Gwen stared at Bear in annoyance. He deliberately allowed the poor man's hand to drag along the rough ground, causing his knuckles to bleed. She eyed her friend with annoyed eyes.

"Now, I have another thing to heal."

Bear roared in discontentment.

Gwen threw her hands in the air, as Bear was being unreasonable. She shut her eyes, why couldn't he understand that you must help others in life? Bear didn't have the luxury of living in an enchanted tree. He had to fight and suffer whenever he left her corner of the forest. His life was difficult because humans were selfish and greedy. Thus he should understand that every good deed will be rewarded except he never felt kindness from humans.

Detecting an apprehensive gleam in his dark eyes; Gwen walked over. She rubbed her hand gently over his ears. "I had forgotten your pain."

Bear whimpered softly.

Gwen sighed tiredly as they stood before the great Oak that lead to her hidden home. Its thick roots were firmly planted in the ground; its bark was lined with curvy grooves telling its ancient history. In the summer, Gwen sat under the Oak's massive limbs guarded from the hot summer by its green leaves.

Gwen placed her palm flat on the center of the tree, closing her eyes, as she whispered, "Let me in my friend," the center of the Oak opened into a shining realm of eternal spring. Gwen accidentally discovered the realm when day when she was a small girl. She ran away from her parents; laughing she touched the great Oak. Thomas dashed to save her when he heard her loud screams. Shocked, he dropped to his knees as he looked into the secret passage. Long into the night, her parents discussed her ability to open gateways to other realms. They always believed that Gwen was a simple Earth witch. At the beginning of the Great War, Tom built a cottage and barn to hide his family from Uther's dangerous eyes. Happily, Gwen stepped inside, it had been a long day and she was tire, longing for bed. Carefully, Bear followed Gwen into her lair. He decided to stay a few days with Gwen. He didn't know if the bees were still angry with him.

Gwen looked around her home. Her small hut covered with a straw roof needed herbs at its front door. She made a note to buy pasting material in town. Looking at her father's forge, she sadly smiled; it had not been used in such a long time.

"Good evening, Bessie,' Gwen called to her cow, who walked aimlessly around chewing sweet grass. Gwen waved to her flock of hens, Sally, Clara, and Sue as they pecked dry corn. She saved them from a horrible wolf that attacked their farm. Gwen hoped that her newest rescue would not disrupt their simple life.

Purple and white flowers surrounded her small house and it needed a few new shingles on its roof. She needed to locate her ladder; it had to be somewhere. Her mother sewed the curtains protecting the privacy of the house. Fortunately, Gwen had an extra bed for her guests, not that she ever had guests.

"Wipe your feet, Bear," Gwen ordered. Bear ignored her as she stomped towards the spare bedroom. He twitched his bum, and the man flopped on the bed.

Gwen stood in the doorway, unsure of herself. How would she remove his clothing? She couldn't possible undress the stranger man.

"You brought him home, silly girl."

Gwen exhaled. Timidly, she walked until she reached the bed. The, mattress dipped from her weight; her fingers quickly undid his red shirt. His chest was hard under her fingers; his flesh soft and cool. His chest had a few abrasions hidden in his sprinkling of soft chest hair. She deicide against removing his pants. Instead, she pulled his boots from his feet, tossing them into a corner.

"Well, that's done. I'll make a healing brew for you, fella. Wonder what your name is? Somebody must miss you dreadfully?"

Gwen didn't understand why her skin felt so hot when her glided over his chest. Quickly, she rubbed a healing cream across his hard chest. Impulsively, she brushed a lock of golden hair from his eyes.

"You should wake in a day or a few hours. I hope you're a nice man."

Sophia sucked in her cheeks tightly; she waited a moment until saliva poured into he cavern of her mouth. Her lips puckered as she spat a large dollop of clear liquid into a golden water pitcher. Her delicate hand shook the pitcher until her salivary mix in the clean water. Donning, a happy smile, she nodded her head at a knight as she entered Uther's Pendragon's dining area. Her feet were barely audible as she crossed the room. She grabbed Uther's water goblet, and poured a long measure of cool water. She hid a smirk when Uther wrapped his hand around the goblet, and drank deeply.

She stepped behind the serving table, arranging fruits and vegetables one a golden plate to entice Uther's appetite. Her dark eyes noticed that the young Prince Merlin seemed lost in his thought. She heard whispered around the castle that Arthur Pendragon was missing.

Arthur and Merlin had gone hunting close to Cenred's kingdom. According to gossipmongers, Arthur had fallen into the river and was carried away in a deep current. The inhabitants of the castle were fearful to mention that Uther's heir might be dead. Sophia ignored a wave of happiness that Uther might suffer such great loss; a tragedy given by fate.

Sophia placed a bowl of fruit in front of Merlin. Distractedly, Merlin brushed her hand away. Their fingers touching slightly. Sophia's eyes widened and when sharp current of energy leaped from Merlin's hands. She backed away from the young Prince. His eyes lowered; she knew that he felt the slight exchange of magic.

Sophia could not believe such fate Uther Pendragon's his younger son was magical. She must hurry to Morgause and Morgana. They would pay dearly for this information.

Cool sheets clung to Merlin's damp skin; his tired eyes closing in an attempt to sleep. His eyes shut as the images of Arthur falling into the river, and being carried away by the current haunted his mind. His nails bit into his palms, its pain made him focus on losing Arthur. He could have saved his brother, if he could have used his magic. One simple spell and Arthur would have been removed from the river.

Today, the maid, Sophia she felt his magic; he knew that Morgause had sent her as a spy. At this moment, she was probably informing Morgause about Arthur's disappearance. They were probably sending search parties to seek his missing brother. This could have been prevented with one simple spell. A spell that he could never use because magic was forbidden in Camelot.

Merlin wished that he could hate Uther for everything that he had done to Camelot and their own lives. His lack of control cost them their mother. Merlin would never forget his mother's lifeless eyes when Vivian poisoned her. Her fingers had been icy cool as she slipped away. He could never forgive Uther for his coldness and orders not to cry during her funeral. He could never understand Uther's hatred for magic and push to destroy a race of people for his adultery.

Merlin knew that he could never reveal his magic. Uther would have him murdered; he didn't care if Merlin was his son. Uther could only see magic as evil.

Merlin felt less than human during that fateful day when he discovered his magic. H had been only ten years old. He thought of a bowl of grapes in winter. He longed for a bowl of grapes. He visualized them in his mind. They suddenly appeared. His mother shortly before her death explained everything to him.

Igraine stroked his dark hair. Her motherly touch calmed his nerves as she relayed a story about how it was rumored that someone in her family was a fairy. That would problem explain his ability to practice magic. They decided to keep his magic a secret among themselves, with the exception of Gaius, he was aware of Merlin's magic because Gauis was nosy and knew everything.

Merlin's eyelid closed as his body required sleep; at sunup, he began his pilgrimage to find his missing brother. He could not live with himself, if Arthur was lost forever.

Sometimes, Merlin conjured Igraine's perfume to bring him comfort after he listened to Uther's hurtful drabble. Merlin shut his eyes and searched for Arthur. He knew his brother was still alive. He knew that he was somewhere warm and well cared for. Merlin saw a pair of brown eyes.

"Great, I'm searching for brown eyes."

Sophia curtsied deeply in front of her Queen, Morgause. She was unable to detect the usual annoyance that flashed across Morgause's lovely face. Morgause wished her agents would return to court, share their news quickly and leave her home. Never, would she break out the golden plates and honor them with a feast. Sophia was a pesky little blue devil. Sidhe were a dangerous magic entity; they didn't even trust each other. They held humans in contempt. Yet, they had a common foe.

Morgause waved a jeweled hand. "Speak."

Sophia smiled in adoration at the beautiful young queen. She didn't recognize boredom etched across Morgause's face. She nodded her head in the direction of Morgana, Princess of Kalmus. Sophia shivered from the darkness hidden in those peridot green eyes.

"Majesty, Arthur Pendragon is missing from Camelot. He fell into the river leading to Cenred's kingdom. Uther Pendragon instructed his knights to scour the kingdom for the young prince.

Morgause's blood thumped with excitement. Finally, she could strike at the heart of the cold hateful king. She would find his son, and slit his throat. Her eyes closed in delight.

"You have done well, Sophia."

"Thank you, milady."

Morgause looked at her sister. "Journey to Cenred's kingdom. Search for Arthur."

Morgana nodded her dark head. "Of course, sister."

Morgause watched Morgana skipped down two steps, her fingers tracing a jeweled dagger. Morgause knew that her younger sister was emotional and impulsive.

"Morgana?"

Morgana kept walking as she planned a reconnaissance plan for Arthur Pendragon.

"Bring him here alive."

Morgana's nostrils flared in disappointment. "As you wish sister."

Sophia decided to save her information about Merlin. Morgause didn't provide her with a great reward. Her knowledge about Merlin might be useful in the future. She intended to be compensated on her next visit to Morgause's kingdom.

Will peered into Gwen's windows; he watched her stirring a pot of hot vegetable soup. Alice insisted that they secure the perimeters of Gwen's home with a powerful magic. She blew a few strands of gray hair out of her mouth.

"It's done."

"Is this about fate or guilt, Sister?"

Sometimes, Alice despised her younger brother; he could see into her soul. He knew her greatest regret in her eternal life was Melody. She named her Melody because she was the music of her soul. She turned her back on her child; her music stopped playing. She had nothing back a great void in her life. "Both."

"Thought so. You can't change the past; without making amends."

"I'm merely helping fate."

"No," Will argued. "You are playing with her life."

"They are destined to be mates. It's written in-"

"The stars… when things were different; Fate changed when Uther caused a war."

"She will be the Queen of Camelot."

"Yes, she would have been trained in diplomacy, seduction, and languages. This woman child has one friend, and it's a Bear!" Will slapped his forehead. "This is wrong."

"It cannot be changed."

"He will hurt her."

'She will forgive him because she will have a great love for Arthur Pendragon."

"Maybe, the Bear will eat him."

"Enough."

Will didn't need the last word. He turned away from his sister.

Stretching his stiff limbs, Arthur turned across soft sheets, squinting when bright sunshine blinded his eyes. Carefully, he assessed his surroundings. He realized that he wasn't in Camelot. Someone placed him in a very feminine bedroom. Yellow curtains decorated the windows; white roses adorned a table tops; and he noticed a hand woven yellow and white rug atop on shinny wooden floor. He located his clothing laying on a chair.

He shook his head angrily when he realized that he didn't have a sword. Quickly, Arthur donned his clothes. He peeked his head into the living area; he knew that he was in a woman's home. Everything was flowery, pastels, and reeking of softness and sweetness. The floor creaked under his weight. His large hand turned a brass doorknob. Arthur stepped out into spring. His nostrils flared in distaste.

"Magic,' he muttered. Camelot was in the middle of autumn. A witch must have kidnapped him. His fingers curled into a fist. He frowned when he heard humming floating around the air. Arthur placed his body against the side of the small cottage.

His blue eyes roamed over the witch. She's tiny.

He thought that she was a child until he spotted her ample bosom. Smiling, she spoke to a large black bear. Her brown hand pulled heavy dark curling hair from her face. He realized that she was pretty, nothing like a normal witch alluring and seductive.

A witch is a witch. They are need to die.

Arthur waited until the witch shooed the bear towards the barn. Carefully, she skipped over a bunch of toadstools. She walked slowly around the corner of her house. Arthur's large hand grabbed her wrist, dragging her into his hard chest. Surprising, a wave of heat rushed along his arm. Menacing, he stared into her frightened brown eyes.

"You're awake," she whispered weakly.

A/N: Gwen strikes back….