Hope you enjoyed the thirteenth Chapter.

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Chapter 14- Everyone Reacts Differently to Death.

After Cynthia's passing Arthur had helped Alaya get back to her room. Even though she asked to be alone numerous times her body language said something completely different. Arthur had ushered her to her bed which she willing curled up in. She didn't, however, let him go so easily. Alaya still had a very tight grip on his shirt and even if she didn't there was no way that Arthur was going to leave her alone so soon. He sat beside her on the bed as she curled up resting her head on his chest yet again. He gently placed his arm around her shoulders comfortingly and waited for her to inevitably fall asleep, hopefully this time without the vice grip on his shirt.

And that's what happened. As she slept she turned over putting her back to Arthur but she was still close enough to feel him. He saw that opportunity to sneak out and let her sleep promising himself that he'd be back to check on her soon.

Unfortunately, during the next few days, Alaya refused to let anyone in her room, even Arthur. No matter how much they knocked Alaya just told them plainly to go away, her voice rough from crying. Arthur now hated himself for deciding to let her sleep in peace. The only person she let in the room was Merlin or Gwen but that was when they brought her food and even then she barely spoke to them.

Along with Cynthia many others had lost their lives. Children lost their parents, brothers lost their sisters. Gaius and the aids worked tirelessly to help every one the could. Those who had survived the attack and their wounds were taken in by many of the people in Camelot.

Arthur would try every morning and every evening to try get Alaya to let him in and today was no different. Arthur had found that he had spare time at lunch and had decided to try get in while Merlin gave her her dinner.

He knocked on her oak door loud enough for her to hear but hopefully not loud enough to be obnoxious. Just as he had expected he got no answer like all the other times he had tried. He knocked again this time calling her name. After repeating this several times he decided to try just talking to her.

"Alaya?" he asked softly, "Alaya please open the door I... I need to know your alright. Alaya?"

Again he got no response from his grieving friend. Getting slightly annoyed Arthur tried the handle. It didn't budge. Arthur looked at the door confused. She had locked it. The worried feeling he had before had now tripled. He didn't know what to do, he didn't know how to help.

Footsteps could be heard on the stone floor down the corridor and they were getting closer. Arthur looked up to see is father turn the corner.

"Has she let anyone in yet?" he asked nodding to Alaya's door.

Arthur gave a small shake of his head. "She's not responding at all now. She only lets Merlin or Guinevere in when they bring her food. When Merlin goes back to pick up the plates she's barely touched anything. And now the doors locked."

Uther sighed and knocked very loudly demanding that Alaya opened the door. Even to Uther she still didn't open the door. They both stared at the door confused and concerned. In the silence they heard something metal hitting the floor with an echoing clank.

"Alaya?! Alaya?! Open the door." insisted Arthur, his heart thumping in his chest.

At that point Merlin appeared carrying Alaya's lunch on a tray. He looked between Uther and Arthur and saw very worried looks on their faces which didn't exactly fill him confidence. The young warlock stepped between the two royals and knocked on the door.

"Alaya it's Merlin. I have your lunch." He got nothing and a pit formed in his stomach. "Alaya? Alaya it's Merlin, with lunch." he asked again this time a little more worried.

Seeing the look on the servants faced Uther grunted. "Has she ever refused food before?"

Merlin shook his head. "She may have not eaten much but she still took the food sire."

Alaya may have been grieving but she knew she had to at least try to eat. With one look to his son, and another stern one to Merlin silently telling him to move, Arthur kicked down the door with one powerful kick.

The three men rushed into the room expecting to see Alaya in some sort of trouble. She wasn't there at all. The room was empty. Arthur and Merlin began to search the room. It didn't take them long to see what had happened. When they were stood in front of the door they couldn't see the open window on the far wall. The window that had several bedsheets tied together hanging out of it. Alaya had left.

"Alaya?" called Arthur desperately, hoping it was just a distraction and that she was still hidden in the room somewhere.

"My lord, there's two notes on the table." pointed out Merlin looking at the bedside table furthest from him.

Arthur marched around and snatched them up eagerly. The letters were addressed to both Arthur and Uther. Arthur stared at the writing for a brief moment. It was the same writing from the letter saying I win again on it. Of course it was her, he thought to himself. After passing one to his father Arthur tore his open desperate to know what was inside.

Dear Arthur,

It has been too long since I had last seen you. Too long since I had last beaten you. But I was wrong when we were children. You are a better knight than me. Without that head start I wholeheartedly believe you would have caught me. Someday you, Arthur Pendragon son of Uther Pendragon, will make a fine King and I hope that you find someone special to share that with. But that person is not me. Even if, deep in my heart, I want that more than anything in the world. That morning at the lake should not have happened. I am an outlaw in my own kingdom and us being together would have only started a war with my mother. A war that Zewen cannot afford to have. I will always hold you in my heart Arthur. I also ask you to one thing for me. Annoy Merlin as much as you can.

All my heart, Alaya.

Arthur stared at the letter, tears forming in his eyes. Merlin had moved his way around to Arthur as Uther read his letter. Uther's was considerably longer than Arthur's but not because she wanted it to be but because it had to be. In her letter to Uther she thanked him for everything that he had done for her. He had let her stay when he could have kicked her out. He defended her from her mother. And she had abandoned him when he asked for her help. So in her letter she had wrote down everything she had thought about her mother and the Rebellion. It went into detail about how her mother had behaved after her father's death and what came after. It fully supported the Rebellion but only wished that Brena would become Queen if Linella had to be forcibly removed.

Merlin tapped Arthur on his arm to get his attention. Arthur quickly hid his letter from his manservant and blinked furiously to hide the tears. Merlin, however, could see right through him.

"Father, we need to find her." stated Arthur, his eyes rising to meet his father's.

Uther let out a deep sigh. "No Arthur. I will need you here for the meeting. Alaya is a grown woman who can defend herself. She'll be fine."

"She's grieving father. She's not in the right mind." bellowed Arthur in his outrage, his blood boiling with anger. "She unpredic..."

He looked at Merlin, their faces mirroring each other. Both men had realised what she had gone to do and where she had gone to do it.

"The beast. She's gone back to the village looking for the beast. Father..." he pleaded desperately until Uther cut him off.

"And that is her choice if she has done so! I sincerely believe that she isn't that stupid. You are forbidden from looking for her Arthur. I need you here." and with his final word Uther marched out of the room not giving his son a chance to argue back.

Arthur stood there flabbergasted. His father banned him from looking. The anger was boiling over inside him. He let loose on the closest object. A candlestick on the floor. He kicked it with all his might sending it flying into the wall opposite. Then suddenly he stopped throwing his hands in the air and hitting and kicking everything he could. A look of determination spread across his face, his eyes fixed on the makeshift rope dangling out of the window. Merlin smiled widely knowing full well what Arthur was planning.

"I'm going with you Arthur."

Arthur turned to face Merlin to see the look on his face. He smiled and nodded to his manservant, his friend.