Percival watched in horror as Camelot fell. It was too late. There was nothing he could do. He had already lost so much. His family. His best friend. His king. Now he had to witness the destruction of that which he had vowed his very life to protect.

He swiftly cleared the corridors, helping where he could. He regretfully watched Leon and Gaius from afar as they snuck Guinevere out of the castle. He knew he would see things through here until the bitter end, yet in a moment of weakness he wished he had been near enough to accompany his friends. He did not like the warring emotions that were coursing through him. He had gotten used to trusting Arthur so completely that he could follow his lead with no worry if it was the right thing to do. If only Arthur were here now. If ever Camelot had needed him most, this was it.

Percival froze. "Merlin," he spoke aloud. He had told Percival something the day Arthur had died. "What did he say?" Percival concentrated hard on the memory. "One day Arthur will return… in Albion's greatest time of need," Percival recounted. He had brushed it off at the time as the words of a broken man. But what if it were true? If there was even a chance, Percival had to find out. He needed Merlin.

Percival struggled his way to the stables. With one last guilty look back at Camelot, he rode off into the night.

The sun shone down through the clouds. The colors, smells and sounds of the busy town were everywhere to be found. Merlin walked aimlessly through and hardly noticed the goings-on around him. His body felt numb.

The ban on magic had only just lifted a few months back, but already people practiced openly in the streets. Merlin passed an old woman who was using magic to lift the apples she sold from the basket to her hand so she did not have to bend over each time a customer happened by. She held an apple in his direction and smiled a toothy grin. For you Emrys, she spoke directly to his mind. He ignored her and walked on. Ever since that day… when everything had fallen apart, he no longer enjoyed the company of others or could even withstand their presence for very long.

He felt as if all that he had worked for had been ripped from him in an instant. Deep down he knew that wasn't true. His goal had been to bring about a united Albion that once again embraced the ways of the Old Religion. Only then could he, and everyone like him who possessed magic, be accepted. Unfortunately, it wasn't until after that had been accomplished that he had become acutely aware that this meant very little without Arthur by his side.

For a good part of his life he had longed for somewhere he belonged and had finally found that in Camelot. But he couldn't bear to return there now. He also feared what would happen if he were to isolate himself completely, so he had moved to the nearest place after having finally left Avalon Lake.

That evening Aithusa watched silently from her usual hidden perch as a figure approached the lake. It was the same every night. He would come. He would sit beside the waters, sometimes for hours.

She despised him for taking Morgana from her. There were times she plotted how she would take her revenge. Yet she had never worked up the nerve to move against him. She was content to sit and watch, right along with him.

"What is it about you Emrys that keeps me here," she whispered. He had never commanded it so, yet she could not bring herself to leave him. "Perhaps it is because I have nowhere else to go now that you have destroyed all that I cared for," she answered herself bitterly.

As she watched the form move closer she noted that there was something different about Merlin on this night. She soon realized that it was not Merlin at all, though this stranger walked to the lake and stared across it just as Merlin always did.

Merlin made his lonely trek to the lake just as the sun had set behind the mountains. His feet shuffled along at a slow pace. There was no rush. His eyes mostly stared fixed on the ground before him. He knew there was nothing to look at that could change his mood, so why bother? He was so lost in the pain that washed over him that he didn't notice he wasn't alone until he had almost reached the lake.

"Arthur," he breathed out. Sure enough, there was his friend, standing beside the water.

Merlin felt a foreign sensation leap inside of him. Joy. He had thought his mouth incapable of ever smiling again but he felt the muscles move on their own accord. He quickened his pace to a run. "Arthur," he yelled when he was close enough to be heard. Arthur turned and Merlin felt a knife slice into his chest, because it was not Arthur who stood before him, but Percival. Tears welled in Merlin's eyes.

"Merlin, thank God I found you here. This was the only place I could think to look."

Merlin felt too stunned to reply. It felt surreal to see a knight of Camelot after all this time. If only it had all been a dream, Merlin thought wistfully.

"Merlin, did you hear me? I've come for your help. Camelot has fallen."

This news shook the warlock to his core. "No," he moaned softly.

"You told me of a prophecy," Percival continued. "You said Arthur would return in Albion's greatest time of need. I think that time may be now. The peace treaties have been broken. The kingdom is collapsing in on itself. We need Arthur."

Merlin commanded himself not to allow the hope that had begun to foster, but it seemed to be a lost cause. He nodded his head in agreement with Percival. If Arthur were to return, now did seem the most likely time. But how… when, where? Merlin knew he needed to speak to Kilgharrah who had first told him of Arthur's destined return. He eyed Percival cautiously. "Is there anything else you need from me?" The knight hadn't asked for Merlin's help with magic which probably meant he still didn't know.

Percival looked confused. "Merlin? Are you OK? Have you been here this whole time?"

So Percival probably thought him a bit deranged but it didn't seem he knew about his magic and Merlin did not feel like having that conversation at the moment, especially when he wasn't sure how the news would be taken. "I'm fine." Merlin tried to sound confident. "I think I know someone who might have the answers we need. We will leave at first light."

Percival wanted to get started right away but he nodded his consent. He didn't notice anything deceptive about Merlin's words, but Aithusa had. She had known the Merlin of old, prior to Arthur's death. She had watched him at times, even then. She knew who he always snuck off like a thief in the night to go see for help. The great dragon, Kilgharrah. This time it would be she who got there first.

As soon as they were out of sight she took to the sky, bound for Kilgharrah's cave.


AN: This story is being written in conjunction with the author The PanOpticon so be sure and check out his part of the story too!