He actually recognised me today, but I don't think it made much of a difference. He seemed to be under the impression that I was...I don't know, not real exactly? He kept talking like I had died many many years ago and he thought I was a ghost haunting him or something.

Then towards the end of the hour he started talking like it was thirty years ago and he wasn't king, he kept calling me Gorlois. It was very...unsettling, Lord Gorlois reminds me of Morgana (he was her father after all, or I don't know...) and I don't need to be reminded of Morgana.

The very last thing Father said to me before I left his room was that there all the birds were dying and soon none would be left. I have no idea what that even means, neither did Gaius when I asked him, as far as he could recall there's never been a widespread death of birds in the kingdom.

Tomorrow the Council reconvenes with our invited guests, who Father doesn't even have a clue about what is happening.

Sometimes I think he never will...and I'll have to take that final step. A few more weeks and I'm sure the Council will really start pushing the Regent option.

I don't want to think about it.

Is basically...every chance I get for the next three days, the honoured 'guests' will be starting to arrive tomorrow, which probably means every chance I get won't be very much. Especially with Father still not much better, Gaius was hoping that a change in the weather might precipitate some change in his condition, but no luck there. So, I will have to take on all those meet and greet duties as well. There's not even Mor-

Merlin has taken to fussing over me, which is just bizarre, although it wouldn't be the first time, he seems absolutely convinced that he's supposed to be looking out for me. It's actually rather funny (and all right...maybe a bit touching) because God knows he can barely lift a sword. Still, I suppose it's the thought that counts.

All the same, I notice he hasn't bought my nightly fruit bowl in, is that too much to ask really? I have to tell him every second day it seems.

Which I best do now, maybe one day he'll learn.

And that means I have to endeavour to visit every major harvesting area in the kingdom to take stock of the situation and give the farmers encouragement.

Only problem is, I only just learnt about this today and there's the tournament to train for as well, acceptances have started coming in, a few of the older members of the council seemed rather surprised, obviously I'm facing a lack of confidence from my own advisors! Or Father's advisors rather.

Speaking of Father, since his nocturnal adventures last week he's been completely still, as in, he hasn't moved from his bed at all. If this continues he's in danger of developing a wasting disease or worse.

Not that I can see how it could get much worse...aside from...death.

I don't even want to think about it.

God I need some sleep...

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...

For legitmaing my position as temporary ruler here in Camelot. I sort of forgot about it in all the turmoil that happened afterwards, but April had a very good idea indeed. A tournament. No doubt Merlin would think it's ridiculous, but tournaments display the best warriors in a kingdom and those warriors earn respect... So I'm thinking we need one, because I'm more than capable of winning it.

Of course, the Council will cause trouble I'm sure, since a ruler - even a temporary one - is hardly supposed to be risking life and limb in a tournament. I think I'll be able to get around that, Father did after all.

There's a bit of an issue with a few of the kingdoms though...ones that haven't been invited to tournaments due to, well, complete and utter disregard for the Knight's Code. Father would be appalled if he knew what I was thinking of doing.

But the point is...he doesn't and I'm running out of options. Inviting back disgraced knights is a small price to pay when the alternative is an invasion and war.

Right...?

The Crown Prince of Camelot is standing on the grand steps of the castle awaiting the arrival of a very important guest.

He's actually having a bit of trouble believing the day has actual come and shifts slightly nervously from foot to foot.

His uncle! His uncle who he's never even met before!

The fact their first meeting will be in public is rather daunting, but there isn't much Arthur can do about that.

There is the sound of horse's hooves on the flagstones and Arthur straightens, resisting the urge to straighten his circlet.

Agravaine Du Bois has arrived.

In amongst all his bathering, because he's declared the next two days free and clear of meetings! I suppose technically I should be able to decide these things, but the rest of the council seemed to be under the impression that endless discussion was needed and...I can hardly go against them all can I? They're my council, I should follow their council then, right?

But! Not for the next two days! I'm thinking tomorrow I'll take the knights on a big hunt, the weather is just right for it and it's just the sort of thing to boost morale.

As for the day after that? Well, who knows, I'm sure after the hunt we'll all end up at the tavern and Gwaine will challenge everyone to a drinking contest and no doubt we'll all end up under the table.

But isn't that what days off are all about?

I feel like a squire giving a reprieve!

For another round of boring and no doubt annoying meetings.

I wonder though, if he'll bring Elena and if so...well, it's certainly going to be strange. Especially since we never found her maid.

I guess I should turn in, it's hard enough to stay awake in those meetings as is without throwing a lack of sleep in!

Yes, I finally got away from him after some three hours with precious little information. He went through about fifty books and half a dozen scrolls and a lot of mumbling and murmuring.

As far as I managed to figure out, Camelot's tournaments have always been hosted by someone in the Royal Family, except for that time Morgana did, but then she's my sister and even if she wasn't she lived in the castle most of her life. So all things considered I think I can just pick anyone who's has a long association with the palace.

Of course this is never easy...if I pick someone on the Coucil...well, I need a reson why I picked them and not someone else and they'll probably be all sorts of infighting that I can really do without.

Part of me wants to pick Guinevere! I think she would do a fine job, although she's never really cared all that much for tournaments. And it would put the nobles up in arms.

Still, tempting...very tempting.

Failing that, I could always select Merlin and be done with it. For the entertainment factor if nothing else.

Hmmm...possibilities.

With the arrangements of the touranment that is. For one thing who's going to host it? Someone has to, but God knows who. I certainly can't (if I'm going to participate and I will). I don't have Father or Morgana to assist. I don't know who's next in the line of...tournament hosting duties. The only one who can tell me that is...Monmouth.

It was a fun few days of avoiding him I suppose.

God I hope it's not him! We'll never actualy get a chance to compete if that's the case!

Maybe...hopefully, I can just nominate someone myself.

I think I'll pick Gaius, he can be a man of few words when necessary...

This better work out!

And it's not good, at the borders at least everything is in complete turmoil, with no army, bandits have all but taken over and holding villagers to ransom.

Now, I - or rather than Council and I have to figure out excatly what to do. Without a ruler there's no-one to negogiate with, and it's hardly Camelot polcy to negogiate with bandits anyway. On the other hand is it going to war if there's no one group to declare war on? These bandits certainly aren't working together, although I suppose it's possible if we attempted to invade they'd band together, which is something I think we all want to avoid.

It's these sorts of decisions I find impossible. Father, of course, always seemed to know what he was doing...but I don't have that kind of confidence. At the moment, the bandits have no interest in Camelot, so invading would only be provoking them.

On the other hand, the sheer bastardery of Cenred aside the people of his kingdom shouldn't pay for his mistakes.

So...to invade...or not...

I just don't want to make the wrong decision.

Feast for King Tewdrig tomorrow night!

Haven't found out what kitchen is planning to serve.

Complete lack of entertainment.

May need to make all the servants wear those hats.

Otherwise this will be the firt case of diplomatic relations breaking down due to a poor meal...

Seeing as the treaty talks are going so well, the feast at the end of the week will be more important than ever.

Which just makes things a hell of a lot more important. Not that I'm imagining the kitchen staff will accidentally poison everyone or a few nobles will get into a huge fight, but it needs to be pretty much perfect, because kings are sometimes impossible to please.

I'm relieved to report that Guinevere's shoes have been returned to her. In all honesty, my father would be almost rabid at this sort of thing happening, but if this is the worst a sorcerer wants to do, well...better that then something more serious.

Casting spells on Guinevere though, I can't say I have much patience for that. Guinevere's never hurt anyone in her life, if this sort of thing continues however, something will have to be done. Stupid pranks still take up time after all.

Right, more treaty talks tomorrow so I better make sure I'm well rested.

Except for the raging inferno I encounted!

And if that wasn't enough when I managed to sort that out. I headed towards Guinevere's cottage to see here and instead found a...male Guinevere...

A Guinevere who's...a man. That's so...I don't even...

Sometimes I think this Nexus is trying to drive me mad.

It's not going to happen! So Guinevere is a man in one of these other universes, she's still her here.

Having said that...my Guinevere is a very good blacksmith...Leon mentioned to me how she created a copy of the dungeon key to break him out.

The feast prepration are coming along, all the seating charts are still around so I don't need to worry about having to put Sir Kevin next to Lady Juliana thus causing some sort of food throwing incident.

And sadly...the talks are starting up again tomorrow morning, early, so I have no choice but to turn in now. It's hard enough not to sleep through them all ready!

At least that was the greeting for King Tewdrig today. I can't say I didn't mean it, he seems...well, he's certainly no Cenred, or Lord Olaf, or King Bayard. He seems to have a level head and everything.

The problem is...well, I haven't been named regent yet, but it's going to happen any time now, it could be the end of the week even. I visited Father this morning and...there was no recognition. Nothing at all. I mean, he seemed to settle when I took his hand when I was trying to get through to him, but he won't talk.

I don't know what to do with these negotations, I feel like...well I should be doing what Father would do. Even if I don't entirely agree...because...well if when he recovers I don't want him to think...

I don't even know.

The multiverse seemed to understand my confusion, I ended up wandering into that strange room in time to hear a question on that very subject.

I'm not anymore certain about what I should do, though...

Right, so after three days of talk, talk, talk what did we learn today?

King Tewdrig will be arriving tomorrow to continue the negoations.

In other words...all that talk was for nothing! What do I know know that I didn't before? Nothing! Except never to let an Emissary from Deira open his mouth in my presence again.

I don't recall this happening before...do kings often send messengers for no apparent reason whatsoever? If Tewdrig was always planning to come...

I give up.

I'm going to bed to rest my poor ears...if I got deaf I know who to blame.

Training today was a breath of fresh air! Although, Sir Winston's arm might be bruised for quite a while.

Of course, after that I had the displeasure of once again entering the Council Chambers, once again we've only just finished up, although we had a break a few hours ago, where I had some...interesting encounters. Seems the Nexus was in fine form today.

It certainly proved more interesting than the meeting, where my advisors were mostly speaking because they've had experience with negoating with Caerleon whereas I haven't. But I'm sure my moment is coming soon and I'm not sure I'm ready for it, I'm not exactly that sort of person...

But I can say one thing, I won't be asking Monmouth for advice, I want to get some fresh air tomorrow!

My great plan to escape today's council meeting failed completely.

So it was yet another day of having my ear talked off.

I understand the need to negoiate but we've hardly got a word in edgewise! I don't know exactly what's wrong with this emissary, I can only assume he's never been able to speak before and now it's his big chance.

At least Merlin was decent enough to join me in my suffering. Which, you know, is really quite good of him.

Fortunately, I'm going to be able to train with the knights tomorrow, apparently the emissary wants to send a message to his King about how things are going thus far. I certainly hope he won't need a cart to carry the document!

Now, I'm going to enjoy some mead and fresh fruit. I've earned it!

But I believe I've discovered someone who talks more than Monmouth.

Yes.

The evidence? That emmissary arrived just after noon...

And he's only just finished his opening message..

NOW. At almost midnight.

And that was just him talking! I mean admittedly, yes we broke for lunch dinner, but that would only take three hours from the over all time.

So all up this man managed to speak for almost NINE hours!

And that was just a background of the current situation!

Good God, I don't even want to know what will happen tomorrow...I think my ears will fall off.

Which I suppose has the benefit of making it so I don't have to listen to more prattle.

An offical emmissary from Deira is arriving tomorrow to discuss the current treaty between our kingdoms.

Obviously I haven't been able to leave the council hall, or Monmouth's watchful eye for that matter. He's practically buried me in documents about King Tewdrig, I'm not exaggerating, there must be thousands of pieces of parchment... It's ridiculous!

The Council is of the opinion though that the success of this treaty rests on my ability to conduct the proceedings. I'd always imagined the Council being more power hungry than this, but no.

It was hard enough getting through Beltane and that was, for the most part, for fun! I have no idea how I'm supposed to manage this. If I fail, the treaty could be in jepordary and the security of Camelot itself.

No pressure or anything.

And I didn't even get to see Guinevere today...