Blood Shed/ Rotting Grain
Finding the right path towards the labyrinth took a while. It wasn't as simple as going in a perfectly direct path west to the beach. Arthur had to be careful to stay away from the walking paths that people would take. He didn't want to risk coming across a hunter. Luckily for Arthur on one of the early days of his transformation he managed to make it to the end of the forest where the rocky beach front began. He learned from his previous treks how to get used to traveling long distances in his new form. How to stay hidden and avoid certain tracks and broken branches. In all Arthur was trying to use the skills he knew as a hunter to avoid being prey.
For the most part, it was working. Despite the fact that in his deer form he was as graceful as Merlin… which was to say he was very lacking on that front. Arthur attempted to keep an even and steady pace, but he wanted to go faster. He wanted to try new maneuvers and zig zag across the trees or gallop at full speed, but the most he could do besides an average walk where he moved one hoof after the other was a trot where he moved his right front leg at the same time as his back left first and then switched to the opposite legs. He did gain a bit of speed, for a few minutes before he would end up steering to one side and bumping into a tree or tripping over surface roots.
When Arthur could see the trees start to end he wondered if he should travel north through the tree line or follow the beach down. Considering all his options Arthur decided to risk being spotted by any person down by the beach. He needed to break the spell as fast as possible, and he would take longer being careful and staying within the trees. He was also confident after traipsing through the woods that there were no humans… other people, he was not a deer, nearby.
As Arthur walked down the beach he couldn't help himself from going closer to the waves. He had seen horses swim not so much deer but it shouldn't be much different. Arthur could feel his hooves sink a little as the waves that washed in were retreating moving the beach sand with its movement. Arthur decided against a swim and continued his walk moving away from the water thinking of how he was going to find Ahnora. As his thought's wandered to whether the sorcerer would change him back a very distinct smell hit Arthur's nose.
He made sure not to make any movements that would make it seem as if he knew he was being watched, but still remained on alert trying to keep moving on the path. When his follower let out a kitten sneeze he almost sighed and shook his head at her. Arthur turned tilting his head towards the dark haired druid.
"Hi! You knew it was me didn't you." Freya said softly a large smile on her face as she ran to catch up. "I decided to join you after all. Hope you don't mind, I kinda followed your trail. You didn't really do a good job of hiding it."
Arthur let out an offended bleat but paused long enough for her to catch up. He tried not to let on how he missed her, thankful that his new body allowed him to mask his feelings more than his human one.
"I love the sea and the water you know, but the breeze and the change from the forest was a bit to get use- ahhchoo! used to." Freya said sneezing midway. "It must be the breeze or something maybe pollen. Did you know there's a flower meadow a ways back it was lovely."
If Arthur could raise a brow similar to Gaius he would. Something was off about his friend. She was the talkative type, but she seemed different. Maybe it had something to do with being so far from the druid camp. Arthur decided to ignore it for now and keep moving albeit at a slower pace so Freya wouldn't fall behind.
"There have been no signs of the prince yet. We have searched the surrounding woods and several towns from here to Ascetir Ridge bordering Cenred's kingdom. Our patrols are now shifting to the mountains and venturing towards the Valley of the Fallen Kings. There have been rumors of druids and sorcerers hiding out near the Valley. Perhaps if we can find them they could lead us towards the sorcerer who took Arthur." Sir Cador reported to the king and the other members of the council pausing for the King's reply before taking his seat.
Uther frowned, "I doubt anything they could say would be of any value, but make sure you and your men do what you must to find him."
Sir Cador nods before taking a seat as the king turn to Gaius and Geoffrey, "What have you two found regarding the water returning?"
Gaius and Geoffrey shifted slightly in their seats before the latter of the two decided to speak first, "Nothing concise. Or at least nothing we can actually prove."
"Meaning?"
"Well," Gaius took over for the librarian, "we can not have full certainty of the why, but we both believe that Arthur must have successfully completed a test and in turn the curse of Camelot is lifting."
"Very well. That's at least some good news. Have either of you found anything to suggest where exactly these tests are taking place or how to locate either the sorcerer or Arthur?"
Both men shifted again, "There is only so many texts on magical curses that we have access to, your highness. We are attempting to contact other librarians and scholars to see if they have any information to contribute, but for now well…"
Uther sighed bringing his fingers up to massage his temples to sooth the start of what was sure to become a massive headache. It's official a month and a day since Prince Arthur has gone missing. The water had returned a week ago and with it the king hoped Arthur would follow suit, but nothing yet. He was near giving up, but he couldn't just turn his back on his son. His only heir just yet.
Arthur flinches as Freya yawned loudly again. The girl was clearly tired but he needed to push a bit farther. Besides she hadn't said anything so he was all set to ignore her. Freya cleared her throat slightly.
"You know the beach is really lovely don't you think? Maybe we can take a break for-" Arthur turns his head towards her his doe eyes darkening a bit. "Or not…" She finishes with a pout.
Arthur bleats in annoyance hopefully with the same tone he'd spout out to Merlin, if he was human, to tell him to shut up.
The girl did so for a while making sure to drag her feet in the sand to show her own disapproval. As the two kept walking north the prince and druid started hearing the sounds of multiple hooves nearing. Freya could just make out three horses with blood red cloaked riders heading their way.
Arthur didn't know whether to feel relieved or to run in the other direction. Freya made it easy for him as she let out a fearful exhale before heaving out to "Run!", her feet stumbling backwards before she turned and made the decision to head towards the tree line for cover.
Arthur followed suit but their movement drew the men's attention. Hooves sped up and before Arthur knew it he could hear the sound of an arrow whooshing through the air. Arthur picked up speed just missing the arrow and tried to use his snout to push the girl to move faster. Freya did her best, but it was impossible for her to keep pace with the stag. Arthur ducked out of the way of another arrow and then another picking up his speed till he reached the tree line.
The prince turned to look at the girl urging her to hurry up. For her to do something. Anything.
Arthur watched as the horses neared. He saw how the men slowed to a stop and dismounted trying to walk carefully. To Arthur he saw three knights trying to help a young girl wandering on her own. That was most likely what was happening, but Freya couldn't stop shaking the closer and closer they got. Arthur could feel that tingle. That tingle of magic in the air and he brayed for her to stop, not caring that he was drawing attention to himself.
One of the men looked to him angling his crossbow before pausing and turning to look at the girl. Arthur brayed again trying to get them to stop. He could feel something about to happen and he needed to make sure she came out of it. She was a child.
The knights took another step and as the one who had turned to look at Arthur scrutinized her he couldn't help but gasp taking a step back as he saw the symbol imprinted on her skin right below her shoulder. Freya noticed it too and without warning her eyes turned gold and she let out a loud shriek causing all the men to fly backwards. Arthur himself even took a step back from the sheer force that she possessed.
Freya took a look at the men fallen around her they were a bit dazed, but already getting back up. She turned towards Arthur, who had already made it back to the tree line, and ran trying to make it to safety. Arthur took another step back. His mind reeling he had seen her use magic, passively before to start a camp fire, but he has never imagined her using it like this. It was clearly in self defense, but the prince could think of more than a handful of moments where he was in the same position as those knights. He pushed the thought out of his mind and brayed again for her to hurry. Two of the men were already on their feet with one of them aiming his crossbow right for her back and the other checking that their comrade was still alive.
The girl ran finally reaching the stag. The knight releasing the trigger on the crossbow a moment after. Arthur yelled in his mind for her to get behind him and the noise of him bleating was enough for her to dodge the arrow just barely grazing her arm instead of any more permanent locations. Freya yelled out in pain grasping her arm as Arthur finally decided to move in front of him. His posture and protective stance signaling for the men to back off.
Unfortunately, for Arthur two-fold, the knights of Camelot where taught to never give up on a fight, not to mention that they were also all experienced hunters to boot. All of the knights were on their feet at this point, one with his sword out and the remainder with their crossbows aimed at the giant stag before them. Freya whimpered softly as she tried to make her self as small as possible turning to look at Arthur in worry and awe that he was protecting her.
The prince, on the other hand, had thought after thought rush through his mind as he tried to figure out a way to get both of them out of this. He didn't want to hurt the men, but it seemed like he might have too. Maybe he could scare them enough for Freya to run off somewhere and hide till the druids came searching for her. Preparing himself he turned to look at Freya sadness in his eyes hopeful that she would understand what he was going to do. He tried to tell her through his mind to run, but he knew she wasn't able to read his thoughts like the Chief could.
She seemed to catch the gist that something was going to happen and the druid wasn't ready to say goodbye or allow the stag to sacrifice himself for her. As Arthur was getting ready to charge; everything happened at once. Two highly trained arrows were released towards the deer. Freya's eyes flashed gold and time slowed as she rushed in front of her friend. She released a heart wrenching battle cry as the arrows pierced through her skin. The first landing right below her collarbone and the other on a bit lower on her chest.
Arthur's four legs gave in from under him as he watched his friend slowly fade away. He could just make out one of the knights yelling to shoot him down as well. Arthur pressed his snout gently on the girl who was wincing in pain, eyes closed and bleeding at an alarming pace. He could hear the whistle of an arrow flying and feel the sting as it graced him. In a rage Arthur felt as his body moved instinctually. He rose to his feet and charged towards the men angling his antlers and managing to strike one with enough force to impale him on his horns before turning and using the men's wounded comrade to knock the rest to the ground and stomp on them. The yelling and shouts of pain were as numb as he was feeling. He stopped once the two remaining men stopped squirming. His vision blurred and the pain in his chest got stronger his mind rushing with what he'd done.
Then something happened or didn't. Arthur blinked back as the men who laid before him disappeared into the wind. He turned to the druid watching as she too was vanishing until there was nothing in her place. No blood, no ground disturbed, no footprints, or horses, or weapons. Everything besides himself gone.
"So much blood has been shed today. What a shame, it seemed that you had changed for the better. That you weren't the prideful prince who acted rashly and took the life of an innocent creature. Now you also took the life of these men." A voice spoke before a figure manifested in front of the prince. Arthur huffed out in rage getting ready to have the sorcerer meet the same fate, but an invisible force stopped him and he felt pain as his body started morphing back to human.
"Killing me will not help you. Arthur Pendragon you have shown that you would kill a man to defend your pride. You have failed the test. For this Camelot will pay dearly."
In Camelot, King Uther had been called to the farming territories outside the citadel. He along with Camelot's first knight, court physician, and the physician's assistant saw as all around them were dead crops. All the grain was dead in all directions.
One of the farmers approached bowing towards the king, "Everything started dying a few hours ago. It came in an instant most of my farmhands were harvesting when it happened."
Uther nodded, "It was the same in the city. What about the grains that your farmhands were harvesting?"
The farmer shook his head, while the physician and his nephew shared a glance the same thought rushing throughout their heads. Something of this magnitude must be part of the curse.
The king turned towards Leon and Gaius, "All our remaining supplies have rotted. Every last grain."