Chapter One:

Silence

Darkness covered the skies completely. It made the castle which loomed on the hill look even more menacing and gothic than it did in daylight. As Morgan's party traveled into the lower town, she could sense something was off. She always could sense things the others could not. The guards were not at their posts by the gates of the city. Everything was coated in silence. A silence so thick that the slightest rustle of skirts, or shift of one's position sounded like something catastrophic.

"Stop the carriages." Morgan demanded in a cool steady voice.

"Yes my Lady." The coachman said as he proceeded to stop the small caravan from moving any farther towards the castle. Morgan swiftly glided down from her position in the coach. She looked around, and noticed that not one torch or candle was lit in any dwelling.

"Something is not right. Not one house bears a light and it is only the tenth hour." Morgan declared as she climbed back in her previous seat. She signaled the coachman to proceed to the castle, hoping that maybe someone would tell her what was going on. When they reached the central courtyard, the party stopped, allowing Morgan and her two serving women, Adelaide and Wren, to exit the coach and approach the castle. Morgan entered through the main doors, and into the great hall. Surprisingly enough, there was no one there. The entire room was empty. Normally, there would be servants doing various chores throughout the night, or the occasional squire or page coming from the servant's hallways. Now, though, there was not a soul in sight. The three made their way towards the King's chambers, as Morgan had to speak to Arthur desperately.

"You two, please stay out here." Morgan said to both the girls. She knocked on Arthur's door, then when there came no reply, she slowly opened it. "Arthur?" she said softly. That was when she saw him, he was sitting at his desk, in the dark, and he was ghostly pale. The brazier was not lit, so the cold November air was seeping in through cracks in the mortar. Morgan shivered and pulled her green woolen cloak even tighter around her shoulders.

"M-Morgan." Arthur slurred, it was if he had just registered her presence, even though she had been in the room at least five minutes.

"Arthur what has happened?" She asked as she lit the candle on the small table beside the bed. There was nothing that could have prepared her for the look on his face. His eyes were glazed over, and he looked as though he had just witnessed some unspeakable tragedy that was too grotesque to even imagine. "Arthur…. are you alright?" She asked as she approached him. She reached out her hand and placed it on his brow. "Arthur you are burning up, shall I fetch the physician?"

"He's gone. They are all gone." He spoke, his voice barely a whisper.

"Arthur, who did this? What has happened?" She tried again. He gripped the sleeve of her cloak and looked up into her eyes. The look of pure terror was engraved on his face.

"Morgan, we have to get out of here, before it is too late." he said, then he fell limp against her side.