This is where the story seems to get really serious. Because this chapter is going to be so long, I have to put it into two parts. So hopefully it all goes well. And I'm really sorry but there's going to be a lot of speech in this. Anyway that's apologising over... so I'll get on with the story.
Chapter 6: The Labyrinth Of Gedref (part 1)
Arthur, Merlin and several knights were out in the forest hunting, it wasn't often that they got a kill, so today as any other hunting day they were hoping for the best.
Arthur remaining low, signalled for his knights to go off in separate directions, the only person left was Merlin.
"Merlin" He whispered
"What is it?" He asked carrying all of the bags which were needed.
"Don't know....we'll surround it. I want you to go in there and flush it out" Arthur ordered Merlin
"You want me to go in there, you said you don't know what it is, it could be dangerous." Replied a scared Merlin
"Let's hope so. Now go on" Arthur said pushing Merlin in front of him and going off in another direction. As Merlin slowly and quietly made his way through the woods, being careful what he stood on, he picked up a nearby branch which lay on the ground to the right of him. He gently pushed aside branches which were in the way, and then out of now where he was blessed with a beautiful sight. There standing in front of him was a unicorn. Out of the corner of his eye Merlin could see Arthur coming up from above on a hill.
"Go. GO" Urging the unicorn to go away, but it just stood there, not knowing the danger it was in. "They're gonna kill you. Please go!" Merlin said again, hoping the unicorn would run away. "Arthur NO!" It was too late, Arthur had shot an arrow, which went whirling through the trees and into one of the hind legs of the unicorn. Merlin crouched down to cradle the head of the dead unicorn. "I'm sorry" He whispered.
"Ha-ha! It's a unicorn" Laughed Arthur in amazement.
"What have you done?" replied Merlin
"Don't be such a girl Merlin" Arthur said sharply. "Now come on"
When they returned to Camelot, the first thing they did was follow Arthur to the great hall, where his father awaited his return.
"Father! A unicorn's horn to grace the walls of Camelot" Pronounced Arthur as he handed the horn over to his father.
"Magnificent. It is the first one I have seen.... Gaius, look at this" He said turning to face his physician.
"It is very impressive my lord" Gaius said with a hint of disappointment to his voice.
"What is it Gaius? Speak your mind"
"Unicorn's are rare and mystical creatures. There is a legend that bad fortune comes to anyone who slays one." He replied.
"Nonsense, We will be the envy of every kingdom" Uther said, patting his son proudly on the shoulder.
"I am pleased you like it.
After, Uther had dismissed the court, to examine the unicorn's horn. Merlin and Gaius went out in the courtyard.
"I don't see how Arthur could of taken pleasure from killing the unicorn" Merlin said sorrowfully.
"To hunt is in his blood something entirely different" Gaius reminded Merlin.
"It was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I wish you had been there." sighed Merlin.
"It's a rare privilege. Alas, there are few unicorns still alive."
"You try telling that to Arthur" laughed Merlin.
"I can imagine it would be difficult" Gaius replied walking away, and Merlin going off in a different direction.
Later on in the day Merlin returned to Arthur's chambers to finish off his chores, but was saddened when he was loaded with more, however he take several minutes to gaze out of the window.
"My horse threw a shoe. Take it to the blacksmith. Make sure he does a good job. And when you've done that you can polish my..... Saddle" He turned around to locate Merlin, he noticed him looking out of the window. "Merlin!" That got his attention. "Have you listened to a word I said?" Arthur questioned. "You have a face like a wounded bear ever since we got back from that hunting trip. Don't tell me you're still upset about the unicorn?"
"I don't think you should have killed it."
"Oh, really? And why is that?" Arthur asked.
"It was... It was doing no harm. What purpose did you serve by killing it?"
"We were hunting. That's what you do. Would you have me bring it home as a pet?" Arthur said with a sarcastic tone, and heading over towards to his bed.
"Look at this" Arthur ordered.
"What?" he asked
"Do you know what that is?" Arthur asked.
"No" answered Merlin. Arthur grabbed hold of the back of Merlin's head and pulled him down.
"Rat droppings. My chambers are invested. You need to spend less time worrying about unicorns and more time worrying about rats" Arthur shouted letting go of Merlin. There came a knock at the door. "Enter" Arthur called, and a knight stepped in.
"My lord, the king requests your service as a matter of urgency" and then knight left. Arthur began to follow but turned around again to add;
"Find that rat"
Uther and Arthur were stood in the middle of a dead crop field, expecting the state of the grain.
"Every single ear has died. We have received reports that it is the same throughout the kingdom" Uther informed Arthur, holding the grain, and rubbing it between his fingers.
"I rode through this valley yesterday. The crop looked healthy then" Arthur said stretching out his arm and pointing to where he had rode the day before.
"It happened overnight"
"Is it a disease of some kind?" questioned Arthur.
"I have asked the court physician to run some tests. We must ration what little food we have left" Uther ordered walking back to his horse.
Meanwhile Gaius and Merlin were discussing what this outbreak was.
"Any ideas what caused the crops to die?" Merlin asked Gaius.
"No disease I know of could spread through the kingdom in one night." Gaius replied carrying on with his tests.
"What could kill all the plants?"
"It is not killing ALL the plants. The trees and hedges are unharmed. Unfortunately, you can't eat trees and hedges" explained Gaius
" It's only killing the plants we can eat" suggested Merlin.
"It appears so"
"If it's not a disease, it must be magic" informed Merlin
"We can't assume that, Merlin. Perhaps there is something in the soil or water that can explain it. I can't tell the king it's caused by sorcery until I am certain." Notified Gaius.
To ensure that the kingdom did not run out of food, people had to line up, and wait their turn, to be given their rations. Alongside the line Arthur and Uther were discussing their current situation.
"The livestock is either dying or has been eaten. Food and water is scarce and we are distributing rations but they are meagre. Arthur said to the king.
"This is all the grain we have?" he asked
"The people are growing scared. There has been some looting." Explained Arthur
"We must maintain order at all costs. Panic will make the situation worse. I will issue a decree that looters will be executed. From tonight, Camelot will be under curfew,"
"I will see it" insured Arthur, and the king strode off.
Merlin was on his way to Arthur's chambers when he passed Gwen who was fetching some water from the well.
"Merlin is it true about the crops dying?" She asked worried
"I'm afraid so. We're going to have to tighten our belts" he answered.
"I'm sure Arthur will think of something" she smiled, thinking about him, she hadn't seen or spoken to him in over a week now.
"And if he doesn't, I will" He smile at her and walking off, peed that she had to go and mention Arthur.
Gwen placed her bucket under the well, and pulled on the lever. However it was not water that came out it was sand.
"Merlin?" she called. Merlin poked his head around the side of the wall, and looked at what was being deposited, with a look of pure amazement.
Merlin and Gwen had gone to fetch the king and prince, to show them there latest discovery.
"Sand? And you say the well is full of it?" asked the king.
"I sent men down to the underground reservoir. There is no trace of water to be found." Arthur explained.
"First the crops, and now this."
"It is the same throughout the kingdom. There is precious little water anywhere"
"Gaius, can you offer any explanation for this?" Uther turned and asked Gaius.
"I cannot think of a scientific explanation. I can only conclude that these events are the result of sorcery," he told Uther.
"You are right," agreed the king. "The kingdom is under attack."
When Gaius returned from his meeting with the king he walked into Merlin's room, to find him practising spells over a bucket of sand.
"Greot gecuman leccan" again the spell had not worked like hundreds of others that Merlin had tried.
"Gecuman gedryc waeter" came another spell which surprisingly did not work. Gaius came along and sat on the bed beside Merlin.
"I was... I was just," stuttered Merlin trying to explain why he was practising magic, Gaius did not like Merlin using his magic often, so it was a surprise when he heard what Gaius said next.
"I was hoping you may have been trying to turn it back into water. I know I have cautioned against using magic. But if ever there was a time to use your talents, it's now."
"I wish I knew how, I've tried everything. If it is magic. It is more powerful magic than I possess.
That night Arthur sent his guards out on watch, to make sure no one was out and breaking the curfew.
"Merlin! You do realise there's a curfew?" Arthur asked noticing Merlin walking across the courtyard.
"Yeah, I was in your chambers, hunting for that rat," smiled Merlin
"Did you find it?"
"No" Merlin shook his head.
"So you have been outwitted by a rat?" questioned Arthur
"They do say rats are very intelligent." Was the excuse he used next.
"More intelligent than you, it would seem. Go home. It'd be embarrassing to lock up my own servant for breaking the curfew!" All of a sudden Arthur and Merlin caught a glimpse of a hooded figure entering the castle.
"What was that?" Arthur asked chasing after it, followed by Merlin. They followed and tried to cut the intruder off in the passageways, but he seemed to have vanished. The two were startled when he suddenly reappeared behind them.
"Who are you?" asked Arthur.
"I am Anhora," replied the cloaked man, "keeper of the unicorns. You alone are responsible for the misfortune that has befallen Camelot."
"Me?" echoed Arthur, incredulously. "You think I would bring famine and drought upon my own people?"
"When you killed the unicorn, you unleashed a curse," Anhora explained. "For this, Camelot will suffer greatly."
"Undo the curse, or face execution," Arthur threatened.
"Only you can do that," said the sorcerer, remaining calm. "You will be tested. If you fail, Camelot will be damned for all eternity."
Arthur lunged forward to grab Anhora, but he was gone.
The next day Arthur and Merlin were in Arthur's chambers, and Arthur was putting his boots on, and happened to put his finger through a newly discovered hole.
"That....rat! It's eaten through my boot. Look at it!" He exclaimed walking over to Merlin.
"I guess the rat must be as hungry as the rest of us" smirked Merlin.
"You think this is funny?" asked Arthur.
"Moderately" As soon as the word left Merlin's mouth, Arthur threw the boot at him.
"Get it mended, and find that rat" he ordered and left the room, to go and meet the king.
In the great hall there were many knights sat around the giant table with the king.
"And you believe what this Anhora said about the curse to be true?" Asked the king.
"Yes father I do" answered Arthur.
"Without food and water we will not survive for long, you must put an end to it"
"Yes father" Arthur replied nodding his head. There came a knock at the door.
"Enter" called the king, and entered Merlin.
"Arthur can I borrow you for a minute" Arthur followed Merlin out of the great hall.
"Arthur quick come with me"
"Merlin, tell me what is going on!"
"There is no time" he replied and they both began to run. By the end they had finished off at merlins chambers.
"Come in" beckoned Merlin. As they both entered it became clear there was someone lying on the bed, clearly dying. It was only when they got closer that Arthur realised it was Gwen.
I'm so sorry to stop there, but it took me like ages to write this, and it seemed like the perfect to finish the chapter I hope you all enjoyed and please R&R xx