A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Good to hear from you all! Sorry, GuestM, the story was only gentle and peaceful for a moment. Maybe it will be again. Maybe.

Chapter 2

After a long day's ride, searching the woods for the particularly well-organized and vicious group of thieves that had lately crossed the border and were now plaguing Camelot, the knights gratefully dismounted and put their horses into the care of the single servant accompanying their party. The king had assigned the best knights and, of course, the prince to the eradication of the thieving pestilence.

"Merlin?" A feminine voice pulled the servant from his tedium as he tethered the patrol's horses. It was the dryad who gracefully slipped out from behind a nearby tree. Her hair was now auburn, her dress a golden yellow, mirroring the surrounding shades of autumn.

"Chryseis!" he breathed and cast a nervous look over his shoulder at the knights beginning to seat themselves around the clearing. Arthur was nowhere in sight. "What are you doing here?"

"I am talking to you."

"Yes, but, um, now is not a really great time for a visit. I'm meant to be looking after the prince."

"Oh!" She excitedly peeked over the back of a horse at the knights. Merlin had told her so much about his prince. "The prince is here?" She wished to see him for herself.

"Yes, in fact, the prince is right here," answered said prince, emerging from the bushes, startling both the girl and his manservant. "Who are you and what is your business here?" he demanded.

Chryseis hastily slid behind Merlin who patted the thin hand gripping his arm and addressed the prince. "Charming, your highness, really charming. Are your manners reserved solely for nobility?" He tried to draw the dryad back to his side whispering over his shoulder, "It's alright, he's just being a prat, as usual."

Arthur cleared his throat sheepishly as he realized he'd been rather uncouth. The shy young maiden hiding behind his manservant looked terrified, eyes wide and alert like a rabbit frozen in terror. He recognized the look. It was the same one Merlin wore when he pulled out the war hammers at training.

"I ..apologize. I'm not used to seeing anyone on our patrols in this area aside from those who wish Camelot harm. Please, accept my humblest apology." He nodded respectfully and tacked on a winning smile.

"And there's the charming prince all the ladies know and love," Merlin laughed. Arthur watched in amazement as the young woman continued to cling to his manservant, still eyeing him with trepidation.

"I assure you, I mean you no harm," he said, trying to laugh and draw her out. The young woman remained absolutely glued to Merlin. He switched his scrutiny to his servant, eyebrows raised. To his amusement, Merlin seemed to suddenly realize the extreme proximity of the pretty young lady.

"It's all right, Chryseis. Don't be afraid." He tried to pull free of her grasp.

To Arthur's heightened amusement, the girl turned worshipful eyes to Merlin and responded. "I'm not afraid. You are here."

Arthur watched the pair for a moment then cut into the beginnings of Merlin's embarrassed babble, pointing a finger accusingly. "You know each other!"

Merlin grimaced. "This is the new friend you've been teasing me about for a few months. This is Chryseis. She lives here."

"Surely you didn't travel this far just for herbs, Merlin."

"Of course not! We met much closer to Camelot but.."

"I can travel several leagues from my tree."

"Your.. tree.." echoed the prince slowly.

"Yes. Although my life force is tied to my tree, I can still appear far from it because it has seeded other parts of this forest."

Arthur stumbled back in horror, one hand reaching for his sword the other reaching forward to pull Merlin to safety. "Merlin!" he hissed, yanking his friend's arm, "Get over here! She's magic!"

Chryseis' eyes grew wide as the prince began to draw his sword. "Merlin! Come away! He's dangerous!" She pulled at his other arm.

Finding himself in the middle of a tug-of-war, Merlin took a deep breath and in his most forceful voice demanded, "Stop. Just stop!" The two dropped his arms in surprise and he hurriedly continued. "This is ridiculous. No one is in danger here. You need to give each other a chance." He heaved a sigh and turned to the dumbstruck prince. "Chryseis is a dryad, a nature spirit, not an evil creature rampaging after your blood." He held out his hand to the nymph, "Chryseis, in Arthur's defense, most of the magical creatures he's met were trying to kill him. Please, be patient."

"What horrors did he perpetrate upon the poor creatures that they would hunt his blood?" the dryad asked, her round eyes never leaving the prince. How could such a man be Emrys' friend?

"I never did anything to them!" Arthur cried indignantly. And now it was his turn to be perplexed. How could a magical being be so childlike, so devoid of ill will? Didn't magic corrupt, leaving the soul warped and thirsting for the destruction of all that was good and wholesome?

The dryad studied the prince in innocent confusion. "Why would they seek his life if he did not wrong them first?" Once again, she turned a worshipful gaze upon the manservant. "Is he cursed? This malevolence from magical creatures.. is this why he requires your protection?"

"Uh, heh. Yeah.." Sensing the prince's reaction, he gulped.

"Merlin?" The prince asked, eyes narrowed. "What stories have you been telling?"

Merlin clapped his hands together and did his fastest thinking ever. "I, uh, ..um, well.." he began eloquently. His stuttered evasion of the truth was interrupted by a scream of pain. The prince, the warlock and the dryad turned to see one of the knights drop heavily, gripping his leg, an arrow protruding from his thigh. Wild yells from the attackers flooding the camp rose like the howling of wolves.

They hadn't found the band of thieves, the thieves had found them. And they were clearly outnumbered.

The prince drew his sword so fast it was ringing as he dashed back to join his men. Merlin frowned, gold flickering to life in his pupils. As he made to follow his prince, a hand on his arm restrained him.

"Merlin! It is dangerous!" Chryseis cried, her voice full of worry and fear.

"It doesn't matter! They're my friends!" Merlin cried.

She searched his eyes, nodded once and dropped her hand, freeing the warlock.

"As you are mine."

At the change in the dryad's tone, Merlin glanced back and stumbled at the sight of a startling transformation. The soft, maidenly form morphed into a wooden archer, skin visibly hardening, her dress a woven bramble of twigs, the sinews of her arms becoming twining vines around sturdy branches of hardwood. The timbered warrior moved into the battle, raising a slender bow and firing arrow after arrow that suddenly appeared, nocked and ready beneath her fingers. Several men, knights and bandits both, cried out in fear and fled before her. Dead branches of varying weights rained down upon the aggressors knocking many to the ground where they suddenly found themselves restrained and cemented in place by vines and enlivened wood springing up from the soil. Merlin raced forward into the thick of the battle, focusing on the prince who was fighting two opponents at once. His eyes flashed and one of the men overbalanced and crashed backward knocking himself senseless against the rocks. Arthur ran the other man through and swung around to skewer his other foe who, he was surprised to see, was unconscious and flat on his back. He looked up at Merlin.

—-

Merlin frowned as his friend's eyes widened in panic. The warlock whirled about only to see a wiry man lunging toward him, the tip of an extended sword only inches from his stomach. Without warning the sword was knocked awry, intercepted by a heavy wooden body.

"Not Merlin!" the angry dryad seethed and swept her arm backwards hitting the man, knocking him solidly to the rocky ground where roots sprang up and wrapped firmly around him.

Arthur backed up a step, alarmed, as the dryad raised her bow in his direction. Her arrow shot past him, taking out another threat advancing through the fray. Arthur didn't know who was the greater concern, the magical nightmare or his lackwit servant. The daft young man was still standing beside the intimidating creature, clearly lacking the sense to run. The clanging of swords died away and one last scream drew attention to the bandit sliding off Sir Kai's sword. A quick glance around the area revealed that the only other men on their feet were his knights who gathered round, crouching, readying themselves to rush the creature and protect him.

"Arthur, Sire," Merlin began, hands held up in a calming, placating manner. "Chryseis is on our side. She helped us! Please. Please don't reward her aid with violence."

"Merlin! Do you know what you're saying! The creature is magic!"

"Yes. And obviously an ally. Do you really want to make her an enemy?"

The knights muttered, frowning at the servant. The prince furiously hissed, "Merlin, ..it's magic!" How could the idiot miss the point that magic was already the enemy?

"Sire, please!" Merlin sounded desperate. "We don't have to fight her. I can talk to her. Just, just give us a moment?" The idiot's eyes were begging.

Arthur mulled the creature's prodigious archery skills, disturbing strength and alarming proximity to his utterly foolish manservant. Merlin stood in grave danger. They all did. De-escalation of the situation was paramount. Perhaps the creature's unaccountable fondness for Merlin would allow him to influence it.

"To me," the prince ordered his men without moving his eyes from the dryad. "Be careful, Merlin."

"Yes, Sire." The warlock turned to the nymph. "It might be a good idea to assume your other form," he whispered.

The men uttered hushed curses as the wood softened to skin and the brambles became a simple yellow dress. Tumbling vines became gently curling auburn locks. The beautiful maiden clung to the servant, eyeing the many drawn swords unhappily.

Merlin shook his head, heaving a sigh. Arthur wouldn't wait long. It was a miracle that he and his knights hadn't already charged in to eliminate the threat. There wasn't much time.

"Chryseis, thank you for helping me protect my friends," he said softly, "but.."

"I don't understand. Why do you say they are your friends when they hate magic? Merlin, you are magic!" she hissed sadly.

"SHhhh!" came his panicky whisper. "Please. That must remain a secret. Arthur and his people have good hearts, but they have no understanding of the nature of magic. They have been hurt and blinded. It will take time, but they will learn and I will help them. Until then we must be very patient and gentle with them. Do you understand?"

She nodded. "I did not wish to make things difficult for you, Merlin. I'm sorry. I will go." A golden tear dropped to her cheek.

"I'll be glad to see you again when I go herb picking." He gave her a small smile.

She nodded and stepped away from him, backing steadily toward the nearest tree. She raised her voice to address Emrys' prince and his men. "I am sorry I frighten you. I leave you now in peace."

The prince strode forward and yanked Merlin safely behind him. The men gasped and cursed as the figure of the girl melted away. They all stared at the empty spot for a moment longer, processing the encounter, before the prince burst into action.

"You colossal IDIOT!" he bellowed, releasing his servant's arm so he could instead smack his head. "What were you thinking! You know how dangerous magic is!"

"When I met her, I thought she was just a girl!" Merlin protested, rubbing his throbbing ear. "Just like you did!" He glanced nervously around at the knights who were all very loyal to Uther Pendragon, who would be very happy to have a reason to get rid of his son's ridiculously inept manservant. He leaned closer to Arthur and lowered his voice. "I didn't find out until later! And besides," he continued stubbornly, "she helped save us today and that doesn't seem very evil to me!" He cast a glance around at the squirming, struggling prisoners littering the forest floor. "I think what they did with ordinary weapons was far worse."

The prince ground his teeth in consternation. There was no acceptable response to the servant's observation besides a strong shove to the shoulder. "Get your medical kit and treat the wounded." He addressed the knights. "Bind their hands and get them up. We'll take them back to Camelot to stand trial." The men dispersed to their tasks, muttering at the strange situation. Several of the bandits lay tightly bound with vines, some with roots that needed to be hacked away before they could move them.

Arthur watched as Merlin carefully cleaned and bound wounds. The young man seemed to be acting normally. He cast his mind back over the past few months since the boy had admitted to making friends with a maiden in the forest. There had been no strangeness in his manner since then and there didn't seem to be any now. Arthur decided to continue watching him closely for any hint of magical influence.

—-

The return to Camelot was slowed by the bound captives who were travelling on foot ringed by knights. Finally, the prince directed them to halt and set up camp for the night. Arthur thought Merlin had done well making the food stretch, providing a tasty stew for Arthur and his men and thin broth for the captives. Thankfully, he noted, the hearty stew had been well-received by the knights who had been shooting unsettled glances at Merlin. Full bellies seemed to do for their confidence in the servant's loyalties what Merlin's innocent looks alone could not. The prince was relieved. The last thing he wanted was someone making accusations to the king about his manservant. Arthur, himself, would need to be at his diplomatic best when he reported to his father otherwise the gormless blockhead would suffer unpleasant consequences that Arthur wasn't sure he could live with.

The clatter of pans drew the prince's attention from the dancing fire to the trouble-prone servant who was washing bowls and cookware at the stream. The boy had been tense and especially respectful around the knights ever since the skirmish earlier. Despite his mental affliction, he must have realized his danger. Arthur decided to reassure him.

He approached Merlin and crouched beside him, watching as the last bowls were rinsed. Merlin shot him an inquisitive look.

"Don't beat yourself up about the incident with the magical creature, Merlin," he began kindly. "You can't be blamed. You're a simple, trusting soul. Magic works in darkness and deception, deals in lies and trickery. You're completely unequipped to deal with issues of such complexity. You're fortunate it had no untoward effect on you."

Rather than cheer him up, his words seemed to accomplish the opposite. He caught a flash of annoyance in Merlin's eyes before the servant's shoulders slumped further. He tried again.

"Don't worry. We can downplay your contact with the creature.."

"The dryad," Merlin corrected glumly.

"Yes, that. In fact, I see no reason to mention your connection at all when I make my report to the king."

Arthur almost smiled at the young man's exhalation in obvious relief at this declaration. Despite being a clumsy oaf, Merlin wasn't a bad sort to have around but his naïveté did create opportunities for those with evil intentions to harm or manipulate him. Apparently, Arthur needed to step up his efforts to protect his servant.

"I won't mention it to my father," he reiterated after a moment. "And, for your own protection, you won't be going to this forest alone again, Merlin. I forbid it."

"You can't do that! I have to gather herbs for Gaius!"

"Get them somewhere else."

"But this is the closest source of chamomile, anise seed and mugwort," he hesitated, scrunching his face ".. or was it the other one? Whatever! Other patches are leagues further away!"

"Then send someone else."

"No one else knows what he needs!"

"Then you'll be accompanied by a knight."

"I don't need a minder! You're being completely unreasonable!"

"You'll not be left to wander in this forest alone again, Merlin. That thing.."

"-dryad-" inserted Merlin.

".. doesn't get any more access to you. Who knows what sorts of things could happen. You don't know what she could do to you. You'd be utterly helpless and at her mercy! She could bewitch you or put you under any number of .."

He broke off at the annoying smirk on Merlin's face.

"What. Why are you.."

His servant answered in a distinctly smug tone. "You're overreacting because you're worried about me."

"NO! I'm just concerned that that dryad will take advantage of you to the detriment of our kingdom. You are servant to the crown prince after all."

"Don't worry, Arthur. I can take care of myself," Merlin answered easily.

"Says the man with absolutely no skill with a sword."

"Says the man who was lately saved by a girl."

"That wasn't a girl!"

"But she did save you."

Again that unbearable smirk made its appearance on Merlin's mischievous face.

Nope. Definitely not enchanted.

He shoved the servant into the dirt and stalked away but turned again as a thought struck him.

"Merlin, how long has this dryad been following you, exactly?"

Merlin batted at the dust now coating his sleeve. "I told you. I met her only a few months ago."

Arthur scrutinized him for any tell-tale signs of dishonesty.

"It's true! I've only seen her twice since spring. I usually gather herbs for Gaius in the western woods and marshes. She can only go as far as the bounds of this forest."

"Are you sure? Because for a couple years now, almost since the time we met, branches have fallen on our enemies surprisingly often."

Merlin jerked and knocked a few of the precariously stacked pots and bowls back into the stream. He fumbled after them, calling back distractedly, "Oh, um, well, maybe you have a dryad admirer too, Sire."

Arthur rolled his eyes and continued stalking back to the fire to converse with far more sensible companions. He never saw his servant close his eyes and wipe a thin sheen of sweat from his forehead.