A/N: Authors Naomi (WHO IS AWESOME AND THOUGHT OF THIS) and Annie are totally addicted to BBC's Merlin (yeah, it doesn't belong to us ;_; ). +Mordred is really hot. Both of us have always wanted to write a Merlin fanfic, and we spent a lot of time on it!
Anyways, this is our first published fanfiction, so we hope you enjoy! :) (please feel free to tell us what you think!)

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happy reading from your fellow Merlinians
FOR THE LOVE OF CAMELOT!

PROLOGUE

I walk into to the hallway feeling extremely pleased with myself. Me, a knight of Camelot! I struggle for a moment with the clasp of my red cape, trembling slightly.
"Here," a voice behind me offers. "let me help you with that." I look behind me. Merlin is pressed up behind the door. He approaches me uncertainly, putting his arms around my neck to undo the buckle with practised hands.

"Thank you," I smile nervously. Merlin turns and folds the cape. He sets it down and returns to undo the cuffs of my ceremonial outfit.

"Tell me something," he says, taking my arm.

"Of course."

"You saved Arthur's life," says Merlin slowly. "Why?" I don't know how to respond at first.

"Because Arthur is right," I answer determinedly. "The love that binds us is more important than the power we wield... Morgana had forgotten that." Merlin eyes me suspiciously and turns back to set the cuffs down on top of the cape. He looks over his shoulder at me once more, distrustful and uncertain, before leaving with my things. I turn and the smile fades with thoughts of the past swirling through my mind.

CHAPTER I

My first day as an official knight of Camelot is relatively uneventful. The training is hard, brutal even, but the knights are good to me, especially Elyan. No one seems to remember me from when I was a child, the lost druid boy who was saved by none other than the King and Queen themselves. Morgana was also involved, and even now I feel sorry for her and her hatred, though I believe I only did what I had to by wounding her so. Thinking of that day and those that followed, I remember something which doesn't quite fit: Arthur knows I have magic, or at least must suspect, and it is still banned. Yet he made me a knight. Why would he feel obliged to knight me if he was surely aware of this in some way or another? Perhaps he is not like his father at all. He seems to be a good king, and indeed I am enjoying this new life. I never would have imagined myself to be in such a position. I even have a servant! His name is Alden. He has greasy blonde hair and may not be very bright, but he works hard enough. I appreciate his help, since I know I would not be able to endure all this stress without someone to polish my armor at the end of the day.

After the second day of training, I head to my chambers and am greeted by none other than my servant. He rushes to service me and aides me as I remove my cloak and chainmail. As he bustles away to polish and clean them, I am left alone in my chambers, half-dressed and fully exhausted. Tomorrow will not be much different as today, but I'm sure I will be able to get used to this tiredness. I much prefer this life to that of insecurity and fear I have become accustomed to while living at the Druid camp, or even with Morgana. Knowing I am not able to stay awake any longer, I drag my feet to the bed, but am stopped when I hear something tapping at my window.

"Most unusual," I mutter, moving cautiously to the window. Peering out carefully, I see a large, dark bird. A raven, perhaps, with a note clutched in its beak. I open the window silently, surprised. The bird does not move as I slowly take the letter and open it. The font that is scrawled upon the parchment is instantly recognizable: Morgana.

Mordred,
I have some important
matters that require
an urgent discussion.
Meet me in the Darkling Woods
tomorrow at sundown.

Morgana

Of course. I should have suspected she would contact me sooner or later. I had not hoped so soon, though. Indeed now I felt rather guilty. Perhaps I should see her. It wasn't as if she would be able to change my mind for me. I sided with Emrys, and not her. There was nothing she could do or say to stop me.