'I WANT HIM DEAD' the echoing scream repeated in the queens mind as the surprise ripped her from her already troubled slumber.
'MERLIN!' Guinevere Pendragon's breathes, shallow and irregular, filled the royal tent which was pitched to the cold earth of the hunting grounds.
'My lady?' a warming voice came closer and the figure of the old physician appeared.
'MERLIN! HE'S GONE, MORGANA'S TRAPPED HIM, SHE KNOWS, SHE KNOWS SOME SECRET! A DEADLY SECRET, GAIUS' the kindly old man gingerly crept over and sat beside the trembling queen.
He ran his aged fingers through her dark curls in a soothing, fatherly manner and whispered some comforting words, 'dreams, my girl. They are powerful things but that are not the future; they will not come to pass. Merlin is in his tent, sleeping like you should be; this is a time for joy, Gwen, this is a hunting trip for the whole of court to enjoy, it happens once every ten years, so enjoy it!'
She sobbed a little into the aged doctors' shoulder as he embraced her in a friendly hold. The tears slowed as did Gwen's breathing.
'There you see, sleep my child' She gave him a weary smile as he slowly made his way back to the entrance, he gave her a small smile and Guinevere nuzzled her head back into her pillow, as she tried to forget about the whole horrid business.
'GAIUS!' the king's forceful voice roared into Gwen's ears; Arthur Pendragon rushed past the old physician and accidently knocked him a little, the king corrected his mistake by steading Gaius back on his feet.
'Sire?' the healer's voice concerned replied; 'he's gone' the king panted, 'my sister's has taken him'.