Chapter 4

The next morning the rain was still flouting outside the cave so they decided to stay a little longer. They clothes had dried again so they could wear them again. Merlin was glad to have again some protection from the stares. And he was too glad to have his necklace again around his neck under his scarf. He could feel the ring pulsing with comforting warmth against his skin.

He knew that they would ask him about his scars, possibly soon. He didn't know what he could say. There were no believable lies for magical burns and serkets stings.

But not even with all this thoughts he didn't missed the look on Arthur face.

It was a look Arthur often had when he had to make a decision between crown and heart.

"Arthur what's wrong? You have this look again. You shouldn't think so much, we both know that it just end's with you complaining about headache."

"Shut up Merlin."

But it was too late the other knights were now concerned about their king.

"Sire, would you care to share why you are this quite today. Or why you were in such hast to leave the city yesterday. And don't deny it." Said Leon.

Merlin was kind of surprised. He knew that the king was under some stress in last time, but he didn't notice that something happened. He thought just that it had become too much for the young king.

"It's nothing."

"Yes it is something. Don't lie to us Arthur. You know if you tell us we could maybe give you some advice or support." Said Merlin.

"As if you could give an half way fit advice for a king Merlin." Retorted Arthur. He knew that that wasn't really true.

Merlin could sometimes be really... wise. Without any warning he would become a wiser man than Gaius just to turn back into a clumsy idiot servant the next. He decided to try his luck and tell him what the problem was .Who knows maybe the wise Merlin would show himself. Arthur almost laughed about the idea of a wise Merlin.

"All right, I'll tell you." Said Arthur. Everyone looked at him waiting for the reason of a moody king, they were burning to know what it was but where intelligent enough not to urge Arthur.

"It's that... Yesterday a letter came. A prince, from a small land not unlike Camelot itself wrote to me for help. His kingdom was taken over by a fiddler. This Lord Andor was the king's advisor and just attacked one night and took the kingdom under his control. He killed the royal family. Some say that they survived but there is no prove that they survived nor that they are dead."

"Well now we know that the crown prince lives. He didn't say anything about who is with him at this moment ready to fight?" Asked Leon.

"He has not, nor has he said anything about his whereabouts. What isn't really surprising given the conditions he is in."

"So how are we supposed to contact him?" Asked Percival.

"So you say we should help him?" Asked Arthur.

"If you are not going, at least I am going." Said Percival. "This Andor is a really horrible person and should be removed from the kingdom. I had felt his rage on my very skin.

You know, before I came to Camelot with Lancelot, I lived in Ellisar. I lived with my family in a small village. Our village was pour so we could not pay the taxes that the king claims. So he just murdered all villagers and burnt every house down. Just a few of us were able to escape. I lost my family in this slaughter. If I had known at that moment that one of the princes was still alive I would have tried to find him and fight on his side. But I didn't so I came to Camelot, and didn't ever regret it."

Everyone was silent .Not just that they heard Percival speak this much for the first time but the story really got under their skin. They couldn't believe what their friend just told them. It was just so horrible and sad.

Merlin had to fight with all his feelings. With the happiness knowing his brother was still alive, with the fury towards Andor, with the sadness for Percivals lost, and with the hope that Ellisar could soon be free. And he was sure to not just stand beside this time. This time would fight on his brother's side.

It was a good thing that everyone was looking at Percival so no one saw all the emotions in Merlin's eyes.

Soon had the knight's asked Percival to tell them more about Ellisar and how it was before the great betrayal. And Percival told the all.

He told them how beautiful it was. The Mountains in the West the lakes, almost every village had a lake, also the city of Ellisar. He too told them about the magic in Ellisar. At first did Arthur protest but then he just listened and couldn't deny that magic indeed could be beautiful. He heard about the free Druids and powerful warlocks. They were all (excluding Merlin) surprised when they heard that one of the princes was a warlock too. And that the royal family were Dragonlords. And were surprised to hear that Balinor the Dragonlord that died a few years ago was the king of Ellisar.

"So magic isn't forbidden in Ellisar? But how do they hinder that someone steals or kills with that power?" Asked Arthur for the tenth time.

"It wasn't forbidden before Andor, but the traitor is afraid of such kind of power by his subjects so he had banned the use of magic for the ones not under his command. And those who are born with magic have the choice to either follow his orders willingly or become his slaves, what is the same. And for your second question the before Andor the criminal deeds done by magic were punished the same way those done without it. So if one stole or killed it didn't matter how they did it they were punished as the law ordered it."

"And magic really does not corrupt?"

"Not more than any other kind of power. Does your crown corrupt you, Arthur?"

"No."

Merlin was really proud of his king accepting magic, but his thoughts were still bitter of all the criminal done by Andor. He had to get to his brother so he could help win Ellisar back and free his people from the tyrant.

"So Arthur, are you going to help this prince?" Asked Merlin watching his words and not putting too much meaning and emotions in them so no one would suspect.

"I don't think I can do that. If I would agree to help them I would not just send my people to fight for a land they don't even know but I would too bring my kingdom in danger of being attacked by Andors army or one of his allies. But I won't hinder one of you if you are willing to take that risk."Said Arthur. Merlin was a little disappointed to hear that Arthur wouldn't send men to help Ellisar but he did understand why he did so.

"I will go. Of course with your allowance, Sire." Said Percival.

"I can't let Percival go alone so I will accompany him." Said Gwaine. Merlin smiled a little seeing that his friends were ready to fight as ever.

"All right when we come back to Camelot ready the things you will need and come to my chambers so I can give you the precise description how to find prince Nankeen."