Near Camelot

Cerdan and Mordred had walked for many miles now. Cerdan could sense his son's tiredness as a couple of times he'd fallen behind. Each time Cerdan had allowed a brief stop. They had eaten most of their supplies by now; just a piece of bread each was left.

"Try and make it last, once we get to Camelot we can get some more food." Cerdan had smiled at his son.

Mordred had smiled back, pushing his blue cloak hood down he studied his father, before asking a question that had long had him curious.

"Why is Camelot dangerous for us?" he asked.

Cerdan remained briefly quiet before explaining, "Camelot is ruled by a man named Uther Pendragon. This man hates magic, well anything to do with magic. He fears it so anyone who has magic is not made welcome in Camelot."

"Why does he fear it?" Mordred asked suddenly desperate to talk.

"A lot of people fear what they don't understand Mordred. Magic can appear a frightening thing to those who do not possess it. It's like a fear of the unknown." He shrugged.

Mordred remained quiet for a second before saying in a quiet voice.

"Is it true to say we are risking our lives then, by going to Camelot."

Cerdan looked at his son, suddenly wondering how to explain it to him. He didn't want to frighten him any more than necessary. But at the same time Mordred needed to know the risks they were taking.

"Yes I suppose that is true. But I will be with you, we will not stop any longer than we have too. Once we pick up our supplies we will be off and away to our new life." He ended up smiling at Mordred. His son returned the smile but Cerdan could see the fear in his eyes as well.

Taking Mordred by the hand they set off again towards Camelot. Cerdan guessed it was but a couple of hours away, then they could put all the trouble behind them, and plan for the future.

Camelot

Arthur had just finished off telling his men about the plan to trap the Druid. Satisfied that his men understood what they where doing he went in search of Merlin, his useless servant. In the time that he and Merlin had known each other, Arthur had become familiar with the way that his servant would suddenly disappear on him, whenever he needed a word with him. Today had been no exception. While Arthur had gone around questioning everyone whether they'd seen him, he became aware of the look of amusement on people's faces as the young Prince hunted high and low for the half wit. Cursing under his breath, he suddenly heard a noise in his chambers, and he went and investigated.

"What are you doing?" Arthur said in an irritated voice.

Merlin stopped dusting and gave a familiar look over in Arthur's direction.

"Don't be making faces Merlin, I thought I asked you to do this yesterday?" he said picking up his sword from the table.

"I was in the process of doing it yesterday, then you gave me another job, and then another one. I ran out of time, unless you wanted me to do it when you where asleep." The servant remarked rolling his eyes.

"Merlin!" Arthur shouted. "I don't know why I put up with you. Anyone else would off sacked you by now."

Merlin picked up the duster and grinned to himself continuing his task. "Um I often wonder about that myself."

"What about why I don't sack you?" The Prince asked thinking he'd caught Merlin out.

"No about why I put up with you sire." Merlin replied with a lob sided grin.

Arthur snorted "You put with me because you don't have any choice." He smiled.

"Ah I see." Merlin smiled

"Not that you'd know it the tone you take with me." Arthur said with a sudden sigh.

"Someone has to keep you on your toes." Merlin replied.

"Merlin do you always have to have the last word?" Arthur asked

"Well." Merlin began with a snigger.

"Don't bother answering that." Arthur barked. "Anyway I have a special job for you to do."

"Oh joy." Merlin muttered to himself. "Another one."

"There is a store room near the dungeons I need some boxes taking out and bringing into my chambers. Do you think you can manage that?"

"Well I'll do my best." Merlin said.

"And Merlin when I say today, I mean today not tomorrow or the next day." Arthur said with a weary resignation.

"I will go and see to it right away." Merlin said with a nod. Noticing that Arthur was taking his sword he asked curiously. "Are you going anywhere interesting?"

"I have a little task I need to do." Arthur said. "Don't let it concern you."

"Shouldn't I be going with you if it's away from the castle?" Merlin asked suddenly concerned.

"Merlin it may surprise you but I have managed on my own; long before you arrived in Camelot!" Arthur said in a light hearted exasperated tone.

"Well yes I realise that of course, but it's just the King_"

"What my father doesn't know won't hurt him Merlin. Providing you don't let the secret out of course."

"I'll let you know I'm very good at keeping secrets sire." Merlin said with a grimace that Arthur didn't see, as the Prince was too busy laughing his head off.

Merlin watched as the Prince left the room his laugher following him down the corridor. Left on his own Merlin murmured to himself "If only you knew."

Outside Camelot

Cerdan and Mordred had by now left the forest behind and where on the long road that led to Camelot. All of a sudden they where regularly passing people on the road, Mordred noticed his father had tensed somewhat. For Mordred he found the prospect of seeing people after the secrecy of the Druid camp a liberating experience.

Mordred's eyes where everywhere. Mostly they had seen people making their way to the market. But once some Knights rode by and Cerdan had pulled Mordred protectively amongst a group of people. Mordred had never seen the Knights before, and it somehow thrilled him, despite everything. They looked so smart with their red and grey uniform with the crest of Camelot on their capes that flew behind them.

As they walked down the hill Cerdan and Mordred could see the entrance to the lower town. The closer they got to it the busier the road became. Even now Cerdan was thinking ahead, just in case they ran into any problems. There were plenty of people around that they could take cover in, should the worst come to the worst. Cerdan made sure he kept smiling at his son, pulling him protectively too him, every now and then.

They where now yards away from the entrance, and were lost in a swirl of people. For Mordred this was a mixture of emotions, both exciting and frightening to him at the same time. He had pulled his hood over his head as his father had requested him and he touched the hood, as if afraid that it would fall down and the whole world would see him for what he was, a Druid in Camelot.
As if sensing his son's nervousness Cerdan smiled down at him and put his hand around Mordred's head, leading his son through the various colourful and busy stalls. Cerdan's only plan was to get to the stall as soon possible so they could make haste their departure from Camelot. Looking ahead suddenly the familiar face of Tanmer came into view, and Cerdan escorted his son to the stall.

Basement, Camelot

Merlin sighed and dusted himself down it would appear that nobody had been into the store room for years. Yet something else that Arthur had failed to warn him about the warlock thought with irritation.

Finding the boxes that Arthur had wanted bringing into his chambers quite easily, he began the task of taking them up to Arthur's room; that in itself was a huge job, as the boxes appeared to be wider than the doors. Merlin found himself having to manoeuvre the boxes through the door at a haphazard angle. Checking that no one was about he decided to use an extra bit of help. As his eyes turned orange the boxes suddenly became more slender, which enabled him to get the boxes through relatively easily, doing the job in a lot less time, than he had first anticipated. Making sure that he locked the door, and feeling pleased with himself at having a few moments to himself, he decided to sneak back to his chambers.

At the Stall in the Lower Market

Cerdan looked around before making his way over to the stall. As he moved around his senses acute, he looked around for any sign of danger. He had noticed that there seemed to be more guards around than the first time he'd come to Camelot, that made him feel extra alert. If they managed to get hold of the supplies now he worked out they could be out of Camelot and on their way to their new camp with just a few hours of daylight still left. With luck they could make the camp by tomorrow lunchtime. Then the new life he had promised his precious son.

Satisfied that no one was watching them he approached Tanmer. The young man had seen them straight away. As Cerdan moved closer, his senses tensed up suddenly, something was wrong, he could tell by how nervous the young man seemed. Preparing to leave quickly if need be; he approached the stall and checking around him before he spoke.

"Have you our supplies we must leave Camelot as quickly as possible."

"I have everything you asked for." Tanmer replied then he looked at Cerdan with regret and said quietly "I'm sorry."

Before Tanmer had even apologised Cerdan was ushering Mordred under the table, as suddenly guards came running after them. As they ran Cerdan pulled a whicker basket to the floor causing items to fall at the following guard's almost causing a couple to fall. He knew it would not detain them for long. He desperately looked around him, anxious that Mordred could keep up with him.

"Run ahead Mordred." Cerdan cried pushing his son through the market stalls. As he said that he could hear guards behind them. Crowds of people parted as Cerdan and Mordred ran for their lives, behind him Cerdan could hear the guards. He desperately looked around him for some form of escape. There seemed to be no obvious route for them to take. Cerdan looked around in sheer despair, like an animal that had been cornered. As he looked ahead he saw the white towers of Camelot rising up above, like a phoenix out of the ashes.

This was the place he had been brought up as a Druid to fear. It was a place that could only mean death for anyone of his kind. Yet as he sensed the guards gaining on him, it seemed to be the only answer for them. He urged Mordred to keep on running ahead, yet just as they ran along the drawbridge, a guard came out of nowhere a sword in his hand, slicing at Mordred and cutting him so hard he cried out in pain. Cerdan instinctively raised his hand and cried out a spell, that simultaneously sent the man flying through the air banging into the wall.

Cerdan knew he had but seconds to save his precious son, he crouched down and held Modred looking into his eyes with emotion threatening to overcome pointed to the narrow door that led into the courtyard and said

"Run Mordred. Run."

For a split second Mordred starred at his father with disbelief, the look broke Cerdan's heart in two.

"Run." Cerdan repeated, Mordred needed no other encouragement and took off towards the door.

As Mordred moved towards the door Cerdan raised his hand and shouted "Abbanna ati." Suddenly the door began to close.

Cerdan stood and waited for the guards to arrive the only thing he could see in that moment was the look of heartbreak on Mordred's face, as the door slowly closed on him. As the door finally shut two guards grabbed hold of Cerdan and pulled him away, but he felt nothing other than the pain of being parted from the only person who mattered to him. As he was escorted away suddenly he saw the face of Jayall, and tears streamed down his face, as he realised he would not be able to keep the promise he had made to her.