Kahlan's eyes fluttered open just in time to see Kanen only a few metres away, his crossbow raised and aimed at the two women. Suddenly, Arthur jumped in front of the barbarian, swinging his sword out and managing to hit Kanen in the shoulder. With a hard kick, Arthur was able to send his opponent stumbling onto his back before he rushed towards Kahlan. His eyes widened as he saw the blood running down her shoulder, soaking Morgana's fingers as she tried to stem the blood. Arthur twisted around when he heard a yell, thankful when he saw one of the villagers had begun to fight Kanen before he could descend upon the group.
"Kahlan? Kahlan, can you hear me?" Arthur cried, crouching down to pull the brunette into his arms, patting her cheek lightly.
"Merlin! Quickly!" Morgana called out, seeing the boy racing towards them.
"We need to put pressure on the wound" Merlin commanded, as Arthur immediately ripped away part of his red undershirt and handed it to Merlin.
"Should we take the arrow out?" Morgana questioned, as Merlin shook his head, wrapping the cloth around Kahlan's shoulder with shaking hands.
"Not now. We need to get her away from the battle" Merlin advised, as Arthur slowly sat her upright, placing her back against his chest.
"N-no, I need to fight…" Kahlan trailed off, trying to brush Arthur's hands away.
"This fight is over for you" Arthur insisted, as he ushered Morgana over and placed Kahlan's arm around her shoulder.
"You need me" Kahlan told him, as Arthur's lips twitched into a smile.
"I need you to live" Arthur replied, placing his hand on her shoulder, giving a quick squeeze.
"Come. We shouldn't be out in the open" Morgana exclaimed, as she used all her strength to haul her friend up, forcing her to limp towards one of the houses.
"Merlin…remember what I said…" Kahlan mumbled, only half-conscious, making Arthur frown as he watched Morgana drag her away.
"What was that about?" Arthur inquired, earning a small shrug from Merlin.
The battle raged on for some time, and Morgana could tell the odds were not in their favour. They were too outnumbered. They would need a miracle to win. Before she had too much time to think into it, just as she was pulling Kahlan into one of the huts, a raider came running out of nowhere, his sword raised. She was forced to throw Kahlan aside, who fell to the floor with a cry, clutching at her wounded shoulder. Morgana ducked the next blow her opponent made, managing to strike him in the leg with her own sword, before running him through a second later. Her eyes went wide as she saw two men approaching not far behind, hatchet's in both their hands.
"Ic þé wiþdrífe" Kahlan cried, throwing her hand out in front of her, blue eyes changing a golden colour for a split second.
Morgana's mouth hung agape as she watched how the two raiders were thrown onto their backs, having been knocked out cold, their heads hitting the wooden floor below. Kahlan then collapsed down onto the ground, having used all her energy. Just as Morgana went to crouch down beside her, a sudden gust of wind from outside sent her stumbling over. She could tell it was no ordinary phenomenon, squinting to see a whirlwind had been created outside.
Magic.
"Oh no" She heard Kahlan mutter, a terrified expression on her face.
Morgana quickly realised Kahlan had not created the whirlwind, leaving her to wonder…who did?
Once Morgana was sure the raiders had either been struck down or run away, she pulled Kahlan up and went to search for Merlin, knowing Kahlan would need his assistance. They were just in time to see Arthur running Kanen through with his sword, an angry expression on his face. Arthur shoved Kanen to the floor and began to march over to Merlin and Will.
"Who did that?" Arthur commanded, as Morgana and Kahlan joined the crowd that were slowly surrounding them.
"What?" Merlin replied.
"Wind like that doesn't just appear out of nowhere. I know magic when I see it. One of you made that happen" Arthur seethed, as Merlin's eyes flickered to Kahlan's.
Kahlan opened her mouth, ready to take the blame and deal with the consequences when Will suddenly let out a shout. He was shoving Arthur out of the way a second later, as an arrow whizzed through the air, hitting Will in the chest. Kahlan whipped around to see Kanen sitting upright, a crossbow in his hands, as he struggled to reload. Before he could perform the task, Kahlan had grabbed a dagger sticking out of one of the nearby raiders and sent it flying towards him. The dagger hit Kanen in the neck, as the man let out a horrified choking sound before flopping to the ground. Kahlan watched as blood pooled out around him, convinced he was dead this time. A wave of dizziness hit her, the action being too much for her body, causing her to grip onto Morgana to stay upright.
"You need to be seen to—" Morgana started, but Kahlan quickly cut her off.
"No. Not now" Kahlan shook her head, watching as Merlin and Arthur carried Will into one of the houses, leaving a trail of blood behind them.
Kahlan sat by the horses as she watched the flames rise up from the pyre for Will, letting out a sigh. She didn't know the boy, but he didn't deserve to die. She wished she had been able to save him. The events of the day had been a wake-up call. She had almost died, Merlin had almost revealed his magic…maybe Iseldir was right, she shouldn't have come.
"How's your shoulder?" Arthur's voice broke through her thoughts, as she looked up to see him looming over her.
"I'll be alright" Kahlan replied, as Arthur came to sit beside her.
After Will had passed away, Merlin tended to her wound with bloodshot eyes, removing the arrow and helping to stem the bleeding. Pain was continuing to shoot down her shoulder every time she moved, and blood had already soaked through the bandage Merlin had used, but she knew she would be healed further once she got back to her camp. If they didn't disown her that was.
"You were lucky" Arthur mumbled, his eyes flickering to the pyre.
"So were you" Kahlan pointed out, making Arthur nod.
"I saw you killed Kanen. I haven't had the chance to thank you yet—" Arthur started, but she stopped him quickly.
"I don't want to be congratulated for ending someone's life, Arthur. It's against what I was always taught by the Druid's" Kahlan explained.
"Then why did you do it?" Arthur frowned.
"To save your royal ass" Kahlan pointed out, quirking an eyebrow.
"I didn't realise you cared so much about my backside" Arthur chuckled, watching Kahlan's lips twitch into a smile.
"Well, someone has to, don't they?" Kahlan replied, as the two shared a look.
"I don't suppose I can convince you to come back to Camelot. Gaius could take a look at your shoulder" Arthur suggested, but Kahlan was already shaking her head.
"I need to get back to my people" She insisted, her gaze flickering over to Merlin, who was still standing beside the pyre, rubbing at his eyes.
"…And you need to get back to yours" Kahlan went on, gesturing towards Merlin.
"He lied to me. He knew Will had magic. He should have told me the truth" Arthur muttered.
"And what good would that have done? You would have banished Will, or worse. We would have lost a good man either way" Kahlan challenged.
"He was a sorcerer" Arthur huffed.
"And I suppose in your eyes the two have to be exclusive?" Kahlan retorted, quirking an eyebrow.
"Sorcery is dangerous. I can't turn a blind eye to such crimes" Arthur tried to explain, as Kahlan pursed her lips.
"So, instead you'll turn a blind eye to your friend's pain? No matter your feelings on sorcery, that gives you no excuse to abandon Merlin when he needs you the most" Kahlan ranted, firmly.
"You truly do always speak what is on your mind, don't you?" Arthur sighed, looking down at his feet.
"It's the best way to be" Kahlan shrugged, making Arthur huff out a laugh.
"…Merlin was only protecting his friend. Like he always does. Perhaps I am being too hard on him" Arthur mumbled, after a few moments.
"And just like that…he's seen the light" Kahlan teased, her tone laced with sarcasm.
Arthur shook his head fondly, as he pushed himself to his feet, expecting nothing less from the brunette. He couldn't stop the disappointment he felt at her refusal to come back to Camelot, as an idea formed in his head.
"Come. You will need assistance getting back to your camp. I will take you" Arthur stated, holding out his hand for her to take.
With a small smile, Kahlan took the offered limb, allowing him to slowly pull her upright, grimacing a little at the pain that shot through her shoulder at the action.
"I appreciate the gesture, but I don't think the Druid's would appreciate seeing the son of the man who had sworn to hunt them down" Kahlan explained, as Arthur pouted a little.
"Perhaps one day that won't always be the case" Arthur exclaimed.
"I hope so" Kahlan nodded, realising they were still holding hands, as he gave her a soft squeeze through his leather gloves.
In the end, it was decided that someone would need to take Kahlan to the Druid's, as she was still injured and wouldn't get far on her own. Morgana was quick to volunteer, excited at the idea of seeing Mordred again. It seemed as though Mordred had been expecting them, as he and Iseldir approached them not far from Ealdor. Kahlan watched with a smile as Mordred ran to Morgana, who instantly took him in her arms, holding him close. Kahlan was amazed that despite barely knowing each other, the pair had already grown such a close bond. A hand touching her shoulder brought Kahlan out of her thoughts, as she looked up to see Iseldir looking at her with concern filled eyes.
"I thought I told you to be careful" Iseldir sighed, his eyes instantly going to the bandage across her shoulder, and blood seeping through the fabric.
"I was! It's only a graze" Kahlan shrugged her good shoulder.
"You were struck by an arrow" Morgana scoffed from behind them, as Kahlan pursed her lips.
"A small arrow. Tiny, really" Kahlan insisted, watching Iseldir cross his arms, an unamused look on his face.
"Does it hurt?" Mordred gaped, reaching up to poke the wound with his finger.
"Funnily enough, yes, Mordred" Kahlan rolled her eyes, brushing his small hand away.
"I told you, you should have let me come with you" Mordred pointed out, as Kahlan threw her hands out, making an exasperated sound.
"Thank you for the sympathy" Kahlan grumbled, as Iseldir and Mordred shared an amused look.
"You did say it was only a graze" Iseldir pointed out.
"Tiny, really" Mordred added.
"I preferred it when you were mute" Kahlan exclaimed, ruffling his black hair.
Morgana grinned as she watched the interaction, finding herself wishing she had a family such as theirs. Uther and Arthur were all she had, and even then she never felt connected in the way she did to Mordred…
"Who is your friend, Kahlan?" Iseldir inquired.
"Morgana. It's wonderful to meet you" Morgana beamed, quickly holding her hand out to the older man.
They all noticed the way Iseldir suddenly tensed, his eyes going wide. Kahlan frowned as she noticed something else behind his eyes. Fear. What reason would Iseldir have to be scared of Morgana? The woman in question seemed to realise Iseldir was going to leave her hanging, and brought her hand back to her side, feeling a little embarrassed.
"The King's Ward?" Iseldir muttered, an accusatory tone to his voice.
"I promise I would never—" Morgana began, but Iseldir cut her off immediately.
"We need to leave. Now" Iseldir announced, grabbing Mordred's hand roughly, and pulling him away from Morgana.
"We can trust Morgana" Kahlan told him, as Iseldir simply pursed his lips.
"That wasn't a request, Kahlan" Iseldir warned.
Kahlan's frown grew deeper as Iseldir gave Mordred's hand a tug and had to all but drag him away, as the younger boy gave Morgana a wave goodbye, which was happily returned. Iseldir hadn't been best pleased when he found out Kahlan had befriended Arthur, but he had never acted like this. Kahlan knew the man well enough to know something was wrong. He wasn't the type to get scared.
"He has some…trust issues" Kahlan stated, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly.
"It's quite alright. I'm just glad to have got you back to your family" Morgana smiled, making Kahlan's forehead wrinkle.
She had never thought of the Druid's as her family. Friends, teachers, fellow sorcerers…but never family. Apart from Mordred, she had yet to feel that bond. Kahlan was quick to pull Morgana in a hurried hug, knowing Iseldir would be growing impatient. She let out a sigh as she realised it would likely be some time until she saw Morgana again, and found herself wishing she didn't have to go.
"Be safe" Kahlan exclaimed, pulling away.
"You too" Morgana replied, as they heard an irritated cough from behind them, forcing Kahlan to whip around and follow Iseldir.
"Did you really have to be so rude? It's no wonder why I've never been able to make friends out of the camp" Kahlan grumbled, as they made their trek back to the rest of the group, out of Morgana's earshot.
"That Witch is no friend of yours" Iseldir informed her, confusing Kahlan further.
"…You're saying Morgana has magic?" Kahlan realised, her eyes almost popping out of her head.
While Kahlan had expected as much, as it was rare for someone to be so accepting of sorcery, to hear the confirmation was shocking. She wondered whether Morgana knew, or if she would even want to know.
"Very powerful magic…Kahlan, you must listen to me. That woman is dangerous. You must not see her again" Iseldir insisted.
"You must have the wrong person. Morgana would not hurt a fly" Kahlan retorted, as Iseldir let out a long sigh.
"Mordred, run ahead. I need to speak to Kahlan alone" Iseldir announced, as the small boy crossed his arms.
"But I—" Mordred began, only to be cut off by Iseldir's angry voice.
"Now" Iseldir repeated, in a firm voice, as Mordred muttered something under his breath before rushing away.
"What aren't you telling me, Iseldir?" Kahlan questioned, having never seen the older man so tense.
"There is a prophecy, of Morgana and Mordred…united in evil" Iseldir exclaimed, in a serious tone.
A few seconds later, Kahlan burst out laughing, finding the notion completely absurd. She had to swallow down her laughter when she realised Iseldir was being serious, as he quirked an eyebrow at her reaction. She was starting to think Iseldir had been eating the mushrooms outside their camp.
"Mordred doesn't have an evil bone in his body" Kahlan pointed out.
"He grows in power every day. As do you" Iseldir replied, making her frown.
"You make that sound like it's a bad thing" Kahlan scoffed, irritation clear in her tone.
"I have only ever done my best for the pair of you. Please Kahlan, you must heed my warning. Stay away from the Witch" Iseldir all but begged, as Kahlan's eyes softened a little.
"What about my other friends in Camelot? Merlin and…" Kahlan trailed off, biting her lip.
"The Prince?" Iseldir guessed, as Kahlan gave a small shrug.
"No good can come from a friendship between Uther's son and a sorceress. You know this" Iseldir insisted, watching a look of disappointment grow over her features.
"Come, we must heal your shoulder" Iseldir said, ushering her forward a few seconds later, as Kahlan pondered over his words.
Could there really be any truth to such a prophecy? She had seen the strange bond Morgana and Mordred had, but how could that lead to such evil? Still, Iseldir's warnings couldn't be ignored, as she knew he only had her best interests at heart. She would stay away from Morgana, for now.
Arthur walked towards his chambers in a daze, feeling panic clawing away at him. That morning they had found all the crops around the kingdom had died, and only a few hours later the wells had dried up. It was sorcery. Once again the Kingdom was under siege and there was nothing he could do to stop it. With a sigh, he ripped open his chamber door, coming to a halt when he saw a flagon of water on his table that wasn't there when he left. His hand went to his sword as he could swear he felt eyes on him.
"Now, don't go drinking it all at once. That might be the only water you get for some time" Kahlan's voice announced from behind him, making the blond jump out of his skin.
"You need to stop doing that" Arthur complained, clutching at his chest, his heart beating fast underneath.
"Why would I why it's so much fun spooking you?" Kahlan grinned, coming to sit at one of the chairs around his table.
"Where did you get this water?" Arthur frowned, taking a closer look at the flagon full of water.
"Courtesy of the Druid's. Word spreads fast, we wanted to help" Kahlan informed him, easily telling the lie.
When she had heard what was happening in Camelot, she set off immediately, stating to Iseldir she was simply going on a hunt. Kahlan felt bad about her dishonesty, but lives were at stake, and she could not stand by and do nothing as people starved. She had been careful to avoid Morgana since arriving, knowing how disappointed Iseldir would be if she completely disregarded his advice. Once she reached the Kingdom, she made quick work of turning dozens of buckets of sand to water, glad to find her magic was able to work against whatever spell had been placed on Camelot. It was strong though, that she could tell. She had attempted to turn the entire underground reservoir back to water but had been unsuccessful. It wouldn't be long until people began to die, even with what little water she had been able to spare.
"This should be given to the elderly and children—" Arthur began, but she cut him off.
"Already done. But a Prince needs to keep his strength, and like I said…this might have to keep you going for some time" Kahlan explained, pouring out a small amount of water into a cup.
"Saving your damsel in distress again?" Arthur chuckled, reluctantly taking the cup from her hand.
"Something like that" Kahlan shrugged, as he took a small sip.
"Do you have…" Arthur trailed off; his eyes wide.
"What?" Kahlan asked, wondering if there was something wrong with the water.
"Your nose. It's bleeding" Arthur exclaimed, reaching over to brush some blood away with the back of his sleeve.
"Oh, it's…it's nothing" Kahlan stuttered, suddenly feeling a wave of dizziness hit her.
The spell had taken more out of her than she realised, beginning to feel faint. Arthur was quick to crouch down in front of her, placing his hand on her shoulder, his blue eyes filled with worry. Kahlan tried to give him a reassuring smile, feeling her chest tighten at the concern he was showing.
"You must have all but run to Camelot to make the journey so quickly" Arthur stated, earning another shrug.
"I figured you'd need me" Kahlan mumbled, as Arthur's lips twitched into a smile.
"I do…but you must take better care of yourself. Here" Arthur insisted, pushing the cup towards her lips, as she drank a small amount.
"How's your shoulder?" He questioned, a few moments later, as she gave a small shrug.
"It's healed well. Only a small scar left behind" Kahlan admitted, pushing her shirt aside to reveal the circular scar on her shoulder, the redness standing out against her pale skin. Arthur reached out to brush his fingers against the old wound, feeling guilt clawing away at him. She could have died.
"My first battle wound" Kahlan mumbled as they shared a small smile.
Just as Kahlan opened her mouth to reply, Merlin came barging in, his mouth hanging agape when he saw Kahlan in Arthur's chambers. A large beaming grin quickly grew on his face, as he rushed over to them, looking as if he wanted to pull Kahlan into a hug.
"Ever heard of knocking, Merlin?" Arthur complained, pushing himself to his feet.
"I heard Kahlan was back—" Merlin began but was cut off immediately by Arthur.
"So, you forgot basic manners and that you're my servant?" Arthur asked.
"More or less…has he told you what's he's done yet?" Merlin exclaimed, raising an eyebrow at the blond.
"Something arrogant and short-sighted?" Kahlan guessed, making Arthur huff.
"Why are you still rabbiting on about this, Merlin?" Arthur scoffed, as the younger man crossed his arms.
"He killed a Unicorn. And took its horn" Merlin announced, watching a look of horror wash over Kahlan's features.
"…What the hell have you done?" Kahlan gaped, quickly realising what affliction had been brought upon Camelot.
"How was I supposed to know this Anhora would curse Camelot if I killed the Unicorn?" Arthur grumbled, as they made their way down the darkened staircase towards the cells.
Kahlan had spent the last twenty minutes divulging everything she knew about the myths that surrounded the killing of Unicorn, especially about a great sorcerer called Anhora. Kahlan knew the man in question, if he could even be called a man, was far more powerful than her. She only hoped Anhora would be willing to talk to them...otherwise, Camelot would have no hope.
"Have you listened to a word I've said? Anhora hasn't cursed anyone. He's more like a…Judge. You were the one who brought him here, Arthur" Kahlan explained, as they reached the last step.
"And why exactly have we gone to the cells at midnight?" Merlin mumbled, nervously, as they walked towards the cells.
"I doubt you want to see us conversing with a known sorcerer" Kahlan replied, as Arthur's mouth went slack.
"There will be no talking. I plan to run this Anhora through with my sword" Arthur exclaimed, as Kahlan shook her head in annoyance.
"I'm afraid I must object to your plan" A voice boomed from behind them, as the three yelped in surprise.
An elderly man stood a few metres away, wearing tatted clothes, a hood covering his grey hair, and clutching a wooden staff tightly. He didn't appear threatening, but Kahlan knew looks could be deceiving. There was something strange about the man's eyes…they looked far older than the rest of his body.
"Anhora?" Kahlan guessed, as the man nodded slowly.
"It has been some time since a Druid has sought me out" Anhora replied, looking a little puzzled.
"I merely wish to seek an audience with you" Kahlan exclaimed, lowering her eyes to the ground in respect.
"You must undo this curse or face execution" Arthur announced, as Kahlan stomped down on his foot with a look of disbelief.
"What Arthur means is…he is ready and willing to take the tests" Kahlan stated.
"Only those pure of heart can take the tests" Anhora informed her.
"Arthur is pure of heart…he's just a little…dim-witted" Kahlan responded, as Arthur lunged forward to stomp on her foot this time.
"Ow!" Kahlan complained, glaring at the blond.
"His father has executed many of your kind. He suggested only moments ago killing me before he even set eyes on my being" Anhora went on, as Kahlan tensed.
She hoped Arthur would think he meant 'her kind' as the Druid's and not sorcerers. Her eyes flickered to the blond, seeing only guilt on his face, having not seemed to make the connection.
"He's not his father. He only wants to save his people. That's something I can understand well" Kahlan retorted.
"You are willing to bet your life that this man can pass the tests?" Anhora insisted, as Kahlan slowly turned back to him.
"…I am" She admitted, shocking the man in question.
"If you fail any of these tests, Camelot will be damned for all eternity. Do you understand?" Anhora questioned Arthur.
"I accept your challenge" Arthur replied, a nervous tone to his voice.
In the blink of an eye, Anhora was gone, leaving only a gust of wind behind. He seemed to be a man of few words, but his message was clear. Arthur would need to carefully consider his actions over the coming days and—
Kahlan's thoughts were cut off as they heard the warning bells above them begin to ring, as the three shared a look. They quickly raced up the long staircase without another word, concerned that looters may have entered the castle. Kahlan came to a halt when she all but collided with a familiar face running towards them, her mouth going slack, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Iseldir?!" Kahlan gaped, as the man stopped in front of them, panting heavily.
"What are you doing here?" She exclaimed as he gave her an exasperated look.
"I could say the same to you! It's funny how your hunt has led you to inside Camelot once again" Iseldir huffed, as Kahlan bit her lip.
"And this is why I didn't tell you" Kahlan muttered.
"You said the Druid's sent you here" Arthur stated, as Kahlan rubbed the back of her neck, her eyes averted.
"I may have…stretched the truth a little" Kahlan confessed.
"Why were you running?" Merlin frowned, thinking it to be the more pressing issue.
"The guard's spotted me. This is not the first time I have stepped foot in Camelot, they must have recognised me as a Druid" Iseldir explained, as panic coursed through Kahlan's veins.
"We must get you out of here. Now" Kahlan exclaimed, grabbing the older man's arm and pulling him back towards the cells.
"We can smuggle him out through the tunnels…" Arthur trailed off, as they heard footsteps fast approaching, realising they likely would not make it in time.
"I'll distract them. Go" Merlin advised, but Arthur didn't seem convinced.
"They're armed guards, Merlin. How exactly are you going to—" Arthur began, but was cut off as Kahlan grabbed his arm and started to drag him down the stairs.
"No time for questions. C'mon!" Kahlan insisted, as the three descended down the stairs.
However, as soon as they made it to the end of the staircase, they found the men guarding the prisoners were coming towards them, having yet to see them. Arthur yanked Kahlan and Iseldir to hide behind a nearby tapestry, scrunching his eyes shut as he realised their feet were showing. Kahlan let out a sigh of relief when the guards walked past them, none the wiser. She prayed that their luck continued.
"Quickly!" Arthur hissed, as the three pushed the tapestry aside and began sprinting down the corridor past the cells.
"Since when have you been to Camelot before anyway?" Kahlan murmured to Iseldir, finding it strange he had never mentioned it.
"It hardly seems important at this moment, Kahlan" Iseldir scoffed, making her frown.
"Here. You should wear these in case we are spotted" Arthur exclaimed, grabbing two cloaks that had been left by the guards, and throwing them towards the pair.
"You deliberately disobeyed me. I told you not to come back here" Iseldir complained, as Kahlan pulled the cloak over her shoulders.
"I was needed" Kahlan retorted, as the three set off running again.
"You are bringing danger upon our people. How long do you expect me to protect you?" Iseldir snapped, as Kahlan tried to ignore his words.
"…I'm sorry" Kahlan sighed, after a few seconds, as they finally reached the dimly lit tunnels.
"Is this place really worth losing all you have?" Iseldir stated, making Kahlan come to a halt, surprised by his harsh words.
"I can't—" Kahlan began but was soon cut off by a booming voice.
"Stop! Don't take a step further!" Leon, one of Arthur's knights, called out, as Kahlan and Iseldir were careful to shield their faces.
"Arthur?" Leon gaped, as the blond cautiously turned around.
"You are helping a Druid escape the Castle?" Leon accused, an angry look in his eyes.
"There is a very good explanation for all of this…" Arthur suggested, as Leon took a step closer to the three.
"Which is?" Leon pushed, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Arthur gave a quick shrug, before lunging forward and sending a hard punch to Leon's face, throwing the other man off his feet. He flopped to the floor, having been knocked out by the powerful blow, leaving Kahlan frozen to the spot, amazed that he had just attacked one of his own Knight's.
"Prince Arthur, what have you done?" Iseldir exclaimed, with wide eyes.
"You must flee. Now. The guards will be upon us soon" Arthur insisted, as Kahlan shook her head.
"He will tell the King that you helped his enemy escape. That's treason! Arthur, what if your father…" Kahlan trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence.
"I will accept the consequences. I know my father has already executed one person you care about, I will not allow him to take another" Arthur explained, speaking of Cerdan, clearly remembering what Kahlan had told him in Ealdor.
"This will not be forgotten, Arthur Pendragon" Iseldir stated, as the two men shared a nod.
Just as Kahlan opened her mouth to speak, the words died in her mouth as a strong gust of wind almost threw her onto her back. Her eyes almost popped out of her head as she saw Leon's crumpled body suddenly disappear as if he was never there. She turned to Iseldir to see whether he had witnessed the same thing but found only an empty space behind her.
"H-how…they've vanished!" Arthur cried, dumbfounded.
"Listen. The bells. They've stopped" Kahlan frowned, realising they could no longer hear anyone chasing after them either.
"I don't understand. What happened?" Arthur insisted, as Kahlan huffed out a laugh, running a hand over her face.
"The tests have already begun" She realised, only confusing Arthur further.
"Iseldir was never here. Neither was Leon. Or the other guards. It was all—" She started, when another voice cut her off.
"The first test" Anhora announced, appearing out of nowhere, making the pair jump once again.
"None of this was real?" Arthur questioned.
"Your actions were. That is all that matters, in the end. You have passed your first test" Anhora exclaimed, hitting his staff on the ground, causing a rumbling sound beneath them, as Kahlan could feel magic bubbling all around them.
"Wow, I thought for sure we had failed that one" Kahlan admitted.
"Well, I'm glad someone has so much faith in…" Arthur trailed off, when he noticed Anhora had vanished again.
"Not one for goodbye's, is he?" Kahlan scoffed.
"...Did the vision speak the truth? You're not supposed to be here?" Arthur couldn't help but ask, as Kahlan slowly nodded.
"I don't want to cause trouble between you and your people. You should go back" Arthur told her.
"What about the other tests?" Kahlan inquired, unsurely.
"I'm sure I can handle it. As you said, I am pure of heart, after all" Arthur smirked, making Kahlan roll her eyes.
"Not to mention arrogant as hell" Kahlan retorted, a smile growing over her own lips, as they heard someone approaching.
"You are not going to believe what just happened! The guards, they…they just disappeared! What…did I miss something?" Merlin exclaimed when he noticed the amused looks the pair were giving him.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! My motivation has come back for this story, and it is also at the top of the poll on my profile currently, so I've decided to begin writing this fic again. Lot's of foreshadowing in this update, which I hope you liked! Please leave a review if you want to see this story continue:)
LapisLazuliRose: Aw, thank you! I'm glad you're liking the story so far:)
andychrome: Thanks for reviewing:) I hope you enjoyed the new update!
Hinanui98: Haha, here you go, I hope this chapter lived up to your expectations! Thanks for the review:)