I promised you more Merlin so here you are. This chapter may not be what many of your were expecting but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. Huge thanks to all of you who have been reading and special thanks to those of you who have reviewed, I love to hear what you think. Enjoy. x


Merlin stared wide eyed at the unconscious figure on his floor. He had heard the sounds of someone outside the tower and had glanced outside to see the blonde climbing up towards the window. Panicking he had moved as far away from the window as he could, hiding in a dark corner of the room. He had no idea why this man was here but his mother had always warned him about people from the outside who wanted to hurt him and use his gifts for their own gain. He feared that this man had discovered about his talents and location and had come to take him away.

The man had climbed through the window and Merlin had to admit that he was breathtaking. Framed by the window the sunlight pouring through it lit him up, glistening in his hair. The only person Merlin had seen in the flesh that he could remember was his mother however this man looked like one of the heroes from the storybooks that his mother had brought back from her journeys for him to read.

When the man had sunk to the floor Merlin had almost moved from his hiding place to see if he was okay, but something held him back. He was enjoying just watching the man, he was intriguing. But then the man stood up and Merlin spotted the sword at his waist. That sight brought back the reality of what was happening back to him and he realised just what sort of danger he could be in.

Taking a deep breath to stop himself from panicking Merlin decided that he had to make it to his room. He knew in the draw next to his bed that there was a stone. If he could only reach it then all he had to do was whisper the right words and his mother would know he was in trouble and come and save him. As the man turned to look to his right Merlin took his chance and started to move towards the doorway to his room.

However the man seemed to sense the movement and he turned towards where Merlin was. Panicked Merlin reacted on instinct. His magic flowed out of him and the man collapsed onto the floor.

For a few moments Merlin just stared at the crumpled figure as he took a few deep breaths. He wasn't a hundred percent sure what his magic had just done and how long the man would be like this for. Moving towards him cautiously until he was stood over him Merlin watched carefully for any sign of movement or that he was about to attack. However the man remained still. Wanting to make sure that the man wasn't going to wake up and attack him any time soon Merlin poked him carefully with his foot, jumping back the moment he did in case the man woke up.

However nothing happened. Feeling braver Merlin shook him a few times with his foot but he still didn't move. Suddenly a horrible thought crossed his mind, what if he had killed him? Merlin wasn't sure what his magic had done and it could be volatile at times. There had been a few occasions when, in his frustration, his magic had lashed out and broken things. His mother was always telling him how he should meditate for a couple of hours every day whilst she was out to learn how to better control it but he had to admit that he often got bored and barely made it past ten minutes let alone an hour.

Worried now Merlin bent down and pushed the man over so he was lying on his back. He was less fearful for his own safety now and more worried about the man. He had been scared the blonde was going to hurt him but he hadn't meant to kill him. However, now the man was lying on his back, he could see that he was still breathing.

Merlin sighed in relief and straightened back up, moving towards his room. Now he knew he hadn't killed him Merlin had no idea what he was supposed to do with him. He entered his meagre bedroom and pulled open the draw at his bedside. He had picked up the pale stone and already formed to words in his mind before he paused. He could use this situation to his advantage. If his mother came back and found that Merlin had dealt with the man who had arrived without even being seen properly then maybe she would realise that he was grown up enough to leave the tower and she would take him to see the lights.

But he couldn't call her with the stone if he was going to show her that. He couldn't send a message to his mother with it, only alert her if he was in trouble. She had always told him not to use it unless it was a real emergency. If he called her here with that then she would think that he had panicked and called her before he had taken the man out. That would prove to her that he couldn't take care of himself without her there. No he must wait until she got back and then tell her what happened.

Smiling at the decision he had made Merlin put the stone back in the draw gently before closing it. As he moved out into the main room he glanced out of the window and saw that it would still be a couple of hours before his mother returned. He saw that the man was still where he left him and made his way over to him. Merlin hesitated for a moment before sitting down next on the floor next to his limp body.

Never having seen another man before Merlin studied him carefully. He could see that there were many differences between himself and the unconscious man. He's much broader than me and his ears don't stick out as much as mine, Merlin thought pressing one of his ears as his thought this.

However what intrigued him the most was the other mans hair. He had only ever seen his and his mother's dark hair but this man's brilliant blonde hair was totally different. It looked exactly like the hair of the princes and princesses in the pictures in his books. Merlin remembered how he had always hated that the good princes and princesses had blonde hair whilst the evil knights had the same colour hair as him. He remembered sitting and colouring in the prince's hair so he wasn't blonde any more.

Though Merlin decided he wouldn't want to change this man's hair at all. It almost seemed to glow in the sunlight. Merlin reached out and tentatively ran his fingers through his hair. It felt much softer than Merlin's own hair ever did and he wondered how the other man got it like that.

Glancing up Merlin realised how much time had passed whilst he had been sat there. His mother would return soon. Merlin could almost see how it would happen. He would use his magic to pull her up and she would see the man on the floor and Merlin would explain what had happened and she would be so impressed that she would tell him that he was old enough to go see the lights.

Merlin paused then as he had a thought. His mother did sometimes tend to overreact and jump to conclusions before he had a chance to explain. What he really wanted was a chance to tell her exactly what had happened and then present her with the proof so she had to believe him.

That meant he had to find something to do with the man till he wanted to show him to his mother. He debated hiding him in his own room but realised that his mother did wonder in and out of his room and he couldn't guarantee that she wouldn't find him before Merlin was ready for her to.

Staring around Merlin spotted the large cabinet at the other end of the room. He knew that he could fit in there as he often hid there when he wanted to block everything out. Deciding that this was the best place to hide the man Merlin's next problem was how to get him there. Picking up his feet Merlin dragged the blonde man across the room. Dumping him in front of the cabinet Merlin sighed as he leant against it, trying to catch his breath. The stranger was much heavier than he had anticipated.

Pulling the cupboard doors open Merlin grabbed hold of the man. A combination of shoving and magic managed to get the man inside the cabinet. It was a much tighter fit for him than it was for Merlin but the young warlock managed to close the doors and seal them shut with a quick spell. He sank down onto the floor and leant his back against the cabinet doors.

He hadn't been sat there long before he heard a shout from outside of the tower. Scrambling to his feet Merlin realised just how close he had cut it. Running over to the window Merlin muttered the familiar spells and brought his mother into the tower.

"Oh darling I've had such a tiring day." She sighed as she stepped into the tower, giving Merlin a kiss on the cheek.

"I've had an eventful day too mother." Merlin replied eagerly.

"I'm sure you have but right now I just want to have a nice sit down. Why don't you cast the spell for me dear?" She said brushing Merlin's comment aside.

As she settled herself in the chair Merlin rushed over and knelt on the floor next to her. Swiftly yanking out the necklace with the glass star out from under his shirt Merlin grabbed Nimueh's hand and closed his eyes.

"Ágíeman sesceþne. Edhwierft se æfterield."

He said the words as fast as possible and felt the magic flowing out of him. The moment the spell was done he released his mother's hand and jumped to his feet. He felt a slight wave of dizziness overcome him at the sudden movement after using so much of his magic, but it soon passed. He noticed his mother looked rather flustered at the speed he had cast the spell but he ignored that, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Mother something happened today and I think it will make you reconsider taking me to see the lights." He started.

"Oh not this again." Nimueh sighed, throwing her arms up in despair, "I thought we had agreed about this?"

"Yes but I think this will change your mind." Merlin said as he moved over to the cabinet where the man was hidden.

"Merlin I was serious when I said that it was too dangerous for you leave." Nimueh said getting out the chair and moving towards the kitchens, "Now can we please just drop this."

"But mother I wanted to show you..."

"Merlin." Nimueh snapped making Merlin freeze.

He had never heard his mother sound quite so strict before. Sure there had been times when she had been mad at him and shouted but her voice had never sounded like that. There was something sinister and menacing behind her words and Merlin shivered in fear.

"Merlin I love you with all my heart but you're going to have to obey me on this one. It is for your own good."

"But mother..." Merlin tried one more time.

"No Merlin." Nimueh snapped, the menacing tone back in her voice, "You are not leaving this tower and that is final. Understood?"

Merlin briefly considered pulling open the cabinet door and letting his mother see exactly what he was trying to tell her but something stopped him. There was a small voice in the back of his head that was telling him that there was no way his mother was going to let him leave the tower, even if he showed her that he could take care of himself. But the man in the cupboard, he could help. He must know the way to the castle; Merlin could make him take him there. If he got his mother to leave for a couple of days, as she did sometimes, then they could be there and back and she would never even know. The lights would appear the day after tomorrow and Merlin realised that this may be his only hope to see them.

"Yes mother." He said slowly, moving away from the cabinet.

He took a few deep breaths as his mother, seemingly satisfied with his answer, moved back into the kitchen.

"I was just wondering if maybe for my birthday we could have some of that wonderful fish you brought back last week?"

"Merlin you know that the fish was from the lake of Avalon. It would take me a couple of days to get there and back."

"I know but I was really hoping we could have some." Merlin replied in a small voice.

Nimueh's face seemed to soften as Merlin looked down to the ground meekly.

"Well if it will stop you from wanting to go to those lights then I suppose I could go." Nimueh replied with a smile, "Are you sure you would be alright here on your own for that long."

"Of course mother." Merlin said with a bright smile, knowing full well that he wouldn't be alone.