and half serpent. They are said to be extremely beautiful but death to any who get close to them." The tone of Gaius' words held a warning to the king. "To find this Horn will be very dangerous indeed."
"That matters not. We must find it before Morgana has a chance." Arthur turned to Merlin who had been listening to the full conversation, "Have my men prepare, we leave in the morning."
"Arthur are you sure …" Merlin wanted to protest.
"Merlin, who is the king?" Arthur tried not to sound too irritated with his friend.
"You Sire" Merlin went to do what Arthur asked, not putting up any more of an argument.
-0-
That night while getting ready for bed, Arthur told Gwen of his plans to leave and find the Horn of the Wild Hunt.
"Arthur please don't go." Gwen was worried, she always hated when Arthur would risk his life in such ways.
"It's my duty to protect the people of Camelot, to protect you." Arthur pulled his wife into his arms. It meant the world to him that she cared so much about him, but he could not appear weak as king.
"But Arthur to travel so far at this time. The cold winds are coming, winter will be on us before we know it. You know what Sarrum will do to you if he catches you in his kingdom uninvited. And if you even do make it to this forest and avoid those monsters that Gaius warned you about, who is to say that this is even the thing Morgana is after?" Fear and worry were thick in Gwen's voice. "And why leave with winter so close, can you not wait for the thaw to get here?"
"That may be too late. If we leave at first light and ride hard we should only be gone but a few weeks. We shall return long before the first snow has fallen." He wanted to comfort his wife, more than anything he wanted her safe and happy.
Gwen knew that there would be no way to talk her husband out of this. Once Arthur had his mind set to something, nothing short of death would distract him. "Then ride fast and safe" She told him "And return to me quickly." She gave him a light kiss. Even though she was giving him her blessing she was still scared to her core that he would not return.
A/N The Wild Hunt is an actual event from Celtic lore. It is much like I have described with Fairy and Spirts know to carry people off and make them disappear forever. Food and Water stores also go missing while the Wild Hunt is going on. Visions of spirt Dogs and Horses are also said to be seen. This all happens in the depth of winter. The Horn of the Wild Hunt is my own creation. The Nagas are also creatures of myth but I will place my own spin on those as well. I hope you enjoy.