Authors Note: So here's another installment. Thank you for your patience. Hope you enjoy.
The Labyrinth of Gedref
Arthur stood on the battlements, resting his weight on his forearms as he watched his people below queue through the courtyard. He closed his eyes in devastating grief at the cries of dismay as his father's orders were carried out. This was all his fault. Because of his pride, his people would starve and the kingdom would fall. Heartsick he watched as some turned empty handed towards their homes whilst others hung around in groups, watching the Castle and waiting for the King to change his mind.
They would have a long wait.
"I would rather starve than beg my enemies for help! What of our kingdom's reputation? Have you no pride?" The horror he had felt at his father's words was only grew when the reality dawned.
It hadn't been until that moment that he fully realised how responsible he was for the curse. Why pride could be considered a sin. How ugly it could be and the consequences.
Anhora's damming judgement had played continuously over and over in his head ever since.
"You have shown that you would kill a man to defend your pride. You have failed the test. For this, Camelot will pay dearly."
"What's happening?"
Jerked from his thoughts he looked at the woman beside him. He had not heard her approach, indeed he was surprised to see her. Merlyn had not had much to say to him since he had killed the unicorn.
She had been out in the forest, collecting herbs no more than two foot away from the magnificent creature and had screamed as he shot the killing arrow. The horror in her voice had momentarily shocked, then affronted him. How proud he had been to kill the rare beast. But Merlyn had been furious and told him so.
"My father's stopped distributing food to the people. They are to be left to starve." He could not look at her, his guilt so overwhelming. "I had a chance to lift the curse. And I failed them."
There was a long pause before he felt the slight weight of her hand on his shoulder, the warmth of it seeping through the cold chill that had overtaken him since the final confrontation with the sorcerer. He reached up and covered her hand with his, squeezing it gratefully.
"You weren't to know you were being tested." She murmured softly, tightening her grip before removing her hand.
"My people are starving. Camelot is on the verge of collapse. And it is all my doing."
Merlyn studied him with pity. Arthur had truly learnt his lesson. The man who stood in front of her was not the same prat who had cruelly felled the Unicorn some days past.
"What have you done?"
"Don't be such a baby, Merlyn."
"You killed it! Why?" She had demanded furiously. "It was a beautiful, peaceful creature and you just shot it for what, sport?"
"It's a hunting party what do you think we do on hunts? Walk down to a village and pick up some livestock?"
"It's barbaric. It's one thing to knock each other senseless but to run after defenseless animals for amusement!"
"That's enough, Merlyn, how dare you speak to me like that. Not one more word!"
No. He was not that fool anymore. This was the man she knew he could be, under all the arrogance and bluster.
"Arthur! Your father has ordered the knights stop giving out food!" Morgana's irate voice broke the heavy silence between them. Merlyn took a careful side-step away from Arthur as the Lady approached, eyes flashing in anger as they landed on the pair. Lady Morgana had very short tempered in recent weeks. Except with Arthur. Indeed he seemed to be the only one in favor. Merlyn had sat in on enough tense meals between father, son and ward to know that something was up.
"I know." Arthur said, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose where a headache had been brewing.
"Well, you must speak to him." She demanded.
"I've tried." Arthur said with gritted teeth. "He will not listen to me."
"Well try again!"
Merlyn excused herself as her mistress began arguing with the Prince. Arthur shot her a look of betrayal as she left him to defend himself but it could not be helped.
She had somewhere to be.
Before the griffin, Merlyn had never felt afraid in the forest, but since then she had learned to be on her guard. It wasn't only creatures of dark magic she had to look out for, but for other wildlife and bandits. She found it easier to move in the breeches Guinevere had gifted her before their trip to Ealder. They were part of an old outfit Guinevere used to wear when sparing with her brother. Merlyn had added a long blue tunic and a blue cloth handkerchief to hold her hair off the back of her face to make up her new foraging attire. It was an oddly good look on her and infinitely more practical for a stroll through the woods than her dresses had been.
Lady Morgana had not been impressed with her new look so she was stuck with her usual long skirts when attending her. But as she navigated a particularly awkward ditch she thanked Guinevere for her thoughtfulness.
It had taken longer that she expected to return to the site where the Unicorn was slain and she looked around franticly for any signs of the mysterious Keeper of the Unicorns. The daylight was fading fast and she could hear movement in the trees around her. She really wanted to be back in Camelot before the curfew. She could sneak in but that would take even longer.
"Anhora! Are you here?" She turned in a full circle looking hopefully at the trees. "Please show yourself! Anhora!"
"You wanted to talk with me?" She whirled at the sound of his voice, quickly, off balancing herself for a second. The old man stood above her on a small ridge, seemingly having appeared from nowhere.
"That is such a neat trick." She muttered under her breath, before raising her voice to reach him. "I've come to seek your help. The people are starving. They will soon be dead."
"You must believe me when I say it gives me no pleasure to see your people suffering."
She did believe him, the remorse in his eyes was clear to see.
"If it pains you, put an end to it." She begged.
"It is not in my power to lift the curse."
"Then give Arthur another chance. He has accepted it is his responsibility, and he will prove himself worthy and lift the curse if you give him one more chance."
She blinked and the man disappeared, she looked around bewildered until his voice came from close behind her.
"You have faith in Arthur?" Anhora asked, now standing before her.
"I trust him with my life."
Anhora seemed to consider her for a moment. Merlyn looked earnestly at him, amazed at the old magic radiating from him, as pure as the force that had hovered around the unicorn.
"Arthur must go to the Labyrinth of Gedref," he said at last. "There, he will face a final test. If he fails, there is no hope. The curse will destroy Camelot."
Another blink and the old man disappeared into nothing.
"Wait! What kind of test will he face?" Merlyn asked alarmed, turning around again to catch sight of him.
Instead she heard his voice from deep within. Also like an echo, resonating inside. Much like the druid Mordred's ability.
"That is for Arthur alone to discover."
It was late when she arrived back in Camelot. She was glad that she had asked Eira to attend Morgana if she was delayed and hoped she would not get too much of a tongue lashing from her mistress.
She had also missed curfew much to her dismay and was carefully dodging the patrols. She made it as far as the courtyard when…
"Gotcha!"
The loud voice from behind her made her jump out of her skin before its identity registered.
"Arthur!" She scolded, hitting his shoulder before freezing in horror at her actions. Arthur for his part just looked amused, but the look was fleeting and quickly disappeared, replaced by worried eyes set in a tired face.
"You're out late." He told her, "And you've missed curfew."
"Yes, I know, I was…"
"That's the second time I've caught you now. Merlyn. I know you are still new to city life but when the King orders a curfew..."
"I went to the forest," She interrupted him.
"At this time of night, Merlyn…"
"I saw Anhora, Sire." Arthur froze in surprise and fell silent. "He's willing to give you another chance to fix this."
"Come with me." He ordered, taking her arm. He frogmarched her to his chambers, throwing the door open with such force, he stunned his manservant who was balancing on a stool as he changed the bed hangings. If circumstances had been different, he was sure his resulting fall onto the bed and then to the floor would have been a hilarious sight that the Prince would enjoy razing him over, but the moment was lost in the tense atmosphere surrounding the pair.
As soon as he closed the door she continued her tale.
"You must go to the Labyrinth of Gedref tomorrow, and face a final test."
"A test what type of test?" Arthur asked, no trace of the egotistical proud man that had been scoffing at their earlier theory, that he had been the source of Camelot's plight.
"I don't know what kind but it's the last chance, Arthur. If you fail, the curse will destroy Camelot."
"How?" Glen asked her, tripping over the stool as he dashed to their sides. "How did you get him to change his mind?"
"I asked." Merlyn told him, shrugging her shoulders. "Maybe begged a little. I told him that you had learned from this that you were taking responsibility for your actions and you had earned another chance."
Arthur swallowed hard and moved to the window.
"I'll get your armor ready for the morning." Glen told him preparing to leave, hope shining in his eyes as she passed Merlyn, squeezing her arm gratefully as she passed.
There was a moment of silence, Arthur staring thoughtfully out the window. Merlyn paused for an awkward moment then went to leave, stopping at the quiet voice from the window.
"I'm not sure I do," he said, staring out into the darkness. "…deserve another chance. I am ashamed of myself, Merlyn."
"Arthur…"
"No. I can't fail again I…"
"You won't…"
"Will you stop interrupting me!" He said exasperated.
"No. not when you're wrong." She crossed the room to his side and looked him straight in the eye. "You can do this Arthur. I believe you can and Camelot needs you to believe it too. Because if the curse isn't broken soon people are going to die."
Arthur's face twisted in grief as he remembered the scenes throughout the day. Never had the responsibility of so many weighed so much. Her heart ached for him.
"You can," She told him smiling, her hand raising unbidden to his cheek, "I promise you, you can." Arthur grabbed her wrist gently, absently stroking her skin as he leaned into her palm.
"How can you have so much faith in me? I've done little to deserve it." Merlyn was already shaking her head in disagreement.
"You've done more than you know and in the future you will justify that faith. I'm certain." She stated, her thumb rubbing his cheek fondly, as he searched her eyes for any doubt. Finally she slowly withdrew her hand, stepping back from him, a slightly mischievous grin stretching him across her face. "I have to go. I'm breaking curfew."
"Can't have that." He murmured and her heart lifted at his small smile, she walked backwards towards the door, not breaking their gaze until the door closed.
"You will need to come too."
The voice from behind her made her spin in surprise, astonished to see Anhora standing behind her, in the corridor. She had known he had appeared to Arthur and Glen in Camelot before but his confidence in appearing outside Arthur's room was unsettling.
"Do not tell him. Leave at first light. You will be needed." Before she could even speak, the man had gone in a blink as quietly as he'd arrived.
When Glyndwr, arrived, early for once the next morning, his master was already up and dressed. He wondered if the Prince had even slept as the dark circles suggested otherwise.
"I have the horses and some supplies ready, Sire." He managed to get out as Arthur marched past him out of the room.
"Thank you, Glen but you're not coming."
"Not coming but…"
"I brought this curse upon Camelot, I'm going to be the one to lift it…or die trying." He muttered the last under his breath.
"How does you dying help anyone?" Glen asked appalled.
"I'll die knowing I did everything I can." His fatalistic approach bothered the younger man immensely.
"No. I'm coming with you." He said resolutely. Arthur rounded on him.
"Glyndwr, you are to stay here, and help the people as best you can. Is that understood?"
"Sire…"
"Glen, I thank you…for everything, for trying to help me see sense for the last few days. You were right. This is my responsibility. I must do this alone. I have to do this alone."
The underlying plea took the wind out of the younger man who sighed with a reluctant nod. He watched as Arthur reached his horse then paused, scanning the crowds. As day started to break, the townsfolk began to form futile queues to the castle's door, waiting for hand-out's that would not be coming.
But the Prince was not observing the crowds, not after the first few moments. He was looking for someone. He gave up, looking disappointed for a moment before swinging himself onto his horse and leaving the courtyard at a fast clip.
Glen wasn't worried though. He had seen Merlyn sneak out of Camelot earlier.
He had only been to the Labyrinth of Gedref once before, having spotted it whilst scouting the coastline of the Great Seas of Meredor. The sprawling miles of hedge rows where an impressive sight, stretching before him, seemingly endless. The morning mist that crawled in from the sea beyond added to the otherworldly atmosphere that demanded reverence as he made his way down the hillside to the entrance.
The landmark was shrouded in mystery. No one knew who had constructed it and there were many stories and legends surrounding the mysterious labyrinth. Once a famous tourist spot, it was now abandoned, shunned. For since the Great Purge, any place even rumored to be magical was to be feared. But even left unattended, the miles and miles of greenery were immaculate, the passageways clear from debris. The hedgerows had survived bitter winters and scorching summers.
There were tales of the towering bushes protecting innocents from the elements, of housing wanderers and refugees, the fruit bushes in some of the bigger spaces somehow providing enough food for anyone who needed it and springs that broke the surface providing clean drinking water, said to have healing properties.
As Arthur wondered though the endless rows of shrubbery he remembered the tales he had heard. His father had banned him from learning too much of Camelot's history of magic, but he could not succeed. Camelot and magic had been so interwoven in the past. And Arthur had known who to ask about the gaps in the accounts his father approved scholars had given him.
Many a criminal had been seen trying to disappear in the shadows of the labyrinth. Rumor told of the wicked who entered the maze and were never seen again, destined to wonder the hedgerows for all time.
As the hours ticked by he felt his desperation mount. What if he had already failed? Had the Labyrinth decided against him and this was his punishment, to wonder the corridors endlessly for eternity. What of his people? He began to pick up his pace, running along the pathways quicker and quicker. He swore he could taste the salt in the air, the sounds of waves against rock getting louder.
He almost ran straight past the exit, but the streak of blue in amidst the green caught his eye. And with some relief he walked slowly though the exit.
Relief that disappeared at the sight of Merlyn, sitting calmly at a stone table, the sorcerer standing over her.
"Merlyn?"
"I'm sorry." She said sheepishly. He gave her a quick once over, reassured that she had no injuries he could see. A new fear emerged as he locked eyes with the old man, slowly moving himself between Merlyn and the stranger.
"Let her go. I'll take your test, but not till she's released." He kept his voice calm, asking rather than ordering. He knew the man in front of him held all the cards, but he needed to get Merlyn out of here.
"That is not possible. Merlyn is part of the test." Arthur swallowed at the reply, looking back at the girl.
"Something you forgot to mention?" He asked her warily.
"Sorry." She repeated, her calmness having a soothing effect on him. He wished her a hundred miles away but at the same time was incredibly grateful she was there.
Anhora gestured to the wooden stool opposite Merlyn at the stone table.
"Please sit. If you refuse the test, you will have failed and Camelot will be destroyed. There are two goblets before you. One of the goblets contains a deadly poison, the other goblet, a harmless liquid. All the liquid from both goblets must be drunk, but each of you may only drink from a single goblet."
Arthur was confused. A riddle, admittedly a deadly one. That was why they were here?
"What kind of ridiculous test is that? What does that prove?"
The old man was unmoved. "What it proves is for you to decide. If you pass the test, the curse will be lifted."
Merlyn shifted in her seat and he turned his attention back to the maidservant. She had rested her elbows on the table, arms either side of the two golden goblets, staring them down as if they could answer all her questions.
"Let's think about this." She said quietly, barely heard over the crash of the waves. "What if I drink from my goblet first?"
"If it's poisoned, you'll die." Arthur said flatly. That outcome unacceptable.
"And if it's not, then you'll have to drink from yours, and you'll die. There must be a way around it." Her calmness was almost annoying now but he found himself studying the goblets intently.
"It is perfectly simple. One of us has to die. We have to find a way to determine which goblet has the poison. And then I'll drink it."
"I will be the one to drink it." Merlyn shot back quickly, earning a frown.
"This is my doing. I'm drinking it."
"It is more important that you live. You're the future king. I'm just a servant." It annoyed him at how she continued to dismiss her importance. He knew that if she got a hold of the poisoned chalice she would drain it without hesitation.
She would willingly die for him.
He knew his knights, his men would do the same for him. Indeed Arthur would do the same for them, for Camelot. But to see Merlyn, a servant, a girl who hadn't even grown up in Camelot willing to make that sacrifice humbled him.
"This is no time to be a hero, Merlyn."
She ignored him, mind still working overtime on the puzzle.
"What if I drink from mine first, and if that's not poisoned, I will then drink yours?"
"He said each of us is only allowed to drink from a single goblet. I had no idea you were so keen to die for me."
"Trust me, I can hardly believe it myself." She bantered back, flashing him a quick smile before she rested her chin on her fisted hands as she stared fiercely at the vessels. Her eyes were alive with intelligence, focused on her task, mouth set in a determined line. Her hair that was usually tied back, restrained, was for once loose, the curls fluttering in the air as the wind rose and swept around them. He knew what he had to do.
"I'm glad you are here, Merlyn." But his quiet words were lost in the wind
Suddenly Merlyn shifted in her seat. A little smug smile dancing across her face, finally meeting his eyes.
"I've got it." She said with some satisfaction. "We pour all the liquid into one goblet and then we can be sure it is poisoned. Then all the liquid can be drunk, and it will be from a single goblet."
She had it. Arthur was impressed. "You never cease to surprise me. You're a lot smarter than you look."
"Is that actually a compliment?" She teased,
Arthur's eyes left hers and he frowned at something behind her.
"What's that?"
Merlyn whipped around and Arthur wasted no time. Grabbing both goblets and quickly pouring all the liquid from on to the other.
Merlyn, realising she had been had, lunged over the table but he pulled himself out of reach.
"No! I will drink it!"
"As if I'd let you. Not again."
"You can't die. This isn't your destiny." She said desperately standing up, careful not to make any sudden moves.
"It seems you're wrong again."
"Please listen to me!" She begged, the terror on her face tearing at him but his course was set.
"You know me, Merlin. I never listen to you."
He raised his goblet in a toast and quickly downed the sickly sweet liquid, swallowing it around the lump in his throat. He hear Merlyn scream his name, felt her hands find his on the goblet but it was too late.
All the fluid had been consumed.
He dropped the cup and grasped at her hands, holding them in his own, his eyes finding her horrified ones.
"What have you done?" She murmured. But he could not answer. He kept his eyes fixed on hers as his vision started to dim and he felt himself slide off the chair, on to Merlyn. His vision had gone but he could feel her guide him to the ground, rest his head on her lap.
He could hear her beg.
"Arthur! No! Arthur. Come on! Arthur, come on. Come on. Come on! No... Come on."
The last thing he was aware of, was the softness of her lap and the gentle fingers in his hair.
"A unicorn is pure of heart. If you kill one, you must make amends by proving that you also are pure of heart. Arthur was willing to sacrifice his life to save yours. He has proven what is truly in his heart. The curse will be lifted."
With those words, Anhora had disappeared and left them alone on the rocks. The unconscious Prince resting on her lap. For the first hour Merlyn had sobbed in pure, unrestrained relief as he slumbered on. Arthur went on to spend most of the day sleeping.
She had made him as comfortable as she could and spent the time staring out over the restless seas, the almost hypnotic effect of the waves allowing her thoughts to drift pleasantly. She gathered fruits and a little drinking water from the spring in one of the labyrinths clearings and waited.
It was early evening by the time he stirred. Disorientated he slowly sat up and looked around him, startling his sentinel from her thoughts. They started wordlessly at each other for a moment before Merlyn launched herself at Arthur. Her arms sliding around his neck as she buried her head in his shoulder.
His arms clamped around hers in surprise as he sluggishly worked though the events of the morning. His eyes widened in surprise as he remembered drinking the poison. He stood quickly, pulling Merlyn with him as he looked around franticly but they were alone.
"He's gone." Merlyn told him, figuring out what he was searching for. "You did it. The curse is lifted."
"How?" Arthur croaked, his throat dry and tight from both dehydration and emotion.
"You showed purity of heart." Merlyn told him, eyes shining with pride as she looked at him. The emotion in her eyes overwhelming him. "By sacrificing your life for mine, for Camelot."
"About that…?"
"The poison was a sleeping drought. You've slept all day." She explained, unable to stop smiling.
Their conversation was interrupted by a violent roar erupting from around them, the sea and sky shouting at each other as a streak of lightening, lit the dimming sky. The grey heavy clouds had reached them and the sky darkened as the wind picked up. The sea rushed back in and the pair darted quickly off the rocks and into the safety of the labyrinth. After a few minutes running they came across an archway in the hedgerows, just in time to shelter from the sudden downpour of rain.
Arthur tipped his head back, parched, eager to catch a few drops of rain when he felt a tug on his arm. He turned to see Merlyn holding out a skin with a smile.
"Don't drink too fast you'll make yourself sick." She warned as she handed over the nearly full skin of water. Gratefully he sipped until he had had his full. They sat under the shelter of branches, surprised at the effectiveness of their shelter as they watched the lightening crash above them.
"Thank you, Merlyn." He broke the silence. "For believing in me. For not giving up."
She smiled shyly.
"I never give up, Sire. And I believe in you." She told him. "You haven't let me down yet."
"Just do me a favor. Never do that again. Bargain your life for mine."
Merlyn pointedly remained silent. Arthur sighed.
"Your life is just as important as mine."
"You are a Prince, I am a maidservant. There are thousands of me and only one of you. My life was nothing for yours…"
Arthur shook his head in strong disagreement.
"There's only one of you, Merlyn, Believe me. And your life doesn't mean nothing it means a hell of a lot to me."
"As does yours to me." Merlyn shot back. "We will just have to agree to disagree, Sire."
"Arthur," he corrected her.
"Yes, Sire." Arthur growled and let out a frustrated sigh, but the corners of his mouth twitched, suppressing an amused grin. She really was the most exasperating woman he had ever met.
The pair sat in near silence watching out over Mother Nature's impressive display of temper. But Merlyn could feel something else in the air. It was as if the rain was washing away all the heartache and despair of the past few days, as if it were cleansing the earth. She looked over at the Prince, wondering if he felt it.
He was feeling something she was sure. She knew he would not completely believe that the curse had been lifted until they returned to Camelot, but there was rising hope in his eyes as he watched the sky.
Hunger gnawed on her insides. Almost as soon as she recognised it, she felt a sharp sting in her upper arm. Turning she saw the offending twig that had dug into her…and the berries growing further along it. The air around the pair seemed to brighten unnaturally, illuminating the bushes around them and revealing the berries growing among them.
With a small laugh she picked the berries and was about to pop one in her mouth when the Prince knocked it from her hands.
"What are you doing?" He hissed. "Those could be poisonous."
"They're not." Merlyn replied indignantly. "I've been picking at them all day. Besides, haven't you heard the stories surrounding this labyrinth?"
"I know that it is considered magical." He admitted.
"Just because it's enchanted, doesn't make it evil." Merlyn told him softly, defiantly dropping a few berries in her mouth and chewing.
Arthur seemed to study her for a moment. His scrutinizing gaze making her uncomfortable.
"You don't believe magic is evil." It was not a question, more a statement of fact. His voice was flat and emotionless. Fear replaced the hunger in her stomach, her heart suddenly quivering. She spoke without thinking.
"You're not convinced it is eith…" Mortified at her backchat, Merlyn clamped her mouth shut in embarrassment. She could not believe she had dared to call the prince out.
Neither could he. He had jerked in surprise, eyes widening at her daring. Anger had stated to flare up but he quickly stifled it, but one look at her had the brief flicker of rage die completely.
Merlyn was scared of him. She was putting on a good front, her expression carefully blank, but her eyes were ever so slightly wide and her posture too still, small hands tightened in fists with whitening knuckles.
"Your right." He said after a moment and was rewarded with the utter surprise that transformed Merlyn's face. He shifted uncomfortably, unsure why he was unburdening himself to her. Maybe it was the stress of the past few days or the isolation of their surroundings. Maybe it was just her. As he had said at the beginning of their acquaintance. There was something about Merlyn.
"I'm not convinced magic is evil." He finished the damning statement. "There is too much I don't know."
Silence encroached on the pair with that heavy pronouncement. The air thick with tension.
"Perhaps it would be best to keep an open mind until you decide for yourself what you believe to be true."
"Perhaps." He replied. "I guess we shall see." He seemed to ponder the berries on the bush in front of them before sighing and picking one of the temping berries, the sweetness of the juice awakening his hunger. One berry was followed by another, then another until his branch was empty and his stomach not full but mollified. Merlyn watched him grinning.
"We should get some rest." She told him, making herself comfortable on the surprising soft ground under them. Looking up at the sky, Arthur knew they weren't going anywhere that night and despite the fact he had spent most of the day sleeping, he found himself lying down on the ground beside her, drifting into a peaceful slumber.
The ride back to Camelot was a rewarding one. The fields had come alive overnight and the farmers and townsmen were bringing in the harvest. There was much laughing and exclamation of joy as men and women worked the fields with their sickles and scythes and children picked the fruit and vegetables that seemed to have sprouted overnight.
The sun shone down on the happy scene and the pair stopped to take a drink of water offered by a shy young girl with a small barrel and ladle.
The scene was repeated over and over until they reached a celebrating Camelot. Glyndwr welcomed them with a beaming smile, almost jumping up and down with glee.
"Merlyn, Arthur, there is good news! The crops are growing once again! They are bringing in the harvest!"
Gaius had been waiting for his niece and given her a tight hug after she'd slid off her horse. Arthur watched the scene with a smile, jumping when his father and Morgana approached the returning pair.
"Is this your doing? Is the sorcerer dead?" He asked eagerly. Arthur chose his words carefully.
"He won't be troubling us anymore."
"Good, make sure the grain reserves are re-stocked." Uther smiled at his son proudly as he returned to the Castle.
Morgana rolled her eyes at the Kings back.
"He could have at least said thank you." She said, a small measure of scorn in her voice but Arthur waved it off.
"I don't need thanks. This was my fault."
"And you fixed it. It takes a good man to admit his mistakes and a wise man to learn from them." Merlyn told him smiling.
Morgana watched the interaction with a frown.
"Where you have been, Merlyn? I don't recall giving you the day off yesterday. Eira ended up doing her duties on top of your own. You are becoming most unreliable."
Merlyn winced at the sharpness of her mistress's tone. Morgana had a valid point. She had, had to leave yesterday before the lady had risen. Eira had agreed to assist Morgana but Merlyn knew that the situation was getting tense. It was not just her disappearing acts that Morgana had problems with. It was her duties with Gaius also. Something would have to give soon.
She started to apologise but Arthur got there first.
"I am sorry, Morgana, It was my doing. It was Merlyn who found the sorcerer and I needed her to lead me to him."
Morgana looked most put out at Arthur's defense of her handmaiden but knew this was a battle she would not win.
"Very well." She responded simply. "Lady Guinevere and I are making preparations for the Harvest Feast. I will not need you until supper. Do not be tardy." With that she spun on her heel and left the small gathering behind.
Merlyn's cheeks burned a little in humiliation but Glyndwr's muttered, "She didn't say thank you either," made her press her lips together in amusement. The twinkle in Arthurs eye told her that he too had heard Glen's mutterings.
"There's something we must do first." He said, "Come, you two."
Just when Merlyn thought Arthur could not have made her prouder, he once again proved what was in his heart.
The three of them, Arthur, Glen and herself, had returned to the very spot that the Unicorn had fallen and proceeded to return the unicorn horn to the ground. Arthur knelt down and placed the horn gently into the small grave, sounded by stones.
"I should never have ended your life. I'm sorry."
After a moments silence, the three of them began to cover the grave with the burial stones. Looking around for more stones when they appeared to be running low, Merlyn moved a small distance away from the pair, searching the forest floor. A glimmer of white caught her eye and she straightened and stared in wonder.
Before her stood a Unicorn. And not just any Unicorn, for she recognised the enchanting eyes as the very same that she had gazed upon only a few days ago. The magnificent beast was so close she couldn't help but reach out and lay a hand on his long nose, rubbing softly. His skin was unlike any horse's she had ever felt, even the highly prized horses in Camelot's stable did not possess such soft hair.
She was unaware that the two men had stopped their work and were staring, entranced at the scene. Watching the magical creature respond to the gentle petting, stepping closer to the handmaiden and nuzzling her with his muzzle, careful to keep his unique horn away from her. Merlyn let out a low peal of delighted laughter at the playful nuzzle and moved to stroke his neck, completely unafraid and giddy with wonder.
"When he who kills a unicorn proves himself to be pure of heart, the unicorn will live again."
The men whipped around to see Anhora standing just behind them a pleased smile on his face. He acknowledged the men then disappeared in a blink. Arthur and Glen looked at each other in surprise, then back down at the horn they had just buried, then at the beast who was now walking away from Merlyn and deeper into the forest.
All three stood still until the Unicorn had moved from view, then Merlyn swung around to face them, tears of joy in her eyes as the trio marveled at the miracle they had witnessed.
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