Author's Note: Thank you all my readers for the reviews, follows, and favorites, to Azar443 for being such an incredible FF confidante, reviewer, and twin, and AndyAiden for everything!
Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin.
The Labyrinth of Gedref
Gwen walks from her house with a bucket to fetch some water. Rumors have been spreading throughout the lower town about the crops, but the maid has not been to see Morgana yet to confirm this.
As she sets down the bucket, she sees Merlin and calls for him. "Is it true what they're saying about the crops? They're all dead?"
"Afraid so," he tells her solemnly, "We may have to start tightening our belts."
She gives him a small smile. "I'm sure you will think of something."
And the warlock cannot help but grin back at her as he walks toward the castle. "Thanks for your confidence."
After him being so tense in Ealdor, the young girl is relieved to see her friend return to his normal self… well as normal as he can be in this situation. Gwen starts pumping for water, but only dry sand comes out.
She yells for Merlin and when he sees only sand coming out instead of water he quickly races to Gaius.
Morgana lays on her bed reading a book when she suddenly feels a chill run up her spine. She recognizes the feeling, it has happened so many times before, but she cannot recall what it means and yet she knows that it does mean something important.
The Lady closes the book and rises from the mattress. Going over to her window, she sees Arthur and Merlin standing in the main square. Something seems to have caught their attention, though, as they suddenly race towards the courtyard corridor.
She has half a mind to go out and follow them, but there's a curfew due to the famine and drought and extra guards stationed at her door. It's Arthur's fault, of course. He insisted that in case the looters somehow made it into the palace, the guards will be here to ensure no harm comes to her.
Even with her constant assurance that she can take care of herself and he has admitted – albeit begrudgingly – that Estella has trained her quite well and she's become quite skillful with a sword, he's still not taking any chances.
The Lady shakes her head; he's even more protective than before. They didn't bring up their kiss in Ealdor – they know why it happened, they know what it meant – it's unnecessary.
However, the two have continued on as they used to (denial may be able to only go so far, but when it ends, the transition takes time). Except the prince is much more attentive to her safety and whereabouts throughout the day and he casually touches her more freely now. Their biting remarks, sarcasm, and bickering has lessen also.
When there are no other signs of activity outside, Morgana returns to bed, dismissing all thoughts of her and Arthur and tries to sleep.
Estella stands in the training grounds of Caerleon clad in her armor, her raven hair pulled back into a knot, and her sword on her hip. In front of her, the knights are in pairs sparring, but she barely notices them. Her foot is unconsciously tapping on the ground while she contemplates what Elaine is planning.
The duchess had arrived home to learn that her uncle's ward had decided to take a visit to Camelot. Of course, she requested to go alone without the presence of "unpleasant, useless company." The woman snorts, 'She simply doesn't want me to foil whatever it is she is trying to do.'
A page comes to her and interrupts her thoughts. He bows, "Lord Agravaine commands that you dine with him this evening," the boy tells her, "He says it's urgent."
The woman's face hardens and she gives the page a curt nod, "Very well then. Thank you Griflet, you may go." The boy quickly bows and leaves to go about fulfilling his other duties.
And Estella returns to the position he interrupted, except now she contemplating what Elaine and Agravaine are up to.
When the sun begins to set, she dismisses her knights and goes to her uncle.
...
"Bastard," Estella hisses under her breath as she slams the door to her uncle's solar.
She can ignore the fact that he loves his ward more than he love his family, she tolerate that he is a truant and that he will bring in a few whores to please him in the middle of a conversation with her, but to actually think that he can command her to do anything?
She's no longer a child – she'll be twenty-three in two months, she is the High Duchess of Caerleon – not that the title really matters to her, and she is a Le Fay – having magic alone sets her above Agravaine. However, the man insists that since she is his niece, she must do as he orders.
Estella huffs in frustration and aggravation once more as she stomps down the corridor. If she wants to go about "dallying in the forests with men" then she damn well can. His own ward is so much worse than she and yet Elaine is put upon a pedestal as if she is a goddess fallen from Olympus.
As she rounds a corner, she's met with said woman standing haughtily in an orange robe fashioned to show more skin than is appropriate. Her hair is twisted up about her head and laurel leaves twisted in the strands. The woman is also staring predatorily at Lancelot.
The duchess narrows her eyes, "What are you doing?"
Elaine turns to Estella and grin superiorly. "Why, dear Lancelot and I were just about to retire to his chambers." She looks back to the man, "Isn't that right, Lancelot?"
The man in question simply begins to stutter as his eyes shift wildly between the two women, before he can articulate any words though, Estella intercedes.
"I don't think that Sir Lancelot would ever want to go near that infestation between your legs," she signals for her knight to leave and he quickly does. The duchess then walks past the other woman, following Lancelot to her chambers.
Elaine sneers, "You can't have every man in the world!"
'Really is that the best she can do?' Estella smirks, "No, but I can certainly try!" the slamming of her door muffles the other Lady's response.
She turns to see Lancelot fidgeting at the center of the room. He bows his head in respect, "my Lady."
The woman nods and walks to her table. "Remove your armor."
The man is taken aback, "my Lady?"
"That was an order Lancelot, just the chainmail and gambeson." The duchess starts to take her own chainmail off.
Unsettled with the situation, the knight reluctantly does as his mistress commands. When she is finished, she turns to him.
He shifts from one foot to another, "Duchess Estella, I-"
"Please don't say anything," she then walks up to him and stand a foot away. Despite her usual confident stride and demeanor, she actually looks uncomfortable, as well, "My apologies for Elaine and… this."
Before Lancelot can respond, Estella throws her arms around his shoulders and embraces him tightly. They both are still, the man in utter confusion, the woman in determination. The knight is tempted to throw her off of him. She may be almost as tall as him, but he is mostly likely stronger. After a moment, however, the duchess releases him, but then claws her fingers through his brown hair – her long, sharp nails occasionally scratching his scalp. When she is satisfied with the state of his hair, she then proceeds to putting her thumb and index finger at the left side of his neck and pinches him harshly.
Lancelot cries out and jumps back. Rubbing the sore spot on his neck, "My Lady, have I caused you any offense?"
She shakes her head. "No, it is not that and I did apologize for this," she gestures to him, indicating the treatment she just gave him. "This is for your own good." Estella pauses. "Elaine is like a predator, she will stalk her prey until she has her fill of it and you have become her newest prey." The man bristles at the knowledge. "However, now she is going to think that you are mine – due to my scent lingering on you, the ruffled hair, and that bruise that shall have pass as a love mark – and she doesn't touch any man I have taken. Fearful of some 'disease' I must have, I suppose." The woman then proceeds to remove her boots and let down her wavy hair. "Now, I'm not doing this ever again, so listen careful."
Hefina then enters the room carrying some towels, "My Lady, your bath is ready."
Estella looks very much relieved (she is just as uncomfortable as Lancelot, she is just better at hiding it), "If you would then Hefina, explain to Lancelot, please." Her maid is aware of what she means as her mistress goes into her antechambers.
The fair-haired woman turns to the knight. "I apologize on Duchess Estella's behalf if she made you uncomfortable. She was fearful that you would be opposed to the idea so she decided to be forward with her plan to protect you."
Lancelot nods slowly. "It's alright; I simply was extremely confused."
Hefina gives him a wry smile. "Trust me, she only wants to keep Elaine away from you, she has no intentions of actually taking you to her bed, no offense." He smiles softly to indicate there is none taken. "Well then, here are your instructions: you are to come here whenever I call you and you are to put this," she picks up a small bottle of perfume, "On your skin and clothes, make sure you rumple it in, makes it look more believable, then ruffled your hair and pinch at your neck as she has done."
"Thank you, umm… May I go to my chambers now?" Lancelot feels suddenly foolish for sounding like a child and asking a handmaiden permission to leave, well the duchess is absent.
She chuckles for a moment, "Have a bit of wine first," Hefina hands him a goblet, "It adds to the effect and will calm your nerves." After he has finished that, he is handed his gambeson and chainmail. "Just carry it. Ethan is waiting outside to walk with you in case you encounter Elaine again."
Lancelot nods his thanks and quickly leaves the room. He never expected to go through all of this when he first became a Knight of Caerleon.
After Arthur sends Merlin home and sets guards to keep watch over the grain, he returns to his chambers with. He's surprised when he sees Morgana standing by the window.
Arthur asks, "What are doing here?"
"You still haven't told me what's going on," she answers. Only he, the king, Gaius, Merlin, and the Council know what the situation truly is. The knights, the court, and the people were not told anything, simply to ration food and preserve water. Uther and Gaius refused to tell her anything, so she has come to Arthur.
The prince exhales while unbuckling his sword belt. "You should be asleep-" he starts, but then recalls something, "How did you even get in here, I have guards at your door?"
She smirks, "Estella has taught me a few more things than the arts of combat."
Arthur balks at that statement, wondering if he's imagining the tone that suggests an underlying meaning. 'Has Estella…?' The prince shakes his head; he is not going to finish that thought. Especially since Morgana is here… in his candlelit chambers… at night… in her nightgown… He clears his throat, his mouth dry from thirst and something else he's trying to ignore.
Steeling himself, he sits down and then begins to recount the tale of the unicorn he killed, the sorcerer named Anhora who told him that he cursed Camelot by the killing the creature, the tests that he will apparently be put through, and finally the thief that he allowed to have a sack of grain.
Morgana was silent as Arthur spoke, when he finishes, she speaks. "You don't believe in the curse." She knows him and he's not the superstitious type.
Arthur scoffs, "Of course not, the idea is absolutely ridiculous. I would never bring suffering upon my own people."
"I know," she pauses, "But sometimes, our actions cause consequences that we never intend to happen."
He looks up at her, "Since when do you worry about consequences?"
Morgana shakes her head. "This isn't about me, Arthur, it's you. Whether you believe in the curse or not, whether it is real or not, the famine and drought are real. All this may be a coincidence, but then again it may not be."
"Morgana, please, not you, too." He's had enough of Merlin constantly saying this to him.
She gives him a stern look. "Just listen to me. The thief's last words, "this will bring its own reward" it has to mean something."
He sighs, "Morgana…"
Of course, she didn't expect him to believe what she is speculating, but still let it be in his mind. She places her hand on his shoulder. "Just consider it."
Arthur is silent as he puts his hand on hers. "It's late, you should go to sleep." He softly kisses her knuckles; she caresses his cheek and then leaves him to his thoughts.
The drought has miraculously ended, but famine has not. There are people coming into the citadel and adding more to those already queuing outside the grain store. Morgana walks among them with Arthur.
"Who are they?" she asks, indicating the new arrivals.
The prince glances sideways at her. "They've come from the outlying villages in search of food." He sighs. "There's not enough rations to feed the people who are already here."
The Lady looks at him sympathetically. "Don't blame yourself." She takes his hand. "I know you're doing everything you can."
Arthur gives her soft smile and squeezes her fingers. "It is not enough, though." He lets go of her hand and goes to check on the guard as Gwen approaches Morgana.
"Did you manage to find any food?" the Lady asks her friend. Gwen discreetly pulls a cloth back from her basket revealing some bread. "Where did you get that?"
"I was able to smuggle it out of the palace kitchens." She answers.
Morgana nods. "Share it out amongst the children and elder people." The younger woman begins to do so and she adds, "Make it go as far as you can."
The Lady then goes to help share water and blankets amongst the people.
That night, Arthur sits sulking in his chair while Merlin pours some meat stew into a bowl.
"Lost my appetite," He says glumly.
"You have to eat something." Merlin insists.
"I can't." The prince shakes his head, "Not while my people are starving." He pauses, remembering his conversation with Morgana the night before. She hadn't said it outright, but he knew what she meant – that the thief stealing the grain was a test. He allowed the man to have the grain and today the water returned, so there is a possibility that she could be right. Making his decision he says to Merlin, "We're going to the forest, first thing in the morning. Maybe we can pick up Anhora's trail, whatever it takes."
The servant looks amazed to hear that. "What changed your mind?"
Arthur straightens in his chair, "Something Morgana said." Merlin silently laughs, he should've known.
His master, he knows, is an honorable man with a dutiful mind, who always follows the orders of his father and the rules of court. His cousin seems to be the same, but then there is Morgana, who is truly a free spirit, unchained by any rules of office, and reveling in her ability to speak out against decisions that she disagrees with. But she probably knows Arthur better than anyone, challenging him with the possibility that he could be a better, more compassionate ruler than his father and, despite the outward dismissal that Arthur often gives her arguments, Merlin knows that Arthur's spirits is always lifted when he has Morgana's approval.
The prince gives his servant a look, "What?"
Merlin shakes his head, "Nothing, you should eat. You won't be able to help anyone if you're too weak to pass the test." He then walks to put the pot on an adjacent table.
Arthur takes a bite and his brow immediately furrows. "What kind of meat is this?" Merlin slowly turns back. "It has a very strange texture."
Keeping a straight face, the warlock answers, "It's pork."
The prince shakes his head, "This isn't pork. It's far too stringy. What is it? It's, erm..." As he stirs the stew, a realization comes to him. Looking up at Merlin, "It's rat, isn't it?"
The younger man presses his lips together and nods. "Try not to think about it." He advises.
Arthur puts down his spoon and deeply drinks water, hoping to take away the texture of the meat. Merlin approaches him, "Look at me, I'm being rude." His tone is colored with sarcasm, "Here I am, stuffing my face with this delicious stew when you're hungry, too." Getting up from his chair, "Come on. Take a seat." Arthur forces Merlin down into the chair and commands him to eat.
The warlock closes his eyes and takes a bite, forcing himself to chew and swallow. He begins to shake as he prepares to take another bite the prince helps him a bit. Merlin holds his fist against his mouth, trying desperately not spit out the meat. "It's actually pretty tasty." He says with the meat clenched between his teeth.
"Well, I'm glad you like it. Because..." Arthur fetches the pot of stew, "...there's plenty more."
There is a knock at the door and Merlin is almost relieved. The prince calls for whoever it is to enter and the door opens. Arthur turns around and his eyes seem to light up, "Morgana?"
"I hate to ask," she starts hesitantly, "But I was wondering if you had anything to eat." She had Gwen take all the food she had to give to the people, ignoring the fact that she has barely eaten a thing in three days.
Arthur pauses, contemplating whether it is the best idea or not to give her the stew. Merlin smiles knowing what he is thinking.
Before the prince answers Morgana speaks again. "I don't like that look, Merlin."
The servant immediately stops smiling, "I don't know what you mean, Lady Morgana."
She narrows her eyes and steps into the room, shutting the door and catching sight of the stew. "What is that?"
"Something to eat," Arthur tells her.
She gives him a dry look, "Really, what is it?"
The prince roughly puts his hand on Merlin's shoulder, "Go on Merlin tell her."
The dark-haired boy winces, "It's rat."
The Lady cringes, "While that is rather inventive-"
"It's disgusting," Arthur intercedes.
Before anyone can say anything further, there is another knock at the door. "Yes?" the prince calls.
Sir Leon enters; he bows to Morgana and then addresses Arthur, "A letter from Caerleon, Sire." The prince takes the letter, breaks the seal, and begins to read.
His face darkens. "What is it?" Morgana asks with concern.
"I sent word to Estella about the famine; she reported that her duchy is not cursed and promised to send us extra provisions." He crumbles the parchment. "The company was attacked, Sir Ethan was the only survivor and Agravaine refuses to send another party. He's had the duchy sealed from anyone leaving and entering until our problems are over with."
Arthur tosses the letter into the fire and everyone is silent as the parchment burns.
Morgana gasps in her sleep as her dreams continue to haunt her. She sees images of the people of Camelot – all of them crawling in the streets, dying of starvation, thirst, and sickness. She sees the city burning, the knights being cut down one by one. The flames surround her, burn her, but then everything turns black… save for a twinkling light ahead.
She approaches it cautiously. When she is close enough, she sees that it is a silver key floating in the darkness. Morgana turns the key and images start to flood her mind.
Her body begins to tremble and thrash as she sees two identical, dark-haired women with emerald eyes, a young Estella standing before her, her usually gray eyes glowing amber, her own young self prancing through the forest as flower petals dance around her magically… magic, the very thing her guardian despises, the very thing she suspects herself of possessing, the very thing (she now remembers) that flows in her veins – magic.
Morgana opens her eyes and starts up from the mattress. In the darkness, she catches sight of her reflection and her amber glowing eyes begin to fade back to crystal green.
She leans back against the pillows, struggling to breathe while pushing her sweat-soaked hair out of her face.
A sound in her chambers makes her jump. Near her window, stands one of the women she saw in her mind, "Mother."
Vivienne walks over to her daughter and puts her hand to the younger woman's clammy forehead. "Are you alright?" Morgana nods. "The memories hit you at full force, but you won't be able to recall them all for awhile."
She looks at her mother, "Why did you do it? Why did you take all my memories of who I am and lock them in my mind for over half a decade?"
The older woman looks pained. "I had to, my love, to protect you."
Morgana pulls away. "So I can be left to suffer not knowing what I truly am and fearing for my life as I live under the roof of a man who hates magic?"
Shaking her head, "No, Estella was supposed to be here when this happened, but her magic only strengthen the barrier in your mind, so she had to be away."
Tears prick at the corners of Morgana's eyes. "Estella, she… she knew… and she ne-"
"She couldn't tell you, because you wouldn't understand until the barrier was broken and she couldn't break barrier because it was not her magic that put it up." Vivienne stares her daughter down with her emerald. "Don't blame your cousin. If you want to hate someone, you may hate me, my child. But Estella is faultless, she was against this."
Morgana looks away, "I need to be alone." Vivienne leaves with the howl of the harsh, cold wind. The Lady pulls her covers around her shoulders, unsure and confused of everything in her life now.
Estella silently walks through the forest in search of the Keeper of the Unicorns. She does not need to be here, she knows that Merlin is on his way for the exact same purpose as she. But she needed to get out. Her Uncle Agravaine truly put Caerleon under lock and key. No one enters and no leaves, everyone stays in their homes or chambers and only the guards roam the streets to ensure this.
The duchess was able to sneak out of the castle through a secret passageway hidden within her chambers. No one knows of it, except for her mother, her aunt, and… him. She presses her fingers to her temples, trying to dispel these forbidden thoughts that have come to her ever since that encounter.
Really, she thought (hoped) that she buried all these emotions that relate to him in any way. He meant nothing; he means nothing… and yet their meeting in the Forests of Essetir… She can't but wonder if he recognized her at all. She really had not been paying attention. For her part, she was just keen to get away.
Doing her hardest to push all this to the back of her mind, Estella thinks back to her uncle, she could have stopped him from decreeing the lockdown, she is the Duchess her word overrules his… but for her 'defiance' Agravaine would have made the people suffer and she could not have that.
She kicks the ground in frustration. Even with her title and power, she is still nothing. Her knights and Hefina are the only ones with true loyalty to her in Caerleon. Elaine she could not count on (most definitely not), her uncle only keeps her so he can laze around while she does the work for the duchy, the common folk do not really know her but they have nothing against, the courtiers and guard, however, only follow her in public, but they do not accept her – she is, of course, Tristan de Bois' bastard daughter, legitimized but a bastard nonetheless and a female one at that.
And this is why Vivienne and Valeria escaped court life. They are illegitimate children as well. But they were sired at Beltane, in the time when the Old Religion ruled and illegitimacy and gender were not restrictions. And so their early life was easier, even if they had to adjust to the ways of the non-magical folk. The time around Estella's birth came to mark the beginning of the Old Religion's deterioration. The Le Fay twins lost their place in this world Estella tries to live in and again she wonders if she should take their path instead of the one she's trying to carve herself.
"My, my," she looks up to see Anhora standing before her, "How you've grown, young Le Fay."
Estella takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry; I am not here for pleasantries. I know that you do not want see people suffer, so I have come to ask for a second chance for Arthur. He is many things, but he is not one to put the blame on someone, he accepts that he is responsible for the curse and will do whatever it takes to lift it."
The sorcerer looks at her keenly. "You have great faith in Arthur."
"Of course I do, he's my cousin, my family." Her gray eyes gleam like sunlight reflecting off the steel of a sword.
"Very well then, young Le Fay. Arthur must go to the Labyrinth of Gedref. There, he will face a final test. If he fails, there is no hope. The curse will destroy Camelot." Estella nods and Anhora disappears.
Merlin then charges from his hiding place where he witnessed the whole exchange, yelling, "Wait! What kind of test will he face?"
"That is for Arthur to find out." Estella answers. The warlock looks to her in an almost pleading and curious way. "Go on, I know you were listening to the whole thing. Tell my cousin everything, but do not mention me. There isn't much time, go."
Merlin nods and races back to Camelot.
"You're not coming." The golden-haired man says firmly. "I brought this curse upon Camelot. I'm gonna be the one to lift it, or die trying."
"Alright, how does you dying help anyone?" the servant retorts.
Arthur is taken aback for a moment. "I'll… die knowing I did everything I can."
"I'm coming with you." Merlin reiterates.
The door opening interrupts Arthur. "We're coming with you."
The prince looks at the Lady dressed in a tunic and breeches incredulously. "Morgana, what the hell are you doing?"
She rolls her eyes. "Arthur, the last time you went on a mission alone you nearly didn't come back. I don't think Camelot will risk that again."
"And so the First Lady should be the one risking her life?"She narrows her eyes for his sarcasm. "How do you even know where I'm going?" Her eyes shift to Merlin and back to Arthur. The prince catches the action. He turns on his servant, "You told her?!"
Merlin defends himself, "She confronted me for information!"
Arthur sighs, frustrated, "Morgana, Merlin, you are to stay here, and help the people as best you can."
He walks swiftly to the door, but Morgana catches his arm, "Arthur-"
"Morgana, it's already my fault that my kingdom is suffering." He shakes his head, "I don't need it to be my fault if anything happens to you too." Arthur kisses her lips quickly and storms out the door.
Merlin and Morgana are stunned for a moment, the Lady from the kiss and the warlock from the sight of it. Reality catches up though. The woman looks at the servant, "Aren't we going to follow him?"
The dark-haired boy nods and they both race to the stables.
Merlin and Morgana cautiously enter the labyrinth, the latter with her sword held tightly. There were just behind Arthur the whole trip, but now they have lost him. Every way, they choose, they end up at a dead end and must turn back around.
When the two round a corner, they come across Anhora with a sword.
While Morgana stands poised to attack, Merlin speaks up, "You said Arthur would face a test. And here you are, preparing a trap for him."
"The trap isn't for Arthur. It is for you." The sorcerer points his sword straight at the young warlock, "Gehæftan."
Merlin is wrapped in vines from the labyrinth hedges. "Let him go," Morgana demands, pointing her blade at Anhora.
"I have no intentions of harming him, my Lady," the elder man tells the woman.
She inches closer to Merlin, "Then why trap him? And what of me?" The sorcerer does not seem to be trying to make any move against her.
"I have no quarrel with you. You will soon discover the reason for the boy's entrapment."
...
Arthur continues to run through the labyrinth until he comes to the exit. He starts walking on the shore and finds Merlin sitting at a table with Morgana and Anhora standing nearby.
The prince's heart quickens when his eyes spot Morgana. Looking at the sorcerer "Let them go. I'll take your test, but not till they are released."
The elder man answers calm, "The Lady Morgana is here of her own free will, I cannot force her from here if that is not her wish, however, Merlin is part of the test." He gestures to the empty chair, "Please sit. If you refuse the test, you will have failed and Camelot will be destroyed."
The prince takes a seat, "Let's get on with it."
"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."
The Lady looks at Anhora with worry, but Arthur only appears confused and demands. "What kind of ridiculous test is that? What does that prove?"
"What it proves is for you to decide. If you pass the test, the curse will be lifted." He answers. Glancing at Morgana, "I'm sorry, my Lady, but you are not part of the test, so you may not speak. If you interfere, Camelot will suffer."
And so she helplessly watches and listens as Merlin and Arthur discuss back and forth what to do. Her memories are still coming back to her in sleeping and waking moments. All of the sudden, she sees Arthur drink from a goblet and falls off the chair, unconscious.
She and Merlin run to him at the same time, shouting his name, despairingly.
Anhora comes to their side, "He is not dead. He's merely consumed a sleeping draught. He will come round shortly." The two look at the Keeper bewilderedly and so he explains, "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, Merlin. He has proven what is truly in his heart. The curse will be lifted."
Arthur lays the unicorn's horn in a burial mound of stones. "I should never have ended your life. I'm sorry."Morgana her hand on his shoulder and they share a soft smile.
The two of them and Merlin begin laying stones over the grave. The latter looks up and sees a unicorn.
"Morgana, Arthur..." the two look toward the direction he is looking. Sure enough, a few feet away, stands the majestic creature.
An old saying that she and Arthur read in a book comes to mind, "When he who kills a unicorn proves himself to be pure of heart, the unicorn will live again."
The prince and his Lady share another smile, as Merlin watches the unicorn seemingly bow to the two and then walk away.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading, please review.