A?N: I am baccckkk! Thank you to everyone who revewied, faved, and or followed! I appreciate it. So here I chapter two! Chapter three will be up shortly maybe in a day or two maybe more if I can't get my hands on my moms laptop since that is where it is. Anywho enjoy and tell me what you think.
Not mine and shall never be mine.
(twenty years later)
It was just supposed to be a nice, calm, peaceful ride through the forest. Not duck and hide whilst being chased by bandits who want to chop your head off. Merlin swore and dove behind a tree to avoid an Cross bolt. He pulled it out of the tree where it had sunk in. Maybe he could use it if it came down to that. "Merlin!" Someone yelled, probably Lancelot. "Here!" He called back, then took off running again. "Where is here?" And that was Percival. Merlin opened his mouth to answer, but all that came out was an undignified yelp when someone yanked him back. He was dragged down onto the ground and crashed down on someone. Wiggling, he slipped out of their grasp and turned, cross bolt in hand, plunging it into the person's shoulder. The man let out a yell of pain, grabbing their shoulder and backing off. Merlin turned and fled. "This is the third time this week," He thought as he ran. This is not normal. As he ran, he looked from his left to his right noticing the golden colours of his knights as they ran with him. "One, two and three-all counted for," He counted in his head. They only slowed down as they reached the gully. "Everybody all right?" Merlin panted. They all made vague gestures, too worn out to say anything. Merlin stood up and looked around the forest. It was quiet now, but not too quiet. The squirrels he could hear twittering and rustling about and even a woodpecker far off. "I think we are good." He turned back to his knights. Elyan nodded. "Aye, I think you are right." Merlin shook his head. "This is getting too common. This is the third time in the past month and only when I am with a limited amount of people." Lancelot nodded gravely. "I am afraid you are right, Merlin. Stupid as they may be, someone is after your life."
"This is an outrage! A disgrace! You have failed me again! This is the third time and you still fail! Out of the twelve men that I have assigned to this task, I now only have five of them remaining. Would any of you care to explain why that is?" All five of the men just bowed their heads. One had his hand wrapped around his shoulder, trying not to bleed out onto the floor. "There are no excuses for this! Obviously I need to hire more competent people to do this job. Not knights-to-be." The man sneered at this. "My son is once again in the care of Gauis because some damned fool sorcerer thinks that his voice has a right to be heard in my kingdom when they know they are not welcome here." King Uther glared at the men for that was who it was. "Obviously more drastic tactics must be taken then this. I will send you and a select few to the closet village in Elador. And I want you to burn it to the ground."
Merlin stood there calmly while his mother fluttered about him, fretting at the scratches that he received. "I am fine, mother." He said catching her hands and giving his mother a look. She huffed and went back to sit in her throne. His father just smiled and then looked back down at his son. "So you say that you believe that these are no ordinary bandit attacks" "I am afraid not, dad, the bolt I pulled from the tree was too well-made and the man that pulled me down was too fit for a bandit. Also given the fact that this is the third time this month and it is only when I am just with my knights. I grantee you that if I go out with a full patrol of knights and sorceress, no one would attempt to lay a single finger on me as much as give me a weird look." Queen Hunith frowned. "But who could it possibly be? You practically have no enemies and all those you have tried to make peace with and they have at least a little respect for you." Merlin rolled his eyes.
"Mum, I am a Prince and I have magic. I am always going to have enemies that I do not know about." His father frowned and scratched his chin. "That brings up another point. These attacks; where have they taken place?" Merlin shrugged. "You would have to ask Lancelot for the exact place, but I do believe that it was only a few miles from the border to Camelot, why?"
"King Uther of Camelot has never thought highly of us ever since his wife passed away and I cannot help but think that with all of those magical attacks that have sprung up in that kingdom since, he has been getting harsher and harsher. I cannot help but worry that he will take it out on us."
"But why? We have done nothing to them, we have had no contact with them except with the occasional patrol and trading."
"Think, Merlin, think! Use that brain that the gods have blessed you with. What is one thing that our kingdom has that no other kingdom has?"
"Well, there is the ocean, so fish? And all the trade that comes with it and then the forest too."
"Good, good, but you are missing the very obvious thing, Merlin."
"Magic."
"Exactly!" His father crowed. "Magic, Merlin, it is the one thing that people cannot explain and what people cannot explain, they try to explain and they will also fear it. Fear, Merlin, makes people unpredictable and prone to act on their basic instincts. To get rid of what they fear. Uther fears magic. He may deny it and call it evil, but he fears it, so he will act out. I think that is what is happening. Acting out, trying to get rid of what he fears. So for that reason, you are going to stay inside the citadel until I can clear this up with him."
"What! Father, no!" Merlin cried out. His father held up his hand. "No, I will not hear another word of it. I want one of your knights with you at all times." Hunith sighed. "Balinor, be reasonable." He sighed. "Hunith, really, this is for everybody's good. I am doubling everybody's guard. And Merlin." Merlin scowled at his father. "I know Gwaine is coming here soon and I know you two have an.. agreement and I hope I do not have to worry for you. It is not safe what you two do." Merlin just glared at the floor. Balinor just sighed. Rubbing his head he hated playing King over father, but it must be done. Frantic knocking came at the door. "Enter." He called sitting up straighter. A harried looking servant entered the room. "Sire, news from the far border! Bandits have been seeing heading towards the village of Gaysen and, Sire, they come bringing burning material."