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Disclaimer: IDOM

~MERLIN~

Merlin didn't realize how hungry he was until he caught the mouse running across the forest floor. His sharp fangs and talons dug into it before he even realized what he was doing and it wasn't until he had consumed most of it that he pulled back, disgusted.

"Ugh," he said. "Gross." The human part of his mind wanted to be sick, he had after all just eaten a raw mouse, but the other part of his mind, the instinctual part, told him that it was good, that he needed more.

He turned away from the mouse, fighting down the impulse to finish it off, and looked for Evelyn. What would she think of what he had just done?

"I forgot to warn you that that might occur," Evelyn said, landing beside him.

"I can't believe I just did that," Merlin said.

"For animals, the instinct to eat is the primary instinct, and it is well past lunch time. I'm actually surprised you didn't catch something sooner."

"Sooner? You mean, you're not surprised at all about what I just did?"

Evelyn laughed. "First time I changed, I caught a rabbit twenty minutes in. I was so mortified I couldn't change for five years. Trust me Merlin, it's just a natural instinct. Now that you know about it, you'll be able to control it. Of course, eating in animal form does have its advantages."

"Yeah?" Merlin asked, still trying very hard not to be sick.

"You can't tell me that didn't taste good," Evelyn pointed out.

"Right now I'm trying not to think about it." But Merlin did think about it, and it was true. He had never tasted meat so rich in flavor, or so tender. "That's disgusting," he said, although there was a part that didn't agree.

"Come on," Evelyn said, changing back into human form. "I think we've had enough excitement for one day, why don't we head back to the village, dinner will be ready soon and I know Florsala and the others will want to hear more of your exciting adventures."

Merlin closed his eyes and focused his magic. He felt himself shift back and soon he was sitting on the ground next to the dead mouse.

"Yuck," he said. He stood up, moving away from the remains of his late lunch, and found the world beginning to spin. "Evelyn?" Merlin called as darkness fuzzed the edge of his sight. He tried to blink it away, but the world spun crazily. The last thing he saw was Evelyn turning back towards him before everything went black.

~MERLIN~

Arthur was positive he wasn't going crazy, but then why was he hearing Merlin's voice? Oh, come on, he tried to tell himself. It was just once. Arthur shook his head and looked around. Once again they had been wandering all day, with no luck in finding Merlin, and no trail to follow.

"This is impossible," Gwaine declared, kicking at a rock and sending it tumbling down a small incline.

"We'll find him," Arthur growled.

"Arthur, sire, we've looked everywhere," Leon said.

"And I'm pretty sure we've passed this area at least three different times," Elyan added.

Arthur turned to glare at his knights. Surprisingly, it was Tristan and Percival who seemed to be the only ones who had yet to give up hope.

"I don't care how long it takes, we keep looking," Arthur declared.

"I'm not saying I'm giving up," Gwaine said. "I just think we need to go about this a different way."

"Yeah, and how would that be?" Arthur asked.

"I don't know," Gwaine said.

"Perhaps, sire," Leon began. "If we all answered the questions Lady Evelyn asked, that would help us?"

"How in the world is an answer about your love life going to help us find Merlin?" Arthur snapped.

Leon cringed.

"Arthur, I don't really think that's fair," Elyan said.

"None of this is fair," Arthur nearly shouted. "Merlin is out there, who knows in what condition, and we have no idea how to find him. We don't even know if he's alive!"

"He's alive," a calm voice said, and Evelyn stepped from the trees.

"Oh yeah?" Arthur challenged. "How can I even trust you?"

Evelyn smiled. "I suppose I don't have an answer to that."

Arthur growled and drew Excalibur, pointing it at Evelyn. "I don't care anymore what you have to say," he said.

Evelyn sighed. "Please, Arthur, just listen."

"No! I'm done listening. You will take me to Merlin, now."

"I can't do that."

"Then how do I even know if he's alive?"

"Arthur!" a hand on Arthur's shoulder stilled him, and he turned towards Percival.

"Percival, don't," Arthur said, voice dangerously quiet.

"Arthur stop," Percival said, standing his ground.

"Why should I?"

"Because I trust her," Percival said.

"What?" Arthur, Gwaine, Elyan, and Leon exclaimed.

"So do I," Tristan said. "I don't think she has harmed Merlin."

"You're crazy," Arthur said. "She's a sorceress, she's evil."

"No Arthur, she's not evil," Percival.

"What are you saying?" Arthur asked.

"Arthur, I know you were raised in a world where the only magic you saw was worked against you or your father. But I was raised where magic was used for good. To heal people, to help people. I don't think all magic is bad."

"Careful, Percival, you speak close to treason."

"But I must, because it is what I believe," Percival said. "Lady Evelyn told me that Merlin went with her for his own good, and I believe her."

"She forced him with a knife," Arthur growled. "Or have you forgotten?"

"Sire," Leon said, nervously. "Even held at knife point, Merlin would have struggled. He offered no fight."

"You too?" Arthur asked, turning to his oldest knight.

"Arthur, magic can be used for good, I know it," Percival said.

"Well said, Sir Percival. Well said indeed," Evelyn said. "Your family would be very proud."

Percival met her gaze and nodded. He wasn't sure what had occurred, but he felt different. More liberated. Freer.

"You're still holding Merlin hostage," Arthur said, turning back towards Evelyn, but she was gone. Arthur sighed, lower Excalibur with his right hand as he ran his left through his hair. "It's getting late," he said. "We should set up camp for the night."