I'm back!

Got a couple more stories in me before the final one that I have been planning.
If you are just reading this now and don't know Mila- she is an OC that was introduced in my first FF ("The Plant"). So you don't have to go back and read it- she is a Gypsy (knows some magic "tricks" and knows of Merlin's magic) who is skilled in sewing. She is Gwen's handmaiden.
This takes place between season 4 and 5.
I dont own Merlin. I wish I did.

"Why don't we go on a picnic?"

"Arthur looked up from his scrolls, at the queen's request.

"A picnic?"

"You have been working hard lately. You are late to bed and so early to rise...We could do with a little fun. Remember the time we were coming home from Ealdor and took the eastern route? We saw the little ruins by the stream. It seems so pretty with it's flowers. We could explore the area and have a picnic. Away from court affairs."

Arthur considered her words and looked down at his scrolls.

"One day won't make a difference," Gwen assured him.

Arthur looked over to Mila, who was quietly catching up on some court commissions for new gowns.

"Mila?"

She looked up from her sewing. "Yes, your majesty?"

"Find Merlín and prepare for an outing."

Mila smiled and stood, giving a slight curtsy as she left.

Gwen put her hand in Arthur's and sat on the arm of his chair. "This will be good," She said with a smile. "Then you can come back and look at everything with fresh eyes."

Arthur put his arms around her. "What would I do without you?"

"Take Merlin on picnics?"

Arthur gave her a little tickle at her joke.

He genuinely was lucky.

*M*

Mila entered the Court Physician's quarters, to find Gaius holding an herb and searching through a book. He glanced up as she cleared her throat.

"Oh, Milasande. Is everything alright? It's rather early." Gaius put down his book and placed the herb as it's book mark.

"Yes. I am here to fetch Merlin. The King and Queen want to go out for a picnic." She glanced around. "Is he..?"

"Still asleep," Gaius confirmed. "I will admit, the last couple of nights have been a little hard for him. He seems to be having trouble sleeping," he lowered his voice, "but his magic has been sparking as well."

"Sparking?"

"From his dreams, I guess. I wouldn't worry though. It is not the first time it has happened. It could be just because he's so tired by the time he finally falls asleep." Gaius looked toward Merlin's room. "You can wake him."

Mila thinned her lips. She knew Merlin wouldn't be happy to be woken up. She headed toward his door and opened it slowly, peaking in.

Merlin was laying on his bed, asleep, as Gaius said. He seemed uncomfortable and was mumbling something. Mila approached him and sat on the bed beside him.

"Merlin?" She said gently. His eyes twitched, but didn't open. She placed a hand on his arm and spoke with more force, "Merlin."

Merlin shot up in a panic, energy sparking from his hands, right into Mila's arms.

"Shhh" she comforted, wincing slightly as she felt his magic pick at her skin. She pulled her hands from his back to his shoulders and locked eyes with him. "Are you alright?"

His eyes settled on her as he steadied his breathing. His forehead was damp with sweat. "Mila?" He looked at her confused. "What are you doing..?"

"Gaius told me to wake you... Arthur and Gwen want us to prepare for a picnic outing." Mila studied him. "Merlin, you never answered. Are you alright?"

"Yes, fine, never better." Merlin hopped out of bed and reached for his shirt. "So a picnic. That's nicer than chores."

"Arthur has been stressed out, Gwen figured it would be best to take a break."

Merlin nodded. "He could use it. Besides, it makes him less edgy." He paused for a moment. Something felt wrong.

Mila snickered. "Merlin, your shirt is on backwards..."

*M*

"Are you sure it was this way?" Arthur asked Merlin, as the horses turned onto a small trail.

"Positive. I know each path to Ealdor." Merlin let a slight sneeze slip out at the end of his sentence. "Besides, this is the way to the ruins where those flowers were that you had me pick for Gwen for your anniversary."

"How sweet," Mila complimented.

"Arthur can be very romantic," Gwen said. "Good thing he also has Merlin to help him."

Arthur and Merlin both smiled at that, for different reasons.

"Oh! Are those the ruins?" Mila pointed up ahead.

"Yes! Those are them!" Gwen said.

The area was a quaint little place. Some pillars stood, and what appeared to be an alter of some sort. Finally a wall, with a stand glass window still, mostly, intact. Vines and flowers grew everywhere, and the sun peaked through the trees as if to give the place a spotlight.

Mila felt a slight chill, and almost a presence as they crossed into the sunlight from the shade of the trees. She glanced over to Merlin to see if he felt anything, only to see him sagging forward.

"Merlin?"

Before she could move to get closer, Arthur sidled up on Merlin's other side, grabbing a hold of him.

"Merlin!" The king exclaimed in an annoyed tone that had a hint of concern.

Merlin bolted upright and looked at everyone

"It's a good thing we are here, you must need water," Mila suggested.

"I'm fine." Merlin's voice was sharp. He gave Arthur a nod and they both dismounted their horses, and went to Gwen and Mila to assist them off theirs.

As Merlin helped her down, Mila studied his face. He wouldn't look at her. As he placed her on the ground, his hand place on a sore spot which caused her to hiss slightly. He looked at her sharply. "Are YOU alright?" He asked.

Mila realized he must have grazed where his magic touched her this morning. It left the skin feeling a little raw, like sunburn.

"I'm ok," she lied to him.

He considered her for a moment. "You're lying." He accused.

"As are you," She retorted.

He gave her a slight knowing smirk, realizing the game they were both playing, then he realized what might have happened. He pushed her to the other side of her horse out of sight from the royal couple. "Show me," he demanded.

"It's not that bad"

"Show me."

Mila turned slightly and tugged at her blouse revealing the redness where Merlin's hands had landed earlier that morning. It looked like she had been dragged across a throw rug until the top layer of skin came off.

Merlin looked at her with pain and guilt in his eyes "Mila, I'm..."

"Not sorry at all because it's not your fault. You were asleep and had no control..."

"Mila? Merlin?"

Mila didn't have enough time to hide the mark as Gwen came around the front of the horse. She quickly sidled up against Merlin and kissed him, cause Gwen to immediately turn away embarrassed for walking in on an "intimate" moment.

"I am so sorry," Gwen mustered out with a smile.

Merlin looked at Mila surprised, but picked up on the reason why she did it. Mila lifted her blouse back over the wound and rushed to Gwen.

"You're majesty, no. I must apologize. That was out of line on my behalf." She lowered her head, looking up at Gwen through her eyelashes.

Gwen smiled at her. "There is no need to apologize for that." She looked at Merlin. "We found a spot we think would be best for the picnic."

"Good! Yes. Um, Mila, let's grab everything." Merlin said,

"Yes, let's"

Gwen walked back to Arthur with a mischievous look on her face.

"She's going to tell him," Merlin said with a sigh.

"Let her," Mila said. "It worked to make her turn away... and it could work in our favor if we need to step away."

Merlin thought for a moment and then nodded. "It would help to have an extra excuse."

Mila started to unpack her horse. Merlin headed towards his. Mila caught his arm, and handed him a small jar of something. He looked at her confused.

"It's for dry lips." She said with a smirk.

*M*

"What kind of temple do you suppose this was?" Arthur asked, looking around at the markings, as they finished cleaning up from lunch.

"It doesn't seem Christian, but it doesn't look like Druid writing either," Merlin answered, walking closer to the altar.

Gwen walked to the altar and looked around, Mila right behind her. "The window is beautiful. The designs matches the carving on the floor."

Sure enough, the window on the one standing wall, matched a design to almost the exact size, that was on the floor several feet away.

"Look," Arthur pointed out. "The sun shining through the window almost caused the shadow to align with the carving.

They all looked down, just as the shadow and the carving matched up.

The hair on the back of Merlin's neck started to stand. Mila looked over at him, clearly feeling it too.

"Get off the platform," Merlin yelled.

But it was too late. The earth seemed to open up from underneath them and swallow them down.

Well that is it for now! I hope you enjoyed chapter one! Review, follow along... let me know if i'm sucking lol

And again- as pointed out in my last story- Mila is not meant to really be a romantic interest for Merlin. They clearly care for each other deeply, but I don't feel that it's very much romantic.