Hello fans. I am so happy to hear all your friendly reviews. Even from some of the Guest…kind of wish you guys/gals had a fanfiction account so I can thank you personally. But something is holding you back…don't know what it is.

Anyways I want to quickly say that I know I have terrible grammar and spelling. I have the level of a 5th grader (maybe a little dramatic) and it is one of the reasons I joined FF, to practice.

I want to thank my friend Iozzabluebell and OpalandGold for telling me my pros and cons and supporting me despite how many problems I made in the last chapter. Unlike a guest who focused only on my spelling and grammar problems who personally said he won't read it anymore because of the problems. If no one can see through the problems and focus on the plot and message, then that person is either to crazy of a reader, to crazy of a fan, or is not a fan enough. I appreciate your advice, but please don't hide behind a Guest message and act like you are part of the site when you don't have a freaking account! It makes me feel dishonored when I'm challenged by an outsider.

Plus the last chapter…I only worked on 3 hours of typing, tried to figuring out what to type and how to explain it. I quickly reread it through once and thought it was fine to just publish. Sorry if I disappointed some people, but I had work in less than 30 minutes at the time and just wanted to post it to not piss some people off.

I'm going to say that I will not be getting a beta reader because I don't trust them to finish it in time and the one I had before left with no reason. After this chapter I have a schedule for this story. I also will try to post these chapters every Friday and be done in less than 10 weeks. I don't plan on dragging this story for a long time.

If someone reads this and is willing to beta read it, you must have Thursday and Friday open. That is all I ask and only fix my mistakes, not the story…last beta reader did that and threw it out of the plot line…probably the reason why he left.

Anyways…thank you to anyone who has read through this and listen to my complaining. You are awesome views, fans, and have the honor of being called "Friends"

This will be my last Author's Note unless I have to explain something. Thanks again now enjoy.

Oh, and sadly I don't own Merlin. If I did this would have happen as the Series 5 Finale

0OoOoOoO0

Day 1

Merlin slowly opened his eyes as he felt a leaf lightly brush his cheek, like a mother's hand slowly waking you. He fully opens his eyes and looks at his surroundings, which was hard for him since the moon was still high in the sky and haft-way lit. None of the creatures he saw hours ago were within his site. He turns his head site to check on the sleeping beauty. She was now facing him and her face was calm and relaxed. It reminded him of the old Morgana, but he knew that she was gone. He personally saw that when he erased her by the Hemlock and Morgause filled the empty vessel with only darkness.

Merlin does feel guilty about what he did to her, but it wasn't as strong and heartbreaking as it was the year she was first gone or the year she betrayed them. It only felt like someone playfully pinching his heart now. It was most likely Faith doing that.

Merlin makes a sigh as he slowly sits up and stretches the sore muscles. He lets out a groan and hears Morgana shift to the sound. He looks down to see her cradle herself up more into a ball like a cat. Ignoring her, he slowly rises to his feet and grabs his sword and walks into the forest. He had something to do and he couldn't do it in with Morgana close by.

As he walks through the dark forest he leaves a trail of cuts within trees as he has passes them so he can backtrack his way to Morgana. When he believes he is far enough from her, he stops and sees that the sun is beginning to arise from its own slumber. With that Merlin digs deep within himself and tries to find his ancestors' power to call the Great Dragon.

When he reached the source of power he was forced out. Merlin tried again with more effort, but instead of force he received a scratch like noise. He did not feel the deep dragon hum that filled his being when he summoned this magic. Merlin then realized…his magic is blocked. He had no idea this would happen to him as well, he thought he was higher than Morgana. Merlin then realizes that there was something within the forest that was blocking their magic. Upon this realization, a massive screech filled the air once again. Merlin looked into the sky as two more mimic the sound.

Out of fear and curiosity, Merlin runs behind a tree not far from where he stood and hides. He waits for a few seconds and one of the creatures came into his view. With the sun high, removing all darkness from his vision, Merlin now has a good look at the beast that lives within the forest.

It has the resemblances of a frog with no eyes and instead of a flat face, the face was cone-shaped much like a snake. It had dark green skin and no tail can be seen on its buns. Its body was so close to the ground that it gave the appearance of walking on all four, however it remains on only its two back legs. To sniff the air above, it stood at full height and it nose nearly touched the branches above its head, which was as tall as Arthur's bedpost. It had a yellow belly and seemed to dance with small light. Merlin's gaze then fell upon its long slender hands to see that it had small holes within the fingers and palm. The holes were moving as if they were breathing. It had four fingers and three toes which were gripping the ground. Once it finished sniffing the air, it lowered itself back to its hunch-back size and released a hiss, once again…showing no teeth, only gums and a black tongue.

Merlin's fascinated by the creature as well as terrified. He was so focused on the abominations in front of him. He failed to notice the one walking up to him. The creature behind him let out a hiss as it slowly approaches. Merlin slowly turns around to see the dark skinned creature walk pass him and up to the other. Merlin remained still with fear and forced himself to move and watch the creatures. He watched as the two sniffed around the area, looking for something as one more joined the scent hunt.

Merlin wanted to watch more and see what they would do, but he had to move away from them. He needed to get back to Morgana before she finds out that he left her and question what he was doing. With that decision, he slowly walks backwards. And like his usually self, he steps on a twig and causes it to snap. It filled the air and he thought it echoed off the trees.

The creatures then snapped their heads towards the new sound and made a grunt. Fear grew in Merlin, but he cast it aside. He continued to move away and raised the sword at the threat. The creatures began to follow the path he was making with each step. Merlin had to outsmart these creatures somehow, and they were quickly descending upon him. With a quick idea, he slowly goes behind trees and walks around the creatures. They made no move to follow, only to move forward. Merlin stopped walking and waited for them to leave and they made no signs of retaking their steps. Once they were out of his sight, Merlin let out a sigh and sheathed his sword. He walks back to his spot and thought about what he had learned. He was walking back to where he left Morgana only to meet her haft way.

He sighs as he walks up to the witch. She had her hood up but it didn't hide her expression…which was anger. "What are you doing here?" he asked with a bitter tone.

"I was looking for you," She had a cold tone, cold enough to freeze a man to the spot All man, except Merlin. "You abandoned me." Morgana had venom within her tone, a very bad combination. She was trying to make Merlin feel guilt about his action and it almost worked.

"I told you we need to work together to survive." Despite how truthful his words were, they fell as lies into Morgana's ears.

"And yet you left me all alone, what if the creatures found me?" She raised her voice as well as her chin, testing Merlin. The problem was, Merlin knew he was going to win.

"They wouldn't. They are completely blind and seem to only rely on smell and sound. If you make a lot of noise and reek, then they'll find you." If she is impressed on what Merlin displayed she did not show it. She only nods, and lowers her head. Her gaze on the ground.

An awkward silence filled the air for a second. "So what were you doing out here?" Merlin made an 'hmm' sound. "You must have left me for a reason and you left an easy trail to follow."

Merlin got stuck on how he should respond. Only an old lie came to his mind and he didn't have time to make a new one. "I had to pee." Morgana looked at him with disbelief.

"You had to travel so far just to go take a wiz?" Merlin felt really uncomfortable talking about a subject like this, even with Arthur it was bad. This however was worst.

"I had a lot of fluid." Morgana lips went flat and pure disgust filled her face. Merlin knew she bought it.

"You have a bladder problem then." Merlin only looked down in shame, making his lie more believable. "Anyways we should move, don't want to stay here when the creatures smell your piss." With that she walks off, leaving a dumbstruck Merlin behind.

He quickens his steps until he was side by side with Morgana. She takes side-steps and created a yard gap between them. He sighs at her action, This is going to be a long day, Merlin thought.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Haft of the day has already passed and the Knights of Camelot could not find the sorceress Gaius has warned them about. Not only that, Merlin disappeared as well. Leon told Arthur that they have encounter Merlin along the road and wanted him to come back home with them.

Mordred then explain that Merlin was determined on finding the herbs for Gaius and left within the middle of the night.

Arthur was extremely nervous for Merlin. With the sorceress out there, she could easily capture Merlin and either torture him, kill him or worst...send him to Morgana. He knew that the two had a dark history and she would use Merlin to get to Arthur.

Everyone knows Merlin and Arthur have a unique bond, and Morgana has used that bound before to her advantage. Now that they were at war, he had no idea what she would do to Merlin. It frightened Arthur to the bones.

He was in his own chambers when he was thinking about this. He heard the doors open and looked up to see Gwen come in. He smiled at his wife, glad that she was free from Morgana's control. "Hey."

"Hey." She had a smile on her face and it lightens the room. Gwen walks up to Arthur and kneels down next to him. "I know you're worried about him." Arthur grunts at this, he was so easily read by his wife, his true love. "Do not worry Arthur. Merlin will come home."

"How can you be sure?" He had disbelief on his face and his wife saw it.

"Because Merlin can get out of any situation, you know he is YOUR good luck charm." Gwen smiled at her bewildered looked husbands and he smiled at her challenge.

"No he isn't." Arthur laughed as she moved up and sits down in a chair.

"He is." They kept going back forth like two children fighting over a toy until Arthur gave up.

"Find Merlin is my good luck charm. Don't ever let him know I said that!" He pointed a playfully yet threatening finger at his wife with a serious face. She only laughs as she lightly takes his hand into hers.

"I promise." The two leaned forward and shared a kiss, "if Merlin doesn't come back tomorrow morning you can send a search party." Arthur nodded with a smile and Gwen got up to leave her husband to his paper work. He let out a sigh and went straight back to work.

OOOOOOOOOOOO

The entire day has been quite between Merlin and Morgana. The only things that filled the air between them were the sounds of leaves, their breath, and there rumbling stomachs. They have been looking for something to eat only to receive no sign of life at all. There was no rabbits, no squirrels, no dears, not even any bugs waiting under rocks or within trees.

Merlin began to worry that one of them would become a cannibal since they couldn't find anything. Either that or eat the creatures. "I'm so hungry!" Merlin complained. He didn't want to talk to Morgana, but they had to figure something out.

"Shut up Merlin." Morgana sounded exactly like Arthur did when they were hunted by her not so long ago.

"Wish we had something to eat." He watched her as her stomach got louder. She placed a hand on her stomach and pain was on her face. Despite being cold hearted, Morgana was very easy to read for Merlin.

"Keep talking and my stomach will be full." Merlin decided to leave the threat in the air. He wanted to point out that he had the sword and she had no magic, but decided that it would be a waste of energy.

A few minutes have passed and the pain only grew. "I wonder why we haven't come across anything editable…except maybe those monsters." Morgana stopped within her tracks and Merlin follows her action. She turns on her heels and looks at Merlin with a "Really?" look.

"If you want to try be my guest, but magical creatures are unpredictable and who knows. Maybe one of the creatures would grow within you belly." Merlin didn't change his expression, only looked at her. She then looked down at Merlin's stomach, making him uncomfortable. "I think you could pull off the pregnancy look rather well." She gave him a tease smile and walk on as if nothing happen. Again, Merlin was confused by her actions.

He thought she would be cold to him and would threaten to cut his tongue out with his own sword if he kept talking. Instead she has teased him and answering his questions. She was treating him like a companion. He jogs up to her side and before she increased the distances again he asked her what was on his mind. "Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?" She didn't look at him, only on the path ahead. He walked sideways and looks down to see that he almost fell over a tree root.

"Like the way we use to be." She stopped and anger formed within her face as she turned her head to face him. Wrong choice of words Merlin, he thought to himself.

"I'm not acting like how we use to be. I'm acting civil. You wanted us to trust one another and the only way I see that is by not trying to cut each other throats with words. Besides…" She then turned her head away from him and back to the path, "why waste the energy when we should move forward." With that she walked on and left Merlin again. He sighs as he walks up to her, keeping a distance between them.

A few more quiet hours has pass and Merlin notice that the sun was slowly going down and suggests to stop for the night. Morgana nods and sits down next to a tree while Merlin began to collect some firewood. Morgana looked at him with worry. "Are you not worried about those creatures finding the fire?" Merlin looked at her to see her face was calm and civil. Like it was when she played Uther and Arthur. Merlin hated it when she put on that mask.

"Even so they are easy to avoid." Morgana looked down in thought for a second and then did something surprising. She got up and collected some wood herself. Merlin still didn't understand but he decided to leave it be until they had enough fire.

Once the sun was down, they had their wood piled up and Merlin trying to light it with the spark rocks. Morgana watched and smiled at how pathetically useless Merlin can be. "Here," She said as she crawled next to him and took the rocks from him. "Let me." She began to bang the stones together and Merlin didn't see any differences between their techniques. However she was able to start a small fire. Surprised by her accomplishment, Merlin took another stick and pushed it deeper into the pile, beginning to brighten up the night. He looks over at Morgana to see a smirk of victory glowing in the night. She did not hesitate to show it at Merlin and look straight into his eyes.

"I thought you so use to using magic to start a fire that you would never use the spark rocks." He looks between the flame and her. He remembered that she failed to start a fire when he saw her mess up within his village when the barbarian attacked. He continues to stare at her to see the smirk turn into a sad smile.

"There were times in my first exile I couldn't start a fire for me and my sister. So I had to resort to the old fashion way." She brought up the rocks in a gesture of "whatever" and then placed them both in Merlin's hands. She slowly scouted away from Merlin, but closer to the fire. She smiles as she felt the heat touch her face. Merlin watched her and was surprises to see someone completely different.

"You know." Merlin said and grabbed her attention. "Each time I see you I see someone completely different."

She then leaned forward and watched him with interested. "Mind explaining?" She asked and he leaned closer to the fire as well.

"When I first saw you, you were the most beautiful women I have ever seen." Her expression didn't change but there was a sparkly in her eyes. "Then we began to talk and I saw this strong woman who would do anything to do what is right for anyone and everyone. Despite the rank, race, or religion. Then you learned of your magic and you became more isolated and frighten by everything within the castle. You then made alliance with…enemies of Camelot to feel…love, to not feel that loneliness anymore. Then after the year with Morgause, you complete changed to this dark mistress who always wore a mask in front of everyone but me. You cared about nothing but your sister and the cause of your goals. Then you became a High Priestess and truly became a power hungry, manipulative witch. Despite all the darkness, you still had a small spark of the old you, the one that wanted to be accepted for who you are. Then three years has passed and you closed everything out. Far more determined and far more dangerous, yet your compassion has grown more than it was the second time you took over Camelot. I saw how you treated your prisoners and they all were in great shape and feed well. Even Gwen explained the kindness you showed to her. It may have been to deceive her, yet you still showed kindness. And not only when I was at your mercy at the river bank, you could have easily snapped my neck and lied about something. And now…you're being civil yet I still see the mask you put on to hide your angry. In truth I'm not sure who you really are."

Through out his speech, her expression changed from emptiness to amazement on how easy he can read her. She wanted to argue about some points, but in truth she couldn't find the words to say anything. She was surprised at how observant Merlin was of her even before she has turned. She was also touched that he also focused on the brighter side of her personality when she didn't want see it. "I know what changed you before," Merlin started, taking her out of her own thoughts. "But what happen to you the past 3 years that changed you again?" Morgana looked down and thought about telling him or not. It wouldn't or shouldn't change his perceptive of her, but she didn't want to look weak or broken to Merlin. Especially Merlin.

"I rather not say." Morgana left it at that and poked the fire, trying to keep the flame going. As she picked the flame an idea came to her. "Tell you what." Merlin looked at her and she leans towards him and spoke in a whisper. "Tell me what you know about Emrys and I'll tell you what happened to me."

Merlin was a little surprised to hear Morgana willingly tell him something about her in exchange for information on her nemesis. Merlin then realizes that she believes this information was as of equal value as the information she wanted from him, that both can change the course of the war that was growing. Merlin didn't see it as equal and made his decision. "Sorry Morgana, I don't know what you're talking about." Merlin played innocent and saw the furry grow in Morgana. It faded and disappointment filled her face from failing and from just learning that Merlin didn't care that much about her.

More silence filled the air for a while until a hiss crawled across their backs. Merlin and Morgana slowly look to see one of the creatures walking up to them. Its head was low and was right next to the fire. It was standing right in between Merlin and Morgana. The two slowly rose to their feet and walked away from the creature to the other side of the flame. They both reached the other side and watched as the beast sniffed the fire.

The fire licked the creature's nostril and it responded by shaking its head like a dog. It than sneezed and went back to the flame. It opened its mouth and the fire began flow from the pile of woods into the monsters mouth. Shocked at how easily it absorbed the light source, Merlin and Morgana got closer together and slowly walked away from it. It consumed the whole flame and left only the moon to light the night. The beasts than sniffed the air again and looked straight at the pair. Letting another hiss out, it slowly walks up to them and steps over the pile of ashes and burnt wood.

Merlin removes his sword from his belt and pushes Morgana behind him. He points the blade at the creature as they continue to move away from the creature. All three stop when a massive screech of agony fills the sky and the beasts snapped its mouth shut and looks at the where the source was made. With new energy it jumps into the forest and bounced off the trees like a monkey. Its speed was beyond anything the two has seen.

Merlin and Morgana sighed in relief as they saw the creature vanish. "How many of those things are there?" Morgana asked.

"I don't know." Merlin turns to look at her and sees that she was holding on to his arm with a light grip. She then noticed what she's doing and jumps a good 3 feet away from him. "Well now we know we can't have any fire." Morgana nods and heard there stomachs grumble again. "We need to find some kind of food or we'll die from either starvation or from those creatures."

"I agree. We'll try again tomorrow morning." Merlin nodded and the two choose a different tree and leaned against it as they slowly sit down. "Maybe I should hold on to the sword." Morgana mentioned as she looks at Merlin in the dark, she saw him cuddle the sword closer to him and she laughs at his childish act. "I am more skilled with it then you."

"Yes, but I prefer to have some advantages over you." Merlin then turned his body away from her and tried to get some sleep.

Morgana was not surprised on how Merlin acted. She would be the same way if she was in his position. She didn't like the idea that she compared herself to him, but it wasn't as bad as she thought. She lies on the tree and began to think on that last screech. "You know Merlin," certain that he was awake since he moved at the mention of his name. "That noise was the exact same noise the poke-a-dotted creature made when you injured it last night." Merlin grunted at that, she took it as a sign to continue. "If that was a scream of agony, then there is something worst out there. We need to be more careful if we want to survive." Merlin turned his head to look at her and only nodded. She saw that he was done talking and so was she.

She then turned her back to his and fell asleep herself.

0OoOoOoO0

How do you all like the atmosphere between Merlin and Morgana? I'm trying to make it as civil as it can be at first. In truth I have no idea where I was going and just let Ideas flow. Tell me if I should counties that or just plan out the conversations from now on. Plus I really hope I didn't OOC them. Tell me if you think I am and I will try to fix it.

What is the new threat I just mention? Friend or Foe? You'll find out next chapter as well as Arthur reacting to Merlin's disappearances.

Thanks again and please review. Don't care what you say, just say something!

~Live Long and Prosper