They are off, heading for the mountains in search of the Prysthinium flower. No sooner had Merlin informed Arthur of the flower and its abilities had Arthur assembled some knights, including Percival and Leon, for the journey. By Merlin's estimates, it will take three days to reach the mountains. He does not know how long it will take to retrieve the flower itself, but he has faith that it can be found in good time. It must be quickly done, Merlin thinks. The Druids may not have much time.
"Why are you riding so... stiffly?" Arthur asks Merlin.
"It's been awhile since I last rode." Merlin admits. Arthur's brow furrows.
"How long?"
"Longer than you can comprehend. I have trouble with it myself..."
The knights exchange a look of utter confusion, for not all has been explained.
"Later." Arthur tells them. He knows he must explain to his people the reason for the vast change in the kingdom's surroundings. For now, he has settled on advising his subjects not to leave the kingdom until he returns, so that he may explain.
A change in the usual way of things, Merlin is leading them as he knows this terrain far better than Arthur or any of the knights. Arthur doesn't admit it, but he doesn't like it. He doesn't like this feeling of being lost, of having no knowledge of his whereabouts. Everything is different now and, to Arthur, it feels entirely wrong.
"You'll get used to it." Merlin says, sensing Arthur's discomfort.
"Since I was a child, I've known the conurbation of Camelot like the back of my hand and now... I don't recognise any of this."
"Give it time." Merlin assures him. Arthur merely nods.
Morgana is braiding Alyss's hair, grateful for the girl who saved her the previous night, from a man whom Morgana has decided absolutely must go.
"What do you think of your father?" Morgana asks her carefully. Alyss tilts her head.
"What do you mean?"
Morgana pauses, biting her lip.
"What kind of man is he?"
"He's powerful." Alyss replies, "He has one of the best armies in all the world. Our knights are brave and strong. He likes girls a lot. He's scary when he yells. He's good at chess. He never gets scared."
"Is he... a good man?"
Alyss cocks her head to the side in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
"Is he a good person or a bad person?" Morgana asks slowly, trying to keep her voice level.
"There are no good and bad people; there are only people." Alyss replies. Seeing Morgana's bemused expression, she continues: "No one is all good and no one is all bad. Everyone's a bit of both."
"There are people who are more bad than others. There are people who murder, pillage, and... rape."
"But those people have to be good in some way. Maybe they like flowers or are really good at singing. Those are good things, which means that they'd have to be a little good somewhere inside."
Morgana gazes fondly at the child and smiles genuinely. This small girl is brilliant and so naïve, Morgana thinks. I wonder if she can be taught magic. Morgana looks at the young girl with motherly affection.
"Remember that flower I conjured for you?" She asked her. Alyss nods, her eyes alight at the prospect of seeing more magic. Morgana beams at her. "Would you like to learn how to do it?"
Alyss gasps.
"Really? You mean it?"
"Of course. I can teach you how. I can teach you all sorts of tricks. Only you mustn't tell anyone. Your people are not used to magic; it would frighten them and turn them against us."
"I won't tell anyone. I promise! It'll be a secret for only you and me to know." Alyss embraces her warmly.
"Our little secret." Morgana agrees with a smile.
Night is falling fast and it is not long before Merlin, Arthur, and the knights must stop to rest.
"Are there any new creatures to look out for?" Arthur asks Merlin.
"It's possible." Merlin replies.
"Possible? Don't you know?"
Merlin shakes his head.
"I... didn't really get out much for awhile there... I wouldn't say there's anything entirely new, but some creatures might have mutated DNA. They might have new features or maybe even less features."
"... Mutated DNA?"
"Their genetic makeup."
"In English, Merlin."
"Because of nuclear bomb... which is kind of like a big explosion that destroys everything entirely... things may be different than they were before. Dogs might have five legs, bears might have three eyes... Things like that, you know?"
"... I understand."
"Do you?"
"No, not really."
"Well, that's no different from usual." Merlin says calmly. Arthur gives him a look of mock offense.
"I am your king." Arthur reminds him, giving him a smack upside the head.
"You're a clotpole."
"I still don't know what that means."
"Well, there are a lot of things you still don't know."
"Oh really, now?" Sarcasm drips from his voice. Merlin has missed this.
"Well, it has been awhile, but even disregarding that."
"And what do I not know?"
"Hm... Where to begin... Well, for starters, the fact that I used to save your life a few times a week."
"A few times a week? Oh, come on, Merlin. I do not need that much help."
"You kinda do. Also most of your victories were only possible because of me."
"Now that's just ridiculous."
"No, it's true. Do you remember the Lady Sophia? She and her father were banished sidhe. I had to defeat them both to break the enchantment she put on you. She tried to drown you in a lake. I dove in after you and brought you to safety."
Arthur pauses.
"You told me you knocked me out."
"Well, I couldn't have told you the truth. Your father would have had me killed. Oh, and then there was the time you replaced me with that guy, Cedric. He stole your keys and tried to rob the tomb of Cornelius Sigan, but instead was endowed with his soul. He nearly destroyed Camelot, but I defeated him too."
"You? You did that?" Arthur asks, dumbstruck.
"Yeah, that was me. Let's see... what else... Almost every time you injured yourself, it was fatal except I healed you. I always warned you when something was amiss and you always denied it and I was always right. Oh! And I was the one who sent Kilgharrah away."
"Kilgharrah? You mean the Great Dragon? How on earth did you do that?"
"I'm a Dragon Lord." Merlin tells him unabashedly. Arthur stares at him for several moments and then starts shaking his head slowly.
"No. No, that's not possible. Balinor was the last one and he's dead."
"Both of those things are true. He is dead and he was the last Dragon Lord, but he's not the last anymore. I am."
"I don't understand what you're saying."
"The powers of the Dragon Lord are passed from father to son, but... but only after the father is dead." Merlin informs him. Arthur stares for several more moments, trying to work out just what Merlin is telling him. Then it clicks and realisation dawns on him.
"That's why you were so upset when he died." He says quietly. "I apologise for not understanding at the time. I know now how painful such a loss can be."
"Gaius told me just before we left. He... Balinor, that is... He didn't even know he had a son. He was driven from Ealdor before my mother realised she was with child." There is a hint of sorrow in Merlin's voice, but it is an old sorrow that resembles bittersweet remembrance. He is silent for a moment. Arthur watches his expression and suddenly he can see the ancientness in Merlin's young face. There is a brief moment where Arthur feels as though Merlin's eyes belong to that of an old man. He looks away, disliking the feeling.
Suddenly, Merlin halts his horse and stares forward, into the distance.
"What is it?" Arthur asks him, stopping as well. The knights follow suit.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"I heard a rustle..."
"Merlin, I think you're imagining things. There was no rustle."
"Shh." Merlin stares intently, his eyes seeing much more than what Arthur and the knights can see.
"Merlin, what are you—"
"Shh!" Merlin looks around the immediate area. He slowly turns to look behind them and sees an archer. "Arthur, get down!" Merlin shouts. Without giving Arthur the chance to heed his advice, Merlin lunges himself at Arthur, knocking him to the ground. Merlin is on top of him.
The knights launch themselves into action, pursuing battle with the group of bandits accompanying the archer, the likes of which had charged them the moment Merlin had cried out.
Arthur shoves Merlin off and joins the battle, his sword swinging.
At the end of the skirmish, a few of the bandits are dead and the others have fled. The archer is among the survivors.
"Once again, I've saved you." Merlin says quietly, an odd tone to his voice.
"Well, saved is a strong word." Arthur says without looking at him. He resheaths his sword. "Let's keep going. We're losing sunlight."
"A-Arthur..."
Arthur glances at Merlin, who is lying on his side on the ground. He has not moved since Arthur pushed him aside.
"What are you still doing on the ground? Come on, let's go."
"I can't."
Arthur's brow furrows. He walks towards him and it's only then that he notices the arrow in Merlin's back.
"No..."
He hastens to kneel down next to him, examining the entrance wound. His hands hover around the arrow and he is unsure of whether he should remove it. He blanches at the sight of the blood seeping through Merlin's shirt.
"You saved me..." Arthur says quietly. "You... That arrow was aimed at me..."
Merlin smiles weakly.
"Couldn't let you die again..."
"And I won't let you die now." He carefully lifts Merlin. "We'll get you to Gaius."
"No. You need to help the Druids."
"You'll die if we don't go back."
"And all of the Druids will die if we don't continue. I... I have lived a long time, Arthur. I am ready to die."
"Merlin!" Arthur chastises, "Don't say that!"
"Sire, what if I bring Merlin back to Camelot and you continue on with Sir Percival, Sir Adamane, and Sir Mugwen?" Sir Leon suggests.
Arthur thinks for a moment.
"Yes, that will do." He decides. "Sir Leon, get Merlin to Gaius as soon as you can." He says, placing Merlin back on his horse, albeit on his stomach. He looks at him with a serious expression: "Merlin, I expect you to be alive when I return."
"Arthur..."
"As your king, I order you to live. Do you understand me? You are not to give up. I don't care how ready you feel to die; you are not allowed to give up."
"As you wish, sire."
Arthur claps him on the shoulder and Merlin winces noticeably. Arthur nods to Leon, who remounts his horse and starts back whence they came, guiding Merlin's horse as well as his own. Arthur and the other knights continue on their journey.