Arthur opened his eyes. The side of his face was pressed into some leaves, making him uncomfortable but he didn't move. What had woken him up? Listening closely, he heard a twig snap and a soft curse from the ring of trees to his left. His mind jumped into overdrive. He didn't want to lose the element of surprise, but if he didn't wake everyone up… Shifting his head slightly to look at the others, he realised he needn't have worried. Leon was staring at him, eyes open, as were Percival and Bedivere. He couldn't see Arvin, but he was sure that heasleep. Arvin wasn't a hunter...Well. He moved his hand slightly and saw the others eyes flicker to it. Holding out three fingers, he put one down, watching the small, subtle movements made by the others as they prepared to jump to their feet. Then he pulled in another finger, tensing his muscles to jump up. With the last drop of his finger, he rolled over, and pulled his sword from his sheath as he pushed himself to his feet. In a matter of seconds, the rest of them, including Arvin, were stood back to back facing a tight ring of Bandits. Bedivere yawned slightly.
"What do these people have against sleep?" he complained, and then turned to them. "Couldn't this have waited till the morning?"
The men all raised their swords and moved forward.
"Apparently not…" he muttered.
As one, the band of men surged forward, and the clash of swords resounded through the forest.

Arthur parried a blow made by one of the men, sending his sword up into the air, and then sliced at his chest, sending him crumpling to the floor. Immediately, two men took his place. Sending his sword at one of their faces, he used the resulting block to spin around and elbow the man in the face, pulling his own sword away as he did so and slashing at the other figure. Bringing his sword back around, he finished off the man who was clutching at his face and rounded his blow to bring down the other too. The man had just hit the floor when Arthur was forced to block another sword blade aimed at his face. The force of the blow pushed him to his knees, and he pulled out his dagger, slashing his attacker across the knees, forcing him down. Jumping to his feet, he slashed at the man's chest. He didn't have time to see him hit the floor as he ran to fight one of the three men attacking Leon, shoving his dagger back into hi belt. Blocking a blade just before it hit Leon's back, he spun the wielder around and moved aside as Leon turned and stabbed him in the stomach. The other two were swiftly dealt with, and Arthur turned to survey the rest of the fight. His heart sank.

More figures were crowding into the clearing from the surrounding trees. Percival was holding his own, but Bedivere was surrounded by a knot of about ten men. Surprisingly, Arvin, who had his back to Bedivere, was holding his own by blasting at the men with magic, but Arthur could tell he was out of his league. As he was thinking this through, he ran towards the two men and intercepted two of their attackers, slashing one in the chest and one in the abdomen as he ran past, sending them toppling to the floor. Three more stepped in in their place and Arthur dodged their clumsy swipes. He wasn't so lucky with the next strike and he felt his stomach flare up in pain as one of the blades pierced his skin. Blocking to more lunges, he exchanged blows with the men, sending one falling to the floor with two slashes at his side and downing another with a stab to the chest. The other put up a fight and the two exchanged a flurry of blow before Arthur finally managed to send his sword flying and slashed at his stomach, sending the man flying onto the body of another of his comrades. He placed a hand on his side and brought it away to find it covered in blood. Groaning, he stuck out at another man who stepped forward, but did not have to do anything else as a sword jutted from his chest. As he fell, Arthur realised that it was Percival's sword and grinned. Thee grin was short lived, however, as they were swiftly surrounded by over a dozen men, who all had swords pointing at them. Arthur felt someone at his back and turned to find that the others had been herded into the center of the circle with them. Bedivere spoke up.
"It's too early for this…" he sighed, "The sun isn't even up yet…"
"Bed…?" That was Percival.
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."

One of the men in the circle stepped forward. The grin on his face reminded Arthur of the expression Morgana had when she knew she had won… The man, who can't have been older than Arthur himself, spoke up.
"Well well… You seem to be in a bit of a predicament Arthur Pendragon." He said the name derisively, and snorted before he continued.
"The king of Camelot."
A low growl rose from the other men, echoing beneath the next few words.
"A title to which you have no right. Morgana is the rightful heir to the throne of Camelot. We fought with her for years as she attempted to win her birth right. A right which was repeatedly snatched from her by you…" He paused, as if savouring the moment.
"And now that your traitorous pet sorcerer isn't here to save you, we are going to finish what she…" before he could continue, a voice spoke from the far edge of the clearing, behind the crowd of men.

"Who says his traitorous little pet sorcerer can't save his ass again?"
Heads turned and there were gasps around the clearing, one of which came from Arthur himself. The blue, misty version of Merlin spoke up again, a grin on his face.
"Funny thing about that curse… It doesn't stop you from using the power that is poured into you. It's quite useful really…"

The ring of men started whispering, many starting to back away from the figure in front of them. Their ringleader spoke again, this time to Merlin- or rather, the apparition of him, - and this time his voice had an undercurrent of fear and disbelief.
"You're a… a shade… But that's impossible... Not even the druids know how to… It's a lost…"
Arthur couldn't hold back a grin as four of the men broke away at the word shade, and at the expressions of fear, doubt, disbelief and… was that awe?... crossed the faces of those who remained, many backing away from their captives and sidling towards the trees. Arthur realised that most were sorcerers, as many raise their arms, palms facing towards Merlin, and prepared to use magic.
Arthur could only marvel at how Merlin didn't even blink, instead giving them a look that Arthur could only describe as disdain. Merlin turned to the crowd of men, and spoke again.

"One chance. Leave. Now."
Those four words sent a tremor through Arthur, who couldn't help but think that if those words were directed at him, he would most likely listen. The intensity and undercurrent of anger behind Merlin's words left Arthur slightly surprised.
Merlin wasn't like… that? Wasn't dangerous… or threatening… or intimidating… But by the expressions on the men's faces, Arthur gathered that he must be wrong. Hmm, maybe there was much more to Merlin than he knew…
He didn't have time to think upon this any further as the leader, of the band of men, spoke up again.
"You may have trapped Morgana. You may have bought peace to Camelot… But you did so at a price. You chose the son of Uther Pendragon over your own kind. Chose to turn against your own people to protect a murderer. You are a traitor to our kind, and there are many of us have not forgotten that. You will suffer for what you have done Emrys. The Brotherhood of the High Priestess will not rest until we have destroyed Camelot. And you. This is a war and we intend to win it."
Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"The Brotherhood of the High Priestess is a bit of a mouthful… How about Just BHP?"
Bedivere butted in, "Yeah. Bloody Half-assed Prats." Percival snorted and Leon shook his head, sighing.
"Is it physically possible for you to shut up? Or did Gwaine ask you to take his place again?" he asked.
Bedivere shrugged.
"Apparently I just have a knack for it..."

The man interrupted, his words still directed at Merlin.
"Laugh if you will Emrys, but your time will come. I will either leave Camelot a burning pyre or die trying."
Merlin's voice was cold as he replied.
"Camelot will not fall to the likes of you." A ball of gold light formed in his hands and the crowd of men fled, followed by their ringleader, who turned back only to cry,
"Remember the name Thane, Emrys and Arthur Pendragon, for it will be the last thing either of you ever hear…"

In a matter of moments the sounds of their echoing footsteps had receded, and Arthur turned to ace Merlin, shaking his head, amazed.
"What the hell was that?" he looked at the misty body of the sorcerer and gave him a questioning look. "And what the hell are you?"
Leon interrupted.
"Dramatic?"
Merlin's vaporous form shrugged.
"What can I say? I'm just that good."

A sharp groan and the sound of someone falling to the floor made Arthur turn his head, and he immediately crouched down next to Arvin, who had a dagger sticking from his chest. Looking up, he saw a shadowy figure in the trees, and the word traitor echoed throughout the clearing. The voice faded, but not before they made out its next words.
"You have been warned… This is what happens to traitors. Even now, Emrys, one of us is preparing to strike you down… War is coming… Camelot will burn…"
The voice faded as Arvin took a shuddering breath and went still. Placing a hand on his chest and two fingers on his throat, Arthur grimaced and got to his feet.
"Sorry Merlin… He's dead…" Arthur suddenly felt dizzy, and pain burst from his abdomen. Looking down, he saw blood pooling from his wound and cursed.
"Damn… This is gonna hurt…"
He barely heard the cries of "Arthur" as he fell to the floor, his vision fading to black. The last thing he remembered seeing was a faint blue light… like in that cave… all those years ago…