Arthur looked down at his father as the worry started to set in. If everyone in the city was like this, then any one of their enemies could march in and slaughter them all. If they survived that long. How long could a person last in an enchanted sleep? Would they die of starvation or hunger? Or would the spell kill them?

"Who could have done this?" He looked up at Merlin and Morgana and his eyes caught on the lady.

Morgana, who had magic. Morgana, who had tried once already to kill his father. Morgana, who had risked the lives of countless druids just to get away from him.

"You're the only one who's not been affected, Morgana. There must be a reason," he growled, coming around the desk.

She looked between him and Merlin. "I-I don't know."

"That's all you keep saying! You must know something!"

"No, they just fell asleep one by one!"

"It's obvious," Merlin said and he turned to him. "Her magic, it must be protecting her."

"Right," she said after a moment's hesitation.

"Is that possible?" Arthur asked, not entirely convinced.

"People with magic tend to be more resistant to magical attacks. Uh, according to some stories I've heard, I mean," Merlin said, the last part coming out as a nervous afterthought.

Arthur glanced at Morgana and nodded.

He hoped that was true.

"Go and see if you can find something to cure everyone in Gaius's," Arthur said, giving Merlin a meaningful look. "Morgana, go search for signs of life in the lower town." He grabbed his father's sword and handed it to her. "We need to know how far this has spread. I'll stay here and look after my father. If anyone attacks, they'll come straight for him."

"Merlin!"

"Morgana?" Merlin shoved his book under Gwen and stood up to see Morgana running up to the door.

"Why are you here? I thought you were supposed to be at Gaius's?"

"I found something and wanted to see if it would work so I was trying it on Gwen. It, uh, didn't." He took in her frazzled appearance and the way she was holding her sword like she was about to be attacked any second. "What's wrong?"

"There are eight knights, black knights, heading into the city."

"Eight? According to the legend, there were only seven nights of Medhir."

She shrugged.

"We need to tell Arthur."

Arthur saw Merlin's lips twitch up as apples bounced off his father's head and he growled. "It is not funny, Merlin."

"He does deserve it," Merlin hummed and Morgana gave him a confused look.

Arthur shoved down that part of him that agreed and said, "Did you find something to wake everyone up?"

"Er… no."

Useless warlock.

They carried Uther into Arthur's room and Merlin and Morgana dropped his legs.

"We can't leave him here!" Arthur snapped. "We have to lift him onto the bed."

"Why? He's asleep. He's not going to know," Merlin said dismissively.

"Merlin!"

"Well… I'll get him a pillow."

"He's the King!" Arthur shouted as Merlin ran to the bed.

"All right. Two pillows."

Arthur dropped his father's arms and threw his hands in the air.

Whatever, let the hypocrite wake up with a sore back!

He helped Merlin put the pillows under his head and when he stood up, the room spun.

"You alright?" Merlin mumbled, giving Arthur a bleary look.

"Are you feeling the same?"

"We're getting sick," he said, and Arthur heard the unsaid comment.

They turned to Morgana.

"We can't let that happen," Arthur said. "We must keep my father hidden."

"Why don't we disguise him?" Merlin offered.

"That might just work."

"We could dress him as a woman."

Arthur shot him a glare. "That, on the other hand…"

"We could dress him as a servant."

"That's better." He turned to Morgana. "Find him some clothes. You're still unaffected so you've got the best chance of getting away from the knights. We'll stay here to protect my father."

She hesitated, but nodded and left.

"It's not her magic protecting her."

"You don't know that."

Arthur turned to Merlin with a scowl. "You're better trained and have had your magic longer. Why would you be affected and not her?"

"Morgana -"

A hiss cut him off and the two looked over to see Cavall sitting on the bed, eyeing the door.

Arthur ran a hand over his face. None of this made a difference if they couldn't figure out how to stop the knights. "You couldn't find anything in the books?"

"I've tried all the awakening spells I know, and have double-checked some of the books, but we don't have time for me to comb through all of them on my own."

"Protect my father." Arthur drew his sword and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

"To the only one who might have answers."

"I swear on my honor and all of Camelot!"

The dragon stopped laughing. "Careful what you say."

"You have to help. Camelot will fall if you don't."

"Camelot matters more to you than your own life. This is an oath I believe you will honor."

"I will."

The dragon eyed him as he relaxed on his platform. "It is one thing to cast a spell that puts everyone to sleep. The power to maintain it is a very different matter. It will need more than just words to break this enchantment."

"Speak plainly!"

"You must eradicate the source, Arthur."

"Wonderful, any idea what that is?"

"Not what, but who. Such spells need a vessel, a constant living presence to give them strength. The source of this pestilence is the witch, the Lady Morgana."

"So she has turned against us," Arthur sighed, running a hand over his face. "You're sure she is part of this? Could someone have placed the spell on her?"

"A spell like this has to have been taken willingly. The ancient prophecies speak of Morgana's dark trials, and now she has chosen to turn her back on her own."

He wanted so bad for it not to be true. Morgana… They'd grown up together. She was the closest thing he'd had to a sibling. She was his first friend.

But she had conspired against Camelot once already and he knew how vicious she could be.

"How do I stop her?"

"That is easy, young prince. You must kill her.

"What?" No. He'd stop her, but kill her? Could he do that?

"The spell is woven with magic of such power that even Merlin is not immune. You must act now before it's too late. If you do not, then Camelot will fall and you will die, and the future you were destined for will die with you."

Arthur ran. He didn't stop until he'd reached the main castle.

He collapsed, his face in his hands.

He couldn't do this. He couldn't-couldn't kill Morgana.

But he had to protect his father, protect Camelot.

What was he supposed to do? Walk right up to her and drive a sword through her stomach?

No, even if she had betrayed Camelot and conspired against the king, she deserved better than that.

Though it's not like they had time for an actual execution.

And would burning her at the stake really be any better?

There had to be a better way.

"Where's Arthur?" Morgana asked as she came in, servant's clothes in hand.

"Gone to find somewhere safe to move to," Merlin said, glancing down at the cat hissing atop Uther's chest. "Are you okay?"

She nodded and knelt at Uther's side to disguise him, but she had to move back when the cat swiped at her.

"Hey!" Merlin said, grabbing it. "Sorry, I don't know what's wrong with him. He usually only swipes at me. The spell must have him nervous."

Morgana met the cat's eyes and shivered when it almost seemed to glare at her. Did it know what she'd done? "Is it yours? I've never seen it before."

"No, Arthur's, not that he'd admit it. I'm surprised you've never seen him. It seems like everyone in the castle knows about him," Merlin said. He tried to set it on Arthur's desk, only for it to jump onto his shoulders and wrap itself around his neck. "I've even caught Uther and the lords discussing the stray. "

She shook her head.

Merlin set it down again, earning him a nipped hand and scratched jacket, but this time it stayed down so he was able to come help her.

Arthur came in shortly after they'd finished. "They're in the castle, we need to go."

They gathered up the king and dragged him through the hall, down a set of stairs, and into a servant's quarters. They set him onto a bed, Merlin and Arthur gasping.

Arthur sat down on the bed and Merlin dropped down at its foot, so Morgana went to check out the window.

"We can't keep this up much longer," Arthur panted.

"I know," Merlin agreed. "Wait. We're in a servant's quarters. If we leave him here, they'll just think he's a servant."

"Not if the sorcerer sees him. Without knowing who they are, we can't be sure they won't recognize him. We need to get him out of Camelot."

Morgana turned back to them just as Merlin looked up at Arthur. "When we arrived there was a cart in the main square, remember?"

"You are full of good ideas today, Merlin. You go and look." Merlin frowned at him, but left.

"How are you feeling?" Arthur asked her, pulling out a wineskin and fiddling with it.

Morgana started to come closer to him until she spotted the cat from before peeking out from between his boots, teeth bared until she stepped back again. "Fine. Merlin must be right, my magic's protecting me."

He hummed and glanced at his father. "Is there anything you can do to stop this?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"I would if I could," she lied.

The situation was scaring her, of course. She hadn't expected so many to be affected by what Morgause had planned. However, the results were what mattered, right? No one but Uther would be hurt in the end. Her sister would kill him then lift the spell and everything would be better. Arthur would be king, Morgana would be safe, and no one else would ever have to fear they'd be killed for their magic. Arthur would lift the ban, she knew it. Why else would he protect her secret?

"I don't know how to do anything like that," she finished, glancing towards the door.

If only Morgause would come to them.

"Right," Arthur sighed, opening the wineskin and taking a drink. "Here, have some."

"I'm not thirsty."

"Morgana, please, before I drink it all."

"You should save some for Merlin."

"If you're going to let him have it, then you really better drink now. He drinks like a horse."

Morgana rolled her eyes, but came over. To her surprise, the cat didn't so much as bat its eyes at her as she reached his side and grabbed the skin. She took a few mouthfuls then closed it, planning to save the last of it for Merlin.

She took a few steps back towards the window before the world shimmered. It felt like she was breathing through fog and her body went cold. Her legs gave out from underneath her and she thought she would fall, but arms wrapped around her and lowered her to the ground. She looked up and could just barely see Arthur's face staring down at her through the haze.

He looked remorseful as he brushed her hair out of her face. "I'm so sorry, but I had no other choice. I can always tell when you're lying."

She tried to shake her head, to yell, to do anything, but couldn't get her body to move.

He'd betrayed her. Poisoned her! She'd thought - But she'd been wrong. He was just like Uther!

"I don't know why you turned your back on us. Maybe… Maybe I should have done more to show that you would be safe. That you could put your trust in us and that we would be there for you. I don't know, but I hope one day, in another life, we will be able to move past this." He pressed his lips to her forehead and closed her eyes.

Liar! LIAR! LIAR! TRAITOR!

"They're closing in! We wo- What happened?"

"I did what I had to do," was the last thing Morgana heard.

"… I hope one day, in another life, we will be able to move past this."

Only once Arthur had pressed a kiss to her forehead and closed her eyes did he allow the tears to fall. His friend, his sister, was dying in his arms and it was because of him. The poison he'd taken from Gaius's chambers was fast-acting and painless, but that didn't ease the guilt in the slightest as he had hoped.

He doubted anything would.

"They're closing in!" Merlin shouted, barging in. "We wo- What happened?"

"I did what I had to do," he breathed, rubbing the tears off his face.

"What do you mean?"

"Mor-Morgana was the source of the spell. The dragon said so."

"No."

"That's why she is still awake. Whoever's doing this, she's in league with them."

"No!"

"Merl-"

"NO! You're wrong!" he said, running over and taking her from Arthur.

The prince didn't fight him. Just watched as the warlock ran his hand over her wrist and neck.

"She can't be."

"I'm sorry," Arthur said, climbing to his feet. He knew Merlin and Morgana were close friends and Arthur knew Merlin had wanted to help her as he'd helped Freya and Mordred.

Morgana had chosen her side though.

"I -"

The door to the room burst open, flying off its hinges to hit the opposite wall. To Arthur's surprise, Morgause came rushing in.

"You!"

She ignored him, running up to Morgana's side and stealing her away from Merlin, knocking him back with magic when he tried to stop her.

"What have they done to you?" she asked, checking Morgana's wrist and neck as Merlin had done.

Merlin shook his head, hand coming to his mouth and Arthur stepped between him and the woman. "You forced my hand."

She looked up at him in shock. "You poisoned her!"

"You gave me no choice. Why have you done this? I thought we left on good terms."

"We did, but your father has too many crimes to account for. Since you would not kill him, I shall."

Arthur's fists clenched. Of course. If she'd known his mother, then she would have known his mother would try to turn him against his father. It had been a trick from the start like his father had thought. "My father has many faults, but I will not let you harm him. Call off the knights."

"I am not one of your pathetic servants! You don't tell me what to do!"

He glanced down at Morgana. "I know enough about magic to know you cannot cure her without knowing what the poison is. I will tell you, but only once the knights are gone."

It was a longshot. There was no telling if Morgause cared enough about Morgana to stop the attack or if her desire for revenge was greater, but it was his best chance. Either she would go for it and the knights would be stopped, or she wouldn't and he could at least buy some time until Camelot's knights awoke and could join the fight.

"Tell me the poison or you'll die!" Morgause spat.

"As will she. I don't want her to die, but I have to save my people. Now, do you accept my terms? Your knights for the poison?"

Morgause leaned down to Morgana and held her close. When she looked back up, she surprisingly had tears in her eyes. "Astýre ús þanonweard! Cnihtas Medhires, éower sáwla. Rid eft ond forsliehð eft."

The knights that had followed her in collapsed.

Arthur pulled the bottle from his pocket and held it out to her.

"You will regret this, Arthur Pendragon," she hissed, taking it. She held Morgana close and began to chant, "Bedyrne ús! Astýre ús þanonweard!"

Winds came out of nowhere to form a tornado around the women, building and building until they couldn't be seen through. Then they were gone, taking the women with them.

He heard a groan behind him and turned to see his father rising from the bed.

It was quiet in Arthur's chambers. Guinevere, Arthur, and Merlin each had mead in hand, but not even half a goblet had been drunk between the three. Arthur and Merlin sat on the bed, leaning against each other. Guinevere sat on the floor, her head resting on Arthur's leg and Cavall curled up in her lap.

A knock sounded.

Another knock sounded.

The door opened. "Sire."

Too empty to even be bothered by the compromising position he'd been found in, Arthur just sighed and Merlin squeezed his hand. Without looking up, he said, "Yes, Sir Leon."

"The first round of searches have been completed. There is no sign of either of them."

"Let my father know."

There was a moment's pause and Arthur could hear Leon's armor shifting. "Sire, I know -"

"You're dismissed."

He heard Leon take a step, then stop.

Surprised, he looked up to see Leon hesitating in the doorway. "You're dismissed," he repeated.

The knight cleared his throat. "If you need a distraction, I am always ready to spar. I know this must be hard for you. Both the Lady Morgana's disappearance and…"

"And?"

Leon glanced at the door. "I overheard your discussion with your father."

Arthur sat up straight. "And what, exactly, did you hear?"

"Nothing the king would care for me to repeat." He gave a bow. "I simply thought to remind you that I trust your judgment. I will report to your father now."

Arthur frowned as he left. In all the years he'd known Leon, he'd never disobeyed an order like that, nor been so open with him.

He knocked his shoulder against Merlin's. "Your insolent ways have begun to infect my knights now."

That started a giggle out of Guinevere and the three began to laugh, though it may have been a bit hysterical.

Once they'd calmed down again, she took a sip from her mead and asked, "What exactly did you tell your father?"

"I told him Morgana was working with Morgause and they fled together. I couldn't admit what I'd done, which was probably for the best as he refused to see reason. He's declared that Morgana was under an enchantment and ordered me not to tell anyone of what happened. I don't know what he would have done if I told him the full truth. As it is, he's as mad at me as I am at him."

Merlin set his head on his shoulder and Arthur wrapped his arm around him.

The group settled back into silence until Merlin began to softly snore into Arthur's chest.

The prince shifted him so he was laying down and set their goblets on the table. Then he helped a dozing Guinevere to her feet and into Mordred's room to sleep. Once he double-checked that the outer door was locked so no one would walk in to see her where she wasn't supposed to be, he went back into his room. He closed the curtains around his bed and grabbed the sword he'd hidden underneath. With his own door locked behind him, he headed down to the dungeons.