AN: Wow. This is a first. 2 updates in 2 days! It's a bit more of a filler chapter, but the next one is where everything will start to really take off. As always, I love comments and reviews, and if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Hope you enjoy!

Anxiously waiting for the day to end so he could sneak off to the woods and find his brother, Merlin busied himself with his chores: Arthur's laundry, Arthur's armor, Arthur's room, Arthur's boots, Arthur's room again since the clotpole tracked mud all over. Then, once he finished with those, he helped the other servants pack various bags for the journey. No one knew exactly how long they would be gone, so a few extra provisions were secured. Normally, the knights could hunt for themselves and would therefore pack lighter, but who knew how feasible an option that would be once they reached Dreócræft.

When it was finally dark enough for a figure to move around the shadows unnoticed, Merlin slipped out of the courtyard and past the guards who were, as usual, half asleep. Arthur really needs to work on the efficiency of the guard. He shook his head and continued to dart in between the shadows, passing through the lower town and out to the forest. As he moved into the trees, he couldn't help but laugh to himself thinking about how well he had fooled Arthur into believing he was clumsy. Well, only partly fooled. He really could be quite clumsy. Gaius would certainly attest to that. But when it comes to walking through the woods, he could be nearly silent. He was just as good as Arthur, having received much of the same training when he was growing up in Dreócræft. The only difference was that he absolutely detested killing anything for sport, and so made it his mission to be as loud as possible when on hunting trips to scare off any innocent game. He was also quite adept with a sword and a few other weapons, but as a servant in Camelot, there was no plausible way to explain his training, so he found it easier to feign ignorance. Besides, he always preferred using his magic for defense anyway.

When he had moved far enough into the woods to avoid detection from any patrolling guards that might actually be doing their duty, Merlin stopped at the first small clearing he found. Looking around, he didn't notice any signs that another person had been there, but he knew better. Tracks could easily be hidden with a flash of gold and a wave of a hand. He moved back to the middle of the clearing and closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he released his magic, feeling it wind and coil around his arms and legs like a cat. As he exhaled, he was filled with the familiar exhilaration of it dancing across his skin, gleeful at the task it had been given, then the rush of warmth as it pooled around him and shot across the forest, spreading out and winding through the trees, intent on finding its master's kin.

It only took a moment; he could hardly stray too far from Camelot if he was to meet a knight there. When he felt his brother's presence, Merlin's eyes opened once again, still tinged with gold, and he set off in the direction his magic compelled him. After about ten minutes of walking, he reached another small clearing. This one was littered with old leaves and mossy logs, though it still looked untouched. He couldn't see him, but he knew Aurelius was there. Or at least had been there recently. Where could he have gone?

He shifted in place, rustling a few of the leaves, hoping the noise would make his brother reveal himself, but no one appeared. After another long moment of silence, he cleared his throat.

"Aurelius?"

"Who's Aurelius?"

Merlin spun around at the stranger's voice, his hand raised and his magic spiking in defense. But it was only Gwaine, his hands up in surrender and a look of surprise on his face. Merlin put his hand down and huffed, his heart still racing from the rush of adrenaline.

"Gwaine. You nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Mate, I could say the same. You look damn scary when your eyes glow in the dark like that."

"Well, don't sneak up on me like that again and you won't have to worry about it. What are you doing out here anyway?" he snapped. He was annoyed at being kept from his plans once again. And where the hell was Aurelius?

"I saw you sneaking out the gate, and I followed just to make sure nothing was wrong. I know you have your magic to protect you, but you seemed upset this morning, and I wanted to make sure you were okay." The drunkard didn't mention Merlin's blatant display of powerful magic in the first clearing, but he seemed sincerely concerned, and the sorcerer softened at his friend's words.

"I'm fine. I just...I found some things I had forgotten from my past this morning, and it reminded me of other things I lost. Nothing too important." It wasn't exactly a lie, but he wasn't quite ready to admit his true past to anyone. Not until he talked to Aurelius, at least. "I'm sorry I snapped at you, you just startled me."

"No worries, mate." Gwaine seemed satisfied with Merlin's answer and had returned to his usual grinning self. "So, what exactly are you doing out here in the woods at night?"

"Just taking a walk. To, uh, clear my head." He hated lying to his friend, but he could hardly tell him the truth that the prince from the kingdom they were leaving to save in the morning was probably hiding in the bushes somewhere nearby. "I'm just about to head back, actually. Gaius will be wondering where I am." He'd just have to hope he'd get a moment alone to find Aurelius before anyone else did.

They walked back to Camelot in comfortable silence, enjoying the cool autumn breeze and the soft crunching of freshly fallen leaves. It was a rare peaceful moment, and they both savored it, not knowing what the following weeks could hold. When they got back to the courtyard, Gwaine swung his arm up to pat Merlin on the shoulder and bid him goodnight. Though he often spent nights in the tavern, the drunkard did have enough sense to actually try to sleep the night before a long trip. As Gwaine crossed to the stairs to go inside and up to his room, Merlin turned and made his way to the chambers he shared with Gaius.

Slipping silently inside, as to not wake his mentor, he noted the chunk of bread and bowl of cold stew on the table that Gaius had left out for him. Smiling to himself at the kind gesture, he crossed the room as quietly as he could, snatched up the dinner, and continued up to his room. Once inside, he gently shut the door, then plopped down on his bed, muttering a few words to reheat the stew. He had learned that spell fairly early into his time in Camelot, as he often missed dinner in order to finish all of his chores, while simultaneously saving Arthur from "the weekly threat".

Once he finished his dinner, he set the bowl on the table by his bed and settled down into his blanket. Normally, he'd be far too excited and nervous to even think about sleeping, but after the long day's events, Merlin was exhausted, and he quickly drifted off to thoughts of reuniting with his brother and finally returning to Dreócræft and his people.