So we meet again book, I don't know why I bother writing in you, but I suppose after what happened with Merlin tonight requires recording for all prosperity as much as anything else.

Honestly, I don't know why I let him leave this castle, and I can only blame Gwaine for this, no doubt he introduced Merlin to the 'wonders' of the tavern and now I have to put up with the aftermath. He's bad enough at performing his servant duties all ready, let alone with a hang over.

Hmmm, maybe I'll get Gwaine to polish my boots tomorrow, just to teach him to stop taking impressionable idiots to the tavern.

At the tavern tonight, which is where I was with the knights.

This isn't something my father would ever have done, but Gwaine talked me into it, I hope I won't regret it, there was a very odd drink on offer tonight, it was green of all things. It proved to have an extremely odd taste, but well...it sort of grew on me.

Considering I can still write, I don't think I have to worry about any sort of hang over, honestly, if Merlin is going to assisting on going to the tavern he should at least learn to hold his alcohol. Not that I think he could ever manage it...a knight he is not.

And since the stables haven't been mucked out for quite a while, he better not be trying to work on his tolerance right now...or there'll be trouble.

I understand that Samhain is coming up, but really, things this strange just shouldn't happen.

I went into The Rising Sun, which Gwaine seems more than capable of doing without ending up having anything bizarre happen.

I go and I run into...well myself...except, I wasn't myself.

I was a girl! An actual girl, I don't even...

This has happened before I suppose, but it's just...

At least I'm still a born fighter no matter how I was born.

I may have to avoid the tavern in future...

The Crown Prince joins Sir Lancelot for an after-training drink.

It's not as horribly awkward as Arthur feared...

Gwaine been drunk.

It's rather unkightly behaviour in all honesty, especially if he's going to stumble all over the place, but he makes such an amusing drunk I can't really punish him for it. He always seems to bounce back from it...so I can be certain he won't be skipping training tomorrow.

Today I visited Father, who is in a much better state than he was this time last week. Although that's not saying much, all it means really is instead of ranting and raving and sentencing himself to death he's silent, staring vacant eyed at...something. Sometimes he whispered something, but I couldn't make out what it was. I can't even be sure he recognised me.

At least he's eating again, thank God for small mercies.

Merlin has been in a strange mood this week...I mean stranger than usual, I'm not sure what his problem is exactly, I tried speaking to him about it today, but...well...

Maybe Guinevere can get it out of him...although when I'm with Guinevere the last thing on my mind is Merlin! But I should make a note to remember that...

I am currently taking care of a strangely behaved cat.

Still...better than a Council Meeting.

There was a Mirror in the castle today. A mirror that wasn't like any mirror I've ever seen. It reflected things...things I'd rather not think about right now. Or maybe ever.

Of course, it's obviously some sort of enchantment, but I wasn't really thinking straight when I saw it and by the time I was the damn thing had disappeared. God only knows where, no-one seems to know anything about it, if I didn't know better I'd think I had imagined it, but it's not the sort of thing you'd forget.

I just hope it hasn't fallen into the wrong hands, although I'm not sure what the wrong hands could do with it anyway.

If only what I saw in it was true

The Crown Prince has successfully triumphed in the tournament.

Prince Arthur will not simply lie down and along other kingdoms to pick at Camelot.

The past two days have been exceptionally disturbing in all aspects.

And I swear if Merlin ever, ever says anything about what happened...there won't be enough hours in the day for the rotten fruit I will have thrown at him in the stocks.

Anyway, today was Guinevere's birthday, and I'm pleased to say I managed to get a lavender bush, shrub, plant for her...during my er, travels the past few days and if I may say so myself I think I really got it right this time. Despite Gwaine's less than glowing assessment of my gift, but honestly when has Gwaine ever had anything resembling taste.

Speaking of which, I encountered an...older Gwaine the other evening, I can't say the years made much of a difference in his alcohol consumption, but if it was a glimpse into the future I'm glad he's still around.

Not that I'd ever tell him that...

A few days ago Guinevere and I were actually able to catch a few moments together. And even though she spent some of those precious moments pointing the possible dangers of my tournament idea (possible dangers for less talented knights rather), I'd give anything to be able to have that happen on a regular basis.

But since then I've been tied up so much by the council and petioneers that I've barely had time to breathe. I'm so tired I could sleep right now, except Merlin is still bustling around in here making all kinds of noise.

Speaking of Guinevere, I've been advised by Elyan that her birthday is only five days away, so now I really need to do something for her, something more than a lavander tree...bush thing.

Of course, I haven't got a clue on what that could be and I don't have anyone I can ask, I mean, what exactly could Merlin or Gaius suggest to me?

Perhaps I should cut my losses and ask Monmouth, although if I was going to do that I really should have asked more than a week out.

And Merlin's finally stopped banging around and my pillow calls.

Perhaps something will come to me in a dream...

Arthur's having a a very good time at The Rising Sun.

No doubt he will regret it tomorrow morning...

So a few days ago I was suffering through a meeting with Monmouth when lo and behold a cat showed up. A cat in the middle of the Council room, with the doors closed. Honestly, the guards are still pathetic.

Anyway, it was a very odd cat, very uppity - why would people even want to keep cats I don't know, this one was pretty much trying to order me around. This most embarrassing thing is, I sort of let it. At least until I came to my senses.

Although, I'd like to know where that cat went and who owns it. There was something decidedly strange about it and I'm finding the whole thing suspicious. God knows what sorcery might be capable of...that cat could be some sort of spy, especially since Percival saw Morgana in the forest. I'm sure she'd want to spy on us, plan her next move, whatever that might be.

However, I'm not yet to ask the knights to be on the look out for a cat with golden fur, apart from anything else I'll never hear the end of it from Gwaine.

And for now, I'd like to avoid that.

I sincerely doubt it, this morning I ran into Gwaine, who was having a very strange problem. Privately it was a rather fitting problem and even rather amusing although the sorcery behind it is far from benign I'm sure.

After dealing with Gwaine, Percival returned from patrol with news that he had apparently seen Morgana in the woods close to Leon's childhood home. Being only one man he could hardly attempt a capture, honestly I'm surprised he managed to escape! Apparently Morgana was speaking to a child, I pray she's not planning on doing something horrible to him. After getting this news, the knights and I (sans Gwaine) went to track her down, but she had, of course disappeared. As had the child...I hope he's all right.

We're no closer to knowing where Morgana is hiding out and considering how quickly she disappeared after Morgause's army was destroyed she seems more than capable of moving very quickly. So how are we supposed to track her down?

We need to find her and...well I don't know, but not knowing is dangerous...we never know when she'll strike.

Damnit...

Cenred continues to make life difficult...today for example yet another letter arrived from Mercia wanting to know exactly how we would deal with the situation. Apparently King Bayard is of the opinion that because Cenred invaded Camelot we're entirely responsible for cleaning up the mess. They've got patrols on their borders of course, but they're not going any further than that, at least not at present, and the letter warned that if measures needed to be taken Bayard would hold Camelot personally responsible and demand payment from us! That's the last thing we need, not that the kingdom is running particularly low on money, it's the principle of the thing, the people certainly won't want to foot the bill for too much.

And Bayard's only the tip of the iceberg! I'm surrounded by correspondence and I was only away for a night! Week long hunting trips are definitely not in my future.

Ugh! I've had enough writing. Early morning training tomorrow is at the very least, something to look forward to. Thank God for the knights.

The Crown Prince is out on patrol with Sir Gwaine.

It will be a very interesting patrol....

I don't know what the Hell is going on lately...everything is just...nothing makes sense at all!

Like today, I thought for one brief moment that Father had suddenly recovered.

But no, it was just...I'm not entirely sure who it was...some sort of 'actor'? I don't know, but I can tell you it certainly wasn't Father.

I really don't need any more of this, can't things just go back to normal?

I think I saw the future today...

Or maybe it was just the heat?

Either way I saw Morgana, or a Morgana at least.

And she was ill, very ill, worse than Father either.

I have no idea what to make of it...it's not as if I can help her, even though I really want to she can be found.

Maybe she'll run into herself and learn just what's waiting for her if she doesn't-, God only know what she'd make of that.

I'd almost like to see it.

It's been a busy day for the Prince.

That afternoon he discovers Merlin sleeping on his rug of all things.

And at present he remains trapped at the feast for the Mora delegates.

A Prince's work is never done!

Yes... although I suppose if I ever have trouble sleeping there's a surefire cure for it.

Merlin came and woke me up, which was rather good of him. Although I thought I was ill...I can't keep up with him, I swear!

I had a very odd encounter with a Merlin today actually...earlier on. I saw A Merlin because I'm quite sure he wasn't my one. At first I just thought he was delirious. But apparently not.

It was somewhat unsettling...though nowhere near as bad as that evil Merlin...I'm never going to get over that one.

Anyway, the reports won't read themselves sadly, so I better get back to them, the delegation from Moira arrives tomorrow... I hope I can survive this. Moira and Camelot haven't had a meeting of this nature in years. I just pray they don't think just because Father is indisposed they can make unreasonable demands.

Yes, Merlin went and got some sort of illness and Gaius has confined him in the Physician's Quarters for the last few days. He has the worst timing of anyone I know. There's a huge feast coming up and he's not around to assist me! I have to use someone else and I'm not sure what Merlin has done with my room but he's definitely rearranged things. It took Boris or whatever his name was ten minutes to find my ceremonial sword.

On the upside at least Gwaine is settling in well enough. All things considered I was half expecting him to disappear after a while, he really doesn't seem like the stay around type, but perhaps I misjudged him.

I managed to spend a few moments with Guinevere today, a miracle indeed! Hmmm...one good thing about feasts, she like all the servants is required to participate so at least I'll be able to look at her for a few hours and it'll be easier to speak with her. Who would have thought it would be so difficult?

Having said that, though, I hope Merlin is back on his feet soon, this Boris hasn't brought me my evening fruit bowl. And I even reminded him nicely! Sometimes people are just useless at their jobs.