I'm not that keen on this chapter, despite how long it is. It contains mostly speech and I think a lot of you were hoping for Arthur to save the day. Well read the first few lines then come back to me. Yep sorry for not satisfying your tastes but it seemed too... predictable? It's always either Merlin or Arthur saving the day (or Morgana or whoever), never someone else. Anyway please give me some tips and pointers and what you would like to see next. Thanks.

And woah! Putting this up early ;) Took a lot of Sunday to write.

Disclaimer: The dragon owns all but he also seems to ship everyone. Apparently I don't own a thing...

Lila raised the palm of her hand in front of the two guards approaching them.

"Arwa meńa cura te!"

Both of them were thrown back, off the wooden block and into the crowd which scattered in horror. Merlin stared at his friend who had now taken hold of his wrists. The young warlock glanced up at Arthur who was struggling against the guards on the balcony. He caught his eyes but before he could open his mouth to speak, Lila chanted another spell.

"Mry prysa!"

Wind gathered up around them and Merlin could see no one apart from Lila that had her eyes closed, deep in concentration. The last he saw of the Prince was the total horror plastered across his features as he was engulfed in the windstorm. Crying out, Merlin felt his body being pulled from one side to another. The only contact was the warm skin of Lila against his wrists.

As the wind died down Merlin could only see white as unconsciousness swept over him.

*

Arthur grabbed his arm back from the guard that was restraining him and stared at the place his friend was just standing. He dared a glance to Morgana who looked just as shocked as him.

"They're working together. I knew it!" Uther growled, "Guards! Find the children and bring them to me. Alive."

They nodded in an affirmative and marched away to get prepared for their journey. Lila and Merlin could be anywhere by now… maybe on the other side of the Earth for all they knew. Arthur didn't want to think like that, though. He didn't want to think that Merlin was inaccessible. He would find him.

I promise Merlin, Arthur thought, I'll find you and bring you back. There will be no threat by the time you come back.

He just hoped he could keep his promise.

*

Gaius and Gwen were sitting in silence in the Court Physician's room. They hadn't heard the commotion outside and didn't dare look out the window in case they saw the remains of their dear friend. Instead Gaius was fiddling around with beakers and reading a few books while Gwen was biting at her nails, nervously trying to pick up a conversation. Arthur and Morgana would be back soon and she knew it won't be pretty. Everyone loved Merlin and losing him like that would be unbearable.

She was surprised when Arthur came storming through the door and going right into Merlin's room where his spell book was. He brought it back and opened it, beginning to turn the worn pages. Gaius watched, folding his arms. This was not what he expecting from the Prince's reaction.

"Sire?" He asked hesitantly.

"I need to find it," He muttered to himself, "have to find him."

"My Lord I think that-"

"He's not dead!" Arthur looked up to face the two that were standing next to him, "He and Lila went somewhere… I just need to know where. Tell me all you know about teleportation, Gaius!" He stared at the Physician pleadingly, "Tell me!"

The old man shook his head, "I know little on that subject, Arthur. Merlin has never quite mastered it, that I know of. Are you telling me that Merlin is alive? And who is Lila?"

Swallowing, Arthur continued to turn the pages, hoping something would jump out at him, "I thought she was just an innocent little girl. Looks like she's just as powerful as Merlin. She managed to teleport both herself and Merlin to an unknown place. I need to find out where!"

"It will be impossible to know, Sire." Gaius said regretfully, "You will have to ride out to find them. Shall I send Morgana and Gwen with you?"

Arthur closed the book angrily and shook his head, "The more people I take, the more suspicion it will add. My father won't want me to ride out… he'll know I've gone looking for him. I will go now before he notices. If he asks, say I have gone hunting to calm myself, alright?" Gaius nodded, not liking that he was lying to the King.

The Prince ran out the room, and headed to his chambers where he managed to put on his armour with no servant to help him. He shoved on his boots and left the room, heading for the stables. There a brown stallion stood. Tacking him, he slung the saddle over his back and jumped on. Kicking the stirrups, the horse was off, galloping through the courtyard and past the guards and towards the forest.

*

When Merlin opened his eyes once again, he could feel the bitter cold lashing at his face. Shivering, he rolled over to come face to face with Lila. Her hazel eyes watched in amusement as he sat up wildly, looking around at his surroundings.

Icicles hung lazily from the cave rooftop, occasionally dripping onto the black, stone ground where he sat. Outside a snowstorm brewed, stray flakes floating into the cavern. Past the snow he could see nothing else apart from white. They were nowhere.

Merlin turned back to Lila, wide eyes, "You're a-"

"Witch? Sorceresss?" She smiles, "Yes. I didn't know you were a warlock! It was a surprise to hear that you were caught using sorcery right in front of King… aren't you brave?" Her child like voice had disappeared and it sounded more like he was speaking to an adult, "I managed to teleport ourselves out of Camelot, although where we are…" She trailed off, looking at the mouth of the cave, "…I really don't know."

Loneliness built up inside Merlin, "We're in the middle of nowhere wiv no food nor water. How we gunna survive?" Unfortunately for Merlin, he couldn't control his child voice and had to sound like an average four year old. How come Lila could sound so much like an adult yet look so young?

Lila said a word under her breath and in her hand a lump of bread appeared. She split it in half and passed the larger piece to Merlin. She took a bite and began to chew before muttering a few more words and fire began to kindle from nothing but rocks.

"I can't even do teleportathion. How you master it?" Merlin asked.

"Practice. Like you, I am not really four years old. It's the best cover, I think. I know you, Merlin, are like that purely by a wrong spell spoken. I did this on purpose just so no one would suspect me for magic."

"But… your mother?"

"She merely brought me in. She isn't kin. I told her that I was an orphan with no one to go to and she fed me, clothed me and looked after me." Lila explained, putting the bread into her pocket and leaning against the cold cave wall.

Merlin didn't eat all his bread either, but put it in his lap, watching Lila closely, "Why come to Camelot when you know 'bout the magic ban?"

Lila's eyes glinted and she looked at the boy up and down, "Rumours are coming from across the country, Merlin. They say a mighty sorcerer had ended up in Camelot and I was told to go there and find him and bring him back to my kind." She indicated to him, "I didn't even need to seek you, you felt right into my arms. Quite literally."

"How can anyone possibly know 'bout me?!" Merlin asked in horror.

He had thought that he had been as quiet as possible. He had kept low and hidden and no one in Camelot apart from Gaius had known about his gift until a few days ago. How could people all over the country know about him? Merlin never wanted to be a well known man. If there was food on the table each night he was happy. Why did it have to be him? Lila just chuckled and rested her head in one of her hands which was resting on her knee.

"Our kind are telepathic. We've heard stories of creatures being slain in that area and we have tried to get people that have met you to spread their gossip. You remember your friend, Lancealot, do you not?" Merlin's eyes widened, "He was faithful, Merlin. You made a good friend there. He refused to say anything of a sorcerer but some of us are so telepathic, we could see into his mind."

"That's invasion of privacy!" Merlin argued.

"We wanted to see if the rumours were true, Emrys." Lila sighed, "He had many barriers and we only just managed to get past a few to confirm that there was a powerful being in Camelot. We couldn't even find your name." Her eyes glinted once again, "That's where the Druids came into our help."

Mordred.

Merlin visibly shivered when he remembered the boy begging him to help in his mind. The dragon had told him not to… but he did anyway. He was only a few years older than Merlin appeared and couldn't bear to see him executed for such a small thing. He looked at Lila's knowing glance and shrugged.

"So the Druids told you 'bout me."

"Druids are a quiet race and it was a miracle we got anything out of them. Apparently they've known of you even before you were born. You are to be the saviour of their race. That's how important your life is, Merlin. We couldn't discover your everyday name, although Emrys was mentioned. Familiar?"

Morgana's bear!

It just struck him. That's where he'd heard of that name before. Mordred had used it a few months back and Merlin had gone to ask the dragon why he called him it. When he had been toddlerised he had totally forgotten all about it. How could Morgana possibly know about his name? Or was it just pure coincidence?

"Morgana…"

"Sorry?"

"Her bear. It was called Emrys." He frowned, unsure whether it meant anything. It sounded so stupid when he spoke like that. With his child voice it sounds like he just wanted the bear back. Well he wouldn't mind if… no! He didn't need some stuffed material with him!

Lila bit her lip, looking up at the roof of the cave, "Interesting. The King's Ward does show potential in magic. She could become a great Seer if she tried."

Merlin growled, "Let's not get Morgana into this. Don't wanna get her caught up in all the magic. She has nightmares every night 'cause of her 'gift'."

The young girl shrugged and looked out the mouth of the cave, "Storm has stopped. Come on, let's look at our surroundings." Taking Merlin's hand, she led him through the entrance and into blinding snow. The sun brightly shone down on the ice and bounced back into their eyes, causing them to cover their faces.

It took a few minutes to become accustomed and when Merlin finally uncovered his eyes, he could see for miles and miles. It was breath taking. The only problem was that they were on a mountain and would have to get back down. Lila, with her hand still in Merlin's, decided that it would be easy just do make her way down. Merlin tightened his grip so she was unable to move.

"I don't wanna go down! Do you have any idea how dangerous-"

"Your magic is strong, Merlin. If either of us slips, your quick reactions will save us. I have faith in you."

"Can't you just teleport us down the mountain?"

Lila threw her head back and laughed, "We'd probably just end up on another, higher mountain. Let's go!"

Together they began to make their dizzy decent down to safe ground.

*

"Merlin!" Arthur called for the hundredth time, hoping there would be a response, "Please listen to me! You'll be safe with me!"

No reply.

Where the hell could they be?

Angrily, Arthur galloped on, spurring the horse into its fastest. He looked from left to right, scanning the ground for two sets of unusually small footprints. There was nothing. No prints, no signs they had been anywhere near these parts. That meant they were beyond the forest. If only he knew where…

By nightfall, Arthur and managed to get past the dense trees and was now riding through fields of deadened crops. Mountains loomed in the distance with clouds rolling overhead. A storm was coming.

*

"Maybe," Merlin panted, "I could telepatically-"

"Telepathy?" Lila asked, "Even I can't do that yet. I've been studying magic for over fifty years. Only the skilled can do that. You can't even do transportation yet."

"My magic is all mixed up," Merlin replied, "Telekinetic is apparently meant to be hard. That was something I could do when I was two years old. I'm learnin' magic in an odd order, Lila."

"Besides, who you gonna call?" She sneers, "Arthur? He'll have to take you back to Camelot where your death is waiting. Come with me back to my people and you can practice magic in peace. Your gift can blossom!"

Merlin stopped, ankle deep in snow, "I'm not leaving Arthur!" He hissed.

"You'll have to wait until Arthur is King then. Uther will order to kill you on sight if you return to Camelot. He's probably already sent guards to find you."

Merlin was silent as they walked through the snow. It was getting warmer and there was less snow nearer the bottom. Another half hour and they would be safely on the ground. He stopped to look out and see if there was anyone nearby and if recognized the mountains and trees. Every mountain looked the same and there were endless forests and fields stretching into the distance. He had no way of knowing which way was Camelot.

If he was an adult they would've been at the bottom by now but with his small legs he kept tripping up over rocks and falling into the snow. A thought suddenly struck him.

"Hey, Lila?"

"What do you want, Merlin?"

"If you've been practicing magic for so long and can change yourself into a child, do you think you could change me back…?"

"Of course I could, Merlin." Lila smiled, knowing the next question the warlock would ask.

A grin spread across his features, "Then… can you change me?"

Lila stopped and sighed, looking at Merlin up and down, "Unfortunately I cannot change the size of your clothes. You'll have to go around naked if you want to change. If we get to a village tomorrow and you get some clothes then I'll change both of us."

At least he had something to look forward to…

*

It was dark by the time Merlin and Lila reached the bottom and the temperature was dropping dangerously low. They walked through a few trees and Lila lighted a fire with a few words. They huddled next to each other for warmth, staring into the blazing flames.

"How old you really?" Merlin asks finally.

Lila glanced at her newfound friend, "That would be telling, Merlin. I can change my face to whatever pleases me. I do not age. And I refuse to answer your question. You would think me too old."

"I'm twenty." He utters, eyes beginning to droop.

"The bad thing about these bodies," Lila says while stifling a yawn, "is that we always need more sleep than adults. It's embarrassing." Merlin nodded in agreement and rested his head on her shoulder. She then laid her head on his and together they fell asleep into a dreamless slumber.

*

Arthur cursed in fury as he galloped into a nearby village. Luckily he was still in Camelot's borders and many of the villagers recognised him and bowed as he entered. Jumping off the exhausted horse, Arthur took it into the only stables this small village actually had. Afterwards he put his hands on his hips and looked at all the people that were watching him in admiration.

"Tell me, had anyone seen a young girl and boy pass through here?"

There was a unison of shaking heads but no one nodded.

"Then I ask of you for a room to sleep in tonight." A man raised his hand and Arthur followed him into one of the small houses built from stone.

"You may have the bed," The old man indicated to the only bed in the room and scratched his beard, "I will sleep on the ground here."

Arthur raised his hand and shook his head, "No I don't want to rid you of your bed. I will sleep on the ground. I insist."

The man decided not to argue with the Prince but helped him lay out some blankets and a pillow. Arthur removed some of his armour but kept his sword sheathed. He kicked off his shoes and lay down. The old man, whose name was Eric, had retired to his bed, and Arthur smiled to himself. A few months ago he would've gladly taken that comfy bed and make Eric sleep on the floor. Now he was kinder and more generous, willingly sleeping on the hard ground to benefit someone else. Wow, he thought, Merlin had done the world of good to me.

He drifted off to sleep, his last thought of his friend.

*

As Merlin awoke he could feel the sun beaming down on his still form. His head was resting against a stone instead of Lila's shoulder. Shooting upright he looked around to see his friend trying to cook a chicken. He walked to her side and she looked over at him in disgust.

"Merlin you stink. You haven't washed in days." She scolded, pushing him away, "There's a lake over there. Go clean yourself and I'll let you near me and may be nice enough to give you some chicken."

"Where'd you get a chicken from?"

"Magic." She winks.

Merlin laughed and jogged over to the direction where she had said the lake was. He took off his shirt and dipped it into the water which was surprisingly rather warm, although he knew it would take a while to dry again. He undid his scarf and left it on a rock then slipped off his trousers. Looking behind, he saw that there was no one there. He jumped.

The water splashed about and he broke through the skin. At first it felt like a thousand daggers stabbing at his skin, but soon he began to get used to the temperature. His feet flapped about, desperately trying to touch the ground. He ran his hands through his wet hair and washed himself.

When Merlin walked out of the lake, dripping wet, it struck him that he didn't have a towel to dry himself. Merlin caught sight of his scarf still laid on the rock. Taking it, he tried to get himself dry the best he could, but with such a small scarf it was a useless attempt. He slipped on his wet trousers and grabbed his shirt, then walked back to where Lila was sitting.

She handed him a chicken leg and he bit into it, munching happily on the tender meat.

"You look a state but at least you don't smell anymore." Lila admitted, laughing.

When they had finished off some of the chicken, Lila left the other half of it on the ground for the ants to eat and began walking. Merlin quickly caught up with her, bouncing with excitement. Today he was going to become a man again!

*

When Arthur awoke, he paid Eric with a few coins for his hospitality and then left on his horse once again. He searched with no avail, crossing borders with other lands and asking passers by if they had seen either Merlin or Lila. No one claimed to have seen them and Arthur found it no use.

It was an impossible search. What would he do if he did find Merlin? Take him back to Camelot without anyone seeing? Besides, he couldn't let his friend be a four year old for the rest of his life. Frustrated, he rode on through the path.

When the Prince got to a clearing, he noticed how close he was to the mountains. Could they be there? They were a death trap. He had heard of the horror stories told to him about the mountains that carried a curse to whoever passed them. He was only a child and had never dared going near them. Could he dare go down there for his best friend?

*

Merlin was exhausted.

That was an understatement. He felt like he was going to collapse any second. It wasn't fair. How come Lila was striding on ahead, getting fed up each time Merlin had to sit down to rest. She kept grabbing him, trying to drag him down the path. His legs were the only things that were operating him; Merlin could only just keep his eyes open. They had only been travelling a few hours!

When Lila had tightened her grip on his wrist so hard that he cried out in pain he looked upwards to meet her frightened eyes.

"Merlin," she hissed, "she's here."

He looks past his friend to meet the bright blue eyes of none other than Nimueh.

Oh great.

*

Arthur had decided to go. What did he have to lose? If he died, he died. If he didn't, even better! He had only taken a few steps towards the mountains when his horse suddenly stopped. He began to kick with the heels of his boots lightly to make him start again, but he stood still, hardly even breathing. Arthur looking forward but could see nothing in front of him. What was going on?

"Hello Arthur."

He nearly fell off his horse from jumping so high. He turned to his right to see Nimueh standing in her shredded red dress with bright red lipstick and glinting icy eyes. She laughed at his reaction and took a step forward.

"You don't think Merlin killed me, did you?"

Arthur shook his head, "No."

"I have Merlin and his little friend. Would you like to see?"

She carried on walking towards him, her heels amazingly not sinking into the wet mud from the previous night's rain. She reached him and raised his hand, mere inches from touching him. Abruptly he pushed her away with his boot. She took a step back and glared at him.

"Do you not want to see your best friend?" She hissed.

"Let them go. Take me instead."

The sorceress cackled with laughter, "You think you're so brave, Arthur. Everyone thinks you're so very brave. You're scared inside, though. Aren't you? I can feel your blood pulsing. You're so frightened that I might hurt Merlin. You're terrified I might kill him. Hilarious!" She threw back her head and laughed.

"Let me see them." Arthur growled between gritted teeth.

She raised her hand once again and touched his shoulder. Arthur had to close his eyes to prevent himself from throwing up from the dizziness. It felt like he was spinning around with Nimueh faster than he had ever been. When it had all stopped, Arthur groaned.

"Open your eyes, Arthur."

Obediently, he flicked his eyes open.

What he saw was something he was not expecting.

When I wrote this I didn't know what Arthur saw. When I'm writing this thing in bold I still don't know what he's looking at. What would YOU like to see?