I wrote this when the power went out in my house. I apologize for any and all Spelling mistakes ahead of time. I know there are several.

Anyway, I do not own Merlin or any of the characters, just the plot.

Chapter 3

Arthur was furious! He had been stuck in the guest rooms of this palace, castle or whatever this place was for who knows how long. It could have been days, weeks or perhaps a month that he had been stuck there and he was getting tired of his limited accommodations. Sure, his rooms were spacious, elegant and far more welcoming than anything he had as king of Camelot, but something was strange. He was permitted access to several of the gardens, walkways and rooms of his gilded cage; he had been assigned numerous servants and given everything he could think of. "Other than freedom," he snorted.

Shaking his head with a huff to clear his thoughts, he tried to dismiss the feeling of having been in this place for years. Unable to contain his rage any longer, he began wreaking havoc on his surroundings. He picked up chairs, tables, ornaments, anything he could get his hands on. With ferocious screams, he fought off the servants that tried to stop him. He reached for a familiar looking glossed vase, when it suddenly flew from his hands and into the arms of the cloaked figure standing in the doorway.

"My Lord, I would you suggest you not try to destroy the Master's prized possessions. You are a guest here and you should act as one," the bodyguard or servant that followed the man admonished.

Furious at being addressed in such a way, Arthur replied with as much acid as he could. "And just who is this Lord, King or God I've been hearing so much about and what does he want with me," he demanded. "I have been stuck here for-for..." he stopped to ponder just how long exactly? Before he shook the thoughts from his head. "I want out!"

He glared at the servant that dared to admonish him like a petulant child; what was his name? Elta or some such? Finally, his eyes moved towards the dark-cloaked figure. Arthur concluded that the cloaked man was important if the head servant had gone to fetch this man in answer to his furious demands. Turning his full attention once more to the figure, he tried to absorb as much as he could about them as possible through their cloak. It was obvious they were trying to hide their appearance for some reason or other and they seemed ancient by the way they carried themselves; tall and regal, but weary in the shoulders as if carrying a large burden years in the making.

"Who are you old man?" Arthur demanded. "I wish to see the master of this place." The figure turned to face him, straightened their shoulders and took a menacing step forward. Fear slowly crept into the back of Arthur's mind. He did not know this man; he did not know what he was capable of. All he knew was that all of these servants worshipped the man.

A voice coming from the hollow darkness of the hood nearly made Arthur jump. "I have been informed that you do not find your accommodations to be…pleasing." The voice spoke with so much power, but it was underlined by weariness. Arthur was almost sorry to have made the servant drag him away from whatever he was doing. It was obvious from the way the man (as Arthur would NEVER mistake such a voice for the female variety; lest Morgana smack him upside the head) spoke, that he was attempting to hide his fatigue. "I ask once more, who are you?" Arthur demanded.

The voice croaked out from the cloak "I am called many things my Lord. Some call me Emrys the immortal one; others call me the Commander of Fate. Some call me the King of Life and magic, but most," he paused. "Most call me Death, and you have called for me. How may I help you King Arthur?"

Arthur was all but certain his heart had stopped and his blood had frozen in his veins. What this man was saying was terrifying and sounded like the babble of a lunatic. The worst part however, is that I believe every word this man is saying.

Trying to conceal his fear, Arthur screamed in rage at the man. "You can help me by bloody letting me out of this place! Better yet, fetch me my sword so I can remove your head from where it currently resides. I do not have time to sit here with a crazed… whatever you call yourself!"

At the end of his outburst, Arthur suddenly realized that he had grabbed the ancient man by the collar of his cloak and had him in a chokehold as he shouted his rage into his face. Slowly calming down Arthur lowered his voice. "I want Merlin and I want to be away from here," he whispered with a bowed head.

Movement from the edge of his vision suddenly caught his attention and he turned to his right, only to release the man in shock. All of the servants that had stood still and lifeless around his rooms until called, now stood before Arthur armed with swords and daggers. The most terrifying however, was the servant that had brought the cloaked man to him.

Where before he had seemed emotionless and passive, he now stood before Arthur with the most terrifying and stony expression the King had ever seen. However, what made the situation all that much more frightening, were the two flaming daggers and golden eyes that was expertly threating to remove Arthur from his own arms.

Never taking his eyes off Arthur, the man sidestepped protectively in front of "Death" and took a defensive stance. Realizing whom he had just assaulted and feeling slightly panicked, Arthur raised his hand in a gesture of surrender and stood awaiting his fate before the weary voice wove itself from the hollows of the cloak once more. "Ælta let him be." The servant, Ælta lowered his weapons and turned incredulous eyes upon what was clearly his master. "B-but, my Lord! He attacked you! We are sworn to guard you with our lives and serve you for eternity! He has harmed that which no man can ever comprehend! We cannot let this transgression against you go!"

Arthur was reeling from the apparent loyalty these servants had for their master, and from all that he was hearing. He was beyond confused and was starting to understand the 'no man can ever comprehend part' of the servants speech, but something about what Ælta had said was making his head pound. He could not shake the feeling that he had a connection with this man who called himself Death. His voice seemed strangely familiar, even though it was scratchy and drowned by fatigue.

However, before he could ask about his relationship with the cloaked figure, another servant burst into the room in a clear fit of panic.

"My Lord!" the servant's head whipped around until his eyes came to rest upon the cloaked man. Rushing forward the servant crashed to his knees and bowed his head. "Speak, it's obviously important," the man commanded with a concern and what sounded like, relief?

Nodding his head towards the ground the servant spoke up once more, "My Lord, Commander and King, it is Sir Gwaine." Arthur felt himself pale in concern and noticed the cloaked man stand even taller before lifting his head. "I know Faelan, he has died; his soul is waiting for me." the man replied. Arthur felt as though he had been doused in freezing water. This man truly was Death then. Suddenly Arthur was very afraid; he had acted like a violent barbarian and may have drastically offended the greatest entity to ever exist.

"Dammit Gwaine! It is far too early for you to die! You have to live to sixty this time around or else the balance will be thrown AGAIN!" the man's shout cut through Arthur's intense sulk. The man turned towards Arthur once more, "do not worry My Lord, he will be back among the living, and healthy as ever within the hour."

Arthur, still in shock and horror barely managed a nod of acknowledgement. However, he did notice when Ælta removed his master's cloak and fetched him another set of clothing. My God! Gwaine is dead? How is this man involved? Is he controlling this? Sorcery? It is possible. Arthur's thoughts trailed off and came to an abrupt halt as he took in the figure standing before him; the man was now framed in the doorway and had his body half turned towards Arthur to issue commands to the servants surrounding him. Suddenly, as if feeling Arthur's eyes upon him, the man looked up and their eyes clashed.

Arthur felt as though his world had fallen apart and suddenly rebuilt itself in a hazy jumble. The man whispered a quick "He'll be fine", before leaving with all of the servants in a rush.

Arthur found he was very much alone and confused and terrified all at once, "Merlin?"