AN: Merlin belongs to the BBC...which is not me.

Little bit of Arwen in this chapter. Its kind of a slow one, I know, but stuff starts happening soon!

When Arthur entered the physician's chambers, he found Merlin and Gaius waiting for him. He eyed them warily. They had an air of people about to give bad news, and had been rehearsing.

"Gaius?" he said tentatively. "Did Merlin tell you what happened today?"

The elderly man nodded, his face grave.

"And...do you have a solution?"

Gaius paused. "Unfortunately, yes."

Arthur's feeling of foreboding grew. "Well, what is it?"

"My Lord, I'm afraid...the only way to get rid of the curse is for you to fight one of the cursed knights in a duel."

Arthur nodded, ignoring the twinge of nervousness he felt at confronting a man made of magic.

"Alright...Do you know how I can find one of these knights? They seem to be moving in no specific pattern. I cannot wait too much longer or they will attack again."

Gaius pulled a map off his shelf. "The sorceress who the box belongs to is said to live in a cave somewhere by these mountains." He pointed on the map to a small mountain range.

"That's just past the Mercian border," Arthur noted, also examining the map.

"Indeed," Gaius agreed. "If you can find this sorceress, she can summon the knights."

Arthur swept the map once more. "Gaius, tell me everything you can about this curse. We leave after I inform the council," the king added to his servant.

0o0

When Arthur strode back into the room that held the Round Table, the knights and nobles were already there, looking anxious. He sat down next to Guinevere, who gave him a questioning look. His stomach twisted. He was not looking forward to telling her his mission.

"My fellow councilmen, I regret to inform you that it was a careless mistake on my part that caused these attacks, which are a result of sorcery."

Shocked whispers broke out on all sides, Arthur could feel everyone staring at him.

"I have been informed that in order to stop these attacks on my kingdom, I must engage in a fight to the death with once of the warriors that has been attacking the villages."

This time, it was silent. Eyes widened around the table as people realized the implications of this statement.

"But-" Gwen stared up at him, fear for her husband blooming in her eyes. "Surely there's some other way?"

Arthur swallowed. "We checked and double-checked. If I don't do this, these knights who have been attacking will continue to do so until they reached the citadel, and then destroy that too. I cannot allow my citizens my suffer when I can stop it."

He gazed around at the council, silently daring anyone to protest. Everyone was silent. They all remembered the dorocha incident and knew there was no way to dissuade their king.

Arthur stared out his window, knowing he might never see this view again. Merlin was readying the horses, and he was using the few minutes to take one last look around his home. His chest felt painful as he watched people walking through the courtyard. He would miss this, he would miss it all so much...

The door creaked open. Gwen stepped in. Her eyes were slightly red, but otherwise she looked fairly composed, and once again Arthur admired her strength.

Neither of them spoke as Gwen stepped forward and they embraced. Arthur savored it, closing his eyes and trying to forget everything for a moment. He wanted moments like this to be among his last thoughts.

"Please don't go," Gwen whispered in his ear, even though they both knew he would.

"I have to," he murmured back. As much as he loved his life, it was his job to protect his kingdom, and that was exactly what he intended to do.

As they pulled away, Arthur took her hand and placed something in it. It was the royal seal.
Gwen choked back a sob at the significance of the small object in her hand. It was proof that her husband wasn't coming back.

"Gwen, listen to me," Arthur said. As much as it pained him to say this, he had to. "I want you to be happy. If you find someone else...please, do not let me stop your happiness. If you need someone to rule the kingdom with, choose someone who makes you happy, regardless of what anyone says...I did, after all, and I have no regrets."

She gave him a watery smile.

He touched her face gently and looked into her eyes. Her composure finally broke and buried her face in his shoulder, sobs making her body shudder.

Arthur opened his mouth to speak, but his throat felt too tight to speak. He hugged Gwen tightly and then gently removed her arms.

"I have to go. I love you," he said. Then, before he lost his resolve, he walked straight out the door.

0o0

He made his way down to the courtyard, ignoring the looks he was drawing. Around him, some of the servants actually paused to bow to him. He nodded back respectfully.

He reached the courtyard where Merlin was waiting with their horses. But he wasn't alone. The knights had lined up along the steps, and they each bowed their heads as he passed.

Leon was waiting at the end. The senior knight was keeping a carefully neutral face that hid his inner sorrow.

"Sire, we just wanted to say...it has been an honor serving with you."

Arthur, who was also trying to keep a straight face, felt his almost falter. "Thank you, sir Leon. You have all proven yourself to be knights worthy of Camelot," he said, addressing the knights.

He mounted his horse next to Merlin. And then, before anyone could say anything else, he urged his horse forward and it clattered out of the courtyard.