Merlin raced around his chamber, collecting a mixture of items which included a dagger, a document on Dochraid and a flask of water.

"Will you do something for me?"

Merlin grunted in a reply.

"You need to swear to me you will look after yourself, Merlin." Gaius pleaded through the silence that had loomed over them both in anticipation.

"If I must." He sighed. "I swear to you, Gaius, that I will look after myself, is that enough?" He turned and walked through the door, stopping

momentarily to look over his shoulder at the Prince who was stirring. "Swear to me you will look after Arthur." He whispered.

"I swear." Gaius nodded him, sending him away with a small shooing gesture.

Merlin crept into the stable and mounted his horse, only to be promptly stopped by Lancelot, who was standing alongside Auryn.

"Auryn." Merlin snapped. "You were supposed to be gathering supplies, do I remember correctly?" He raised his eyebrows at the two, who were

blushing furious shades of scarlet and quite plainly thinking of an excuse or reason to be together.

"Yes.. well... of course." She stumbled over her words as if her tongue had been caught with wires.

"She stopped to talk to me." Lancelot said quickly, earning himself a thankful gaze from her.

"Wow. Brilliant. Just... we have more important things to worry about, don't we dear cousin?" Merlin's voice was sickly sweet.

"There is no need to say it like such, Merlin. I know you two are related already. Plus, the looks are uncannily similar."

"Insult or complement, I do not wish to know." He sighed. "Just concentrate on saving the city, is that easy enough for you?" Auryn nodded in

reply, as did Lancelot. "You go for less than a moment and you have already told Lancelot everything?! How did you know he even knew I was

magic? Or you were? You could have got us both killed!" Merlin raged, his cheeks flaming also. "Just get on with what needs to be done. We

have not only a Prince and a King to save, but potentially a whole kingdom also." With that Merlin rode on, kicking dust into the two's faces.

He rode over hill after hill, through forest after forest. But he could fathom no idea of where to find Dochraid.

"Breathe Merlin, breathe." He attempted to soothe his agitated state, after all his breathing had become erratic as his fear and anxiety grew.

"You just need to.. breathe." He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply over and over.

Upon opening them, he saw a tree in the distance, ,which he had not noticed before.

Its branches were dark and they spread into the sky, bare and looming over all surrounding it. At the very same time it seemed as graceful as a

young lily flower yet was as terrifying as a thunder storm. The trunk was thick and wide, the bark damp and grey, riddled with age.

As he neared the tree, the ground grew dry, Merlin could hear the horse's hooves crush the grass underfoot.

The sky grew black and gloomy, the air still and silent. Fog appeared, blinding Merlin for a few seconds, until it disappeared and Merlin could see

clearer than before. His head light and blank, he stared, gormless, at the tree before regaining his senses.

A small opening at the base of the tree trunk had revealed itself; the bark had been stripped back, displaying a small cave-like hole.

Jumping off of his horse, he headed for the door before spinning on his heels to head in the opposite direction.

"Cabbage." He grimaced, remembering a passage in the document. "Bloody Dragoon the Great." He rummaged around in his satchel to find a

small vial of powder.

Taking a pinch and cursing himself for not doing this in the castle where a cauldron could be used, he chanted

"Miht dagan, bebecce me, Adeadab bisne gast min freondum ond min feondum."

The white powder exploded and he transformed into the old man he had hoped he must never become again.

Taking each step slowly, he entered Dochraid's dwelling.

"Emrys." She snarled. "There is nothing to be done. Arthur, along with Camelot soon after, is doomed."

Merlin stopped still, his blood running cold.