Disclaimer: The attacker and basic plot is mine but characters and tv show aren't. Please watch Merlin! (obligatory plug fulfilled)

A/N: So I haven't updated this story in months but it appears to be really quite popular and of course the new series began on Saturday and I was inspired to return to what I had here and complete it before the next episode. Amazingly it took a few sleepless nights but at long last it's finished to a degree that I can be quite confident is satisfactory. And what a day to finish on (my birthday) and be prepared for one hell of a chapter ending but i promise you it's all leading somewhere, hopefully i shall be able to update sooner than this last time. And I think I might be evil enough to say, Enjoy! ¦)

Chapter Three: Confusion and Fear

The hustle and bustle out on the streets of Camelot had continued regardless of the events witnessed by the court that morning. It was one of Uther's intentions that the consequences of magic are known to all but never at the sacrifice of the prosperity of the Kingdom.

Arthur strode with a vague sense of uncertainty through the crowd, the smell of burning still strong within his nostrils. Everyone he passed turned to look at him; some were smiling, others seemed slightly saddened, one little child even pointed after him; but all of them had a small glint in their gaze, almost as though they'd never seen him properly before. He tried to dismiss it but it was difficult; normally he would be distracted by whomsoever was with him when he patrolled the inner city, or set out on his quests.

Often it was Merlin, the manservant who was almost always on his left flank, never more than a few steps away, no matter what the danger. With neither weapon, nor the skills to wield them, yet always close at hand. True, he was a bumbling idiot, but a loyal, faithful and trustworthy idiot nonetheless. And before Merlin joined the throng of Camelot's court, Arthur, still a young deluded fool of a prince with a cold chink of arrogance lodged quite dangerously in his personality, never went anywhere without a small entourage of armed guards under his father's orders to protect the boy from all harm.

Guards would be clamouring about him now were it not for the fact that he'd not told Uther that he had left the court, let alone where it was he was going. Hell, he didn't even know himself but he couldn't stay under the King's annoying judgemental ever-watching eyes. But there was no denying that the wrath would fly once Arthur returned.

You see, Uther expected Arthur to mourn for but a moment and then pick up and move on, but the prince was not like his father. Merlin was not dead and until Arthur saw a body with his own eyes, he refused to believe otherwise.

And so it was that the Crown Prince Arthur walked among the streets, unaccompanied, alone and annoyingly hyper-aware.

Merlin was out there; and Arthur was going to find him.

Merlin's heart was pounding in his ears as he struggled to hold his neck off the sword and his mouth out the dirt. He'd never been a man of strength but the man pinning him down clearly was.

For a few minutes they were there, complete silence except for Merlin's laboured breathing, it seemed running and panic did little to soothe the lungs. The attacker though barely made a sound and the only assurance he was even there was the weapon and the pressure holding the boy down.

There was a quick breeze that went past, dancing along the ground and picking up leaves, carrying them along and as he breeze passed over the back of Merlin's neck the hairs there prickled as he felt movement above him.

"Now…" the stranger's voice was cool and calm, full of assurance that he was in control. "In a moment, I am going to let you go." Merlin's continuingly thudding heart was starting to make his head throb painfully. Before his eyes was just darkness which most likely meant that his eyes were shut tight. He tried to convince himself that it wasn't from sheer terror but thus far wasn't succeeding.

"Feel free to run." The pressure on his back increased and the blade still at his throat dug in slightly. He choked back a sob. "But when I catch you." The blade rose up into his neck again and Merlin, whimpered involuntarily, convinced as he was that there was only one slice between him seeing daylight again and being the wrong end of murdered.

A low, throaty chortle came from behind him but gradually the blade and the pressure pulled away and the adrenaline previously pumping through his veins was rapidly leaving and Merlin had to struggle against his basic instinct of sinking into the ground and sleeping. But as the rush melted away, his magic surged and the previous discomfort it caused quickly settled back into his stomach. Lord he wished that had stayed away, he would have given anything.

"Get up." Remaining on the floor, Merlin was terrified to move, unsure what on Earth he was supposed to do, what there was he could do. Fortunately, or rather, unfortunately the decision was made for him when the stranger's boot slid under his side and pulled up forcing him over and onto his back.

From this new and nothing short of foreboding angle, the stranger now towered above him. And it could have been coincidence but the light that passed through the trees caught on the blade giving it a menacing glint, like the grin of a beast moments before it swallows you up.

A literal jolt of fear passed through Merlin and he winced as the discomfort spiked in response. His magic, preparing to protect him, but he had no idea if he could get even half a word out let alone a whole incantation. He didn't even know what was going on, where he was, what was going on. All the questions swirled in his head colliding with the fear and the uncertainty and the surging power within him and his head swam.

There was one option, not ideal and if Gaius ever found out he would no doubt murder him but Merlin was sure the physician would appreciate his being alive to be killed for intentionally revealing his magic.

And there really was no other option that he could think of.

"Get. Up."

Never had those two words sounded so…

Gaius said the same thing to him most days, 'Get up, Merlin!' Gentle with maybe a touch of idle threat posed by making Arthur annoyed by turning up five or so minutes late. One look in this man's fiery eyes and it was more than obvious that he was threatening a whole lot worse than rat soup or a day in the stocks. The man was looking at him, with one eyebrow raised, daring Merlin to defy him.

Spreading his hands beside him, Merlin cautiously pushed back, forcing himself to his feet, not once taking his eyes from the over-confident face of his attacker.

As he moved, the sword glinted again in the sunlight, highlighting the true tenderness of the situation and Merlin felt his magic swell again in defence and he paused. His abilities were anything but reliable right now, literally anything could happen; he could accidentally kill this guy if he tried anything.

The stranger smirked at Merlin's sudden stillness, taking a few steps backward before reaching down to the floor where he'd thrown his sack.

"Clever boy."

There was a scrape of metal on metal and a couple of clinks as he re-sheathed his sword so as to free his hand for reaching into the bag.

Merlin's power swelled again and he knew that this was going to be his one chance and if he didn't go for it he was going to be killed. There was no two ways about; hopefully he wouldn't kill the guy but if he did… Honestly that wasn't something he really didn't think he could bear to consider.

Throwing his hand out towards the man stood before him, the young warlock just short of shouted the only spell he felt he could handle.

"Arcendum!"

Pure force practically exploded out of his palm, sending the guy careening backwards twelve feet where he landed flat on his back while Merlin was thrown a similar distance in the opposite direction.

All the air was knocked from his lungs as he landed, smack, on the forest floor and there was only a small moment to regain his breath and simultaneously thank whoever it was had ensured no stray branches nor random trees had been in his way.

With as much speed as he could manage, Merlin jumped to his feet and started to put one foot in front of the other as quickly as he possibly could without tripping over his feet which was far easier said then done.

Sure enough, barely two seconds into running, a roar of anger bellowed from somewhere from the forest behind him. Birds in nearby treetops took to the air at the sound and Merlin stumbled but caught himself before he hit the ground.

His unsteady, panicked breathing filled his ears, and he couldn't help but feel that man was just steps behind him, yet he never dared to even think of turning back to see. All he focused on was putting as much distance between himself and that man as he could and keeping it.

Fear as his driving emotion and running on instinct more than anything Merlin was paying very little attention to where he was going. As such he was truly grateful that he hadn't run into anything yet. Or at least he was, until he actually smacked into something.

He felt hands on his arms and panicked, struggling against them as fiercely as he could. The stranger must have somehow overtaken him and he knew he wouldn't get away again if he just gave up now.

"Hey, easy." Merlin stopped. That wasn't the voice he was expecting, it couldn't be the stranger. It wasn't rough and throaty like before, it was calmer, quieter and more importantly it seemed worried. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Looking up, his heart all but stopped. Even filled with terror, fear and confusion there was no mistaking that nauseatingly familiar face.

"Arthur?"

Confusion flashed on his face and the prince blinked harshly. "Merlin?"

Probably the last person Merlin was expecting to see, especially out here in the forest but as a nearby shout came from the forest behind him he began to start panicking again. Throwing a glance back, he tried to push his way past Arthur but the prince, who seemingly hadn't heard the sound and had a firm grip on the boy's arms, wasn't letting go.

"Arthur, please! We have to-"

"Merlin, what happened to you?"

"Oi!"

Merlin froze and watched as Arthur's gaze turned from the boy to something behind him. The warlock had no reason to look; he knew who was there. Besides, the adrenaline from his escape was beginning to subside again and Merlin felt his magic start to well up within his stomach. Along with it grew this almost overwhelming sense of nausea and he was sure that if he opened his mouth, even a little, he would be violently sick.

Already he was regretting having used that spell.

The house held no clues, not that Arthur expected it would.

No one he'd asked knew where the manservant was. No one had seen him in the last two days and he knew that this was pointless. Of course no one had seen him, he had disappeared; it was generally what happened when people disappeared.

If only he had some idea what that spell's intention had been he could know where to look but no one alive would be willing or able to help him identify. Well that's not including Gaius; if anyone would help him it would be the physician but the Prince couldn't risk returning to Camelot, not yet. For one, Uther would be fuming; for another it would be tantamount to giving up and he couldn't do that. He just couldn't.

It was as he was telling himself this for the twelfth time that it just occurred to him.

The druids.

It was true they were people of magic and more than likely would refuse any help to Arthur due to his family and the laws of the kingdom of Camelot but even so…

If he could find them, ask for their help in finding Merlin or if nothing else identify the potion the woman was using. If there was any chance they could find the manservant… His father would no doubt kill him were he ever to find out but Arthur had but one thought in his mind.

Find Merlin.

And so it was that the Crown Prince of Camelot came to be in the forest. Lost, would be a more apt description but at the very least he knew the way back towards Camelot so he wasn't a lost cause.

Since he had entered the woods, Arthur had seen neither hide nor hair of neither man nor beast. It was quiet except for the seemingly endless rustle of leaves in the breeze.

Gazing round at the greenery Arthur felt at a loss. Several times he was tempted to call out but undue attention was not exactly what he was after. Slowly, and really rather annoyingly, he was starting to realise how bad this idea of his was turning out to be.

"Where are you, Merlin?"

The wind gradually slowed and the treetops stilled, but the silence of the woods didn't return. Somewhere from the trees Arthur could hear the sound of something moving. Arthur stilled and listened carefully, years of hunting guiding his instincts.

The uneven footfall, the speed, the panic; it wasn't an animal, it couldn't be, at least no animal that he knew to live in this part of the kingdom. Turning to the West, where the sound seemed to be coming from, he tried to see what, or indeed who, was approaching, his hand on the hilt of his sword, prepared to defend himself if necessary.

As he continued to listen, it seemed less and less likely that whoever was approaching would be dangerous. Attackers would try to be quieter, use the element of surprise to gain the advantage and these movements were far too erratic, too frightened, too fast. Almost as though they were running from something; and they were getting louder.

"Hello." his voice was steadfast, hoping to reassure whoever was there. Arthur took a slight step forward. "Who's there?"

Then he spotted them, just a short way off into the trees weaving in and out between the old, gnarled trunks; every other step they were tripping, seemingly over their own feet. Their gaze was fixed firmly forward, turned slightly towards the ground, probably trying, and failing, to keep an eye on their feet, make sure they didn't fall over completely.

"What?"

Arthur's cry went ignored and he shifted quickly across the forest floor to stand in their way.

Just as they drew level Arthur managed to step into their path and they slammed into him, clearly too afraid to even look where they were going. Arthur grasped at their arms, prepared for them to try and get away.

He didn't say a word but twisted and fought, scratched and hit trying desperately trying to get out of the Prince's grip. It was a young boy, probably not much older than thirteen years old, extremely panicked and struggling fiercely.

"Hey, easy!"

Almost instantly, the boy stopped; practically froze in place. Although grateful for the co-operation, Arthur couldn't help but worry slightly over the sudden change.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

He watched as the boy slowly turned up to look at him, his mouth half-open.

"Arthur?"

…

This was impossible.

It just… It was not possible. Was it?

This boy was thirteen… he… what?

"Merlin?"

This was a boy, a young boy, a good deal younger than Merlin but the hair, the eyes, even the face structure… Merlin?

Arthur looked him over, taking in everything he could and he realised this boy who 'couldn't possibly be Merlin' was wearing the same clothes his manservant was wearing when he'd disappeared, although they seemed a bit big for him…which sort of made sense.

The boy tried to push against Arthur in another attempt to get free as he glanced into the forest behind him.

"Arthur, please! We have to-"

"Merlin, what happened to you?"

"Oi!"

Arthur felt Merlin freeze solidly in his grip again and looked up to see a leather-clad stranger brandishing a sword. Slowly realisation dawned on him; the panicked running, the fear, the freezing.

"Stay behind me."

Carefully and quickly Arthur moved Merlin away from this man and without even waiting for any indication that the boy had heard him, the prince stepped forward, purposely placing himself in the way should this stranger attempt to rush him. Placing his hand on the hilt of his sword, Arthur spoke directly to the stranger as clearly as possibly could.

"State your business."

The stranger merely scoffed, tilting his head to one side and looking the prince up and down. "And who, exactly, is asking?"

"I am Arthur Pendragon." The stranger's confidence seemed to disappear almost instantly at the name. "I say again, state your business."

The man took a few tentative steps back, not taking his eyes off of Arthur who stood there, unmoving, prepared to fight although by the look on the man's face it really wasn't necessary.

Taking a deep breath, the stranger looked over the Prince's shoulder. "I don't know what you did, but next time I see you, you're dead." His gaze came back to Arthur again. "Protective Prince or no."

The two men held each other's gaze for a short moment before the man turned and began to walk away. Arthur stood, waiting and watching until he was a fair way off. He didn't understand what that man had meant by what he'd said but it didn't sound good.

Once sure the stranger wasn't coming back, Arthur turned around and was surprised by how different his manservant looked now. It definitely was Merlin, clearly it was, just younger and right now clearly terrified.

"Merlin?" The young boy hadn't shifted at all from where Arthur had placed him, his gaze glued to the ground and didn't nor make any indication that he'd heard. The only sound was his heavy breathing, no doubt trying to catch his breath after the running. "What's happened to you?"

The boy slowly turned towards him, lifting his gaze from the floor yet still breathing heavy. "I…I don't know." Fear shot through Arthur as Merlin took in a slow, deep and horrifically shuddery breath. "I don't feel good."

Merlin started to take in another shuddery gulp of air and Arthur's own breath caught as he saw his friend's eyes roll back into his head and begin to fall towards the floor.

"Merlin?" Arthur caught him before he fell too far and gently lowered him to the ground. "No, no! Merlin!" He tried to shake him awake, tapping Merlin on the side of the face but there was still no movement or any signs of life. "Merlin, wake up!" Arthur was terrified by how limp and unresponsive Merlin was. It hadn't even been twenty seconds yet it was though he was sleeping the sleep of the dead. "Come on, Merlin! Please!

"MERLIN!"