Merlin stood to Uther's right, Arthur was on the other side, listening to the man infront of them. Merlin knew most of the faces of the Camelot but this man was new.

"I'm a herder from the Northern Plains" The man introduced, "We were camped near the cliff of Idirsholas a few nights ago"

"I would never of picked such a place" Uther chuckled to himself

"well pasture is hard to find this time of year and-"

"What is it you have to tell me?" Uther asked impatiently, lounging over one side of his throne.

"While we were there, we saw smoke rising from the citadel" The man admitted, Uther and Arthur looked unimpressed, kindly Gaius tried to help the man.

"Did you see anything else?" The physician asked

"No" The man admitted, Merlin felt like smacking his palm into his forehead, Uther would have a field day with this.

"Did you go inside?" Uther probed

"No" The man shook, "nobody has stepped over that threshold for 300 years! You must know the legend sire"

Uther apparently did not. Merlin on the other hand, had spent a good deal of his healing time over the last years reading books from the library and was well versed in many fields his brother and father would not suspect, legends and myths were one such topic.

"Its said that when the fires of Idirsholas burn the Knights of Medhir will ride again" Merlin supplied much to Uther and Arthur's shock.

"See to it that this man is fed and has a bed for the night" Uther ordered, Leon lead the man away.

"Take a ride out there" Uther continued.

"But why?" Arthur groaned

"So we can put peoples mind at rest" Uther supplied.

"Merlin, this sis just a myth right? superstition?" Arthur asked, his eyes pleading with Merlin to agree to they could goof off.

"Some 300 years ago, several of Camelot's knights were seduced by a sorcerers call, one by one they succumbed to their power. By her order they rode through the lands leaving death and destruction in their wake" merlin recited the tale, "It was only after the witch was killed that the knights of Medhir finally grew still"

Arthur's shoulders sagged.

-Break-

Since when were you a scholar?" Arthur groaned as they rode up the hills.

"I spend a lot of my free time reading" Merlin replied, looking worried.

"You don't think this legend is true do you?" Arthur teased.

"Its more than a story" Merlin argued, "That battle really happened, it just a matter of whether they are back or not"

-Break-

Uther feebly tried to get up but found himself too exhausted and easily pushed back into his pillows by Gaius. Ever since he had woken that morning he had felt terrible, he only had a slight fever yet he felt so exhausted.

"I have court business to attend to" He argued weakly.

"You need to stay in bed sire, you have a fever" Gaius ordered, Uther sighed and slumped back further into the soft linens.

"I'll prepare a tonic for you" Gaius added as he packed up his things.

-Break-

The citadel was nothing to be impressed over, it was falling apart, the only change from cracked grey stones was a few straggly trees and moss. They entered swords at the ready, Merlin felt nervous, he couldn't sense the magic but somehow he knew it was there. Arthur lead the group down some damp stairs into a dark room with a barred door that creaked when the prince pushed it open. In the centre of the room stood a group of embers on a table, Arthur ran his fingers over them.

"Well part of the mans story was true" He sighed, "Probably just travelers, passing through"

Merlin glanced behind him, he almost rolled his eyes at what he saw, typical.

"Or maybe not" He called to Arthur who turned around to see several knights in black cloaks and meta masks standing at the ready. Arthur didn't have time for a witty retort when the first knight came at him. The small stone room was full of the sound of clanging swords, the knights and princes fought bravely but then, one of the Camelot knights stabbed his opponent, who simply stood up and continued to keep fighting.

"Wraiths?" Merlin yelled confused.

"Maybe, lets decide later before we loose our heads!" One of the knights yelled back before he was cut down. The fight raged but soon only he and Arthur remained, Merlin dodged yet another swing from a knights sword and landed at the edge of the room.

"Run Merlin!" Arthur yelled, Merlin didn't even consider it and dove straight back into the group of fighting men.

"Do as I say!" Arthur yelled pushing Merlin toward the door before baking uo against it himself ready to defend his brother from the onslaught. Merlin responded by grabbing Arthur and pulling him back.

"Ahríes þæc!" he hissed, sending the roof falling to the ground, giving both princes enough time to run outside to safety, only stopping when they reached the bottom of the hill by the forests edge. Panting and gasping for breath.

"What happened to your arm?" Arthur asked pointing to the rip in Merlin's chain mail and shirt.

"Must of caught it on something" Merlin breathed.

"Let me see" Arthur asked peering at the cut, before he began ripping his own shirt to make a bandage.

"Don't!" Merlin whined but Arthur didn't stop till he had a rough bandage which he tied around Merlin's shoulder.

"I wish you'd stop doing that" Merlin muttered.

"Doing what?" Arthur asked as he picked up the sword he had dropped and began walking to the horses.

"Always treating me like I'm made of glass" Merlin grumbled, "You are father both, every tiny cut and bruise is a major injury to you"

"we just worry that's all" Arthur defended.

"I can look after myself" Merlin growled before speeding up his pace, leaving a very confused Arthur behind.

-Break-

The princes galloped back to the city only to find everybody slumped up against boxes and walls, some even just laying on the ground. Arthur jumped off his mount and checked the guards pulses.

"Are they dead?" Merlin asked worriedly

"no, just, asleep" Arthur replied suspiciously

"What has happened?" Merlin continued

"I don't know" Arthur Arthur shook his head, the two ran into the court heard only to find more sleeping people. The two starred at each other in disbelief. The sound of clattering horse hooves filled the air but their hope was squashed when the horse trotted in with a cart, its driver fast asleep.

"We need Gaius" Merlin announced running up the stairs only to be met with more sleeping people, "Arthur!"

"They are all fast asleep" Arthur gasped before turning to Merlin, they both had the same thought,

"Father!"

"Idrisholas" is officially the most annoying word to write! Its so hard to spell it took me forever to actually get it right!

Also, Guess who just got a tv in their room! Woo, this makes writing with a broken disc drive much easier