Title: The legend of a Warlock who Served the Once and Future King

Author: Lamiabellascrittore

Rating: T+

Warnings: Violence, sexual content, adult situations and more- deal with it. There is more to come.

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, or any of the characters. If I did there would be a season six, seven, eight, and so on, and a movie, of course.

Spoilers: Possibly.

Summary: Merlin and Arthur go on a mission that was supposed to be strictly reconnaissance. However, nothing ever goes as planned, and they get separated. Merlin is kidnapped by Morgana and Arthur must find a way to rescue his ever loyal servant. But, will Arthur still save Merlin after he learns Merlin has magic? This story is building up to the battle of Camlann. There most likely will be a sequel if you all want.

A/N: Sorry for the wait. Family drama takes its toll and its all I can do to try to keep writing.

So on brighter note. If you like it I will continue. Please be kind. ;) The more you review the more likely it is that I will continue with this story and a sequel 1000+ years into the future.

Sorry for any errors, it becomes difficult after editing it so many times. It becomes a lot like a word repeated over and over again until it no longer makes any sense.

Okay. New A/N: So the story is getting darker. Sorry. Can't help it. I like the dark sexy stuff. It will most likely get more intense.

Common people give me some love and review. 3

I hope you enjoy...

Chapter 22

The Mind Vs. The Heart.

After Arthur and the knights had found the remains of Merlin's village Arthur had chosen to step up the pace. They rode through the night and another day before he allowed them to slow down and rest. Now they walked the path side by side with their horse to give them a rest.

"Do you hear that?" Percival asked. He stopped to listen.

"I don't hear anything." Ranoue whispered.

"Shh. Listen." Leon hushed. He mimicked Percival. Arthur to froze and strained to hear what they did.

It began with a whisper, and then more and more joined in until it was a defining wave of sound. They moved closer pushing their way off the trail towards the noise. The brush was thick and untamed, so they left their horses tied and continued on.

Arthur broke through the underbrush first. He jerked to a stop. Hundreds and hundreds of people marched out of Morgana's castle gates. Streaming out like water they marched towards the unknown.

Arthur only barely registered the others arrival because his attention was for the woman leading the army. His eyes narrowed. He scanned the rows of men and woman. Morgana road at the front leading the army.

Arthur couldn't see much. He pushed through the rest of the bush's and crawled through them on his stomach. He scooted closer and looked over the ledge leaving behind his men. Morgana looked the same, only darker...crazier. Evil clung to her like a lovers embrace. Arthur's fingers dug into the frozen earth underneath him. What was Morgana doing? Was she making her move on Camelot? Where was-

Arthur's breath left his lungs in a whoosh as if he'd just been punched in the gut. A familiar mop of raven hair pushed his way trough the army on horse back. It was a little disconcerting to see the forces part for him. He stopped beside Morgana as if they were equals. Arthur would recognize him anywhere.

Merlin? Arthur thought.

Morgana didn't even spare Merlin a glance. There seemed to be a lot of animosity between them and Arthur couldn't think of a reason why other than Merlin's insolence. Merlin's shoulders were ridged and his spine straight. He was as tense as Arthur had ever seen him. Arthur couldn't tell if it was a trick of the fading light, or his imagination, but Merlin didn't look right. He looked terrified actually. He was in good health as far as Arthur could tell but something wasn't right. Did he know what happened to his Village? Knowing Morgana he probable did. She might have even flaunted it in his face.

"Merlin," Arthur murmured.

Merlin's head snapped in his direction as if hearing him. Arthur ducked down. He knew he was hidden by the bushes too far away to be seen but Merlin's gaze was so intense he didn't doubt that he knew Arthur was close. Merlin always had that eerie sense of things.

Merlin was dressed in the black leather and chain mail armor just like the others among the army only the deformed dragon insignia on his breast was blood red as were half the others standing behind them. Still he stood out among the lot of them.

Arthur didn't move. He couldn't. He stayed there crouched on the ground even after Morgana's army had marched past and out of sight. Not until Gwain nudged his foot unable to get any closer the space Arthur had crawled into only big enough to fit him.

"Princess." Gwain shoved him knocking his leg to the side when Arthur didn't budge. "Hey."

"What." Arthur snapped. Looking back at him. He grit his teeth. His heart ached. Slowly he crawled out from where he was hidden and got to his feet standing to his full height . His eyes were riveted to the spot he last saw Merlin. He was unable to move them from the path they had gone. Gwain stood just behind Arthur in silent grief that was as loud as ever.

Gwain raised a brow at Arthur. Arthur shook his head mutely. He was afraid to speak. His anger was unpredictable.

"Do we follow?" Leon asked before Gwain could open his mouth with a smart ass reply. The king was unpredictable and he didn't want to push him any more than Morgana and Agravain had.

Arthur pressed his lips together in a straight line. He was low on energy and he needed all he could spare to fight the feeling of betrayal. Merlin would never betray you. His thoughts immediately rushed to Merlin's aid. There had to be a reason. Merlin said he would do what he had to do to survive. Maybe this was the only way he saw how. Arthur froze on the spot his feet growing roots. He clenched his fists tightly at his sides. His nails dug painfully into his palms. Merlin, damn it. What were you thinking? He shook his head. Gwain nudged Arthur's shoulder lightly gaining his attention.

"Yeah." Arthur croaked. He cleared his throat. He needed to focus. "We will. You and Percival ride to Camelot and gather our forces. Secure the queen and be ready to ride out to come to my aid. Tell Gaius what you saw and what I said and he should know the place."

Leon nodded and motioned for Percival to mount up but Gwain didn't move.

"Sire?" Gwain asked. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't think the old man will know what your talking about?"

Arthur scowled at him. "He isn't senile Gwain."

"No, that's not what I-" Gwain sighed. His bones ached he was hungry and it didn't help that his mind was foggy from lack of good food, or possibly not having had a drink in near a week. "Dose the physician know anything other than medicine and herbs."

"Who do you think used to go traveling for the herbs used in Gaius's medical potions before Merlin took the job?" Arthur pointed out. "He knows the lands as well as or better than anyone I know."

Gwain nodded content with his answer but hesitated before he mounted his horse. He looked back at Leon and Percival already atop their horses ready to ride out and back to Arthur. He wanted to point out that leaving Arthur alone with only Garret and Ranoue was not enough protection for a King but he could see from the brooding darkness in his bright blue eyes that it was better left unsaid. Gwain would just double back once he made sure Percival and Leon were on their way. Gwain gave a curt nod mounted his horse and led Leon and Percival towards home.

Arthur pinched the bridge of his noes closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he listened to the vanishing hoof beats. Arthur released his breath in a whoosh dropped his hand back to his side opened his eyes and face Ranoue.

Arthur squeezed the bridge of his noes between his forefinger and thumb already feeling the stirrings of an oncoming headache. His hand fell back to his side and he looked up.

"Garret, Ranoue go scout ahead." Arthur ordered. "Find out where the army is going but do not engage. We need to be ahead of them if their going to Camelot which means we might be able to cut them off near Camlann."

"Yes, sire." Garret bowed his head already atop his horse.

"What about you sire?" Ranoue asked. "We cannot go and leave you unprotected."

Arthur grit his teeth to hold back a barrage of words he wanted to vent but Ranoue didn't deserve Arthur's anger. That was reserved for those who marched on his home with violent intent.

"Give me a moment. I'll follow along shortly." Arthur assured while crossing his arms over his chest.

Ranoue nodded hesitantly and mounted his horse. They left after a moments hesitation not wanting to deal with any of Arthur's outburst that are surely sure to come if they didn't give him time to adjust to him seeing Merlin marching with Morgan so they left Arthur to stew in his thoughts.

Arthur suddenly felt like a thousand weights were just dumped onto his already tired shoulders.

Arthur brought his hands into view and unclench his fingers. He had dug his nails into his skin so hard he drew blood. He looked sown bring his hands up to view. For a few moments Arthur just stood there rooted to the floor transfixed by the blood on his hands as if it were, strangely, Merlin's blood. Angrily Arthur stormed to his horse. He didn't even bother to wipe the blood from his hands before he mounted his horse in one rage filled motion and followed after Ranoue and Garret at a much slower pace no longer is so much of a hurry.

Arthur needed to give himself time for his head to catch up to his heart. He couldn't let himself drown in the feeling of betrayal when there was no actual proof that Merlin committed treason, that Arthur knew of, and the only thing Arthur did know was that Merlin was unwaveringly loyal to him and him alone. He didn't need Merlin to die to prove it.

Arthur wondered his way along the trail not even trying to catch up with Garret and Ranoue. Arthur's thoughts fought for supremacy and his heart was having hard time catching up to his heart. The only thing Arthur knew was Merlin would ever betray him but he did think that Merlin would do anything to keep Arthur safe, even if it meant treason, as long as Arthur lived Merlin would do it and the consequences be damned.

Merlin didn't seem friendly towards her but he wasn't exactly fighting Morgana either as if they were unwilling partners. Arthur grit his teeth in agitation and spurred his horse on jumping over a fallen tree limb. Arthur couldn't block out the expression on Merlin's face. He looked terrified. He seemed to be contemplating something that caused him physical pain and Arthur couldn't even to begin to hazard a guess as to why that look would ever be on his friends face.

Arthur wasn't on the trail but twenty minutes when he noticed the tracks start to become erratic and inconstant. A few moments more and he came across a small clearing were the tracks were scattered and smeared completely chaotic. Arthur road on a little further and saw crossbow bolts littered about some even stuck in the surrounding trees. Arthur didn't see any blood but he also didn't see Garret, Ranoue or the horses which didn't bode well.

The scene screamed ambush. Arthur dismounted and examined the prints looking for any tracks to follow but found none. Irritated at not being able to find a single track to follow Arthur turned to head back to his horse.

"Damn. What the hell happened here?" A loud voice said from behind him. Arthur spun around hand going to the hilt of his sword.

"Easy there Princess, its just me." Gwain assured as he road into view.

"What are you doing here Gwain?" Arthur snapped. "Not that I'm not glad to have back up, but I told you to go with Percival and Leon."

"Yes and I did, until I convinced Leon that no matter how obstinate you are you still needed someone to watch your back until Merlin is able to."

Arthur's face screwed up into a pained expression. If Merlin is able to. Arthur sighed defeated. Gwain was right. Arthur was to distracted. He needed to have someone watch his back.

"Fine." Arthur relented and mounted his horse. "Lets circle around and follow Morgana's army. I'm certain that the Knights were ambushed by her men."

"You think it was Morgana's scouts?"

"I'm certain of it."

They back-tracked for an hour keeping their eyes and ears open as they tracked Morgana's army.

"I see them." Gwain whispered as he rounded a bend. He backed up his horse and motioned for Arthur not to go any further.

Surprisingly Gwain and Arthur came upon Morgana's forces quite easily. They had made camp in a large cluster of trees. Hundreds and hundreds of people milled about starting up camp fires, setting sentries and heading off to their tents to sleep. It was kind of hard to miss, and it was obvious they didn't worry about being seen. They were confident in their numbers and power and overconfident in their safety.

Arthur and Gwain muzzled their horses and tied them to a branch. Arthur motioned for Gwain to stay by the horses and crept forward as close as he dare to the borders of the enemy camp. He stepped over branches and did his best to avoid stepping on stick or tripping over the roots of a tree. Each step measured and precise he made his way closer and closer to the camp. His breath came in short white puffs of air and his noes, ears and lips were chapped and his hands were freezing cold. Arthur made each step count doing his best to place his boots soundlessly on the frozen leaf covered ground.

Arthur hid behind a cluster of trees and bushes and searched through the people milling about looking for Merlin but there was no sign of the servant or Morgana anywhere. Arthur shifted to get a better view of the camp.

"Do you see Merlin?" Gwain asked from beside him. Arthur whirled around startled.

"Gwain!" Arthur hissed. "Your supposed to be keeping an eye on the horses."

"Gwain, rendezvous with Leon and Camelot's army and head back here. We should cut her off on the fields of Camlann."

"Why Camlann?" Gwain asked suspiciously not trusting the place. The name alone brought a bad feeling to his attention and it wouldn't go away.

"Because that is the only path she can go from this direction." Arthur said distractedly keeping an eye out for Morgana.

Gwain nodded and clapped him on the back. "Until we meet again, Arthur." Gwain smiled. He glanced back at the camp before looking back to Arthur. "I hope you find what your looking for."

Gwain left after a few moments hesitation. Stupid he knew but Arthur was right. That was the path Morgana was headed and he need to meet up with Percival and Leon to warn them.

Arthur nodded solemnly. So did he only he feared that what he found wasn't going to be the same as it was. The longer Arthur stood there observing the army getting ready to settle down for the night he realized he was right. Arthur could manage while Gwain met up with the army and informed them on the numbers.

Arthur kept watch for any sign of Morgana or Merlin. He needed to find out what happened to Garret and Ranoue and most likely they were brought to Morgana for questioning.

About a half hour after Gwain left a sudden commotion racked the camp. A horrible scream pierced the night. It sounded oddly like Ranoue. Arthur crept closer chancing being caught just to find out what was happening. The camp was still and people milled about not paying any attention to the scream that shattered the peaceful evening. The noise suddenly cut off and the silence that followed was haunting. It wasn't long before Morgana came storming through the camp shoving people out of her path when they didn't move fast enough.

"Athusia!" Morgan called out her hands tensed into claws at her side.

There was a roar that rumbled the ground answering Morgana's shout. She tossed out her arm and a blast of magic shot out of her hand towards the closest thing to here which happened to be a wagon full of supplies. With a boom the wagon exploded and the dragon rose into the air on a silent command. Morgana must have been signaling where she was at. People hollered in surprise and anger but still kept out of Morgana's path.

Arthur jumped startled by the sudden violence. Morgana kept walking as a Dragon appeared above her, the Dragon engulfed Morgana in a five foot radius. People now scrambled out of her path. Men and woman went out of their way to avoid her. Except one man who ran towards her.

"Find Arthur." Arthur heard Morgana demand. He tensed. There was no way he could out run a Dragon.

"No" A familiar voice commanded. Merlin? Arthur thought troubled. "Stop Morgana. Don't." Merlin was nearly unrecognizable with his dark beard and black leather and chain mail. He had a long ragged scar on his face spanning from his cheek bone to the tip of his lip. The blue steel in Merlin's eyes was like unlike anything Arthur had ever seen in his friend and it send shivers down his spine. Arthur hoped to never be on the other end of that glare.

"Merlin?" Arthur murmured out loud and took in a deep breath in shock. What the hell what he doing?

Morgana stopped as the Dragon rose higher in the air and positioned herself above Merlin and roared menacingly. Without provocation she attacked but Merlin jumped out of the way. It brought him closer to where Arthur hid in the under brush. Arthur fought to keep himself in place but he couldn't stop himself from taking a step towards him as if he could help. There was a sharp crack as Arthur stepped on a branch. He winced. Merlin's hands twitched and his eyes snapped to where Arthur crouched in the brush watching. Merlin's eyes found his as easily as the last time. As if he knew Arthur was there.

Morgana used Merlin's distraction to her advantage and launched a flaming chunk of wood at him. It clipped his shoulder. Merlin grunted and stumbled back with the impact. He turned back to Morgana purposely putting his back to Arthur. Merlin didn't want Morgana to realize her quarry was so near and have her unleash her rage on Arthur. Arthur glowered. Merlin's always putting himself in harms way.

Arthur watched as Merlin focused just in time as Athusia charged again. Merlin was ready this time. His mouth opened and out came an inhuman roar. Arthur tensed.

The dragon dipped in the air from the force and power of his words alone. She hovered over him watching him with a tilted head. Merlin spoke again and the dragon dropped to the ground. She bowed her head to him in respect.

Arthur felt the power in Merlin's words. Magic, he gasped. But Arthur couldn't really care less. He was just relieved that Merlin was alive and anxious to see what would happen next to put the pieces together and what it all meant.

Morgana stopped in her tracks. Arthur saw her fury spike. Merlin let his hand drop to his side. Morgana stormed up to him. He couldn't quite make out what she was saying, her back was to him, but he got the impression she was anything but happy.

Arthur let his eyes go to the dragon. She sat quietly to the side like a faithful hound when moments before she was feral and wild. So tame. A beautifully damaged creature...a lot like his Sister and if- His thoughts were cut off sentence. He was so lost in the white dragon he was taken aback when he heard Merlin holler and Morgana cry out. His eyes jumped to Merlin only to see him on the ground straddling Morgana.

Arthur turned and walked away. He's seen enough. Merlin could handle himself. Arthur needed time to think. For now he would make camp not far from here and follow the army in the morning.