"No!" Annabeth sobbed. "Father! Why?"
She and Merlin wept over Gaius's lifeless body laying on the cold, hard ground.
"What will we do, Merlin?" Annabeth asked.
Merlin sniffled and then wiped his nose. He put his arm around Annabeth.
"We have to go to Arthur." He said. "We have to tell him that his physician is dead."
Annabeth choked back a sob when she heard the word "dead."
"Well, come on then." Annabeth said, staring to get up. She held out her hand for Merlin to take, but he didn't. "What's wrong?" She asked. "Oh, come on. You're like my brother, Merlin, you can tell me anything."
Merlin looked up at Annabeth.
"I just can't believe Morgana did this." He said, his eyes mixed with confusion and sadness.
"I know." Annabeth said softly. "But we have to get going, Merlin."
Merlin grabbed Annabeth's hand and she dragged him out the door.

---

Annabeth and Merlin ran through the village as fast as their legs would go.
They passed Gwen on the way.
"Annabeth! Merlin!" She cried. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"We have to see Arthur!" Merlin cried back.
As they assed the market, Annabeth saw Connor and Travis Stoll, the baker's sons, pick-pocketing potatoes.
"Pay for it or put it back!" Annabeth yelled at them. She did not stop running.
When she and Merlin were almost at the gates, Annabeth's boyfriend, Percy Jackson, ran up to them. This time, Annabeth did stop running.
"For you, m' lady." Percy said, handing Annabeth a blue tulip.
"Oh, Percy, it's beautiful." She said, staring into his sea green eyes. She could get lost in those eyes forever.
Like Merlin, Percy had powers that he had to keep secret from Uther. Percy had powers over the water, making him a Waterlord. He was the only one left..
"So where are you two going in such a hurry?" Percy asked.
"We're going to see Arthur." Merlin replied. "Something terrible has happened."
"What is it?" Percy asked. "You can tell me, Annabeth."
Annabeth took a deep breath and said, "My father was killed by Morgana last night."
Annabeth felt the tears well up in her eyes.
"Annabeth." Percy whispered as he wrapped his arms around the crying girl. "I'm so sorry."
"it's alright." Annabeth whispered into his shirt.
Merlin coughed. Annabeth pulled away from Percy.
"We have to get to the castle." He said.
"Oh, yes, of course." Annabeth said. She waved goodbye to Percy and continued running with Merlin.

---

"Gaius?" Arthur cried. "Killed? By Morgana?"
Annabeth and Merlin nodded solemnly.
"Oh dear. That is unfortunate. And unexpected. But, it does mean, that Annabeth, you will be the new court physician."
Annabeth looked up.
"Me?"
Arthur nodded.
"Thank you, My Lord."
Arthur smiled. Then he turned to Merlin.
"Isn't there some are our that you should be cleaning?"
Merlin looked up in panic.
"Oh no, I'm late! I'm going to be murdered by my best friend. I'm going to die today!"
He ran off towards Arthur's chambers.
Annabeth laughed. Merlin could be such an idiot sometimes.

Notes

Hey it's Mustard42367! Hope you liked the chapter!