Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter One:

In a land of myth and a time of magic, the destiny of a great kingdom rests on the shoulders of a young man. His name… Merlin.

)o(

A hooded figure jumped over a wall, holding on of his arms to his chest as if it were injured. They glanced round as they moved through the shadows as silently as they could. They had come to the city seeking help, but it was dangerous for them to be in the kingdom they now stood it. But desperate times called for desperate measures. As they headed through the lower town, they were spotted by Sir Leon, who was accompanying the queen back to her chambers after a stroll in the woods had lasted longer than either of them had expected.

"Stop!" Sir Leon unsheathed his sword. "Show yourself!"

They lower their hood and slowly turn to face the queen and Knight.

"Oh," Gwen said, as she and Leon got closer. "He's just a boy."

"Out here in the middle of the night?" Leon questioned.

"There's no need for your sword," Gwen told Leon firmly, smiling at the boy.

The boy quickly knelt before her as he realised she was the Queen of Camelot and he shifted nervously.

"Come," Gwen said, reaching forwards to help him to his feet.

The boy quickly got to his feet, but kept his face bowed.

"Where are you going?" Gwen asked.

"Been catching frogs," The boy answered, for he wasn't sure exactly where he was going.

The person he was looking for could be anywhere in the castle after all.

"Frogs?" Leon didn't sound convinced.

"It's a full moon, Leon," Gwen glanced at him. "We used to do it."

She turned back to the boy and smiled.

"Come on," She said. "You should be in bed. Off you go."

"Thank you, my lady," The boy bowed and quickly hurried away.

)o(

Gwen enters hers and Arthur's shared chamber and is greeted by the sight of Merlin and Arthur arranging flower garlands around the four-post bed. She quickly pulled off her cloak and draped it over the back of a chair and approached them.

"Oh, Arthur, that is so sweet," Gwen faked a smile. "You've gone to all this trouble… And gillyflowers, my favourite. You remembered."

Gwen walked forwards and wrapped her arms around Arthur's neck.

"Mm-hmm," Arthur agreed as he returned Gwen's embrace.

"Have you missed me?" Gwen asked.

"Mm-Hmm," Arthur answered.

"Merlin, er, it's late," Arthur said looking at Merlin. "You should probably get some sleep."

"Thank you, Sire," Merlin bowed his head and turned towards the door.

"Oh, Merlin," Gwen called after him. "Before you go, I'd love a hot bath."

Gwen suddenly squealed and giggled and Arthur swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bed.

"Certainly, my lady," Merlin said, before quickly leaving.

)o(

Merlin poured a bucket of hot water into Gwen's bath, before setting the bucket down and wiping his forehead with his sleeve, which were rolled up to just below his elbows. Why did Gwen have to order a bath so late at night? Was she doing it on purpose, just to annoy him? Maybe she had worked out he knew she was working with Morgana and this was her way of letting him know. Merlin turned to the fire where another bucket of water was heating up, when suddenly a nose at the door caught his attention and he turned round.

"Daegal!" Merlin exclaimed, moving across the room to embrace him. "How'd you get in here?"

"It wasn't difficult," Daegal answered, with a sight grin.

Merlin smiled and moved to take the bucket of water off the fire.

"Really?" Merlin replied. "That doesn't surprise me… What are you doing here? Do you know how dangerous it is to be in Camelot?"

"Please, Merlin," Daegal said. "It's the druids."

"What about them?" Merlin asked, turning his full attention to Daegal.

"Morgana," Was his answer. "She been attacking camps and killing all who refuse to join her."

Merlin sat down suddenly and took a deep breath. Morgana was attacking his people and killing them.

"How long…" Merlin paused. "How long has this been going on for?"

"A month or so," Daegal said. "Maybe longer… At first we didn't know it was Morgana attacking the camps."

"What changed?" Merlin asked.

"She began leaving survivors," Daegal explained. "With a message for Emrys."

Merlin looked up sharply, "What was the message?"

"I do not know," Daegal replied. "The elders will not tell me."

Merlin sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He shut his eyes for a moment and cursed his luck. This couldn't come at a worse time. He knew Gwen was actively trying to kill the king, so he couldn't leave the king unprotected… But at the same time his people were being killed and he couldn't stand by and do nothing!

"I need you to come with me," Daegal pleaded. "We need your help, or more of us will die."

Suddenly they were interrupted as the door to the room they were in was pulled open. Merlin jumped to his feet and breathed a sigh of relief as he saw it was only Leon and Mordred. But Leon's eye narrowed as he caught sight of Daegal, the boy he and Gwen had crossed paths with in the lower town.

"You!" Leon drew his sword. "What are you doing within the castle walls?"

Merlin eyes widened in alarm and he quickly jumped between Leon and Daegal.

"What are you doing?" Merlin demanded.

"I caught him sneaking through the lower town," Leon answered. "After curfew."

"It's not his fault," Merlin quickly replied. "He didn't know there was a curfew!"

Leon frowned at Merlin, but it was Mordred who spoke.

"And how would you know that, Merlin?" Mordred questioned.

"Because he's by younger brother," Merlin lied. "He only arrived here this morning and I was busy. I didn't have time to explain about the curfew!"

Both Leon and Mordred froze, Merlin had a brother?! Leon had never heard Merlin talk about a brother, but then what Leon knew about Merlin's was what he'd been told by Arthur. The two knights looked between Merlin and Daegal, there was definitely a faint resemblances between the two of them.

"Very well," Leon put away his sword. "You have my apologies."

Daegal nodded, but didn't say anything.

"Will that be all, Sir Leon?" Merlin asked.

Leon nodded and turned to leave.

"Come on, Mordred," Leon ordered. "Good night, Merlin."

"Good night, Sir Leon, Sir Mordred," Merlin called after them.

Once they were out of earshot, Merlin turned to face Daegal once more.

"I'm begging you," Daegal pleaded once more. "You are our only chance."

"How are the camps?" Merlin asked.

"The Valley of the Fallen Kings," Daegal answered.

"That's more than half a day away," Merlin muttered.

Could he afford to leave Arthur for that length of time? But this was the lives of his people they were talking about.

"Please," Daegal said. "We won't last much longer. Even as we speak, Morgana gets closer. You must come now."

"Go, get out of here," Merlin said, turning back to heating the water, but this time he used magic. "Go."

"Will you help us?" Daegal questioned.

"Meet me," Merlin relied. "At the entrance to the Darkling woods at first light. Now go!"

Daegal smiled and quickly left.

)o(

Hey, I hope you enjoyed the start of this story. Until next time,

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.