It had been a regular day really. The sun was out, and the forest was set with a keen atmosphere for hunting. Arthur always preferred to hunt alone, and that day was no exception. Thinking he'd prefer to stay low key, Arthur had left his cloak and various royalties behind, hoping to exchange them for a bit more speed and stealth. As he'd planned, it did in fact improve his performance, and in no time he had caught himself a couple of rabbits, three quail, and a fox.

Normally, Arthur liked to keep his hunting strictly for providing food-even thought they didn't need any, Arthur felt it was his duty to make sure he could help wherever possible in providing for their kingdom- but he'd seen the fox, and with only a small amount of catch, he figured he could use the pelt to make a present for the lady Morgana. Morgana was his father's ward, and her birthday had only been a short time away. Arthur always had trouble with getting gifts for people, never sure if it was enough. The fox pelt would make a fine neck wrap. Besides, he'd never tried fox meat before.

Content with his catch, Arthur was ready to go back. He had only just finished tying the animals' feet together for ease of carry when he heard the alarming crack of a branch behind him. Instincts kicked in, and Arthur was calculating a move, pretending he hadn't noticed the noise as he stood with his haul. He kept his head forward, but ears trained on the direction he'd heard it, listening for any other movement.

Sure enough, as he started walking once more the faint noises behind him mumbled beneath his own. He had a sword on his hip and some armor, but he didn't know what he was up against. He kept walking until he was ready to face his stalker. Arthur ducked by the lake, taking a cupful of water from his hands into his mouth. He waited patiently with another batch of water in his cupped hand until the stranger was close enough. For being a stalker, they weren't very quiet.

When the familiar crumple of forest floor sounded behind him Arthur spun around, flinging the water in his hands at whatever face he saw first. Of course, that could have been a mistake.

"Arthur!" Morgana shrieked, lifting her arms in a surrendering gesture, "What on earth?!"

Arthur rolled his eyes, irritated, before standing up to help her, "Sorry, I thought I was being stalked. What were you doing?"

"Nothing! I just wanted to get away from the castle walls for a while. I saw you leaving into the forest on foot and just... followed I suppose."

Frowning, the prince crossed his arms, "And what, prey tell, were you doing the entirety of my hunt?"

She frowned disapprovingly, "I was curious, so I watched."

"Alright. Let's head back. I've done my hunting for the day and you're rather wet."

Morgana curled her lip in an upset, but teasing expression, "And whose fault is that I wonder?"

"You were stalking me."

"I was not!"

Arthur laughed heartily before guiding her along with an arm, the other dragging his hunt. They chatted about useless things on their way back, and Arthur was only reminded more of how much affection he felt for the girl. Maybe romantically, maybe not. Some days she felt like a lover, other days like a sister. It was confusing really. They were only halfway back when Arthur heard it again.

That cringe inducing crumple of dead forest leaves underfoot from behind them. He really was being stalked?

By the time something came into contact with the back of Arthur's head, it was too late. He was dizzy and sprawled out over the ground, pine needles stabbing his cheeks and hands like pins. He tried to tell Morgana to run, but his voice didn't come out right. His hazy vision could barely capture the sight of the girl being grabbed violently by some unknown figure. He'd tried to stand, but his limbs became jelly, collapsing to the ground every time Arthur tried to get up.

Arthur could hear Morgana screaming his name before a sharp hand slapped the words out of her with a loud sound. It infuriated him, but he couldn't get up. Something appeared to be holding him down against the ground, like an invisible weight on his shoulders. Was it sorcery?

"Arthur!"

Morgana's cries sounded further away as time passed and the weight on his back slowly lifted. She'd already faded from view, but he could see tracks. They seemed to be heading into quite the opposite of Camelot. Arthur's vision was still fuzzy when he started to follow the tread marks of Morgana and her shadowed kidnapper. That was the last thing he remembered before collapsing to the ground once more.

Being awoken by a boy with black hair, asking him if he was alright.


"Merlin, I know what happened! I remember!" Arthur exclaimed, spinning around with eyes wide like a mad-man's, "I remember!"

Merlin had flinched when he turned, but had now fixated his attention on the guard who stood frowning, "You... remember what exactly sire?"

"My apologies," Arthur replied, returning to the man with a suddenly determined expression, "We must see the king. Immediately."