A/N: I was going to do an AU for 5x09 but then I realized that there wasn't much I could change about the episode. The only thing that would been changed was that Merlin would cast the spell as himself and not as the Dolma. I even thought about doing a one-shot with the cliff scene, where Merlin is more severely injured. But than I decided to give him a break from everything I'm putting going about to put him through him through.

Well I've rambled on long enough, so here's my AU version of Kindness Of Strangers. Enjoy.

Merlin knelt down next to the tree as his hand ran over the markings.

"Are you blind?" Arthur asked.

"Something happened here," Merlin stated.

"Stags marking their territory," Arthur brushed off as he scratched the back of his head.

"This was caused by magic," Merlin stated. "I can feel it."

Arthur looked at Gwen then back at Merlin. "Please tell me this is some kind of joke to get back at me?"

Merlin stood up and looked at his best friend. "I wish I was joking, Arthur."

Gwen sighed as she stood up. "We need to go back and find out what happened."

Arthur hesitated for a moment. He really wanted to spend a peaceful afternoon with his queen and no magical interruptions. "Is it worth investigating, Merlin?"

Merlin looked at the ground and spotted a golden pin. He picked it up then looked back at the king and queen. "It is."

"Alright," Arthur began. "Merlin, pack everything up and Guinevere and I will head back to the castle, while you stay and investigate. Once we get back, I'll have Mordred come and help."

Merlin was trying to decipher the writing on the paper when Mordred showed up.

"What do you have so far?" Mordred asked, making his presence known.

Merlin jumped at the sound of his voice then turned to face the Druid. "Must you always do that?"

The young knight shrugged. "It's fun. So what do you have?"

"Not much. Just some papers, a pin and an empty carriage," Merlin replied. "You?"

"The city of Helva was attacked. It's believed that Morgana is responsible. We don't know why though," Mordred stated.

"Why would she attack there?" Merlin asked. "Aside from Camelot it's one of the few places where magic is practiced freely. What would make her go after our own?"

"Maybe she was after someone," Mordred suggested.

"Probably," Merlin agreed. "We should head back. Hopefully, Gaius can translate these papers."

Merlin, Mordred, and Arthur stood in the physician's chambers while they wait for Gaius to translate.

"How long is this going to take Gaius?" Arthur asked impatiently.

"Sorry, Sire. It's in Catha and it's been so long since I heard it. Nevermind read it," Gaius replied.

"So the Catha attacked Helva, not Morgana?" Arthur questioned.

"There's a signature here," Gaius stated, ignoring the king's question.

"Who's?" Merlin asked stepping closer to Gaius.

The old man looked up at his ward. "Alator."

"Alator wouldn't attack his own kind, but Morgana would if that's where he was hiding," Merlin pointed out. "He's the one of the few outside of Camelot who knows who Emrys is."

"Isn't he the same man who kidnapped you, Gaius?" Arthur asked looking at the wizened man.

Gaius nodded solemnly. "He is, but once he heard about your's and Merlin's destiny, he betrayed Morgana."

"Do you think Morgana has him?" Mordred asked.

"It's a possibility," Gaius answered.

"We have to save him," Merlin said.

"How?" Arthur asked. "We don't even know where Morgana is hiding."

Merlin slumped down in a chair and sighed. "There has to be something we can do."

"Morgana won't get anything out of him," Mordred reassured.

"What makes you say that?" Arthur questioned, looking at the Druid.

"Cathas are trained from birth to endure torture. They can separate their minds from their bodies," Merlin answered. "But Morgana knows this and will probably use a Nathair. Not even Alator can withstand that kind of torture. It would be impossible."

"Do you remember the servant who gave you that spell book two years ago?" Mordred asked.

"Dead," Merlin said, glumly.

"I hate to say it, Merlin, but I'm sorry that we can't save Alator. We have no leads. We haven't had any leads on Morgana's location since Ishmere," Arthur apologized before leaving.