A/N: Sooner than expected! Don't question it. Embrace it.

I would especially like to thank ILoveThesePeople, for giving me some incredible advice on Xyla and her character. I hope you especially review and tell me if I fixed the problem.

Chapter Three

Xyla fell to her knees, dry heaving.

I'm going to be sick, oh, I'm going to be sick… Her stomach rolled about in her middle. She felt hollow on the inside, but in an aching way.

Clutching at the dead leaves on the ground, she squeezed her eyes shut as the tears escaped from her eyelids.

No! No! No! This isn't happening! How…?

She sobbed, feeling her body shake with the pain… the awful pain. Why did this have to happen?

Her eyes opened, and she discovered something that shocked her, but didn't help her stop crying.

She wasn't Xyla. No, she was someone else entirely, and whoever it was felt an almost unreal grief. That person's heart was breaking. She was…

She was Merlin.

Break

Xyla sat straight up, driven to awareness. A nightmare. She'd had a nightmare. What about?

Her fingers came up to her face, touching it. For some reason, the features of her face were wet. Why were they wet?

She felt sluggish and slow, unable to understand. When she brought her finger to her mouth and touched her tongue, tasting salt, she was just more confused. Why was she crying?

Gradually her mind cleared, and she was able to focus on her dream. It had been about Merlin, she remembered. He was upset. He was torn up from the inside. Why?

Xyla rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, rolling over onto her stomach. The ground smelled nice, like fall. The leaves crunched when she moved, telling her that she wasn't as alone in the world as it might seem. She wriggled her body, making herself comfortable, and tried again to remember.

Okay. Merlin was upset about something. And I was Merlin, feeling his grief. But it was my fault, at the same time. It was my fault because…

Because I killed Arthur and Uther. And he didn't want me to.

Xyla felt her heart sink. Would Merlin truly be so very upset when she killed the Pendragons? She hoped not. She loved Merlin.

But she wanted her revenge on Uther.

Couldn't she have both?

No, not if their deaths would effect Merlin like that. He'd never forgive her.

The ground suddenly felt less comfortable. Actually, she didn't particularly want revenge. The thought of killing anyone made her feel dizzy. But she needed revenge. Xyla needed revenge for Kushi and herself, two girls left without their families. She needed it because her heart was shadowed with hate, and only killing Uther, only making him leave the world forever, would make that hate go away. And Arthur was just as bad, wasn't he?

Merlin would be hurt. Whatever hurt Merlin hurt her, though. She'd been watching these past days, and every time Arthur insulted Merlin, she was livid with anger. Every time Merlin fell down, her heart tightened in anxiety.

Death was a lot bigger than the pain you had when you fell to the ground. Would having her revenge really do that to the dark-haired man? Would it really tear him up so completely?

Why would it? Uther was a monster. Arthur was just as bad.

Tears started to come to Xyla's eyes, but she blinked them back. She'd already cried once tonight, and that was enough.

An image of the shattered Merlin floated into her mind.

This would just not do. No, Xyla wouldn't lie here all night and contemplate the effect her revenge would have on a servant boy. She just wouldn't.

Rather, she would get up and go ask said servant boy.

For a horrible moment, she wondered what she would do if Merlin cared about Uther. Would she still go ahead with her revenge, and let Merlin become that broken-hearted person in her dream? Could she?

Yes, she thought she would. She had to be strong. Even if it meant she lost Merlin. The hatred in her had to be banished at all costs. That was the most important thing! But… could she let Merlin hurt so badly?

Please, Merlin, she begged. Don't be difficult. Please just… just don't care for once. Don't break my heart like that, you stupid boy!

Break

In his sleep, Merlin felt the magic spread through him. Someone was putting a spell on him. Why? He should get up and ask… or fight…

Merlin found that he couldn't get up. He was only half-awake, and his body did not seem to want to function properly. It was all like some dream. He cracked his eyes open, seeing the world in a semi-conscious state.

"Merlin," hissed someone.

He yawned. Who was that? Oh, his brain was working so slowly. Must be the spell. Yes, that would be it…

"Merlin," repeated the voice.

"What?" he groaned.

"Do you care about Arthur?"

"Huh?" What was the voice talking about?

"I said, do you care about Arthur?"

Funny question, he decided. Of course he didn't. Arthur was an annoying dollop-head. Which, he had to admit to himself, made him care about Arthur just a little more.

"Yeah," he replied, "Of course I care about Arthur. A lot." Then he wondered if it was Arthur he was talking to. But no, that rang false. This was someone else. But someone he recognized. Why couldn't he just wake up?

The spell, he reminded himself in a daze.

"How much?"

He wanted to tell this voice the truth. He should tell the truth. Must be part of the spell.

"Like a brother," he said. "I'd die for him."

Break

Xyla's breath caught in her throat.

"I'd die for him."

Not by Xyla's hand, he wouldn't.

"Why?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Why do you care so much?"

"He's a good man," mumbled the almost-sleeping Merlin. "He'll be a great king. And he's my friend."

Merlin looked a lot younger in his sleep, very different, but he was still the same trusting, kindly Merlin. No wonder she thought she might love him. He was so much better than she was.

"Not all the rules of Camelot are just," she said past the lump in her throat, leaning close to the man under the blanket. "He hates magic."

Merlin appeared to be trying to wake up fully, but to no avail. He remained in his magic-induced stupor. "He won't always," yawned the man with the cute ears. "He needs to… learn… still." He was mumbling, and Xyla had to come so close to hear him that she could feel his warm breath on her cheek. It tingled, causing her to nearly tremble. She forced her mind away from him and back to her job.

"You think he can learn?"

"I'll teach him."

Now that was odd. Who was this peasant boy to decide that he should be Arthur's teacher? What was so special about him? She nearly asked, but stopped herself. She didn't have long before the spell wore off. If she was still around when it did, he might wake up fully. And that would be awkward.

"How would you feel if he died?"

Merlin's face twisted in sudden pain, as though she'd driven a dull knife deep into him. He jerked a little, as though trying to get up. His lips curled away from his teeth as he started to answer.

With a heavy heart, she stopped him, not wanting to hear him say the words. "Don't answer. I understand." She reached out and smoothed his creased forehead, hoping to make him forget the question. His head was soft and warm.

He settled back down, and he calmed down.

She bit her lip, preparing herself for the next question. The darkness carried her whisper, so low she could barely hear it: "What about Uther, Merlin? How do you feel about him?"

Merlin looked troubled. "He… he's not fair…"

Her face lit up. "Go on."

"He hates magic. He's… mean…" Merlin looked worried. "But he's trying…"

She snorted. "Not very hard."

"I… don't really like him."

Xyla smiled. Perhaps he would be okay if she just took out her revenge on Uther? Her heart suddenly felt lighter. She wouldn't have to break her Merlin's heart.

"But Arthur loves him," he continued. "If he died…" Merlin yawned again, still looking upset. She could understand. He was so kind-hearted that he wanted to see the best in everyone, even in that tyrant Uther. "If he died, Arthur would be sad."

She nearly snorted again. She may be willing to spare Arthur for Merlin's sake, but to spare Uther for Arthur's sake for Merlin's sake… That was going too far.

"Is that why you saved Uther's life before?" she asked Merlin.

Merlin yawned again. "Yeah. Yeah. I couldn't just let him die, could I? I had to do something…"

He did? Xyla wouldn't have. But then, her heart was not as soft as Merlin's.

Then again, she mocked herself, you fell for this boy after only a few days. You can't exactly boast a heart of stone.

She laughed a little to herself, her sense of humor beginning to win out. It always did in the end.

Merlin's eyes flickered open suddenly. "Xyla?" he asked sleepily.

Oops. Spell wore off!

"Shh, Merlin,"she whispered."Go back to sleep."

"What? What are you…?"

"No, dear, go to bed. Shhhh." He tried to sit up, but she gently pushed him back down onto the ground. "I said, go to sleep, Merlin."

Slowly his eyes drifted shut again, and his breathing became more deep and relaxed. He was asleep. She smiled to herself.

"Goodnight, Merlin," she said, kissing his forehead gently. "Until tomorrow. And you have nothing to worry about. I promise not to kill that precious prince that you're so fond of."

She stood and slipped away into the night, ready to sleep with no nightmares. After all, Merlin knew the Prince better than she. Perhaps there was hope for him. She felt no anger, no need for revenge towards this Prince Arthur. He had not killed her family.

And maybe Kushi would also be pleased with this change of plans.

Thank you, Merlin, she thought. You might not make things difficult after all.

How wrong she was!

Break

When Merlin awoke, he was awfully confused. He kept thinking that he'd had the oddest dream… but couldn't remember what it was.

It was about Xyla, he recalled, and blushed slightly. It had probably been a good dream, then.

"Merlin," sighed an annoyed Arthur, standing over him.

"What?" he asked, looking up.

"Can't you ever get up on time?"

"Uhhhh…" He shook his head tiredly, trying to clear it.

Suddenly a chilly waterfall splashed onto his head, effectively waking Merlin all the way up.

"Stop that!" he shouted, leaping to his feet. "I was up, okay?"

"You are now," said Arthur unfeelingly, putting away his canteen.

Merlin glared, wiping the water from his eyes. Stupid Prince.

"C'mon," said Arthur, finally smiling. "We're only a few hours from Camelot! We can go sleep in our own beds."

"You mean after I finish the insanely long list of chores you'll have for me, then I can sleep, right?" he quipped.

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Of course. After that."

Merlin sighed but smiled a little.

The warlock looked back at the trees around them, and for a moment he thought he saw a slim figure, clothed in a blousy white shirt. Suddenly his smile turned to an inward groan. He had forgotten. Now he would have to help Xyla find her way around Camelot, find a job, and hide her magic.

And this was Xyla. She wasn't exactly inconspicuous by nature.

Couldn't he just stay in the woods forever?

A/N: Okay, this chapter was a little more intense, almost on the border of fan-girlishness. Don't hate me. I hope you enjoyed.