AN: So, I've decided to continue this. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I'm so grateful! Concrit welcome- especially until I find a beta. The chapters will not be in chronological order.

Merlin's eyes flickered open. He was surprised to find that he was already standing… he had never slept like that before. The disorientation that accompanied his waking caused him to sway and topple over. Merlin braced himself, but the impact never came. His limbs sank softly into the fine white sand that spread away from him to the horizon. Merlin furrowed his brow in confusion. Where was he? He stood, and the sand that had collected in the folds of his garments poured out silently.

There was nothing but sand and sky. The sand rolled out like an ocean, endless crests and waves distorted the landscape. The sand was crystalline in color like salt. Maybe it was salt. An ocean deprived of water? No water. Well, Merlin wasn't thirsty, which wasn't very reassuring, but he had that consolation at least. For now. The sky was a stark gray, endless. Merlin couldn't even make out the outlines of clouds- which he assumed must be there. How else could it be so completely abysmal? Then, he chided himself: for all he knew, he was in some mystical realm where the sky was always gray. Right. That was a possibility.

So, how did he get here? And more importantly, how could he get out? Merlin pivoted around, circling at least twice, looking for any clue, anything that might explain his situation. His efforts only served to bury his feet in the sand. Merlin looked about helplessly and called out, in voice and mind, "Hello?" The air was dead. Not even an echo answered back to him. "Is there anybody out here?"

Anxiety gripped his heart. He took a shaky breath. How had he gotten here? Why couldn't he remember? Was he trapped here?

No, he couldn't be. He had always gotten himself out of strange situations before. This was no different. (Merlin knew he was fooling himself. There was no lock to break this time.) He must be here for a reason. He just had to figure out what that reason was. There was nothing for it. So, Merlin began walking, leaving behind messy footprints in the sand. After what seemed like a ridiculously long time to Merlin, he stopped, frustration building to couple his anxiety. The scene had not changed, except for the long, thin trail of footprints behind him. Merlin collapsed onto his knees, which sunk into the sand. Merlin thought he could rather learn to hate the sight of sand. At that moment, something changed on the horizon.

A brilliant green orb began to emerge on the edge of the horizon, shining so brightly that it stung his eyes to look at it. It was beautiful. The color wavered slightly, as if the orb were not completely corporeal. It lit up the gray sky. Though still smothered with heavy clouds, near the orb the sky shaded a shifting gradient of white to yellow and orange, to a deeper maroon, which faded back to the suffocating gray in the distance. A few seconds passed and the orb rose higher, losing it's green hue. That's when Merlin realized he was staring at the rising sun. It took his breath away. The whole sky spread a clear blue, clouds retreating from the rising sun and dissipating.

He was so distracted that he did not immediately realize the breeze that had begun to blow. It was blowing towards the sun… East, he figured. That was a direction, if any. Merlin levered himself onto his feet and continued his trek towards the horizon. The wind picked up, guiding him, encouraging him. A bit of weight left his heart at that. The colors in the sky made him feel much less dismal, though he still was sick with worry. Perhaps he was meant to be traveling this way? The more he walked, the greater the wind blew. Were those voices he heard in the wind, calling out to him? Or was he just going mad in his solitude? "Hello?" he called out, desperately. "Arthur?" Merlin turned to look back, searching and combing with his eyes across the dunes, but the wind whipped up the sand, obscuring the world. Merlin flung his arm before his face, trying to keep the sand from biting his eyes.

Do not look back. The wind had become violent, pushing and shoving, and Merlin stumbled forward. "Arthur!" Merlin cried out, and he tore his gaze away from the waves of sand. He looked at the blinding sun before him. This is your destiny.

Merlin's next step plunged his foot in the sand to the knee. His cry of surprise could not be heard over the roaring, torrential winds. He tried to pull it out, but his other foot slid in as well. Stark terror hit him. He began to babble protests and pleas, spells and curses, but nothing could stop his sinking. The sand around him, grain by grain, turned a bright blood red. The deeper he sank, the further it spread, until he was chin deep. The sun blazed angrily above him, reflecting off of the bright red sand that covered the world. And then he was completely consumed by it, and he was lost in darkness.

"Merlin!"

Merlin jerked as a sharp whap hit him on the head. He winced and turned a glare to the offending party. Prince Arthur stood rigid with a scowl on his face, grinding out, "Finally. Quit daydreaming and pack up camp. We're leaving," before striding off to talk to one of the knights.

"Prat," Merlin mumbled as he stood and began picking up the various bowls and utensils around where the patrol party had taken lunch. Uther had been ordering patrols on the borders of Camelot ever since the departure of Morgana. Merlin didn't know what good that could possibly do; in fact, it only served to spread out the army. But clearly, Merlin was not in charge. As for Arthur, he did not tend to join these patrols- Uther had become protective of his son and only heir. However, Arthur had managed to convince the King to let him join this one. But no amount of prodding on Merlin's part could get the Prince to reveal how he had convinced the King. Something about duty and securing the confidence of the people… or maybe it was the time-old excuse of going on a hunt? Right, the former was the real excuse. Times had been very tense in Camelot since the brief reign of Morgana. Arthur explained to Merlin (with much exasperation and a needlessly biting tone) that the patrols were some sort of tactic to restore the citizen's confidence in their rulers.

Still, if they wanted to put on a show to inspire confidence in the people, surely patrolling was one of the least effective means of accomplishing that goal. Even a tournament would work better. Unless Uther actually thought patrols were necessary… for protection or something. What did they expect to find? Bandits would steer clear of this amass of knights, but what if they encountered a sorcerer? They stood no hope. Well, except for Merlin, but Uther didn't know that. Merlin allowed himself a small smile and settled all the various utensils and mess kits back into his saddle bags.

"Stop smiling like an idiot and hurry up, Merlin," groused Arthur as he clicked forward towards the boy on his horse looking for all the world like an arrogant noble. Which Merlin rather thought he was, responding with a touch of annoyance, "Look! I'm already done!"

"What's this then?" said Arthur, hoisting his used bowl.

Merlin scowled and snatched it away, "Well, how am I supposed to clean it if you never give it to me?"

A few more bickering words were exchanged before the patrol group set off again. The knights mainly ignored the Prince and his servant, keeping their opinions to themselves, except for Gwaine- the only round table knight to come on this patrol except for Leon (who took in the scene with a stoic expression, but an amused twinkle in his eye). Gwaine just chuckled warmly and rode over to Merlin. "So," he jested, "How long have you two been married, then?"

Merlin took it like the joke it was and smiled again, deciding to play along (the Prince was in ear-shot after all), "Oh, about three years now, give or take a few months. You wouldn't believe the things he has me do!"

Gwaine took on an expression of commiseration, "Like what? Clean his chambers for him?"

"Oh, more than that," returned Merlin, "I have to pick out his clothes-"

"And put them on him?" Gwaine widened his eyes in mock-horror.

"Polish his armor-"

"And his sword?" he snickered.

"Bring his food-"

"Do you feed it to him?"

"I-" Merlin started, but was interrupted by Arthur, who had decided enough was enough, "If you want more chores Merlin, you only have to ask," and he grinned menacingly to which Merlin grumbled, and Gwaine laughed heartily. "Now," Arthur sobered, "Pay attention. We are on a patrol, if you haven't forgotten."

The group rode in silence and Merlin's thoughts were allowed to wander back to the strange dream he'd had two nights ago. Gaius had finally been forced to shake his shoulder to wake him up, as calling his name had done no good. His mentor was probably still worried about him. As soon as Merlin had woken, he had taken one good look at the sun shining through the window and bolted, thinking of how pissed Arthur would be at his tardiness, shouting only "Sorry, Gaius! Later- I promise!" Of course, he had forgotten that he would be going on patrol… so now Gaius would have to wait even longer to hear from him. Merlin felt a bit guilty about that, but what else was he supposed to do? Arthur was uncompromising.

Merlin sighed and looked out at the forest. It was so different from the sands he had seen. Forests were normal. Merlin saw forests all the time. Tall trees stood around him, limbs reaching up to the blue sky and sprouting peacefully waving green leaves. Their roots wound around the floor and into the earth, making the landscape uneven. It was covered by other smaller plants and flowers as well as old sticks and leaves. And the forest was hardly quiet. Sweet birds called to one another; little animals scurried around the trees and rustled in bushes. Harts and boars, as well as other large game, hid further in its depths. The forest was nothing like the land in his dream. That place was foreign and empty. Quiet and devoid of life. Unreal, even. Merlin didn't want to admit it, but that place frightened him. It had made him alone, consumed him, and yet…

The sun that had risen. It had been so beautiful. It was so vastly different from any sunset he had seen in his life, but Merlin couldn't put his finger on what had made it so different. It was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Merlin felt warmth swell in his chest at the thought of it. The rising sun had changed the landscape to something more welcoming, hopeful, and not quite so lonely.

Merlin.

Merlin gasped and looked around. The rest of the knights rode on as if nothing had been said. Arthur and Sir Leon were talking to each other, but Merlin was too far behind to hear anything they said.

Come, Merlin.

It was coming from somewhere deeper in the forest. He felt a strong urge to follow the voice. He knew he shouldn't, he needed to stay with Arthur.

It would be another hour and a half of silent riding before Gwaine noticed that Merlin was missing and alerted Arthur.