Arthur felt his side for his faithful Excalibur but he could sense nothing but the material of his breaches.
'I promised them! I vowed to her mother and father she would be safe, always; oh what a lie! What a thing to say!' Gaynor projected her woes to the king and the physician as they were the only two who were going to heed her words.
Young Matilda and the other male servants were taken by Sir Gwaine and Sir Percival deep in the woods but no screams or cries for their mothers were heard, just silence.
Elyan and Leon stood guarding the three who were left, with their swords aimed towards them but with their heads down.
'My lord, forgive me. I merely forgot for a moment of whom I was speaking with; please pardon my ignorance, sire'
Her face turned towards where her cousin had once sat beside her, she smiled slightly but her expression was ached and tired.
'She'll perish without me' Gaynor unnoticed to herself was stroking a silver ring encrusted with droplets of amber which absorbed the light; Gaius noticed, he knew what she really meant.
'Matilda is not a little girl, she can care for herself' Arthur reminded the auburn-haired maid, he obviously said it to try and comfort Gaynor but it resulted in the king's cloak being thrown back in his face.
'You understand not a thing of us, sire. It was my duty and mine alone to care for her; she may have come of age and she's older than she appears but she is not meant to be alone, not again'.
Gaius' thoughts had just been confirmed.
….
'Well, here I am! I keep my side-' Guinevere bit her lip to stop herself talking and saying those already selected words.
Gwen had left her horse tided to a tree and the mare was happily grazing on grass, she carried her bag on her back.
'MORGANA!' roared the queen, her face redden from anger and she shook from clenching her fists so tight.
'Let them come' the familiar voice repeated; the figure of the dark-headed little boy walked past Gwen and she glimpsed him for just a second; she turned her head right and attempted to follow him but he was gone again.
'Let them come' he said for a second time and the queen glanced him but to the left of her this time, she aimed to follow his path once more but nothing.
'I am losing my mind? Am I losing myself within myself? See! I'm speaking in riddles now!' laughed Guinevere Pendragon; a trail of red lead her dark eyes to Merlin who lay on the hard earth, his eyes shut and his red shirt darkened.
'Old friend' Gwen whispered as she kneeled beside Merlin and she softy stroked his pale cheek 'I fear I am to late'.
The queen clenched her fists once more but she no longer shook, she vowed justice and preached Merlin would be well once more.
'Your story isn't going to end in this way and you certainly will not be leaving so soon' she rested her forehead on Merlin's as she promised this 'Your bed isn't meant to be empty'
'Let them come' the continuation of the same phrase emerged yet again and Guinevere suddenly felt very drowsy.