A/N: Ok, so although this isn't the end of the story, I just want to say a big thank you to all those who have favourited and followed. Thanks to all the amazing reviews, even the, I quote, "Not so 'Great'" ones. Thank you to myfoodisnotshared and Katie Katherine, my first ever reviewers. Big thank you to my amazing friends Prunes, Nyne and July, aka 'anonymous friend.' That worked out well for you guys, didn't it? Thanks for being so 'Supportive' (Because I honestly can't tell whether they are just making fun of me or not.) And most of all, thank you to the guest reviewer(s)- I haven't got the slightest clue about whether you are trying to be mean or not, but what you say is in fact helpful. Sorry I deleted the first two reviews- My computer is a jerk. You're ideas, even if they are not meant to be, are great, and they are and will probably continue to influence the story. Thank you. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin. Shocker, I know.

Camelot, Now

"Tomorrow, I set out with four of my finest knights, and I will retrieve him. Who will join me?"

There was a few minutes of stunned stupor as the council processed what they had just been told. Gwaine was the first to break the silence. "Well...I don't know about all of you guys, but...No. I will not," Gwaine angrily pointed at Arthur, "Join him."

Arthur was gob-smacked. "What? Why?"

Gwaine scowled. "Why? Do you seriously not know why? Are you honestly that stupid?"

At this, the whole council recoiled, expecting an earful of Arthur's shouting. Instead, much to their surprise, Arthur simply said, "Go on. I want to know. Tell me."

Gwaine glared at Arthur before beginning to shout. "Merlin...Merlin is our friend. And you spoke of him just now as if he were a bloody possession! And sometimes, you treated him like one! You...you revealed his biggest secret, one that he, judging from the look on his face, didn't even tell Gaius!" It was true. Gaius looked the most shocked out if all of them. "Arthur, grow up. We can't all get what we wan't. We all wan't Merlin back. Of course we do. But we, or at least, I, want him to come back because he wants to, not because some sorry excuse of a King forced him to. That us why, Sire, I will not join you."

Arthur stood there, mouth agape, staring at Gwaine. When he realized everyone was looking at him, Arthur quickly shut his mouth, clearing his throat. "Is there anything else you want to say? Or should I skip right to the part where it appears I will be going alone tomorrow?"

The knights simultaneously became extremely interested in the patterns on the table top. Arthur surveyed them one by one, but no one offered to come. Arthur finally looked at Gwen, who was sitting beside him, hoping that she at least would be on his side. Gwen regretfully put her hand on top of Arthur's. "Arthur...what Gwaine said...he was right. Merlin should come back because he wants to, not because we forced him to."

Arthur glanced at the council, then back at Gwen. Quietly, just so the Queen could hear him, he murmured, "Then what should I do?"

Gwen smiled sadly. "Just wait. He will return, when he's ready. You just need to be patient. He will return."

But it sounded as if Gwen was trying to convince herself, too.

The Darkling Woods, Now

"My lord," Iseldir said, bowing. "We think that we have found the reason for the constant bandit attacks. We have reason to believe that it is from the orders of the lady Morgana."

Merlin groaned. Great. Now he got to deal with a revenge-seeking sorceress too. Just add that to the steadily growing list of things he didn't want to but had to do, then. "How do you know it was her?" He asked.

Iseldir lowered his head gravely, before holding out his hand. In it, was a familiar insignia: The Triskelion*. "We found this on one of the 'bandits'. As you know, this is Morgana's chosen symbol."

The warlock nodded. "Do you have any idea as to what her reasons are?"

Iseldir shook his head. "No. At least, not yet. But I will do everything in my power to find out."

Merlin smiled. "Thank you. And-" He continued as Iseldir was leaving, "You can just call me Merlin, you know. It still feels strange being addressed as 'Emrys' or 'My lord' all the time."

The druid elder bowed yet again, this time smiling. "Of course, Merlin." He walked back into the midst of the camp.

The Darkling Woods, 3 months ago

Merlin gazed at Arthur in shock. How could he? How could he say that MERLIN had betrayed ARTHUR? Surely, just by the way the King was acting, it was the other way around? How dare Arthur call him a monster, after all that they had been through together. After all that Merlin had done for him? Why couldn't Arthur just accept Merlin? Why was it THAT hard? Surely Merlin, of all people, had proven that he had earned Arthur's trust? What else did he have to DO? Merlin met Arthur's eyes. His cold, unforgiving eyes. Merlin's resolve hardened. He wasn't just going to stand there, waiting for Arthur to make up his mind. Even if Arthur tried to apologize, it was too late now. Merlin already had his answer. Because, despite what Arthur might think, Merlin wasn't as soft-hearted as he used to be. If Arthur came back, begging for forgiveness? That wasn't Merlin's problem any more. All Arthur would hear were 4 words: "I don't forgive you."

So Merlin, after a few more minutes of coldly staring at Arthur, turned on his heel and walked further back into the Darkling Woods. He heard Arthur try to call him back, but the warlock just ignored the selfish, arrogant King, and made his way towards the only place he knew to go: A druid camp. It only took half an hour's walk, and when he arrived there, Merlin was welcomed with open arms. Everyone seemed to know what had happened already, and offered him sympathetic looks, which Merlin pointedly ignored. He didn't want or need their sympathy. Merlin just wanted to forget the happenings of today altogether.

The Darkling Woods, Now

"We're under attack! We're under attack!" A messenger from the east side of the camp came running towards Merlin's tent. Merlin immediately stood up, grabbing his staff as he did so.

"Is it Morgana?" A frantic nod was all Merlin needed for confirmation. The warlock started to walk out, when his blue cloak caught his eye. Merlin considered taking it for a moment, but decided it was pointless. Morgana was bound to find out Merlin's identity some day. Why not now? He ran out towards the east of the camp. When Merlin got there, it was carnage. The colourful tents were on fire, arrows lined the forest floor and the trunks of trees, and many men, women and children, druid and enemy both, lay on the ground, dead. The sight made Merlin want to cry and scream at the same time. This wasn't what a peaceful druid camp should look like! It should be happy,full of laughter and tranquility. Not chaos and death.

Merlin looked around, trying to find the cause of this horror. Eventually, he found her- Right in the centre of it all, blasting spells in all directions. Running and casting a spell at the same time, Merlin approached her. Coming up behind her, he growled, "Hello Morgana. Haven't seen you in a while."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Sorry it's a short chapter, but I wanted to post something at least, so, yeah. Please leave a review to tell me what you think!

*For those of you who don't remember, the Triskelion is that swirly symbol thing that Morgana wore as a necklace. The Triskelion of Ashkanar was used to open the door to Aithusa's egg's hiding place.