Author's note: So, here's the next chapter. It got pretty dark, I'm sorry :-(

On the upside, it is also pretty long ;-)

Leave your thoughts a review. They are highly appreciated.

The sacrifices we make

Late the following evening, Merlin, Arthur, Tristan, and Isolde reached the Forest of Dene. On the far side of the valley lay the entrance to the Southern Caves. Arthur nodded: "We'll rest here for the night. Tomorrow, we make our way through the caves."

They soon got a lively fire going and sat down around it watching as the shadows grew longer. Tristan and Isolde were sitting across from Arthur talking quietly. Merlin walked over and checked on Isolde's injury. He had bandaged it provisionally after the attack but now he had time to tend to it more carefully. The cut was long but shallow. It would heal well but he needed to clean it thoroughly to avoid infection. Then he dressed the wound with a fresh bandage.

"You were lucky. The cut isn't deep. You'll be fine in a couple of days. Just try and keep your arm as still as possible," he said with an encouraging smile.

Isolde smiled at him gratefully: "Thank you, Merlin."

Merlin nodded and walked over to Arthur to see if he was all right. He had hardly spoken since the ambush.

But Arthur did not react to Merlin's question. He kept on watching Tristan and Isolde together.

Merlin could see that Arthur felt guilty. Tristan's accusation had hurt him because he felt that Tristan was right. If it had not been for him, Isolde would not have been injured. None of this would have happened. If only he had been a better king.

"Don't let his words get to you. He was angry and scared. He doesn't know you," Merlin finally managed to get Arthur's attention.

"Maybe not. But that does not change the fact that I have failed as a king," Arthur replied. Before Merlin could argue with that, Arthur had got up. He walked over to Tristan and offered him his water skin.

"Here, you should drink up."

Tristan just contemptuously raised an eyebrow as he stood up and walked past him.

"I'll get my own."

After some time, Tristan returned and sat down with his back against a tree trunk, Isolde wrapped tightly in his arms. They both slumbered off shortly. Merlin and Arthur sat opposite them closer by the fire. They remained silent for a long time. Merlin could see that Arthur was worried. He was staring forlornly into the fire when Merlin finally spoke.

"We are going to get through this, Arthur."

Arthur scoffed. Without looking up, he deadpanned: "I admire your optimism."

"I mean it. We have been through worse. You are a good king."

"I trusted the wrong people."

"They betrayed you. That wasn't your fault."

"Of course it was. I was a fool. I misjudged everyone...my uncle...Morgana. Every decision I've made has been wrong. All this is my fault. Camelot is captured once again. My people have been slaughtered or imprisoned. And I am on the run. I am a failure."

"You are being too hard on yourself," Merlin said.

"I should be more discerning, wise...a statesman, a king. But I'm not. My people deserve a better king."

"And you think Morgana is a better ruler? She doesn't care about anyone but herself. You want to leave your people at her mercy? What about Gwaine, Elyan, and Gaius? We can't just give up on them. They count on us to save them!"

"I'm tired. I don't want to talk about this anymore," Arthur broke off their conversation and turned his back towards Merlin.

Merlin did not press him. He knew that Arthur had to hit rock bottom first but seeing him like that, full of self-doubt and self-pity, was almost too much to bear. There was much work to do. And they had not even dealt with Agravaine yet.

Early the next morning, Merlin woke up with an uneasy feeling. He looked around to find the others still sleeping on the ground. Softly, he got up and walked towards the stream which was to the west of their little camp.

The forest was very quiet and peaceful that morning. The stream was gurgling in the distance. Some wood birds were chirping in the trees around him. The sun was just now bathing the tree tops in a warm golden light. Merlin reached the stream and crouched down to fill his water skin. Then he splashed some of the cool soothing water into his face to wash off his tiredness. He sat down at the bank and took in his beautiful surroundings. Of course, it was too peaceful to last. Up ahead, still a safe distance away, Agravaine and a couple of riders appeared all of a sudden. They were intensely looking at the ground, searching for tracks. Merlin got up almost silently and then as stealthily as possible, he rushed back to their camp and woke the others.

"Wake up. Agravaine and his men are here. We need to go. Now!" he shouted as soon he was within earshot.

Arthur, Tristan, and Isolde bolted up. Arthur looked around alarmed.

"I'll create a diversion and cover our tracks; you keep going for the caves! I'll meet you there," Merlin said as he reached them.

Tristan and Isolde ran off towards the caves while Arthur hesitated briefly.

"I'll be fine. Now go!" Merlin yelled.

Arthur nodded and then turned and followed the others. Merlin waited until the others had put a considerable distance between them and the camp. Then he threw his head back and called out in dragon tongue: "O drakon, fthengomai au se kalon; su katerkheo deuro!"
Without waiting for Kilgharrah, he headed for the caves. Just as he entered, he could hear the great dragon swooping down on Agravaine and his men.

Merlin caught up with the group who had already headed into the main tunnel. As the group heard him approach, Arthur spun around, his hand at the hilt of his sword, holding a torch towards him.

"Did you lose them?" Arthur greeted him somewhat relieved although the worry in his voice was clearly audible.

"We should be fine," he replied confidently.

But Arthur was not really convinced: "You're sure?"

"Do I look like an idiot?"

"Yes."

"Doesn't change, does it?"

"Can you two leave your banter for later when we have more time for it?" Tristan cut in impatiently.

"All right. This way," Arthur said taking the lead.

Merlin couldn't tell for how long they had been walking through this seemingly endless tunnel when the tunnel suddenly widened into a large cavern. Up ahead a faint light was shining in through an opening at the top of the cavern. Carefully, they entered and looked around.

"We're on track. There's a tunnel to the right which will take us through to the other side," Arthur said pointing to the eastern side of the cavern.

They had just made it halfway towards the tunnel when they suddenly heard some noise behind them.

"I thought you said we'd lost them," Arthur whispered angrily.

Merlin shrugged his shoulders. "I thought I had."

"It won't take long for them to catch us," Tristan said worriedly.

"I'll go back. Create a diversion." Merlin said and headed back through the tunnel. But Arthur grabbed his arm and stopped him.

"We've seen how good your last diversion was. This is between him and me and it is going to end now."

"Arthur..." Merlin started but Arthur was already walking towards the tunnel they had come from and unsheathed his sword.

Moments later, Agravaine stepped out of the tunnel alone. On seeing Arthur, he stopped and looked at him bemused.

"Arthur. What a surprise. But then you've always loved to play the hero even when you were a little child," Agravaine taunted.

"We have done enough talking. We end this now," Arthur replied, readying himself into a fighting stance.

Agravaine smiled self-confidently and drew his sword. Without another word, he lifted his sword above his head and brought it down on Arthur, who deflected the blow to the right. Then Arthur charged. Agravaine blocked him and pushed him back. He then took another swing at him. Arthur had the weight on the wrong foot and was unable to dodge. Agravaine's sword slashed him just above the left elbow. He groaned in pain but managed to surprise Agravaine with a thrust to his chest. He managed to push him back and charged again driving him further back until Agravaine's shoulder hit the stone wall. Before he could deal the next blow, Agravaine ducked away towards the tunnel entrance. He did not wait for Arthur to face him but attacked him from the side. Arthur swung around just in time and blocked the blow. Their swords locked as both of them put their whole weight into their blows. Agravaine felt that he would have to be the first to give way so he stretched out his left leg and tripped Arthur. Then he swung his sword at where Arthur's head had been just a few moments ago. But Arthur had rolled around and in one swift motion, he jumped to his feet, his sword at the ready. He slashed at Agravaine hitting his right thigh causing him to scream in pain.

The fight dragged on for some time and neither of the two combatants was able to get the upper hand. But Arthur was the better swordsman of the two which became clear as the fight drew on. Agravaine was sweating and his breathing grew heavy. He had trouble keeping up with Arthur who was trading blows with undiminished force and speed. Agravaine was backing away from Arthur's blade barely able to block the blows. Then he suddenly felt his feet give way under his body as he stumbled backwards over a couple of rocks. As Agravaine was trying to break his fall, his sword flew out of his hand and fell down out of his reach. Immediately, Arthur was upon him bringing his sword to Agravaine's throat. Agravaine looked up to see Arthur towering above him, his features not divulging any emotion. Agravaine's breath was shallow.

"Go on then. Finish what you started," Agravaine said through gritted teeth.

After some hesitation, Arthur stepped down and away from Agravaine. He lowered his sword and looked at his uncle with an impassive face.

"No," he said calmly but determined. "You no longer get to tell me what to do. You have lied to me, manipulated me, and betrayed me to my greatest enemy. But you are still my uncle and I will not dishonour my mother's memory by killing her brother."

Agravaine cast down his eyes in shame. He scrambled to his feet keeping his gaze to the ground.

"I'm sparing your treacherous life. You may crawl away now, uncle. But know this, if we ever meet again, our family ties will no longer bind me and next time, I will kill you," Arthur threatened as Agravaine turned towards the tunnel entrance and started to walk away.

With a sigh of relief, Arthur turned to Merlin, who had come up to him, and forced a smile.

Before Arthur could say a word, Merlin's eyes widened in horror as Agravaine was lunging at Arthur with a small dagger in his hand. Time slowed as Merlin feverishly tried to figure out how to react. Agravaine was taking direct aim at Arthur's left back. The attack would be fatal. He was running out of time. The only thought in his head was to get Arthur out of harm's way. He grabbed Arthur's arm and pushed him behind him stepping between him and Agravaine. He gasped as he felt the dagger slashing into his left side. He looked around in a slight panic as he felt a piercing pain radiating from his abdomen. He could not breathe. He clutched where he had been hit and tumbled backwards. His gaze became blurry as he sank to the ground with a hard thud. He could see Arthur rushing past him. He was breathing short, shallow breaths and groaned as another sharp pain shot through his whole body. Then Arthur was at his side pressing down on the wound.

"You idiot had to throw yourself in front of that dagger. Don't you dare die on me!"

Tristan and Isolde came running towards them. Isolde softly pushed Arthur out of the way and examined the wound. It was deep and nasty but she had seen worse.

"Lie still. We need to stop the bleeding. Give me my bag," she ordered calmly.

Tristan handed it to her. Routinely, she took a couple of herbs from her bag and made a sort of rough paste which she applied to Merlin's side. Then she took out a piece of cloth and bandaged the wound as best as she could. Merlin's eyelids flared as he was fighting to stay conscious. Arthur looked terrified.

"Will he...?" Arthur broke off not trusting his voice anymore.

"He needs rest. I managed to still the bleeding. The paste of arnica, silverweed, bark of the willow tree, and milfoil will prevent the wound from becoming sore," she said with a warm, comforting smile.

Arthur stood up and walked over where he had slain his uncle and looked down on him turning his back to the others. Without a word, he dragged his uncle's lifeless body out of the cave into the tunnel. Tristan exchanged a look with Isolde, who shook her head.

"Leave him. He needs to do this alone," she said.

Then she turned her attention back on Merlin.

"We need to keep him warm. Can you get us some firewood?" she asked calmly as she felt Merlin's cold forehead.

Tristan nodded and left them in the semi-darkness of the cavern. After some time, he returned carrying an armful of firewood and set it up close to Merlin. The warmth did him good as some colour returned to his face as his body relaxed and he fell into a sleep of exhaustion.

Arthur returned a while later and walked up to Merlin where he crouched down and looked at his manservant. Isolde, who had been sitting next to Tristan at the other side of the fire, stood up and came towards him. She put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"He is going to be all right. He is young and stronger than he looks. He just needs some time," she said.

Arthur nodded without looking up.

"Thank you," he said finally.