It was hard to believe, but yesterday, Balthazar Blake had considered himself a lucky man, fortunate, even wealthy. He had a position that afford him enough money to live comfortably, more then enough really. He loved and was loved by a good women, beautiful, in so many ways. He had a best friend who he trusted absolutely and a master, who treated him and his fellow apprentices like his own. Who cared for and protected them to the best of his ability.

He hadn't been too thrilled about the immortality thing, about two hundred years of fighting so far. Two hundred years since the spell to stop aging had been cast, but, he had had Horvath and Veronica with him as well as Merlin so it hadn't been all that bad, just tiresome, there were worse fates.

Hard to imagine something worse then this. In one day so much had changed, yesterday he thought, hoped that even though Morgana wouldn't be defeated she would be imprisoned, he and Veronica could have enough peace to marry, their biology was on hold thanks to the spell so no children would be possible until the Prime Merlinian was found. But hey centuries with the women of his dreams? Like he said worse fates.

Yesterday he had had a love, a best friend and a father, now his love was imprisoned, his friend a traitor and his father was dead. He would wander for centuries, fighting, searching, alone. Who knew how long it would take to find him, or her, all he had was the dragon. No directions, no plan really.

Balthazar blinked away the smoke in his eyes, as he continued to watch his master burn in the pyre before him. There were Morganians out there, who would love to desecrate Merlin's body, put his head on a pike, crucify the remains, some such nonsense. So burning the body seemed like a good idea, spread the ashes, infusing what was left of Merlin with the land he so loved.

Balthazar stood watching until the last of the embers died, the sun was just starting to rise. He was tired, but he barely registered the fact. He made his way over to the stables and saddled his horse. If it weren't for the fact that he had done it a thousand times before, he doubt he could have. He felt as if he wasn't in his body, he certainly wasn't thinking about what he was doing, it was just getting done. It would be about a millennia before the word for what he felt like was invented. Autopilot.

He checked to make sure he had the grimhold the necklace and some money safely locked away in his bag. He kicked the sides of the horse urging it to run, he wanted to be away from this place, away from his old home, away from the memories. He couldn't stand the thought of been there a moment longer.

Merlin had been born in a village many miles away, Balthazar would head there, chances were whoever the Prime Merlinian was he would be related to Merlin so the village seemed as good a place as any to start.

Kaytori here! And here's my addition to the fic. Hope you like.

Quick note: I know a lot of people like to place Balthy's age at a bit over 1300 but he did tell Dave that he, Horvath and Veronica had fought Morgana toghether for centuries. Also though history is a little vague about Arthur and exactly what years he reighed if at all. Arthur is credited with been the commander at the famous battle of Mount Badon, which had been the decisive British victory over the Saxons around 495-500. I think that battle took place at the beginning of Arthur's reign it would probably have been some years later when Arthur was firmly established that Merlin would have sought out apprentices. So I figure it's a safe bet Balthazar was born around that time.