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Chapter 3

Arthur didn't want to leave Merlin's side, not even after Gaius kneeled down on the opposite side of him. Gaius started to look Merlin over and stopped at the cut on the top of his head, the look of dread took over the healers face. "Gaius do you know what is wrong with him?" Arthur asked sounding more worried about his friend, after seeing Gaius's expression changing after examining Merlin.

"I don't know sire, did you notice him acting out of the ordinary?" Gaius asked Arthur as he checked Merlin's pulse. As he placed Merlin's hand on his chest Lancelot and Gwen entered the room. Tears ran down Gwen's eyes as she laid eyes on Merlin. Gwen had become very close friends with him over the few years he had been at Camelot. "He seemed alright to me, he told me that he didn't get much sleep."

As soon as Arthur said that Gaius turned his gaze over to Lancelot and motioned for him to come over. "Lancelot we need to get Merlin to my chamber, once there I might be able to find the cause of the lad's illness." Gaius' voice was urgent. With that cue, Lancelot waited for Gaius to step aside before bending down and taking Merlin into his arms. Lancelot then walked out of the chambers. Gaius was about to follow when Arthur stopped him before he was out the door.

"Lancelot please watch over him for me until I get there," Arthur said to Gaius as he watched as Lancelot and Merlin moved out of his sight. Gaius bows to Arthur and cleared his throat quietly.

"Of course Sire, I promise I will do all I can to help him so please leave everything to me." After Gaius said that he walked out of the room. Leaving Arthur and Gwen standing there in shock by what had just occurred.

Arthur are you alright?" Gwen's voice was a bit cracked as she placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder and gave his neck a light kiss. Like Arthur, she felt worried about Merlin. A feeling she hadn't felt since he almost died the first year that he had arrived. Now seeing it again it brought back memories that she wished she could forget. It was hard for her to see a friend in pain.

Turning around Arthur gave her a kiss while turning his head towards the door as if he was waiting for Merlin to walk through it. "I can't believe this is happening Gwen and don't know what I would do if I lost him. He's more than a friend to me he is like a brother." Arthur said to his wife, he then took a deep breath. "There nothing more I want but to be there to help him, but with Anna here." He let out a sigh, as his eyes returned to Gwen who had a soft smile on her face.

"How about I go and check on Merlin while you speak with Anna," Gwen said in a soft voice, she then gave him a kiss before burying her head into Arthur's chest. "Plus Merlin survived getting poison, he's a tough guy I am sure he will live through this. Especially since he has us to help him through it."

Arthur smiled at Gwen and kissed her gently on the lips. Before pulling her back into a hug while letting out a soft sigh at what she had just said. "Fine, but if anything happens or if you found out what is going on with him you send someone for me right away." Gwen nodded her head and then quickly returned his kiss. Before strolling out of the room without saying another word.

Once Arthur was sure that his wife was no longer in sight. He made haste to the throne room. Arthur hoped that the reason for Anna's visit wouldn't take long since his mind was thinking about Merlin. Mostly he was afraid that Gaius would tell him that he didn't know how to save Merlin. That it would end with them watching Merlin die. That was something he was unsure he could bear to do. As he thought more about it the words then don't watch, that his father had once said to him came to mind.

Back then he didn't heed his father's advice, and after everything they had been through Arthur wasn't going to turn a blind eye now. As he finished his deep thought he arrived at the throne room doors. Standing in front of the doors were two guards with a stern look on their face. "Bring Lady Anne to the throne room," Arthur ordered sounding stressed by everything that was going on.

"Sire, she is already here. brought her as soon as she had arrived." The older guard said as he darted his eyes away from Arthur. But the younger guard took it as a signal and opened the doors to the throne room. Inside there were two figures standing by the stairs below the throne.

Right away Arthur recognized the first figure to be his knight Gawain. While the woman he was having a hard time believing was his cousin Anne. Arthur walked slowly up to Gwaine and Anne. Hearing Arthur's footsteps the pair turned and seeing him caused Anne to quickly curtsy. Arthur stopped in front of Anne while giving her a slight smile.

"Hello, Anne," Arthur said before looking at Gwaine. "You may go Gwaine," Arthur spoke in a serious tone as the knight stood there looking between Arthur and Anne. But after looking at Arthur, Gwaine bowed and made his way out of the room.

"Sire, I am sorry for coming suddenly without any warning. But the news I bear was too important to wait." Anne said while picking at her fingernails. Arthur looked at his cousin trying to read any sign of her getting ready to attack him. Instead, all he saw was how nervous she looked.

"What is this news?" Arthur asked her keeping his tone as normal as possible. He slowly walked up the stairs and took a seat on the throne still watching Anne carefully. He knew that Anne had no idea what her father did. That all she knew was that he had been killed during the night when Morgana took over Camelot. While he didn't like lying to her at the same time he hoped keeping the truth might protect her as well.

Anne didn't dare to look Arthur in the eye instead, she looked around the room. She then looked up a little and spoke in a low voice. "Yesterday evening a young boy with an arrow in his back was found by one of my servants. He told me that he had seen a small army marching on the edge of my land and was heading this way." Anne let out a moanful sigh as she finished relaying some of the info to Arthur.

The news, however, caused Arthur to jump from his seat with a serious look on his face. "Did he say what kingdom this army came from?" Still standing up he asked his question while trying to figure her out. He was still not sure about her or her intentions for coming to Camelot.

But deep in his heart, he hoped that she wasn't like her father that she was the same good person he knew when they were children. There was still a part of Arthur that told him that he still needed to be guarded around her. Still, deep in thought, he looked up when he heard a soft voice finally speak up. "Yes Sire, he told me that the banner the army was carrying was from King Liam's kingdom." Anne kept her eyes down while Arthur stood there shocked that King Liam would attack him.

"Bring the boy forward, I like to question him, to make sure he is sure that's whose army he saw." Anne's face frowned as Arthur spoke in a calm but serious tone. For a moment Anne didn't move she stood there starting to pick her fingernails more. Taking a deep breath he walked down the stairs stopping in front of his cousin before saying. "Anne, what is wrong?"

Arthur made sure that his tone was soft so he wouldn't make her more nervous. "Shortly after giving me the message the boy died from his injuries. I made sure that his body was taken back to his family so he could get a proper burial. For what he did, it's the least I could do." Anne finished speaking looking even more depressed than she did before she started.

Taking everything that Anne had said Arthur looked at his cousin with a look of pity. "You did the right thing returning the boy's body to his family. As for the army, I will send out a scout to confirm what the boy saw. Until then I insist that you remain in Camelot until I know your lands are safe." Arthur kept his voice normal not wanting to hint at the real reason he wanted her to remain with him.

That was because he still didn't trust her completely. Arthur wanted to wait until the scout proved, that all she had told him wasn't a lie. "Thank you, Arthur." Anne smiled as she spoke and opened her mouth to say something else. But before she could say anything Lancelot entered the room breathing hard.

"Sire..Gaius as...asked...that. you come quickly. Something has happened." As soon as Lancelot said that Arthur first thought went to Merlin. Arthur took a step towards Lancelot while still seeing Anne's confused face.

Arthur still trying hard to keep it together and keeping a calm tone he than asked. "Is it Merlin?" Anne looked at Arthur still not having no clue on what's was going on. While Lancelot looked back between Arthur and Anne though keeping his eyes mostly on Anne.

"No sire, another girl was just brought in and she is sick like Merlin. Gaius thinks that Merlin and this girl being sick too might, be a sign of something bad." Arthur stood there and looked back at Anne who looked just as shocked as he did by the news. Shaking his head he looked back at Lancelot.

"Anne, we will talk again once this is all dealt with. Until then Lancelot will take you to your chambers." Anne nodded her head and curtsy as her eyes gaze up in time to see Arthur run out of the room. Leaving Lancelot alone with Anne.

Thanks for reading, I hope that you enjoyed it. I will be updating next week, also please leave a review I love to hear your thoughts on this chapter.