I thought that I might upload another chapter because it's Valentines Day :)

Happy Valentines Day ~ Don't forget what it truly means

~ And don't forget what love truly is

Hannah was the last one to arrive back at the camp, Lexi had already returned with three plump rabbits and she and Gwaine had split the un- pleasantries of skinning and gutting the creatures before Gwaine stuck them on a long stick and roasted them over the fire. Occasionally Lexi would throw a couple of herbs onto the beasts that she had in one of her saddlebags. Merlin, Lexi and Gwaine ate a surprisingly delicious meal of Rabbit with roasted mushrooms flavored with herbs, followed by some berries Hannah had found.

Gwaine woke up to see the smoldering fire just glowing dim in the fireplace. Despite being a heavy drinker, he was extremely fast to wake up when he wanted to. Moving silently as possible, he moved his body so that he went from lying in his sleeping bag to sitting on his heels, reaching slowly for his sword. Standing up, he made his way over to the figure shrouded in shadows.

When he was only a couple of feet away, Gwaine pounced on it. He slapped a hand over the shadow's mouth, so that Hannah couldn't scream. "Ssshhh, ssshhh. It's just me." Gwaine quickly shushed, making sure that Lexi or Merlin hadn't been woken up. They had decided to take watches, Lexi taking the first and Hannah the second. Now it was Gwaine's turn, but Hannah hadn't woken him up so he had to wake himself. When he was sure she wasn't going to yell out, he removed his hands.

"What the hell do you think you were doing?" She hissed at him. He grinned wolfishly at her.

"Playing pounce."

"Yeah, well, I don't appreciate it!" She hissed. He shrugged.

"Well it was fun to me." Gwaine had moved do that his back was against a tree while he watched Hannah scan the almost oppressive darkness around them. When she had shuddered and pinched her arm for the third time he decided what he would do. Ask. "Why do you do that?"

Hannah knew exactly what he meant as se sighed in defeat. "The dark isn't exactly the best place for a seer. We see more, see things that aren't there if we're near some strong power. Some things I've seen, some things I know..." She shuddered again and Gwaine grabbed her wrist before she could pinch herself. The warrior pulled her so she was pressed against him and wrapped his free arm around her waist.

"Why don't you go to bed? It's my turn for watch anyways." Nodding deftly, it seemed she hadn't even realised what close proximity she'd shared with a man not moments before. Gwaine went a couple of feet to collect a couple of things that could be thrown into the fire before stoking it up and sitting by the edge of camp.

When the fire died down again an hour later, Gwaine got up to get more fire wood. As he bent to pick up a large stick, a pair of boots stood right in front of him. Gwaine didn't even have to think as he drew his sword lightning quick and turned defensive to the man. It was lucky he did as the now-obviously bandit brought down an axe where his foe's head had just been.

The axe man dropped dead as two throwing stars caught him in the chest. Then another man dropped from the trees with a silver arrow in his chest, after the familiar twang of a bowstring was set off behind him. It wasn't all that much of a surprise when Lexi ran forwards and chopped at another bandit that had come from the foliage. That girl had some serious speed! The fight went like that, Lexi and Gwaine slicing at opponents with their swords as mess of throwing stars and arrows found their way into opponents. Everyone paused as a branch fell from one of tall, tall trees, right onto a threesome of bandits that had crept around the back of camp. Then the fight was back on in full force.

In the distance there was the sound of a horn, the sound specifically belonging to horns used commonly by large bandit or raider groups. There was a sudden flare of heat behind Lexi and Gwaine before flaming arrows rained down in volleys of two to four arrows at a time. They exploded after a moment of impact, soon sending the bandits retreating.

The four companions speedily packed what little they had left, making sure to douse the fire, before mounting their frantic mounts and galloping further into the forest.

"This way!" Hannah called, sapphire eyes laced with silver and the black pupils turned purely to a startling silver/white colour. Gwaine and Merlin guessed she must have been using get sight to guide them away from the bandits and as quickly as possible towards the border of Mercia.

The horses were pushed to their limits, Hannah's and Merlin's taking the lead in the race to safety. Merlin had to blink as he recognised the great river that divided the lands of Uther and Bayard, with the sapphire flags on one side and the ruby on the other. He didn't have time to think as his horse followed Lexi's in a jump over the river, the chocolate haired girl still devotedly following her friend. Yet still, onwards the quartet rode, going deeper and deeper into unknown enemy territory.

Gwaine used the light in the sky to determine that they had been riding for almost four hours until they stopped. Hannah literally fell off her horse and the beast lowered it's self onto the ground as it panted heavily. The blonde was also panting as she grudgingly stood and lead her horse to water that Lexi had pointed out.

As the two men drew their horses, shaking with exhaustion, to the spring, Lexi rounded on the younger with fists on her hips and a half annoyed, half angry look on her face. She glared pointedly at Merlin.

"You're a sorcerer."

Merlin's eyes widened slightly at the bluntness of her statement, before he carefully schooled his features into a look of polite incredulity.

He scoffed slightly. "What? No I'm not. What on earth would cause you to say that?" He turned away from Lexi's piercing hazel gaze, preoccupying himself by unsaddling his horse in order to hide his panic.

"Don't lie."

"I'm not-"

"Yes, you are. Hannah and I both know. For one who has so much to hide, you truly are awful at lying. The chandelier yesterday at the tavern, and the branch today when those bandits attacked us. Coincidence? I think not. Plus, the strength of your magic is upsetting Hannah. You're putting her of balance, causing her to see things more frequently, vividly and intensely. You have magic Merlin, and strong magic at that."

Merlin's jaw opened and closed a couple of times in shock. Eventually he settled on laughing breathily and muttering. "Wow. You two are *so* much more observant that Arthur. I forget that not all people write falling branches off as good luck." Then a small frown creased his brow. "Hannah is magic." He said slowly.

Lexi's eyes narrowed. "Yes, she is. Our... former home didn't have any laws against the use of magic. Which is why she is more open when displaying her abilities. She is a primarily a seer, but she can also perform basic magic - lighting fires, creating light and such. You on the other hand, are powerful. Hannah told both you and Gwaine about her magic. You, on the other hand, *didn't*. Am I correct in assuming that Gwaine doesn't know either?"

Merlin stared at her. What had he gotten himself into with these two? They were the ones putting *him* off balance!

"No, he doesn't know. Camelot has the death penalty on magic, so very few know of my... gifts."

"I won't tell him, I promise. It's better for you to do that. He is your loyal friend Merlin, he can be trusted. Hannah and I too, will guard your secret. I am not annoyed that you have magic to start with - I'm just annoyed that you didn't think to share it with us before we got pulled off on this adventure."

A small, sheepish smile crept onto the warlock's face. "Thankyou. And... I'm sorry. For not telling you."

A smile graced her lips. "Don't worry too much about it. This trip should be easy, what with *two* magic users along with us. You can set up protective spells and the like?"

In truth, he'd never tried. Any times he might have been able to set up barriers, the risk of being seen had been too great. But he assumed he could, if he tried... Merlin nodded in the affirmative.

"Good. Well, seeing as the horses are exhausted now, we may as well set up camp here. It's only just after midday, so we'll have heaps of time to let them recover, and do some relaxing ourselves too. Make sure that a decent area is covered, with enough room to pitch our tents in." She gave him an encouraging smile, before turning to her patiently waiting stallion. Gently stroking his black velvet cheek, she murmured a few incoherent words as she took off it's tack.

Her steed was a sight to behold in all it's muscular glory. His entire coat was a solid shimmering ebony, mane flowing in gentle waves down the graceful arch of his neck. He gazed at his master, peaceful adoration in his expressive brown orbs as she stroked and pampered him.

Once the horse was free of all obstructions, he gently butted his head against his master's chest.

"Si, si." Lexi smiled as once again, foreign words rolled off her tongue. "Vola, Ombra, essere liberi ma non randagi!" After a final pat, the ebony beauty tossed his head and whinnied a farewell before setting off at a prancing gallop to where the other horses were grazing by the lake. A few meters from the horses, Hannah and Gwaine were standing by the water's edge, and as Lexi watched, Gwaine snuck up behind the blond and gave her a playful shove, laughing loudly as she tumbled into the water. Lexi's eyes crinkled with mirth as she watched Hannah retaliate, starting what was sure to be an epic water fight.

Bringing herself back to the present, Lexi turned back to her companion, who was watching her curiously.

"That language you spoke..."

Merlin's curiosity doubled as he watched Lexi's reaction, her shoulder's tensing as she prepared to clam up to his questions.

"What of it?" She asked hesitantly.

"It most certainty wasn't English, and I know it isn't the language of the Old Religion. What tongue were you speaking?"

Lexi let out a small sigh, seeing no harm in sharing the information with him. "It is the language of my people, an ancient race who live south of here, across the sea and the great mountain range. It is a beautiful tongue, but one that few else know, spare those who live in my own land. It is not common as the English speech, and as Hannah is known only in the English tongue, Ombra is the only one I can talk to in my language."

Merlin nodded, awed by her story and the thought of living so far away, across seas and mountains and where an entirely different tongue was spoken.

"Who is Ombra?" He queried.

Lexi smiled fondly, eyes unconsciously flicking to her black stallion. "It is the name of my horse, whom I've had since birth. His name means 'shadow' in my tongue, and he was raised to understand the language." Gaze switching to the steadily rising sun, she deftly changed the subject. Now, dear Merlin, I shall go and freshen up at the lake. You, be sure to set up the protections, and then you should join us too. I'll probably be able to catch some nice fish, which'll make for a nice filling dinner. After all, you look like you could do with some fattening up!"

Merlin looked at her incredulously, scoffing lightly.

"Yes *mother*." He replied sarcastically at her protective, mothering tone.

She gave him a sharp edged grin. "What can I say? There's something about you that makes me feel sure you need looking after. Take care, Merlin."

And with that, she was off, bounding away along the same path as her steed and with much of the same agility and grace, heading towards the splashes and happy squeals that were her other two companions.

For any others who knew what Valentines Day is truly about, then I hope that I don't get anyone trying to tell me I got the story wrong.

Because it was so long ago, the story of Saint Valentine has many variations. The one I gave at the end of the last chapter was the one I have been raised with and the one I believe in. I believe in the others as well, because who is to say what is right and wrong when none of us were there? But it is far more beautiful then any of the cursed junk they come up with in stores these days to sell cheep, $2 pieces of junk. Those who go out and do truly something special in the name of love though, even if they don't know what Valentines Day really is, they are the ones that actually do something meaningful :)

I have got to say I feel bad though, because I know a little boy who bought a flower from a charity stand and finally gave it to the girl he liked. However she told him that she wouldn't be his Valentine because he liked poetry and 'normal' guys don't like poetry. My heart cries for him...
But what he said to me, was that obviously she wasn't a nice girl and knew he would be better off without someone like that.

Once again Happy St. Valentines Day everybody :)