A/N: Planning has taken place. I know now roughly where this is going. Now I just have to sit back and enjoy the ride. This chapter is in three parts, including the first completely original part of the story - and so the paths between the BBC story and my story start to diverge.

Thanks to the BBC for the original stories, and the actors for bringing the characters to life. The only thing I gain from this is the writing experience and the buzz from your kind comments.

Special thanks to MadaMag, whose comments gave me great food for thought and so influenced the development of the story.

Hope - Guinevere

I had travelled back with the main army, helping to soothe the wounds some of the men on the way. The worst injured remained at Camlann, their final hours to be smoothed as much as possible. The walking wounded and those well enough to travel by wagon returned together, a sorry sight pouring back through the gates of Camelot.

The servants who had remained behind welcomed us, and I appreciated the hot bath and change of clothes they had kept ready, but I could not bear to pass Arthur's rooms, and averted my eyes as I passed near the door. I knew that Camelot needed me to be strong, but right now all I wanted was to throw myself onto his bed and weep.

We sent out patrols in all directions, instructing them to search for Arthur and any others who had become separated from the main army. I could not understand how Arthur, who had been at the forefront of his men, could have become lost, but then I know much about the weapons and armour of war and little about how the wars themselves are fought.

It was partway through the next morning when we first heard news. I glanced out of the window, hearing hooves, and saw Gaius riding in. Gaius had been another mystery; the court physician, he had been by my side constantly in the tent where we tended the wounded, and then at one point towards dawn I had looked for him and he had not been there. No-one had seen him since.

Now he hurried up the steps into the castle, having handed the reins of his mare to one of the soldiers who stood guard, and I ran down the corridor to meet him, regardless of royal propriety. Gwain must have seen the arrival from another part of the castle, because we both met Gaius at the same time, as he arrived on the first landing.

"Gaius!" I gasped.

He solemnly bowed to me. "My lady."

"Tell me!"

"He is alive." The expression on his face did not reflect the joy I felt at his words.

"Why isn't he with you?" Gwain asked.

"He is wounded." Gaius hesitated a moment, then carefully removed something from a hidden pocket deep in his embroidered coat. "He wanted me to give you this," he said.

I looked at the object he handed me. It was the Royal Seal, an item whose size belied its importance; the Seal was proof of the right to reign over Camelot, and as I cradled it gently I realised that this meant Arthur did not expect to return, that instead he expected me to take over his role, as his appointed and approved successor.

"Where is he?" I was not yet prepared to abandon hope of his safe return, even if it seemed Arthur himself had given up.

Gaius looked grave. "There is a place where he may be saved. Merlin is taking him there as we speak."

I started making plans. "We must send the knights." I turned to Gwain. "Ready as many men as you can."

"No, my lady," Gaius interjected. "Merlin can cope by himself."

I thought of Arthur's servant, loyal and brave but no match for a Saxon army, surely. "Merlin?"

"You must trust him."

"How can one man be as strong as an army?" Even as I spoke, my mind threw up images of past adventures, where Merlin was always there, always ready to protect Arthur, and where somehow things always seemed to work in his favour. Merlin's luck was unbelievable. I had to admit that if Arthur's fate were to lie in the hands of one man, I could think of none I would trust more.

"Morgana's forces are still searching for him," Gaius pointed out. "Two men travelling alone stand a much better chance of evading her. Especially if she has no idea where they're heading." He looked pointedly at Gwain as he said this, and I tried to figure out the meaning behind his words.

Traitor – Gwain

I'm too used to women falling for me to bother questioning it, I guess. I certainly never thought twice when Ayra sought my bed for comfort. It was hard accepting that she would seek harm to our King, but I agreed to carry out Guinevere's plan. After all, there was nothing to lose; either Ayra would prove to be a traitor, or no harm would be done.

And so I allowed her to see the concern I felt for Arthur, and fed her a false story to account for it. Then I watched her carefully to see what she would do.

Plans – Young Sarrum

I am my father's second son. His first son was groomed as successor to the kingdom, but he was not up to that challenge, and so our father sent him into a battle he could not win. Then he named me as his chosen heir, and began to include me in his plans and teach me how to rule.

He always taught me that magic was to be reviled, and destroyed wherever we found it. Some of my first kills were of the druids who travelled through our kingdom. Word went out: fewer and fewer who could practise magic came our way, and our kingdom was the stronger for it.

I remember the satisfaction my father felt as he captured the High Priestess Morgana and her pet dragon, and I would sometimes creep to the edge of her pit to look down on them and gloat as they suffered.

I will never forgive her for the trick she played that made me instrumental in her escape, and I am grateful that my father was never aware of the true extent of my involvement. At least I had learned my lesson; never again would I tolerate any form of magic to live anywhere I that I could destroy it. It is like a weed: tolerate one small part to survive and before you know it your land is overrun and you have lost control.

I was aware of the battle between the Saxons, led by Morgana, and Camelot. My father had signed a treaty with Camelot, at the very moment he was assassinated, and so far I had honoured that treaty, but I was not prepared to go as far as fighting side by side with him; I would allow them to destroy each other and then I would step in and pick up the pieces, and so Camelot would become part of Amata as it should have been months ago.

When word reached me of the outcome of the battle of Camlann, I was beside myself with rage. It appeared that despite his declared hatred of sorcery, Arthur had won the battle with the aid of a great sorcerer who had appeared and struck down the Saxons.

I had already been assembling my army ready to strike. Now it appeared that we had another target that needed to be dealt with first. I sent my best men out with instructions to find the identity of this great sorcerer and to remove him from the field of battle – one way or another. I could not permit a man with that much power to survive.

Not promising to update every day, but so far this story is trying to take me over! Reviews and comments always welcome.