A/N: And the virtual cookies go to:

1) Elfpen, TeganL74 and a fellow merlin fan for figuring out that the actor Prince Lucan resembles is no other than Ben Barnes, who played Prince/King Caspian in two of the Chronicles of Narnia films!

2) Pernicia who got the Game of Thrones reference. Thank you so much for that! I thought no one would get it… It was the "You know nothing", in case someone was wondering! :)

I should also say that I do not own Ben Barnes (imagine what I could do to him if did own him…), or Merlin, or Narnia, or GoT for that matter. Just to play it safe…

Oh, and thank you to those who reviewed anonymously!

On with the story!


Chapter 3: The countdown

The first thing Merlin understood when he came to was that he was lying on something very soft and comfortable. It took him a few seconds to process that information. He could remember talking to Arthur in the corridor and then he had tried to return to his duties in the Great Hall. He couldn't recall ever making it there.

Gingerly he opened his eyes. The light in the room was low, its source probably a single flickering candle, but he could clearly distinguish the ornate furniture that surrounded him. He was lying on the bed inside one of the guests' rooms. He was definitely not in Arthur's chambers.

He heard a movement and lifted his head from the pillows, only to be forced to lie back on the bed by a larger figure.

"You shouldn't get up yet," the man said. Merlin immediately recognized the voice as Prince Lucan's.

"Sire….?" He asked, confused as to what had happened for him to end up in the visiting royal's chambers.

After making sure Merlin wouldn't disobey his orders and would remain in bed, Prince Lucan took a chair from the table and sat close to the bed, facing the servant.

"You passed out in the hallway. My man found you, brought you here to make sure you're alright. He said the Court Physician isn't in the Castle at the moment…" the Prince stated, lighting another candle and placing it on the bed side table.

They spend a few moments in silence, Merlin feeling awkward and out of place on the large bed, still lightheaded and not able to think very clearly, while the visiting Prince was very unsubtly scrutinizing the young servant's appearance. Lucan was the first to break the silence.

"Why did you pass out, Merlin?" he asked, his voice even and gentle.

Merlin felt embarrassment rise inside him. He couldn't admit to not taking care of himself properly without sounding like an incompetent fool. He wasn't in a state to lie, though, so he just steeled himself for the soon to come reprimand.

"I haven't eaten all day, Sire. I guess, I forgot… Please, there's nothing to worry about, I'm really sorry I bothered you…" he began to apologize, feeling incredibly guilty to have become a burden to this man, a Prince and a guest. On the back of his mind he wondered how long he was out, and if the banquet had already ended. Most likely it had, seeing as Prince Lucan was back in his chambers.

Lucan didn't let him.

"You don't need apologize to me, Merlin," he said, his expression strange, unreadable. "Tell me something. Did you have any breaks today? Did Arthur not see, not care for your wellbeing?" he asked a little sharply.

Merlin felt more unease at the sudden seriousness shown by the previously very pleasantly mannered man. He tried to reply honestly.

"The King has a lot on his mind right now, Sire. He couldn't bother with me, I'm just a servant…" he tried to put lightly.

"Are you?" Lucan cut in. "From what Declan told me, word around the castle is that, to him, you are more of a friend than a servant …" he looked at him expectantly.

Merlin let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I don't know. Perhaps. He'd never admit it though…"

Lucan's eyes flared, now obviously angry. "Why? Would admitting it make him less of a noble man? Is he afraid it's not worthy enough of the King to be friends with a servant…"

"No, not that… His wife used to be a servant, he would never… no!" Merlin raised his voice in Arthur's defense.

"Arth-The King is just… he is a great man, I know it..." he continued with much less heat in his voice. Arthur had to be. He was destined for it.

"He'll be the greatest King the world has ever seen… He cares so much for his people…"

"Didn't care enough for you, though." Lucan deadpanned. "Declan said that not long before he had found you collapsed, he had heard the King yelling at you…"

Merlin closed his eyes, feeling resigned at the reminder of his previous encounter with the King. Still, he tried to find an excuse.

"He- he is stressed. The people are growing hungry and the news about Morgana… he is under a lot of pressure that's all," he finished, not very convincingly.

The Prince regarded him for a moment and when he opened his mouth to speak his voice came out gentle and soothing. A lot like Lancelot's did once.

"You are a very loyal friend, Merlin. You obviously care a great deal for your King. I wonder though, what about yourself? Do you think of yourself at all?" he sounded genuinely curious, even troubled.

Merlin found himself startled by the question.

"I-I'm not important. Arthur's life is worth thousands of mine," he replied, feeling the weight of his destiny heavy on his shoulders. "I would gladly die for him."

He saw Lucan shaking his head. He was wearing that unreadable expression again.

"Don't undermine the value of your own life, Merlin…"

Merlin lifted his eyes, the Prince's words striking a cord of truth deep inside him.

The next moment, both he and Lucan were startled when the door opened and Declan stepped inside the room. He was carrying a tray from the kitchens, containing some fruit and a bowl of chicken broth, by the smell of it.

"Look who's finally decided joined us! How are you, lad? Are you feeling any better?" he asked friendly, bringing the tray to the bed and leaving it beside the tired-looking servant. "Here, I stole these from the Palace Kitchen while the Cook wasn't looking. A terrifying woman that one, I tell you… Come on, eat up!" he finished, smiling brightly to him.

Merlin took an apple and bit. Mmm…Food…

The Prince got up and smiled at his manservant. "I should probably go back to the others. I don't think I'll be long. You should stay with him, make sure he eats and rests," he said, more of a suggestion than an order.

Declan nodded and Lucan departed, after wishing Merlin a quick recovery.

It was then that it dawned on Merlin what the Prince's words meant.

"The feast hasn't ended yet? How long was I out…? I should go back to my post, they'd be looking for me…" he moved to get off the bed.

"You're staying here until you finish your meal and then I'm taking you to your room," Declan stated, "I've arranged for another to replace you for the night… Don't worry, you weren't out for long, just half an hour, give or take a few minutes…"

Merlin was left wondering how the Prince of Ostia had ended up watching over him, but decided not to ask anything more and simply enjoy the meal offered to him.


Merlin returned to the Physician's Chambers alone, having convinced Declan that he was well enough to walk without fainting and that he wouldn't attempt going back at the Great Hall. When he was in the confines of his room, he sat on the edge of the bed and contemplated the night's events.

He found himself very intrigued by the Prince of Ostia. He was repeating their conversation in his head, again and again, surprised to find he was getting more and more affected by the other man's words. He had sounded so genuine, so caring. Merlin's heart ached when he thought of the last time someone had cared so much for him. It had been Lancelot, of course, the one person who knew him for who he really was and thought highly of him for that. Sure, Gaius knew as well, but the old man's relationship with Merlin was different. He was more like family than a friend, more like a father. And he couldn't understand, not ever truly understand what if felt like to be so close to your dream and yet so very far at the same time. Lancelot, though, did. And strangely enough, Prince Lucan gave the impression that he did as well.

Then, there were the news about Morgana. When it came to that rumor, he was certain about one thing only. He needed more information and he needed it fast.

Deciding it was time to start acting; Merlin got up and went to his table. He took out a piece of parchment and a quill and started writing in a hurry.

When he finished the letter, he folded it twice and held it up in front of the half-melted candle. He concentrated on the spell and set the paper alight.

"Ic beodar brond niman min giedd hwær Ic asendan man"

He finished the spell, sensing his eyes heat up when they turned gold, the burning letter vanishing from his raised hand.

Soon he would get some answers.


The following day, the talks had begun in earnest. After hours sitting on the council, listening to everyone's opinions, Arthur finally had enough of hearing nonsense. He regarded Bayard with a cold glare.

"I don't think that my people would appreciate what you're suggesting, my Lord. My position remains firm on the matter. You all have agreed the provisions would be offered according to the size of your harvest, not the size of your Kingdom, why should the trading conditions be any different. I thought I made myself perfectly clear on that already…" he said, sounding as annoyed as he felt.

"The deal is fair, Bayard, even you have to admit that," said Queen Annis, raising her brow in a slightly challenging way that made the other ruler lower his gaze.

By Arthur's side, Gwen took her husband's hand in hers, in an effort to give him support. He sighed inwardly. The negotiations were going on so long, but still they had a lot of ground to cover. Arthur looked at the faces around him. It was almost time for lunch, and the tired looks some of the other participants of the council gave him made him think they could all use a break.

"Perhaps it would be best if we were to take a small recess. We shall continue in a few hours."

The other leaders were quick to agree and soon they were dispersing in the room, happy to leave their previous topic of discussion behind.

The thought angered the young King of Camelot more than he'd imagined it would. There they were, the most powerful people of the land, talking and laughing, while the citizens of Camelot were on the verge of starvation. To think he had to feed all those Kings and Queens in the lavish way they were all so used to, when there were children in the lower town that were getting sick from malnutrition, it made him almost hate himself.

Guinevere touched him lightly on the arm, reminding him to focus on the task before him.

Thank God for Guinevere… I have no idea what I would have done if it wasn't for her grounding me.

He offered his wife a tired smile. He led the way, heading out of the council rooms to the smaller dining hall that had been prepared for their lunch, while the others followed swiftly. Arthur, being the host, sat on the head of the table, and immediately moved for his cup. He had found himself drinking a lot more than usual these past few days. Emptying it in one go, he raised his hand for Merlin to fill it. The servant moved silently and offered him a disapproving look the King deliberately ignored.

The conversation diminished somewhat when the food arrived. Arthur ate in brooding silence, knowing as a host he should keep up with the pretenses but feeling unable to do so. Thankfully Gwen was proving herself invaluable while chatting merrily with Mithian –who would have thought those two would hit it off?- and generally providing with enough conversation to please their visitors.

Arthur's mind drifted off to the previous day's revelations. He hadn't allowed the thoughts of Morgana's possible demise to enter his mind during the negotiations, but now he found himself unable to push the matter aside any more.

His sister had taken over the throne twice, had tried to kill him and his friends numerous times, but still the thought of her dead disturbed him. He couldn't help it. He didn't know why. She had long ago stopped being the compassionate and selfless creature he had grown up with. In a way, that Morgana had died years ago. And yet, even if she was now a venomous shell of her old self, imagining her dead… he just couldn't do it.

Merlin placed a plate of fruit in front of him. Arthur took a moment to quietly observe his manservant. He looked a little out of sorts. He thought of his reaction last night. Perhaps the idiot feels scolded. He should know better than to take it at heart. Still, Arthur had realized he was behaving perhaps a little harshly towards his friend. When Gwen reprimanded him about it a few days ago, he had secretly felt ashamed. He knew it wasn't Merlin's fault, the man was doing his job as incompetently as ever, but he couldn't stop himself from lashing out. He couldn't afford doing it on anyone else, even the knights' trainings had stopped due to the talks for the treaty.

Merlin will just have to put up with this for a little while longer, just like I do with all of them.

The King knew what he had told his wife back then was right. Merlin was always there for him, he was always the one to see him at his best or at his worst. He would endure Arthur's good or foul mood as he has done many a time.

I should give him an evening off when this is over, he mused silently. Actually, by the time these negotiations finish, we could all use some rest.


Merlin held the sheets close while he passed two of Alined's knights in the halls. The visiting King was inside the council, like all others, so Merlin couldn't think of a better time to sneak into his rooms.

Once outside of the doors, he checked briefly if anyone was around and muttered a spell to get inside. He quickly closed the door behind him, and dropped the sheets he had brought as a pretense in case he'd bump into anyone out in the hall way.

He eyed the room carefully. Deciding he should read Alined's papers first, since they could contain precious information regarding lots of things, the truth about Morgana for one, he went to the desk first.

The warlock looked through the various documents placed on top of the wooden piece of furniture. They were more or less useless, though he did found out Alined had apparently both a wife and a mistress. And that he thought Arthur was extremely handsome.

No comment. Just… no.

He went to the wardrobe next. Inside he found something a little more promising. It was a small wooden box with an iron lock on it. He shook the item slightly, and heard a clear gurgling sound coming from within.

The warlock's eyes turned to gold and the small box opened, revealing a set of glass vials resting in rich velvet.

Just as he was about to take one of the items in hand, he heard the sound of someone at the door. Quickly he put the box back in the closet and got up. That was when the door opened and in came the visiting King's pet sorcerer, Trickler.

"Look what we have here! Why, it's the King's manservant, isn't it right?" the sleazy man asked. Merlin who had frozen on spot initially opted to go for the easiest way out.

"I just brought you clean sheets, I thought the King would like it…" he said acting appropriately guileless.

The other man lifted an eyebrow. "Did you, now? May I ask what they are doing on the floor…?" he said, smiling in a way that said he knew very well Merlin was lying.

"I dropped them," he replied coldly, almost done with the pretense.

"Well, thank you so much for the thoughtful gesture, I'm afraid I have to ask you to leave now," the sorcerer told Merlin, urging him with a swift hand movement to the door. Merlin took the chance to get out eagerly.

"One last question though, if you wouldn't mind me asking… How did you get in?" he heard Trickler ask, as he touched the door knob.

"It was unlocked," Merlin replied, not even bothering to turn, and quickly got out.


As soon as the boy was gone, Trickler checked the closet. The box Morgana had given him was there, though it wasn't where he had originally placed it, under a pile of old garments, but at the other side of the furniture.

That sly little weasel… He was snooping around!

He grinned at the thought of the boy getting caught in the act. Amateurs

His grin fell the moment he saw the box's lid was ajar.

Now that he had most definitely not forgotten to lock.

Well, well, well… The King's little manservant has magic.

Who would have thought?

Trickler's eyes sparkled with mirth. Finally some progress! When Alined would returned to his rooms that evening, after hours of talks about treaties and agreements, his servant was going to greet him with the most wonderful of news.

He had finally discovered the secret sorcerer of Camelot.


Declan laughed good-naturedly and gave the knight a friendly shove on the shoulder.

"It's the bloody truth, alright! Though his Royal Highness will have my hide if word got out that he hadn't completed the oh-so-mystifying-rite-of-passage and whatnot on his own… But that's Arthur for ya…" Sir Gwaine snorted, almost causing the ale to splatter off his nostrils.

"Is that right?" the Druid asked, the mirth evident in his voice. "Well, in that case, Sir Gwaine, I can assure you I'm very trustworthy… How about another one?" he added, lifting his hand so the tavern wench could spot him.

"My treat of course…" he said as he reached for his pouch. Gwaine shot him a drunken smile.

"Wouldn't be right if I said no, now, would it?" he joked, his eyes drifting to the serving girl who'd just placed the next tankard in front of him.

Declan watched as the knight of Camelot swallowed down generous gulps of ale, and then let out a satisfied sigh.

"Where was I?" the intoxicated man asked him.

Declan frowned, pretending to think for a bit, before he answered.

"I think you were just telling me of your adventure in the Perilous Lands…"

"Oh, right… Well, that's nothing compared to this one though. We were on our way to the Isle of the Blessed…"

Declan smiled in satisfaction. Good thing he decided to visit the tavern.


Lucan lay half asleep in his quarters, when Declan returned from the tavern in the wee hours of the morning and reported everything he learned back to the Prince.

The Druid had already managed to get every piece of information available from the palace servants regarding both the King and Merlin, but the tales that the knight had shared with him were unique in their own way. They shed a light to the warlock's relationship with the King Lucan wouldn't have known otherwise.

It all came down, though, to the same conclusion. Emrys had reached a dead-end in regards to his destiny. Somewhere along the way, things had stop working out the way they should.

Lucan could remember it so clearly, even now. Like it had been his own memories he'd seen, and not the ones of a stranger.

"Are you absolutely certain you want this, Sire?" he heard Declan's worried voice. When he turned to meet him, the Druid's eyes betrayed a deep concern for his friend.

"I am, Declan. I have to do it. It's been two years now and still no word things have changed… I'm afraid there is no other way. Your people can't continue living like this. I can't continue not knowing the truth anymore…" he trailed off, unsure of what else to say to convince the older man.

Declan nodded slightly, his shoulders stiff, but his head held high. He unsheathed the dagger from his belt and gave it to him.

"Use this if you must," he added.

"Thank you, my friend," Lucan said as he accepted the offer.

When the ceremony started, after verifying his pure intent and bravery of heart with the vows, he ended up kneeling on the forest floor, surrounded by Druids chanting deep in concentration. He held the dagger with his right hand and waited. When the time came, the elder gestured to him and he used the elegant weapon to slice his left palm, slowly, blood oozing from the deep cut.

And then… then came the visions.

First thing he saw was a small skinny, black haired boy, sobbing in his mother's lap while the woman gently caressed his head. Then, the boy was older, with pale skin and big blue eyes, running away from a fallen tree while one of his friends watched from the distance, laughing loudly. Next, the mother again, kissing him goodbye. Then came the arrival in the great city. He could feel the emotions the boy experienced. The wonder, the confusion, the fear. And then he heard it for the first time. The booming voice of the beast, the dragon, calling for the young boy, talking to him about destiny. Then he saw the blond prince, objecting to his father's decision of rewarding. And the images got faster and the emotions deeper, and soon Lucan was lost in a turmoil of thoughts and memories that did not belong to him, feelings he hadn't felt, that were so intense he could barely breathe. It only got worse, and, in the end, it was Declan who broke the spell first, running towards his friend's writhing form and bringing him out of the trance.

Lucan remembered clearly the first thing he'd thought when he had regained his consciousness, and that was that he needed to act, and to act fast.

And now, finally, that time had come.


"We have found him, my lady…" Alined said with a satisfied glint in his eye.

"Already?" Morgana wondered. "Very well, where was he then? Where had Emrys been hiding all this time?"

"Right under the King's nose. He is disguised, posing as a servant."

The witch's shock is visible, even from the blurred image of the mirror. "Who is he then? How didn't anyone recognize him?" she asked impatiently, her tone still disbelieving.

"He is the King's manservant. Merlin, I believe is the name. My sorcerer has proof he used magic to sneak into my rooms…"

She exploded, not letting him finish the sentence.

"MERLIN? Merlin has magic you say? Impossible! I'm sure I would have at least suspected…"

"But he has! He opened the box with the vials, and the only key was upon me at that time…"the king said, holding the mirror closer, trying to keep his voice as low as possible.

Inside, the image of Morgana was a terrifying sight to behold. Her eyes were wide, golden sparks visible around her irises, her lips half open, teeth clasped tightly while she worked to calm herself down enough so that she could speak again.

When she did, her voice was like ice.

"If that is true, then do it as soon as you can." She said with an air of finality.

"And, Alined," she added while her image slowly faded from the glass, "tell your sorcerer to make it as painful as possible…"


Merlin had a bad feeling. He was having it all morning, and it was certainly distracting him from his duties, resulting in him having been yelled at twice already, and it wasn't even lunch time yet.

They were all gathered in the Great Hall, where this morning he and a couple of other servants had placed the council room table. It was where the signing of the trading agreement would take place, and apparently it was a circumstance that demanded more space than the barely adequate council room.

They were all sitting on the table, with Arthur once again at the head, though this time Sir Geoffrey of Monmouth was standing next to him, the long, elegantly written parchment in his hands, waiting for all the allies to sign. Behind each royal was a servant. Merlin could see Trickler dancing on the spot he occupied, seeming like he was anticipating something.

The young warlock frowned. He should be careful. Next to him, Declan gave him a reassuring smile.

The ceremony proceeded relatively quickly. Annis signed first, stating this agreement would prove most profitable for all partners involved. Next was Bayard, who more or less agreed. Mithian signed in the name of her father, boldly announcing Nemeth would agree to send as many provisions as it could to ease Camelot's predicament. Alined signed without saying nothing other than he was happy to be a part of such a historic moment.

That left only two signatures missing.

Lucan's and finally Arthur's.

When Sir Geoffrey approached him, Prince Lucan shook his head and held up his hand, stopping the elder man from coming closer.

Everyone around stirred with interest at the Prince's actions, Arthur even started to rise but Lucan spoke first.

"Please, be patient. I would like to take a chance to say some things first, before I sign this treaty, which I will, you can be sure of that…" he said formally and got up.

Merlin felt the unease rise in him. No one else seemed to feel the same though. Instead there were only curious faces all around the table.

The Prince took a small pouch from his belt and opened it slowly. He removed a small bundle of cloth, neatly tucked around a round object.

"This is an item of great value," he said, placing the object on the table before him. Merlin found himself both drawn and at the same time afraid at the prospect of facing what was hidden beneath the thick fabric.

He heard it then, the sound of someone closing in from behind him and somewhere in his mind his instincts recognized that as a threat, but the bigger part of his conscious was completely absorbed by the mesmerizing item calling him from where it lay at the edge of the table.

Then, Lucan lifted the cloth and the world as Merlin knew it ended.


A/N: Here's the translation for the spell: "Ic beodar brond niman min giedd hwær Ic asendan man" is my poor attempt to say "I command fire to take my words to where I send them"using an online Old English dictionary.

May I just add: BWAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…Cliffhanger!

Next chapter is where everything changes. Just a small teaser… it will be called Disillusionment… Care to guess why?

Please leave me a review because, you know… Review=Happy me=Quicker updates !