Chapter 2

Merlin?... Merlin! Now is not the time to sleep, I was looking forward to seeing you in your favourite servant robes for the opening ceremony of the White Hunt!…Oh, for God's sake, wake up right now or I swear I'll let that snob George replace you!"

Harsh sunlight blurred the edges of Merlin's vision as he groggily awakened. Immediately the familiar smells of herbs filled his nose. Before even opening his eyes he knew he was in Gaius's chambers. He was safe. Someone must have carried him all the way from the city gates. Wary of the dull throb of pain in his head, he allowed his eyelids to flutter open. The first thing he saw after his eyes blurred into focus was Arthur's face hovering at his bedside, change from a look of grave concern to a condescending smile.

"You keep amazing me with just how much of an idiot you are, one minute outside the castle and I have to come and rescue you, where would you be without me?" he questioned with warm-eyed amusement.

It was then that Merlin noticed some rotten turnip clinging to Arthur's favourite red tunic. He grinned back in response to Arthur's brotherly teasing, secretly surprised the regal king had bothered to carry him all the way back up to the castle. Gwen must be rubbing off on him, he thought idly. Arthur must have seen the commotion from the battlements and ran to help.

Gaius' familiar voice came from the king's side.

"Ah! My tincture of mortroot seems to have taken an effect; Merlin, be careful not to rouse yourself too quickly."

At first Merlin was content to follow his mentor's orders, closing his eyes while moaning dramatically hoping if anything he could get a few days off, maybe he could avoid the dreaded fate of the Camelot servant ceremonial robes. Arthur's presence however seemed to have awakened a thought that was just at the tip of his tongue. In a moment of inspiration it all came back to him. The mysterious thief with a command over magic, Excalibur grasped in her gloved hands and the Great Dragon's prophecy, spoken years ago in the vast caverns beneath Camelot.

Merlin leapt to his feat, throwing off his blanket in the process.

"We have to get your sword back!"

Arthur gave him an incredulous look that he seemed to reserve only for when his manservant was being particularly dim-witted.

"Don't be an idiot! Just because I pulled it out of a stone doesn't mean getting it back is worth letting someone else win the White Hunt!,"

"Oh…"

Merlin knew he would never convince the ever stubborn Arthur to leave Camelot now. The White Hunt was an ancient Camelot tradition celebrated one week after The King of Camelot's wedding, where the finest hunters of all Albion were invited to either capture alive or kill a single white stag released from Camelot on the dusk of the King's wedding day. Whomever was the first of the hunters to slay the stag and return it to Camelot would be welcomed by a grand feast and a pouch full of silver. If a most skilled hunter managed to capture the stag alive they would be rewarded an even grander feast, a bulging pouch of silks and silvers and a single kiss from the newly crowned Queen, in this case Gwen. Of course, Arthur was determined to win, he wasn't going to let anyone anywhere near his wife so soon after... Lancelot. He'd considered canceling the event, but the people of Camelot were a superstitious lot, the last time a newly married king had neglected the ancient tradition the bride had turned out to be a troll, after all.

Only a moment after Merlin had resigned to go chasing after the sword by himself; a new voice rang out from behind him. It seemed that in the commotion Sir Leon had entered unheard.

"Actually sire, that's why I came to see you. As you know, at the moment Camelot is weak after Morgana's brief occupation. She burnt our supplies, crops and our army is not nearly at the same strength as just a few weeks ago."

"What are you getting at?" Arthur replied tersely, perhaps already realising that he would once again have to put his duty as King above his beloved Queen.

"I fear that the only thing preventing a foreign kingdom, most likely Odin's, from invading Camelot is the threat of the legendary true king of Camelot wielding your sword you pulled from that stone in the forest of Asceitr. Word is sure to spread that the sword has been stolen, and if it does, an invasion that we are unprepared to fight is almost certain. The only course of action I see is to get your sword back quickly and quietly, otherwise rumour is bound to reach our enemies."

Gaius murmured his agreement; obviously he had been thinking the same thing.

Merlin could see the conflicting emotions spread across Arthur's face. After a moment he sighed quietly and took command with steel in his voice.

"Fine," he conceded reluctantly,

"We will have to go under the guise of the royal hunting party for The White Hunt. Leon, you always were a lucky shot, you and Elyan will have to hunt the white stag while we are away, I'd much prefer Gwen's brother to win than some stinking farmer. Tell Percival to stay here in Camelot to mind the cites defenses, and look after Gwen. Then, if I can drag Gwaine out of The Rising Sun he will accompany Merlin and I to get my sword back. He seems to still be drunkenly celebrating my wedding, that is after all what I should be doing right now anyway."

He shot a venomous glare at Merlin causing a sigh of exasperation. Somehow someone stealing Excalibur was his fault? Not fair!

Arthur continued.

"If anything comes up Gwen will lead the people as is her right as Queen, Gaius, I trust you'll advise her if the need arises. If we don't return by the weeks end she will have to lead the trade delegation to Nemeth, I've heard that their king has fallen ill so Princess Mithian will lead the negotiations. She is a friend of Camelot so-"

Merlin butted in mid sentence.

"Are you sure Arthur? If that trade delegation fails, you know Camelot doesn't have the crops to survive the winter and it's bound to be, well awkward between Gwen and the princess,"

Despite the obvious reasons the delegation might not go well, most obviously that the two maidens had both recently courted the same man, Merlin knew something the others did not. Gwen's first impression of the raven haired princess was being shot, while in the form of a deer. Not the best memories for subtle negotiations.

Arthur tried to control his temper only realising he had failed when his booming voice echoed through the small room.

"Merlin, I don't know what you have against the Princess Mithian, but unless you have a, really, really good reason for it, Shut up!"

Merlin flinched but didn't take a step backwards as most would when on the receiving end of Arthur's anger, he was one of few who knew the pressure the King had been under lately.

Arthur went on smoothly, his outburst quickly forgotten.

"If the nobles get rowdy about being led by an ex-servant, throw them in the stocks for a few days, oh and Merlin, go and drag Gwaine out of the tavern and then pack the usual supplies. Meet me at the stables just after the opening ceremony for the White Hunt early tomorrow morning."

He nodded curtly and stormed from the room, obviously angry at the abrupt end to his time of peace with his wife.


In a dark forest far from Camelot, a woman uttered a brief word to end her spell of scrying. She let out a soft laugh, a beautiful melody that masked her cruel intentions. Men were so predictable, everything was going according to plan...

Who is this mysterious woman? Will Merlin be able to drag Gwaine from the tavern? Keep reading to find out!