Disclaimer: I own nothing, all rights belong to their respective owners.

This is the third (and final, I think) part to `The Lost...` Series, starting with the Lost Prince and then the Lost warlock. If you haven't read them, this won't make much sense to you.

Due to their past together and what they went through apart, the characters are slightly younger than in the series despite this leading into the beginning of the series.

Hope you enjoy it.

Merlin stepped lightly, wincing as the floor seemed to creak under his movement. It was almost as if it knew he was sneaking out and was trying to wake his mother. Merlin froze, glaring at the floor before nimbly jumping to the next section, using magic to cushion his footsteps as he continued his journey towards the door.

The years had passed and he was no longer a frightened child who only wanted to belong. Merlin was a confident young man now. He had grown tall although still remained skinny and held himself with a quiet confidence that not many villagers could understand. But he refused to be bowed by the hard work that they needed to do in order to survive. This wasn't going to be his life forever. How could it be when his powers – which technically were still illegal – were bound to the Prince of Camelot?

He hadn't seen Arthur for years. The adults in their lives had stood by what they said about keeping them apart until they had both come to terms with what had happened and Merlin had learnt to control himself. There had been a few letters, but Merlin couldn't afford to write back and that had swiftly dwindled away. They had formed a friendship through things going wrong. Merlin had nothing to tell Arthur in a letter without making himself truly feel like a poor village boy.

He had decided long ago that nothing was going to make him feel like that again.

So the letters had swiftly stopped and time had taken hold. Merlin would say he missed him, but the truth was that he barely remembered what Arthur looked like. He had been somewhat traumatised by his last meeting with the prince and all that it entailed and had spent months suffering from nightmares. Actively thinking about Arthur tended to bring them back, however many years later so Merlin had decided to just let the whole thing go.

With Arthur ordering his magic to obey him, Merlin could easily forget that he was bonded to a prince. It wasn't as if it was changing his life.

Continuing his sneak across the house, Merlin breathed a sigh of relief when he reached the door and eased it open. The cool night air was swift to greet him and Merlin breathed in deeply. The house had felt hot, constricting even. But with the stars shining down and the fresh air feeling his lungs, he was able to shake off any feeling of entrapment and remind himself that he was free.

No one was going to trap him again.

"Merlin," The hiss came from the darkness and Merlin smiled as he moved towards it, letting the door shut softly behind him. Will was waiting for him and the two friends fell into step as they began to climb the hill that overlooked the village. They didn't speak as they climbed, both lost in their own thoughts and just enjoying each other's company. It didn't take long before they reached the crest of the hill and both young men sat down.

"Go on then," Will eventually prompted and Merlin grinned. It had only been a month since Will had discovered his magic, although Merlin was careful to make sure that he had no inclination of how Arthur was involved. Despite the years that had passed, Will still seemed bitter towards the royal. Merlin knew he could hardly remember him, but somehow the one thing that Will had taken from that time was his hatred. Merlin didn't see the point of forcing him to let it go; it wasn't as if they were going to be bumping into the prince of Camelot any time soon.

Stretching out his hand, Merlin focused his magic on the smoke that was escaping in twirling patterns from a few of the chimneys. There wasn't much; it was too late for many to still have fires burning. But it was enough for Merlin to twist his hand and allow a shape to be formed from the smoke. Glancing at Will out of the corner of his eye, Merlin grinned.

He didn't feel like he was showing off, not really. But for the first time in his life he felt that he could do something no one else could. They might have to keep it a secret and Will could only see things in the dead of night, but it still gave Merlin a sense of belonging that he had a friend knowing his secret that he actually saw. What was the point of Arthur knowing when he lived so far away?

"You must be powerful," Will muttered, leaning back on his hands as he watched the smoke. Merlin let the magic go and sighed, his gaze dropping.

"So I've heard," he muttered guardedly. He never liked talking about the strength that ran through his veins. It was too much of a forceful reminder of what had happened, what people would do to him if they knew.

"Why do you still live here then?"

The question made anger flare to life in Merlin and he stood up before he knew what he was doing. Arms folded across his chest, he glared at Will. Didn't the boy know quite how hard Merlin had fought to be allowed to return to his home, alive?

"Its home," he said shortly, stalking off. He knew Will would be quick to follow him and to apologise, despite not knowing what he had done wrong. Merlin always knew he was being irrational and unfair; Will didn't remember what had happened, only that Merlin had gone away for a while when they were younger. He had no reason to remember, it hadn't happened to him.

But the wounds of the past had been slow to heal and there were still things that Merlin couldn't talk about. He stopped a short distance away, resting his hands in the small of his back as he craned up to look at the stars.

As he often did when something was troubling him, Merlin found himself wondering what Arthur was doing right now.

MMM

A knock on the door jolted Gaius from his sleep. He never seemed to rest well these days, not when there was so much uncertainty surrounding the prince's health. He rose quicker than his joints allowed him too, wincing as he hobbled for the door.

Somehow, it came as no surprise that Leon was standing on the other side, looking grave. The man gave him an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry to wake you, Gaius, but he's taken a turn for the worse again. "

Gaius nodded his understanding and, grabbing his medicine bag, followed Leon back to the prince's chambers.

He didn't know what was plaguing Arthur. Some days, the prince would be his usual fit and healthy self. But in the last few weeks, he kept having turns. One moment, he would be fine. The next he would be barely conscious. When Gaius had been able to get him to talk, he had discovered that Arthur felt as if his head was going to explode and his whole body seemed to tremble. Despite Uther's urgent demands, Gaius had no idea what was troubling the young heir.

Physically, Arthur was fit and well. Yet Gaius could see the pain in his eyes when he took a turn and knew there was no way that Arthur was faking it. All the physician could do was administer pain relief and consult his books to try and figure out what was plaguing him. It pained Gaius to see Arthur in such distress and he knew by the tension running across Leon's shoulders that it wasn't doing the knight any good either.

They reached Arthur's chambers and Gaius sighed. The room had been darkened and there was a tense figure lying on the bed, face down. Gaius moved across as fast as his bones would let him and winced in sympathy at seeing the way Arthur's hands were scrunched into the covers as he clearly tried to control himself. He touched the back of Arthur's shoulder fleetingly to announce his presence.

"I need you to turn over, Sire," he said quietly, knowing that it had to be a bad one. Arthur often tried to dismiss that anything was happening when he took a turn, only crumbling when Gaius fixed him with a look the prince knew not to cross. The fact that it had happened in the dead of night wouldn't have helped, Arthur's guard would have been down when the pain struck.

Despite grumbling as he did so, Arthur did manage to get his body to obey him. Gaius instantly put a cloth soaked in herbs over the boy's forehead to try and relieve the pain before administering the one draught that seemed to actually help. No one else knew it was a pain killer infused with magic. Gaius knew his life would be on the line if Uther ever found out, but nothing else eased Arthur's discomfort.

It took a few moments, but the combination of the remedies soon had the desired effect and the tension left Arthur's body.

"Worse than yesterday?" Gaius asked sympathetically, finding that he was brushing Arthur's hair back in a fatherly manner. Normally, the prince would be quick to rebuke him and remind him that he was almost a man now, but exhaustion and a touch of fear had clearly got to Arthur for he allowed the touch to happen and just nodded miserably.

"Am I going to die?" He whispered, such vulnerability in his voice that Gaius felt his heart catch. He smiled reassuringly.

"Of course not," he soothed but deep inside, his heart skipped a beat. He knew he couldn't guarantee anything, not when he didn't know what was haunting his young patient. Arthur smiled weakly and made to shut his eyes. As he did so, something caught Gaius' attention. Something that he was sure he had not seen before.

"Arthur, open your eyes," he commanded, his voice that of a physician used to being obeyed. He pulled the candle closer and waited until Arthur did as he was told. Titling his head first to one side and then the other, Gaius let a breath slide through his teeth as he realised what he was seeing.

"What? What is it?"

"Nothing, my boy. You get some rest," waiting until Arthur had obeyed and let sleep claim him – helped by Gaius' tonic – the physician beckoned Leon over.

"You've discovered something, haven't you?" the knight instantly asked, knowing Gaius well enough to know the signs. Gaius sighed.

"His eyes were flecked with gold."

"How can that be?"

"Merlin," Gaius said softly, knowing the knight was the only other person who knew what Arthur had gone through and knew, technically, the Prince of Camelot possessed a degree of magic.

"You mean-,"

"I think this is something to do with their connection. I don't know what yet, but Arthur is close to coming of age. It can't be a coincidence that this is happening now."

"Will it kill him?"

"I have no idea," Gaius responded honestly, knowing that he couldn't lie to Leon the way he had Arthur. The man would see straight through him. "I don't know what is happening to say for sure."

"What can I do?" Smiling softly at the knowledge someone would do anything if it meant helping the prince, Gaius sighed as he glanced back at Arthur.

"There is only one thing that I can think of," he admitted softly, not being sure how the people in question would react to what needed to be done. He took a breath as he looked up at Leon, knowing how dangerous his plan was.

"We need to get Merlin to Camelot."

Leon didn't even blink. He simply nodded and strode from his chambers. It was barely a few moments later when Gaius heard the sound of hooves on the cobbled yard down below and he crossed to the window to see a figure flying out of it. When it came to Arthur, Leon would do anything.

MMM

Merlin had no idea what he had done wrong this time, but he knew and understood the thin set to his mother's mouth when she had beckoned him in from the fields. He was supposed to collect the water on his way home, but she had specifically ordered him to come straight back to the house and not to stop for anything. Merlin couldn't deny that his heart was beating fast as he walked.

Had she found out about Will? Did she know that someone else knew Merlin's secret, and that her son had been showing off his gifts in the middle of the night? Merlin didn't know how if that was the case; he was always so careful. Despite being glad that a friend did know, he knew how important it was for his powers to remain a secret. Will had sworn that he wouldn't tell anyone and they always kept away from prying eyes.

"Before you say anything, it wasn't me who knocked over the wood pile outside of Old Mr Simmon's house…." Merlin started saying even while he was still opening the door. His mother was waiting for him, tears in her eyes. Merlin had a feeling that whatever this was, it was nothing to do with Old Mr Simmons.

"Mother?"

She took his hand and drew him further into the house, shutting the door behind him. Merlin could feel nerves beginning to flood him, not helped when she dropped the lock into place and checked the window.

"Mother, what is going on?"

"Hello, Merlin."

A tall person stepped from the shadows and Merlin could only stare. There was something familiar about him…

"You've grown." The man's voice was friendly and there was a kind smile on his face. It was only as the light caught his cloak did everything click into place.

"Sir Leon?" Merlin breathed. He knew Ealdor was beyond Camelot's borders, he knew how dangerous it was if anyone were to find a Knight of Camelot this far into the village. Yet despite the smile on his face, Leon's eyes were grave.

"W-what are you doing here?" Merlin reached out and took his mother's hand, wanting to make sure that he could protect her. He let the magic fill him up but Leon raised his hands reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Merlin, your secret is still safe. I need your help."

"With?" Merlin couldn't stop the suspicion from flooding his body. His trust had never quite been the same after the events of before.

"I need you to come to Camelot," Leon stepped forward again and Merlin suddenly got the impression the man wasn't really asking. He was giving Merlin a choice; the easy way or the hard way.

"Why?"

"The prince is sick," Leon admitted, the drawn look of his face revealing the truth. Merlin believed him. "Gaius thinks you might be able to help."

"I…" Merlin stared.

"I can't go to Camelot, they'll kill me," he whispered, fear in his voice. It was one thing the prince knowing when they were far beyond his father's control and they were both children. But Merlin knew if anyone got so much as a hint of what he could do in Camelot, he would be burnt at the stake.

"No one will find out," Leon reassured but Merlin's heart wouldn't calm down. "You'll be safe."

"No."

"Merlin-,"

Before Leon could say anything else, Merlin felt his mother tug his hand and spin him around. It was clear she was picking up on the tension radiating from both men. It was also obvious by the look on her face that she was aware Leon wouldn't take no for an answer. Merlin could remember the knight being close to the prince. If Gaius had said that Merlin could help, then Leon was going to get him there, even if he had to take him by force.

"You've always been destined for so much more than this life," she said softly, cupping his face and forcing him to look into her eyes. Sincerity was burning deep within them. "You deserve so much more than I can give you here. This is your chance, your purpose. Your destiny, if you like."

"But this is my home," Merlin whispered. His mother smiled.

"And it always will be. You know that, Merlin. But you can save the prince. You have power to do good in this world. Go and do it, my boy."

Merlin knew that he didn't have a choice. In reality, he had made up his mind the instant he heard that he might be able to help a sick Arthur. The prince was his friend; Merlin wasn't going to abandon him when Arthur had saved him before. It was time to repay the favour. He glanced at Leon and nodded.

Instantly, the man seemed to deflate. Merlin realised it was stress making him so on edge. He hadn't wanted to hurt Merlin, but it was clear he would do whatever it took to make Arthur well again.

"We'll leave in the morning. There is space-,"

"We leave now." Merlin stopped from where he had been beginning to move across the hut, startled.

"But you must need to rest-,"

"I can still protect us both. Say goodbye to your mother and meet me outside in five minutes." The man strode from the house and Merlin was left simply staring at him.

"Mother…."

"It's alright, Merlin. You have a new adventure awaiting you, and at least this time I know you will be safe. Go and help the prince."

Merlin knew what she was really saying. Go to Leon before the man dragged him out. Protection made a person unpredictable and being this far over the border clearly had Leon on edge. Merlin nodded and darted around the house, packing a few belongings and kissing his mother on the cheek.

Then he headed outside to where the knight was waiting for him. They were earning lots of stares, but Leon didn't seem to notice. He nodded approvingly and swung himself into his saddle. Merlin followed suit, his heart beating fast as they moved off.

A new destiny was awaiting him.