So last chapter, I know wo hoo!

I hope to start series 2 in the next couple of days and I will be starting a new story for it so that this one doesn't have endless chapters.

Anyway enjoy and thank you all for reading.

Vex

"The creature you describe has all the characteristics of the Questing Beast." Gaius told the room as he took a step forward. Camilla was stood between Gaius and her father. Though her father wanted to shield her from such things like this, Camilla refused to leave the room. Not wanting to cause a scene her father let her stay. She had entered the room with Arthur when he saw his hunting party return but without Sir Bedivere.

"Surely that's a myth." Her brother scoffed and Camilla didn't blame him. She had heard tales of the Questing Beast but didn't believe them.

"According to the old books, the appearance of the Questing Beast is supposed to foreshadow a time of great upheaval."

"Gaius, it's an old wives' tale." The King dismissed Gaius.

"Look, whatever it is, it's spreading panic." Arthur said gaining the attention of the King once more. "The people fear it will enter the city."

"Then we must kill it. Arthur, gather the guard together." Arthur nodded his head at their father's command. "You ride at dawn."

Camilla took her leave with the rest of the court then and decided to go to Arthur.

"Arthur." She said once she had caught up with her brother. She quickly matched his pace as the two walked to his room.

"Camilla." Her brother said not even bothering to turn his head. "Why am I not surprised?"

"I only came to ask if you want anything." Camilla told him slightly offended.

"Oh really?" Arthur asked. They had reached him chambers now and as he spoke he had turned to face her. The two were stood staring at each, Arthur blocking her entry to his room. "Nothing else you want to tell me?"

"What else would I want to tell you?" Camilla said with a slight laugh. Her brother simply crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eye brow. There was a moment of silence before Camilla sighed. "Okay I was also wanted to tell you to be careful."

"And there it is." Arthur turned into his room with Camilla right behind him. "You're not my mother Camilla."

"No but I am your sister." Camilla reminded him. Arthur went over to his desk so he could read through maps and reports of the beast. Though her brother was arrogant he would still do his research to give him and his Knights the best possible chance. Camilla walked over so she was stood on the other side of the desk. "You heard what Gaius said."

"Camilla you know as well as I do that the Questing Beast was a tale to frighten us as children."

"So what did you see in the woods today?" Camilla was getting frustrated now.

"I'm still not entirely sure but we need to get rid of it."

"I'm not arguing that." Camilla told him. "I just want you to be careful."

"Camilla-"

"I don't know what I would do if you were hurt Arthur. Or worse." She let her sentence hang. She hated to admit how scared she was. Her father always taught her never to show fear. She looked at the floor in shame, that was until she felt arms around her, holding her in an embrace.

"I'll be fine Camilla." Arthur whispered into her hair. Camilla was similar in height to Morgana, the two's heads reached Arthur's eyes. The youngest Pendragon took comfort in her older brother's arms. "When am I not?"

"You've seen the foe we face." Her brother told the line of Knights in front of him. Camilla watched the courtyard in a corridor just off to the right. "It's a creature of nightmare, but you are the best knights in the realm. We can, and we will, kill it before it harms another citizen of our kingdom." Drawing his sword her brother shouted into the air: "For the love of Camelot!"

Coping his actions, the Knights drew their swords and repeated.

"For the love of Camelot!"

"Arthur!" Morgana shouted as she ran down the steps to meet the prince. Camilla could see the ward was in hysterics and still in her sleeping garment. Camilla burst into a quick walk as she walked to go get Morgana.

By the time she was outside Morgana had grabbed onto Arthur and the two were struggling with each other.

"Morgana, go back to bed." Her brother commanded. "There is nothing to be afraid of."

"Please, Arthur. I have seen terrible things! You cannot go!" Morgana pleaded.

"She probably had a bad dream." Camilla said as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Morgana. "I'll take her to see Gaius."

"No! I will not let you go!" Morgana started to struggle against her.

"Please, Camilla, get her inside." Her brother told her.

"I'm trying." Camilla said, she was trying not to create too big a scene but Morgana's shouts were doing it for her.

"No!" Morgana cried.

Camilla finally managed to detangle Morgana from Arthur who then signalled the guards to come and help the princess.

"He will be fine Morgana." Camilla whispered to the ward trying to calm her down even if she didn't believe it herself.

"No!" The guards reached them then and with their help, the three managed to get Morgana back inside.

"No!" Morgana shouted one last time.

"I don't know what came over her." Camilla told her father. The two were stood outside Morgana's room.

Camilla had spent the rest of the day with Morgana but the ward refused to speak. Instead she had sat at her window waiting for Arthur's return, like the living dead.

"She will be put at ease when Arthur has returned." Her father told her.

"I think we all will." Camilla admitted. Though she could tell her father was hiding it as well, both were worried for the Prince. The two shared a look before the sound of feet running reached their ears.

Both turned to look at the two guards. Camilla immediately felt her stomach drop.

"Sire the prince has returned." One said. Though he was a little breathless they could make out what he said.

"Where is he?" Uther asked.

"He was bitten sire, he is now with the physician." Uther suddenly took off running in the direction of Gaius's chambers and Camilla was close behind him.

It must be some kind of joke. She would get there and find Arthur perfectly healthy brushing the bite off as a scratch. Or the message was wrong and some other Knight was now lying on Gaius's table.

All hope though was shattered when Camilla entered the room.

"Arthur!" Her father cried crossing the room to where he lay. He began to hold Arthur's face looking for a sign of life.

Camilla stood only slightly into the room. She was stood on the spot too shocked to move. She had seen illness and disease and god knows what else when practicing medicine but the sight of her brother before her, the life leaving him, shocked her to the core. She could not move from her spot. Part of her thought if she stayed there then she wouldn't be able to see his face fully. She could still deny that it was Arthur lying there with a hole in his body.

"Do something, Gaius!" Uther commanded.

"I am trying, your majesty." Gaius said.

"Gaius will find a cure. He will not let him die." Merlin told the two.

"I will do everything in my power." Gaius said.

"I'll bear him to his chamber." Her father picked up her brother and though he was struggling, he carried Arthur out of the room.

Camilla looked at the face of the boy in his arms and she could no longer deny it was her brother.

Camilla followed Merlin out of the room, him being the last, and watched as her father carried her brother across the courtyard. She had walked only slightly inwards but had remained standing next to Merlin.

Halfway across her father collapsed onto one knee, from grief or exhaustion she did not know. Knights came forward to take Arthur but the sight of seeing her father break down in tears was too much for her. The reality of the situation finally hit her.

Camilla burst into tears then herself.

She instinctively sought comfort and turned her body into Merlin who himself was in shock. Merlin was similar height to her brother so she could easily rest her head on his shoulders and she took comfort from him. His hands came up and wrapped them around her body, the two forgetting their statuses but sharing a joint grief.

"Sleep Arthur." Camilla walked in to see her father comforting her brother. He heard the door open and turned to look at her.

"I went to get some fresh water." Camilla explained holding up the bucket. She walked to Arthur's bedside and placed the bucket on the table. She wetted a new cloth and put it across Arthur's forehead.

"He is restless." Her father told her. Camilla sat on the opposite side of the bed to the King and took one of Arthur's hands in her own.

"I imagine his body is trying to fight the poison." Camilla said with a sad smile. Subconsciously her thumb began to rub circles onto Arthur's skin.

"He got that stubbornness from his mother." Uther said with a soft smile.

"Not at all from you." Uther looked at his daughter before seeing the smile on her lips. He shared it only for a moment before the situation dawned on both of them again.

The two returned to silence.

A knock on the door jolted Camilla awake. She squinted her eyes at the brightness of the light before spotting Gwen at the door.

"Gwen?" She walked across the room so she stood next to the princess.

"My lady you should get some rest." The maid told her placing a soft hand on her shoulder.

"He must not be left alone." Camilla explained.

"I will nurse him." Gwen said.

"Gwen I-"

"Camilla you need to sleep."

Camilla looked over at Arthur one last time before conceding and leaving the room.

Camilla woke to see Morgana in her room but staring out of the window.

"Morgana?" Camilla asked rubbing her eyes. The ward did not even bat an eye lid at her. The princess got out of bed and crossed over to stand next to her but was saddened by what she saw. "My brother is dead?"

"Not yet but the people are already saying goodbye." Morgana told her. Camilla nodded holding back tears. Morgana wrapped an arm around her shoulder and Camilla leaned into her embrace.

"There is no cure Morgana." Camilla said. "I've tried looking and so has Gaius but we can't find one. Arthur is already dead."

"Not unless there's a miracle."

"Not unless there's a miracle." Camilla repeated softly before quietly sobbing into Morgana's shoulder.

"Father?" Camilla walked into Arthur's room to see her father sat by his side.

"Gaius has given him something. He says it might work." Camilla didn't want to tell her father there was no hope for Arthur but she could hear the hope in his voice. She didn't want to be the one who crushed it.

So Camilla sat opposite her father again and the two waited together. Neither one speaking only watching, waiting for any sign of life. Gaius joined them at one point but Camilla only acknowledged him with a nod. Soon the sun had set and her father had drifted off into sleep. Camilla had let him seeing how he had hardly slept recently. She too felt her eyes begin to close when she felt movement under her hand.

"Arthur?"

Camilla looked to the face of her brother to see his eyes slowly open and look at her in a confused expression. Her father was woken by the movement. He looked up to see Arthur staring back at him.

"Arthur!" Her father breathed, relief in his words.

Arthur looked between the two one last time before letting his head fall back onto the pillow in exhaustion.

"We thought we'd lost you." Her father said sometime later when Arthur was fully awake.

"Don't worry, Father, I'm not going to die." Arthur said with all his usual arrogance. "I think there's someone watching over me, keeping me from harm."

"Maybe you're right." Her father smiled. "On your long journey to become King, you will need a guardian angel. I shall inform the court that their Prince lives."

Uther left the two then. Arthur looked up to Camilla waiting for her to start shouting. Her hand was clasped around his still not believing he was actually awake.

"Maybe you were right." Arthur finally admitted.

"Maybe?"

"Okay you were right." Arthur said. The two shared a smile.

"I'm just glad to see you back." Camilla couldn't keep the smile off her face. She thought it best to leave Arthur to rest then, she stood up and walked to his door.

"I didn't die Camilla." Arthur told her. She turned back around to face him.

"But you should have." Camilla declared. "Get some rest Arthur."

Camilla walked out of the room with a large smile on her face that didn't seem to stop growing.

"Gaius? Merlin?" Camilla called their names as she walked into the physician's chambers. Nobody answered but she could see two people in Merlin's room.

Camilla carried on forward to find Gaius checking over a patient.

"Gaius?" Camilla asked. The old man turned at her voice but Camilla caught a glimpse of the woman on the bed.

It was Hunith.

Camilla could see though something was terribly wrong. Boils that look infected, were littered all over her body.

"What's happened to her?" Camilla asked taking a step forward and kneeling by Hunith's side. She was afraid that if she touched the woman she would hurt her. Her hand instead hovered over her face.

"A disease."

"One I have never seen before."

"It is very rare my lady."

"Is there a cure?"

"I am not sure." Gaius confessed. Camilla nodded her head.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Actually would you mind princess if you watched over her while I collect some supplies?"

"Gladly." Camilla told him. Gaius gave her a gentle pat on the back before leaving the room. Camilla took the seat he was using and pulled it closer to the bed.

She gently reached out and cradled the woman's hand, careful not to hurt her. Hunith was asleep but Camilla could see by the way her face contorted that she was in a lot of pain. Camilla tried as best she could to ease it.

After a while the door opening alerted Camilla to someone else's presence. She looked up expecting Gaius but it was Merlin watching her.

"My lady?"

"Gaius had to get some supplies. He asked me to look after her." Camilla answered.

"Thank you." Merlin said. Camilla gave a small smile before stepping forward.

"I'm sorry Merlin."

"No, she'll get better." Merlin told her.

"I've tried to make her as comfortable as possible but there's not a lot that can be done for her." Camilla explained but was annoyed at herself that there was nothing more she could do.

"I appreciate it." Merlin said. Camilla gave him a smile before making a move to get round him but he stopped her. "Arthur's destined for great things but I know that you are too. Make sure he becomes that King for me. He listens to you."

Camilla looked at him for a moment confused by his words but the sound of Hunith moaning in pain brought the two to their senses.

Camilla didn't say a word as she left the son and mother instead she was thinking on what on earth Merlin meant.

"Camilla." The voice of her brother caught her attention as she walked the corridors of the castle. She had been on her way to see how Hunith was when Arthur caught up with her. "Have you seen Merlin today?"

"No I haven't but I don't expect to. His mother is ill." She told Arthur surprised he didn't know.

"He didn't tell me." Arthur frowned slightly.

"Strange." Camilla muttered. The words he said to her yesterday resonated in her ears. "He didn't sound particularly morbid with you yesterday did he?"

"Why yes he did." Arthur's face scrunched up slightly, the face he pulled when he thought about something odd.

"What is he up to?"

Camilla went to go see Hunith that day but found her illness had completely gone. The woman was more surprised than she was. She was tired though so Camilla commanded she get some rest. Camilla then looked around Gaius's chambers and looked at all the books he always promised to let her borrow but never did. Might as well make the most of the time she thought to herself and went to pick up a book.

Many hours later Gaius and Merlin walked in to find Camilla in one of their chairs sound asleep with a book across her chest.

The two looked at each other sharing a smile. Gaius walked through to Merlin's room to check on Hunith while Merlin woke the Princess.

"Camilla." He whispered shaking her slightly. He picked up the book on her and placed it on the table.

The Pendragon slowly opened her eyes to see a smiling Merlin before her.

"Merlin? When did you get back?" She asked unsuccessfully stifling a yawn.

"Just now. Did you want something?" He straightened up and gave her the room to stand which she did.

"No I wanted to check you were alright." Camilla said. An awkward pause followed before Camilla quickly spoke. "I mean after the way you spoke yesterday it made it sound like you were going to die...and then Arthur didn't know where you were plus I thought someone should look after your mother-"

"Thank you Camilla." Merlin cut her off with a smile. "But you look like you need some rest now. Do you want me to walk you back to your chambers?"

"No you should check on your mother. That's what I would want to do." She told him before making her way to the door but she turned around at the sound of his voice.

"I did mean what I said your highness. And thank you again." He sent her an ear to ear smile that Camilla couldn't help but return.

Strange she thought though. When he smiled at her she felt her stomach tighten and the heat rise to her cheeks. She walked back to her room trying to explain the strange sensation she felt but she couldn't put her finger on it. Whatever it was though she had rather liked it and it seemed to be associated with Merlin.

She went to sleep that night thinking nothing more about it wondering instead on what tomorrow might hold in the land of Camelot.

Merlin