"Where's Arthur?" The voice of a once mighty but now feeble king came from behind me.

"He's on a hunting trip, sire." I half lied. This was the third night Arthur had been gone, and every night his father would ask after him. The first night I'd told him the truth, but it seemed to break him further. So instead I lied. I told him his son was on a hunting trip and would be back soon. I think perhaps that I lied for my own sake as well as the King's, I so badly needed to believe that I would see the golden haired prince riding back into the courtyard, Merlin and the knights in tow. The reality was so much worse. Arthur was hunting, technically, but he was hunting an enemy that couldn't be killed. He was hunting the place where they began, and where they would hopefully end. I knew that a life must be sacrificed to put an end to the terror, and I knew Arthur well enough; to know that he'd want it to be his life. So I lied, I lied so that I could believe I would definitely see my prince again.

The king nodded slowly, "Arthur likes hunting," He sounded like he was a million miles away, lost in some distant place. "Or perhaps he likes seeing Merlin squirm?" For the first time ever I heard humour in his voice.

"Everyone likes seeing Merlin squirm, sire. It's just so amusing." I smiled, in an attempt to cheer the king.

"I thought once that the boy had some kind on mental affliction." The king huffed in an almost laugh, a slight smile from the memory.

"I'm still to be convinced he doesn't." I smiled.

"Can he be trusted? Arthur, I think he has quite the soft spot for the boy." Worry once again covered the king's face, but at least his voice had lost its distant quality.

"Sire, Merlin may lack sense at times. But he is my brother and I would trust him with my life." I told him honestly, "But, just don't tell him that. Or I'll never hear the end of it."

Uther half smiled as he looked deep into my eyes, as though searching for any hint of distrust for my brother. When he found none he seemed appeased, and relaxed into his chair.

It had become my job to take care of the King over the past couple of days so I stayed in his chambers until Gwen arrived to take over. Gwen and I had become fast friends. We had gotten on well when she had been in Ealdor, but now we often spoke. I admired her loyalty to her friends, her trust, her courage and her curiosity. I think Morgana's betrayal hit her hard, she'd considered her a friend. Now she was a friend she had lost, and she didn't understand why.

"Gwen? Are you okay?" I asked gently.

"Just worried. I knew the journey could take quite some time, but I fear what happens if they never reach their destination."

"We just have to have faith that they do. And soon."

She nodded and gave a small smile, "You should go, I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night, Gwen." I nodded as I left the room, hurrying back to my chambers before it got too dark.

I didn't sleep that night, my dreams were plagued with visions of my brother jumping into the path of the Dorocha. I prayed it was just me being paranoid, but sometimes the magic of the old religion meant that Merlin and I were linked. If something terrible happened to him, sometimes I could see it. It didn't happen often and I didn't always know if it had actually happened. Merlin always tried to protect me from his life, both a blessing to me and a curse.

When the sun rose the next day, the town opened its doors slowly, in fear of the damage they might find as a result of the night. There were less bodies found this time, the majority of people had gathered round large fires to protect themselves through the night. Though as usual, the dead were brought to Gaius for examination; despite the fact that he could learn no more from the bodies. I think it helped people to believe that he was at least trying. But both he and I knew that the fate of Camelot rested with Arthur and the knights.

I spent the day in the King's chambers, he didn't speak. Instead he stared out the window awaiting the return of his son. Most of the time I think I was doing exactly the same thing. People say that having hope keeps you going. They're right, but no one ever says how much having hope can hurt. You start to imagine, imagine that your dreams have come true, but when you come back to reality and realise nothing has changed, it kills you just a little bit more.

The next few days and nights continued in the same manner. The Dorocha would descend at night and everyone would hide, praying for the sun to rise. In the morning the people emerge and try to carry on with their lives as best they can, before they once again retreat into the safety of their homes.

On the sixth night since Arthur had left with the knights, I sat with Gaius by the fire in our chambers. Though the room was filled with torches we felt safest here, as close to the fire as we could be. We sat in silence until we fell asleep. If you've ever had to sleep in fear, you know how hard it is, your instinct is to stay awake as long as possible to protect yourself, until sheer exhaustion takes over and you give in. This is how we'd slept for nearly a week and it is how we slept once more.

When we awoke in the morning, we awoke with the same fear. The fear that more will have died in the night, the fear that the Dorocha would continue to plague our lives. I felt like it was pulling me down. Being a healer unable to heal the people who suffered, it hurt. It's like being a singer and needing to sing but you have no voice, so instead the pain and need just builds until you can hardly bear it any longer and you feel like giving up. Forgetting your hope and losing your faith.

This is what made my feet drag, as Gaius and I walked into the courtyard, expecting to find bodies. But it was empty. There were no bodies. I looked around wildly then took off running into the town. Still no bodies. No destruction. Just the smiling relieved faces of the towns people and refugees as they realised they were safe. A weight lifted from my shoulders as I watched the people embrace and laugh and thank god that they survived.

"Prince Arthur saved us." I heard someone say.

Then the realisation that Arthur could very well be dead now hit me. It hit me like a brick wall. And I hoped against hope that someone had taken his place, and I hoped it hadn't been Merlin. I knew he would. Merlin was so loyal he would take Arthur's place in a heartbeat. I hoped someone had stopped them both. I hoped the two men I loved most in the world were still alive.

As chants of "Long live the prince." Echoed behind me, I walked back to the courtyard, where Gaius was waiting; with a knowing look on his face. We must have been the only two in the entire Kingdom that weren't smiling.

So, whilst the Kingdom began to recover. The refugees returned to their homes, the curfew was lifted and the people returned to their lives. Gaius and I continued in our hopeful and fearful states. The Kingdoms happiness seemed to make the days pass slower, I became somewhat of a robot just going through the notions and losing all sense of time. The majority of candles had been removed from the kings room now that the danger was gone, but the king had grown fond of the extra light. So, I spent ages placing a few odd candles around the room, lighting them at dusk to create a comforting warmth.

"I'd be careful with that. If it burns any lower, it'll catch your fingers." The familiar deep voice said from behind me. It cut through the silent room, like a knife through butter. I spun round in shock, for a second I thought my ears were playing tricks on me. But there was no denying what my eyes saw, Arthur was right there, leaning casually against the door frame.

"Your back." I said still shocked but smiling with relief.

"I'm back." He nodded as he walked over to me and blew out the forgotten match in my hand. He held my face lightly in his hands before, lowering his head to gently kiss me. It felt like the sweetest kiss ever, so full of relief and happiness. And I wished it would never end, but it did.

"Merlin's alive by the way, I have no idea how though." Arthur smiled as he stepped back slightly.

"He has an uncanny ability." I laughed quietly in relief.

Arthur walked over to the window where his father was sat looking out the window, completely oblivious to anything that had just happened. I could hear them speaking but I wasn't listening, I continued lighting the remaining candles and then got the bed ready as Arthur led his father over.

"Good night, sire." I smiled to the king, he gave me the smallest of smiles in response, before I turned and left the room.

Arthur followed me out just seconds later. He took my hand instantly and began walking me back to my chambers.

"So what happened?" I asked curiously, although slightly afraid of the answer.

"Lancelot. He sacrificed himself." I could hear the sadness in his voice, though I hadn't really known Lancelot I knew that Arthur liked him and admired his courage, and I knew that he'd been a good friend to Merlin. His death would most definitely be a loss that was felt deeply.

"I'm so sorry." I whispered, holding his hand a fraction tighter in an attempt to comfort him.

"It won't have been in vain. We'll find Morgana and put an end to her evil." He said it as though trying to reassure me, but I think really he was just making a promise to himself, and to the memory of Lancelot.

So that's the end of another chapter. Please leave a review, I appreciate your opinions.

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