A/N: Thanks for all your reviews!

Gwaine, Gwen and Lancelot were sitting before the fire in the Druid settlement. None of them were talking. They were far too worried. Gehola had been gone for a while now, and had not returned or sent word. They feared for his safety, and Merlin's too.

Gwaine had come to like the young man in the short time he'd known him. He was a victim, a victim of Uther's ruthlessness and someone who truly deserved happiness in his life. He'd suffered a lot. Gwaine admired the boy for managing to stay so pure and kind; considering he had been practically raised by the Wandrian, it was a complete miracle he hadn't turned out like them.

Darkness had fallen and it was rapidly approaching midnight. Gwaine shivered. This time tomorrow night, the Wandrian would try to open the Portal. If they couldn't get Merlin and Morgana back … what would happen then? And Arthur? The other Knights?

The Druids at the camp passed by as silent shadows in the night. None of them spoke to the newcomers, yet they weren't unfriendly exactly. It was almost as though they were ethereal beings, passing by. Every time Gwaine caught their eye they smiled mysteriously, bowed their heads and moved on. It was enough to drive him crazy.

He hated sitting here doing nothing.

Almost as if the world had heard his silent longing for some action, he heard cries coming from one of the outer regions of the settlement. Immediately, he sprang to his feet and drew his sword, along with Lancelot and Gwen, who followed, though weaponless. He ran to the sound of the shouts, expecting an attack at the very least, but saw only two pale figures standing there in the moonlight, surrounded by Druids who were looking on with awed expressions.

One turned, and Gwaine saw that it was Gehola. He looked afraid.

"Please! Help me!"

Gwaine looked at the other man, who Gehola was supporting. The figure raised his head, and Gwaine saw that it was Merlin.

He immediately dropped his sword. "Merlin!"

He ran forwards and took some of Merlin's weight off of Gehola. Merlin was shaking and muttering to himself, a cold sweat drenching his haggard face. Together he and Gehola helped Merlin back to the fire, almost dragging him as Merlin seemed too weak to stand on his own. The Druids looked on, but did not interfere.

They deposited Merlin down in front of the fire, and Gwen came running forwards with a thick blanket and threw it around his shoulders. Merlin sat there, hunched over, his eyes closed, rocking back and forth while tremors ran through his body.

Gwaine couldn't conceal his shock. Merlin looked awful. He looked painfully thin, even more so than he'd done before. He was pale and thick shadows were under his eyes. He seemed to be completely unaware of anything that was going on.

Gwaine looked up and exchanged grim looks with Lancelot, and saw that he too was shocked. Dark Magic had done this to him? Someone as supposedly powerful as Merlin?

Gwen was crouched in front of him, her hands placed over his. He wasn't looking at her, but she sat there anyway, murmuring soothing phrases to him as he continued shaking. She pulled the blankets closer around his shoulders and ran her hands up his arms.

"It's alright," she said, "You're with friends now. You're safe."

Merlin still didn't respond, though his breathing seemed to become easier. Gwaine motioned to Lancelot and Gehola, and they stepped away from Merlin and came closer to him.

"What happened?" Gwaine asked Gehola. "I thought you said you wouldn't be able to convince him to come without Morgana?"

Gehola wrenched his eyes away from Merlin. "He had to. Morgana was attacking him, and so were the Wandrian."

"Why?" Lancelot asked, his eyes urgent. "Did they realise the truth?"

"I don't know," said Gehola, wringing his hands together. "I got back, and Merlin was there with Morgana, and he was begging her to leave. He kept saying that they had to leave now; something must have happened. But she refused. Her sister had died and she blamed Merlin, she went against him so suddenly after weeks of Merlin trying to get through to her. Then she started attacking him, and, well, her magic isn't very good. It's really unpredictable and dangerous, and then everyone else started joining in. It was all I could do to get us out of there."

"And why is he like this now?" Gwaine asked, casting another worried look at Merlin.

"As soon as we arrived here," Gehola began, "he just sort of collapsed and starting moaning about how it was his fault and … and … that someone was dead and he didn't do enough to stop the evil, and now someone else was going to have to die. This is as bad as I've seen him in weeks."

Gwaine nodded, and left the other two and moved back over to Merlin. He seemed calmer now. He'd opened his eyes and was staring at Gwen as though not quite believing she was here.

"Gwen?" he asked, his voice weak. "What are you doing here?"

"We're here too you know," Gwaine said, and Merlin's head whipped round to see Lancelot and Gwaine looking down at him. "How are you feeling?"

Merlin grimaced, and Gwaine realised that had been a pretty stupid thing to say. "Awful," he said, shuddering. "But better now I'm out of that place."

"I can imagine," said Lancelot dryly, sitting himself down in front of the fire. "But you're alright now, Merlin. You're among friends now."

Merlin nodded, and pulled the blankets closer. "How did you get here? I thought you were in jail? And where is here anyway?"

"These are the Druids that my parents used to live with," Gehola said, taking a seat beside Lancelot. "I brought them here."

"Uther tried to have me executed," Lancelot explained, wincing.

Merlin's eyes widened. "What? Arthur allowed that?"

"I don't think he was happy about it," Lancelot replied. "I'm sure Arthur was doing all he could to stop it."

"But how did you escape?"

"That was us," said Gwaine, also taking a seat. "Gwen and I broke in with some help from Gehola here."

Merlin looked at Gwaine, and his expression looked haunted. He blinked a couple of times. "So you believe me now?" he asked quietly, staring at Gwaine. "After you turned Lancelot in I thought …"

"I was an idiot for doing that," said Gwaine. "I- I was confused and angry at both of you for the secrets you were keeping. But I know you, Merlin, I knew deep down that you couldn't have been this evil guy. And after you saved me in the battle, healed me and gave up your talisman … well, I realised what a complete fool I'd been. Can you forgive me?"

Merlin smiled, and some of the lines on his face seemed to disappear. "I suppose," he said. "And by the way, I'm sorry."

"For what?" Gwaine asked. "I should be apologising to you!"

But Merlin shook his head. "No. I shouldn't have lied to you, to any of you," he said, looking at Lancelot and Gwen as well. "I shouldn't have lied to you. You're my friends. You deserved better."

"Why did you do it, Merlin?' Gwen asked, taking his hand again. "Why not just tell us?"

Merlin avoided their eyes. "I was afraid," he all but whispered. "All my life I've spent being afraid of who and what I am. I've always kept my guard up, never really let anyone in because I was scared of what they might find. I was scared that you'd all hate me."

"We'd never hate you Merlin," said Gwen, smiling at him. "And we don't now. We understand, Merlin. You should never have had to live with that burden."

"Yeah," said Gwaine, feeling the guilt. "Don't apologise, Merlin. It must've been tough. And I'm just glad you're here now and you don't have to lie anymore."

Merlin smiled again, and started fiddling with the blankets. He looked up at Gehola.

"You helped get Lancelot out? That's where you went to?"

Gehola nodded. "Yeah. Sorry for leaving you like that. I shouldn't have."

"But why did you go to Camelot?"

Gehola bit his lip. "I- I went to get you that tooth back. I knew you needed it, and I wanted to help."

Merlin looked speechless for a moment. "Thanks," he said finally, smiling at Gehola. "I know it must've been hard for you to go back there."

Gehola shrugged. "It didn't work though. I didn't get the tooth."

"But you got Lancelot," said Merlin, "and that's far more important."

Lancelot laughed. "Glad you appreciate me, Merlin."

"Don't go getting an ego, I'm just trying to boost his self-esteem," teased Merlin, and Lancelot laughed again. Gwaine did too, feeling overjoyed to see the old Merlin back even for the briefest of moments. Sorcerer or not, Emrys or not, he was still Merlin, his friend.

"What did happen to the tooth," Merlin asked. "I could've used it …"

"I'm sorry," said Gwaine, feeling the guilt once more. "Arthur has it."

"Arthur?" Merlin asked, surprised. "But how?"

"This idiot left it lying," said Gwen, glaring at Gwaine, "Arthur found it and confiscated it."

Gwaine shrugged apologetically. "I'm not perfect. But it looks like you got by alright without it, Merlin!"

At this, Merlin's face fell and he looked away, his expression pained. "I didn't," he all but whispered. "I … I …"

And suddenly his eyes seemed to fill with tears and he shook his head and began shaking again. "I let it take control," he said, his voice alone conveying a sense of horror. "I fell to the darkness … I couldn't resist … and now I might have ruined everything …"

Gwaine went cold all over as he looked at the look of absolute despair on Merlin's face. "Doesn't seem so bad to me," he said, leaning in to try and comfort him. "I don't see your skin rotting away just yet!"

Merlin didn't look reassured. "I couldn't fight it … it was too strong …"

He bowed his head and screwed up his face. "I let it control me …"

"What happened, Merlin?" Gwen asked, seizing hold of his hands. "Tell us."

"I killed him …" whispered Merlin, still not looking at her. "I killed him because I let the darkness take hold …"

"Who did you kill?" Lancelot asked gently. "You can tell us, Merlin."

"Wrecan," said Merlin, barely audibly.

"Wrecan's dead?" Gehola asked, the glee in his voice evident for all to hear. "Truly?"

"But isn't that a good thing?" Gwaine asked, frowning. "Wrecan was one of the Wandrian Elders wasn't he? Surely it's good that he's dead?"

Merlin shook his head looking distressed. "No … it's not …"

Gwaine looked at Lancelot to see a mirror image of his own confusion. "Explain, Merlin. Why is the fact that you killed one of the most evil men in existence on the eve of his plot to take over Camelot not a good thing?"

"You don't understand!" Merlin yelled, and he leapt to his feet and began pacing in front of the fire, throwing off his blankets. His eyes were wide and his breathing ragged. He looked quite deranged. "I killed him! I blasted him to pieces! And I enjoyed it!"

He raised a hand to his head as though in pain. He didn't look directly at any of them. "I succumbed to all the dark and awful things that were trying to tempt me," he said, pained. "I listened to them, I wanted to kill Wrecan. I wanted to cause him as much pain as possible. I- I wasn't myself. It was like some awful monster had taken control of me and I didn't know who I was any more. It wasn't until I was looking down at his dead body that I realised what I'd done. That I'd failed …"

"But you fought it!" Gwen said, also leaping to her feet. "You didn't turn to Dark Magic, Merlin! You came back to us!"

"It's too late," Merlin said, shaking his head, and taking several steps backwards until he was leaning against a tree for support. He looked close to tears. "The damage has been done. I let the darkness control me. And now I've set things into motion that I can't control. It's like what the prophecy said …"

"What prophecy?" Lancelot asked, standing up slowly and watching Merlin with worried eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"They said," began Merlin, taking a great shuddering breath, "that Emrys would be tempted. That he could fall to the might of Dark Magic, and that a death would mark his descent. That's happened. I let the dark control me and kill Wrecan, and now …"

"But the prophecy also says that you'll save us!" said Gehola, wide-eyed. "That Emrys is the only one who can. Surely it tells you how you can fight it?"

Merlin nodded. "It did … it said, it said that once I set off down this path … only another death, the death of someone I care about can save me …" he clenched his eyes tightly shut. "I let the darkness control me. And though Wrecan is dead … it also means that if I'm to help you all … someone else needs to die."

There was silence for a moment. Gwaine was at a loss. He saw Merlin standing there and was shocked to see how lost and afraid he looked. He could never have imagined something could make Merlin as frightened as that- he was one of the bravest men he knew.

Gwen tried to comfort him once more, stepping forwards and placing a hand on his arm. He flinched at her touch and looked down. She stayed there determined.

"Prophecy isn't everything, Merlin," she said, her voice thick, "You don't have to be ruled by destiny. You didn't use Dark Magic did you? Everything isn't lost."

"It is," said Merlin miserably. "Morgana is still with them. She got the news that Morgause was dead … and suddenly everything that had happened between us was gone. Like none of it had meant anything, all the progress we'd made just disappeared. She blames me, and I couldn't get through to her again."

"Maybe she'll remember," said Gwen, "She might make the right choice yet."

"And what if she doesn't?" said Merlin, looking up. "I was determined to save her. I risked everything so that I could stay there and try and bring her back. But all of that was for nothing. And now I'm probably going to have to kill her to stop her, but I can't even do that because I have no idea where the Portal is."

He slumped to the ground and stared blankly into space. "I've ruined everything …"

No one said anything. Gwaine, Lancelot, Gwen and Gehola looked at each other. As though by silent agreement, they all stepped forward as one and surrounded Merlin.

"No, you haven't," said Lancelot. "You're here. You're still alive. And so are we."

"We're all here with you, Merlin," said Gwaine. "And we're going to help you in any way we can."

"We can still stop this, Merlin," said Gwen, smiling. "All of us, together."

"But we're not all together, are we?" asked Merlin. "Arthur still hates my guts."

"I don't think he does," said Gwen. "But you said to me, Merlin, a while back, that it doesn't matter what Arthur thinks. You, we, have to do this regardless. Then we can work on rebuilding the bridges. All we have to do first is make sure we'll have a world left for building bridges. We're doing this to protect the people of Camelot, whether they hate us or not. Just like how you protected Arthur all those years without looking for credit, even though you'd be executed if you were found out. We're not doing this for glory, but for a chance for all of us to live in peace. For that world you talked about where people like you wouldn't have to live in fear any more. Isn't that worth it?"

Merlin looked up at her words, and a small smile passed across his face. "It is."

He sighed, and stood up, taking a deep breath to compose himself. "We have to try anyway don't we?"

"Yeah," said Gwaine, "two Knights, one without a sword, a former handmaiden, a boy and a sorcerer against the full might of the Wandrian. They don't stand a chance!"

"Two sorcerers!" Gehola said, stepping forwards. He looked nervous but determined all the same. "You helped me, Merlin. You helped me realise that there can be a world where I don't have to be afraid any more. And I want to help you do that. I've never known anything but life with the Wandrian, but I think you can change that. I trust in you, Merlin." He trailed off here, looking embarrassed at his outburst, but Merlin was smiling.

"Thanks, Gehola," Merlin said.

"Well!" said Gwaine, clapping his hands together. "Now all that's over with, we need a plan!"

"I thought you didn't like plans?" Gwen asked, rolling her eyes.

"I didn't say it was my plan," Gwaine said. "One of the rest of you can come up with something!"

"What?" asked Lancelot. "We don't know where the Portal is."

Merlin sighed. "And if we don't find it by tomorrow night …"

Gwaine paced up and down, thinking hard. "There has to be a way to find it," he said. "Something like that can't be hidden entirely. It's in Camelot's borders right? Where is there in the kingdom that something like that could be hidden?" He stopped his pacing and looked curiously at Merlin. "Can't you do something?"

"What?" Merlin asked, frowning.

"I don't know," said Gwaine, "some sort of magic-y thing that'll tell us where it is."

"Yeah, I'll get right on that," said Merlin sarcastically. "The Portal can't be found with magic. It's concealed by magic from magic. It was hidden so that no one could stumble on it accidentally. Only those who know exactly where it is can find it."

"That's useless," sighed Lancelot. "How did the Wandrian find it?"

"They like capturing Druids," said Gehola, looking on. "It was a kind of … sport. They haven't really done it in years, but one of them might have told them where to find it."

"The Druids would rather die than reveal its whereabouts," Merlin said, frowning. "I doubt any of them would reveal it."

"You never saw what the Elders did to those Druids," Gehola said in a small voice. "Normal torture wouldn't work on them, but torture through Dark Magic … well, you know yourself what it can do to the person even with the most noble of intentions."

Merlin looked grave. "Of course."

Merlin began pacing up and down like Gwaine had. He still looked pale and weak, but there seemed to be a fire lit anew in his eyes.

"It's just typical isn't it?" he asked, dryly. "People often keep things so secret that it can actually cause more harm than good." He left this hanging, and Gwaine knew he was referring to more than just this situation with the Druids. "I just wish they would let us help them!"

He tuned in frustration to one of the Druids who were standing watching, one that Gwaine recognised to be their leader.

"I don't suppose you know where to find it?"

The Druid smiled. "Yes, I do."

Merlin and all the others froze in shock. "You do?" he gasped.

The Druid nodded. "Yes."

Merlin stared at him, but Gwaine was indignant.

"We asked you as soon as we arrived if you knew where the Portal was!" he said, barely containing his anger. "You said you didn't know!"

"I did not," said the Druid calmly. "I told you that I could not tell you, not that I did not know. And that was the truth. I am not authorised to dispense that information. To Emrys, and Emrys alone would I tell that greatest of secrets. You were his allies, but you were not he."

Gwaine still gaped at them, unable to believe them. "Are you kidding me?" he asked, still incredulous. "You've been sat there listening to us the entire time panicking over how to find the Portal and you knew all along? When were you thinking about telling us?"

"We were not," said the Druid, looking to his fellow Druids. "We would not reveal the information. Not unless Emrys himself asked it of us."

"And what if I hadn't," asked Merlin, still staring. "Would you have watched as we went off on a wild-goose chase?"

The Druid smiled. "We had complete faith in you, Emrys."

Gwaine cursed and turned away from him. Bloody sorcerers.

"How do you know where it is?" Gehola asked. "I thought there was only an elite group of Druids who were allowed to know?"

"We are that group," the Druid said, bowing.

Merlin turned to Gehola. "What are the odds that the Druids your family came from were the ones that were guarding the Portal?"

"It is no coincidence," the Druid said. "This was foretold many centuries ago. You were meant to find Gehola, and he was meant to bring you here. Prophecy is being fulfilled."

The Druid came closer. "We are the Bewitan," he said. "The Guardians. We have guarded the Portal for centuries. We alone are able to resist the Dark magic that flows through the tear in the Veil."

"Veil?" Gwaine asked, confused. "I thought there was a Portal?"

"The Portal is placed over the Veil between this world and the next," said the Druid. "The Veil was torn many years ago, and Dark Magic seeps into the world from that point. The Portal was created to stop it from opening any further. Unfortunately, this can be abused."

"How are you able to resist the Dark Magic?" Merlin asked quietly. "How can you resist it and I can't? I thought I was supposed to be 'pure magic' or something?"

"That which is pure can always be corrupted, but it always proves its purity in the end, for nothing which is good can wholly be turned to evil," the Druid said.

Merlin scowled. "Riddles? You're worse than that bloody dragon!"

Gwaine barely had time to wonder what Merlin meant by this, when the Druid started speaking again:

"Our ancestors were the original users of magic," the Druid explained. "And as such, we were gifted with the ability to draw on a different form of magic than others. We are anomalies, which is why you have never heard of this ability before, it is one of the Old Religion's greatest secrets. There are places in the world where the Old Religion exists in its purest form. We can access that magic, and bring it into our bodies, and unlike with others, the power of the magic does not get diluted by being contained in mortal form. The magic within us is entirely pure. This is how we get our magic in the first place, by absorbing it; none of us were born with our powers like you were Emrys. It takes many years of training to take the full power of the Old Religion within us, and it is dangerous, as the magic can sometimes prove too powerful for us. But that is our purpose, given to us from the very beginning of time. We were given this ability to ensure we would be uncorrupted against Dark Magic and serve to protect the world. Magic comes more easily to us than most, and we are more powerful than most. Though of course," he said bowing to Merlin, "not more so than the great Emrys himself."

Gwaine had a hard time getting his head around this, but when he looked to Merlin, he saw that he looked thoughtful. He turned his head to look at Gehola, and they exchanged meaningful glances. Merlin turned back to the Druid.

"The tree," said Merlin, slowly, "the one in the Forest of No Life. That's one of those places you get your magic from isn't it? That's why Gehola can access that magic and I can't, because he's one of you. That's how he doesn't get corrupted, and why he never had magic before going to that tree?"

The Druid nodded. Gehola looked overjoyed and grinned.

"That's the reason?" he asked, his voice betraying his excitement. "That's why I'm so different?"

"Yes," smiled the Druid. "I only regret that you were alone through all of this. Your parents and your aunt left us to go to Camelot and practice their craft there, and when your mother and father were executed, your aunt, who by that point had fallen into shadow, took you to be with the Wandrian, and never told you of this power or how to use it. You should have had us to guide you. I am sorry you struggled with it on your own."

But Gehola didn't seem to care. He laughed. "Thank you," he said, "Thank you for finally explaining it to me. I thought I was just …"

"You are one of us," the Druid said again.

Merlin smiled at Gehola. "You see, you were never alone. I knew there had to be a reason."

"Right," said Gwaine, stepping forward. "This is touching and all, but where is the Portal?"

The Druid ignored Gwaine and looked directly at Merlin.

"It is on the other side of this kingdom," the Druid said. "We have a camp there where we send our stewards to live as they guard it. Nothing lives for many miles around. Follow the Samod river through the gorge and over the plains. When the water begins to turn black and eventually dry up, you are close."

"Hang on," said Gwaine, frowning. "One of Camelot's patrols follows that river every day. It doesn't run black anywhere!"

"We placed enchantments around the area," answered the Druid. "Unless you know the Portal lies ahead, you will not see it. It's a simple spell that plays tricks on the mind. It keeps away the feeble-minded."

"Feeble-minded?"

"Thank you," said Merlin, speaking over Gwaine's protests. "Thank you for your help."

"We are honour bound to help you, Emrys," said the Druid, bowing yet again. "But I am afraid that this is all we can do. It is not our destiny to help you any further. You must do the next part alone."

"Of course," grumbled Gwaine. "When things get difficult, just blame destiny. I knew we'd have to do it on our own."

But the Druid ignored him, and bowed to Merlin, turned and left with the other Druids, back to their homes, leaving the rest of them sitting by the fire.

"What use are they?" Gwaine said. "Back out just when we need them!"

But Merlin didn't say anything to this. He just looked into the fire, thinking.

"What are we going to do then?" Lancelot asked of Merlin. "Do we head out right now?"

Merlin was silent for a moment. "No," he said finally. "The Wandrian won't get to the Portal until tonight, there's no point in us hanging around there all day. We want to minimize our exposure to the Dark Magic. The Portal can't be opened until midnight anyway."

"Then what do we do in the meantime?" Gwen asked. "Just wait here?"

"No," said Merlin, the ghost of a smile passing over his face. "We have to build up our army."

"Our what?"

"We have to go back to Camelot," said Merlin, clenching his hands together. "We have to get Arthur and the others. You remember the attack Gwaine? With some enchanted swords and some shield spells, you might actually just stand a chance against the Wandrian. All of them will be there, and I can't waste time dealing with them all to get to Morgana and Hafela. You'll have to take care of the others."

"That's a good plan, Merlin," said Gwaine. "But aren't you forgetting about the part where Arthur is against us?"

Merlin winced. "We'll have to convince him."

"How?"

"He might hate me," said Merlin, his voice wavering slightly, "but he hates the Wandrian more. He might be persuaded to join forces, even if it's only temporary."

"And what's to say that he won't try and kill you," asked Lancelot. "What will convince him that you've turned against the Wandrian?"

"We have to try," said Merlin. "I can't believe that Arthur is fully against me. There must be some part of him that believes in me."

"And how do you suggest we find that part of him within the next twenty four hours," asked Gwaine. "We've been trying for ages."

"I might be able to do it in person," said Merlin. "I can get through to him."

"You can't go back to Camelot!" Lancelot said. "You're the most wanted man in the kingdom! You can't just stroll in through the gates."

"I don't have to go in through the gates," said Merlin, smiling almost mischievously. "I have magic."

Gwaine looked at Gwen and Lancelot. "Is he insane? Did the Dark magic get to him?"

"I think he's right" said Gwen. "We need Arthur's help. And if anyone can convince him, it's Merlin."

"Yeah, if he doesn't try and chop his head off the moment he sees him," said Gwaine. "And what about Uther? He'll kill you as soon as he looks at you."

"I'd like to see him try," said Merlin. "I can handle Uther."

Gwaine looked at everyone else. "Can't anyone else see how crazy this is?"

"I thought you like spontaneity?" Lancelot asked him, winking.

Gwaine faltered for a moment, looking between Merlin and the others. "Well …"

He sighed. "All right, when do we set out?"

A/N: Please leave a review! Next update will be soon :)