wow, was the last chapter so bad that I got little replies? *worried* please let me know what you think.

"You're awake!" Luned spoke melodically as she came into Arthur's room with his set of clothes. "And I haven't prepared your bath. Let me hurry and gather the lavender to soak in your bath! Don't worry! It won't take long"

"That's not necessary..." Arthur said turning from the window. The bright daylight shone in, warming and awaking Arthur.

"Oh dear, you look pale!" Luned exclaimed looking at Arthur. "And you're sweating…. "Luned said becoming slightly mesmerized. Arthur raised his brows. "Well..." Luned said stroking her neck. "Don't you look so manly? Do you need me to take care of you...?"

Arthur choked on the air.

"No.. Luned... Please... just... get my bath ready..."

Disappointed, Luned shrugged her shoulders and walked out as Arthur stared. He shook his head and looked out, reminding him of why he woke up so early. He had a nightmare about Camelot going into chaos after a dark army charged in from the forest. Looking at the bustling day from his window, he didn't see anything suspicious, but he had a growing fear.

*knock knock knock*

Arthur turned around and glanced at Gwen.

"Guinevere…"

Gwen smiled in shame and looked up. "Hi Arthur.."

"I-.."

"I just wanted to say I'm… sorry," Gwen said finally. "I was just upset about Merlin… but I shouldn't have gotten mad at you."

"No…" Arthur shook his head, though feeling a rush of gratitude towards Gwen for finally forgiving him. "I want you to speak up, and I want others too. Sometimes I don't make the right decisions, and those few people who speak up.. I know deep inside they have some truth to what they are saying."

Gwen smiled slightly.

"So… how's Luned?" Gwen asked with a amused look in her gaze.

"Not Merlin.." replied Arthur amused, showing a slight sign of sadness." I didn't tell you this.. But… I went to Ealdor a few weeks ago."

Gwen looked stunned. "Ealdor? But that's in Cenreds Kingdom.."

"I know… I went to look for Merlin. I was hoping I could bring him back."

"Well, what happened? What did he say?"

"He wasn't there… his mother was worried and said he left without telling her. He left a note saying he plans to go on some sort of journey." Arthur explained. He deliberately left off information about Enygues, and her final words to him before she died.

"Maybe he needed a break from everything…" Gwen pondered on. "To take his mind off of everything that's been going on."

"Well, I hope one day he can forgive me as you had," Arthur said, smiling at Gwen. "And that way I can punch him for being the idiot he is for worrying his mother."

"I'm sure we will," smiled Gwen. "I mean, he's Merlin! He's bound to make a presence sooner than later!",

Uther and Arthur began eating breakfast, and this time the mood was dim. Uther had just learned about a villager walking in the woods near Cenreds land and getting attacked mysteriously. The villager claimed it was someone from Cenreds land, to which made Uther more nervous.

"Marlow will be reporting on what is happening in Cenreds land in the afternoon…" Uther spoke, referring to the spy they sent over to Cenreds land. "See that he is well fed and sheltered. I want him to tell us everything."

"Yes, father." Arthur said, moving his fork around in his dish in deep thought.

"What is that smell, Arthur?" Uther asked, raising his goblet for Gwen to fill.

"Lavender." Arthur replied, looking at his father with an unhappy look.

"Is that the works of your new servant, Luned.." Uther asked.

"Yes, father. And now that you've brought it up, I'd like to again request for another servant."

"Why is that? Surely you can tell Luned to stop using Lavender in your things."

"She's… becoming a distraction. I don't think I need that right now in time of this uncertainty."

"A distraction? How so.."

"Well…" Arthur said, fully aware Gwen was there and possibly listening. "It's just… "

"Yes.." Uther replied, waiting for Arthur to finish.

"You know, she's a … a woman. A women that… that's not necessarily ugly..." Arthur explained vaguely, as he looked deep down in his food.

"I see…" Uther replied. "My goodness, how time has passed. I once forgot what it was like to be your age. Of course I understand how you feel. And I suppose your right.. These days are not the best time to feel that way."

Arthur felt a rush of relief.

"Thank you father."

"I suppose I'll have to arrange for her to go back to Lady Laudine. We will need to get rid of this one here as well." Uther replied, referring to Gwen.

Arthur shot up.

"Father, no, uhm.. You don't need to get rid of her."

"Why not?" Uther asked.

"Well, … I .." Arthur struggled. What could he say?

"Is she not considered a beauty enough to distract you?"

"No- I mean.. Yes… I mean, no…" Arthur panicked, flickering his eyes between both a puzzled Uther and appalled Gwen. "I mean, I'm so used to Guinevere's presence, so… she's almost invisible to me."

Uther studied Arthur carefully.

A heightened dragging sound came from the hall outside, where a man began complaining.

"Please…stop treating me like this... I need to speak to the prince… Let mee!"

Arthur and Uther rose in their seats and pulled out their swords. Arthur strode ahead and waited for the doors to open.

As the doors swung open, a large crowd of knights came in with serious and worried looks. Sir Leon pulled his helmet off and bowed slightly to the King. He then turned to Arthur.

"Prince Arthur, someone here wants to talk to you. We were not sure what to do with him, so we brought him to you..."

Arthur looked to the other knights and sensed a fidgeting presence. Sir Leon pulled away, only to present Gawaine behind, struggling weakly from the tight grips of the knights. Pale as a ghost, with dark circles under his eyes, his jostled sweaty hair lay fretfully on his head. Gawaine glanced at Arthur weakly, his eyes drifting above, obviously losing strength and focus as he tried to catch his breath.

"Arthur... Merlin has joined Morgana… Camelot is in danger... …"