Disclaimer Stuff: I do not own BBC Merlin, or The Sword in the stone, etc. All charachters belong to their respective owners. I do not own them at all. This is fanfiction.

My first fanfic so be nice!

Prince Arthur crept slowly forward, his eyes on the deer 200 yards in front of him. Nothing would come ruin his chance this time. Merlin was equally silent (for once) creeping beside him. Not far now. Arthur raised his crossbow to take aim. Any moment now he would be in range…

A distant shout came echoing into the forest, which scared the deer away.

"Oh well that's just fantastic!!" Merlin moaned with annoyance. "And you can't blame me this time!" He added quickly before the prince could blame him.

"I wasn't about to blame you, you idiot, I was…" Arthur's sentence was cut of by more shouting and cheers.

"Wonder what's going on?" Merlin hinted, giving Arthur a quick glance.

"Fine, let's go see what's happening!" Arthur gave in quickly. He was just as curious as Merlin at what had scared away his prize.

After a short walk they came to a lake, where a crowd had gathered with what both men recognised as the 'witch dipper'. Merlin also recognised the lake for a different reason. It was the same one that he threw the sword into after the Black Knight incident. A crowd of mainly men were crowded round cheering as a young girl was loaded and tied to the 'witch dipper'. She wasn't going in quietly though. She wriggled and struggled, eyes blazing with anger and brown hair wild.

"I told you I didn't charm you're bloody sheep!!!!" She shouted angrily. The man closest to her muttered something to her and gave her an evil grin. A shocked and disgusted look passed over her face. "I hate you." Was all she said back.

"Dip her!!"

"Dip the witch!!"

The bloodthirsty cries spurred the crowd on and moved the dip over a deep part of the lake. The girl tried to free her wrists but without success. After a brief look at the crowd, she sighed and rolled her eyes, took a deep breath and prepared to be dipped.

Merlin hated witch dipping. It was cruel and more often than not the girl died. Which people always saw as a sign that they were not a witch 'but they had to be sure' was the excuse for the murders.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Merlin asked Arthur, turning to face him. Arthur had a strange look on his face; he didn't like witch dipping either but the nagging 'what if' question always plagued him. Not that anyone deserved death like this. Before they could do anything, the dip was lowered and the girl vanished beneath the surface. Arthur and Merlin watch with bated breath. To scared to even move.

After a short time they lifted the dip. The girl coughed and spluttered, hair plastered down to her forehead and face.

"Just admit you're guilt witch and we will burn you instead!" The man who had tied her to the dip suggested. The girl gave a mirthless laugh.

"You just don't wan' to admit that you lost you're sheep," she breathed "Or they were stolen while you were fiddling under some girl's petticoat!" With the last remark a small amount of giggling broke out, causing the man accusing her to blush bright red. Then without so much of a warning he dropped the dip back in and walked away.

"The witch will die in the lake!!" he yelled.

"Arthur!" Merlin began "If she were a witch she would be able to free herself and vanish!!" he pleaded. Arthur nodded slowly and thoughtfully. He raised his crossbow and fired the arrow at the balance holding the dip in the water. When the rope broke, the crowd yelled out and began to run away in all directions. The dip did not rise. Merlin and Arthur ran out and raised the dip. The girl was choking out water and struggling to breathe. She glanced up at her two saviours and bowed her head gratefully.

"Thanks." She muttered. Merlin gave her a reassuring smile and began to loosen the ropes around her wrists. The shouts of the crowds were getting louder. They were coming back. "You realise this will only strengthen their conviction that I'm a witch?"

"Um…" Merlin hadn't thought of that.

"You're an idiot aren't you?" the girl asked. Arthur chuckled as he cut the ropes. The girl turned her gaze to Arthur. "Well, you're not any better!" Merlin grinned to himself as he caught the stunned look on Arthur' face.

Once free the crowd was nearly back at the lake. With a hurried glance around they ran into the forest surrounding the lake. Arthur was quickly ahead. Merlin was helping the girl over a log; she was struggling under the weight of her soaked clothing. When she was over the log, she looked straight into Merlin's eyes. Yellow eyes met blue. Merlin felt a chill run through him.

"Thank you." she muttered as she continued to walk away. "Emrys."

Merlin's heart skipped a beat. Fear flooded him; she was a witch.

After a short walk the trio stopped at the edge of some farm land.

"Well, I will leave you here." The girl suggested.

"That's gratitude for you!" Arthur retorted angrily. The girls yellow eyes flashed toward Arthur.

"Thank you," Arthur nodded "You didn't need to endanger yourself for me." Arthur shifted uncomfortably; she was still staring at him. "And just to ease you minds, I did not charm the sheep."

"Thank God." Arthur muttered. The girl raised her eyebrows. "Erm…" Arthur continued awkwardly, "I am Prince Arthur and this is my servant Merlin." The girls eyes studied them both steadily.

"I am Mim." She stated.

"Well Mim very nice to meet you and very happy you are not a witch." Arthur spieled out hurriedly. Merlin shifted uncomfortably. Mim smiled slightly.

"Hmm. Well, as I was about to say, I did not charm the sheep because I have better things to do with my magic."