Chapter 2

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On his back, Arthur watched soft white clouds roll across the sky. The branches of the tall trees danced in the breeze as the sound of rustling leaves swept through the forest. Was this a dream? He inhaled the scent of fallen pine needles as he rubbed his hand across the cool moss-covered earth.

The forest was peaceful but something was missing. Where was Merlin? Arthur quickly got up and glanced at his surroundings. It all seemed familiar yet so strange.

"Merlin!" Arthur called out.

The forest replies with loud clanging from the path behind Arthur. He turned to see an old man on a rickety horse-drawn carriage singing a jingle.

Long live the queen

Her might will smite the unclean

Let loose the arrows fly

Her will shall be thy drill

Love live the queen.

The man pulled on the reins and the horse snorted. "Well hello there young lad" the man gazed down at Arthur. "What are doing alone in the forest?"

Arthur wasn't sure whether he should be thankful to see another person or grossed out. The man's breath reeked of the stench of stale mead. But this man could be his only chance at returning to Camelot to find Merlin. "Where is Camelot?"

"Camelot you say…" the old man smiled showing his rotting teeth. "And why would a young sprite like you want to go to Camelot?"

Is this man oblivious to the king of Camelot or is he just dim-witted? Perhaps it was the mead speaking Arthur thought. "I need to find my friend."

"Is this your special friend?" he giggled, hinting at a lover.

"No, just a friend."

"Well then I hope your friend is worth it" the old man hiccupped. "I'm headed in that direction. You may come along if you'd like" he gestured to the open seat beside him.

Hesitantly, Arthur accepts his offers and they ride toward Camelot.

The dimly lit room was quiet except for the rummaging of paper. Gaius let out a long sigh as he ran his hands through his coarse pale grey hair. Books after books Gaius tried to searched for a remedy to the disease but with no success. Tired and frustrated he slammed the book shut. Where was Merlin and Arthur, he thought to himself as he reached for another book. The people of Camelot were in peril and their leader was nowhere to be seen. Gaius shook his head and refocused on his book.

Suddenly the door slammed open like a clap of thunder. Startled by the sound, Gaius dropped his book and saw Merlin rushing into room.

"Merlin!" he cried out. "Where have you been?"

Gaius' words fell on deaf ears. Merlin was in distraught, his eyes glazed over as he cleared the table. Books and glass vials were sent tumbling to the ground. Shattered glass caked the floor as vials smashed across the stone floor.

All of his research, ruined. Gaius raised his hand in fury to scold Merlin but was interrupted as a parade of Camelot's knights stormed into his chambers.

Gaius' jaw dropped in horrified disbelief. Atop the shoulders of the knights was Arthur. His arms dangled as the knights carefully rested his body on the table. Instinctively, Gaius signalled for the knights to leave the leave as he began his examination of Arthur's lifeless body. His hands shaking, Gaius tracked his finger across Arthur's and hope flooded through him as he felt a weak pulse.

"I tried to save him… I tried…" Merlin looked down at Arthur's body. "My magic cannot heal him" he turned to hide his tears.

Gaius open Arthur's shirt and was astonished at what he saw. A tattoo of an amulet had formed around the king's neck. He looked at Merlin for an explanation.

"We were ambushed" Merlin started. He told Gaius about the women, the creatures, and the amulet. "Gaius you have to help him" Merlin pleaded.

Gaius shook his head. "There is nothing I can do when I do not understand his illness. The powers of the amulet seem to trap Arthur's mind. You need to find out more about the women and her amulet."

"He is my friend. I will not let him die" Merlin bolted out the room. There was only one person he knew that had all the answers.

Seconds passed before Gwen arrived. She stood petrified as she gazed upon her husband's body. She felt herself shake and steadied herself against a nearby chair. She called for the guards and ordered them to take Arthur back to his chambers. The guards respond immediately leaving Gwen and Gaius alone.

Gaius came to his Queen's side just as her burst into learns. All the tears and emotions she tried to keep bottled inside came rushing out in force. She fell against Gaius unable to hold herself up any longer.

"I can't lose him" she cried heavily as she held Gaius. "I need him… I love him." She wiped the tears from her face.

Gaius wrapped his arms around her tighter. "Merlin and I will not let him die. We will find a way to save him." He gently stroked her hair as the exited the room.

Where is Merlin going? What is Arthur's fate? So many question!

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