The wooden dice rolled gingerly across the dirt ground of the hovel until they finally came to a stop. Both sixes were showing up.

"Twelve again" whined Martin, a twelve year old boy whose father was the local tailor. "You must be the luckiest person on Earth Mordred."

The blue eyed druid boy smiled at his friend, who didn't notice the golden flare fade from his eyes. "It's not luck, my father taught me all sorts of tricks for rolling dice." Which was technically true, though Mordred was reluctant to tell Martin exactly what said tricks were. Aunt Morgana had told him how important it was to keep his magic secret from everyone except for Hunith.

It was actually Hunith's hut that the children were playing in now. The mother of Merlin was far friendlier to Mordred than her son was and had taken him and his aunt in when they had arrived in Ealdor nearly a year ago. She much appreciated the company and still owed Morgana for the assistance she had provided along with Arthur, Gwen, and her son during Kanen's raid. In return, Morgana gladly helped the aging woman in the fields.

Mordred on the other hand got to do something that he hadn't been able to do since Aglain's death, be a kid. He had made friends with many of the over children in the village, most predominately Martin. So with the exception of an hour in the evening when Aunt Morgana taught him what magic she could from the tomes his mother had left behind, Mordred ran around and played with his friends. The memory of Emrys' betrayal eventually became little more than a rare nightmare.

Martin scooped up the dice from where they laid on the ground and stood up. He was a slim boy, his figure and fingers lithe for weaving his father's intricate patterns. He was slightly taller than Morderd despite their equal age and his hazel eyes lacked the weight that Mordred carried in his blue ones.

"Well, since you've won the last dozen games, do you want to see if Rose can play tag now?" Martin suggested.

"Sure" Mordred responded eagerly, getting up to follow the tailor's son out of the house.

The boys exited onto the main dirt road of Ealdor that ran right through town. It was even busier than normal since today was Tax Day and everyone was trying to get their affairs in order before King Cenred's knights arrived to collect. People were bustling about, making last minute trades, asking their friends if they could spare a little change because they were a little short.

As they went to the edge of the village where their friend Rose lived, Martin asked a question that had been nagging his curious mind. "Why did your aunt ride off yesterday?"

Mordred hesitated with his answer because Morgana had truthfully not told him exactly why she was leaving for the day, only that she was going back to Camelot and that he should stay with Hunith until she got back. Which she swore would be as soon as possible.

"I don't know" he replied to his friend. "She just said that she had some old friends to visit in Camelot."

"Camelot?" Martin inquired, his interest piqued. "A few years ago, Prince Arthur himself came here and killed a bandit lord who was going to kill us all and hang our skins from spikes."

Mordred couldn't help but smirk at his friend's overeager exaggeration. Morgana had told him what had really happened years ago, when the bandit Kanen attacked the village. How she, Guinevere, Arthur and Emrys had driven the exhorting bandit off and Arthur had personally killed the barbarian in single combat.

Of course, very few people remembered Gwen and Morgana and barely more so recalled Emrys. It wasn't that the people didn't care about what they had done, it's just that the story of the gallant Prince Arthur riding along to single handedly save them all was so much more appealing to tell to passing travelers that the villagers had started to believe their own press.

To be honest Morgana didn't mind. It actually worked in Mordred's kin's favor, since she preferred that her location remained unknown so that Uther did not find her. Only Hunith knew the lady's true identity. Everyone else knew her as Ygraine.

Suddenly, a scream ripped through the air from the town out skirts. Being the reckless young boys they were, Mordred and Martin dashed towards the source of the shrill cry.

When they arrived, they saw Rose flat on her back on the ground. Above her was the reeling horse of a knight of King Cenred, an angry looking fellow with flaming red sideburns. He spoke to the shrieking girl below him with a furious sneer.

"You petulant child!" he shouted. His sword was drawn and ready to stab the young girl for frightening his horse.

Mordred acted as quickly as he could. His eyes blazed gold as he diverted the angry warrior's blade a few inches, causing the broadsword to become stuck in the ground. He then dived in and pulled Rose away from the insane knight.

Unfortunately, the mad man's gaze now fell on Mordred. "You! I'll teach you to interfere with your betters!" He pulled his sword from the ground and brought it down upon Mordred with a mighty chop.

That is, until a second length of steel blocks its path. With a heavy grunt, the new horse rider forces the murderous knight back. Mordred is elated at the sight of who it is.

"Turn that blade on my nephew again and you'll lose it" Morgana threatened. "Along with your hand."

The villain was stupidly unconcerned with this newest arrival. "Get out of my way you wench. You have no right to—

"Sir Russet!" shouted a second knight riding towards Ealdor. Unlike Rose's assailant, this knight's features were aged and friendly, with a full beard and mustache as well as a few worn wrinkles around the eyes. When he rode up to Russet however, it was clear that he was not pleased.

"What in the name of the king do you think you are doing?" the newcomer demanded.

Sir Russet was clearly not anticipating having to explain himself. "I was um, teaching these peasants how to respect a knight, Sir Kay" he stammered.

Kay was clearly not satisfied with that response. "What kind of knight points their sword at a woman, let alone a child? If you want respect, earn it" he spat at his comrade. "Now head into town and started collecting the king's taxes. We've got three more villages to cover today and another dozen tomorrow."

Sir Russet grumbled off without another word. Sir Kay meanwhile, bowed his head to Morgana. "Are you alright Ygraine?"

Morgana sheathed her sword and returned the honorable knight's demeanour. "Yes, thank you Sir Kay. I fear what may have transpired had you not intervened."

"Part of me wishes I hadn't" he admitted. "I would have loved to see the good smacking you would have given Russet." Sir Kay had seen many a sword fighter and knew the look of an experienced one. Ygraine held herself like one of the best and the short demonstrations she had given him in the past confirmed her place in their ranks.

"Well, I must be off" he admitted regretfully. "I wasn't lying when I said that Russet and I have quite a bit of work ahead of us. Be well, Ygraine. Be well, Mordred."

Sir Kay galloped off into the center of the town to join his comrade.

Morgana smiled at the retreating figure and then jumped off her horse. She gave Mordred a quick hug and then helped Rose to her feet. Martin ran over to help the little girl stand.

"Martin take Rose to her parents. I believe they would like to make sure their daughter is safe" Morgana directed the young boy. Martin nodded and he began to walk off with Rose.

Morgana then turned to her nephew. "I thought I told you to say out of trouble while I was gone" she reminded him.

"I did" he insisted. Then he remembered what had happened five seconds ago. "Mostly, but that wasn't my fault."

Morgana smiled fondly at her kin's bumbling. He reminded her so much of Merlin. The kind, goofy Merlin who had been her friend. Not the callous Emrys he was becoming who tried to murer children and betrayed his friends without a thought.

Then she remembered that she had invited that man to come and find her. And wondered if it had really been the best idea.