Hi guys! Sorry this didn't come up on Tuesday like I promised, I got horribly sick. Hope you enjoy it now it's here though!

"What is our plan, exactly? Do we have a plan?" asked Arthur, as they strolled by the brook like Furrow had instructed Merlin. He chuckled.

"It used to be me asking you that question, my liege," he grinned, looking over his shoulder. The path was narrow so they couldn't walk alongside one another.

Arthur guffawed, "I nearly always had an answer."

"Yes, you did. It was either an honest 'no', or a lie," he teased, looking up the hill. They could see the small dwelling, and a piece of the pond as well. Merlin felt like he had left something in the motel room. He figured it was just guilt for neglecting Essie, but he knew she would understand. She always did, after all.

"Okay, so we knock," tried Arthur, "introduce ourselves –"

"As who?" interjected Merlin, "you've seen how the people of this town react to outsiders, Arthur. Remember that we cannot go knocking around and introducing ourselves as the king and his manservant anymore. We have to be inconspicuous, if we can manage it."

Arthur's eyebrows furrowed, not used to this policy, but he accepted it. It was sometimes hard to remember that he wasn't a king anymore.

"Alright, so we can be…" his mind was drawing up blanks. He still didn't know enough about this time era to think of anything that would make sense.

"Not authority, we know how people here feel about them," Merlin reminded him, "and not the press either, you read Xhu's article. Diana Tyler is hardly welcoming."

"They hate being pestered," remembered Arthur, "but they like casual conversation."

"Oh, yes, that makes perfect sense! 'Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Tyler, we heard about your child dying. Fancy a cup of tea?'"

"Ha ha," Arthur mocked, "your sarcasm never fails to amuse me."

"I'd hazard a guess that one of their boys is going to answer the door," Merlin reasoned, still snickering, "if we can just as them to let us in as friends… I know enough people here based on before to introduce myself. You – stay silent."

Arthur rolled his eyes as they finally reached the cottage. Cottage wasn't a very suitable word – it was more of a large shack. Despite their father being a carpenter, it seemed to Merlin that he had neglected his own home completely. It was tall and crooked, leaning slightly to the left. Despite its height, it was obvious that there was no upstairs, except perhaps a small attic. They had no porch or even a fence, but instead an eroded pathway that also forked left towards the pond, which was only a couple yards behind the house. There was also an evil eye talisman with iron pieces dangling at the side of the rickety door, which was left slightly ajar.

Merlin came to it quietly as to not disturb them, Arthur directly behind him. He then knocked hesitantly. Not getting a reply, Arthur reached over Merlin's shoulder and rapped on the door more loudly. Merlin threw Arthur a half-willed glare before a young boy appeared next to the door.

The boy was tall and twiggy, about eleven years old, with a mess of wheat-colored shaggy hair piled atop his large head. His bright green eyes were narrow, which he squinted at the visitors without greeting, waiting for them to explain why they had landed on his doorstep.

"Hello," greeted Merlin, willing Arthur to be silent behind him, "My name is Ryss" - (Merlin decided a nickname from 'Emrys would do) - "I used to live down in Gillan."

The boy didn't answer as he peered at Arthur, whose presence Merlin couldn't figure was assuring or threatening.

"Whadaya want?" said the boy quietly, looking back up to Merlin.

"I just wanted to meet your mom and dad, and give them this," Merlin said, pulling out some cake Essie had made a while ago, and a small bouquet of flowers he magicked into his hand with a snap. Arthur raised his eyebrows at the magic, feeling a bit uneasy but otherwise glad Merlin had thought of a peace offering.

The boy squinted at the cake, obviously desiring it. Merlin offered a chunk of it, which the boy took and shoveled into his mouth. He looked at the visitors once more, before saying, "careful you don;t trip… and don't be loud."

He widened the door a bit more and then disappeared, which Merlin guessed was an open invitation inside.

The interior of the house was reflective of its exterior. Plain and extremely modest, Merlin couldn't help but think back at least two centuries by looking at the furnishings.

It was all made of the same material of wood, embellished by small cheap doilies and vases. There was a rough carpet strewn across the rickety floor, and two simple deep green sofas by a tiny fireplace, which was loaded with firewood. There was also an old cuckoo clock, which issued a loud booming tock with every movement of its second hand.

There was only one wide window, which looked to the pond. There was a thick curtain, however, which impeded the view. The curtain, Merlin figured, was the newest addition to the small rectangular room.

Arthur glanced up the stairs to his right, which was near the front door, wondering if Diana Tyler had hidden herself somewhere in the attic.

"I'll call Josh," said the boy, who had grabbed the rest for the cake which Merlin had handed him, ignoring the flowers.

"Josh?

"M'brother," he answered over his shoulder with a mouth full of cake, as he disappeared out another door across them, which must have led outside to the pond. Merlin plaed the flowers in a small vase by the sofa, and they both took a seat on a couch, which was hard and dusty. Arthur coughed.

Soon another boy of about fourteen entered from the back door. He was also much taller and skinnier, and his pale skin had a faint grey tinge.

"Whadaya want?" demanded the boy Arthur guessed must have been Josh, "George said you brought us food?"

Merlin reintroduced himself, and Arthur as Artie. He raised a hand to shake, but Josh didn't take it. He merely regarded them both coolly.

"Whadaya want?" he repeated. Arthur chipped in, ignoring Merlin's warning.

"We are just visiting some of our relatives here in Gillan, and we thought we would drop by."

"What, out of the goodness of your hearts?" he said, his eyes narrowing and crossing his thin arms. He wasn't buying it.

"Furrow told us about your youngest," Merlin interjected, hoping his bluntness would be made up for with a familiar name, "we're so sorry."

Luckily, the boy's stiff mouth softened as he remembered the tragedy that had passed. He didn't answer, but his eyes were glassy.

There was a short pause, when he finally whispered, "So you thought cake would make it better?"

Merlin sighed and said, "No. But we wanted to do something to show our support."

The boy remained still. Arthur felt the silence growing thicker.

"How's your mother?" he asked gently. The boy's eyes grew glassier.

"Not well. She's asleep, right now. She sleeps a lot, nowadays, so I have to take care of my brothers," he replied quietly, his voice quivering.

"Are you the oldest?"

"Nah, Josh is the oldest. He's in a real bad state as well, so I've taken over."

Merlin tried to be sensitive when he said, "what about your dad? Is he working in the shed?"

"Dad's always in the shed, even since before Austin drowned," Josh snapped.

Arthur deliberated whether he should, before moving forward and gripping the boy's shoulder and leveling himself with him. Josh didn't pull away, but he looked at Arthur defiantly, sick of being patronized and coddled. Arthur felt a rush of sympathy, relating deeply.

"My mother died when I was born," Arthur told him firmly, staring into Josh's green eyes which glittered with tears, "my father was never the same after that… I also – I also lost a sister."

Josh was still glaring at Arthur, but not in a mean way. Rather, his glare had become softer, showing the vulnerable boy of his age who had lost a little brother.

Merlin looked between them, a strong emotion taking hold of him. He felt a tugging in his gut, and he remembered Arthur as a king. This was the king.

Arthur's hand rested on Josh's shoulder, and he squeezed it firmly before telling him, "You are a strong young man. Let yourself be weak sometimes, for your own sake. Bottling it up does nothing."

Josh, for the first time in what he could remember, smiled, a tear falling own his cheek and staining his dirty shirt. The man's words hit him hard, and he guiltlessly thought that he had been more of a father figure to him within five minutes of meeting each other than his actual father had ever been in his entire lifetime.

Merlin stepped forward.

"Josh," he said softly, "can we see your older brother?"

Josh was still looking into Arthur's reassuring blue eyes, their calming effect taking over as he answered, "as long as we're quiet."

He turned and gestured for them to follow him, and he led them out the back door. They found themselves in a small glen, like the dead end Merlin had occupied before with Furrow. The grass was tall and uncut, spotted with dandelions, English daisies, and clovers. The ground was also very soft and mushy, which was a great contrast with the rest of the very dry town.

The glen ended at the sharp dip which became the infamous Gillan pond, which shimmered mischievously in the bright sunlight. It was canopied by a large weeping willow, which hung primarily over a small area of large rocks. Merlin guessed Fred Tyler was responsible for the unstable dock hugged by the rocks surrounding it.

"He's over there," Josh pointed. Merlin squinted through the harsh sunlight and spotted him. He was sitting hidden between to large boulders directly under the willow tree, one foot dipped in the water and the other hugged to his chest. He was staring into the depths of the pond, sitting so still it was easy to mistake him for a statue out of a grave yard.

"How has he been coping?" Arthur asked Josh. He shrugged.

"He's just been staring, mostly. Doesn't talk much anymore… none of us do," Josh added, looking over his shoulder as he continued to lead them down the path to the dock, "Austin… he used to do all the talking."

Another tear leaked out of the corner of his eye as he stepped aside, letting them pass in front of him to reach Tom.

"It's a waste of time, trying to talk to him," Josh blurted from behind them. He was looking at Arthur when he said it, "he only ever says the same thing over and over."

Arthur nodded in solidarity, as they walked up to the dock towards the boulder Tom was sitting on. He didn't seem to notice their presence, or rather he didn't care. They were timid, cautious of scaring him.

"Tom Tyler?" called Merlin carefully. The boy didn't flinch, even when Merlin repeated his name twice more. They were now standing directly behind him on the dock, his boulder a small space away. Merlin looked to Arthur for support. Arthur exhaled, then hopped onto the rock and crouched down, sitting beside the boy on the edge of the boulder. Tom still didn't move.

"Tom? Can you hear me?" asked Arthur. He felt like a physician of the damned.

"Yes," Tom answered, still looking ahead. Arthur raised an eyebrow at Merlin, who shrugged, eyes trained on the back of Tom's neck.

"Are you willing to talk with us?" Arthur tried. He didn't answer. Merlin also came and sat on the other side of the boy.

"Tom, look at me," he asked of him gently. Tom finally moved his head to face Merlin, his eyes still lost in some distance. His eyes were bright blue and heavily clouded. Merlin gripped his chin gently and moved his head to the light, examining him carefully.

"His mind has been touched," Merlin said softly.

"Touched?"

"Something like magic, but… not quite," Merlin murmured, "We can ask him questions, but just straight ones. I don't think he's able to answer otherwise."

Arthur's eyebrows now drew together. Merlin let go of the boy's chin, and Tom moved his head back into the exact same position it had been in, back to watching the soft waves of the lake. Merlin remarked how blue the pond was, despite the amount of algae and flora that lived in the shallow water. It was also roofed by far too many wide trees to reflect the sky.

"Tom, do you remember who you are?"

"I am Tom Tyler."

"Do you know how old you are?"

He remained quiet.

"Tom, do you remember how old you are?" Arthur repeated patiently.

"16."

"Okay," Arthur nodded, looking to Merlin as they both understood they had to say his name, "Tom, what is the last thing you remember?"

There was a short pause, before he finally said, "my mother."

"What do you remember about your mother, Tom?"

"She told me not to."

"Not to what, Tom? What did you mother tell you not to do?"

"Play by the pond," he answered slowly, his voice quavering a little. Arthur and Merlin exchanged glances.

"Tom… Tom, do you remember Austin?"

Tom gasped.

"Austin Tyler. My little brother. He is dead."

Merlin swallowed, then asked, "Do you remember how?"

There was short silence.

"Tom, do you remember how your little brother died?"

"I pulled him under."

"Wh-what did you say? Tom –"

"I pulled him under."

Arthur and Merlin held their stare.

"Tom, you drowned your little brother?"

"Yes."

They sat in a stunned silence, before Merlin reminded Arthur, "his mind has been addled with. Yes?"

Arthur nodded slowly, still staring at Tom in not disbelief, but something more like critical observance.

"Tom, can you tell me about the pretty song?" tried Arthur, remembering what Mary Xhu had told them in the pub.

"Song. He sang a pretty song."

"Who is 'he', Tom?"

"He… he is… unknown."

His answer reminded Merlin of computers. It was like he was, as Essie would have put it, programmed to repeat what he was told. It was like someone was typing what to answer from somewhere remote.

"Pretty song…" Tom drawled, swinging his foot which was dipped in the water. Merlin sighed.

"Well, we know that this thing is something like the Elder Mother, and I would hazard a guess that it used Austin and a bit of Tom to become stronger."

"Stronger?"

"To have its own form, I think. The Elder Mother would have done so as well, had we not stopped her. This has been going on for longer, I think."

"If it's a shape shifter, why would it need a human form?" inquired Arthur, leaning back and scratching his head. Tom was giggling to himself absentmindedly.

"Well, shape shifting is a lot of energy, you must understand this. Coming back to the living – assuming this thing had died and come back with you like the Elder Mother – it would have taken immense energy. Whatever this thing is, it would have to borrow energy from other living things in order to just survive. By the looks of it, Austin and Tom were enough to sustain it enough to get its own form."

"Okay, so this thing could still look like anything?"

"Father."

They both looked to Tom, who was shivering. It looked like he was choking, choking on his own words.

"Tom?"

"Father. Father!" he screamed, looking to Merlin. Merlin gripped the sides of his head, looking deeply into the boy's eyes again. They were even bluer than before, and his pupils had vanished.

Merlin muttered a couple of words under his breath, trying to fight the curse that was on the forsaken kid. He shivered even harder as Merlin's eyes gleamed with gold, before going completely slack.

"What did you do?" demanded Arthur, who was now holding the boy, letting Tom fall back into his lap. He was sweating profusely.

"I put him to sleep," muttered Merlin, looking around him. Josh had returned and was now staring at them, a question clearly drawn in his facial expression. Distrust slipped into his puny features.

"Tom was put into a trance and used as a tool… his saying 'father' was the first voluntary thing he has done since the death of his brother, I think."

Arthur huffed, then looked down at Tom.

"Will he be alright?" he questioned Merlin, evidently deeply concerned.

"Yes, but only as long as we are quick to capture whatever did this to him, so we can permanently release Tom from the spell.

Merlin's mind was racing, then remembered Essie.

"We should get back," he told Arthur quietly, as Josh started to make his way towards them, "tell Essie everything, and see if she has found anything. We cannot lose any more time."

"Oi! What's happened to –"

Tom stopped dead cold in his tracks as he stared at his unconscious brother, his bright blue eyes peaking through his dancing eyelids. Josh grew pale.

"What… what's going on?"

"Josh, you must listen to us," Merlin interjected quickly getting up, "your family is in grave danger from this pond. You must stay somewhere else."

"Yeah, and where do you suggest?" he responded meanly, "who are you?"

"I am Merlin, and this is Arthur," Merlin introduced honestly, "you have to trust us. You've noticed something has been going on lately. Trust your instincts, if not us."

Josh glared at Merlin with cold eyes, then back at his brother. He then glanced back at the house, where his brother was playing in front of and in which his mother must be sleeping.

"You can stay with Furrow, he will understand," suggested Merlin. Josh looked back to Merlin, then at Arthur, He gave a reassuring nod.

"Okay."

"Okay," Merlin nodded. It was now a race against time.

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