Thank you to Lara Smith for your review. It really made my day. BagginspotterPevensieve thank you for reviewing. Love your name by the way :) . Valkyiexx I'm so happy that I surprised you and thanks for adding me to your favorites. Thank you Lovable Loner for putting this story on Alert. swimbex90 Thanks for putting this story as a favorite. Okay, so I've got some potentially bad news. I'm moving into my collage Dorm room tomorrow. Hooray! The bad news is that I may have trouble posting. I write 4 chapters ahead with this story, but I may get behind which means in the future my updates will become less frequent.

The next morning Merlin got out of bed very quickly, despite getting very little sleep. Gaius was eating breakfast when Merlin had finished breakfast.

"Morning Gaius." He yawned.

"Trouble sleeping?" Gaius asked eating another spoonful of his porridge.

"Mm-hum." He grumbled, joining his mentor at the table, " I'm sorry about getting so angry with you yesterday."

Gaius softly smiled, " It's understandable. I think many in your shoes would have had the same reaction."

After taking another bite of his porridge, Merlin sighed, "What am I going to do Gaius?"

The young wizard's was troubled with these revelations. Wishing he had some comforting words, Gaius looked at his food. Anything he said would not comfort his ward. However he always had advice which he would give; unwelcome or not.

" Try giving Vivian another chance. Perhaps you'll see something that wasn't there before." The wise old man suggested.

As much as he didn't want to, Merlin knew Gaius was often right, so he agreed.

"I'll try." Merlin said with uncertainty, "Yet I doubt it'll do any good."

There was a rapping noise on the door. Merlin hopped up out of his chair to answer it.

"Arthur," Merlin saw the young blond hair man standing at the entrance, "you're up and dressed! I can't possibly be that late."

"No," Arthur replied, "as difficult as it is for me to say, for once this is not your fault. I was awaken at an ungodly hour by Vivian."

"Vivian?"

"Yes, I had relieved the guards of their duties thinking I was safe from her unwanted attention. However I am not that fortunate. At the sun's rise, she jolted me awake." Arthur finished with an over the top sarcastically happy tone. "She wishes to go for a scenic ride through the roads and of course she insisted that I join her."

Merlin wore his puppy dog face of confusion perfectly.

" Apparently, I have been fooled into believing that she no longer held interest in me. Now she knows that I have feeling for Gwen and everything's gone to hell." He walked in to the physician's quarters.

"Maybe she just is concerned about going into a dark forest alone." Merlin suggested "You know how she feels about Camelot's staff. Perhaps she just figured she should have the best knight protecting her."

'If only that were the case,' Arthur thought to himself. "I need you to pack for the trip. We leave in two hours."

"Wait! I'm going too?"

"Of course," Arthur gave his servant a 'you should know this' look, " you go where I go."

"A punishment worse than death."

"Watch it Merlin or I'll have you in the stocks."

"What would be the difference? I'd just be substituting one vegetable for another."

Arthur couldn't help but chuckle, "Honestly Merlin, do look for new ways to find trouble?"

Gaius interrupted before Merlin could reply, "You two better hurry along before you both land up in trouble."

The two men gave each other a friendly look of irritation. Old people always try to ruin good fun. Arthur left to attend to his duties and Merlin went to prepare for the day.

In two hours time the horses were ready to go, emergency supplies packed, Arthur on one horse and Merlin on the other. However Vivian's white horse remained empty. That woman could take an awfully long time getting anywhere.

She did arrive eventually. Her curled blond hair bounced as she glided down Camelot's steps. A gown of dazzling light green fitted across her thine frame very nicely. The young man, Merlin, always knew she was a beauty but he never thought she was attractive. It was when he saw her coming down to meet him that he realized - she still wasn't.

Instead of mounting her horse she just stood at the side of it, waiting.

"Well," She said to Merlin crossly, " Aren't you going to help me up?"

Bitting his tongue, he did as she requested. People however were shocked by this. It wasn't uncommon for Vivian to be assisted onto her horse. In fact, she rarely did anything without help. However, having a servant even touch her was inconceivable. Two years ago, a squire had lifted her down from her horse and she lashed out at him.

Arthur watched with intense fascination, but swiftly returned to the matter at hand.

" Let us go," Arthur stated, "we must return before noon."

Quickly, Merlin hopped onto his own horse. The clanking of horseshoes against stone lasted until they had reach grassy floor of the woods. Vivian had been trying the entire time to fall behind to where Merlin was ridding, but every time Arthur had insisted she remain close to him for her safety.

"Trust me," Arthur explained to Vivian, " if anything happens you'll want to be closer to me. Merlin is terrible when it comes to a sword. He's such a weakling he'd be the first to go."

Merlin smiled, " I've been serving you for four years now. I've been chased by bandits, attacked by wilderen, gone into battle with a dragon, dealt with Wyvriens and faced an immortal army. Each time I survived."

"That's because you're always hiding behind a tree, like a girl." Teased the prince.

"You really need to get some better comebacks Arthur. At least I try to spice it up, you woodenhead prat."

Arthur protested to his friend, " You always call me prat!"

"Yes," Merlin pointed out, " but I don't always put an adjective before it."

He sighed, "You're impossible."

The two of them could help but smile. Part of them realized how ridiculous these conversations were, which is why they were so entertaining. Vivian was appalled how Merlin had the tenacity to speak to the regent of Camelot so rudely. What surprised her even more was that Arthur seemed to enjoy this banter.

Wild flowers popped from every corner and the forest was teeming with animal life. Vivian paid little attention, Arthur was planning out his next hunt, Merlin was admiring everything. He smiled at the sight of a fox scurrying pass them.

From her purse, Vivian extracted a small parchment of paper which read: 1) tells me when I'm wrong 2) tells me his secrets 3) Gives up life for 4) Can't imagine without. These were the four things that this Merlin would have to do for her before he could qualify to be her true love.

There was a rustling in the bush. Vivian's heart nearly stopped, causing her horse to cease moving.

"What was that!" Merlin called up to Arthur.

Arthur looked about. He could see anything, but he too had his doubts.

His hid his doubts, "It's probably just a deer, come on."

That's when five bandits came running out of the bushes. Screaming with their swords held high.

Vivian shrieked. Arthur dismounted and unsheathed his sword. Merlin followed his lead and also took out a sword. The princess was frightened by the fighting. Arthur managed to kill one and Merlin injured another.

One of the bandits reached for the lady, but she kicked him straight in the face. He tried again but managed to spook her horse. The white steed sent racing off into the forest alone.

"Merlin!" Arthur ordered, " Go find Vivian!"

Nodding, Merlin was able to kill another bandit before he got to his horse and rode off. He followed the sound of her screaming to find her. She was traveling very far, very fast and in a very short amount of time.

When he got closer, he saw her holding on to her horse for dear life. Suddenly she slipped off, landing straight on he ankle.

He jumped off his horse to help her.

"Milady, are you alright?"

"OF COURSE I'M NOT BLOODY ALRIGHT!"

" I need to ask you to stop screaming. The bandits might be able to find you."

" MY ANKLE'S BROKEN YOU TWIT!"

"May I?" He asked permission to check her ankle.

She nodded, holding back her cries. Slowly he took of her shoe. He felt the bones, each finger very gently making their touch. For a moment it felt like the pain had disappeared. Almost as if by magic, but it soon returned. Vivian couldn't help but feel that there was something rather (Well, lack for a better word) sensual in the act.

" It's just sprained," Merlin careful put her foot down. Immediately he went to ripping a bit of his shirt sleeve and used it to compress her ankle. " Keep your leg elevated and I wouldn't suggest walking. Luckily we've got the horses."

He turned to see both horses had left them.

"I should have seen that coming. Okay then," he submitted, " I guess we do have to walk."

"I'm not walking," Vivian refused, "not in my condition!"

Merlin saw he'd get no help from her, "Fine, I'll carry you."

"If you think I'd dare let you carry me, you must be dreaming."

He shrugged, " Fine have fun staying in the dark woods alone! I'm sure the bears will enjoy a great treat."

Bears? Vivian had never admitted to this anyone, but she had a deep phobia of bears. Ursaphobia was such a pain. Crossing her arms and scowling like a ten year old child, she stubbornly agreed.

Gods, she was heavier than he expected. At first it hadn't been so bad. He was used to lugging things about for Arthur, but after a half-an-hour of carrying her he was done. Needing to catch his breath, he put her down.

"What is the meaning of this!"Vivian demanded an explanation, "Are you really so weak that you are unable to carry me a few measly miles."

His eyes went wide because of her atrocious behavior toward him, " You're a lot heavier than you look! It doesn't help when you're moving all the time and that dress you're wearing has got to be adding a bunch of pounds."

Vivian looked horrified, "If you're suggesting-"

"No! But just let me rest for a little bit." He fell to the floor and closed his eyes.

There was an awkward long silence.

"I'm sure my father's sent knights to come find me." Vivian insisted.

"I'm sure he has."

" They'll find us in no time with horses."

"Yep."

"And they'll see you laying there acting lazy and then you'll be punished!"

Opening his eyes, Merlin sighed, he could see he wouldn't be getting any rest.

"Come on," he picked her up and started walking again.

The sun was setting and they were still barely any closer to Camelot. He was exhausted and she was complaining why they weren't back already. He put her down again.

"Were not there yet!"

"I'm going to get some firewood," he said as he stretched his back.

She fumed, "We need to keep moving!"

"Listen!" he snapped at her, " The sun is nearly down. It's too dangerous to walk at night. My entire body is sore and what have you been doing? Nothing! So I suggest we make camp."

He stormed off to get some wood. She so was stunned by his rant that she was rendered speechless. Merlin was gathering sticks far enough that he didn't have to face her, but close enough to be there if something went wrong.

Little did he know something would go wrong.

" Give me your money!"