Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Merlin, just my own OC's.
A/N: I want to thank all the people who have started following this story, have made this story part of their favorites, or have left comments. It truly has been so much fun to put my imagination into words, and to make it a story. So again for those who have done all of the above, from the bottom of my heart thank you. If you want to see the costumes my characters wear and look like, go to my hereticheir profile on polyvore . com
Apologies ahead of time for grammatical errors!
Chapter 9: The Labyrinth of Gedref
"I don't know why you insisted on coming!" Arthur said infuriatingly. "With Merlin it's bad enough, but the two of you are making it absolutely impossible to go back with anything."
He was just mad because I decided to join him, his men, and Merlin while they went hunting. With Merlin and I both working on making as much noise as possible any game that would've been hunted obviously has gotten a well enough hint to evacuate the area.
I couldn't help but smirk at Merlin as he and I both slightly chuckled at each other. "My apologies cousin, all I wish to do was spend time with you." I said sweetly and jestingly.
"I'm sure indeed!" He scoffed at me, but I noticed the slight grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"You think that because I deliberately make a lot of noise that the prat would finally stop taking me on these stupid hunting trips."
"You know how stubborn he is. Because you hate this he will never let you get out of these outings." I joked back, and the both of us shared in hushed laughter.
We continued to walk stealthily on for quite a bit more. We approached a jagged rocky area, with the sun streaming through the trees, and lighting the fog that hung in the air.
"Merlin." Arthur whispered and stopped the group behind a wall of rock, after hearing a twig snap further up ahead.
"What is it?" He asked back.
"I don't know. We'll surround it. I want you to go in there and flush it out." Arthur commanded.
"You want me to go in there?" Merlin asked with dread, "You just said you don't know what it is. It could be dangerous."
"Let's hope so. Now go."
"But Arthur…" He complained.
"Oh really I'll go!" I said annoyed with the lack of action that was going on.
"Lottie…" He hesitated.
"Arthur if you are willing to send your servant in then it is obviously fine if I go. Not to mention you said that we'll be surrounded, so I'll be perfectly fine." I countered back.
Arthur looked like he was about to say something to stop me from continuing, and he possibly realized that whatever he was going to say was not going to mater, and then he turned to give Merlin a look. I could see a silent conversation going on where Arthur was commanding him to go with me.
Merlin finally gave in with a roll of his eyes, and sag of his shoulders in defeat. "I'll come with you." He said dejecting.
Merlin and I both sneaked pass the outcrop of rocks and trees. Merlin with a slight nervous chatter of his teeth and shake of his hands leans down and to pick up a large stick, as we passed a couple of small branches. It was dark until a beam of sunlight blasted through the trees and hit the last creature Merlin and I ever thought we'd see.
My breath caught in my throat, as Merlin whispered under his breath, "A unicorn."
"It's beautiful!" I muttered, and I heard Merlin smoothly drop the stick that he picked up to defend the both of us. He and I both took cautious steps forward. "I remember reading about unicorns in one of Gaius's books. They are of beautiful and pure magic." With each hesitant step brought the two of us closer to our desire, to be in the presence of this magnificent creature. We were finally right in front of him as I reached my hand out to touch the nose of the white unicorn.
Merlin reached out to stop my moving hand when we both heard a branch snap. "Go. Go!" Merlin commanded the unicorn, with alarm and fear evident on his voice. "Please, go. Shh. They're gonna kill you. Please, go!"
I swiftly turned around with alarm looking for my cousin when I spotted him in a tree ready to shoot his crossbow, "Arthur, no!" I cried loud enough, but too late as Arthur let loose his arrow and it met its mark.
The animal whines in pain that shatters my very heart, and falls to the ground. Merlin and I both run to it and stroke the head of the dying animal.
"I'm sorry. So sorry." Merlin cries with tears running down his face. I gently touched the animal, and I could feel the same thing I felt when I touched William when he was passing, the feeling was death.
"Ha-ha! A unicorn!" Arthur yelled triumphantly as he approached us.
"What have you done?" Merlin's voice was hoarse and full of emotion.
"Don't be such a girl, Merlin." Arthur says with a roll of his eyes.
"You have no idea what you've done Arthur!" I cried just the same as Merlin, and looked murderously at my cousin. "You've just killed an innocent creature."
"This is why, woman don't go on hunts." Arthur replied annoyed, "Both of you need to understand this is what happens on hunt."
I swiftly got up and turned from him not caring to hear anything else he had to say as I raced away by myself and back to the castle. I could still hear Arthur and Merlin speaking about seeing something but I still ran away with tears stinging my eyes.
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"Milady, please talk to me." Freyda's voice sounded next to me as she and I walked with our arms linked together. I haven't spoken a word sincegetting back from the hunt the day before. "Is this about what happened yesterday, milady? On the hunt?"
"What have you heard?" I asked curiously as I clutched the long flowing sleeves of my white gown.
"From what's gone around the castle, only that you were terribly upset with what your cousin did yesterday." She assured me.
"I wish you could've seen the unicorn, Freyda, it was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen." I confessed. "And then to watch the light in its eyes pass, and then to further disgrace it by removing its horn, Arthur should be ashamed."
"I do wish I could've been there, milady." She confided in me, "And I wish there was something that I could do to make you feel better about this horrible grievance."
"You being here is enough." I said and stopped to look into her eyes. "I can't thank you enough for your companionship. Thank you so much for taking up this position."
"It is I that should be thanking you, Milady. You didn't have to take me under your wing and treat me with the kindness that you have shown me."
"Lothrielle—." A voice called for me, and turning towards it I saw Arthur walking briskly up to me.
"I'll leave you milady." Freyda said and curtseyed to the two of us, leaving Arthur and I alone.
"What is it Arthur?" I asked impatiently.
"I haven't seen you since yesterday. I was worried for you after you ran off. Speaking of which why would you run off like that?" He questioned.
"I didn't feel like seeing you, and I still don't feel like conversing with you." I said with an edge in my voice that he was easily able to pick up, and strode away from him, only for him to stop me and turn me back around.
"Lottie, really. Is this still about the hunt. Have you and Merlin been spending more time with each other than what's appropriate, because he is acting the same way you are."
"How do you expect him and me to spend any time with each other if he is always doing chores for you, or he is off running errands for Gaius? Honestly… can you maybe accept the fact that he and I are both just in tune to the same thing?"
"I knew he was a girl." Arthur tried to jest.
"To care about life and to show emotion doesn't mean one is less masculine than another." I retorted.
"Why do I even bother?" Arthur groaned out while rubbing the bridge of his nose, and chose to give up on the argument. "Look the reason why I sought you out is because there is a crisis, and Gaius requested your assistance."
"Crisis? What crisis? What's happened?" I asked with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"Every single ear of grain, of every single crop, in the entire kingdom has died over night. I think some kind of disease that has spread through the land. Gaius is now working on some tests. But right now we have to ration the food."
"And Gaius has asked that I go help him. What am I supposed to do? I'm barely a healer, not even close to being an expert in the scientific process to be of any use." I confessed as Arthur and I both started to walk side by side towards the physician's quarters.
"Well Gaius thinks you will be of help to him or he wouldn't have requested you. Not to mention you helped with the Afanc."
"Well kind of, but I didn't do much. I only got as far until my lady in waiting fell ill to the same sickness, and then I was mostly by her side for the rest of the time." It was a half truth and half lie.
"I think you underestimate yourself." He chided.
"I thought I was just being honest with myself." I whipped out just as fast.
"Lothrielle, just go see what you can do, and if you really feel like you can be of no use, than you can come find me later. I'll be in charge of distributing and rationing out the food."
"Alright I'll go see Gaius." I said and walked away from him.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"Any ideas what caused the crops to die?" I said as I marched into Gaius's workshop.
"Ah Lothrielle, I see you got my message." Gaius said with a slight bow of his head, and continued poring liquid into a small flask. "I'm here to complete all the tests. No disease I have heard of could spread through the entire kingdom in a single night."
"What could kill all the plants other than a disease?" I asked and nodded to Merlin who was next to Gaius.
"It is not killing all the plants." He replied.
"What do you mean?"
"The trees and hedges around the crop fields are unharmed." Merlin answered my question.
"And unfortunately, you can't eat trees and hedges." Gaius said.
"So it's only killing plants we can eat?" I asked, "That can't be normal. Diseases I didn't think can discriminate between the two."
"But, it appears to do just that." Gaius replied again.
"If it's not a disease—."
"It must be magic." Merlin finished for me, obviously coming to the same conclusion.
"We can't assume that. Perhaps there is something in the soil and water that can explain it. I can't tell the King it's caused by sorcery until I'm completely certain." Gaius's voice sounded just as uninsured that it wasn't magic as we were.
"What do you want me to do?" I asked.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
I searched through book after book and came up with nothing, until; Gaius and I were both asked to meet with the King and Arthur in the square. We rushed over to them as fast as possible as they stood at the well, looking at a bucket full of sand.
After explaining what he and Merlin discovered, Uther finally spoke. "Sand. And you say the well is full of it?"
"I sent men down to the underground reservoir. There is no trace of water to be found." Arthur answered.
"First the crops, and now this." I voiced in shook.
"It gets worse…" Arthur said, "It's the same throughout the kingdom. There's precious little water anywhere."
"Gaius. Can you offer any explanation for this?" Uther asked.
"I cannot think of a scientific explanation. I can only conclude it's the result of sorcery." He said honestly, which was what Merlin and I concluded earlier.
"I believe you're right. It is the work of magic. The kingdom is under attack." Uther agreed and he and Arthur both walked away and I carried on back to Gaius's chambers.
We didn't speak openly about anything until we were safely behind closed doors and we walked in on Merlin with the spell book open and his hand over a bucket of sand.
"I was... I was just, er..." Merlin stuttered to get out.
"I was hoping you might be trying to turn it back into water." He said with a pat on his back and took the seat that was across from him. "I know I've cautioned against using magic, but if ever there was a time for the both of you to use your talents, it's now."
"Well, I wish I knew how. I've tried everything. If it is magic, it's more powerful magic than I possess." Merlin said defeated. "Unless…" he trailed off and both he and Gaius were looking at me.
"What?" I asked with clear confusion.
"This is… should we say, in your element of expertise." Merlin answered with a goofy look.
"You want me to change the bucket of sand to water?"
The both of them only nodded their heads in reply, "Are you both insane? I'm a naiad, not God. Sand is a completely different element. You are asking me to change the properties of an earth element to one that I control. That will never work."
"Lothrielle, you haven't even tried yet." Merlin said and placed the book in my hands.
"You're right I haven't, because in all my training I was never once taught to be able to control the other elements or change the properties of those elements. I can light a fire and that's about it. If you can't do it Merlin than I know I can't. I'm strictly water and that's it…"
"Lothrielle, you have to try. You can't just give up without trying it." Gaius said with a concern in his eyes. I could see that he was scared. Both of them were. This was far out of anything that we are even capable of handling and yet here we all are.
"I'm not going to just give up; I do have a small idea." I said and placed the book on the bed, and avoided their inquisitive looks as much as I could.
"What is it?" Merlin asked with relief.
"I need to wait till night fall to be able to do what I want to do. I have yet to try it to the extent that I'm going to, but I have practiced on other things, and I am confident in my abilities to be able to do it." I reassured the both of them and myself.
"The city is under curfew, you will never make it out of the city without being spotted." Merlin reminded me.
"Don't worry about that. I'll already be out of the city, it's getting back in without being discovered that I'm fairly positive that I'll get caught in. But, I'll manage, so if you both will excuse me." I said and turned from them to walk out.
"Wait! What are you going to do? I'm coming with you." Merlin said and called after me.
"Merlin, no I'll be fine. Just watch out for me when I come back in to the city, just in case."
"At least tell us what you have planned." Merlin said.
"I'm going to try and heal the land. I've seen it done before." I said and turned from him and rushed to my room.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Making sure to secure my hair in the hood of my dark blue velvet rob I quickly made my way back down to the dungeon area where we snuck Mordred out of the city by way of the tunnel. The bars were replaced from the last time, but with concentration and my hand held out ahead of me I blew the bars off the wall with an icy blast and the bright blue glow of my eyes.
I stumbled a little after from the process of doing so, but I quickly shook the uneasiness off and continued into the forest to the first farmland with the dead crops that I could find.
By the time I finally found one that wasn't being watched over, it was night time, and a cold bite was in the air. The only source of light that I had access to were the soft glow of lights from Camelot shimmering just a couple miles away from where I was and the soft silver hew coming from the moon.
I cautiously walked to the center of the field, and spun around myself to make sure that I really was alone; my eyes long since adjusted to the dark of the night.
"I hope this works." I silently prayed to the sky as I raised my arms out to my sides. "Tindrenas gréot gecymen, lecan. Brimstream gecymen gé drýe wæter." I chanted the spell and pulled at the powers that I knew I possessed. I looked around me and nothing happened, I could even feel it, in my own body. I chanted the spell again with more concentration, but was defeated another time.
"Alright come on!" I rallied myself with frustration, and then focused again with intent in my mind. With my head looking towards the night sky I slowly and evenly with power behind each word that I chanted said again, "Tindrenas gréot gecymen, lecan. Brimstream gecymen gé drýe wæter." With what felt like a geyser letting lose its power within me my eyes glowed bright with beauty and the sky around me that covered the field glowed the same color as my eyes. The water in the air in its singular particles bound together, and drifted to the ground collecting its self on each ear of grain that was dead and diseased; soaking everything that was around me. I concentrated and pushed for more power just like I remember my ancestor before me doing, when she healed the burnt earth. And like my eyes the earth glowed the same color and started to heal everything that was around me. The blue light slowly started to dim down and reseed to nothing and all that was left was the soft silver light of the full moon.
I collapsed to the ground with dreariness my skirts and robe floating gently around me in the soft breeze. With the little light that was provided I looked around me and saw that the earth was unchanged.
"How is that possible?" I said aloud to myself. "It worked I know it did, I felt it!" I was utterly frustrated and defeated, as I cried slightly at my failure.
My energy was depleted, but with what I did I knew I was going to draw attention to this sight if anyone from the city saw the light.
So with the last bit of strength that I could muster, I gathered myself back up and clutched my skirts and stumbled back to the city.
Sneaking back into the city was definitely harder than I thought it was going to be. In my exhausted state, I spent hours dodging guards behind houses, wagons, walls, anything that I was able to cover myself with, because just as I suspected, some of the guards unquestionably saw the glow of my magic from the city and were rushing about with frightened voices.
My brow sweated with pure fatigue, when I finally got to the citadel. I wished nothing more than to just be able to go straight to my chambers, but I needed answers and there was only one person or thing that I knew of that was able to give them to me.
I quickly made my way back down to the dungeons again for the second time tonight and descended down the long dark stair case to the dragons cave.
"Kilgaharah!" I called when I finally stood at the edge of the cave. "I need your help! I need your wisdom."
From high above the cave I heard the same rattling of chains and the hurricane of winds coming towards me that I've heard many times before, as the dragon perched himself on top of the pedestal. "The young Naiad Princess. What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he asked with a smile, and his sharp teeth showing, giving me an uneasy feeling.
"I need your help with my magic." My voice was unsure. "I tried to heal a piece of farmland that we believe to be diseased with a curse, and I could feel my magic working. I felt it! I saw it. But after the spell was done, nothing happened."
"And your question is…" he trailed.
"Why it didn't work?" I stated obviously with an edge to my voice, not liking that he was toying with me so early in our conversation.
"It didn't work because of the nature of your magic." He answered as if it should have been easy for me to understand.
"I don't understand. What do you mean by the nature of my magic?"
"Your powers work with that of the magic of the world. You cannot right the wrongs that have been committed with your own magic; because they follow along the lines of nature. You are bound to follow and help keep the balance of the world in check."
"What wrongs have been committed?" My voice echoed in the cave and I could hear my own worry in my voice.
"One cannot kill something as pure, innocent, and beautiful as a unicorn, without serious repercussions." He said with a knowing gleam in his eye. "It's like killing a child. The seriousness of those crimes is life altering."
"How did you know about the unicorn?" I asked.
"I was able to feel the death of the creature, just like I knew you were able to." He said and flew off, and ending our conversation.
I still had many more questions that I wanted and needed to ask, but since when did that mean anything to him. The rest of the answers were just ones I was going to have to deal with on my own.
I quietly made my way back to my chambers. Making sure to check each corner and turn before sprinting down the corridor. I didn't freely breathe easily until I was back in my own chambers and my doors were shut and locked. There was a warm fire going already in the fire place which was a welcome feeling to fight off the cold that was attacking me all night long.
I discarded my blue robe over one of the chairs that lined my table, when a soft knock sounded out my door. I stepped up behind it and called out, "Who is it?" my voice was slightly tinted with suspicion and fear because it came right after I entered my chambers which meant someone was watching to know when I would arrive back at my room.
"It's Merlin." His voice called above the sound of a whisper that I barely even heard. I quickly opened the large oak doors and ushered him into my room.
"I saw what you did, and it was amazing!" He said excitedly before I even had a chance to close my door. "Did it work?"
"Merlin! Keep your voice down." I scolded as I tried to calm my beating heart from everything that has gone on with me tonight.
"Sorry." He muttered a little embarrassed, "But did it work?"
I gestured for him to take a seat at the table and I did as well. "No it didn't, and I already know why." I stated, "When I got back I went to go see the dragon. I needed answers as to why my spell didn't work." I gave him the short version of everything that happened and what Kilgaharah said. "My spell should've worked Merlin. It should've. I could feel it working. I saw it with my own eyes. I was about to accomplish something that probably hasn't been attempted for hundreds of years."
"I'm sorry it didn't work. Lothrielle. But from what I saw from up here it was truly amazing. I could actually feel just a little bit of it from Gaius and mine's room." I could tell he truly did feel for me.
But I wondered if there was ever a situation where he knew that his spell was supposed to work but because of some reason it didn't. He never seemed to have a problem with his powers, after all he was born with them, and I only came into mine, but still. I was tired of constantly having to try and prove myself to others, and always end up failing.
"If it makes you feel any better Arthur and I already know about the unicorn consequences. More like I do, Arthur's still in denial" He said again in the silence.
"What? How? What happened while I was off?" The questions poured out of me.
"Let's just say we had a little visit from the keeper of the unicorns." Merlin recited what he and Arthur went through tonight while I was off wandering around in the night.
"You both always have the most fun." I said annoyed with the predicament that I was in. "Why did I bother even trying to do what I did tonight, when I could've just stayed here and helped with the Anhora thing?"
"Well we needed to know if there was any way out of what we were going through anyways so it was actually a good thing. But from now on maybe you should stop trying to do everything by yourself. You have friends and you have family, here. Let us help you with whatever you're going through."
When he said those words, it immediately brought back the memory of when I visited the dragon before leaving for home after the Bayard incident. 'Heed my warning witch your fatal flaw will be your unwillingness to ask for assistance. You need… Humility if you are to find any happiness.'
"That blasted lizard!" I cursed aloud. He knew I was going to end up dealing with what he said again in my life. It will probably be something that I will constantly be told for the remainder of my life.
"What?" Merlin said, curious as to what was going on in my mind.
"Nothing. Just something Kilgaharah said to me before I left last time. It doesn't really matter. All that matters right now is that we fix this problem together."
"Well we need to convince Arthur that only he is able to fix this problem. He is hell bent on finding Anhora, and killing him, because he thinks that is what will break the curse of the unicorn."
"Alright leave that to me. I will speak with him tomorrow on that subject." I said "But right now I suggest that the both of us get some sleep, I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a long day."
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
"So have you given any more thought to what Anhora said last night?" I asked after being invited in. I gently and demurely sat down at one of the seats available at his table.
"How did you know about Anhora?" He asked in stunned silence.
"Merlin told me of course." I replied easily.
"Merlin really—." Arthur turned on him with slight anger.
"Oh don't be angry at him Arthur, it's not like you could've kept that a secret from me anyways." I reprimanded him.
He didn't at all seem pleased with what was said, but he still decided to not bother pushing the issue with me. "Well," he started after clearing is throat, "he may have escaped last night, but at least we now know who we're looking for. I told my father I'll find this Anhora and put an end to it."
"What if he was telling the truth about the curse?" Merlin asked next to me.
"You think I'm responsible for bringing suffering upon my own people?" He asked in reply. I could see the hurt in his eyes as he thought that we could possibly even think him responsible for such an act.
"Arthur." I stood from my seat and approached him with my pink dress trailing softly behind me. "We both know you would never deliberately put your people in harm's way. But—."
"There is no but, Lothrielle, with the blue glow last night at one of the farm lands outside the city I now know for certain it was him that has put the curse on the land." He replied back.
"Arthur that could've been anything. Worse comes down to it, it could've just been another sorcerer trying to fix what was done."
"And why would another magic user do that? Hhmm." He asked.
"Because we aren't the only ones who are being affected by this. Has that thought not crossed your mind? With what is going on those with magic are in just as much danger of starvation as anybody else. One probably thought that they could fix the land themselves."
"Well even if that were true, it didn't work. I sent a patrol out to the land early this morning. There's no difference in the crops. It's just as dead as it was yesterday."
"Then we need to turn to Anhora, and the solution that he can provide."
"Arthur, when you killed the unicorn, I saw Anhora in the forest." Merlin spoke again, making his presence known that he was still in the room.
"You did?" I asked surprisingly, because I was there as well and didn't witness anything.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Arthur asked just as shocked as I was.
"It was just for a second, after Lothrielle left, and then he disappeared. I didn't even...well, I-I thought I was seeing things. But he was definitely there." He confessed, and now it made sense why I didn't see him.
"That doesn't actually prove anything." Arthur said with a shake of his head.
"Doesn't it make you think he might be telling the truth?" Merlin asked again with hope that Arthur was truly thinking of the possibilities.
"Because he was skulking about in the forest? That makes me trust him even less." How Arthur was even able to brush the subject away so easily was beyond me.
"Why would Anhora appear in Camelot, and then lie to you?" I asked.
"We had him cornered. He was trying to talk his way out of it by blaming me."
"Arthur, he can disappear into thin air." Merlin replied just as fast. "He didn't have to talk his way out of anything."
"My father has warned me about sorcerers like him. They will not rest until our kingdom is destroyed."
"Well, I believe he's telling the truth." Merlin said sticking to his stance, and squaring off his shoulders in strength.
"Then you're a fool. You cannot trust a single word a sorcerer says. You'd do well to remember that."
"Am I a fool as well for thinking that Anhora is telling the truth?" I challenged and stepped right up to him so he couldn't look anywhere but at my stern gaze. "And be careful how you answer Arthur, or you will regret it."
I could tell Arthur didn't know what to say. I was forcing him to fight everything that he has been taught since birth. When I couldn't stand the silence that hung over us, I finally spoke. "Arthur just because someone thinks differently than you do, does not make them a fool. I think one day you will appreciate and come to know that differences strengthen a kingdom, not weakens it." I made that my finale word and left respectfully out of the room.
-ooOoo-
Arthur's POV
After watching Lothrielle leave the room I stood silently thinking about her words. She always seemed so much older than her 17 years. She had a way of silencing me with not just her words, but also the love she has for me. Many times I couldn't help but think that if I were to ever have known my mother, she would've said and done the same thing that Lothrielle always said and done.
"How does she always manage to do that?" I asked Merlin who stood quietly away from me, not sure if he should speak up or not.
"Your cousin just wants you to be the best that she knows you are capable of being. Just like I know you are capable of being."
"There are many times that I think, that if anyone was ready for the throne it would be her."
"She has just as much growing to do as anyone else, and she knows it."
"Still, she makes me think of the person that I want to be more than anyone else."
"Oh no, she makes you think, that can't be good!" Merlin said barely being able to hold in a smile from breaking across his face.
"Merlin?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up." I commanded.
"Yes Arthur." He said has he tried to hold back his laughter.
"I think I've figured out what Anhora's next move is going to be, and when he makes it, we're going to be waiting."
-ooOoo-
"Alright what did you do?" I said excitedly as I walked into Arthur's chambers after I just consumed five cups of water myself, and came in to see that Merlin and Arthur were both doing the same thing.
"What are you talking about? Arthur answered with another question.
"The water, of course. You must have done something." I gestured to the very cup that he was drinking out of.
"I didn't do anything. But it is curious." He said, "The sand's disappeared. The water returned to the well. It doesn't make any sense."
Merlin cleared his throat, with a slight cough, which was funny because it looked as if he was asking for permission to speak. Whether he had permission or not it never seemed to stop him in the past.
"I suppose you have some explanation for this, Merlin? Let's hear it." Arthur slightly mocked.
"Anhora said you would be tested. And last night, in the grain store, you let that villager go. And he said it would bring its own reward."
"What villager?" I asked aloud, wanting to know what happened.
Merlin quickly explained what happened the night before, and when he was done, I couldn't help but be proud. "Arthur that was very uncharacteristic of you," I jested slightly, "and he promised that you would be rewarded."
"He was merely grateful, and so he should have been… And what do you mean uncharacteristic of me."
"Never mind that." I waved his comment away with my hand. "Maybe that was your first test."
"And you passed it, so the curse has begun to lift." Merlin agreed with me, "Perhaps this is your reward. I know you don't have to listen to me."
"Glad we agree on something." He joked in reply.
"If you're tested again, you have a chance to end your people's suffering. I know you want that more than anything." Merlin ignored his slight against him.
"Perhaps we should seek Anhora out." I offered.
"I cannot negotiate with sorcerers. My father wouldn't hear of it." He said with a shake of his head.
"Then it's probably best you don't tell him." Merlin answered back with a grin across his face.
Arthur shook his head back at the two of us, "I must go check on the guard. See if you can find me some food." He ordered, as he and I both left the room
"Find some food!" I heard Merlin mutter underneath his breath, before closing the door behind us.
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Arthur and I met up with Morgana in the square watching the distribution of the limited supplies that we have. The people seemed to increase with the passing days.
"Who are they?" Morgana asked as we looked at all the starving people.
"They've come from the outlying villages in search of food." I answered sadly.
"There are not enough rations to feed the people who are already here, let alone all of them." Arthur said aloud angrily. I gently touched his shoulder in hopes that he wasn't going to shrug it off. I was happy when he didn't but concerned when it made him tense at the touch.
"You shouldn't blame yourself. I'm sure you're doing everything you can." Morgana tried to say with sympathy.
"It is not enough." He answered back and walked away from the two of us. Leaving Morgana and I by ourselves.
"He blames himself." I said as I watched him retreat back to the castle.
"Go to him. Help him. He's better whenever you are there to help him." Morgana insisted, but before I could walk away, Gwen quickly approached the two of us.
"Maladies." She greeted the two of us in a slight whisper.
"Did you manage to find any food?" Morgana asked in the same voice. I watched as Gwen pulls a cloth back from her basket revealing some bread.
"Where did you get that?" I asked and covered the bread again to make sure that it is not seen by any of the people around us.
"I was able to smuggle it out of the palace kitchens." She answered.
"Share it out amongst the children and old people. Make it go as far as you can." Morgana commanded with kindness in her voice. Gwen nodded to us and left as fast as she came. "And you should go help, Arthur. He needs to know it's not his fault." She said to me.
'If only she knew.' I thought.
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"Wait so you gave the rat stew to Morgana?" I chocked back a laugh, as Merlin, Arthur and I searched through the woods for Anhora.
"It was the meanest joke I have ever done. But, I couldn't help it. It was amusing to say the least." Arthur answered with grin that pulled at the corners of his lips.
"I'm sure it must have been very amusing." I lost all sense of composure and laughed.
After the three of us were finally done laughing over the matter, Merlin was the first to sober the mood. "I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for."
"You're looking for footprints or broken branches." He answered and the three of us split up, "Anything that would indicate someone passed that..." Arthur stopped suddenly after catching sight of something. "Merlin! Lothrielle! He's here!" He called out and ran off.
"Arthur?!" The two of us cried out and ran to where we saw him last.
"Where did he go?" I asked and spun around to try and see where he could've gone.
"I don't know. But we'll split up. You go that way," He directed to the left, "and I'll go this way."
"Alright." I obeyed and took off as carefully as I could, picking up my skirts and cloak so I had a better range of motion.
I searched for awhile, running around trees, falling a couple times. "Where are you Arthur?" I asked aloud as I continued to run, in search of him. I started running down a small decline and outcrop of rocks, taking each step with caution as to make sure I didn't lose my footing.
It was when I was down the small hill that I heard the clattering of swords. "Arthur!" I yelled and passed a small encampment, with a tent and food. "Where are you?" I cried out again getting more worried than before and ran after the sound.
When I finally found him he was fighting against another man with red hair and a smirk across his face. He was backing him up against a tree, with the intent to kill him, and anger was in each strike that he dealt. It was when I saw that he was about to deal a fatal blow that I screamed, "Arthur no!" I cried but the moment Arthur's sword should've made contact with the man he disappeared and behind him a man with an old face, white robes, and a pointed staff reappeared. I only had a moment to conclude that this had to be Anhora.
"This is your doing?" Arthur's voice was laced with malice.
"It was a test to see what is truly in your heart." Anhora answered back. This was the first time that I was hearing his voice and it was as if his words were weighed down on Arthur's character with stones.
"Your tricks prove nothing!" This was the first time that I actually saw Arthur's temper rise above his usual cocky demeanor, and I almost stepped forward to caution him but, I was frozen to the spot.
"Why did you kill this man?" Anhora asked.
"He insulted my honor!"
"You could have chosen to ignore his taunts. What harm would they do you?"
Arthur lifted his sword and pointed it at Anhora, "You will lift the curse, Sorcerer."
"It is not in my power."
"Then you will die." Arthur said angrily and approached him to strike and kill.
"Arthur no!" I yelled again this time finding my voice to break the silence that has held me since I found him.
Arthur's sword flew thru the air but, it was worthless as Anhora disapparates from in front of him and he fell to the ground.
"Killing me will not help you." Anhora said this time appearing again behind Arthur.
Arthur gets back up from the ground to strike again against my protests, and Anhora disappears once again and reappears further ahead of us.
I find my will and run forward to help Arthur who was on the ground again. But really it was to keep Arthur from getting back up.
"You have shown that you would kill a man to defend your pride." Anhora started to pronounce his judgment. "You have failed the test. For this, Camelot will pay dearly." His words dealt daggers into my heart as I looked and saw the pain in Arthur's eyes.
"My people have done nothing!" Arthur cries back from the ground. I don't think he even realized that he was lying before Anhora.
"Your people's suffering is not my doing. It is yours." He said and with a blink he was gone from sight.
"Arthur?! Arthur?!" Merlin screams and runs up to us both watching the now vacant spot that was once occupied by Anhora
"What is going to happen?" I uttered and looked down to Arthur who was still struggling to understand what he just did.
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The last bit of food and supplies that the city had left was rotten down to the last grain, and now the three of us watched on a balcony above the courtyard the people queuing below.
"They do not know yet know there is worse to come." Arthur finally spoke.
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked, since he wasn't there when Arthur confronted his father.
"My father is going to stop distributing food to the people." Arthur answered bitterly. "They are to be left to starve. I had a chance to lift the curse. And I failed them." His pain and sorrow was stronger than I have ever seen it.
"You weren't to know you were being tested." I said and grabbed a hold of his shoulder.
"My people are starving. Camelot is on the verge of collapse. And it is all my doing." He ignored my comment.
"No Arthur, listen to me. Anhora was wrong. What you said against your father was brave. You stood up for your people, all your people."
"But it was still me who failed them. My pride has destroyed this kingdom!"
"But the love you have for them will save it." I tried to get him to hear the plea in my voice.
"I don't think love is going to save us this time." He said and turned from the two of us, and walked away.
"Love will always save us." I muttered quietly to myself.
"We have to do something!" Merlin said.
"Then let's go." I said with a plan forming in my head.
"Where?" He asked.
"Back to the forest." I said confidently.
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"Anhora!" I called loudly when Merlin and I were back at the last spot that we saw him. "Show yourself! Anhora!" When he didn't appear, I called out again with more urgency. "Emrys and the last Princess of the Naiad descendants demand that you show yourself Anhora!" I commanded.
"You wanted to talk with me milady?" His stone cold voice sounded behind us and the two of us whirled around to face him.
"We've come to seek your help." Merlin spoke before me, "The people are starving. They will soon be dead."
"You must believe me when I say it gives me no pleasure to see your people suffering." He answered back, but whether I could tell if he was being truthful or not was hard to tell as this man didn't give anything away.
"If it pains you, put an end to it." I called back at him.
"It is not in my power to lift the curse."
"Then give Arthur another chance." I pleaded and knelt to the ground before him. "He has accepted it is his responsibility, and he will prove himself worthy and lift the curse if you give him one more chance."
"You both have faith in Arthur?" He asked the two of us.
"I trust him with my life." Merlin replied back with confidence in his voice and stance.
"He is my cousin. Not only does he have my faith but he has the faith of the First Princess Cordelia of the Sea Naiad courts. He will pass whatever test that you can give him, you have my word."
"The assurance of two magical beings. Emrys himself, and the living nymph princess. I know of your ancestor Princess Cordelia she was a good friend of the Unicorns." He said, as he considered his decision. "Arthur must go to the Labyrinth of Gedref. There, he will face a final test. If he fails, there is no hope. The curse will destroy Camelot." He said and disappeared from sight.
"Wait! What kind of test will he face?" Merlin asked aloud.
"That is for Arthur alone to discover." His voice hung in the air but he was nowhere to be seen.
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"Let us come with you. You don't know what form of test will take. We might be able to help." Merlin pleaded for the both of us.
"No you both are to stay here. I brought this curse upon Camelot. I'm gonna be the one to lift it, or die trying." Arthur replied determinedly.
"And that's supposed to make us feel better." I scolded, "How does you dying help anyone?"
"I'll die knowing I did everything I can."
"Arthur please don't ask us to stay. You are my only cousin and my guardian, I can't lose you... You promised that we were to look out for each other."
"Lothrielle… it is because I am all of those things to you that I need to know that you will be safe, even if it means I won't return."
"You promised that we were to look out for each other." I said trying not to let my voice betray me.
"I know that's what I promised." He gently took a hold of my shoulders, "But now I need you to look out for the people. Please…stay here, and help the people as best you can." He said and then walked out of the room.
"We are going to follow after him right?" Merlin questioned.
"Of course we are going to follow after him. Don't ask stupid questions." I poked and the two of us chased after him; my white and gold dress and light blue embroidered cloak flying behind me.
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"Should we split up?" Merlin asked as we came to what seemed like the hundredth fork in the maze.
"Remember what I said about stupid questions?" I replied back.
"Yeah, right." He said coming to the same answer that I already had, and we both took off in the same direction.
"I hate labyrinths." I muttered probably the fifteenth time since entering the blasted maze. The both of us were breathing hard as we ran around with uncertainty.
"Out of all the places to perform a test. It had to be this place." He agreed, and the two of us started running again. It must've been hours since following Arthur into the maze that when we turned a corner, in front of us stood Anhora, with his back to us but above his head was the tip of a sword.
"You said Arthur would face a test. And here you are, preparing a trap for him." Merlin accused.
Anhora turned around to face us, "The trap isn't for Arthur. It is for the two of you." He said, and lowered his sword down in front of us, "Gehæftan." He chanted and both Merlin and I were wrapped in vines from the labyrinth hedges.
One moment we were in the middle of the labyrinth and then next the scene was changed and the two of us were seated at a small table with two goblets on it, at the edge of a sea.
I was about to ask what we were doing, but the movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention and I watched as Arthur stepped out of the maze. It was almost instantly that he and I booth made eye contact. When he noticed that both Merlin and I were here he rushed forward to us.
"Lothrielle?! Merlin?!" Arthur growled at us.
"Please don't yell." I winced slightly at his anger.
"I'm sorry." Merlin said.
"Oh I'm going to yell, only later." He told us and then turned to Anhora. "Let them go. I'll take your test, but not till they're released."
"That is not possible. They are both part of the test. Please sit. If you refuse the test, you will have failed and Camelot will be destroyed." Anhora denied his plea and gestured to the empty chair in front of Merlin.
"I thought I told you both to stay at home." He scolded with fire in his eyes as he looked at me and then to Merlin.
'Alright, I don't like when Arthur is mad at me.' I decided.
"Let's get on with it." Arthur said.
"There are two goblets before you. One of the goblets contains a deadly poison, the other goblet, a harmless liquid. All the liquid from both goblets must be drunk, but each of you may only drink from a single goblet." Anhora told us.
"What kind of ridiculous test is that? What does that prove?" Arthur glared at Anhora.
"What it proves is for you to decide. If you pass the test, the curse will be lifted."
"Let's think about this…. What if I drink from my goblet first?" Merlin said.
"If it's poisoned, you'll die." I shook my head.
"And if it's not, then Arthur will have to drink from his, and he'll die."
"There must be a way around it." I thought harder than I ever have.
"It is perfectly simple. One of us has to die." Arthur remarked, "We have to find a way to determine which goblet has the poison. And then I'll drink it."
"No I will be the one to drink it." I frowned at him.
"I'm not going to let my younger cousin die for me." He waved off my suggestion.
"Then I'll drink it!" Merlin said angrily.
"This is my doing. I'm drinking it." Arthur reprimanded the both of us.
"It is more important that you live. You're the future king. I'm just a servant."
"This is no time to be a hero, Merlin. It really doesn't suit you." Arthur retorted.
"Ugh!" I groaned angrily.
"What if I drink from one first, and if that's not poisoned, I will then drink yours?" Merlin said.
"He said each of us is only allowed to drink from a single goblet. I had no idea you were so keen to die for me." Arthur replied with a somewhat smile.
"Trust me; I can hardly believe it myself." Merlin joked.
Arthur laughed shortly at what Merlin said and fell silent as he looked both of us in the eye. "I'm glad you both are here." He admitted with a sigh.
"I've got it." Merlin cheered, "Right, we pour all the liquid into one goblet and then we can be sure it is poisoned. Then all the liquid can be drunk and it will be from a single goblet."
"You never cease to surprise me. You're a lot smarter than you look."
"Is that actually a compliment?" Merlin asked, and even I was surprised that he said that.
"Look out!" Arthur yelled suddenly and pointed to something that was behind Merlin. Both of us turned to look to see what was coming, but saw nothing and when we turned back to ask Arthur what he was trying to warn us about, he had both contents of goblets already poured into one and held it up to his lips already to drink.
"No!" I cried out.
"I will drink it!" Merlin also yelled.
"As if I'd let you." Arthur replied.
"You can't die. This isn't your destiny." Merlin said.
"It seems you're wrong again."
"Listen to me!" he tried again to stop Arthur.
"You know me, Merlin. I never listen to you." Arthur said back and toasted to the both of us.
"Arthur, please…" I pleaded and looked into his eyes. I didn't want to watch my only family die before my eyes.
"I'm sorry Lottie." He replied and drank what was in the goblet.
"No!" Merlin leapt from his seat, "What have you done?"
"Arthur!" I to leapt forward and caught him as he fell from his chair unconscious. "No!" I cried out angrily and shook him over again to try and wake him. "Arthur. Arthur. Come on! Arthur, come on." I wept over and over again.
"Please. Please! Just... let me take his place!" Merlin begged Anhora.
"This was Arthur's test, not yours."
"You've killed him! I was meant to protect him!"
"He is not dead." He smiled, "He's merely consumed a sleeping draught. He will come round shortly."
Both of us stood there blinking at him and each other, before we yelled at the same time, "What?"
"A unicorn is pure of heart. If you kill one, you must make amends by proving that you also are pure of heart. Arthur was willing to sacrifice his life to save yours." He looked between the two of us. "He has proven what is truly in his heart. The curse will be lifted."
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"Merlin, Arthur, Lothrielle." Gaius called out to us as we rode back into the courtyard, "There is good news! The crops are growing once again! They are bringing in the harvest!"
We all smiled at Arthur before Merlin cheered, "You did it."
"Well done my Prince." I said with a slight curtsey.
"Is this your doing?" Uther asked with need before adding, "Is the sorcerer dead?"
"He won't be troubling us anymore." Arthur replied instead of confirming what his father wanted to hear.
"Good. Make sure the grain reserves are re-stocked."
"I'll see to it." Arthur said and we watched as Uther and Gaius both walked away. "There's something we must do first." Arthur nodded to the two of us.
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Arthur took the unicorn horn and laid it gently in the burial mound that he made in the forest. "I should never have ended your life." He said aloud in respect and placed his hand over the covered earth. "I'm sorry."
"Arthur..." I called as he and Merlin began to lay stones over the grave, and pointed past them.
They turned to look at the same thing I was looking at. In all its pure glory, alive once more was the Unicorn that Arthur killed. We watched as the Unicorn galloped away from us.
'When he who kills a unicorn proves himself to be pure of heart, the unicorn will live again.'
AN Thank you so much for reading. Please feel free to comment, and please remember to make it kind and constructive. Thank you!
