As soon as I step foot on Albion, I can tell something is wrong. It's too dark, and the balance the land had before is off. I can feel something stirring in my soul. Something dark and horrible, and it makes me feel sick.

Arthur pulls me aside, "What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look funny. Well, funnier than normal, that is."

I give Arthur a sour look, "Something is wrong with Albion. There is something here, and it is evil. I can feel it in the air."

"I'll tell the others to be careful, Merlin can feel evil in the air," Arthur mocks.

"I'm serious, Arthur."

"Okay, okay, I believe you. What should we do first?"

"I don't know, Arthur. You're the one with training in this stuff."

"Okay. Just wondering if there was anything else you were feeling."

"Shut up, cabbage-head!"

Arthur slaps my arm before facing everyone. "Alright, first thing we're going to do is make camp. We should find someplace on the outskirts of Albion to call base and camp near there. Once we set up camp, we can go in the walls of Albion and search for – what exactly are we looking for, Merlin?"

"I don't know…"

"Search for the evil possessing Albion."

The knights mumble in agreement, and we search for a place to call base. After about three hours, we make a circle around the island. After careful thought, Arthur decides that the best spot is in some trees right where we started. It has trees to hide us, water nearby for plenty of food, and it's near the entrance to Albion. We set up camp in the trees, concealing ourselves from anyone who might be on the island with us. We spend the rest of the day finding food sources and firewood. We find many berry bushes – but only a few that aren't poisonous, and plenty of firewood. We go to sleep early that night so we can get an early start tomorrow.

I can't sleep, the stirring in my stomach getting worse and worse. I get up multiple times thinking I'm going to be sick. But each time, nothing happens. The fifth time I get up thinking I'm sick, I turn around to go back to camp and Gwen is standing in front of me, making me jump.

"Gwen! You gave me a fright!"

"I'm sorry, Merlin. I just wanted to see if you're okay. You kept getting up and running away from camp. Are you sick?"

"There is evil here and I can feel it stirring. It makes me feel sick, but I haven't gotten sick. At least, not yet. It keeps getting stronger, and I keep feeling sicker. I'm afraid that I might actually become sick, and I'm surprised I haven't already…"

"Oh, Merlin…" Gwen says, empathy dripping from her voice.

"Come on, let's go back to base and go to sleep."

I lead her to base, but I head back to my tree, bile threatening to come up from my stomach.

"Merlin? What are you doing over here?" I hear Leon's voice.

I blink, the sun harsh on my sleepy eyes. "I… I don't remember falling asleep…"

"Merlin, are you okay? You haven't been yourself since we set foot on Albion. For one, you keep making faces like you smell something horrible. Another, you act like your dizzy. And lastly, you've been clutching your stomach and moaning. Are you alright? Are you sick?"

"I… I'm fine," I say, swallowing bile from the back of my throat. Leon doesn't seem to buy it, but helps me up anyway.

Back at base, everything is a bustle, everyone packing up for the journey ahead. I sit down on the ground and try to eat breakfast. I can only get two spoonfuls of oatmeal and one bite of apple down. Gwaine gleefully finishes my breakfast.

"MERLIN!"

"Huh?" I jerk up, spinning my head to find the source of the voice, dizzying myself.

"C'mon, we're going. Unless you want to waste the day just sitting there all day," Arthur responds.

"Oh, no. I'm coming." I heave myself off the ground and stagger over to where everyone is standing.

"Uh, Merlin, maybe you should stay behind today," Elyon suggests.

"No, no. I- I'm okay. I'll be okay."

"If you say so. I'm not going to fight with you. But you really don't look well," Elyon says with concern.

I stood up straight and walked confidently to the entranceway. At the doorway, the nights unsheathed their swords and Gwen her dagger. Merlin looked on with surprise, and Gwen just gave him a stern look, making him shut up before he even said anything.

I peeked my head through the doorway and looked around. Seeing the coast clear, I motioned for everyone to follow me as I walked into Albion. Inside the walls, a strong wave of nausea hit me and I collapsed.