The Keeper and the Warlock

Morgana motioned for the guard to let her pass and soon made her way outside onto the ramparts facing the lower town. She looked to the king and frowned making her way next to him and placing her hand on his arm.

"They do not yet know there is worse to come."

Uther sighed and turned to face his ward knowing this conversation would not end well. "It is not a decision I take lightly, Morgana."

Morgana scoffed, "I would hope not." She moved towards the edge and looked down, "It's a decision that would leave thousands of people to starve!"

"We will do what we can to prevent that, but for now we must stop distributing food. Our remaining supplies must go to our armies."

"That's a mistake." Morgana turned to Uther her head up in defiance.

Uther did his best to keep his temper in check, however he had to let her see that this wasn't what he wanted. This was unfortunately just something he had to do. For the betterment of all of Camelot. For her own good and safety.

"You are in no position to question me. You do not understand how difficult it is to have an entire kingdom relying on you. I know the consequences, but what else would you expect me to do. Until Arthur lifts the curse I have to make sure my people are protected."

"Do you really think, Arthur, would be okay with this? He would be beside himself. He would want to do whatever he could to protect his people. Not cutting off supplies."

"It is only a matter of time before our enemies hear of what is going on. They will not hesitate-"

"Hesitate to what?! Come take over a cursed kingdom that ran itself into the ground! It will be a matter of time before all of the five kingdoms, all of Albion hear about how you let your people starve. What happens when the people start resorting to looting and violence. When they start plotting the demise of the nobles in the palace, all for a measly portion of bread."

"That is why we need the army well fed."

"I disagree, my lord. What good is an army if everyone they are meant to protect are dead? Please Uther, cancel the order. Give the people a few more days. Give Arthur a chance to end the curse and return. Please I know we have never seen eye to eye in a lot of things, but even you must know this is wrong."

Uther turned towards the lower town, "I will give them forty eight hours. If Arthur is not back by then. I will have no choice."

Morgana nodded a thanks before making her leave.

Merlin's stomach grumbled as he took small sips of his cup of soapy tea-water.

"Do you really believe that Arthur failed. We had water so Arthur must have done something right, but then with the food rotting…"

"We must hope that this is a setback and that Arthur will set things back to how they are meant to be."

"What if he can't? I know Arthur is pigheaded and stubborn and annoying, but he cares about his people more than he cares about himself. He will never forgive himself for making them suffer."

Gaius hymned in agreement, "If only you could make sure that he doesn't do anything rash."

The physician gave him a look.

"I don't even know where he is Gaius. I have no idea what he would do."

"Maybe you should find out."

"If the patrol couldn't find him, what makes you think I could?"

The physician raised his brow, looking at him like he was oblivious. Which he probably was.

"You want me to try and track him using… magic." the servant said whispering magic by instinct to avoid being heard even though no one else was around.

Gaius' own stomach stopped him from answering and in turn he went to retrieve two plates and set them on the table hesitantly.

"Ready?" He asked looking down at his plate.

"You sure they are not poisonous?" Merlin asked.

"Quite certain. They say they taste like chicken" the physician says raising a large invertebrate from his plate.

Merlin goes for a bite pausing to wait for Gaius to go first.

"Unless we are to starve, we must hope they're right"

Merlin and Gaius take large bites taking off the insect's heads from their bodies.

"This tastes nothing like chicken."

"If you want to make sure to stop drinking bath water and go back to eating actual chicken you'd better make sure to find Arthur."

Morgana didn't know what to do. She had to find Arthur, but she couldn't go off searching for him. She doubted she would do better than the number of patrols that were already sent out looking for him.

As she started contemplating going to the library to look up several maps of Camelot, she spotted Merlin with a bag swung over his shoulders heading out of the palace.

"Merlin! Wait." She ran up to catch up to him.

"Milady. I-"

"Please tell me you have a lead on Arthur."

Merlin shook his head, "I have an idea, but I don't know if it will work. I'm going out there to find him."

Morgana nodded, "I'm going with you."

"You can't! The king-"

"Merlin," Morgana cuts him off moving him to an abandoned area making sure no one was in earshot. "The king plans to stop distributing food to the people in two days unless Arthur returns."

The warlocks eyes widened, "How do you-"

"I'm the king's ward, Merlin. How do you think? If you won't let me come with you then at least tell me your plan. You need to find him and return in two days."

"Can you make him change his mind? I don't know if I can find him and bring him back in time."

"Merlin he gave the order this morning. I just managed to get him to overturn it, buying us the two days. He won't listen to me again after that."

Merlin nodded in awe and gratitude at the king's wards kindness and charity on behalf of the people. It was no wonder she was so loved by the people and called the daughter of Camelot if she consistently advocated to the king for them, "Thank you, for telling me. I promise I'll try and get Arthur back soon. I'm taking one of the horses from the stables. I doubt anyone will miss it with everything going on."

Morgana smiled, for what it was worth she believed in Merlin. "Bring him home."

Arthur was really tired of being knocked out and waking up in strange places. He couldn't really see much, as it was already night, but he could feel the dirt and grass beneath him. The sorcerer must have moved him somewhere else in the forest. Arthur tried to sit up gently rubbing the back of his head, before he quickly paused and brought his arm in front of his face. His ARM which was attached to his hand! He patted himself down and rubbed his face before running his hands over his hair. He was no longer a deer.

Ahnora chuckled lightly, "I suppose you must be relieved. Do not think that the curse on your kingdom has been lifted yet."

The prince turned towards the sound of the voice squinting to make something out in the darkness; only to be met with large trees surrounding him in all directions. He couldn't make out the sound of the ocean, but he could still smell the ocean air, so he must be close to where he and Freya were attacked.

"Where have you taken me? Where are you? Where's Freya?"

Ahnora took a step forward going round the hedge and channeling light to the top of his staff so Arthur could see him. "You are near the outskirts of Gedref."

Arthur nodded his suspicions confirmed. That was around the general direction they had been headed. "Where's Freya. What have you done with her?"

"The druid girl is back with her clan, where she's always been. The Freya you traveled with is not the one that you know. When you said goodbye to her she returned home and I created a mirage to take her place…" The prince let out a sigh of relief, although he felt bitterness gripe at his heart at the betrayal, he felt glad that Freya, the real Freya was safe and not bleeding out somewhere. "Forgive the underhandedness, but it was a test to see what was truly in your heart."

"Why? Why does it matter that I prove myself. My people have done no wrong, they do not deserve to suffer. Please lift the curse."

Ahnora shook his head almost reluctantly, "It is not in my power to do so. Only you could have saved your people, but you failed."

"No! Please! I beg you. I did what I had to. I protected Freya there was no other way."

"While your intentions may have been noble you let your anger and pride get in the way. You could have gotten the girl out safely without causing harm to any of those knights. Instead you charged recklessly ahead and risked everyone's lives." Ahnora motioned to his left. "If you follow the trail you shall make your way onto a main road leading to Camelot." The sorcerer vanished soon after leaving Arthur to contemplate what to do next.

How could he go back to Camelot in dishonor. He failed his kingdom and his people. But he had to go back. The curse will cause a famine that will destroy his kingdom, he had a duty to try and save as many citizens as he could, whether that meant asking for amnesty and asylum from his allies.

Arthur started making his way back each step in trepidation and regret. He wished he never had seen that unicorn. Wished he had listened to Merlin's warnings and that this horrid nightmare would never have happened.

Meanwhile, Merlin and his horse were in the Darkling Woods searching for the keeper of the unicorns. He was hoping that if he called out to Ahnora in the spot where Arthur had killed the Unicorn he would appear to him.

"Anhora! Show yourself!" Merlin got off his horse and moved to take a seat on the ground, laying his back against one of the trees to wait. "Ahnora!"

Merlin waited he could feel the shift in the air; the flowing of the trees carrying his message out.

"You wanted to talk with me, Emrys." Ahnora said appearing in front of Merlin.

"I come to ask for your help. The people of Camelot are starving they will soon be dead. Please end the curse and return Arthur to his people."

"You must believe when I say it gives me no pleasure to see your people suffer. I am also in no place to make an enemy of you."

"If it pains you put an end to it."

"It is not in my power to lift the curse. However I already have set the prince on his way. He should arrive in Camelot in no more than two days if he is not delayed."

The servant paused taking in the fact that Arthur was alive and heading home. "Thank you, but he will never forgive himself if he returns and sees what's becoming of Camelot. I beg you, give Arthur another chance. He has accepted killing the unicorn as his responsibility and he shall prove himself worthy if you give him one more chance."

"You have faith in the prince."

"I trust him with my life."

"Arthur must go to the labyrinth of Gedreth there he shall face the final test. If he fails there is no help. The curse will destroy Camelot and no one not even you will be powerful to stop it."

Anhora disappears in a twirl of wind taking the warlock and horse with him. Merlin turned noting the maze behind the keeper. "Find Arthur and bring him to the maze. You can still catch him."

Merlin nodded, about to go before pausing, "What kind of test will he face?"

Anhora shook his head turning away and walking into the maze. "That is for Arthur alone to discover."