I

Merlin walked into what had been home the past five years and discovered an unusual mix of men surrounding the examining table. The King, Arthur, Gawain and Gaius hunched closely and whispered furiously. Urgency climbed from Merlin's toes to his brain.

"Everything alright?" He asked tentively, he wasn't sure if he wanted to really know the answer. The group cohesively looked to him earnestly, as they moved he was able to make out a girl around his age with blood covering her body, her clothes tattered and she was so pale Merlin assumed she was already dead. Except her lips were moving slightly, but he couldn't hear what she was saying. Gaius bent over and listened intently, his eyes were browed when he rose.

"What is she saying?" Arthur questioned nervously, keeping his eye line away from king Uther. It took Gaius a moment to answer, he appeared confused as he looked at Arthur, he was trying to make sense of it.

"Black Star" he answered.

Merlin's legs ran before his heart could take a beat.

"I gather you understand what that means." Uther stated in his usual judgmental way. Merlin didn't answer him; he scanned the pale girl that laid helplessly before him. It couldn't be her. She died.

"Merlin…." Arthur began, but stopped by Gaius.

"Give him a moment sire, he may be able to get us some answers."

Merlin bent down to listen to her moving lips as she repeated those words. Her voice was barely a whisper as she fought through the pain to speak, her breath was shallow as he heard her say "Black Star." The swelling of his heart spilled out through his eyes.

"Kathryn" His voice cracked as he dared to say her name and caress her wounded cheek. Her lips stopped moving, her breathing faltered, and her eyes fluttered open. It was her! No one had eyes like that, solid blue circle on the outside and specs of gold blue and silver mixed in the center. Her eyes bulged in recognition and she jolted up and wrapped her arms around him, but with a great lack of strength.

"It's imperative that she lays down Merlin, I have not finished my diagnosis, and she could have more injuries internally." Gaius ordered, so gently Merlin placed Kathryn back on the table and spoke two words in her ear.

"Black Star."

She smiled and whispered his name, "Merlin."

II

The noblemen left the room, leaving Merlin and Gaius to talk.

"Hot water?" Merlin asked immediately wanting to help. The exhaustion he felt earlier had faded and adrenaline was rushing through his body.

"I have enough for now." Gaius returned, solely focusing on the unconscious female. "How do you know her Merlin?"

Merlin remembered the days in sunshine with Will and Kathryn in Eiildor, ten years since he had seen the girl before him.

"We grew up together. She is Will's sister." He answered before he was able to think about Will, did she know that he was dead? Would he have to tell her? She would be alone, with no one. Unless, she had someone….OH NO! Will claimed to have magic! Would Arthur tell Uther? Will she die? He can loose her now!

"Merlin!" Arthur's voice boomed. Behind him. "Come with me." No time was wasted; Arthur immediately walked away, Merlin followed.

"What's going on?" Merlin asked trying to keep up.

"We're going on a quest."

"What kind of quest?"

"Looking for a Farloopis Flower."

"Why?"

"Because your friend in there is near death and Gaius said that it would help, she has answers so when we heal here, then we will know who we were fighting in the woods."

Merlin stopped dead. "Black Star."

"What?" Arthur responded annoyed.

"How long is the journey?"

"We shall return in three days."

"Will that be soon enough?"

Gawain turned the corner. "Who is she to you Merlin?"

"An old friend. We grew up together; I thought she was dead already."

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked.

"She disappeared ten years ago, in the middle of the night she screamed in the woods, and no one ever found her."

"Well, she's still got a chance." Arthur encouraged sweetly, putting an arm around him.

For now Merlin thought to himself, but he still smiled in optimism. He was determined to find this flower, no matter what he had to do.

III

After he finished packing Arthur's gear, he snuck back to see Kathryn. Gaius had fallen asleep in his chair; Merlin grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around the old man's body. Walking up next to her Merlin shook, his heart was heavy; he wanted so desperately to speak to her, tell her that it would be ok, he'd save her. Protect her. He giggled thinking about how she used to protect him all the time, telling him to not do things when she thought he may get hurt. She was always right, she would shove him out of the way, stop him from doing his magic in front of someone he didn't know was there, she knew before Will did. In all ways she was the person who really knew everything about him. He grabbed her hand, her delicate and bruised hand, and whispered in her ear.

"I'll be back soon. Don't give up on me." She let out a deep breath, as if she was answering him. He would imagine it was for him, it made him feel better anyway.

IV

Time seemed slow enough and they didn't seem fast enough, but Arthur Gawain and Merlin managed to find themselves just one hour away from their destination before the sun started to set. Not many words were spoken between them as they set up camp, no special retorts from Arthur, just general silence. Merlin was thankful for that, he was not in the mind range to really invest in any kind of conversation, He was past the point of exhaustion, and just wanted to rest, but then he felt guilty because he wanted to desperately to get back to Kathryn.

Merlin started the fire while Arthur and Gawain were distracted with the horses, it always felt good to use magic, it was as if life rushed through his body. He only wished he could use it to help more.

"We should get some sleep." Arthur offered as he sat across the fire. They sat in silence for a minute while Arthur stared Merlin down, but Merlin averted his eyes. "Merlin, she is going to be ok."

"Why are you doing this?" Merlin asked, really not sure of why he never asked before.

Gawain sat in between them, he glanced at Arthur. "What are you two not telling me?"

A deep sigh left Arthurs body as he braced himself.

"Merlin, we didn't find her, alone. We were attacked by three men, she was unconscious when we first spotted her, but the men were on us so fiercely that we could only react to them."

Gawain nodded in agreement. "Yes, and they were well trained in combat. I was taken aback. Thrown down a hill."

"They were all three upon me" Arthur continued "It wasn't looking very good, but then…"

He trailed off; obviously trying to put the images he was seeing into words. " I was down on the ground, they were all around me, I saw no exit. But then one was gone, then another, and finally I took out the last. When I turned I saw her, sword in hand and in fighting stance, she was bleeding, bruised, weak, but so determined." His voice was dripping in baffled respect.

"Then I found my way back." Gawain continued "she was not backing down."

"We told her that we would not harm her, her eyes welled up in tears, and she asked ..." Arthur trailed again and coughed fighting back emotions. "She asked if we were going to take her away if we would make her safe. We promised her that we would. She sighed and said 'good I don't think I could take another beating.' "

Merlin was invoked with anger, but he fought his hardest to fight it, but the thought of anyone putting a hand on her….he wanted to kill them.

"When I took my sword from her she said 'thank you' and then fell in to my arms." Gawain finished. They waited for Merlin to say something, but he didn't have any words. Another beating, did that mean it happened often? Were there other injuries? Where had she been for so long? Was it worse than death? All the questions and no answers. The adrenaline was too much Merlin got up and gathered his things.

"Merlin what are you doing?" Arthur asked urgently.

"I'm not going to make her wait for me."

"This is not a good idea, it's almost dark."

"I'll go alone."

"Merlin I order you to stop."

Merlin stopped, and then continued walking. "Leave me or kill me"

Arthur grabbed his sword. "Gawain stays here and watches the horses." He followed Merlin.

"Merlin, this is not a good idea."

"I don't care, I have to do this."

"We will. Just don't lose your head, that's how mistakes happen." Arthur kept pace, Merlin slowed and let Arthur pass him.

"That's it?" he asked surprised. Arthur looked back in confusion.

"What's it?" he responded.

"You're just going to come?"

"Yes,"

"You just ordered me to not go"

"Yes I did, but you care about her don't you?"

"I do."

"Merlin you have helped me when I needed it most for people I cared about. Your life was on the line and you were on board every time. Don't you think I would do the same for you?" Merlin didn't really have an answer for that. So Arthur continued "why do you offer your affections to her?"

There were so many reasons, but Merlin couldn't think of any in particular. That didn't stop him from trying to explain though, "She was truly the only person who knew me, still is I think."

"What is Black Star?"

"She always felt invisible, not important, even though she I one of the brightest things in the world."

"Like a star."

"It never suited her to be called a star, which is what Will and I called her all the time, so we compromised to Black star, beautifully hidden." He remembered the look on her face the first time he called her that, she felt so special, he enjoyed making her smile, not many could, but he was able.