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When you killed the Unicorn, you unleashed a curse. For this, Camelot will suffer greatly.
Anhora to Arthur[src]

The Curse of the Unicorn is a powerful enchantment triggered by the death of a Unicorn. It is known to destroy a kingdom's food supply and turn its water to sand, and can only be lifted by the perpetrator proving themselves pure of heart.

History[]

Sand Well

The curse turned Camelot's water to sand.

The curse first manifested in the death of Camelot's crops and edible plants. Its water supply turned to sand soon afterward, leading Uther to issue a city-wide curfew and decree that any looters would be executed.

One night, Arthur and Merlin saw a man out after curfew and chased him into the castle grain stores. The man introduced himself as Anhora, the Keeper of the Unicorns, and explained that the curse would only be lifted if Arthur made amends by passing a series of tests. If he failed, Camelot would be doomed for all eternity.

Arthur passed the first test when he caught a man named Evan stealing grain from the castle stores. Though he had been ordered to execute all looters, Arthur let Evan go and gave him some grain to take home to his family. His mercy earned Camelot its water back.

However, Arthur failed the second test when he later came across Evan in the forest. Evan revealed himself to be a thief and a liar and taunted Arthur until he was angry enough to kill him. As he delivered a fatal blow, Evan vanished and was replaced by Anhora, who decreed that Arthur's willingness to kill a man to defend his pride would cost Camelot dearly. When Arthur and Merlin returned to the castle, they found that the remaining grain supply had rotted, leading Uther to stop distributing food to the people.

Merlin later sought out Anhora and begged him to give Arthur another chance. The sorcerer agreed and sent Arthur to the Labyrinth of Gedref, where he was granted one final test. Arthur and Merlin were set before two goblets, one containing water and the other a deadly poison. All the liquid had to be drunk, but they could each only drink from one goblet. At Merlin's suggestion, Arthur poured the contents of one goblet into the other, then (ignoring Merlin's objections) drank all the liquid himself.

Unicorn Burial

Arthur lays the Unicorn's horn to rest.

Fortunately, Anhora revealed that the goblet did not contain poison, but rather a harmless sleeping draught. Arthur's willingness to sacrifice his life for Merlin proved that he was pure of heart and he passed the final test, lifting the curse from Camelot.

When Arthur and Merlin returned to the castle, they learned that the kingdom's crops had been restored and the townsfolk were bringing in the harvest. Later, in the forest, they laid the Unicorn's horn to rest and discovered that the creature had been resurrected (The Labyrinth of Gedref).

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