I Own Nothing of the Merlin TV Series or anything that has that copyright thing...But The Arthurian Legands belong to the world. Long Live The Once and Future King...ARTORIOUS!

Chapter Three- The Quest Begins

"Mordred has kidnapped my brother and now has the staff. Unfortunately...Its a fake," Gallia had informed the party of knights, royals and sorcerers. "My brother did not tell me its exact location I'm afraid, but there is a man in Albion that might know. All I know is that it is in the Middle East somewhere, but this man has a proper map."

Arthur rubbed his forehead in concentration, "So you want us to go looking for myths and legends?"

"No sire, I believe them to be real and so does Mordred, sire. He is determined to use the Staff of the King and attack Albion."

High King Arthur turned to his advisor, eyes asking him for advise on the matter. He turned to Gallia and said, "I have never set foot out of my kingdom beyond the borders of the Northern Coast. My friend here," he motioned to Merlin, "Has indeed travelled across the Middle East, he will acompany you on this quest as a guide."

And with that he dismissed the court and they all walked away except for Merlin and Morgana who were left in the Throne room, looking at each other, irritation burning Merlin's face. He could not believe Arthur was sending him across the world. He had berely made it back the first time.

Morgana sensed her husband's disapproval and made her way to him but he declined and ran out of the room, rage in his heart. Morgana did not like where this would turn out and ran after him.

Merlin paced faster walks through the dim coridors, to Arthur's room and burst in.

"Merlin! What in God's name-"

"Why did you do that?" He asked, firmly and when there was no answer but a glare from his king he asked again, "Why?"

Arthur sighed, "Merlin, this is not a personal attack, okay? It is a solution to a national threat."

Merlin sighed in anguish, "You know what? You're selfish. I just came back Arthur. You had Gwen much more longer than I and I have sacrificed much for you. All I ask is a family to spend time with and judging by the seven years at war and the year around the world before that, I have seen very little of my life."

Morgana caught up to her husband in Arthur's bed chamber. He was shouting at the blond king. Guinavere had walked over to Merlin in an attempt to calm the man down, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Calm down Merlin, if you feel you cannot go through with this quest, then-"

"I just want what my mother wanted for me...I life I can be proud of."

"And you think you do not have that," Gwen's voice was soothing and Merlin almost instantly calmed. "You have a wife and two lovel children, Merlin."

Merlin shook his head and looked at the queen before him, "I don't even know their birthdays. It seemed that during the Saxon War, every messanger sent to me either had an incomplete message or was killed before revealing," then he pointed at his king, "King Prat-face and his knights seemed to have been the luckier ones. Seven years with no scrap of news while he finds out everything about his son."

This was when Morgana stepped in and took hold of her angered husband's arm and tugged him toward the door. "I'm sorry Gwen."

Guinavere stopped her from appologising and gave them both a smile.

"I had a dream that I died of old age and my last thought and the last face I saw was Morgana's," To this Morgana's cheeks had turned crimson, "But if I need die on this quest then there is no alternative. I will go myself."

"What?" Morgana looked shocked at her beloved. "But you were just-"

"I know where this staff is...in fact I was the one who found it first and re-hid it again." Merlin recalled his adventures in the deserts of Sion on his way to Nicea. One of many stops that requested he stay a bit longer.

Arthur barely nodded to his advisor and king of magic. "It is settled then."

Morgana glared at her brother. Disbelief was all she could feel of at that moment. She turned to Merlin who replied by nodding as well and then the two families parted.

They remained silent as they walked back to their suites. As soon as they entered, Merlin sat on his bed, fingers intwined and his eyes were blank in thought, a frown on his tired face.

Morgana sat beside him, slid her arm under his and layed her head on his shoulder. After a few hours, listening to each other breathing, Sarah had appeared by their door, "What is it sweery?" Morgana asked her ten year-old daughter.

"Dad's going again isn't he?" She told them with fire in her tone. Morgana gave her a sad look and walked over to her. "I had a dream that said that dad was going on some quest to Jerusalem."

Merlin got up and walked over to his daughter...his daughter...how that rang joy in his heart. A pride he had long saught for. Merlin kneeled before Sarah and clutched her right shoulder. "My angel," He sang, "My clever angel. Don't worry about your old man Sarah. I'll be back, Jerusalem is not as far as Nicea, It would only take a few days."

Sarah bobbed her head slightly and gave her lost father a much needed hug. Merlin kissed her forehead and Morgana took her back to her room. When she returned she was bussling with a sing question that kept shooting up. She sat again beside her husband. "What happened the last time you went after the Staff of the Kings?" looking at Merlin's fearful eyes, Morgana was already afraid of his answer.

"It was hard. I came into the temple with twenty men accompanying me...I was the only one left and I wasn't even alive."

Morgana clasped her mouth with both hands, eyes widened as Merlin began crying. "I lost alot of friends and then my body was to be taken out by Cardinal Strauss. I was taken to the Cup of Life and my life was restored. Unfortunately that cup was destroyed. The staff itself is guarded by traps designed to end lives without question-" He stopped when he saw Morgana on the verge of tears.

Merlin drew her closer and kissed her on her lips, then he hugged her tight and they fell asleep in each other's arms.

-==M==-

The next day seemed to come too quickly for Merlin, He had awoken early, kissed his sleeping wife on the lip and walked out. He then went to his children's rooms and placed a soft kiss on their temples.

In the city square was his unicorn waiting for him. He packed his bag and saddled up. Then, after he mounted his steed, Morgana appeared. Clothed in her armour- the one she had used when they went after Elyan at the castle of Fyrien. She was holding the bridle of her white stalion. Merlin looked at her and was about to protest, "Not this time my love," he stated, when Sarah and Angwyn rode in on their horses, packed and ready to go. Morgana got up and sat on her horse, she moved to Merlin and peched his cheek. Even after all these years they could always make the other blush.

It was then that another addition had joined them. Gwaine. "What? You didn't think that I'd pass on a chance to kill myself, do ya?"

Merlin sighed but then smiled at them. With Merlin leading the way they exited the main gate and made for the coast.

-===MERLIN===-

Author's Note: Sorry its been a while. School...Anyway. There was that part about Merlin in Jerusalem, I was thinking about doing a take on Merlin travelling the world. A series based on his later educations.