Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Link for the map of Camelot I used - I don't own the picture, all credits goes to their rightful owners:

*:/ www. fan pop ** / clubs/ arthur- and- gwen/ images/ 30658049/ title/ map- camelot -kim- photo

* h - t - t - p

** . - c - o - m

(without the '-')

"I thought I lost you," Arthur breathed out, a small smile breaking the disbelief in his face. From his shoulder there was a muffled chuckle, but Merlin said nothing until he pulled back, only to be enveloped by Gwaine's arms as the rest of the knight's made their way. But the moment Gwaine let go Merlin found himself stumbling back as he found Gwen almost flinging herself into his arms.

"You idiot!" They heard her exclaim, and over her shoulder Merlin saw Arthur raise his eyebrow. The warlock didn't say anything, merely burrowing his head into his friend's shoulder.

"I was so scared Merlin, don't ever let me leave you behind again," Gwen whispered into Merlin's ear. He smiled, his eyes getting watery at the compassion his friend showed to him even after he showed his true nature to her.

"Thank you," he replied to her instead. She tightened her hold for a brief moment before letting go and standing back, letting Gaius step forward, and this time Merlin leaned forward to hug his mentor.

"My boy," Gaius whispered. Merlin smiled. They may not have been in Camelot, but he was still home with his friends here.

When they all finally stood back, Gwaine spoke.

"It's amazing to see you alive and well Merlin, but exactly how are you so? Guinevere here very clearly said that you were wounded by Cenred's men," Merlin winced at that, choosing to ignore the slightly dark look in the knight's faces at the mention of his injury.

"Yeah, about that…" he trailed off. How in bloody blazes was he going to explain everything to them?

"So you're saying, that this Druid that just happened to come and save you, healed you without a price and told you more or less not only who is supposedly helping Cenred but also how to defeat her?" Arthur eventually summed up, every aspect of his tone and posture showing clearly that he didn't believe it, while Gwen gave Merlin a long look.

Merlin sighed. There were too many things to convince Arthur to understand in that one paragraph, so he decided the only easiest way out.

"Yes sire," Arthur frowned.

"How could they have brought someone back from the dead though?" Arthur exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

Thankfully Gaius answered. "It isn't too hard a feat Arthur. I recall your uncle, Tristan De Bois having been brought from the dead by Nimueh, however he was a wraith. Morgause has brought back her mother-" Arthur flinched. "-as a shade," Gaius clarified.

Arthur's frown deepened. "What is the difference?" He asked.

Merlin shuffled in his place on the stone floor of the cave the group had re-entered, preparing himself for one of Gaius' lesson.

"A wraith is raised by magic, brought back with magic harnessing the rage and grief of a soul and returned to its body, and only when they fulfill their revenge will they lay back to rest. Of course, your uncle didn't get to carry out his revenge, because he was slain with your sword," everyone glanced at Excalibur resting innocently at Arthur's side, gleaming in the light. "Yet this requires their body for when they are resurrected.

"A shade on the other hand, is also raised by magic, but they possess their own body. The sorcerer or sorceress, in this case Morgause, who has risen the shade has complete control over the shade, as it is only a mere shadow of it's mortal self. It will be under Morgause's control, until it is killed and and the soul is released. However, both wraiths and shades are resistant to magic, so attacking with spells are futile," Gaius glanced at Merlin at the end, which the rest of the group missed, too occupied with trying to observe all the information rapidly thrown at them.

"So I'll just have to kill her with Excalibur then, shall I?" Arthur said, and yet he was already lifting his sword, staring at it as if readying himself, but Merlin shook his head.

"It's not that easy. Kil- the Druid mentioned that not only does Vivienne have her own magic, but Morgause has added to it with her own. So trying to even get to her would be next to impossible. Even then, killing her isn't possible, because even Excalibur wouldn't harm her," Merlin ignored the irritated feeling bubbling in himself at that thought. "We need to destroy the vessel carrying out the spell, not the spell itself," Merlin finished.

The frown returned to Arthur's face. "What on earth does that mean?" He bit out.

Merlin sighed.

"I didn't know at first either. But over the past two days I've been thinking, and I think I've figured it out. We can't harm Vivienne directly," he took a deep breath. "To kill her, we need to kill Morgause."

Arthur's mouth set into a grim line.

"Hang on though," Leon intervened, and all heads turned to him, though that didn't faze the knight.

"How can we be sure that Vivienne even is a shade and not a wraith?" He asked.

When they all turned to Merlin as if expecting him to answer, he shrugged uncertainly. He trusted Kilgharrah's words about Vivienne being a shade, and at that moment it didn't occur to the warlock to question the dragon about that. Thankfully, yet again Gaius answered for him.

"I suppose her magic is a give away. To regain the magic properties as a wraith is unheard of, and to be added to even more. Not to mention, a shade is also able to recall several properties from their mortal life. I assume magic could be brought back as well, though it would severely drain the energy caster to bring back any magic from its ever resting spot within the earth's core, the center of all magic," Gaius said.

Silence reigned the cave again, as everyone including Merlin this time tried to comprehend the news.

"So wait," Elyan said. "That means we have a weakened Morgause wherever she is. All we have to do her is find her and slay her, we shouldn't have to worry about magic if she is already drained," Elyan said, but Merlin cut in.

"As weak as Morgause may be, Morgana is still with her, and she still is very powerful," Merlin said.

They all quietened again, disheartened, until Arthur spoke up startin to stand as well.

"None the matter. For Camelot, we must, and will do this. We have defeated many sorcerers and witchcraft in our time, and this is to be as any other. We will defeat Morgana and Morgause, and bring peace to our lands and citizens once more," by the end of his speech, a the Knights had stood, including Gwen and Merlin, though Gaius remained sitting due to his age worn bones.

Arthur raised his sword. "For Camelot!"

They smiled, chanting after him with renewed strength.

"For Camelot!"

In the end, since by the time they had finished conversing and catching up, it was evening, they decided to put off moving out for the next day.

The following day however, they were out of the cave bright and early, ready to move on.

"We should head to Engerd," Arthur said, squinting at the sun as he tried to gain his bearing.

"Engerd?" Merlin stared at Arthur. "But that's in Cenred's kingdom. I know he would be in Camelot most likely but that doesn't mean he would leave his own kingdom without guarding it," Merlin said.

Arthur rolled his eyes as he turned towards Merlin.

"I know that, Merlin. But we're at the caves of Balor right now. I would suggest heading to Ealdor, however that is farther up north. From here, we could go on foot to Engerd and stock up there first. We just have to keep our heads down as well," Arthur said.

"Oh," understanding dawned on Merlin's face, and Arthur didn't even bother to refrain from rolling his eyes again.

"If we move now, we should be able to at least reach Engerd in four days time," Arthur said, and with one last look towards the sky, he started walking northwest.