"Where have you been all day?" Gaius asked a tinge of annoyance in his voice. "You had me sick with worry!"

Eilwen removed her cloak, throwing it on a nearby stool. She rushed over to where Gaius was sitting looking over a book.

"You wouldn't believe what happened today!"

Gaius' eyes narrowed. "Do I need to ask? You didn't go into the forest after those wolves did you?"

Eilwen's face turned pink; her eyes shifted.

"Yes…but it's ok Gaius 'cause they're innocent! You see, Nedric fell in love with the pack leader's wife and they're not really werewolves they're shape shifters! And…"

Gaius lifted up a hand to hush Eilwen. "Please, my dear, these ears are too old to listen to a million things at once. Slow down."

Eilwen took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "To make a long story short, Nedric is the guilty one not the wolves. They were in danger and they acted in self defence. If Nedric hadn't made a big fuss about them in the first place, none of this would have happened."

Gaius stared at her for a long time; searching for any lies in what she had said. He sighed.

"I believe you. It's just trying to get everyone else to believe you that is the problem."

"We'll just talk to Uther. He has to believe us!"

"But we need proof, Eilwen. We can't just go to Uther telling him Nedric is the one at fault, not a pack of werewolves."

"They're not werewolves; they're shape shifters who just like to take the forms of wolves." Eilwen corrected.

"In any case," Gaius continued. "It's still not wise to challenge Uther's decision. The riders will go searching with Nedric tomorrow: we are helpless."

Eilwen's eyes widened. "Tomorrow!? Why so soon?'

"Nedic wants to dispose of these creatures as soon as possible." Gaius replied rubbing his forehead.

Eilwen shook her head. "Doesn't matter, we'll leave right now. We'll get them out of here, send them someplace far, far away. Merlin and I will…"

The look on Gaius' face when Eilwen had mentioned Merlin stopped her mid sentence.

"What is it Gaius?"

Gaius's eyes reflected sadness; he was just about to say something when a familiar voice interrupted.

"There you are Eilwen! I was just looking for you." Merlin said as he approached the small gathering. "I have amazing news!"

"So do I." Eilwen said. "But you first. I feel like I've been talking all day."

Merlin smiled. "I get to go hunt for the werewolves with Nedric! Actually, I'm more like assisting him with the hunting, but I get to go! I finally get to see a werewolf up close, isn't that incredible?"

Eilwen's face fell at what Merlin had just said. He noticed the sudden change.

"What's wrong? I thought you would be pleased?"

"Pleased?" Eilwen's voice started to rise. "Pleased about you going off to kill some poor innocent creature?!"

"Innocent?" Merlin asked his nose wrinkling with disgust. "They killed Nedric's whole village: you heard him."

"That's partly true, but it was all caused by Nedric. He fell in love with the pack leader's wife. He saw them transform and alerted the village council. They were imprisoned and they had to save themselves from being killed. That's what happened."

Merlin's eyes narrowed. "Now you've gone too far."

"What?" Eilwen asked, shock in het tone.

"I know you're on a mission to save every magical creature in the world from destruction, but these monsters killed Nedric's family! They deserve what's coming to them." Merlin said.

Eilwen looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Of all people Merlin, I thought you would be the one to empathize with them!"

"When a man's family is slaughtered in front of his eyes, all of my empathy seems to 'magically' run out." Merlin replied coolly.

Sadness quickly turning to anger, Eilwen slammed her fist on the table. "Fine! I'm going to help them with or without you!" she retrieved her cloak from the table; storming out of the apartment.

Before Eilwen could properly slam the door behind her Merlin shouted.

"Fine! But don't expect any sympathy from me or Nedric when those wolves turn on you!"

Gaius walked over to Merlin; smacking him in the back of the head.

"What was that for?!" Merlin asked as he rubbed where Gaius had hit him.

"That's for being an idiot." Gaius said smacking him again.

"Ouch! And that?"

"That was for Eilwen." Gaius said smirking.