"Your Highness?" King Lot looks around to the servant who has just entered the tent. "Your Highness, the messenger that you have sent to the camp, has just returned." King Lot looks at Queen Gwen. "Then bring him here." The servant hesitates. "My Lord, this won't work. He's dead. They have tied him dead on the horse and sent it back." King Lot nods. "The answer was clear." He looks back to the servant. "You may go. Ensure his funeral." The servant bows and leaves the tent. Sir Leon sighs. "My Lady, King Lot. It dawns already. We should attack as long as there is still a remaining light." Gwen shakes her head and sits down on a chair next to the table. "I'm sorry. Has he family?" King Lot nods. "I'll make sure that his family is supplied."
Gwen nods. She swallows. "Then we have no choice?" She looks at Lord Ryan and Sir Gwaine. "Still no message from Merlin?" Both shake their heads. "No, My Lady." She looks up at King Lot and Sir Leon. "Sir Leon, make everything ready for battle." The knight nods. "I'm sorry." Gwen nods. King Lot nods as well. "I'll strengthen your combat ranks with my army." He turns around and gives instructions to one of his knights. Sir Gwaine breathes through. "Please, it'sn't lost everything. We still have some time. Don't give Merlin up!" King Lot walks back to the table. "Merlin is lost. He was doomed from the beginning. What could he have done? I know that he loves his King. But that was madness .. " Sir Galahad looks from the Queen to King Lot. "My Lady, please. Tell them!" Gwen sighs. "We will make everything ready for battle. But we won't attack!"
Horrified Sir Leon and Sir Percival look at her. "My Lady, it is getting dark. We must attack, we have no choice!" King Lot looks at her also. "Your knights are right." Gwen shakes her head. "You would be right, if they would know all the details. But there is something that they don't know." She looks at Sir Gwaine, Sir Galahad and Lord Ryan. All three men hold their breath. "Enough of this hiding game. It has taken far too long. We should have announced it long ago." She takes a deep breath. "It is Merlin. He is much more than he seems. He is a sorcerer. Perhaps the most powerful sorcerer who walks on earth. If one man can save Arthur and prevent this war, then it is Merlin."
King Lot opens his mouth in astonishment. "He's what? You are joking? Aren't you?" The Queen rises. "No, it's true. Merlin is a sorcerer and he protects Arthur as long as they know each other." Sir Leon and Sir Percival breathe deeply. "Then I finally understand why Arthur has changed the laws." Sir Leon is still stunned. On the contrary, Sir Petrcival looks at Sir Gwaine and Sir Galahad. "You knew? Didn't you? You knew and didn't tell me!" He sadly shakes his head. Gwen looks at him. "They couldn' weren't allowed to tell anyone. We had to protect Merlin. I only tell you now to explain why we need to trust Merlin. We have to give him some more time."
King Lot is angry. "Why do I find out this now? You should have told me at your arrival!" Accusingly he looks at the Queen of Camelot. "Do you have any more secrets? Then it would be time to inform me!" Gwen shakes her head. "I'm sorry. I beg your pardon. I don't have no more secrets. And I'm really grateful for your support." King Lot nods. "Fine. Then we should now adjust the new plans." Together they look back on the map.
