Chapter 28–Le Morte D'Arthur

Hey guys, this is the last day for the poll, seriously it closes at midnight tonight and then I will publish the next chapter straight after as I have two different versions ready and waiting, I may publish the other one as a one-shot for anyone who wants it. Anyway I don't own Merlin, but Laudine, Kay and Elizabeth are my guardian angels . Please review.

Arthur had decided to take me out on a second hunting trip with him, mostly to avoid talking to me alone. After he had left the room when he had gotten so close to proposing to me something only we knew about, oh and Merlin, he had been avoiding being alone with me. I couldn't tell whether that was because he regretted it or because he didn't want to talk about it anymore. I couldn't help but remember that the first time we had been on a hunting trip and how that had ended with a unicorn being killed and me not speaking to him for a while, but apparently Arthur either had short term memory lose or he was just choosing to try and make this time a lot better, "Merlin, spear," Arthur ordered pulling me out of my trance. Merlin threw the spear at Arthur hitting him as it went. I tried my hardest not to burst out laughing, "Do you have any natural gifts Merlin?"

"No. Well, let me think. I'm not naturally rude or insensitive," Merlin replied back cheekily.

This time I couldn't help but laugh, "Unlike some crowd Prince's obviously," I said from behind them. Arthur gave me a look that said I was going to be in trouble later, before we moved forward, in the distance their came a loud growling noise. I noticed Merlin expression change to one of fear and tightened my grip on my spear.

Arthur turned around and noticed how Merlin looked, "It's probably more scared of you than you are of it," he stated before signalling to his knights where to go. I turned around to face the direction of the noise and came face to face with a beast that I had not seen since the night my mother died. I froze on the spot unable to move as it came closer and closer, Arthur grabbed my arm and pulled me away from the creature dropping his spear as he went. All the knights took off together.

I turned around to look at the beast and saw Merlin fall to the ground, the beast loomed over him. I ran back and grabbed him by his arm along with Sir Bedivere and dragged him upright before we were off running once again. We finally came to a spot in the middle of the forest, "Have we lost it?" Merlin asked looking around for any sign of it.

"Who's missing?" Arthur questioned.

I looked around taking note of the knights who were here, "Where's Sir Bedivere?" I questioned a feeling of dread filling my gut. Then a loud gut-wrenching scream echoed through the forest. I began shaking violent without being able to control it.

"Do you know what it is?" Arthur asked me.

"It's death," I said simply not wanting to explain anymore.

It didn't take as long to get back to Camelot as it usually did maybe because we were running it rather than walking. When we reached Camelot Arthur, Merlin and I quickly walked into the council chambers where Uther was sitting with his advisors. He looked up in shock when we entered the room, "Sire we have a problem," Arthur said simply, "We were attacked on our trip. It was a weird creature made up of lizard and…"

"It was the Questing Beast," I interrupted him causing everyone to turn and stare at me, "It back. Gaius, how can it be back," I collapsed downwards without meaning to. I felt someone catch me a look up to see Arthur holding me up.

"Gaius what is wrong with her?" Arthur asked in alarm.

"When Lizzy's mother was killed by a sorceress, she was walking in the forest the day before and saw a creature that she described as being part snake, and part leopard. It was a Questing Beast the day later her mother was murdered," Laudine explained coming to stand next to me.

"Surely it's just a myth," Arthur argued.

"According to the old books, the appearance of the Question Beast is supposed to foreshadow a time of great upheaval," Gaius said as if quoting from a book.

"Gaius, it's an old wives' tale," Uther argued back.

Arthur decided to speak up, "Look, whatever it is its spreading panic. The people fear it will enter the city."

Uther nodded, "Then we must kill it. Arthur, gather the guards together. You ride at dawn."

"Sire, are you sure..." I began to speak.

Uther interrupted me, "Elizabeth I am sure that Arthur will be fine he is the best knight in the land."

I nodded my head knowing that there was no getting through to the king once the M word had been spoken.

"I beg you, Sire, do not dismiss this. The beast is an omen. I've seen it come before, the night your wife Ygraine passed away," Gaius pleaded.

"I've told you not to speak of that night again," Uther snapped, "I have conquered the Old Religion. Its warnings mean nothing to me now. Arthur will destroy the beast and we will no longer suffer at its hand."

I knew there was no getting through to him so I walked with Gaius and Merlin back to their chambers, "This is no ordinary beast, Merlin," Gaius said once we had got inside.

"Don't worry," Merlin said more focus on his packing.

"No Merlin this is the most dangerous thing you have faced!" I yelled at Merlin my emotion getting the better of me.

Merlin looked at me curiously before speaking quietly, "I'll be fine."

"No, listen to me, you don't understand. Uther may not respect the Old Religion, but it is very real. To face a beast such as this, you must understand where it came from," Gaius continued to explain.

"What do you mean?" Merlin questioned.

"At the very heart of the Old Religion lies the magic of life and death itself. The Questing Beast carries that power. One bite, you die, and there is no cure. You have to make sure no one gets hurt Merlin, I don't know anything that could save them," I explained softly to him trying to keep myself under control.

"Did anyone get…" Merlin began to ask.

"The day before my mother's dead was the day I went on the hunting trip with my brother's, I was playing around with Laudine when I saw it. It came out of the brushes towards us, I couldn't stop it, my magic was too weak. It was Kay who saved me, he got me out of the way of the creature but it took out ten knights that night before it disappeared. The next day, my mother was dead, but it should have been me. The person who sees the creature, they are the one who is most likely to face death," I explained everything I knew before looking up at Merlin, "Arthur, the knights, you and I. We're all in danger."

"Well then you're staying here," Merlin said firmly.

"But I want to…" I began to object.

"No," Gaius called out.

"You will stay with Gaius, Elizabeth. I can't stop Arthur or the knights but I can save you," Merlin begged, "Please for me."

I didn't speak just nodded my head.

The knights took less than an hour to be ready for the journey. I guess they had started while we were talking with Uther. I stood outside wrapped up in my cloak trying not to feel the cold that seemed to be seeping through my body telling me to not let Arthur go. Arthur stood in the centre of the square speaking to the knights around him, "You've seen the foe we face. It's a creature of nightmare, but you are the best knights in the realm. We can, and we will, kill it before it harms another citizen of our kingdom," he drew his sword, "For the love of Camelot!"

Any other day I would have accused him of being over dramatic and probably teased him rotten about it but today was not one of those days. The knights drew their swords, and yelled out, "For the love of Camelot!"

As they separated off to do their own things I walked over to Arthur, "Be careful," I said to him before pulling him into my arms.

Arthur hugged me back just as tightly, "I will be fine Lizzy," He said softly to me in my ear. I knew he was only trying to calm my nerves but it wasn't really helping.

"That's a new nickname," I noted as I pulled away, he just smiled back at me, "Come home to me okay?" I said ignoring the slightly desperation that had sneaked into my voice.

I leant forward and kissed Arthur passionately on the lips not caring right now who saw us or if it wasn't the proper thing for a Princess to be doing. I was about to mention the proposal as Morgana came rushing down the palace steps in just her nightgown, hysterical, "Arthur!"

"Morgana, what are you doing?" Arthur questioned pulling away from me.

"You cannot face this!" Morgana yelled out her voice laced with fear. I felt the dread rise up inside me again, my heart began beating faster.

Morgana tried to grab Arthur but he moved away from her touch, "Morgana, go back to bed. There is nothing to be afraid of."

"Please, Arthur. I have seen terrible things! You cannot go!" Morgana pleaded.

I froze up for a moment looking at Merlin realising what this meant. Morgana had had another dream again and this time it was about Arthur, I slowly took a step forward taking Morgana's hands gently, "Morgana it will be okay," I said softly before turning to face Arthur, "She has probably had one of her nightmares. I'll take her to see Gaius."

"No! I will not let you go!" Morgana said not being at all rational.

Arthur looked around at the people gathering to stare, "Please Lizzy get her inside."

I nodded my head before guiding Morgana back up the steps, whispering quietly to her as I went, "Merlin will make sure he is safe Morgrana. I promise you."

I turned and looked out one last time at Arthur and Merlin before making my way back inside the castle praying that this time the Questing Beast wouldn't mean the death of someone I held dear.