I stood with Uther and the court as Arthur and his knights entered the chamber with Merlin carrying something on a pillow.
"Father! A unicorn's horn to grace the walls of Camelot." Arthur said and I felt my heart break at his words.
"Magnificent. It's the first one I've seen." Uther said as he took the horn from the pillow. "Gaius, look at this." Uther said and Gaius walked up to look at the horn. I glanced at Merlin and saw sadness in his eyes.
"It is very impressive, My Lord." Gaius told him.
"What is it, Gaius? Speak your mind." Uther told him.
"Unicorns are rare and mystical creatures. There is a legend that says that bad fortune will come to anyone who slays one." Gaius warned him, but the King and Prince would hear none of it.
"Nonsense. We will be the envy of every kingdom." Uther told everyone.
"I'm pleased you like it." Arthur said grinning at his father. Arthur just wanted to protect the people and please his father, I knew that but this wouldn't end well.
Merlin, Gaius and I were walking through the Square and talking quietly.
"I don't understand how Arthur can have taken any pleasure from killing the unicorn." I told them.
"Arthur is a hunter. It's in his blood. Whereas you are something entirely different." Gaius told me.
"It was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I wish you two could have been there." Merlin said.
"It's a rare privilege. Alas, there are few unicorns still alive." Gaius told us.
"You try telling that to Arthur." Merlin told him.
"I can imagine it would be difficult." I tried joking with them.
"My horse threw a shoe. Take it to the blacksmith. Make sure he does a good job. And when you've done that, you can polish my s..." I watched Arthur turn around and see Merlin staring out the window. What happened while they were on their hunting trip really affected him. "...saddle. Merlin? Have you listened to a word I've said?" Merlin turned and nodded at him. "You've got a face like a wounded bear ever since we got back from that hunting trip. Don't tell me you're still upset about the unicorn."
"I don't think you should have killed it." Merlin told him as I sat on Arthur's bed.
"Oh, really? And why is that?" Arthur asked him.
"It was... It was doing no harm. What purpose did you serve by killing it?" Merlin asked him trying to understand his reasoning.
"We were hunting. That's what you do. Would you have me bring it home as a pet? Look at this." Arthur said looking down at the ground. I stood and walked to him.
"What?" Merlin asked finally coming from the window.
"Do you know what that is?" Arthur asked him.
"No." Merlin told him when he finally saw what Arthur and I were looking at.
"Rat droppings. My chambers are infested. You need to spend less time worrying about unicorns and more time worrying about rats." Arthur told him as someone knocked on the door. "Enter!" a guard entered his chambers.
"My Lord, My Lady, the King requests your services as a matter of urgency." he told us before leaving.
"Find that rat." Arthur ordered as he and I left the room.
Uther, Arthur and I were standing in a field that looked like someone had killed everything in it. Uther picked a dead piece of wheat stalk from the field and crumbled it in his hand.
"Every single ear has died. We've received reports that it's the same throughout the entire kingdom." Uther told us.
"I rode through this valley only yesterday. The crop looked healthy enough then." Arthur told him.
"It happened overnight?" I asked them.
"Farmers are at a lost to explain it." Uther told us standing up.
"Is it a disease of some kind?" I asked them.
"Perhaps. I've asked the court physician to conduct some tests. We must ration what little food we have left." Uther told us.
Arthur, Uther and I watched as villagers stood in a long queue leading into the palace grounds as a guard rationed out grain.
"Next!" the guard called out.
"The livestock is either dying or has been eaten. Food and water's very scarce and we're distributing rations, but they're very meager." Arthur told us as he opened a small shaft in the grain store, dumping out a small pile of grain.
"This is all the grain we have?" Uther asked him.
"The people are growing scared. There's been some looting." Arthur told him.
"We must maintain order at all costs. Panic will make the situation worse. I'll issue a decree that looters will be executed. From tonight, Camelot will be under curfew." Uther ordered.
"I'll see to it." Arthur told him and his father walked away.
"How are you doing?" I asked him.
"Our people are starving. How should I feel?" he asked me.
"I'm sorry." I apologized and began to walk away but he didn't let me get very far.
"Wait, I'm sorry. This isn't your fault, I know that. This is just frustrating." he told me pulling me close to him.
"I know it is. If you need to talk about this or anything else. Tell me." I told him smiling.
"I knew there was a reason I loved you. You're always there for me, no matter what." he said and kissed me gently.
"Always and forever. Or until you tire of me." I told him smiling.
Merlin had run to Arthur and I as we were walking the halls.
"Arthur! Liz"
"What is it Merlin?" I asked him smiling.
"It's the water." Arthur and I looked at each other before rushing to the main square and looked into the well bucket.
"Go get the King, now!" I ordered the guard who was standing close by and he left quickly.
"Go check the reservoir." Arthur ordered another guard. The guard who was to check the reservoir came back first to tell us what he saw with the one ordered to get the king nor far behind him. Uther sifted the sand through his fingers in the well bucket.
"Sand. And you say the well is full of it?" Uther asked.
"I sent men down to the underground reservoir. There is no trace of water to be found." Arthur told him.
"First the crops, and now this." Uther said standing up.
"It's the same throughout the kingdom. There's precious little water anywhere." I told him.
"Gaius. Can you offer any explanation for this?" Uther asked him.
"I cannot think of a scientific explanation. I can only conclude it's the result of sorcery." Gaius told him and I glanced at Merlin.
"I believe you're right. It is the work of magic. The kingdom is under attack." Uther declared.
"And you believe what this Anhora said about the curse to be true?" Gaius asked Merlin after he told us what happened with him and Arthur.
"Well, you said there's a legend that misfortune comes to anyone who slays a unicorn. It makes sense." Merlin told us.
"Not much for breakfast, I'm afraid. We're down to our last few scraps of food." Gaius told Merlin.
"Where did you get the water to make the tea?" I asked him looking at the tea he had served us.
"Fortunately, for us, Merlin forgot to empty his bath yesterday." I felt my stomach turn.
"You're making tea from my bath water?" Merlin asked him.
"It's not so bad. Perhaps a little... soapy." Gaius told him and Merlin sighed.
"What does Arthur think about the curse?" Gaius asked.
"He doesn't believe it's his fault. He's convinced Anhora's responsible for it." I told him.
"If you do not wish to drink bath water, you better make sure Arthur sees sense." Gaius told Merlin.
I was walking down the halls when I saw Arthur and Merlin walking down the halls, talking silently.
"Should I be worried?" I asked them as we continued walking towards each other.
"Why would you be worried?" Arthur asked me.
"My brother and my prince are talking in secret around the castle, which normally means you two are up to something. I want in." I told him. He gave a look just asking if I was kidding.
"You have got to be joking." he told me.
"Do I?" I asked him.
"Why would you want to join us on something that could dangerous?" Arthur asked me.
"Because it's fun." I said smiling at him. "Besides it gives me a chance to spend time with my two favorite boys." he sighed and I knew I was in.
Merlin leaned against a pillar near the grain store with his eyes closed, smacking his lips. Arthur rolled his eyes and hit him with a broom while I silenced my giggles.
"Don't you worry about keeping watch, Merlin. You just make yourself comfortable." Arthur told him sarcastically. Merlin sighed and smacked his lips some more.
"Stop smacking your lips. It's annoying." Arthur told him.
"I'm thirsty." Merlin told him.
"We're all thirsty, Merlin." Arthur told him and Merlin sighed.
"Pst! Someone's coming." I told them and Arthur drew his sword. Merlin and I followed him into the grain store where we saw the intruder's silhouette. Arthur did some hand motions to Merlin and Merlin looked confused.
"You go over there and come in." Arthur mouthed to Merlin. Merlin nodded to him. "Show yourself, before I run you through." Arthur called to the intruder. I watched as Merlin picked up a scythe hook as a man edged around the corner with a shovel in one hand and a sack of grain in the other.
"Who are you?" I asked him.
"My name is... My name is..." the man stuttered out.
"Speak up!" Arthur ordered.
"My name is Evan, My Lord." Evan told us as Merlin came out of hiding.
"I see you think you can help yourself to our grain reserves. My father has order that looters be executed." Arthur told him.
"Please, My Lord. I- I do not steal for myself. I have three children they have not eaten for two days. They are hungry." Evan begged.
"It's the same for everyone." Arthur told him.
"I... I know that it is wrong to steal. I couldn't bear to see them starve." Evan told us.
"And could you bear for your children to see you be executed?" Arthur asked him. Evan shook his head, close to tears.
"Arthur." Arthur looked at me and then back to Evan.
"Then you should go home. If you're caught stealing again, I will not spare you." Arthur told him and I smiled.
"Yes, My Lord. Thank you." Evan said smiling and putting the sack of grain and shovel down and started to leave.
"Wait." Arthur called. Evan turned to him and Arthur picked up the sack of grain and tossed it to him. "Use it sparingly. It might be the last food you and your family get for some time." Arthur suggested to him.
"You have shown yourself to be merciful and kind, My Lord. This will bring its own reward." Evan told us walking away.
I stood in Arthur's chambers with Arthur and Merlin gulping down a large amount of water.
"Never knew water could taste so good." Arthur said as he placed his goblet down.
"My throat was so dry, I thought I wouldn't be able to talk." Merlin told us.
"Well, at least some good would've come from the drought, then." Arthur said and I laughed at his comment.
"More?" Merlin asked and Arthur motioned towards our mugs and Merlin filled them.
"The sand's disappeared. The water returned to the well. It doesn't make any sense. "I suppose you have some explanation for this, Merlin? Let's hear it." Arthur told Merlin.
"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." Merlin told him.
"He was merely grateful, and so he should have been." Arthur told him.
"Maybe that was your first test then. You passed it, so the curse has begun to lift. Perhaps this is your reward." I told him and he rolled his eyes. "If you're tested again, you have a chance to end your people's suffering. I know you want that more than anything. Perhaps we should seek Anhora out." I told him.
"I cannot negotiate with sorcerers. My father wouldn't hear of it." Arthur told me.
"Then it's probably best you don't tell him." Merlin told him.
"I must go check on the guard. See if you can find me some food." Arthur told Merlin walking out of his room.
"Find some food!" Merlin muttered and I smiled at him and walked away.
I walked among the people as they continued to queue outside the grain store with Merlin.
"Who are they?" Merlin asked me.
"People from the outlying villages in search of food." I told him.
"What are we going to do about this?" he asked me.
"I don't know but what we are doing, it is not enough." I told him as I saw Arthur walking away from Morgana and walked up to him.
"How are you holding up?" I asked him as he put his arms around me.
"How do you think?" he asked me as we looked at the people around us.
"We have to find a way to help them, Arthur. I can't stand to watch these people suffer. Especially the children." I told him, my saddened eyes looking at everyone.
"I know, love. I know." he told me holding me close to him.
Merlin, Arthur and I were searching through the woods.
"I'm not entirely sure what I'm looking for." I told the boys looking at the ground.
"You're looking for footprints or broken branches. Anything that would indicate someone passed that..." Arthur broke off. "Merlin! Lizzy! He's here!" Arthur said running off.
"Arthur?!" Merlin called out, neither of us knowing where he went.
"Arthur!" I called out trying to get him to answer. Merlin and I ran as fast as we could in the direction we thought Arthur went in. "Arthur?! Arthur?!" We finally found Arthur who looked sadly at the ground.
"I know Arthur's stubborn and pig-headed and annoying, but he cares about his people. More than he cares about himself. He will not forgive himself for making his people suffer." Merlin told Gaius and I later that night in my chambers.
"You must make sure he doesn't do anything rash." Gaius told us.
"The mood he's in, I don't know what he's gonna to do." I told both of them. "Don't worry, I'll watch him. You two go on back." I told them and they left. I stared out the window at the moon for a while before heading to bed.
The next day, I stood with Arthur in the council chamber when Uther entered.
"There are some supplies left in the palace stores. We are distributing them to the people, but there is not enough to live on. They will not survive for long." Arthur told his father.
"Then you must stop distributing food to the people." Uther told him and I looked at the king in shock.
"They will starve." I said.
"We must conserve the food we have for our army." Uther told Arthur and I.
"We cannot let our people go without food." Arthur said trying to help the people.
"We must defend the kingdom at all cost." Uther told him.
"What's the point of defending a kingdom when the people..." Arthur began asking but Uther interrupted him.
"Well, what would you have me do?!" Uther asked him.
"... starve to death?! Ask the neighboring kingdoms for help." Arthur told him.
"Ha." Uther laughed at the idea.
"They may be able to spare some food." Arthur told him.
"Out of the question. As soon as they realize how we weak we are, our enemies will strike against us." Uther told him.
"You don't know that for certain!" Arthur told him.
"Besides I would rather starve than beg my enemies for help! What of our kingdom's reputation? Have you no pride?" Uther asked him.
"I cannot think of my pride when our people go hungry. They're all I can think of." Arthur told his father.
"Give the order to stop distributing food to the people. Is that understood?" Uther asked him.
"You'll have to give that order yourself." Arthur told him.
"Very well. But if you'd caught the sorcerer, I would not have to. That's your responsibility! One day you will understand what it takes to be King!" Uther yelled at him walking out. Arthur leaned over with his hands on the table.
"He's right. I should have caught him." Arthur told me.
"Arthur, you can't blame yourself for this." I said walking up to him. "Your father is in the wrong on this one, you know that. Pride has nothing to do with this, caring about the people does." I told him, holding his hand. "We will get through this. All of us." I told him and he squeezed my hand.
Arthur, Merlin and I stood on a balcony as we watched people continue queuing in the square.
"They do not know yet know there is worse to come." Arthur said.
"What do you mean?" Merlin asked him.
"The king is going to stop distributing food to the people. They are to be left to starve." I told him and he looked shocked at me.
"I had a chance to lift the curse. And I failed them." Arthur said.
"You weren't to know you were being tested." Merlin told him.
"My people are starving. Camelot is on the verge of collapse. And it is all my doing." Arthur told us and I held him close.
"We will find a way to solve this, I know we will." I told him.
"Arthur, why don't you sit down for a moment?" I asked him.
"I can't. I can't stop feeling guilty about what I've done to make my people suffer." he told me pacing the floor.
"You didn't know what could have happened." I reminded him.
"No, but I should have listened to the people who told me something would happen. A good king listens to his advisers." Arthur told me.
"That's true, so listen to my advice. Relax. I'm sure we will figure something out to help the people of Camelot. We always do." I told him. He looked at me and sighed before sitting next to me on the bed. "See? Was that so hard?" I asked him.
"Depends on what happens next." he told me smiling. I smiled and looked down at my lap before looking up at him when Merlin burst into the room.
"Arthur!" he called.
"Merlin. We've had the discussion about knocking." Arthur told him and I laughed lightly.
"What is it Merlin?" I asked him smiling.
I watched as Arthur prepared for travel.
"Let us come with you. You don't know what form of test will take. We might be able to help." Merlin begged him.
"You're not coming. I brought this curse upon Camelot. I'm gonna be the one to lift it, or die trying." Arthur told us.
"Alright, how does you dying help anyone?" I asked him.
"I'll die knowing I did everything I can." Arthur told me.
"We're coming with you." Merlin told him.
"Merlin, you are to stay here, and help the people as best you can. Is that understood?" Arthur told him and he nodded. "Liz, I can't order you to stay, but I want you to help the people as much as you can." he told me and I nodded to him. Later that day I watched him ride out of Camelot and across the countryside. Merlin and I soon followed on our own horses.
Merlin and I arrived at the labyrinth a short time after Arthur had.
"Stay here. Keep an eye out for our return." I told him.
"Liz, it's my destiny to help him." he told me.
"Fine. Let's go." I told him. We got off our horses and walked into the labyrinth behind him. We lost him in the maze when all the sudden the vines wrapped around us. We tried to get them off but it was in vain. I then saw a man in a white cloak standing in front of us.
"Merlin!" He looked towards the man and grew angry.
"You said Arthur would face a test. And here you are, preparing a trap for him." Merlin told him.
"The trap isn't for Arthur. It is for you. Gehæftan." The vines crawled up our legs and pulled us into the hedges.
Merlin was sitting at a table while Anhora held my arm so I didn't go anywhere. What was he planning? I watched Arthur can through an entryway.
"Merlin? Liz?" he asked looking between the two of us.
"I'm sorry." Merlin told him.
"Let them go. I'll take your test, but not till they're released." Arthur told Anhora.
"That is not possible. Merlin is part of the test. Please sit. If you refuse the test, you will have failed and Camelot will be destroyed." Anhora told him..
"And Liz?" Arthur asked looking at Anhora's hand on my arm.
"She is to witness the test." Anhora told him.
"I thought I told you two to stay at home." Arthur said looking at the two of us before sitting down across from Merlin.
"We followed you because we were worried about you Arthur." I told him.
"Let's get on with it." Arthur told 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 drunk, but each of you may only drink from a single goblet." Anhora told him.
"What kind of ridiculous test is that? What does that prove?" Arthur asked him.
"What it proves is for you to decide. If you pass the test, the curse will be lifted." Anhora told him.
"Let's think about this. What if I drink from my goblet first?" Merlin suggested.
"If it's poisoned, you'll die." I told him.
"And if it's not, then Arthur'll have to drink from yours, and he'll die. There must be a way around it." Merlin told us.
"It is perfectly simple. One of us has to die. We have to find a way to determine which goblet has the poison. And then I'll drink it." Arthur told him.
"What?!" I asked shocked at him.
"I will be the one to drink it." Merlin told him.
"You're both insane!" I told them.
"This is my doing. I'm drinking it." Arthur said looking at the two of us.
"It is more important that you live. You're the future king. I'm just a servant." Merlin told him.
"This is no time to be a hero, Merlin. It really doesn't suit you." Arthur told him and Merlin sighed.
"What if I drink from mine first, and if that's not poisoned, I will then drink yours?" Merlin suggested.
"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 told him and I remained quiet at those words.
"Trust me, I can hardly believe it myself." Merlin told him and Arthur snorted at the comment.
"I'm glad you two are here." Arthur said sighing.
"I've got it. 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." Merlin told him.
"You never cease to surprise me. You're a lot smarter than you look." Arthur told him.
"Is that actually a compliment?" Merlin asked him.
"Look out!" Arthur pointed behind Merlin and Merlin looked. Arthur quickly took the two goblets and poured all the liquid into one of them, holding it to drink.
"No! I will drink it!" Merlin said after looking back at Arthur.
"As if I'd let you." Arthur told him.
"You can't die. This isn't your destiny." I told him.
"It seems you're wrong Liz. I would have loved to live a life with you." Arthur told me smiling and I started crying.
"Listen to me!" Merlin told him.
"You know me, Merlin. I never listen to you." Arthur told him toasting him.
"Arthur!" Merlin called out as he drank it. "No! What have you done?" Arthur then fell off the chair, unconscious.
"Arthur! No!" I forced Anhora to let go of my arm and ran to him. "Arthur. Arthur. Come on! Arthur, come on. Come on. Come on! No... Come on." I said trying to shake him awake.
"Please. Please! Just... let me take his place!" Merlin begged him.
"No!" I said looking up at him scared.
"This was Arthur's test, not yours." Anhora told Merlin.
"You've killed him! I was meant to protect him!" Merlin said as I held Arthur close to me.
"He is not dead. He's merely consumed a sleeping draught. He will come round shortly." Anhora told us and I looked at him confused.
"What?" I asked him.
"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 Merlin's. He has proven what is truly in his heart. The curse will be lifted." Anhora told us and I smiled.
We all rode into Camelot and dismounted while the townsfolk are carrying around platters joyously.
"Merlin, Arthur, Liz, there is good news! The crops are growing once again! They are bringing in the harvest!" Gaius told us as he and Uther walked up to us.
"You did it." I told Arthur smiling.
"Is this your doing? Is the sorcerer dead?" Uther asked his son.
"He won't be troubling us anymore." Arthur told his father.
"Good, make sure the grain reserves are re-stocked." Uther ordered.
"I'll see to it. There's something we must do first." Arthur told his father looking at Merlin and I.
Arthur laid the unicorn's horn in a burial mound of stones.
"I should never have ended your life. I'm sorry." Arthur, Merlin and I began laying stones over the grave.
"Arthur... Liz..." Merlin said and we looked at him before looking in the direction he was looking. I smiled as the beautiful unicorn looked at us before running away.
