Hi! I'm sorry I haven't updated for a while... ENJOY!

Chapter 20: Ruby

Lyra couldn't sleep, she wondered if Merlin had managed to revive Arthur from the dead... Was that even possible? she wondered. She hoped he had... Their could be hope if he was alive. But Lyra wasn't a fool, she was young but not a fool. She knew Mordred wouldn't let her out of the room if their was a hundred feet monster in the castle. She wouldn't ask him... She would have to escape. If she didn't her life would be a living hell! But she feared that if she did he would hunt her down...

She was taken from her thoughts when there was a loud knock on her door. She new straight away that it was not Mordred, so she called, "Come in!"

A knight, she knew as sir Lion entered the room. "My Lady, the king has sent me to inform you that the Lady Morgana will be staying as a guest here for a while." He said, Lyra could see in his eyes that he didn't like the idea one bit. Lyra had never met the witch, but she had a feeling that she must be very evil if Mordred has taken her in as a guest instead of a prisoner.

"My lady? Is all well?" Sir Lion looked concerned.

Lyra had a bruise on her cheek, where Mordred had slapped her. She felt sick, hungry and tired. "I-I...I..."

"Shall I get the physician?" He asked, seeing her bruise and the shadows under her sapphire eyes.

Lyra nodded and as Sir Lion closed the door behind him, she fell unconscious once more.

Morgana had settled well back into her old chambers. "I trust everything is to your liking my Lady?" Asked Morgana's maiden, Gwen. Gwen was annoyed, it was her own fault for sending that letter to her in the first place. Morgana betrayed her.

"Oh, yes. Thank you Gwen." She replied. "I have a favor to ask."

Guinevere nodded. "I want you to go to the king, and give him this." Morgana gave her a ruby.

"Of course, My Lady." Gwen was almost out of Morgana's chambers when Morgana called to her.

"And Gwen, do be careful..." She said with a smile.

That confused Gwen, but she did as Morgana had told her and headed for the Royal chambers.

Gaius headed for the Royal chambers and bumped into Gwen as soon as they reached the door. "Gwen? What are you doing here?" He asked. Guinevere was the person he least expected to see there, in front of the door to the Royal bedroom.

"Morgana told me to give this jewel to his majesty, the King." She showed him the ruby.

Gaius could feel magic. It was powerful. He didn't have much magic, in fact, he barely had any, but he could feel it. The ruby was cursed.

"Of course, lets go in together." Gaius hoped that whatever the ruby was, it wasn't a danger to anyone. If it was cursed, Mordred would probably die...Which in most cases, wouldn't be that bad. But Gaius knew that if it was something to be used as a weapon, Camelot would be in deep trouble.

They knocked on the doors and heard a frail voice from behind the door. "Yes..." They entered.

Gaius went straight to the bed and put his hand over Lyra's head. "My lady, if you don't mind my asking, where did this happen?" Lyra didn't answer until after a few moments. "Here..." She said quietly.

"Who did it?" Lyra shook her head. If she told Gaius, she feared Mordred would hurt him, if she did.

"I-I can't." she sobbed.

"OK, well I'll do what I can-." At that moment the door opened and Mordred entered the room.

Gaius and Gwen bowed. "Leave us. Now." He ordered darkly.

"My lord, The Lady Morgana told me to give you this..." She held out the ruby and the King took it.

"Get Out."

They left, closing the door behind them, Mordred stared at the ruby and laughed. "She is." He muttered.

Lyra watched him pace the room, but didn't say anything. She was trying to hear what he was muttering. "...Morgana...curse...death..."

Hours later, Arthur and Merlin snook into the castle. It wasn't exactly difficult, but it wasn't exactly easy either. "Merlin, distract those guards," Arthur pointed at two guards, who were standing near the doors of Morgana's chambers. "We'll hide in there until we-I mean you-come up with a plan to get Lyra out of here." He whispered.

Merlin looked at Arthur. "Where are you going?" He questioned.

Arthur grinned. "I'm going to find my Princess." He said.