Arthur listened to Merlin's footsteps as he raced up the stairs leading to Gauis' apartment. His fingers traced "GUINEVERE" in a fine coating of dust. His blue eyes harden with contempt as he remembered his desperate love for her, and her betrayal with Merlin. She loved him; it was always Merlin, not him. The inside of Arthur's mouth ached; his teeth gnawing on the tender flesh of his cheek.

Merlin was surprised to see Arthur sitting at Gauis' table; a fading sun streaked across his face. Merlin closed the door with a loud thump. He noticed Arthur didn't jump or acknowledge his presence. Merlin realized that Arthur was enraged by his stiff posture. His body frozen like ice.

Merlin dropped his bag on the floor as he sighed in exhaustion. "Gwen is safe. She's back to normal, full size."

Arthur's eyes stared at Merlin. "Where is she?"

The question was soft. Merlin detected the slight threat hidden in Arthur's words. Merlin met Arthur's heated gaze. "She's safe. I placed her in the Lovers' tower. When the time is right, Gwen will return to Camelot."

Arthur's fingers tapped a beat that matched Merlin's pounding heart. "What gave you the authority to place my Guinevere in a tower?'

"I thought about her safety, Arthur. Somebody had to think about her safety, Arthur," Merlin spat angrily."

"Oh, that' what you call it, Merlin. You're concerned about her safety… Guinevere is that important to you," Arthur inquired.

Merlin wiped his chin. "Gwen was my first friend in Camelot. She's special to me."

"Do you love her?'

"I love her as a friend. I'm not in love with Gwen. The real question, are you in love with her?"

Chairs crashed to the floor; tumblers rolled over the table when Arthur rushed from his chair and grabbed Merlin by his tunic. Arthur flung his friend into a stone wall. Merlin's back landed with a thud. Merlin's mind clouded with apprehension; he was shocked by Arthur's violence. Something was off, different, dark, and uncontrollable in Arthur. It just wasn't Gwen's absence.

"What did you say, Merlin," Arthur sneered.

Merlin's jaw set. "I asked if you truly love Gwen."

"How could you even ask," Arthur's hands tightened their grip on Merlin's tunic. "My heart belongs to her, 'Arthur roared. "She means everything to me."

"Why are you so careless with her?'

"I'm not." Arthur's face slowly colored. "I watch over her."

"Arthur," Merlin tried to reason," she was afraid to come here. She came here because she loved you. She turned into a min Gwen. She wasn't bigger than a rat. She's afraid. She's safe in the tower."

"You have no right to hide her from me… again. I need Guinevere."

Merlin's shoulders dropped. "We have to protect her."

Arthur banged Merlin against the wall. "I thought she was dead! Lost to me, forever… you, Gawain, Gauis, and Elyan lied to me… You caught her away. I was in so much pain. You watched my misery. Did you enjoy it?"

"No, Arthur. I did not enjoy your pain. She cried for you. I heard her sobbing as I walked away."

"I want to see her.

"No, right now, you sound like a desperate man. You'll scare her."

Arthur released Merlin; his large hands pulled at his hair. "You don't … understand... something is going on Merlin. I saw you with her, I wanted to kill you. Hot flashes of jealousy and hate; I need to see her."

"I lost the love of my life, Arthur. Trust me."

"You don't love her."

"No."

Arthur shrugged. 'Forgive me, Merlin."

"I understand."

Merlin watched Arthur depart his chamber. He knew something was deathly wrong with Arthur. He needed to find Gauis.

Morgause stood by Lake Avalon; her eyes closed tightly as she absorbed the magical energy of Avalon. Her inner powers were in conflict with each other. She decided to ignore the voices. She brightened when Morgana appeared before her. Her cold heart warmed when Morgana slipped her arms around her waist.

"How are you, Sister?"

Morgana grinned devilishly. She clasped Morgause's cold hands. "Camelot is different, Sister. Arthur challenged Uther, in front of the Council. I heard him yelling at Merlin."

Morgause stared a hauntingly bright full moon. "Is Arthur challenging Uther? Perhaps, the golden Prince will rid Camelot of Uther. Help him sister."

"Of course.

"Meet me here in a few days time."

"Is it safe?"

"Yes, I'll transform into an animal. Don't worry."

"Igraine," Hecate began," I'm sorry to keep you in this little glass prison. Your punishment is over, for now." Igraine's eyes glued to Arthur's erratic behavior. They forced her to watch her beloved child slow descend into madness. She didn't want to gaze upon the horror of Hecate's face.

Igraine watched Arthur's inner turmoil; she felt Hecate's cold black eyes, absorbing her emotions.

"Igraine, you cannot play favorites with your son."

Igraine rolled her eyes. "He's in pain. What's wrong with him?"

Hecate's dark laughter chilled Igraine's body. "A shard of Alvarr's mirror is lodged in Arthur's heart. A kiss of true love, can save him, melt it away."

Igraine exhaled. "What must I do to save my child?"

Hecate smiled. "Something quite easy."

'What?'

"Murder Uther Pendragon."

Igraine paled. "Why?"

"We want to chat with Uther. We grow impatient waiting on his death."

Igraine lowered her head. "How?'

"A knife in his heart."

"I well comply with your request."

A/N: Hecate is a Greek goddess of witchcraft. Big changes next chapter. Cenred comes for a visit! A bit of a little Mermaid!