CHAPTER 2
Arthur was restless. It was the first time in a long time he was without Gwen and the children. He stood looking out the window toward Rheged where his heart still was.

Arthur looked around the room. He hadn't been in these chambers since the night he and Gwen ran away from Camelot. That was one of the most memorable nights of his life. He escaped his guarded room and then rescued Gwen from the dungeons. If it wasn't for Merlin and Morgana's help they would have been caught and brought back to Camelot.

Merlin had given the guards that were outside his door drugged wine causing them to fall asleep. The dungeon guard was already asleep when Arthur arrived with the keys in hand. He assumed Merlin had also given him drugged wine as well. Morgana had caused a commotion in the courtyard so they could escape unnoticed. Merlin had even left two saddled horses and food in the Darkling Woods for them. After everything Merlin had done, Arthur was surprised that Merlin was still alive and in service at the Palace.

There was a knock on the door just before it was flung open. "Sire, I have your supper and Sir Geoffrey has been asking to see you. I told him you would speak to him after you had a proper supper."

Arthur turned and watched Merlin put dishes of food on the table. It was more food than he and Gwen usually had in a week. He had forgotten how there was so much excess in the Palace. "Merlin, there is enough there for half a dozen people."

Merlin looked at the table and nodded. "You are right but you are the King and you should eat like one. You are much thinner than you were before you left."

Arthur frowned. "I work hard and we don't have this amount of food every night."

"I remember when I lived in Ealdor; it was the same for my mother and me."

"Merlin, where is Morgana? I haven't seen her since I arrived. Arthur asked. He thought that she would have been one of the first people to greet him on his return.

Merlin suddenly became very serious. "Arthur, your father found out that she had magick." He paused at the shocked look on Arthur's face. "Uther had Morgana executed. She was burned as a witch a few months after you left. I'm sorry. I thought you might have heard news of it."

"No, we didn't. We haven't had news of Camelot until you came to find me. We laid low for at least a year so we wouldn't attract attention. We married in Mercia and traveled through Lot's Kingdom to Rheged. By the time we got to Rheged, it was almost winter. We had it rough that winter but in the spring Amhar was born. We settled on the farm there and kept to ourselves." Arthur sat at the table and started to eat. He looked at Merlin. "How is it that you are still here in Camelot?"

"I've been working with Gaius. He will retire soon or so he says." Merlin laughed. "I think he will never retire until someone makes him."

"Then you haven't been serving in the Royal household."

"No. Uther already had a manservant and since you were gone, there was no one to take care of. I took work when I could, feasts and tournaments mostly." Merlin started to unpack the travel bag that had been left on the bed. "We have to find you something to wear in the morning for your coronation."

"I don't have much. We were very careful with what we earned selling our extra harvest. Most of it went to the children and their needs."

Merlin held up a dark blue shirt. "This will do. Gwen is still an excellent seamstress I see."

"She takes sewing to help with expenses."

"You two really have had it hard, haven't you?"

"Yes. It sounded so romantic but …it's not." Arthur sat back with his wine goblet. "Our love is strong but we were lucky. There have been others in that area that weren't so lucky with crops and sickness. I suppose it will give me a different perspective as a King because I have been a peasant."

Merlin nodded. "I'm just glad that you were easy to find."

"How did you find us?" Arthur asked.

"There were travelers from Rheged that had heard rumors that the former Prince and his Lady were in the area. They had an accident and Gaius treated them. That's how I knew." Merlin said. It wasn't the truth but Arthur didn't need to know that he used magick to find them.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Arthur said.

"Sire, it's good to see you well." Sir Geoffrey said as he entered the room.

"Sir Geoffrey, what can I do for you?" Arthur asked.

"I am here to remind you of protocol" The old man said seriously.

"Of course." Arthur motioned to a chair at the table. "Please. What are the procedures I must follow?"

"They are not complicated, Sire." Sir Geoffrey started listing the procedures as Merlin cleared the table. Arthur listened intently eager to get the formalities over. The only thing he was dreading was the overnight vigil with Uther's body