"Any idea what you think we'll find up there?" Merlin chattered on, as he gathered supplies for the journey. He already had the map supplied by Geoffrey tucked safely away. "I can't believe that just yesterday I was just a servant and today Arthur is trusting me enough to send me, ME!" he exclaimed.
"It's not like you haven't undertaken things on your own before." The old man reminded him.
"But this time it's different!" Merlin continued to prattle on enthusiastically. His mood hadn't been this upbeat in years.
Gaius sat at the table, allowing his thoughts to wander. After speaking with the scholar, Arthur sent Merlin to accompany the man back to the library to prepare. He kept everyone else in the hall for more discussion.
(*~*)
The door closed behind the two men, leaving the rest of the Privy Council in silent contemplation.
"Arthur, this is all well and good, but what do you plan to do about…you know, what was discovered last night?" Guinevere asked softly, laying a hand on her husband's arm. "Do you really think sending Merlin away right now is the best idea?"
The king lifted his head and looked at the others. "I want to change the way some things have been handled in the past. I fear that if he is around it would cause more turmoil among those who may not be ready."
"So, you're sending him and Gwaine on this journey...to keep Merlin safe." Elyan concluded.
"Partly, yes."
Leon squirmed slightly in his seat, Arthur looked at him questioningly. "Sire, I have sworn an oath to obey you and protect you. I have to admit, though, I am uneasy with this talk of change."
Gwaine spoke up, his eyebrows knit in a frown. "Weren't you saved by the druids? You've seen firsthand the good magic can do."
"I also remember what came after, and I would gladly have given my life to save those who perished under Morgana's hand when she possessed the Cup of Life."
"And that is why I need to send Merlin away right now. To give the people of Camelot, and myself, time to adjust without the possibility that I am harboring a magic user in my own castle. The people will be looking for someone to blame in all this." He admitted reluctantly. Despite the revelations of the previous evening, the king harbored many doubts of his own.
"But what of Morgana, Sire?" Percival asked.
"We will just have to hope she was killed, or was too badly injured, by the collapse of the tomb to do anything for the moment." The argument waged on internally for the king, wondering if he was doing the right thing by sending the man, who he now knew was his greatest asset in the battle for the throne, so far away. He felt like he was banishing the man for a time, without using the actual word. He could see the political implications of either choice. "The coming months will be difficult for all of us. I see now, with new eyes, the great kingdom you will all help to build, but first we need to understand the foundation of what has come before."
(*~*)
"Merlin," Gaius finally spoke. "...come sit with me a moment."
The warlock ceased his rambling tongue and excited packing, plopping himself on the stool beside his mentor. He looked with anticipation at the physician.
"I know I don't have to tell you to be careful, or how worried I will be for you." His rheumy eyes warily assessing his ward. "I have a feeling you are going to find more on this quest about yourself than you can imagine. Now that others know of your secret...well, it is no reason to put yourself out there more than need be."
Merlin's broad smile faded, "What do you mean? Gaius, I get the feeling you know something you're not telling me." He studied his mentor's face, trying to patiently wait for the old man to speak.
Gaius sighed and changed the direction of the conversation. "The area you will be traveling, I recall hearing your father speak of it once. If memory serves me he was at the battle with King Ambrosius against a man named Vortigern, who sought the throne for himself after Constantus died. I fear I can't remember more than that. However, I have a feeling you might be able to discover something more about Balinor, as well as the royal history, now that you know to look."
Merlin's blue eyes gazed off, his mind processing the information. He licked his lips, "Thank you, Gaius. Hopefully I will. I'd like to know more about Balinor if I can."
The next morning, just after sunrise, found Gwaine and Merlin already outside the gates and on the road to their newest adventure. From the walls, the eyes of a young knight watched them go. He had overheard one of the stable boys speaking about how a knight and the king's servant were heading off to the north on a mission for the king. Mordred couldn't have hoped for a better opportunity.
(*~*~*~*)
"Tell me again, why I should trust you, Mordred."
"Because you need the information I hold."
"You put a blade through my back!" The dark witch all but screamed at the young man. Her once startling pale green eyes now gray from the years of insanity, were shooting daggers. Her feet pacing the room frantically, and madness oozing from every pore.
Mordred sighed, his eyes following her back and forth. "If I had meant to kill you Morgana, I would have. It was my only option to keep you safe from Arthur's men and from Emrys." His purposeful dropping of the name received the result the druid was hoping for.
Morgana froze, eyes narrowing. "Emrys was there?" A shrill inhuman screech escaped the witch's throat.
"He is the one who thwarts you at every turn, Morgana. You will never have a chance to sit upon Camelot's throne while he remains alive." The young knight chose his words carefully. He owed Arthur his life, and had no reason to see the King of Camelot usurped. Emrys, on the other hand: Mordred owed him nothing but death and pain for his betrayal of the druids the young man had called family. "I have information that he is traveling north to the Llyn Peninsula on a mission for Arthur."
"Ha! He isn't around to protect my precious brother?" Her eyes widened excitedly.
Mordred's thoughts raced, as he backtracked through his words trying to manipulate the witch onto the path he wanted, "He has great magic, Morgana. Any attack against your brother and he would be back quicker than you could imagine!" He lied, thankful for her madness in that never once during their conversation had she thought to ask how he knew Emrys or who the man really was.
Her frantic pacing started again, slender pale hands wringing nervously. "You're right, of course you are. I must go to Lot at once and let him know some of my brother's lapdogs are crossing his land without permission."
The druid smiled, his plan set in motion. Soon he expected he would be forever rid of Emrys. He hoped the Warlock would take the witch with him, and if Emrys didn't, Mordred was confident he would catch up to her later.
(*~*~*~*)
The wood snapped and popped in the campfire as the pitch wept out of it. Shadows danced on the ground casting random light up into the tree branches that swayed gently in the night breeze. Gwaine looked around, clearly uneasy. After four days on the road the two friends crossed the border into Lot's kingdom. They knew they had to take care, since Lot was no ally of Camelot's. Power hungry and ruthless, he had claimed most of Essetir as his own as well in the wake of Cenred's death. It still didn't explain the level of nervousness Merlin felt coming off his companion. They sat in silence for a while just watching the flames. Finally the warlock couldn't take it any longer.
"Alright, so what's wrong?" He asked bluntly. He saw Gwaine's roguish mask slip back into place.
"Nothing's wrong. Why would you ask?" an impish grin gracing his features.
Merlin sighed and stirred the fire a bit. "Because, I know you my friend and you are never this quiet...unless, it means you're passed out drunk."
Gwaine looked to argue, but instead picked up a rock. Tossing it out into the darkness, he allowed his frustrations to break through. "I know I told you about being a noble...well this is where I'm from."
"I see," Merlin stated quietly. He could sense there was more to the story, especially since he knew Gwaine's father was a knight of Caerleon, but he allowed Gwaine his space in the matter. They fell back into silence for a while longer. "So, do we want to try and cut through the kingdom, or add at least a week as we make our way around?"
Suddenly another voice appeared from outside the firelight. "I think we'll take you straight to the Castle, although it might add considerably more than a week to your journey."
The two men stood up instantaneously. Gwaine's sword already in his hand. Merlin scrutinized the area, feeling for magic. Neither had heard anyone approach, and now it appeared as if they were surrounded by men dressed in Lothian armor, pointing crossbows at them. Merlin knew he could send out a force wave to knock them all back, but he worried he might catch his friend with it too. Not knowing how many troops were in the trees concerned him as well.
"Put down your sword Prince Gwaine. Your grandfather wishes an audience with you." A rugged looking man stepped out of the shadows. Gwaine threw his sword to the ground cringing in defeat.
"So be it then."
AN, 8/27/13: Historical vs fic: Historically, King Lot was the father of Teneu, Gwaine, Agravaine, Gareth, Gaheris, and Mordred (along with a couple of other possible sisters, Elaine and Clarissant). Later works have Mordred as being Arthur's son, but *shrugs* most Arthurian legend is a bunch of fan fiction in and of itself based on things like Welsh Fairy Tales.
For this story, I have twisted things a bit when it came to Gwaine's family history, as you will see in later chapters. (I figure if the Merlin writers could twist things, the so can I! Muwhahaha)