Guinevere followed the shadow's path but found no one.
She went to the room where King Arthur handled his affairs, only to find him gone. The chair had been knocked over behind the desk, and the furnishings were in disarray.
An empty basket sat on the desk, with a few bread crumbs and an empty cup inside.
"Strange." She picked up the cup and sniffed it. A sweet, fishy smell lingered inside.
Guinevere began to feel afraid.
She forced herself to stay calm and noticed several strands of hair on the desk. They were golden, like Arthur's, but dry and pale.
This wasn't Arthur's hair. Someone else had entered the room. Guinevere realized it at once.
I can't go to the Knights of the Round Table. She thought of those powerful, valiant knights, but gritted her teeth and decided to search for Arthur herself.
This was a royal secret, perhaps even a scandal. It was best not to tell anyone just yet.
She left Arthur's office and searched the Royal Court for him, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Guinevere searched the chamber where the Round Table stood, the dining hall where banquets were held, and even the garden outside the Royal Court, but she couldn't find Arthur.
In the end, though, she found him in an unexpected place.
Her and Arthur's bedroom.
She heard movement inside. To be safe, Guinevere didn't open the door all the way. Instead, she pulled it ajar and leaned in to peer through the gap.
But the next second, her pupils contracted. Her mouth fell open, a bead of cold sweat slid down her forehead, and disbelief spread across her face.
Someone lay on the bed in the bedroom: her king, Arthur.
Another person stood beside the bed, facing away from the door.