Together they rode through the thick forest surrounding Camelot. Arthur led the way on his proud chestnut stallion, his crimson cloak draped over it's hindquarters. Sam followed jut a few paces behind on a large white horse that made him look even taller, if that was possible.

Dean and Merlin followed behind on smaller brown mounts, Dean wearing the biggest grin he could manage at the rhythmic whack of his scabbard against his leg.

'This is so cool!' he said, grinning at Merlin who smiled wildly back. Sam heard him and looked over his shoulder at his brother.

'So, you gonna sell the Impala and get a horse?' he joked. Dean's smiled vanished and he made noise that was half-scoff, half-harrumph.

'Don't even joke,' he scolded. Merlin looked puzzled.

'You ride antelope in the future?' he asked warily. Dean snorted laughter.

'It's not an antelope, it's a type of car... a carriage without horses,' he explained at the look on the warlock's face. 'It uses something called an engine to move. It's science.'

'Wow,' Merlin said, awed. 'The future sounds so... Cool.'

'It's cool for stuff like that. And you can talk to someone on the other side of the world with a small metal box and you can write letters that are sent and read in seconds. But it's dangerous too. There's weapons that can wipe out whole towns in a blink.'

'And magic?' Merlin asked, whispering so Arthur couldn't hear. Dean looked at him.

'There's witches and stuff sure, but they're usually evil. Most people don't believe in magic though.'

'That's sad' Merlin said and Dean thought a moment.

'Yeah,' he said. 'I guess it is.'

Suddenly, up ahead Arthur reined his horse in, forcing them all to stop. He held up his hand, motioning to them to dismount. He gestured to Sam to follow him, mouthing to Merlin and Dean to stay with the horses.

With a hiss of metal Arthur drew his sword, creeping forward to the edge of a small drop in the forest floor, looking down into a clearing below. Sam followed suit and crouched down beside him.

Quietly, Merlin and Dean grabbed the horses and led them off the path into the thick trees and waited.

Sam and Arthur pressed themselves flat to the dry forest floor and looked down. Sam had heard the voices that made Arthur stop them as the approached and now he saw the owners of the voices.

Four men stood in the clearing below them dressed in armour made of boiled black leather. A sigil was carved into the chest plates but Sam couldn't make it out. Arthur, whose eyesight was much better, hissed as he recognised them.

'Cenred's men,' he breathed and he cursed. Moving noiselessly despite his armour, Arthur crawled backwards away from the edge before getting to his feet and creeping back to the others. Not quite as silently, Sam followed.

'What is it?' Merlin asked.

'Cenred's men, looks like a hunting party,'Arthur explained, looking round at their surroundings.

'Cenred?' Dean breathed. 'No way! He's a badass. Douche, but a badass.' He saw the sharp look Arthur shot him at the tone of admiration in his voice. 'He's nothing compared to you though,' he backtracked quickly.

Arthur nodded sharply in approval and took the reins of his horse from Merlin. Signalling to the others to do the same he tied his horse to the low hanging branch of a nearby tree, making sure that the knots were good.

'Right,' he said when everyone was done. 'There's two slopes leading down to the clearing, one on the path and the other round the back. We can't all go down the path, they'll see us coming too early.' He looked at Merlin. 'We need a diversion.' Merlin nodded gravely and then the penny dropped and his eyes widened.

'Why me?' he asked, his voice a whine.

'Oh by all means,' Arthur drawled dryly, 'if you think you take them all out be my guest.' Merlin just glared at him. 'As I thought. So you cause a diversion, get their attention on the road. Sam, Dean and I will go round the back route and take them out.' They all nodded assent and drew their swords.

Merlin stepped forward, back onto the path.

'Merlin' Arthur whispered sharply. Merlin turned, eyebrow raised in an expression clearly learned from Gaius. 'Be careful,' Arthur said, his voice low but sincere. A big, boyish grin spread across Merlin's face from ear to protruding ear.

'Don't worry,' he jibed. 'I'll save you if it gets too dangerous.' Arthur frowned and shook his head as he led Sam and Dean away. Taking a deep breath Merlin gripped his sword and walked down the path and into the clearing.