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On the surface it seemed the king had died naturally. He had retired to his chambers and been found dead the next morning. Uther Pendragon seemed to have been asleep and couldn't be roused. Merlin recounts the bits of information he's overhead from nobles, servants, and citizens of Camelot. Yes, there are dark murmurings of magic being the cause of the king's demise. More speculation involves poison as the reason for his death. Uther Pendragon was certainly a man who inspired strong emotions. He was despised by some, admired by many more, but he did not seem to be a monarch who inspired the love of his subjects. Most of them found him just, in his way, but stern.

In the short time he's been in Camelot, Merlin hasn't been able to learn much. He'd learned from Alan, who is servant to Sir Bedivere, that Cador of Cornwall had come to pay his respects at Uther's death. Mostly though, people murmur that he just wanted to make sure Uther Pendragon was dead. There have been chilly relations between Camelot and, its one time ally, Cornwall since the death of Gorlois, Cador's father. The young man seems to still blame Uther for causing Gorlois's death by not sending reinforcements.

Merlin remembers Alan recounting of Cador's stirring speech, seemingly to flatter Uther's memory, but instead, subtly undercutting the king's character at every chance. The Queen looked pale as wax and it seemed she would melt in upon herself just like wax. She clutched at her son's arm. As for the new king, Arthur, it was all he could do to keep himself in check. He bore the effrontery well, despite the fact the tension of his clenched jaw was evident for everyone to see. Alan did say that you had to give Cador his due. You could see how men would follow him. What ally he would make for Camelot.

It's a wonderment to Merlin if Sir Bedivere really approves of such a loquacious and open servant as Alan. It seems to Merlin that a knight really might prefer a more circumspect servant. The man was a bigger font of gossip than most women. It seems that Duke Cador had come to Camelot with a small retinue of knights. Folk did wonder about his leaving Cornwall with his slippery, old kinsman Mark, who styled himself king, behind. Maybe Cador trusted his lady wife to keep things tidy. Talk was that she was a witch, a sea witch, if you please. A sea witch, perfect for Cornwall, Alan supposed. Well, Alan prattled on, that the Cornish dukes had a taste for witchy women; they liked their women to have the "Sight" especially.

It amuses Merlin to think if he were a woman that there might be hope of marriage into the noble house of Cornwall. The young man's gaze is caught by two young, lovely blond women engaged in conversation as they walk. They are Helfina whose hair is a rich, ruddy gold and the taller, white-blond Camille. Merlin quite likes Helfina, who has been nothing but helpful and kind to both him and Freya. As for Camille, she's polite enough, but the woman is beyond circumspect, being downright inscrutable. They approach and Camille smiles and says, "Merlin, I've seen so little of you since we arrived in Camelot. You've been inquiring about the late king, I suppose."

"Is that what you've been doing?" Merlin asks.

"That's what we've all been doing," interjects Helfina. "I really must be on my way to deliver this fever draught to the Lady Ygraine," are her parting words as she takes her leave.

As Merlin watches the maids retreating back, Camille regards him. He notices and asks, "Is there something amiss about my appearance?"

Camille smiles, "No, not at all. Merlin, have you heard any rumors of sorcery in regard to the king's death?"

"Yes, a few but it seems that there are always rumors of sorcery running through Camelot?"

"Is that what Alan says?'" Camille continues, "He seems to be a well known source of gossip in Camelot."

"Have you spoken to him?"

"I've spoken more to Sir Bedivere and Sir Kay. Did you know that the Princess Guinevere and her retinue were here on a state visit when Uther Pendragon died?"

"No, I didn't," Merlin replies. "How exactly would that tie into magic?"

"It wouldn't, at least not in regard to Guinevere." Camille sighs. "It would seem the princess and King Uther shared a similar dim view of the practice of magic. It was a contributing factor in the king's choice of the Princess Guinevere over the Princess Mithian of Nemeth to be betrothed to the then Prince Arthur. Nemeth would have been a more valuable alliance than Cameliard. But . . . King Leodegrance, his daughter Guinevere, and her brother Elyan all share a dim view of magic."

"Camille, do you know who was in Princess Guinevere's escort?"

"Her brother, a small company of knights, her ladies-in-waiting . . ."

"So both Elyan and Guinevere were here when King Uther died?"

"Yes."

"A possibility, but we still have nothing. Maybe magic wasn't involved, but maybe magic can help us solve the mystery," Merlin wonders.

"Merlin," Camille places her hand on Merlin's arm. "Magic exists all around us. It is neither good nor evil in and of itself; however, it is to be respected. There is a balance. No spell is done without cost, they is always a stress on the spell caster. Magic does not serve us, we serve it. It must not be used indiscriminately. Please, Merlin, please head my words."

At this she abruptly turned and glided off like a swan drifting across a lake. The admiring gazes of men of all classes follow her. What a strange woman Merlin thought, beautiful though. Not his type, Merlin wondered if Camille were anyone's type. She may be as fair the blackthorn tree, with her hair like its creamy white blossoms, and eyes like its sloe plums, but she was far to odd. Besides there was Freya, small, sweet, wonderfully pretty Freya.

Freya. She led to another question. Why was she being pursued by the knights of Camelot?


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