Elizabeth's POV

Arthur and Merlin went out hunting this morning with a few other knights. Apparently they caught something worth wild. So the court has been gathered to see what it was. We're in the council chambers. Arthur and his knights enter, Merlin carries some sort of horn on a pillow.

"Father! A unicorn's horn to grace the walls of Camelot" Arthur declares. I look at him in horror, why on earth would he kill a unicorn? Doesn't he know any who do are cursed?

"Magnificent. It's the first one I've seen" Father says happily. Examining the horn. So not only did Arthur kill it, he butchered it as well. "Gaius, look at this" he says.

"It is very impressive, My Lord" Gaius says. I can tell by his tone, he is not impressed either.

"What is it, Gaius? Speak your mind" father tells him.

"Unicorns are rare and mystical creatures. There is a legend that says that bad fortune will come to anyone who slays one" Gaius explains.

"Nonsense. We will be the envy of every kingdom" father states.

"It's not nonsense, this will cause nothing but harm to the kingdom!" I snap. Then storm out of the room. Not looking at Arthur.

(Next day)

I hate when I'm right. All our crops have died. Now we have to ration what little we have left. Father has asked Gaius to run some tests on the dead fields. See if he can discover a cause. I know the cause, it's because Arthur killed the unicorn.

I am helping hand out rations as I eavesdrop on Arthur and father. "The livestock is either dying or has been eaten. Food and water's very scarce and we're distributing rations, but they're very meager" Arthur tells father.

"This is all the grain we have?" Father asks.

"The people are growing scared. There's been some looting" Arthur tells him.

"We must maintain order at all costs. Panic will make the situation worse. I'll issue a decree that looters will be executed. From tonight, Camelot will be under curfew" Father states.

"I'll see to it" Arthur assures him. Just then a villager runs over to us.

"Sire, you must come quick. It's the well" she states. We follow her to the well in the main square. Father sifts sand through his fingers into the well bucket. While Arthur had sent men to investigate the underground reservoir.

"Sand. And you say the well is full of it?" father asks.

"I sent men down to the underground reservoir. There is no trace of water to be found" Arthur states.

"First the crops, and now this" father says.

"Don't forget the livestock" I tell him.

"It's the same throughout the kingdom. There's precious little water anywhere" Arthur states. As Gaius appears with Merlin.

"Gaius. Can you offer any explanation for this?" father asks him.

"I cannot think of a scientific explanation. I can only conclude it's the result of sorcery" he states.

"I believe you're right. It is the work of magic. The kingdom is under attack" father states. "Elizabeth return to the castle" he tells me.

"I won't seat in my room while our people suffer. I will do my part in ensuring they are safe and happy" I tell him. I go back to the table to continue helping distributing food and water to the people. I help until the sun began to set and was escorted back to the castle. Where I retired for the night.

(Time skip)

I don't know how. But after two days of no water. It's suddenly returned. I have some people storing some in barrels, encase it stops again. I decided to visit Arthur to see if he is the reason we have water back. When I reach the chambers, I hear him talking to Merlin. "The sand's disappeared. The water returned to the well. It doesn't make any sense" Arthur states. "I suppose you have some explanation for this, Merlin? Let's hear it" he says.

"Anhora said you would be tested. And last night, in the grain store, you let that villager go. And he said it would bring its own reward" Merlin states.

"He was merely grateful, and so he should have been" Arthur states.

"Maybe that was your first test. You passed it, so the curse has begun to lift. Perhaps this is your reward. I know you don't have to listen to me" Merlin says.

"Glad we agree on something" Arthur says.

"If you're tested again, you have a chance to end your people's suffering. I know you want that more than anything. Perhaps we should seek Anhora out" Merlin suggests. I wonder who this Anhora is, the name sounds familiar. Like I've read it somewhere before.

"I cannot negotiate with sorcerers. My father wouldn't hear of it" Arthur tells him.

"Then it's probably best you don't tell him" Merlin states.

"I must go check on the guard. See if you can find me some food" Arthur tells him. He leaves his room. "Elizabeth" he says.

"So you believe the curse now?" I ask him. He sighs. "From what I read you must prove you have a pure heart to lift the curse. I know you have one Arthur, please prove it to this Anhora" I plead. "I can't stand seeing our people suffer because of what you did" I state.

"So you blame me for our people's suffering?" he asks me.

"I know you would never wish to see our people suffer. But you should have thought about your decision before killing that poor innocent unicorn" I tell him. "I have faith in you" I tell him.

"I must check on the guard" he states and leaves. I go to the kitchen and see Gwen there. We smuggle some food out and head down to the square. Where we meet up with Morgana.

"Did you manage to find any food?" she asks us. Gwen pulls a cloth back from her basket revealing some bread. While mine held some cheese. "Where did you get that?" she asks.

"We were able to smuggle it out of the palace kitchens" Gwen tells her.

"Share it out amongst the children and old people. Make it go as far as you can" Morgana tells us. We do so. While Morgana went to go see if she can get any food for the people also.

"Thank you princess, you truly are a gift" a mother says.

"I'm only doing what I can to help you all" I tell her. "I promise as long as I live, I won't let our people go hungry" I assure her. She smiles and leads her children away. I return to the castle and go to the library deciding to research the name Anhora. I was right, I had read it somewhere before. He is the keeper of the unicorns. He oversees the tests to lift the curse. I hope Arthur passes and proves he has a pure heart.

I don't know what happened last night. But all of our remaining supplies have rotted. Every last grain. I've organized what little the castle has be handed out to the people. Arthur and I are addressing father of the situation. "There are some supplies left in the palace stores. We are distributing them to the people" I tell him.

"But there is not enough to live on. They will not survive for long" Arthur states.

"Then you must stop distributing food to the people" father tells us.

"What?!" I demand.

"They will starve" Arthur tells him.

"We must conserve the food we have for our army" father states.

"We cannot let our people go without food" Arthur and I tell him.

"We must defend the kingdom at all cost" he tells us.

"What kingdom? There won't be one if you let our people starve!" I snap.

"Well, what would you have me do?!" he demands.

"Ask the neighboring kingdoms for help" Arthur suggests.

"They may have some spare food and water to share" I state.

"Out of the question. As soon as they realize how we weak we are, our enemies will strike against us" he tells us.

"You don't know that for certain" Arthur tells him.

"Besides I would rather starve than beg my enemies for help! What of our kingdom's reputation? Have you no pride?" father asks.

"I cannot think of my pride when our people go hungry. They're all I can think of" Arthur tells him.

"If the people are to starve, so will I. I will not let them suffer alone!" I snap.

"You will not starve yourself!" Father snaps.

"You can't force me to eat or drink. If the people are to go without food and water. So will I" I state and storm out of the room. I wait outside and listen in.

"Give the order to stop distributing food to the people. Is that understood?" father asks Arthur.

"You'll have to give that order yourself" Arthur tells him. I smile, proud of my brother.

"Very well. But if you'd caught the sorcerer, I would not have to. That's your responsibility! One day you will understand what it takes to be King" father tells him. I scoff and leave.

I go to my room and lock the door. Soon there's a knock on the door. "Elizabeth" Arthur says gently. I don't answer. "I know you're in there and I am so sorry for all the suffering I have brought to our people and I. I promise I won't rest until I find a way to lift this curse" he assures me.

"I have faith in your Arthur" I assure him.

"I'll be in my chambers if you wish to talk" he states and I hear him leave. Not long after Gwen knocks on my door. Saying she has my dinner.

"Give it to the people" I tell her.

"Are you sure?" she asks.

"Yes, but make sure no one sees you" I tell her. I hear her leave. I decide to go to bed early. Praying this nightmare will end soon.

(Next day)

There is good news this morning. The crops are growing and the livestock are healthy one again. The villagers are bringing in the harvest. Father ordered that the grain reserves are re-stocked. I ran to Arthur when he appeared with Merlin and hugged him tightly. "I knew you were pure of heart" I cry tears of joy.

"There is something I must do, want to come?" he asks me. I nod my head as Merlin appears. We head into the forest. Arthur lays the unicorn's horn in a burial mound of stones. "I should never have ended your life. I'm sorry" he says sincerely. Merlin and Arthur begin laying stones over the grave. Merlin looks up and sees a unicorn.

"Arthur, Elizabeth" he says. I look at the unicorn in awe. I approach it slowly. It bows it's head to me and allows me to pat it. I hear an unfamiliar voice speak.

"When he who kills a unicorn proves himself to be pure of heart, the unicorn will live again" it said. I smile.

"Go now, you're free" I tell the unicorn. It bows to me and leaves. Arthur, Merlin and I return to Camelot. Where a celebration is held. For the return of the crops, water and health of the livestock. I pray Camelot never has to face such times again while my father is king.

A/N

Picture above of the unicorn.