MERLIN

"Merlin?" Arthur asks.

"I'm sorry Arthur," I tell him.

He turns attention to Anhora. "Let him go," he demands. "I'll take your test, but not until he is released," he tries to reason with Anhora.

"That is not possible. Merlin is part f the test," Anhora tells Arthur. he indicates the seat across from me. "Please sit," he asks. "If you refuse the test it is the same as failing the test, and Camelot will be doomed," he tells him. Arthur reluctntly sits down across from me.

"I thought I told you to stay at home," Arthur says. "Lets get on with it," Arthur turns his attention back to Anhora.

"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 drank, but each of you can only drink from a single goblet," Anhora explains.

"What kind of ridiculous test is that? what does that prove?" Arthur asks nastily.

"What it proves is for you to decide. If you pass the test, the curse will be lifted," Anhora tells him. I watch Arthur's face as he thinks over the problem at hand.

"Let's think about this," I tell him. "What if I drink from my goblet first?" I suggest.

"If it's poisoned you'll die," Arthur says.

"And if it's not than you'll have to drink from yours and you'll die," I tell him. "There must be a way around it," I lean forward and look at the goblets.

"It's perfectly simple, one of us has to die," Arthur reasons. I glance over at Raven who is sitting a few feet away, and watching me closely. No matter what happens she will not let me die. But than I cannot let Arthur die. "We have to find a way to determine which one has the poison, and than I'll drink it," Arthur says. I look up at that.

"I will be the one to drink it," I tell him.

"This is my doing, I'll drink it," he says.

"It's more important you live. you are the furture king and I'm just a servant," I tell him.

"This is no time to be a hero," he says. "It really doesn't siut you,"

I sigh and shake my head as I try to think a way around Arthur dying. "What if I drink from mine first, and if it is not poisoned than i will than drink yours," I suggest. Raven growls at me, but stays silent. Arthur looks over at Anhora.

"He said that each of us is only allowed to drink from a single goblet," he reminds me. I lok at Anhora as well. He is standing there calmly and watching as thetwo of us figure out what to do. I sigh again and look back at the goblts in front of us. "I had no idea you were so keen to die for me," Arthur says.

"Trust me I can hardly believe it myself," I tell him. Arthur chckles at that and lowers his head a little.

"I'm glad your here Merlin," He says softly. He is looking at me through his lashes. He sighs and the idea comes to me.

"I've got it. We pour all of the liqiud into one goblet so than we can be sure it's poisoned. Than all the liquid can be drunk and it will be from a single goblet, " I tell him.

"You never cease to surprise me. Your a lot smarter than you look," he says. he has a small smile on his face.

I lean away from him and grin. "Is that actually a complimant?" I ask him. He looks at me, before shifting his gaze behind me. He points and warns me to look out. I whip around to see what it is. When I look back at him, he is pouring the liquid into one goblet. "No I will drink it," I tell him. Raven stands up, and growls loudly. Arthur glances at her, but only for a second.

"As if i'd let you," he says seriously.

"You can't die, this isn't your destiny," I try to tell im.

"It seems your wrong again, Merlin," he says.

"Listen to me," I try, but he cuts me off.

"You know me Merlin. I never listen to you," he smiles. he is truing to build up the courage to drink the liqiud. He lifts the goblet to me, and drinks it.

"Artur!" I start to panic. "No, what have you done," we hold eye contact with each other, until he fall backwards off his seat. I get up and hurry around. "Arthur," I shake him, and try to get him up again. "Arthur, cme on. come one get up. Arthur," he remains completely still. I look up as Anhora comes closer. "Please, please, Just let me take his place," I beg him. I can feel Raven getting upset with me.

"This was Arthur's test not yours," he tells me.

"You've killed him,"I yell at him. "I was supposed to protect him, and you've killed him,"

"He is not dead," he says to me. I blink at him in confusion.

"What?" I ask. surely I did not hear him correctly.

"He has merely ingested a sleeping draft. He'll come around shortly," he explains.

"I don't understand," I tell him.

"A unicorn is pure of heart, so when you kill one you must also prve that you are pure of heart. He was willing to die for you, he has proven what was truly in his heart. The curse will be lifted," He says. I nod, and he vanishes. Raven sits next to me.

'I knew you would not die,' She cooes in my head.

"But Arthur cuold have died," I tell her.

'He is not my concern, you are. It will mean nothing to me when he dies, but if you die, I die with you. When you offer to die for someone, now you are not just offering your life, but also mine. Think more carefully Merlin, or I shall have to restrain you somewhere where you will be safe for the rest of your days. I will not tell you again,' She stands and moves away from us. I watch as she sits at the entrance to the Labyrinth.

'What are you doing?' I ask her.

'I must help yu back through the Labyrinth, but I do not feel like being next to you right ow you bafoon,' she remarks.

RAVEN

I watch from the Labyrinth mouth as Arthur wakes up, and they talk breifly. I thought he understood that our lives are joined together. If he dies than I die as well. Why does he continue to insist that he die for Arthur? there has to be a better way for him to keep Arthur safe surely? They make their way over, and I stretch. "There you are girl. Were you worried?" Arthur asks me. I look up at him, and cock my head to the side. I grin, and jump on him. I would miss him should he die. He remains standing, and pets me. I just need to keep Merlin alive though.

"Arthur, we should get going. I am sure the others at Camelot will be worried about us," Merlin says. I peak at him, and he looks sullen.

"Alright, Shadow, get down girl. I'm not going to die today. Come on, can you show us the way out?" He asks. I look at him. Why is he so interested all of a sudden? I turn around and start walking back to where I can smell the horses. Seriously, why is he talking to me more?

"Arthur what's going on with you and Shadow? I thought you didn't like her," Merlin asks.

"Well, I realized earlier that she is very smart, and she is a very good looking wolf. I have honestly never seen a solid black wolf of he size. Do you know she is at least two times bigger than the average wolf?" Arthur tells Merlin.

"But why are you getting so friendly with her?" Merlin asks again.

"Are you worried that I am trying to take her away from you?" he teases Merlin.

"No, but it is weird watching you talk to her," he admits. I keep my eyes forward, and pretend that I have no idea what they are syaing.

"If you want the truth, than I will tell you. You love her right? She is going to be with you whenever we go on trips or something, so I figured that if she is going to always be close by, than I should not be a stranger to her. If I treat her nicely, than she will not be as stand offish around me right?" He figures out loud. I roll my eyes at his confusing explanation. good thing they can't see it, because Merlin would have laughed. Once we reach the horses, I race ahead of them to Camelot. I need to think about how to get it through his thick skull that he's living for two now. Why are men so pig headed, and only think about themselves? I beat them back to Camelot. I am glad to see that the grain has all grown again, and is being harvested. I weasel my way into Gwen's house and curl up under her bed. That way she will not step on me when she comes in after dark.

MERLIN

"Arthur, Merlin, I have great news. The crops have all grown again, and they are bringing in the harvest as we speak,"I just smile at the joy Gaius is having.

"I assume that this is your doing," Uther asks his son. "Is the sorcerer dead than?"

"He will not be bothering Camelot again," Arthur says. Uther nods.

"Restock the reserve," He walks away.

Arthur looks around, before turning to me. " There is something we have to do first," He races into the castle, and comes back out with the horn from the unicorn. We ride back out to the woods, and I help him to build a shrine for the horn. "I'm sorry. I should never have killed you,"he gently places the horn into the depression, before putting rocks over it. I look up, and stop moving.

"Arthur," I whisper. he looks up as wel, and catches his breath. The unicorn is standing a few feet away. It watches us a bit longer, before walking away. I release a breath, and smile down at Arthur. He has a mystified sort of look on his face. I smle, but in the back of my mind I can still feel how upset Raven is with me.

'Raven?' I ask carefully.

'What is it now Merlin? Do you want to attempt to slay a dragon by yourself?' She snaps back.

'I'm sorry that I wasn't thinking about you as well when I offered to take his place,'I tell her. I can feel her sigh.

'I can't stay mad at you forever Merlin. Just give me tonight, and I will see you bright and early in the morning. Just try to say alive until than,' She teases. I can already feel her anger slipping away from her. I relax, and follow Arthur aback to the castle. Hopefully nothing else happens between morning and now to make her mad at me again.