Prologue...
The overcast sky spoke of oncoming rain as Prince Arthur and the Knights; Leon, Lancelot, Gwaine, Percival, Elyan and Mordred trained together on the mock battlefield. Only six months had passed since their return to Camelot from the 21'st Century. For the first four months afterwards Merlin had been plagued with a series of illnesses all having something to do with their trip to the future. It was only in the last two months that Gaius had found a remedy that seemed to have done wonders on the boy and while it didn't bring the old Merlin back, it had certainly helped.
Time and again Gwaine had gone to Merlin, begging the warlock to send him forward again; back to the 21'st Century because he missed his fiancé, and time and again Merlin would always turn him down, saying that he was still too weak to perform such a task.
Hunith had decided to return to Ealdor shortly after they had gotten back, but only last month had she returned. She had developed something that Gaius had never seen before; high fever, red splotches on the arms and seizures. It was only two weeks ago he had found something that had brought Merlin's mother around, and while she wasn't entirely healed, she looked a lot better than she had.
When training concluded, Merlin put Arthur's armor and sword up then took a leather satchel out and made his way to the outer edge of the forest; Gwaine following close behind. "Please Merlin," he said carrying on with a slight whine in his voice. "I would not ask this if it wasn't important."
"Gwaine, I can't. I'm still not fully recovered," Merlin muttered, finding one of many herbs Gaius had sent him out for. Even as he bent down to retrieve it he flinched when a cool raindrop hit his hand. "Great..." he whispered under his breath. "Now I'll look like a drowned rat when I get back."
"Merlin...what if it was someone that you love? Someone that you would lay down your life in a second for? What if it was Arthur who was left behind?" Gwaine asked.
The warlock sighed and then grabbed the herb, stuffing it in the satchel.
He didn't want to do this, but he could see that Gwaine was right."What would I tell Arthur?" Merlin asked.
The Knight shrugged a little. "The truth. I'm sure he would understand. He's mentioned going back to get Gwen several times."
Merlin stood up again, turning to face Gwaine. The both of them were already dripping wet at the time; their hair plastered to their heads. "Okay," the warlock finally muttered.
He raised his right hand towards Gwaine, the correct words of the spell coming to his lips as if by magic, but even as he began to recite them something happened that no one would ever expect. A lightning bolt came down and struck Merlin just as he finished the spell. The bright light and concussive force knocked Gwaine and the warlock down to the ground. When the light faded away however both Merlin and Gwaine were gone while back at the castle Arthur, the rest of the Knights, King Uther, Gaius and Hunith had vanished, as well.