Title: The Legend of Aldmor

Teaser Summary: A woman arrives in Camelot claiming to be a victim of magic, and the undead-living are roaming the land. Sounds legit.

Actual Summary: Legend tells of Aldmor, a small country situated to the east of Camelot, way past the Kingdom of Cenred and through the forest of Nithador. It is said that it takes at least two weeks to get there on horseback, that an ancient family once ruled there and that they all died out over twenty years ago. However, legend also tells of a child, born to the Lord and Lady shortly before their deaths. When a mysterious woman turns up in Camelot seeking refuge and work, Uther is only too happy to accommodate a victim of magic and give her a position in the royal household, or at least with the court physician - who needs a new helper as his old one is the overworked manservant of Prince Arthur. Who is this woman, and what is she hiding?

Merlin/Arthur. Slight Merlin/OC. Arthur/Gwen. Mild Slash. Possible multi-character whump in later chaps. Set after S3 and before S4.

So... I really have no excuse for being absent so long... Apart from my two week holiday but that doesn't really cut it. Oh well... I might get around to writing some new stuff for my old stuff... but don't hold your breath. Anyway! I've recently got back into BBCs Merlin... that's Merlin as in, white beard, pointy hat, magical, advisor to Arthur Pendragon. If you're not following me right now, what the heck are you doing clicking on stuff you don't have a clue about? ANYWAY, I'm into that right now and the fourth season starts on Saturday! I can't wait! :D

So, this isn't my first attempt at writing a Merlin fic, but it is my first that I think is good enough to appear online... It's mostly for my own personal enjoyment and to quell my seriously overactive immagination, but I thought I might just share it anyhow. So, don't expect updates quickly, or even at all- no I'm just kidding. I will update. I hope. I just, get on a roll and then bam, all inspiration for one project just buggers right off and I never see it again. That's why I have yet to finish a fanfic, other than Fatal Fascination (which for some unknown gosh darned reason is the most popular of my work with a whopping 43 reviews). Anyway, I'll shut up now.

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own the TV show Merlin, the legend, Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Anthony Head, Katie McGrath, Emilia Fox... you get the idea. The only thing I DO own is Raven and the plots. Plus anything else you do not recognise from the show or legend. If you've never researched the legend... well I'm not going through all the OC's I've made up for this, just think back to chapter one - I OWN EVERYTHING in there, except Uther and Camelot and Arthur... I wish I did own everything.../end disclaimer/

"We've been found!" a voice called through the thin mist that had hovered since early morning, "We must go! Now!"

A slim hooded figure stood, grasping a long bow from the ground and pulling the hood down as they did so, black hair fell into their sharp green eyes as they studied the other person, "What? How is that possible? I made sure we were not followed!"

A tall well built man with broad shoulders and brown hair pulled a sword from a sheath attached to his belt as he came to a stop in front of his female companion, "It does not matter how they found us. You must go." He glanced over his shoulder, "There is little time, gather your things at once!"

Silence fell between them for a moment before the woman seemed to come to her senses, "Kenneth?" she heard shouts, "You're coming with me."

Kenneth shook his head and pushed her away, "I can hold them off long enough for you to escape."

"No." she protested at once, shaking her head, "No, we are in this together. I will not leave you!" she paused, "If we leave now we can get to the borders and outrun them when we get out of the forest."

Kenneth grasped her arm, "If one of us must lose our lives, then I'd rather it were me. If you were to die here, then, everyone who already has will have done so for nothing." He lead her to a horse, "Please, milady."

With a sigh she nodded and silently mounted her horse, "I won't ask you to stay."

Kenneth gave her a grin, "I offer to." He bowed slightly and mounted his own steed, "Ride fast." He turned his horse away.

"I'm sorry." She mumbled suddenly, stopping him for a moment, "I never," she paused and took a breath as soldiers appeared just beyond their camp, pouring through the gaps between trees like rampaging water, "…never wanted any of this. I never wanted them to die for me. You must understand."

"I know." He replied simply with a nod, "Now go. The time for conversation is over."

She turned her own horse away and held the reins tightly in her hands, "I am sorry." She kicked her heels into the sides of the brown mare and they were off, galloping as fast as they could away from Kenneth, "Be careful."

The sounds of metal clashing against metal resonated around her as she directed her horse through the dense forest. The mares' hooves pounded against the ground as it continued forwards and black reins slapped against its neck. Distant shouts told the black haired woman that the soldiers were not following her; that Kenneth had been successful. At least, that's what she had thought for a moment before she heard shouting behind her.

"There they are! After them!"

She pulled the reins and steered the mare to the left, and then to the right before manoeuvring through a series of winding paths amongst a thicker group of trees, where hopefully the pursuers would not be able to follow. She and her horse had navigated this forest more times than they cared to remember. Hair whipped around her face as she urged her horse on, "Hah! Hah!" she allowed herself a glance over her shoulder to see how they were progressing. When she caught sight of guards clad in armour and chain mail wielding swords and crossbows, she knew that chances of survival were dwindling into single digits. She had been foolish to assume that the soldiers would not know the forest just as well as she did. The twang of taught string and the thud of a bolt hitting bark echoed in the air. She pulled the reins again and avoided being struck down once more. She knew that she could not outrun them while in the forest, she would need flat ground for that, but the forest was vast and she was in deep. She scolded herself for being so careless.

"Surround them!"

A soldier stepped out into their path. Her horse stopped suddenly before she had a chance to even register what had just happened let alone do anything about it. He slashed a sword through the air. The mare reared up and she felt herself slip from the saddle, 'No..!' the ground came up to meet her faster than she anticipated and the wind was forced from her lungs. She heard her mare snort and neigh and heard hoof steps as the horse started to move, trotting and then galloping away from its fallen rider.

"It is as the king expected." A voice from above her spoke, "Lock her in chains. Drag her back to him. Let her get what she deserves."

"Sir," Another voice acknowledged the order, "What about the horse?"

"Leave it. It can't do anyth-." The voice stopped abruptly and something hit the floor. There was sudden chaos above her, sounds of crossbow bolts slamming into things and the sounds of dying men. When air returned to her lungs she slowly pushed herself up from the ground and chanced a look at the scene. The soldiers who had surrounded her lay dead or dying in the foliage on the forest floor. She let out a gasp as a hand grasped her shoulder, pulled her to her feet and spun her around.

A blonde man stood before her, dressed in dark browns and greys, "This is not a safe place for a raven."

The woman's eyes widened, "Ailith!"

Ailith offered a small smile, "What are you still doing here?"

"Kenneth was-…" she cut herself off and paused for a moment, "He sacrificed himself so that I could get away."

"And yet you are still dawdling in the forest?" Ailith asked with a frown.

"Do not forget who you are speaking to!" she snapped, pulling away from his grip and glaring at him. She noticed a few other men gather around.

Ailith bowed his head, "I am sorry, Raven."

Raven rolled her eyes, "Really, couldn't you have thought up a better code name?" she folded her arms over her chest.

"It is easy to remember." Ailith said thoughtfully.

"That's your excuse?" she asked incredulously.

"It is not as though you will be known as it forever." Ailith smiled with a nonchalant wave of his hand before his expression turned serious again, "Enough of this idle chatter. There are more soldiers on the way."

Raven took a breath, "This is goodbye then."

"For now." Ailith nodded, "I am sure you will be back when the time is right." He paused and eyed her sad expression, "Where will you go?"

Raven looked at him and shrugged, "I'm not sure. Perhaps Camelot. Staunton has no authority there."

Ailith cocked an eyebrow at her, "I suppose… but what of Uther?"

"Uther?" Raven repeated with a frown, "Uther is nothing compared to Staunton. I think I can handle him."

"Uther hates magic. If he finds out where you are really from, he will assume the worst and have your head on a stake for all to see." Ailith warned crouching down and picking up her bow.

Raven watched him for a moment before crouching down next to him, "Then I better make sure he does not find out." She grasped her bow, "Thank you Ailith, for all of your help." She offered a small smile and then stood, taking her bow with her.

Ailith stood too and glanced at his men before leading her aside, "Promise me you will be careful?"

Raven placed her free hand on his arm, "I cannot promise such things."

"Evanna-."

"I cannot." She cut him off, "You know I cannot." She patted his arm and her smile widened, "I'll see you soon." She gathered herself and then realised that her horse had run off with her provisions. She sighed, 'Damn that horse…' No matter, she would find water and food when she needed it.

"Here." Ailith spoke from behind her and she turned. He held reins in his hands that were attached to the bridle of a black horse, it was fitted out with a saddle and other such things, but they were simple and plain with no fancy designs and a simple saddle blanket to stop the horses back from being rubbed completely raw.

Raven let her eyes wander over the horse for a moment before she swallowed and nodded, "Right." She took the reins and mounted the horse, making sure her bow was secure enough around her chest and wouldn't slip during the journey, "Thank you again. I owe you so much." She glanced around at the other men who had come to her aid, "All of you. If I ever return, I will make sure that you-."

Ailith held up his hand to cut her off, "That is not why we have helped you, you understand."

"O-of course." Raven said quickly, "I did not mean-."

"I know." Ailith cut her off again and slapped the horses' rear, "Be gone."

Raven held out her hand to stop him but the horse had already whinnied and hurried from the clearing of trees.

An older man walked up to Ailith and put his hand on his shoulder. There was a tense silence between the large group and Ailith sighed, "I ask you not to speak of this."

"Of course not, Staunton would have us slaughtered like pigs if such things slipped from our mouths in his court." The older man breathed, "Ailith… is Camelot really the best place for her?"

"Where else is she to go? Surely not Escetia?" Ailith questioned, "Cenred may consort with sorcerers, but he is not a good man."

"Escetia would be safer than Camelot, you know that!" the older man spat harshly, "Uther will have her killed if he finds out that she hails from Aldmor. You know I speak the truth!"

"She is not foolish enough to reveal such things." Ailith replied.

"Uther is just as evil as Cenred! If not more so!"

"Silence!" Ailith roared, eyes burning with anger, "Would you rather she stay here?"

With a grimace the elder shook his head, "You know that is something I do not wish for."

"Then why do you continue to argue the matter?" Ailith asked, his voice softening slightly, "Better to be in Camelot, than in Aldmor."

"Cenred-."

"Enough, Lewis! This conversation is over. Evanna will not give herself away." Ailith said, pulling his cloak around his shoulders, "Uther will think her nothing more than a simple peasant."

"That is what she goes to?" Lewis asked, pushing his greying fringe from his eyes, "A life of a peasant? I suppose you were the one who suggested it?"

"I did not." Ailith countered, "Evanna chose her own fate. She chose Camelot, and everything else."

Lewis was silent; choosing to simply glare at the man Evanna had placed so much trust in.

Ailith straightened up and sighed, "This isn't helping. There will be more soldiers coming."

Lewis' expression changed to that of recognition, "Naturally. The heir to, possibly the most important family in all of Aldmor, has vanished into thin air - obviously there will be more soldiers coming."

Ailith frowned, "Really… couldn't you be serious for a moment old man?" The two of them shared a glare and then Ailith turned away, "Let's go. I'd rather not have my head on a stake as a decoration in Staunton's gardens." He whistled to his men, "We head back to Aldmor, you know the rest of the plan. Stay low, stay hidden, and try not to get yourselves killed." He glanced around at all the men who had turned to face him during his little speech, "I bid you farewell, friends. It is unlikely that we will all meet again." He watched as the men turned back towards the place they had just come from. He inhaled deeply and then started to follow the others.

Lewis, his closest friend, followed behind him, eyes alert, "You're rather morbid today."

Ailith chuckled but did not look at him, "Sorry. Can't understand why…"

"No need to worry. We will win against Staunton. Evanna will live." Lewis said quietly.

"You cannot win against Staunton." Ailith argued, "He is too powerful for the likes of us."

"So what? We sit back and obey him like dogs?" Lewis questioned, coming up to walking alongside the younger blonde, "Since when do you do as you're told?"

"We can only hope that Evanna lives." Ailith muttered, "We do not matter."

Lewis furrowed his brows, "Are you saying we just helped her to escape so that she could just run and hide?" he paused, "She's not going to get us help?"

"If we were to send for help, we wouldn't have sent her." Ailith grunted, "Besides, who'd help us? Not Camelot, not Escetia. We are alone in this world. Aldmor is of no interest to anyone but Staunton."

"Tell me something, Ailith, why is it he is so interested in our country? Wouldn't Camelot be a better trophy for such a man?" Lewis mused, scratching his stubble covered chin.

"I don't know how that mans mind works. Perhaps it is part of a bigger plan." Ailith shrugged.

Lewis laughed, "That or he's too afraid of Uther."

"Perhaps, but Cenred is working with Morgause." Ailith reminded.

"You mean, working for." Lewis muttered with a frown.

Ailith was silent.

"Cenred has never been an ally to anyone but himself." Lewis continued, "He is corrupted by Morgause."

"He is not the first man to fall under such a spell." Ailith grunted suddenly.

"No, and I am sure he won't be the last either." Lewis smiled and glanced at his friend. The smile quickly slid from his face, "You still worry about that?"

"I did a terrible thing, Lewis. Terrible." He sighed.

Lewis slapped a hand on the blondes back, "It's in the past."

"Is it?" Ailith asked, "I'm thankful I do not live in Camelot. Uther would have tied me to the stake himself."

Lewis chuckled, "Don't be daft; Uther doesn't go near anyone who even associates with people who use magic."

Ailith threw him a look, "Right right, sorry. I forgot." He hurried ahead of the older man.

Lewis smiled sadly and followed after him in silence.