AN: Hello, Gingeraffealene! I love always seeing your comments!This chapter is a transition, and the next one is one I'm really looking forward to. I feel like I say that a lot, but it's true!

CHAPTER 8: Much Discussion

The king and council had an official meeting after I left. When the doors had closed, Arthur had everyone come sit around the large table they used for such meetings. "We have three items to address today," he announced, standing with one forearm leaning against his chair. He was a man of action, and needed to walk a bit more before he could be still. "Though Gaius believes that Lady Mina will regain her memories in time, she may have family looking for her. We need to send word in every direction to try and locate them."

"I can undertake that, sire," offered Gaius. "I have a feeling that Queen Annis might be our best bet."

Arthur was surprised. The two women looked nothing alike, but perhaps Gaius saw something he didn't, and besides, it was in the same general direction from which Mina had arrived. Nodding, Arthur moved on. "We also need to clear out these bandits. They have tormented our citizens and those seeking trade for too long. Bruin may be dead, but they will quickly regroup."

There was a long discussion where the more conservative members of the council argued that it would take too much work, too much manpower, but eventually Arthur prevailed. He had finally sat down. "There is one more item we must confer about today: the eyes in the woods." More than one of the councilors looked uncomfortable.

"Sire, why are we giving credence to what sounds like nothing but the imaginings of a frightened young woman?" asked the ancient Lord Oliver.

"Did she seem frightened to you?" argued Gwaine, who had rejoined them.

Gaius spoke up, forestalling more comment by the quick-tempered knight. "Actually, she was remarkably composed given what she's been through. She did not exaggerate the details of the attack, as far as I can tell. Maybe she did see something in the darkness."

"It's not just her words," admitted Arthur, rubbing a knuckle against his lips. "We have received many strange reports from our spies near the area. A feeling of being watched. Moving shadows. No wild animals will come to the area. One man said the things watching were spiders the size of wolves. There are too many reports from too many sources – many from hardened warriors – for us to discount it." Merlin, standing behind Arthur's right shoulder, exchanged a worried glance with Gaius. They both knew who would be needed if there was a magical threat to the kingdom.

"I had hoped that this was something the bandits were doing to scare people into traveling through the territory they have claimed," explained Arthur. "Then, early this morning, an emissary came from the conclave of the villages on the edge of our territory and the hinterlands. You all know how they refuse to ask for protection or help, how independent they are. Well, they are asking now. Merlin?"

Merlin showed in a man in rough, warm clothing, including a coat that started its life as some shaggy gray animal. Though Arthur had titled him an emissary, he looked to be a shepherd. His voice carried the rough burr of the north. "Please tell the council what you reported to me this morning, Baldur," requested Arthur.

The man seemed ill at ease but answered readily. "Aye, milord. We've been unable to use the outer pastures we normally prefer because there is an evil presence there. If we do go, livestock disappear. And don' say it's wolves or bears. We know wolves and bears. In some areas, there isn't so much as a songbird any more, and still our animals disappear. There's no carcasses to be found, no signs of blood, yet they are gone. It's a rocky area, so there ain't much for tracks, but what we've found," he shook his head. "They look like a child's bare print, but they are too narrow, far too long, and have seven toes. Then a few days ago, Angus and his boys took their flock out anyway. Pasture is scarce and he were desperate. 'Sides, his four sons are as big as a bear themselves. They figured they'd kill whatever it was. Weel, they and their 12 sheep never came back, and there's no sign of them anywhere. We're not a people that gets scared, but there's something out there we don't understand. We've fought beside you in yer wars, and now we're askin' for yer help."

"Thank you, Baldur. Camelot will come to your aide. Rest for a few days. I'll have our response before you go back." The man inclined his head Arthur, nodded to the rest of the council, and let a guard lead him back out.

In the end, it was decided that Gwaine would head up an effort to find the bandits' hideout. He would take patrols through the area in unpredictable patterns, going out daily until the stronghold was located, then they would plan an assault. Leon would head up north and investigate what was happening in the hinterlands. Arthur himself really wanted to go, but there were many important duties coming up, and he reluctantly handed over the responsibility. Merlin was torn, too. He felt he should go, being their best bet against a magical threat, but hating to leave Arthur's side. Honestly, nothing good ever happened when the king was without him! In the end, he decided to stay put for now.

I was blissfully unaware of the angst going on. I had met a goddess on earth by the name of Gwen. She had showed me to me room – sorry, chambers – which were the size of a presidential suite at the Hilton, I swear. She was super sweet and actually listened when I told her to just call me Mina. Then she'd had a bath brought in. She had put snacks within reach so I could nibble while I soaked. She came back when I was all finished and lounging, finding me spreading on the lemon-scented concoction Gaius had given me to help my bruises and soreness. I covered my jaw, still the most painful, and my arm, in what Gaius had called unguent, a gray goop the consistency of snot. She had the bath removed and offered to spread the stuff on my back, so I plopped my lazy self face down on the really comfortable bed and let her. It reminded me a little of going to trainer when I got injured, and whatever that stuff was, it worked better than Ben-Gay and smelled a thousand times better. When Gwen was done, she laid blankets over me that she'd warmed in front of the fire and I may have asked her to marry me. I may not really be a lady, but I could learn to live like this.