Day 09

Arthur stood to the side as Emrys was carried back to the ship by a few of the men and a strange feeling welled up inside him, something that he didn't recognize. He didn't have time to study the feeling since his attention was soon taken by the image of the beast lying dead on the ground. Why was it that whenever something was dead or asleep it looked more innocent then it actually was? It was much like Emrys, unconscious he looked harmless but once awake it wasn't hard to see he held great power. The air around him felt like magic.

"How did you kill it?" Arthur questioned Lancelot who came to stand by his side.

"I don't think I did. As before, my blade never got close to harming the beast and then suddenly it was surrounded in some kind of blue mist. I then struck the beast and the result is what lays before you. I believe Emrys must have done something. Why, I'm not sure." He noticed there was a look of confusion on his knights face and no doubt there was one covering his face. The sorcerer's actions made no sense.

He hadn't even attempted to protect Arthur before and yet the moment Lancelot got involved the sorcerer had been down on the ground with his intention to help clear. By the looks of it he had even helped Lancelot to the point that he could no longer remain conscious. Did he not wish to see Lancelot harmed? Why was that? Arthur was finding it irritating that he didn't know such things and normally he could just order someone to tell him such things but Emrys wasn't just someone.

"We should head back to the ship Sire," Lancelot suggested and picked up his sword from the ground that was oddly clean of any blood. The Prince was about to agree when his eyes widened in shock when he witnessed the beast beginning to turn into ash. Slowly the ash began to rise into the air and the breeze took it off into the sky, leaving no trace of the creature. It was like it had never existed.

In its place was now a women he recognised to be Nimueh and he raised his hand to stop his men from attacking, knowing that she meant them no harm. "Your first task is complete," she told him with a smile and he frowned. He didn't remember completing any task. He certainly hadn't used any magic of his own. "Magic had to be used to defeat a beast made by magic, the sorcerer had to help you out of choice and he did so willingly. The next task won't be as easy."

"You call that easy? That thing almost killed me."

"Being of royal blood means you'll always be in some kind of danger. Your life will be threatened many times and magic may sometimes be the only protection you have."

"Magic is forbidden in Camelot," Arthur pointed out.

"For now."

Nimueh vanished without another word spoken (including no clues on what the next task may be) and he exchanged a look with Lancelot before heading back to the ship, his thoughts going over what she'd said. It seemed she had the thought that magic would one day return to Camelot and he would be alive to witness such a thing. Did that mean his Father would lift the ban once healed? Maybe he'd see that not all magic was harmful when such a thing was going to be used to save him.

Day 11

"There's no sign of a vial in his cell Sire, we've searched the ship incase he left it somewhere else but nothing can be found. Are you sure that's what he requested?" Aulfric asked and Arthur looked towards Lancelot who gave a small nod. There was no question, Emrys needed that vial. It had been two days since they went back out into open sea and the sorcerer had yet to awaken, his body as still as the dead.

"Where is he now?"

"Down in the cell," came the quick response.

"Bring him up here, we need to keep a close eye on him since he's our only source for the next task."

"Is that all you want him up here for?" Morgana suddenly spoke up and they all looked her way in question. The past few days she had barely said a word and now she suddenly had an opinion? He didn't like how she was acting since the sorcerer came into their lives. "Do none of you care that he saved that entire town? That he's hurt because of you? He isn't just some object that you can use, he has feelings and he needs our help. If we can't find that vial then we should find something else that could help him."

"What do you suggest?" Arthur muttered quietly in shame.

"Doesn't Gaius know something? He's been around, heard things, was around before the purge." Lancelot suggested and nobody noticed Aulfric glaring in his direction. "He might understand why Emrys needed this vial. There's no harm in asking him is there?"

"Alright, go and get him. He can take a look at Emrys at the same time," Arthur ordered and everyone left apart from Morgana. "Want to tell me what that was about?"

"I just think maybe you should show a little appreciation for the fact Emrys saved your life and Lancelot's. Stop worrying whether he'll be able to tell you the next task and start worrying that a man who just saved your life is possibly dying. Forget he's a sorcerer, he's still a human being."

"What is going on Morgana? Why are you being so protective over him? He's just a sorcerer."

Arthur actually took a step backwards and the back of his knees hit his chair when he saw the expression unfold on Morgana's face. First there was fury and then a look he had never seen from her, disappointment. "You sound exactly like our Father." She left without another word said between them and he didn't understand why sounding like his Father was such a bad thing. Uther had been a great King and Arthur would be proud to be like him.

"Sire, we have Emrys."

He called them inside and watched as the sorcerer was taken off into his side chamber where his bed was situated. Oddly enough he looked tiny in comparison to Arthur when he lay on the bed at night. "How is he doing?" Arthur asked as they stepped back to allow Gaius to inspect him.

"No change," Lancelot replied.

There was silence as Gaius studied the sorcerer and Arthur saw a hint of fascination cross his face before he whispered, "Interesting." He then pulled Emrys onto his side and gently pushed down his top to inspect his shoulder, why he was doing this Arthur wasn't sure. "As I suspected." Gently lowering Emrys onto his back, Gaius stood tall and turned to face them all. "He is not only a sorcerer but a dragonlord as well."

"That's not possible. My Father killed all who claimed such a title," he commented.

"Then you can understand why not all dragonlords came forward, Sire. It is said the power is inherited, once the father dies the child can wield the power to control the dragons they come across." Which meant Emrys had no Father, which should surprise him but considering he had been alone on an island, having parents was unlikely for him. "I suspect in the vial was a potion that the dragonlords made to help those who used so much power that their body shut down to preserve strength and would not awaken without the substance."

"How come you know so much about dragonlords?"

"As you know I was with your Father before the purge, I met a lot of people, including dragonlords. I had some time to learn of their ways before their demise." Gaius slowly turned his gaze to look down at Emrys and a quiet sigh slipped past his lips, "Why this man is not with his people I do not know."

"Well we can't do anything now can we?" Aulfric said and moved further into the room to grab everyones attention. "He is clearly not going to wake up without that vial and we're wasting time worrying about him. We should head back to Camelot-"

"We can easily get him what he needs," Gaius spoke up. "I know of a small town where a few dragonlords sought protection and I believe they're still there." No one questioned how he knew, Gaius was a knowledgeable man and Arthur wouldn't condemn him for it. His Father may have killed anyone who dared suggest they knew where dragonlords hid but Arthur was different, they had not caused any harm to him and therefore no harm would come to them.

"How far are we from this town?"

"If memory serves me well we could reach there by nightfall, fortunately we are close and I know of no other places they could be."

"Good, we can't afford to waste anymore time."

Day 11 (Night)

"Should we be wary of these people? They could harm us if they learn who my Father is," Arthur said quietly to Gaius as they entered the quiet, dark town. The buildings were small and there was not a soul to be seen, that didn't mean they weren't being watched.

"They will cause us no harm if we show we're not a threat." Arthur glanced back at Lancelot who, along with a few others, carried Merlin in their arms. "They're here," Gaius suddenly whispered and the Prince looked forward to see a large group of people who had appeared as if from nowhere. They hadn't even made a sound.

"Why are you here young Pendragon? Your name is not welcome here." The person who spoke was clearly the leader and stood tall at the front of the group. Many wore cloaks to hide their features and Arthur wondered what weapons could be concealed beneath such clothing.

"We seek the help of a dragonlord. One of the men onboard my ship has fallen ill and my physician says he cannot be helped without a potion made by such people."

"Who is your physician?" Gaius stepped forward without prompting and the leader walked towards him, Arthur couldn't help but move his hand to the hilt of his sword. "Gaius!" The man suddenly sounded a lot more cheery and put his hands on Gaius's shoulders, "I didn't think I'd see you again. You should have said you were coming, I would have had a welcome party come greet you at the dock."

"I didn't know I was coming until this morning," Gaius admitted.

Arthur watched suspiciously as they began to speak in quiet words and he noticed another step forward, their gaze drifting to Emrys who remained unconscious. When they were close enough Arthur saw it was a woman, her eyes filled with confusion and worry. It was like she feared for the sorcerer's life. The woman moved closer to the leader and rested her hand on his arm, which made him look towards Emrys.

When both moved to get closer to Emrys, Arthur stepped sideways to block their path and gripped his sword to show his intent. They weren't getting any closer unless he said so. "Can you help us?" Arthur asked.

"We can," the woman replied.

"It will take us a while to gather the ingredients, you are welcome to stay here until then. We have a bed in our home where your sorcerer can rest and we'll see if we can help him tomorrow." The group started to head back to their homes and Arthur watched as his men went towards the inns surrounding them, most of them exhausted from the journey they had made. Arthur had pushed them hard in order to make it here in time.

"Thank you …" his voice drifted off as he waited for a name to be supplied.

"Balinor, and this is my wife Hunith." Balinor turned and whispered something in Hunith's ear, clearly a request since she left his side and disappeared down a street. He presumed she was going ahead to make room for their new guest.

"Do you have another spare bed? I'm afraid I can't leave his side," he stated. There was no way he was risking the sorcerer leaving again, who knew what trouble he'd get up to in a new town.

"Afraid not but we have a floor."

He blinked a few times when it was suggested he'd have to sleep on a floor but he decided that now wasn't the time to remind them who he was. These people were already wary enough. "Thank you, that will do. Lead the way." Balinor went in the same direction Hunith had gone and Arthur nodded his head towards the men carrying Emrys. He hoped they knew to be cautious, they had no idea what lurked in the shadows here.

"We meet tomorrow morning where we all separated, spread the word, I don't want anybody to be late." A small nod in confirmation was given and Arthur shut the door on his men, wanting to get back to Emrys to check up on him. Heading up the stairs, he ignored the look Balinor gave him and went towards the room where his sorcerer rested. As he about to push open the ajar door he heard a voice inside the room.

"You've grown up so much," Hunith whispered to the unconscious sorcerer and Arthur watched in confusion as she pulled the blanket up to cover him further. If he didn't know any better he would swear the woman cared for Emrys. "You shouldn't spy on people Arthur, didn't your Father ever teach you manners?"

Finding no point in hiding, Arthur stepped through the door and Hunith stood to full height to face him. She had such a gentle expression on her face and he wondered if that was how his Mother would have looked at him if she were alive. "Do you know who he is?"

"No, I do not. Not anymore." Which meant she had once upon a time known Emrys. "I know who you are though. Son to Uther Pendragon, Prince of a kingdom called Camelot where people like my husband are not welcome and where magic is banned. You question nothing your Father says and trust every judgement he makes. Yet you are now using magic to get what you wish."

"How do you know what I'm doing?" He asked with suspicion.

"The journey you are making is known by many, you are being watched and studied-" there was a brief pause as she studied him "-You are not what we expected." Hunith glanced back at Emrys and then brushed past him, "Sleep well young Prince." The door was shut behind him and he was left alone with an unconscious sorcerer that confused him more every day.

"You're the most annoyingly, confusing sorcerer I have ever met. My Father never warned me about people like you. All I was taught was that sorcerer's were evil, nothing else. Then you come along and mess that all up. Have I thanked you for that by the way?" He pulled off his tunic and threw it on the ground, his eyes now staring down at the bed that had been made up for him. It didn't look particularly comfy. "I can't believe some of the things I'm doing on this journey."

Noticing there was a candle still lit by the sorcerer's bed, Arthur crossed the small room that was about the size of a broom closet and he paused as his eyes fell once again to Emrys. Unconsciously he gently brushed the hair across Emrys's face and wondered what his life had been like growing up on that island. Alone. Without touch or comfort. Arthur may have grown up without loving parents but he had friends, knights and Morgana. Who did Emrys have?

Pushing the thoughts to one side he bent over and blew the candle out, surrounding them both in darkness. Tomorrow Emrys would be healed and no doubt a new task would be revealed, question was what would it be and in the end, what would be the sacrifice?