Merlin sat in front of the fireplace, trying to sweat out the last of the fever. He felt restless all day, but didn't know why though. Perhaps because his birthday was right around the corner. Not that he was nervous because of it, he never really felt the need to celebrate it, and certainly not after what happened to his mother and sister.

It's just… he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"What's that scowl about?"

Merlin looked up from where he was apparently staring quite intensely into the fireplace. His father stood a few feet away from him with a cup in his hand. Uther handed it over.

"Medicine from Gaius," Uther said before taking the vacant seat next to his son. "But you haven't answered me son, what has troubled your mind?"

Merlin gulped the foul drink down with a wince before answering his father. "To be honest, I don't know. It's… a feeling."

"A feeling?" Uther asked.

Merlin shrugged, "But I don't know what the feeling is. It's," he sighed deeply. "I really don't know. It's probably nothing."

Uther reached out to brush some hairs behind his son's ear. "Why don't you get some rest, perhaps you'll feel better when you wake later."

Merlin nodded silently and shuffled to his bed, his father tucked him in. With a kiss on his forehead Merlin slipped off to sleep.

~oOoOo~

Merlin laid in bed, tossing and turning. Flashes from his mom and sister went back and forth. Morgana screaming out to him.

He woke up with a large gasp and at the same time the door opened.

"Merlin?" Called the voice from over the door. Hurried footsteps rushed over to the bed.

"Hey, hey, calm down." Merlin heard and he blinked a few times to see his father's troubled face looking at him.

It took a few moments to gather his breath, but it finally settled and he leaned back against his pillows. "I'm sorry," he apologized, but Uther immediately shook his head.

"What is there to be sorry about, what happened son? Bad dream?"

Merlin furrowed his brows, "I, I think I had a nightmare." He kept looking down. "I saw mother and Morgana, they were in trouble. I couldn't help them."

Uther gave his son a compassionate smile. "I'm sorry you had to dream about that." Uther gave his son a hug and when he sat back, he put his thumb and pointer finger at Merlin's chin. "Why don't you come to my room for a cup of water, Arthur will be there shortly too."

Merlin gave a tiny smile. "I'd like that, but can I first get out to ride? I just feel the need to be outside for a while."

"Of course, son." Uther said, sitting back a bit. "Should I ask Arthur to come with?"

Merlin shook his head. "No, I'd like to go out by myself."

"You need to at least take a few knights with you."

Merlin sighed. "Fine."

~oOoOo~

"Sire," Knight Pellinor rang out. "Shouldn't we return? It's starting to get dark."

Merlin opened his eyes from where he laid down in the soft grass. He loved just lying there, hearing the nature sounds around him with his eyes closed. He sometimes felt he could just escape life like that. They weren't far from the castle, perhaps a league or two from the castle walls.

Merlin saw the sky already turning to a red-ish hue. "Yes, let's."

Merlin sat upright and leaned over to grab his sword when it hit him. A massive twinge of pain through his head and he cried out, grabbing both side of his head with his hands.

"Sire?" The knight called out again, kneeling down to Merlin. "Everything alright?"

As quick as the twinge came, just as quick it went away.

Merlin nodded slowly. "Yes, err," he cleared his throat and gave a goofish smile. "Don't know what that was, probably just sat up to quickly."

The knight eyed him worriedly. "Perhaps it's indeed better to return quickly. You might have not recovered enough."

Merlin refrained the eyeroll, but let the knight help him up and lead him to his horse. He was about to mount his horse when another twinge went through his head. He doubled over; his body landed in the grass. His hands grabbing both sides of his head once more. Eyes flashing gold.

"Send for the King!" Merlin heard vaguely, the pain removing every sense of being from him.

Writhing of the ground he felt hands on him, but they couldn't hold him.

"Merlin! Help!"

Morgana?

"Merlin!"

Merlin saw flashes of his mother and Morgana being bound in a dungeon. His sister screaming at him from help.

"What can I do?" Merlin yelled.

"Jarl…"

The voice subdued and Merlin's eyes flew open, the yellow tint of his irises dimmed to their normal blue. Worried faces of his brother, father and several knights met him.

How much time has passed?

No one spoke up.

Merlin's head moved from left to right, his hand placed of his face and eyes, trying to shut everyone out. What the hell happened? It all seemed so real, sounded like his sister was really there.

But it can't be, his sister, his mother… they were…

His father's voice ultimately broke the silence and Merlin felt his father's hand move over his face. "What happened, my boy?" Merlin saw his father's eyebrow furrow, "What did you mean with 'What can I do?', what do you need to do?"

Merlin's mouth opened and closed a few times, he wanted to answer, but frankly he didn't even know what the answer was.

"I saw Morgana and mother again." Merlin said in a soft voice. He looked at his father, who just casted his eyes down. Arthur kneeled down to hear what his brother had to say. "It felt so real, father. It felt like Morgana called out to me."

At that Uther's eyes moved up to look into his sons. "Merlin, it was all a dream, they are not…"

"No!" Merlin interrupted. "They were bound father, I saw them. Morgana called for help, she..." Merlin furrowed his brows, "she said. Jarl."

There was a change in his father's posture. Shoulders seemed to tighten.

"Father, I need to know. What if…" Merlin's breathing became a little more erratic, "Their bodies weren't found!"

"You can't…" Uther began, trying to reason with his son but it was futile.

"I will!" Merlin shouted, and with a flash of golden in his eyes he disappeared.

Uther stood up. "No, Merlin!" he screamed. then he addressed the first knight he laid eyes on. "You, gather the rest of the knights. We're going to Jarl's lair." Uther already rushed over to his horse.

Arthur was confused at what was going on, standing up quickly to catch up with his father. He was just in time to grab his father's elbow just as Uther wanted to mount his horse. "Father?"

Uther turned to his son, letting go of the saddle and grabbing his shoulders tightly. "If what your brother is saying, perhaps…" Uther breathed in deeply through his nose. "Perhaps your mother and sister are still alive."

Arthur was met with even more confusion. "But, the mercenaries… the clothes with blood."

Uther just shook his head. "We need to find out, son."