AN: Kind of a short chapter, I know, but it was either shorter or obscenely long

"So it really was bandits," Merlin said for the third time, shaking his head in disbelief. "I don't think it's ever actually turned out that simple before."

"Uh, Merlin?" Gaius prompted gently.

"I mean, honestly, every time there's some break-in, it usually ends up being some nefarious scheme or plot on Camelot or Arthur, or there's a sorcerer threatening the castle, or it's some other assassin coming into the town – I really can't remember the last time it was just thieves!"

"Yes, it's all very interesting, but we have a more pressing matter on our hands."

"Sorry."

Gaius, Merlin and Arno were sitting around the physician's table, Arno on one end while the other two sat across from him. Despite the interrogation style to the conversation, the man appeared at ease – curious and eager for information, for obvious reasons, but calm nonetheless.

"What do you remember?" Gaius asked Arno.

"I remember… I remember my home before we went. There was a small disturbance going on between the court sorcerers and the knights at the time, so I was trying to restore order. Isaac was one of those sorcerers, and he was with me."

Merlin leaned forward at 'court sorcerers'. "So this was before the time of the purge," he said in wonder. "Long before."

"Yes," Arno agreed emphatically, smiling. "To me, the idea sounds ridiculous even when I see the results before my eyes. Back home, it would have been unthinkable – even impossible, because of the sheer magnitude. Trying to rid the world of magic… who thinks that that's a good plan?"

"King Uther Pendragon," said Gaius and Merlin in unison.

Arno hid a smile. "Regardless, the last thing I remember is being in the castle. I was running through the castle, because there was a fire in the throne room – one of the sorcerers was throwing flames around all over – and I was supposed to reason with them. Then, nothing. Finally, I woke up with a lungful of dust and I was standing in the middle of a corridor. The rest you know."

"Fascinating," Gaius said. "It sounds like some sort of curse."

"With what you've said, there were probably curses and spells flying all over the place," Merlin guessed. "Maybe you were hit accidentally."

"Or on purpose," Arno added without batting an eyelid.

"What do you mean?"

"Isaac. He was right with me during the fight – at my side. He was one of the court sorcerers that were hired solely to serve the king, and he was running with me the entire time. We were friends, of a sort. If it had been an accident, he would have been able to fix the effects for me. And if not… well, if anyone had the power to turn me into stone for the rest of my life, it would have been him."

The others exchanged a glance. "You're awfully calm about all of this," Gaius commented, to which the man shrugged.

"Battles such as those are nothing new to me. Riots, assaults, takeovers, regicides – they're all very common." Merlin looked a little stunned by that. Then, Arno's face became very sombre, a darkness curling in his eyes. "There is something, though… my betrothed, Cadence. I had just visited her before I left. If it all possible, I'd like to know what became of her." Where his voice had remained steady throughout the retelling of his betrayal and cursed life, it wavered now.

"Of course," Merlin said instantly. "There's got to be some record of this in the library."

"We have some books here, also," Gaius added.

As Arno thanked them both, Merlin shot to his feet. "I have to go help Arthur now, but know that you're completely welcome here." He shot a cheeky grin at Gaius as he said it, full aware of the old man's weariness with Merlin me dealing out hospitality for his home.

"So, what do you know about that missing statue in the hall?"

Arthur glanced up from the papers he was reading on his desk to shoot his manservant a look that was full of asperity. "You were supposed to remind me to look into that," he complained.

"Consider this your reminder," Merlin said wryly, smirking. One convenient thing about tidying Arthur's bedchambers was that he was not short of excuses to hide his face; Arthur couldn't see a thing. "So, what do you know –"

Arthur cut him off casually. "Not that much. I know it's been there longer than I have – or it was, before it was stolen."

"Maybe it just… moved."

"Well, it sure didn't get up and walk away on its own, now, did it Merlin?" Arthur sighed.

It was a moment before Merlin was able to form a reply, and even then, there was a smile in his voice. "Of course not, sire."

They were quiet for some time, the comfortable silence broken by the shuffling of Arthur's work or the rustle of the sheets Merlin was straightening.

"Perhaps it's fortunate it is gone," Arthur commented idly, looking back through his paperwork. "We've already had bad luck with artefacts in the northwest corridor, it must just attract thievery."

Merlin frowned, pausing in his work. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, there was another statue there with it a few years ago – a woman, I think – but it was broken."

With a sinking stomach, Merlin remembered Arno's talk of his betrothed. Arthur was oblivious to his reaction.

"I think it was some prisoner escaping… they knocked it over as they went, shattered half of the sculpture in one go."

In spite of himself, Merlin winced at the image. He tried to tell himself that it was just a coincidence, that it was simply a piece of artwork, something in his heart told him that they just weren't going to be that lucky. Somehow, in his world, it had become more likely that two people had been turned into statues rather than the alternative explanation.

"Do you know what happened to it?" he asked in an absent voice, turning back to his work.

"…Hm? Probably a storeroom somewhere. I think the one by that armoury – you know the one."

Merlin nodded, sighing. It was a mixed blessing to actually receive the knowledge he was looking for; on the one hand, he had what Arno had desired, but on the other, he had no desire to break the news to the man that his betrothed had been broken.