Chapter 37

Leon and Percival were sat at the table in the Queen's chambers with Gwen. They were discussing the news they had heard at the council meeting. They had not mentioned Merlin and the fact Lott thought he was a sorcerer and Gwen thought it was best for now not to mention it. Gaius and Iseldir had taken leave earlier to make more of the potion that was needed to heal the injured.

Robyn had gone to the infirmary to talk to Sir Vidor and the other council members that were responsible for the druids that were still coming into the city to offer their help. Gwen sat quietly listening to Leon and Percival talk about battle tactics and storage facilities. They started discussing the possible reasons why Lott would take the dead. Gwen stopped listening and poured herself a goblet of water. She felt sick and queasy and she hoped it was just the turn of conversation and that she wasn't getting ill. She had lost her appetite since Arthur's death had been declared. She would force herself to eat at the evening meal she could not afford to get ill right now.
Gaius and Iseldir walked into the room. They had made plenty more potion and had delivered it to the infirmary.

"Sir Robyn said he would be along as soon as he can get away. He said not to wait for him your majesty," said Gaius taking his seat.

"Why would Lott take the dead?" Gwen asked once they were all seated. She might as well get the worst of the news out of the way first. She didn't want them to ask about Merlin right now she wasn't sure how much she could tell them until she had spoken to Gaius.

"I have no idea," Leon said, "He is known to behead any that trespass on his lands but he is not a grave robber."

"I agree," said Iseldir, "Removing the dead is the sort of the thing you would expect from a sorcerer. Alain, Lott's adviser is a sorcerer but he would not have the power to wake the dead." There was a knock on the door and a guard entered.

"Your highness," the guard said bowing. Robyn walked into the room and took his seat next to Leon.

"What is it?" she asked the guard who was still waiting in the doorway.

"There are more druids arriving asking for permission to help," he replied.

"Let them enter, they are welcome here," she replied.

"We have your majesty and they are making their way to the infirmary to see Sir Vidor and get permission to help. There is one with them that begs for an audience with the queen. She said she has an important message and can only give the message to you herself."

"Did she say who this message is from?" Gwen asked.

"Yes my lady, it is from Sir William of Daira," he said looking at Gwen. She had gone pale and Gaius looked at her with concern.

"Do you know who this Sir William is my lady?" Gaius asked.

"Yes, yes I do, have the messenger brought here immediately," she said sounding flustered.

"My lady," said the guard with a nod, turning away from her and closing the door behind him.

"Who is this Sir William?" asked Gaius as the guard left the room.

"The name sounds familiar. Didn't he win a tournament here many years ago?" asked Leon.

"Yes I think he did, it was all a bit strange as he just disappeared after the tournament," Robyn said.

"Disappeared?" asked Gaius he was talking to Robyn but looking at Gwen who was obviously struggling with tears.

"Uther was impressed by his skills with a lance and wanted him to stay on in Camelot. We looked for him everywhere but no-one knew who is was or where he went. It was as though he didn't exist," Robyn said.

Gwen couldn't help herself, she laughed. They all turned to look at her. "He didn't exist, Merlin and I made him up," she said looking at them with tears glistening in her eyes.

"You made him up?" asked Leon with a frown, "I remember competing against him."

"Arthur thought you were all letting him win because he was Prince Arthur. He wanted to prove that he could win the tournament even if no one knew who he was. With the help of a farmer from one of the outlying villages we created Sir William but it was Arthur who fought in the tournament," she said.

"So you think this message is from Arthur?" asked Robyn.

"Or Merlin, it was only the three of us that knew who Sir William really was," she said.

They continued to discuss what they believed Lott to be planning but Gwen was finding it hard to concentrate. She felt hope well up inside her once more and told herself off for behaving like a young girl. Was Arthur really alive? Had Merlin saved him once again? It took everything she had to stop herself running from the chambers to find the messenger.