'I'm so glad you're home; even if it's just for a day it's worth it,' Hunith said quietly, with an affectionate smile playing about her lips.

'I'm glad you you're happy I'm here, because I couldn't afford a present,' Merlin mumbled from his make-shift bed on the floor.

'Where did Prince Arthur go?' his mother asked, suddenly curious.

'Probably found his reflection in a puddle and can't draw himself away. He'll be here soon.'

'Why did you bring them all back here again?' Hunith asked.

'They all wanted to see you again, and wish you a happy birthday; they care about you Mother,'

'No,' she shook her head 'They care about you,'

'Goodnight Mother,' Merlin smiled, firmly closing the door on that conversation. He rolled over and found a comfortable spot to rest his head, within minutes he was fast asleep, his eyes gently closed and his lips slightly pouting. He didn't hear Arthur enter and slip into the bed next to his; he didn't even hear Hunith saying good night to the girls, Morgana next door and Gwen next door on the other side. Merlin couldn't hear anything when he was asleep; he was a very deep sleeper.

'Merlin! Merlin wake up! Wake up now!' a voice hissed in his ear. Merlin rolled over and put his arms over his head, trying to block out the voice trying to wake him. But the voice was soon joined by a cold hand on the shoulder and a vigorous shake. 'Merlin for God's sake WAKE UP!' Arthur shouted, his voice was panicked and scared. It was the tone of the voice that got Merlin on his feet far more than the cold hand and the shake. Arthur was standing in the middle of the small room, his eyes fixed on the door. Merlin turned and looked as well and let out a gasp.

Flames.

Red, orangey, yellowish flames licked at the door and danced around it. Thick black smoke was seeping into the room followed by a wave of heat you would only expect from a furnace.

Thoughts were racing through Merlin's mind like horses in a race and chasing each other like cats chase mice. He had to protect Arthur, he had to get Arthur out of there before anything else; but he couldn't let Gwen, Morgana, or his mother die. He turned to Arthur, looking very serious; 'You, go out the back way, get Morgana and my Mother and take them out and away. I'll get Gwen. Arthur went out of the door away from the fire and Merlin turned to door which was almost completely charred black.

All the villagers were lined up, about two hundred yards from the fire, waiting and looking. Everybody was there except Merlin and Gwen. Suddenly a small figure came running out of the flames, just one. Everybody looked on anxiously as the figure buckled over and coughed. Hunith recognised the figure first.

She ran forward at the figure and put her arm around it. They spoke for a few moments, the figure gesticulating and pointing first towards the fire and then to the villagers. Hunith shook her head and pushed the figure off in the direction of the villagers. As it got nearer everybody could discern through the darkness that it was Merlin. He was still coughing heavily from the smoke on his lungs. Nobody had noticed Hunith until Merlin turned round to her but found she wasn't there. She was heading into the burning building. 'Mother!' Merlin called out but Arthur put an arm in front of him and stopping him from getting any closer.

'She'll be out in a moment,' Arthur said confidently but inside he was tied in knots. 'Did you find Gwen?'

Merlin nodded. 'She was in her room, she's afraid of fire, terrified. Her mother died in a fire at their home when she was younger, the one thing she's afraid of is fire and how she had to run through it and leave her mother behind.'

'Why did she have to leave her mother?' Arthur asked.

'Gwen had a little brother, only a baby. Gwen's mother went to save him but they both burned.'

'How do you know this?' Arthur asked, trying to make the conversation last as long as possible while Merlin was distracted.

'She told me. We were talking one day, not long after we were here before and Gwen was saying how kind my mother was. Then she told me about her mother; Emma'

Suddenly, one figure came out again. Nobody could make out whether it was Gwen or Hunith but Merlin already knew. It was Gwen. He, Arthur and Morgana ran over to meet her. 'Where's my mother?' Where is she?' Merlin asked desperately. Gwen was shaking, and she was crying. 'Merlin, I'm so sorry.'

'What…what happened?' he asked, shakily.

'We were nearly out but…but the smoke got too much for her, she couldn't breathe enough and she collapsed. I tried to bring her out with me. I tried but, Merlin, I'm so sorry.' She was talking in gasps of fresh air now, 'She wasn't breathing. Her eyes were glassy. I only had enough time to-' but Merlin wasn't listening to any more. He ran towards the burning building, desperate to get his Mother out of there.

'Mother!' he shouted as if his voice could wake her. Suddenly there was a strong arm around him, stopping him in his tracks.

'There's no point Merlin. It's too late.' The voice said quietly. Merlin struggled but it was like swimming against the tide, you take one step forward and two steps back.

'Let me go,' he muttered, dangerously. 'Arthur, let me go.'

'Not on your life,'

'Yes on my life, because if my Mother is not alive any more then why the hell should I be?'

'Shh,' Arthur kept a tight hold on Merlin's body and turned him round so they were face to face.

Merlin could see the light of the fire flickering in Arthur's eyes and turned round to look at it but Arthur kept a finger on his cheek, making sure he didn't see the fire. 'Merlin, This is your village, everybody in this place is old, they are looking to you for strength here. Now pull yourself together. You can grieve in private, later.'

A black cloud hung over the small village, the weather was beautiful with glorious sunshine but nobody in the village could feel its warmth. Merlin, Gwen, Arthur and Morgana all stayed in the village to help with the rebuilding but soon it was time for them to leave. They packed up everything that hadn't been destroyed in the blaze and Merlin and Gwen brought the four horses out of their stables. Merlin held the head of Arthur's magnificent, elegant horse, He took note of the perfect drop of the nose and curve of the neck, the long, athletic legs, perfect for jumping and the shiny, mahogany coat. Arthur was busy tightening the girth and pulling the stirrup down to mount, he glanced over at Merlin as they were both squinting in the sunshine.

'You could stay you know, I won't blame you,'

Merlin didn't reply. He went round to the side Arthur didn't mount from and pulled down the stirrup leather. 'Ready when you are sire,' he said simply. Arthur put his foot in the stirrup and mounted. Merlin put all of his weight into the stirrup in his hand so the saddle wouldn't slip and then helped Arthur to tighten the girth again.

Arthur finally got the answer to his suggestion when Merlin mounted his own horse in front of Arthur and looked at him defiantly. Merlin walked round in a circle to stand next to Arthur. He looked down at his horse, so much different from Arthur's. Arthur's horse, Quest, was tall and elegant, he cast a striking silhouette and always did as he was asked.

Merlin's horse, Ebony, was completely black except for the white blaze down its face. She was shorter and bulkier than Quest, and didn't look half so striking. She was awkward and volatile and enjoyed switching from a dull, lifeless walk to a speeding trot, so fast Merlin couldn't keep rising in the saddle. However, Merlin loved Ebony and called her Eb for short. He knew she was a pain some of the time but he didn't care, however annoyed he got with her, at the end of the day he would always find five minutes to bring her a carrot or an apple from the castle kitchens and give her a stroke.

As the four of them, Arthur, Merlin, Morgana and Gwen rode off they looked very odd. Two tall horses for Arthur and Morgana and two shorter, stockier horses for Merlin and Gwen, and together they made their way back to Camelot. They thought the worst was over but they had no idea.