A/N: First of all, just let me say sorry =/ I thought that being done with uni for the summer I'd have more time to update, but my mum has other ideas -_- grrrr- she's got me ironing and doing countless jobs so I am really sorry for the lack of updates, but I'll try to update sooner next time.

Ok, so the verdict is: Option A: He follows the figure, to find out what they're up to.

You all seem to be protective of Merlin and someone said there was a lack of action, but that will be changing soon lol.

So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.

Enjoy!


Merlin closed his eyes and took a deep, shuddering breath. Taking one last look at the distant walls of Camelot through the trees, he set off, intent on following the cloaked figure to see where they were headed. He walked behind them, keeping a safe distance and being as quiet as he could, so they wouldn't detect him.

Who are they? Merlin thought intensely as he followed them through the forest. Various bushes and roots pulled at his trousers and jacket, plucking and ripping the fabric. Where are they going? And what the hell do they want?

They walked for what seemed like hours, venturing deeper into the forest- parts that Merlin had never explored, not even on hunting trips with Arthur. The trees grew closer together here and the roots protruded from the ground in harsh, twisted loops, making it harder for Merlin to pursue his mark quietly. The bushes and thickets became larger and wilder, nicking Merlin's already ruined clothing and scratching his skin, adding to the struggle. The light became poorer because the canopy of leaves overhead was so dense, and Merlin almost lost track of the cloaked figures whereabouts a few times.

The young warlock was at war with himself. On one hand he was determined to find out who this person, or creature, was. But on the other, his patience was wearing thin. He was growing tired and hungry. Gaius would be wondering where he was.

Merlin sighed softly. I'll follow for another ten minutes, he thought resolutely, thinking he'd go home if he hadn't found anything in that amount of time. Maybe there's something in my book about that stone… I could go back now and check… But as soon as he'd thought of turning back, noises were heard in the distance.

Voices.

With a new found interest and vigour, Merlin picked up his pace, all the while staying a decent distance behind the mysterious figure.

New thoughts began to form in his head: did these people… or beings… worship the stone? Was it their deity and had he destroyed their protector? No… who would worship something that carried such evil visions within? Did they want to sell it? Something that powerful was surely going to be paid handsomely for on the magical black market…

The voices got louder and the cloaked figure picked up their pace. So did Merlin, not wanting to lose his quarry when he felt he was so close to getting answers to the question he had had for some time. The figure rounded a large oak tree and Merlin hurried to see where they had gone. But as soon as he peered round the huge trunk, they had disappeared.

Heart in his mouth, Merlin hurried forward to try and locate them. He saw tents through the trees- twenty, maybe thirty. Laughter could be heard, as well as the barking of dogs. As Merlin crept closer, he saw that the camp consisted of mainly men with perhaps three or four women. He could see no children, but that didn't mean there weren't any. Creeping closer still, Merlin managed to conceal himself behind a large bush where he was able to observe the inhabitants of this camp, without being caught.

The men were all large and extremely muscular. They were all bald and looked like they had had to deal with many unpleasant situations, making their features hard and mean. They all wore roughly sewn brown leather clothes and black leather boots. Some were sitting and talking, some sharpening swords or playing with vicious looking dogs, and others were chasing the women in what looked like an aggressive manner.

The women, however, weren't running from them, screaming in terror, as Merlin thought they would have been doing. They were leaping away from their advances, almost teasing them, and they seemed to be laughing, enjoying the chase. Each woman wore a short skirt, which seemed to be made out of the same leather as the men's clothing, and what looked like a small, black leather corset. On their feet, they wore the same black leather boots. Their features seemed almost as hard and uncaring as the males of these people, but still held a glimmer of softness.

As Merlin looked closer, he saw that each of the men had been brandished with a magical mark, on the right hand side of their neck. It looked like an eye, with a black iris, bursting from a blood red sphere. The women had the same mark on the left said of their neck.

They must be sorcerers, Merlin thought. They probably have that mark so they can prove they are loyal to… whatever cause they serve. As he watched the inhabitants he saw a particularly large male rise from his seat and start to make his way toward the edge of the camp. Merlin followed, remembering the reason he came here.

He walked around the edge of the camp, keeping the large man in his sights. As they came to the edge of the camp, the cloaked figure came into view once more. Merlin stopped behind a small tree and crouched low. The pair seemed to be conversing, but Merlin couldn't hear what they were saying. So he crept closer, taking care to move slowly and quietly.

"-was taken."

The large man looked at the cloaked figure sceptically. "You mean you dropped it?" The figure didn't answer. "Cyrus?"

Merlin heard a sigh come from under the hood of the cloak. "Yes."

"And? Where is it now?"

"It has been destroyed."

Merlin frowned. He couldn't tell whether the person under the hooded cloak was male of female.

Worry flashed across the large man's face. He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "How will we continue from here? Without the stone, Uther will not suffer the visions. How do we overthrow him now?"

"Do not despair Brydan, there is always the talisman."

"But that will take time!" Brydan hissed angrily. "Arthur is on patrol, but he cannot stay away from Camelot forever. He was supposed to return to a Kingdom in despair, due to its King having gone mad!"

"Leave the talisman to me. Our plans have not yet changed."

Brydan fixed the figure under the hood with a steely gaze, then sighed. "Fine. Were you followed?"

Cyrus seemed to twitch, ever so slightly underneath the cloak, but Brydan didn't seem to notice. "No."

"Ok." Cyrus nodded and began to walk away. "Whatever you're planning to do Cyrus, you had better do it quickly."

Cyrus backtracked and leaned closer to the large man, muttering something inaudible. Merlin strained, but he couldn't hear.

Cyrus straightened up. "Keep it safe." Brydan nodded and Cyrus walked away from the camp.

The large man turned and headed back into the camp, toward the centre, muttering something about having to do 'servant work'. Merlin smiled as he pictured Brydan working for Arthur, mucking out his stables and washing his clothes.

Merlin sighed as he looked from the retreating back of Cyrus, to Brydan heading further into the camp.

What do I do now? He thought. I can't be in two places at once. These people have a plan to take over Camelot and I need to stop it, but where do I go? He weighed up the options, not entirely sure of how to approach the situation. Right, he thought, I could follow Brydan and see what it is he need to protect- it could be the talisman. If so, it could only mean bad news for Camelot and therefore needs destroying. But… the one in the cloak seems to be the main threat. Cyrus was the one to come to Camelot, the one to try and send Uther mad- the one who came into my bedroom! I have to know what it is that he, or she, is up to.


YOU DECIDE!

What should Merlin do next?

Option A- He follows Brydan, the large man from the camp, to see what he needs to protect.

Option B- He follows Cyrus, the cloaked figure, to see where they are headed and confront them about the plan to take over Camelot.

Thanks for reading ^_^ and vote for what you want to happen!