Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Merlin characters.

AN: (Any and all mistakes are completely my own.)

One of those Days

Chapter 3

Arthur did not know what he saw. He tried to understand, he tried to comprehend, but it seemed every thought had disappeared from his mind. His body stood perfectly still and even though he wanted to move, he could not. His breath was caught inside his chest and he could see black dots already appear around the edges of his vision.

Behind him, a voice called out his name. He wanted to react, but he couldn't. Not yet. He took in every detail from the scene before him. Four servants lay at his feet, their bodies so very still, they eyes shut. He could see their chests rising and falling, he could see the thin layer of sweat on their skin.

Six noble men and women lay before the servants. It seemed they had tried to leave this chamber as well, but obviously, they had failed. They as well lay motionless, their breaths very shallow. Knights were unconscious as well, swords laying across the chamber and near the throne lay Uther.

The King didn't move, he didn't shout at Arthur to do something, to get help or to solve this problem. He lay completely still. It was only now that Arthur moved. Stepping over the servants, noble men and women and stepping over the knights, he finally reached his father. His skin looked gray, unhealthy and dark circles covered his eyes as if the King hadn't slept in days.

Arthur kneeled down beside the King, feeling with the back of his hand if he was still breathing. He was and so Arthur turned Uther so he would lay on his back.

"Arthur?" the voice called again.

The Prince looked back, seeing Merlin stand among the unconscious bodies of so many people.

"Get help," Arthur's voice was harsh, his throat very dry, "quickly."

Merlin only nodded, turning around and heading outside of the Council Chamber. He knew what he was supposed to do.

-o-o-

Running through the hallways of the castle, Merlin hurried to find Gaius. Merlin had come back from the lower parts of the city only to find Arthur staring at the people inside the Council Chamber. It was not a pretty sight and Merlin couldn't begin to imagine how Arthur felt, having found his father in that state.

Reaching Gaius' chambers, Merlin rushed inside. The physician was busy mixing herbs for potions to help get the people of Camelot their strength back. Those attacked by the Light were very weak now and Merlin couldn't help but think about Thomas, Meredith's son. He had always been a strong man, but now he was even unable to speak because he had been so weak.

"The Light," Merlin said, a little out of breath, "it attacked the court."

Gaius immediately straightened his back, alert to what Merlin was telling him.

"At least a dozen people are unconscious," Merlin continued speaking, "the King is one of them."

Gaius didn't hesitate. Taking his bag with herbs and medicine, he hurried after Merlin to get back to the Council Chamber. What Merlin found was still the same image. Arthur sat beside his father, his hands supporting the King's head.

"Help them," Arthur asked, glancing around to all the people that lay around him.

Only now did Merlin see panic in the Prince's eyes. Arthur normally always stayed calm, would always try to keep his head clear. This time, however, he seemed troubled, broken even. Merlin couldn't blame him. All around him were noble men, servants and knights. These people were supposed to help the King and Prince, but now Arthur was almost all alone.

Gaius attended to the King first, but he soon admitted that there was not much he could do. Uther and the other people inside the Council Chamber would have to rest and wake up when they were strong enough. All that Gaius could do, was give them some medicine to help them get that strength back.

Merlin could see both Arthur and Gaius felt helpless and so did he. This Light was going around randomly, taking the force of people randomly, not caring whether they were noble or simply working men and women.

Absolutely everyone was in danger.

-o-o-

Arthur was walking through the halls of the castle, finding them strangely abandoned. No servants were present as most of them were at their homes with their own families. Arthur had told them to do this.

The sun was already starting to set, the day having past so quickly. The young Prince wished he had found some answers, but all that he done today, was making sure people that were hurt were taken care of. He wished he could sit with his father in his bedchamber, but there was simply no time.

There was so much that needed to be done. Right now, Arthur needed to see Gaius. The physician had promised to search for a cure that would help people get their strength back, but Arthur already felt as if he would not get the answer he needed. Not today at least.

In the distance, Arthur saw another man and he obviously wasn't a servant. He was the first living soul he had encountered since he left the Council Chamber, but he did not recognize this man.

And then he saw the dark brown hair, the dark eyes and the fair skin. A rough beard that didn't seem to be shaven in days and a determined gaze in his eyes. How could he not have recognized this man?

"Lancelot?"

"Arthur Pendragon," Lancelot greeted him once he stood before him.

Arthur could not wrap his head around this, he could not understand why Lancelot was here or how and when he had gotten here.

"What are you doing here?" Arthur demanded to know.

"I have heard about this certain Light," Lancelot explained. Together, they walked towards Gaius' chambers, their senses on high alert for anything that might be out of the ordinary.

"You have?" Arthur was still trying to understand. Anyone who heard about the Light and who was smart enough would turn around and leave Camelot as soon as possible. Lancelot had come running, however, and Arthur was once again reminded about the bravery of this man.

"News travels fast," Lancelot explained, a faint smile crossing his face, "I came as soon as I heard."

"Thank you," Arthur simply said, "I appreciate all the help I can get."

The Prince wasn't afraid to accept help, nor was he ashamed because of it. Uther would not approve, certainly not when knowing the past Lancelot and Camelot shared, but Arthur knew Lancelot could prove to be a great help. He was brave and strong and he wasn't afraid of magic.

"The last I heard was people were attacked in the Council Chamber," Lancelot continued talking, "is it true your father was present?"

"I'm afraid so," Arthur sighed. They turned into another corridor and descended some stairs. "He's unconscious and Gaius does not know when he will wake up again."

"That leaves you in charge," Lancelot spoke, nodding his head.

"I guess it does," the Prince sighed. He had been trained for this his entire life, he had been in these kind of situations before, but seemed different. Worse.

"Gaius is a smart man," Lancelot said, a faint smile on his face, "I am sure he will think of something."

-o-o-

Merlin had expected Arthur to come, but he had not expected Lancelot to be standing beside him. Only confusion filled his mind, but he had to admit that he felt a sense of relief washing over him. Lancelot was a good man and having him on their side was something that would prove to be very useful.

"Good to see you, Merlin," Lancelot greeted the servant boy.

"Lancelot," Merlin smiled, "I should have known, really, that you would not abandon us in these times."

They turned to look expectantly at Gaius whose gaze spoke more than his words could ever do.

"Nothing?" Arthur asked. Disappointment was clearly present in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Sire," Gaius said, sighing, "I do not know what this Light is, who is causing it and my medicine to strengthen the victims seems to be doing nothing."

"You spoke of a Thomas," Arthur said, frowning. He was looking at Merlin when speaking these words and Merlin remembered he had told the Prince of this young man. He had gained strength of the medicine Gaius had given him, but not the same could be said about the more recent victims.

"You told me he got better when he received a potion," Arthur said almost accusingly, as if he had caught Gaius and Merlin on a lie.

"That is true," it was Gaius who spoke, "but the Light has become stronger since then. When he attacked everyone in the Council Chamber, it was much stronger and it is still growing in power."

"There is nothing we can do?" Arthur asked. His gaze shifted between Gaius, Lancelot and Merlin.

"We will find out more," Merlin assured the Prince, "we will not give up."

But for some reason, Merlin wasn't sure if the Prince truly believed his words.

-o-o-

The night had been a short one and Merlin found himself walking to Arthur's bedchambers when he saw Lancelot not far away from him. Lancelot had seen him, too, and he quickly walked to stand before the young servant boy.

"Tell me you know something," Lancelot immediately asked. Desperation was clearly visible in his eyes and Merlin quickly understood something had happened during the night.

"Nothing new," Merlin answered, "what is it, Lancelot?"

"Fifteen people have been attacked," Lancelot sighed, "they were barely breathing when we found them. The Light is getting stronger and we can not stop it. Tell me you know something, Merlin," he repeated, "you're a sorcerer after all." He had spoken the words so silently that Merlin wasn't even sure he had heard them correctly.

"I'm sorry," he simply said, "I don't know what is happening. If we found out who is controlling the Light, which sorcerer or witch is responsible for this, perhaps then I could take some actions."

Lancelot only nodded, swallowing heavily. "You're doing everything you can," he spoke, "I know that. I simply wish there was something we could do. The people are frightened, Uther is still unconscious and Arthur feels helpless."

"But you are here," Merlin said, making his words sound strong. He needed Lancelot to believe in him. "We can use all the help we can get."

"Let's get to work then," the dark haired man smiled. Sitting around and doing nothing wouldn't get them anywhere and so they went on their way, going to find Arthur, and they told themselves that today would be different. Today, they would make all this madness stop.

They simply needed to believe in this.

AN: Another chapter is done. It's longer than my usual chapters and I hope you guys don't mind. It didn't end with a cliffhanger, but a lot has happened. Lancelot has arrived! And it seems the Light is getting a lot stronger. Perhaps something horrible will happen in the next chapter...perhaps not (evil smile).

Let me know what you think of this chapter and I will post the next one as soon as possible!