Hello everyone!

Yes, it's me again. Hope you don't mind.^^

Again many thanks to those who reviewed!

I just wrote this down quickly before my next tasks needed me back. Please don't be too upset that it's quite short.

However, enjoy reading!

If anyone would have told Arthur that he would face such a situation one day the prince would have him put to the stocks because of grave madness. Okay, it was nothing unusual that Merlin disappeared without asking just to return later to get himself a load of yelling from Arthur who wanted to know what kept his servant so long.

But this had never happened when the clumsy idiot was right in front of his eyes. What a shame!

Abandoning further thoughts about his servant's suddenly occurring ability to make the prince look old, Arthur concentrated more on the ground reading the little foot prints of Merlin which were only sorely placed into the earth. Though it was very difficult Arthur finally got back the trace and followed it.

Several minutes later Arthur came to a cliff. What an inviting place for Merlin to fall into. But again the servant was nowhere to spot.

Arthur decided to walk to the other side of the cliff to have a better view from upside.

Arriving at the highest point Arthur looked around but all he saw were trees and bushes.

"Merl..."

Arthur couldn't end shouting for his servant because suddenly a hand rushed in front of his mouth and pulled his royal body down to the ground.

"Psst, Arthur, you must stay silent!"

Whispering Merlin took away his hand away from the royal who was speechless for a moment. Where did the boy come from so suddenly? How could he not see any sign of him?

Still wondering Arhur watched Merlin crawl away from him a little very quietly, concentrating on something different. Well, enough was enough!

"How come you tell me to be silent?"

"Shhh!"

Angrily Merlin turned around and placed his second finger in front of his mouth to signal Arthur to shut up.

When Arthur looked at him as if he would explode within the next moment Merlin crawled back to him and began to whisper.

"Arthur, you have to be quiet or they'll hear us."

Keeping his voice down Arthur whispered back.

"Who?"

"I don't know yet. I've seen several men over there. They looked like bandits."

"But I hear nothing!"

"Can't you just trust me this one time? I saw them, they went further and they'd nearly spotted us."

In fact Merlin had been led by the magical voice until it suddenly vanished. When Merlin came back to his senses he was up that cliff, not really knowing how he had come there. Suddenly he saw a bunch of men in old clothes, wearing swords and bows. They walked by but for Merlins luck they didn't spot him behind the bushes.

When Arthur walked up the hill the men turned around, realizing the noise and were about to make the bows ready. Without thinking about it long Merlins hand had aimed behind the men to let a strong wind blow through the trees, making them think that only the wind had caused that noise. Slowly they went on but were still near enough to hear Arthur in case he would have finished his shouting.

So Merlin had quickly stopped the prince before he was able to give them away.

Arthur still looked unconvinced. Rolling his eyes Merlin waved at him to make him follow.

"Then see it with your own eyes if you don't believe me."

Without any further explanation Merlin crawled on and finally Arthur followed him though still a little bit unwilling. He had planned to yell at his servant for this insolent behaviour of walking away without any excuse.

But when Arthur discovered foot prints on the ground a moment later he put the urge aside to take Merlin to task as he saw more reason in Merlins caution.

They crawled on for about 5 minutes until they heard voices, in fact there were many of them. Obviously a huge crowd of people was meeting in this forest and the men who had just past Merlin had been on their way to it.

Merlin halted behind some bushes and didn't dare to look over it for the crowd which seemed only meters away from them. Arthur had just arrived at his side and crouched down as well. Merlin couldn't help but to bestow the prince with a meaningful glare.

"Do you believe me now, Perfect Ear?"

It was more a sarcastic question to which Merlin expected no answer but still the prince lowered himself to it absently.

"Fine, I see the point."

Arthur was too distracted by the discussions of the people to feel offended.

"Good. Can we go now?"

"No, we'll stay."

"What for? Do you want them to find us?"

"Shht, be quiet! I heard one saying something about Camelot. I have to hear that."

Arthur crawled closer to the crowd until he was able to hear the discussion perfectly, ignoring his servants wild gesturing which obviously should have stopped him. Merlin sighed, knowing that Arthur wouldn't listen and followed him though with no good feeling.

Together they listened to the discussion.

"So, Merrol, how many did you brought along?"

"60 and Sanch has further 55."

"Makes all together over 300. Good! With that Camelot is no match for us. No matter how many knights they have, most of them will oversleep the attack anyway and after it they may sleep forever."

The crowd joined the laughter of the man who seemed to be the leader. Arthur saw him stepping onto a rock to overlook the gathering.

"Listen to me brothers! This will be our night of revenge. Far too many of our comrades have fallen by the hands of the king and his knights. We'll put an end to this together. We may have been enemies before but tonight we'll fall over the castle like an army of wolfs, killing everyone who opposes us. It doesn't matter to me what you do to the citizens, kill them, enslave them, just do what you like. But the king, his son and all the knights, I want them to die before the sun arises. Are you with me?"

A loud agreeing sheer and groaning went through the crowd.

Arthur looked back at Merlin and both saw the same scared alarming expression in their eyes. But before they were able to exchange any whispering the leader shouted again.

"Get the horses ready, men! We'll leave now and when the sun dawns we'll have our ultimate revenge."

Sorry! I know this was quite short compared to the last chapter but better than nothing I would say. Agree?

However, as you see we're getting closer to the main event.^^

I hope you're looking forward to it and please do me the favour and review. As you know I'm eager to read your opinions.

Bye, Cennamace