Hooray! Finally got through the major plot blockage on this story, although had to tweak it a bit. Arthur is where I planned Gwaine to be, and Gwaine's part in it, I'll fit in another way.

They made steady progress, Merlin this time riding with Arthur. The prince had an arm around Merlin, and rather than holding the saddle, Merlin's little hands were clinging to Arthur's arm, and his head was resting against Arthur's bicep, snuggling against him for comfort. Arthur didn't comment. Merlin had been seriously rattled by the attack. Arthur wasn't feeling much better about it. Gaius had told him that possession of animals like that was quite a complex skill. Combined with some of the others they had seen from these sorcerers Arthur got the feeling that they were up against something quite powerful.

He was starting to wish he had a full company of guards with him. But that was just not possible, or practical. They were in another kingdom, he couldn't just randomly bring a patrol of Camelot's guards, and it was hardly something of stealth. He didn't think in the long run that the stealth much mattered. They were being watched. The group in the cottage had been last night. Arthur didn't anticipate any obstacles to where they were heading. They were bringing these people exactly what they wanted. Which was Merlin.

Arthur couldn't entirely anticipate what they wanted with him. All he could do was go in to try and get Merlin restored. He wanted Merlin back. The little version was very sweet but unnerving, and Arthur would like his servant to be tall enough to actually do his job. Not that he would ever tell anyone, but he actually missed Merlin, in his normal form.

He kept looking around, even the thought of the birds and small mammals darting around the forest unnerved him. If the sorcerers could use large cats like that, then it would surely be simple enough to do the same to a squirrel, or a blackbird. It felt silly to be so paranoid but Arthur couldn't shift the feeling that they were being watched.

Neither could anyone else in the troop, all of them were looking around, trying to sense out anything that might be a threat. The sun was almost at it's apex in the sky when Arthur pulled up.

"Enough, let's take a break and have something to eat."

A few of them looked confused. Gwaine didn't. He actually smirked as he caught Arthur's eye. He knew enough to know what Arthur was doing. He was trying to throw the enemy off. Arthur couldn't hide the fact they were coming, he had to bring what these sorcerers wanted. The only thing he could do it do it on his own terms. If that meant a casual rest stop then Arthur would do it.

He dismounted and lifted Merlin down, placing him on the floor. The rest of them stepped down and Gwaine concentrated on checking the horses over. Leon checked the boundary and they settled down for lunch. Merlin toddled about, following Arthur more than anyone else. Eventually Merlin latched his hands onto Arthur's chain mail and tugged. Arthur looked down.

"What?"

"I need the toilet!"

"I'm not surprised after all those blackberries," Arthur commented and then the realisation hit him. "Merlin, no, can't Gaius do that."

Obviously not, as Merlin's hands tightened and he leant against Arthur, pressing his body against Arthur's left leg. Arthur tried not to notice the rest of them smirking, while he tried to shake Merlin off. Merlin clung on.

"Come on Merlin, no, Gaius would be better."

"Would I?" the man in question asked.

Morgana started to snigger, which in turn set Gwen off.

"Don't be such a princess, Arthur," Gwaine said with a huge grin on his face.

"Oh, like you'd do it."

Gwaine shrugged. "Yeah, but he doesn't want me. I helped him last night, now it's your turn."

"Arthur!" Merlin little voice whined, while he tugged on the chain mail again. "I need to go!"

The prince felt his face burning, while the other tried to contain their laughter, or not bother to in Gwaine's case. Gaius in the end gave them all a resigned look.

"I think he probably wants you Arthur, because he feels safer with you about. I can come and help deal with Merlin. Is that all right Merlin?"

Still latched onto Arthur, Merlin turned and nodded. Arthur rolled his eyes and reaching down, detached himself from Merlin's grip and picked him up. Merlin snuggled against him with a happy little huff. Still blushing furiously Arthur tilted his head to murmur.

"You are so getting the worst chores I can think of when you are back to size."

Merlin lifted his head and stuck his lower lip out as he gazed up at Arthur.

"Most especially if you are doing this on purpose."

Merlin's little face creased into a frown, and then he gave a big beaming smile which made Arthur grin back. Merlin snuggled back against him as they paused by the small stream that was running through the forest, close to the road. Arthur put Merlin down close to a cluster of bushes.

"I think we'd better take his trousers off, so he doesn't get himself any messier," Gaius mused.

Arthur rolled his eyes and efficiently stripped Merlin out of his boots and trousers, stepping back while Gaius led Merlin behind the bushes. The laughter of the others reached him, the two girls and Gwaine were presumably still cackling over his embarrassment. Arthur couldn't help it, he was a prince, not a nanny, and how the hell was he going to face Merlin when they got him back to normal. Then again, Arthur mused, if the memory of it stayed with him then Merlin was bound to be just as mortified, if not more so. Arthur did have a good level of ammunition against him. He was contenting himself with that as he looked around, still feeling very wary of the sights and sounds of the forests.

It was normally something that never bothered him, he patrolled and hunted, aware of what should be there, and able to usually sense out any threats. Now the threats were deeply hidden, and he didn't like it. His instincts were on alert seeing danger everywhere, but there was nothing to focus on. It was unnerving to say the least. His father was always talking about magic upsetting the natural order of things. Arthur was starting to see the point.

He turned as Gaius lifted Merlin from behind the bushes and sat him down in a shallow part of the stream. Merlin gave a little yip at the cold water but settled down again after a moment, watching the water swirl around him and happily splashing it with his hands. Gaius observed him carefully.

"Will he remember this?" Arthur asked.

"I'm not sure," Gaius murmured. "The memories may not be entirely coherent, if he is remembering it as a two year old, but whatever adult part of his mind is still in there takes it in, then maybe yes. We'll have to wait and see."

Arthur huffed and laughed as Merlin smacked his hand into the water and then winced as it splashed into his face. He reached down to gather up Merlin's clothes and then paused, looking at the air around Merlin. Droplets were floating in the air, slowly lowering down into the water again, and Arthur's eyes scanned the flow of the stream, it seemed slower than before.

"Merlin, come here, now!"

Hearing Arthur's tone Merlin started to get up, and Arthur stepped to meet him, but he spun round as he realised that he couldn't hear the others any more, he couldn't hear anything any more. The only sound was the splashing as Merlin, aiming for safety, crawled out of the water, getting the sleeves of his shirt wet as he did so.

The next sound was Arthur slowly drawing his sword, backing up towards him. Merlin paused, looking up at Arthur, staying as close to him as possible without getting too near in case the prince needed to wield the sword.

"Sire," Gaius asked.

"We're going to head back to the others, just move a bit closer, and get Merlin."

"Sire!" This time Gaius yelled in warning.

Merlin gave a yelp, and Arthur spun round in time to see the water surge up from the stream in a sudden wave that crashed around Merlin, knocking him over and dragging him back down the bank. Arthur lunged forward grabbing one of Merlin's arms. He didn't have time to be gentle, he yanked Merlin up into the air and almost threw him into his chest, wrapping his arm around Merlin to hold him there. Merlin whimpered and yelped and as Arthur turned and he froze. He hled his sword out ready and shifted his stance as he stared at the four people who had suddenly appeared.

"I really don't think you want to do that, Sire."

The man who drawled the words so confidently had Gaius held with a knife to his throat. Merlin gave an anguished yelp, reaching out a hand to his guardian, and he started to cry fractiously. The fingers of his other hand had worked under Arthur's armour, and he tugged. Clinging to him and trying to reach Gaius. Gaius winced as the blade pressed into his neck. Arthur's jaw tensed as he moved out of his fighting stance and dropped his sword on the ground with a clatter. He moved his eyes as carefully as he could to glance in the direction he knew the others were.

A woman was stood there, her back to him, long dark blonde hair falling in a line down her back. She had her hands lifted, palms forward as if trying to ward something off.

"You're friends can't help you, they are shielded from you, and for them only a few seconds are passing."

"You had better not hurt them," Arthur snarled. Merlin whimpered, kicking his legs, and wriggling in Arthur's arms. Arthur took a tighter hold of him and ran a hand up and down Merlin's back.

"They are of no interest to us," the second man in the group announced. He was tall and thin, with white hair and intense grey eyes. "To them, you will be gone in the blink of an eye. And if they follow, it is at their own peril. They will be too late anyway and if you don't come willingly… well…"

He waved a hand in the direction of his companion and Gaius. Gaius flinched as the blade made a small nick and blood started to flow. Arthur hissed with anger and Merlin sobbed. Arthur moved, and the sorcerers tensed. The prince paused and pointed at Merlin's boots and trousers.

"He needs his clothes."

"Very well," the white haired man announced. Arthur slowly crouched down, still keeping Merlin in his arms and he swept up the boots and trousers.

"I need to dress him."

The man laughed. "He's not going to need them for very long, you just keep hold of your little servant."

Arthur shifted Merlin in his arms and settled him against his chest. Merlin's little hand was still clinging to his armour, and Arthur could feel him trembling. The white haired man's eyes flared gold, Arthur tensed and then gasped as it felt like every muscle in his arms cramped up. It wasn't painful, but they all just seemed to lock in position. He tried to move but found he couldn't. Somehow his arms had been locked around Merlin. It rendered Arthur helpless and Merlin unable to get out of his grasp. Merlin made little whimpering sounds as he gasped for breath. Arthur relaxed a little as the knife came away from Gaius' neck. He got the feeling that Merlin would never forgive him if anything happened to his guardian.

The white haired man waved as his male companion, who thankfully took the knife away from Gaius's throat, and instead dragged him along the edge of the stream. He stepped back in an indication that Arthur should follow him. There wasn't much else he could do. Merlin's crying and whimpering had calmed, but he was taking short, shocked breaths. Arthur did as he was bid and started walking. Lowering his head he murmured at Merlin.

"It's all right Merlin, Gaius is fine, and he'll be all right. I'll look after you both, I promise."

"Uh-huh," Merlin made a little sound of agreement, his body relaxing, trusting Arthur totally in what he was saying. He kept his eyes on Gaius and hoped that the others noticed soon, that something had gone very wrong.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The giggling had continued for a while, and Gwen had got things ready. But they all turned and looked up as there was a sudden mysterious flash of light. Gwaine spun on his heel, drawing his sword at the same time.

"Damnit!" he swore, running in the direction he knew the three people had gone. The rest of them hurried behind him and then all screeched to a halt at the stream. The only sign that they had been there was Arthur's sword, abandoned on the ground. Gwaine reached down to pick it up, looking around, assessing the soft ground. Leon did the same.

"Where are they?" Gwen asked, looking around in confusion. "We would have heard something surely!"

"There were others here, not just Arthur and Gaius, but no tracks, no indication of where they went," Leon said.

"They used sorcery," Gwaine said, pointing to the ground, there was a dark line across the floor, as if it had been carefully painted across the soil and leaves that were scattered on the floor. "They hid from us."

"What would they want with Gaius and Arthur?" Morgana asked. Gwaine looked up at her.

"Probably nothing, but two of us, rather than five was probably easier to deal with, and the only fighter was Arthur. Plus he wouldn't risk either Gaius or Merlin getting hurt," Gwaine said, looking at Arthur's sword, held in his left hand. "He probably surrendered to protect one of them."

"Now what do we do?" Morgana huffed.

"We know exactly where they are going," Gwaine snarled, rising to his feet. "Let's get the horses and move."

Leon turned to him, frowning. "You're not in charge here."

Gwaine glared at him, sheathing his own sword, and holding Arthur's.

"Neither are you. Now I'm going after them, we know where the cave is, by the look of it they used magic so no doubt they have a head start on us. We need to go now and not waste time."

"We're up against sorcerers, and the only person who has any knowledge that could help us has been taken," Leon pointed out. "They have Gaius."

Gwaine eyed him carefully before saying, "they don't have me, now let's go!"