I like how the ending of this chapter turned out. The rest of it, I had trouble with. It's also short in length. Next chapter should be much longer and we should finally be delving into why it took four years for Merlin and Gwydre to find their way back to their family. Thanks for all the continued support and wonderful reviews! Until next time (;

*Flies away on hungry dragon*

Night had fallen, camp had been set, each knight had slept and taken watch at least once, and then the sun had risen again all by the time Delwyn woke up. It was as slow process at first. The first thing she felt was the warmth of a fire burning close by. Soon after she began to hear the chatter of various men, their voices calm and lighthearted. Behind them, were birds chirping in the distance, alerting her that it was morning. Delwyn opened her eyes cautiously and was greeted by the sky. It was a breathtaking blue, its view only blocked by the many surrounding trees and passing clouds. She was relieved to wake up with a view such as this, having become so friendly with the chilled walls and chains of – no, she wouldn't think of that now.

"I see our damsel in distress has awoken! How do you feel?" Gwaine asked, before taking a bite of an apple.

Delwyn attempted to sit up rather than reply. She hissed in pain as the bruises decorating her abdomen burned. The largest of all the men quickly came to her aid, helping her sit up against a fallen tree. She smiled her thanks at the giant, so large in comparison to her, before she reached up to touch her forehead. It was bandaged, and although not done with much skill, it had stopped the bleeding coming from her small head wound. Delwyn was also clean of the mud that had before plastered itself to her face. She looked around at the small group wondering what kind of men would go through such trouble to help a girl like herself.

"Who – who are you?" She questioned, hoping to not sound too rude. There was, however, something about them that seemed oddly familiar. She assumed they were knights, or warriors of some kind as they were dressed in chain-mail and armor. The blonde, who she remembered stumbling into from before, stood to address her question.

"I am King Arthur of Camelot," he answered. Delwyn would have fallen over again if Percival weren't still supporting her. "These are my Knights of The Round Table. Percival, Gwaine, and Leon." They each nodded respectively.

"You're King Arthur?" Delwyn whispered in awe. She realized then why they looked so familiar. She had never seen them in person, but Merlin's stories of them were always long and detailed. He often told them, when either she nor Gwydre could sleep. They were always such great tales, speaking of heroics and glory, but also friendship and family. The men in front of her were the characters, some of whom just like she imagined. She might of thought Percival to be a little shorter but...

The stories didn't matter though. They were there, in front of her. After such a long time of suffering, of wishing Merlin and Gwydre could go home. Now Arthur was there and everything would be so much easier.

"Are you alright?" Leon asked, both concerned and partially amused at her reaction. Percival's hold on her tightened as tears gathered in her eyes.

"You found us…" She murmured, more to herself than to them.

"More like you found us, tumbling in to his majesty's arms like that," Gwaine laughed. It had the desired effect of making Delwyn blush uncontrollably, lightning the mood. She started sputtering out apologies but stopped when Arthur hushed her and proceeded to whack the boisterous knight upside the head. Then the king walked to her and kneeled down, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"What's the matter?" He asked. Delwyn could not help but reach up and place a hand to his cheek. Although confused, Arthur didn't move.

"You share the same eyes… So blue," She said, voice barely above a whisper. "Merlin always said he had your eyes, but I could never imagine how similar…" Delwyn trailed off then, but her gaze on Arthur still did not waver. The knights had all frozen in place around them. The king pulled back, shut his eyes tight, and shook his head.

"Did you just say – Did you say Merlin?" Arthur questioned, suddenly not so calm. Delwyn still didn't break her gaze.

"Yes."

"How do you know him?"

"He is a dear friend."

"You know where he is?"

That made Delwyn stop in her tracks. She might know where he was. If he hadn't ran off looking for her during the night.

"Merlin, where are you?" She sent telepathically.

"Do you know where he is, Delwyn?" Arthur persisted. He was getting agitated. This was the closest they had been to finding Merlin and Gwydre in four long years. Not once had they found answers, or even any clues. Every person ever questioned merely lead them to more dead ends. Then they found this girl – injured and seemingly lost – who Arthur had never met before, and she claimed to be a 'dear friend' of Merlin's. She spouted off nonsense about his eyes and how they were similar – to whom, the king could only hope. "Please! Do you know Merlin's whereabouts!?"

"Gwydre and I are up the river, close now. Are you alright? I sense others among you." Merlin responded.

Delwyn ignored Arthur's plea's to bask in relief for a moment and then, "Arthur's here."

It went silent. Delwyn could hear nothing but Arthur's consistent pleading in the background.

"I'll be there soon," Merlin said suddenly. She could tell even through the telepathy that he was beyond happy. She was too, if she were being honest. This was all great news.

"Perhaps we scared her. This could be shock?" Percival suggested. Delwyn realized abruptly she'd been staring off at nothing for who knows how long. Percival still had a hold on one of her arms, keeping her steady, while Leon and Gwaine stood back and observed. Arthur was pacing like a mad man, back and forth in front of her.

"No, I'm fine. I was a bit shocked, but I'm fine," Delwyn assured them as she gathered her baring's. Arthur stopped pacing and turned to her, face now more hardened than before.

"You said you knew him?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Do you," Arthur questioned, slowly this time, punctuating every word. "Know where he is?"

"Yes."

"I didn't think – wait… what?" Arthur was nearly certain he was about to fall over. He might have if it weren't for the steady hand Leon placed on his forearm.

"Did you just say you know where Merlin is?" Gwaine continued more clearly.

"Yes. I was just talking to –" Delwyn began to explain, but was not half way through when a very disheveled warlock, carrying nothing but a pack and holding the hand of a four year old prince, ran through the brush. He was panting, as if he had run the entire way there. Yet, despite that and the dirt and scratches marring his appearance, the largest, brightest smile rested on his face.

"Sorry, we're a bit late," Merlin said, still out of breath but holding that smile. "Heard you were in the area and wanted to drop by for a visit."

Delwyn chuckled at the slack-jawed, bug-eyed faces of the knights and king. She then ran forward and scooped up a sleepy looking Gwydre.

"Merlin?" Arthur finally choked out. "It's really you..."

If it was possible, the warlock's smile only grew.