"Are you sure you can't come with us?" Arthur asked. He patted down his horse to make sure he had all of his weapons.

Merlin helped him onto the horse. "I'm sure. A friend is in town and I need to meet with him."

"You'll be missing out on a lot of fun," Gwaine teased, biting into an apple.

At this, Merlin rolled his eyes. "Oh yeah, I'm sure running around killing things and then ultimately getting captured by some maniac is a load of fun. I am so upset that I have to miss this grand adventure of fun you guys are having." Merlin waved his arms in the air.

"Now, Merlin, there's no need to get testy. I hope you have fun with your friend," Leon said, spurring his horse out of the courtyard. The others followed.

"Be safe. Don't get yourselves killed please," Merlin called after them.

When the last had gone, Merlin marched back to Gaius' chambers.

"Are you sure it's fine to leave them?" the old man asked. Lord McClucker had taken up residence in Merlin's room ever since his reveal and was currently flipping through Merlin's spell book. Thank the gods he actually had clothes on.

"I'm not sure. I have a terrible feeling something's going to happen to them. But Gili said it was urgent. I have to see what's going on."

Lord McClucker stood up and hugged Merlin. "Now then sonny, I'll help out. Don't you worry. Lord McClucker will save the day!" Lord McClucker morphed back into a chicken and began bobbing his way out of the room.

"Why didn't he just go there in his human form? It would have been a lot faster," Merlin mumbled to himself.

Gaius shook his head. "Well, at least he's going. Don't worry, Merlin, things will turn out. They always do."

Merlin didn't want to argue with Gaius. He wanted to believe that Arthur and the others would return safe and sound. Except this feeling in his gut just wouldn't go away.

oOoOoOo

Merlin sat at a table in the corner of the Rising Sun Tavern. Gili had sent a message about a week ago saying he needed to meet with Merlin. Something terrible had happened and Gili needed Merlin's help to stop it. He said it would put Camelot in danger if he didn't.

Merlin didn't really know what was going on. But for Gili to be so upset about it, it was probably something bad. So here he was, at the Rising Sun, waiting for a friend. He really wished Arthur didn't go out today. If Merlin wasn't there, then who was going to protect the men? They were capable fighters, but they often needed a little push from Merlin to put the tides in their favor.

"Merlin, thank God you're here." Gili snapped Merlin out of his thoughts.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Gili looked even worse than Merlin had imagined. He looked as though he had ran all the way to Camelot without a break. The dark circles under his eyes, his haggard appearance, neither helped Merlin's suspicions that everyone was going to die.

"I've been traveling around with the druids, trying to learn more about magic. We were in a forest when one of the kids accidently broke a grave."

Merlin sucked in a breath. Breaking a grave was serious business, especially when magic was involved. He could already tell where this was going.

"The spirit escaped and the leader thinks its going to go after Arthur and kill him. We have to find him or else Camelot won't have a king." Gili glanced around nervously, as if the spirit was going to leap out of the walls and attack them. Merlin stood up.

"Well then we'll just have to get rid of this spirit before it can get rid of Arthur," he said, stomping out the door.

oOoOoOo

Merlin probably should have left Gili behind. It wasn't that he was a bad companion, it's just that… okay, yes, he was a terrible companion. Apparently, Gili was terrified of ghosts and the supernatural. So he clung to Merlin every step of the way. Honestly, Merlin would have been better off taking Gwen or finding Izzy than going with Gili.

"Could you maybe let go? It makes it a little difficult to walk through the forest," Merlin said, trying not to sound annoyed.

"Oh, sorry." Gili chuckled nervously and released Merlin. A squirrel scampered up a tree. Gili latched back onto Merlin.

"Seriously, it's after Arthur. Not us. We'll be fine," Merlin said, trying to calm his friend.

"But we're purposefully searching for it. It senses that, and wants to eat us!" Gili squeaked.

Merlin groaned and scrubbed a hand down his face. Next time, he was just going to take Gwen with him. "Look, you said it was probably in the ruins, right? We're going to head there, and recapture it. It's really a piece of cake."

"You've done something like this before?" Gili asked.

Merlin nodded. "Yeah. It wasn't pleasant, but I think I can do it again. We even have a pot." Merlin held up the little clay pot and smiled at Gili.

The pair reached the ruins and began looking for any signs of the spirit.

"Hey, Merlin," Gili asked, kicking over a rock with his boot. He was still pressed close to Merlin's side.

"Yes?"

"Why don't you tell the prince about your magic?"

"It's complicated." Merlin didn't think this was the time or the place to talk about this. He had had this conversation multiple times now with multiple people. But he never could give a reason that didn't make him look like a coward.

"Well, he respects you, right?" Gili asked, jumping slightly as a pair of birds took off.

"I'm not sure if it's respect of tolerance," Merlin muttered.

"But I've also heard that he's started talking with the druids, and there's even a sorcerer living in Camelot, who hasn't been killed! Why can't you tell him your Emrys, the most powerful sorcerer in the world?"

Merlin peaked through a door, no ghost. "I guess I've just kept it a secret for so long that it's kind of just become easier for me not to reveal it."

Gili snorted. "Seems like an excuse to me. Just tell him. You know he's not going to kill you."

"I don't fancy being banished either."

"Did you happen to forget about the extremely old sorcerer whose currently living as a chicken in the castle?"

This time, it was Merlin's turn to laugh. "I guess. I just don't really know how to bring it up. 'Here's your dinner, sire. By the way, I'm a sorcerer.' Yeah, that's probably not going to go over well."

Gili was about to say something, but instead screamed.

Merlin turned to see a very ugly looking spirit staring at him.

"Friends of Arthur Pendragon?" the spirit hissed.

"What's the answer that won't get us killed?" Merlin squeaked. The spirit didn't take too kindly to this and flew forward.

"Merlin! The jar! Use the jar!" Gili shouted, ducking out of the way as the spirit flew over his head.

Merlin scrambled to pick up the jar. The spirit turned to him and lunged forward. Merlin struggled to open the lid. His hands were too sweaty to get a good grip. But he finally managed. He popped off the lid just in time for the spirit to go flying into it.

"Seolh!" Merlin shouted. The lid screwed itself back on, sealing the spirit in the jar. Merlin and Gili breathed a sigh of relief. In the middle of the room was a huge whole.

"Well, looks like the floor's collapsed." Gili laughed. The two smiled at each other, feeling much lighter than before this whole ordeal had started.

"Yes. Wonderful observation, now it would be useful if you two would magic up a rope to get us out!" A very familiar voice shouted.

About ten minutes Earlier

"Gwaine this is all your fault," Elyan groaned.

"How was I supposed to know that the beautiful woman, was in fact, a ghost that wants to kill the princess?" Gwaine said.

"Because beautiful women don't wander around the forest you idiot," Leon snapped.

They had been out hunting when Gwaine spotted a beautiful woman in the distance. Like a cat in heat, he scrambled to her, causing the others to chase after him. Of course, once they got up close they realized the beautiful woman was not in fact a beautiful woman, but a ghost, hell bent on killing the king.

What was worse, they managed to be led right to the creature's home. The spirit quickly muttered a few words and the ground swallowed them up, putting them in the below ground prison.

"Well, how do you suppose we get out, then?" Arthur asked. At least the creature hadn't straight up killed him, yet. He didn't really know what was going on with the spirit. But he was glad the thing wasn't good at planning his revenge.

"Um, maybe we could—"

"That won't work." Leon cut Elyan off.

"You didn't even—"

"It still won't work."

"You know, Leon, you lack an imagination." Elyan huffed.

"Guys, quiet, I think I hear something." Percival had his ear pointed towards the ceiling, straining to hear the voices. Not long after, Arthur could hear them too.

"That sounds like Merlin," Gwaine said.

"But who's he with?" Percival asked.

"Maybe that friend he was talking about meeting?"

"Merlin! Merlin! We're down here!" Leon shouted, hoping the boy would hear him.

"Ah, it's no use. The blasted ghost must have sound proofed the room." Gwaine cursed.

"Wait, what are they talking about?" Arthur asked.

They all sat in silence, straining to hear the conversation.

"Why don't you tell the prince about your magic?" Merlin's friend said.

Everyone exchanged looks. "Did he just suggest that Merlin has magic?" Leon said.

Everyone fell silent and continued to listen.

Merlin laughed. "I guess. I just don't really know how to bring it up. 'Here's your dinner, sire. By the way, I'm a sorcerer.' Yeah, that's probably not going to go over well."

"Since when does Merlin have magic?" Percival asked. Before they could discuss this revelation any further, the spirit made itself known. Throughout the shrieking, shouting, and cursing, the ceiling had collapsed, allowing the underground prison to break its silence. It was then that Arthur heard Merlin shouting in a language he couldn't understand. So it was true, Merlin did have magic.

"Well, looks like the floor's collapsed." The friend who was with Merlin laughed.

It was at this point Arthur decided he needed to talk with Merlin face to face. He also didn't want to spend the rest of the afternoon stuck in a hole. "Yes. Wonderful observation, now it would be useful if you two would magic up a rope to get us out!" Arthur rolled his eyes as he heard Merlin squeak.

"Sire, how long have you been down there?" Merlin said, popping his head over the side and looking down at the men.

"If your Emrys, can you maybe use your powers to get us out, please?" Percival said.

"So I'm guessing a long time," Merlin managed to squeak out.

"Yes, Merlin, now go magic up some rope or something." Leon shooed Merlin away.

"Magic doesn't work like that," Merlin muttered.

The man with Merlin looked over the side as well. He seemed vaguely familiar but Arthur couldn't put his finger on where he had seen him before.

"Oh, hello, I'm Gili. I'm glad to see you're taking Merlin's magic thing rather well. You are really not like your father, sire," Gili said, smiling the whole time.

"Thank you, Gili. Can you maybe magic up some rope or something to get out of here?" Arthur said. He could feel a headache coming on.

"Well, if Merlin can't do it then I certainly can't. He's way more powerful than me."

"I found Lord McClucker!" Merlin called out.

"Oh great, just what we needed, a chicken," Leon huffed.

The human version of Lord McClucker popped back up with Merlin.

"Well, you boys do seem to be in a bind. One second." Lord McClucker's eyes flashed and his beard began to grow.

"Are we supposed to climb up that?" Gwaine asked.

"I don't see why else he would grow his beard out," Percival said.

The men all shuddered but began to climb up the elongated beard of Lord McClucker.

"This is probably the grossest thing I have ever done," Leon said, trying not to gag. On the last foot Merlin and Gili reached down to pull him out.

"So, I'm guessing the hunt wasn't very successful?" Merlin chuckled nervously.

Leon wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Merlin, I figured it out when you called all the animals in the forest. Beavers don't line up in a row for no reason."

Merlin opened and closed his mouth, looking a lot like a fish.

"Is this why Izzy has a crush on you? I have to say, going after the powerful ones is a good strategy for a woman," Gwaine said and he heaved himself over the ledge.

"Izzy doesn't have a crush on me!" Merlin managed to cry, breaking himself out of the trance Leon had but him in.

Gwaine just patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Sure she doesn't. That's why she blushes every time you say something. And why she ran to your rescue when you were almost sacrificed by the crazy druids. That's totally not the way someone who has a crush acts."

Arthur was the next to heave himself over. He was looking rather angry. "How long have you been keeping this from me?" he spat.

"Well, I did tell you when Camelot's water supply was poisoned and Gwen was blamed. You just didn't believe me."

Arthur opened and closed his mouth, this time looking like the fish. "We will talk about this later. Right now, lets get back to Camelot. I need to wash Lord McClucker's beard sweat off my hands."

Leon gagged again. "Do you really have to describe it like that?"

"Ah, youngsters these days, so embarrassed about bodies. You should really be more open." Lord McClucker walked over to Percival. "Now carry me! I did not take up the life of a chicken to walk everywhere!" he said. He hopped into Percival's arms and shrank back down into his chicken form.

"That was the strangest thing I have ever seen," Gili said. He took the pot from Merlin.

"I'm going to go give this to the druid band that's around here. They'll be able to seal it better." He waved and began walking off.

Merlin turned to the men and smiled nervously. "So… I have magic."