Summary: Uther has sent Arthur and Merlin on a dangerous quest - retrieve the Cup of Life from the Druids, make sure neither Cenred nor Morgause get their hand on it... and make it out alive. As Gwaine joins them, will the unity of Courage, Strength and Magic be enough to complete the life-threatening mission? And what about the rest of the Round Table?

Details/Disclaimer: Merlin and anything from the series belong to the BBC. So does the original episode, The Coming of Arthur (both parts) on which this and the sequel of this story is based upon.This is merely my own version of events but I recommend watching the episodes first, as most of this makes sense only after watching them.

This is the second part of the trilogy The Rise and Fall of a Queen.

Enjoy!

Tazz~

The Rise of a Queen

Prologue: Courage's Mission

Word Count: 379

"Arthur, please, just tell me where we're going," Merlin tried again.

"No, Merlin," Arthur huffed in exasperation.

"Fine." Finally he let it go. "I'll just ask the Druids," he said smugly.

Arthur looked at him sharply. "You can talk to the Druids?"

Merlin, who was sitting at the table, having finished packing, turned to roll his eyes at Arthur.

"Well, obviously; I'm a warlock, not a bloody jester."

"Can you ask them to bring the Cup of Life here?" Arthur asked eagerly, ignoring the sarcastic comment.

"I could, but I won't, because it's much too risky for them."

"They have magic," Arthur protested, "surely they can look after themselves?"

"Arthur, Morgause also has magic," Merlin reminded him. "Besides, Druids are too peaceful to use it to hurt someone."

"Okay, fine. Can you at least ask them if they'll give it to us?"

"They wouldn't give it to you." Arthur turned to glare at him, but then he added: "But they will definitely give it to Emrys." He smiled.

"Will you ask them where we're to find them?"

"I did that ages ago."

"They why did you keep asking me?"

"You're fun to annoy." The goblet that had been thrown at him was stopped in mid air, before it harmlessly placed itself on the table Merlin was sitting at, while Arthur looked on in awe; he still hadn't got used to Merlin's power, and was amazed that Merlin didn't even need to look at it.

"So when are we leaving?" The question made him stop staring at the unremarkable goblet, as he mentally hardened himself in preparation.

"Now."

Grettir got up from the crystal pool's edge, and walked away. The serene pool's surface rippled once, as the image of two horses leaving a castle faded away.

"Courage and Magic have left Camelot," he called out.

"Finally," the Great Dragon, Kilgharrah, last of his kind, replied in a disgruntled voice. He shook himself off, and got up, stretching his vast wings, stiff from sitting still so long.

"Do you mind starting the fire?" Grettir asked, his voice notably more timid compared to when he had announced the departure earlier. The Dragon looked at him in contempt, before lighting the small pile of wood ablaze with ease.

"Thanks."

"Anytime," Kilgharrah said drily.

For example – about the whole episode thing - this chapter takes place after Uther has told Arthur to leave for the Cup of Life.