This is short again. I noticed that the chapters that aren't involved with the main Merlin story line are shorter. Anway yup. Artemis and Ava share a touching moment. Mordred's in this one. I think he's such a cute kid.

At dawn, Ava and Artemis road out of Camelot and started toward the Forest of Acestir that Artemis knew the druids would be found. There were many magical herbs found in it. Like Artemis said originally the wormwood, the asphodel, and the valerian roots were easy to find around the forest, and the snake fangs were just collected by killing a few snakes. Nearing sunset, Artemis sighed not able to find any moondew, and she still needed a Sopophorous bean.

"Shall we go to the druids?" Artemis asked.

"Yes!" Ava said excited. Artemis and Ava headed off in the direction of the druid camp.

Back in Camelot a few hours after Artemis left

Arthur, Uther, Morgana, Merlin, Gwen, and a few other servants and nobles gathered around as several horses approached. The two people in front were the nobles they were expecting. The elder man had black hair that had streaks of silver in them. His eyes were sharp and hard from years of war, but still showed a slight hint of a younger more care free side of him. He looked very much like a hawk. He had a prominent scar on one of his cheeks.

The younger of the two was a tall lad with black hair like his father, but his eyes were wider and a warm brown instead of the stern grey. He had a soldier's build like he had been training for a long time. He was an attractive youth.

"Astor, Vidar," Uther greeted them.

"Uther, old friend!" Aster said getting off his horse. The boy followed suit, but instead he turned to Arthur as Astor and Uther began talking away.

"It's been too long, Arthur."

"So it has Vidar." Vidar smiled and the two brought their arms together and clasped each others wrists in a hand shake.

"It's good to see. You remember Morgana," Arthur asked. Morgana stepped forward.

"Ah, with each passing day you grow more beautiful," he said kissing her hand lightly.

"I see you haven't lost your charm."

"Not at all, my lady."

"This is Gwen, Morgana's maid," he said pointing out Gwen. "Merlin, my servant, who will assist you while you're here, and Artemis, who…," he trailed off when he realized she was not there. "Merlin, where is Artemis? I told you to fetch her."

"Her house was empty."

"Artemis told me to tell you that she had to go out," Morgana said.

"Is that it? Where has she gone?"

"She said if you asked for an explanation to tell you that at this point she'd insult you, but she doesn't think that you're bright enough to understand them, and that when you become brighter she'll become nicer and more cooperative." Arthur looked both annoyed and angry with this comment. "She said she may be gone for a few days," Morgana added.

"That girl is infuriating," Arthur said under his breath. He desperately wanted someone to yell at someone and since he didn't have Artemis, her brother would have to do. Merlin would be getting a earful later.

"Aglain!" Artemis shouted looking at the tall dark skinned druid that came into view as soon as they entered the druid camp. She threw her arms around him. He chuckled.

"It is so good to see you, Ambrosine. How are you?" He asked.

"Oh, you know, the same as usual. Aglain, I want you to meet my apprentice, Ava," she said moving to allowing him to see Ava.

"It's nice to meet you, Ava. A friend of the Lady Ambrosine's is a friend of all druids."

"It's an honor, sir," Ava said bowing. "I have always admired the druids simple, peaceful way of living."

"Thank you, my lady," he bowed back. "What is that you've come here for? On of our seers said you were in Camelot."

"I need a few ingredients I'm out of… plus… I wanted to see you…, and everyone… especially," she started looking around for someone. "MORDRED!" she yelled finally finding him in the throngs of people. He was a young boy with bright blue eyes and dark brown hair. Artemis always said that it looked as though he could be related to her.

'AMBROSINE!' he yelled telepathically to her. He ran to her, and hugged her around her waist. 'I missed you.'

"I missed you too. How have you been?" Ava tilted her head.

"Artemis?" Ava asked.

'Who's she?'

"This is my apprentice, Ava. Ava, this is Mordred. He talks to people telepathically."

"Nice to meet you." Mordred nodded. "Why do the druids call you Ambrosine?" Ava asked.

"It's my druid name… well… the name all magical creatures call me really."

"How come I don't know this?"

"I keep my magical life separate from my other life. Call Amdrosine an alter ego if you will."

"How long will you stay?" Aglain asked.

"Not long I'm afraid. Two days or so."

'Can't you stay longer?' Mordred asked.

"No, I'm sorry. I really wish I could, but I have to get back, but I will make the most of my stay." Aglain nodded.

"Come," he said leading both Ava and Artemis deeper into camp.

Ava enjoyed staying with the druids. She found them fascinating. Artemis meanwhile spoke to Mordred and he recounted what had happened in Camelot.

"I'm sorry about your father," she said when she learned of his death. "He was a good man."

'It's okay. Aglain takes care of me now.'

"You know you can always contact me Mordred. I'm here for you."

'I know, but you live in Camelot. I can't go there.'

"You are right, but if you yell loud enough. I promise I will hear." Artemis smiled at him. He was a nice child, but one that has suffered at the hands of Uther. Sometimes Artemis wanted to hate the king of Camelot, but it wasn't in her nature to truly hate someone. It was too unnatural for her.

Mordred laid against Artemis as she sat against a tree. Her arms around him like a protective mother. A blanket wrapped around them both. Ava observed the two, and couldn't help but feel a bit of jealousy. Artemis treated Mordred like he was her child. Sometimes Ava felt like Artemis saw her as nothing more than someone she had an obligation to like somehow taking care of Ava would allow her to hold onto Kael. What else was she supposed to do with Ava? Kick her out on the streets. Ava thought Artemis saw her as a hindrance. It made her jealous to see Artemis act like a mother to this boy.

Ava and Artemis shared a tent that night. The druid tents were nice. They were made from thick fabrics of rich colors. It kept light out and the cold out perfectly.

"Artemis?" Ava asked. They were both laying down, but neither slept. They slept so their heads were facing opposite ways. They were both just staying at the pattern of the cloth that made up the tent.

"Yes?"

"Mordred…"

"What about him?"

"I've read about him in your prophecy books."

"You read something useful?" Artemis teased.

"He's the one destined to kill Arthur," she said somberly not even replying to her teasing. Artemis's grin fell though Ava couldn't see that in the dark.

"He is," Artemis confirmed.

"Then why do you treat him like… like-"

"Like he was my own child?"

"Yes."

"I believe showing Mordred love and kindness will stop him from becoming what has been predicted."

"But he's destined to become evil. All prophecies predicted this. It's set. Why help him? I don't understand."

"In many way, I think of Mordred as my child. I would do almost anything to keep him safe. I believe that not even his future is set."

"Why? In all the years I've known you, you've never gone to the druids. You must have only seen Mordred a few times."

"I have seen him more than you think. I would go off occasionally."

"That's where you were going?" Ava asked surprised remembering the occasions were Artemis would go off to collect more herbs alone, and not come back for days at a time.

"Much of the time, but even then… I am strongly connected to Mordred. He is a creature of magic as am I."

"I suppose… that's a connection you and I don't share."

"What do you mean?"

"Mordred isn't just someone you got stuck with like me," she said with a shaky voice. She felt her throat close. Part of her wanted to choke out tears at the raw emotion she was feeling. Rejection being the controlling emotion. Artemis sat up frowning. She looked down at Ava who looked hurt.

"Ava… is that what you think I think of you?" Artemis asked. Ava sat up crying. She turned away from Artemis not wanting her to see her weakening.

"It's just… Kael wanted to be with you, and he refused to leave me behind so you were forced to take me along, and then when he died you couldn't really kick me out onto the streets… and I knew that you really wanted me there because I was the last connection you had to him. I'm just someone you got stuck with. I forced you to teach me, and I don't deserve-"

"Ava, stop. You're wrong. I wanted to take you with when Kael left. I was so scared you would end up killed. I didn't want to see that. When he died, I was so upset and I could see you felt the same and you comforted me and I the same. I teach you because you are worthy of being taught. You have a fire that few people do. It's that fire that makes a true warrior… a true Master of Life. Ava, you are here with me now and I have not gotten rid of you because you're like a daughter to me. Yes… it's true. I'm too young to really be your mother, but I feel calling you a sister would be an understatement. You're part of me and if something ever happened to you I don't think I could go on. I've lost too many people and I don't want to loose someone I love as much as you." Artemis put a hand to Ava's cheek making her look at Artemis. "One day… you'll finally grow up," she teased with a sad smile. "And when you do you'll be a great whatever-the-hell-you-want. I'll watch you climb far above what I expect of you. It's your destiny to do great things with your life, and when I am old and gray I will look back I'll remember you as one of my greatest accomplishments. Out of everything I've ever done, taking care of you and teaching you is my proudest. Never forget that." Ava threw herself at Artemis into a hug and fully broke down crying on Artemis shoulder. Ava had held her emotions too long, for too many years. They were all coming crashing together. Everything since the day she watch her real mother die…

Ava and Artemis both woke up late the next day. After the events of the night, they were both emotionally and mentally exhausted. Aglain had kindly supplied Artemis with the ingredients she needed as well as other ingredients she had been running low on.

Artemis spent the day among the druids. Mordred showed her the things he had learned while some seers were trying to decide Ava's future.

"You will be married to a great warrior," one seer said as Mordred showed Artemis a fireball.

"Nice," Artemis said complimenting Mordred.

"Yeah, yeah, I don't care about my love life lady," Ava said. "Tell me what I want to know. Will I be a great warrior? Will I be famous? Will they tell legends of me?"

"You seek the wrong answers child."

"No I don't. You answer the wrong questions," Ava argued. Ava's arguing continued with the seers until she got fed up, and walked to Mordred and Artemis sitting by them. She watched as Mordred showed Artemis different spells.

"You've progressed. I'm proud of you."

'Thank you Ambrosine.'

"You don't have to thank me. I am."

'No, not for saying that, for everything."

"You're welcome."

Ava and Artemis stayed one last night before packing their things getting ready to leave for Camelot.

"Goodbye Ambrosine. Come back soon," Aglain said hugging her.

"I will try. Bye Mordred." The boy hugged her.

'Do you have to go?"

"Yes. I do."

'Bye then Amborsine. Visit more.'

"I will try." And then Mordred looked at Ava and Artemis knew he was telepathically telling her something for she had a surprised look on her face.

"Your words surprise me. Thank you," she said bowing. Mordred nodded before together after getting on their horses Ava and Artemis rode back to Camelot