Ragnelle giggled and squirmed away. "Hold still!" Gwen demanded impatiently as she wrapped the measuring tape around her chest.

"But it tickles!"

"If you don't hold still, I'll tie you up with the tape."

"But then how will you be able to measure me?"

Gwaine guffawed from the kitchen bench where he was watching the women, helping himself to a doomed basket of fruit within hand's reach.

"I can't believe you got Gwaine to go shopping with you!" Gwen exclaimed as she measured Raag's neck.

Raag giggled again and tried to pull back, but Gwen held the tape too tightly. "Gak!Actually, Gwaine just wanted to buy the first thing he saw. If he had his way, you'd be making my riding clothes out of pink muslin!" She grasped her throat as Gwen moved on to her waist. "That would have made us quite the mark for robbers, don't you agree?"

"I was just trying to pick somthig that enhanced your blurfy." Gwaine insisted as he bit into an unlucky apple.

"I thought you said my... Beauty... doesn't need enhancing."

Gwen glanced up from her measuring. "You can understand him when he's eating?"

"He's always eating." Raag laughed, "I had to learn quickly."

"Still," Gwen smirked, "I would have paid to see Gwaine shopping!"

"It wasn't as fun as you would think." Raag shot her a derisive look. "He really wasn't much help."

"I paid for eberthig..."

Without missing a beat, Ragnelle corrected herself. "He was the perfect shopping partner."

Gwen removed the measuring tape. "There! Your new travel ensemble will be ready in a week."

"Wonderful!" Gwaine arose from the bench and gave Raag a peck on the cheek. "We'll be well on our way before Holun arrives!"

"Gwen..." Ragnelle began.

"Don't worry," Gwen whispered, "I'm making trousers to go underneath."

"Thank you." Raag hugged her as she went through the door Gwaine held open for her gallantly. "You know me so well!"

As they strolled through the village, Gwaine stopped at a vendor, gave him some money, and handed the purchase over to Ragnelle. The bag was warm, and she stooped to inhale the delicious aroma coming from within. "This is it!" She exclaimed, "This is what I smelled when I first went to the Harvest Festival!" it seemed like a lifetime ago. The juxtaposition between the fear and horror she experienced that day and the joy and happiness of today were leagues apart. She felt at home in Camelot. Albeit when Arthur found out who she was he didn't exactly welcome her with open arms, but neither did he bear malice toward her, a consideration she was forever grateful for.

"Chestnuts..." Gwaine's absent-minded reply caught Raag's attention, and she looked up at him. Following his gaze she realized with a twinge of sorrow, what he was staring at. Several soldiers were fortifying the castle walls with sandbags, but as well as adding security, it was also a training exercise. Although he would have not have been a part of that, mainly because he was a Knight and not a mere soldier, he recognized that they were preparing for war. A war that he would not be a party to, because he was about to accompany Raag on her journey back to Mongol to find her family. He finally turned, and reached into the bag. "You peel them, like this." Even though he said it with a smile, the smile that would normally light up her soul, she could see the sadness peeking through the corner of his eyes.

"You don't have to come along with me, you know." She told him.

"Of course I do." He remarked, "what kind of man would I be if I let you go on this mission by yourself?" Realizing this was perhaps not the best way to explain his motivation he added, "It is an adventure, after all, and I'm getting tired of hanging around Camelot. Come, we need to gather equipment for our journey."

His false bravado didn't fool her for a moment, but she wisely decided to give the conversation a rest.

(...)_

"How much could a slave possibly be worth?" Sir Percival asked, almost to himself as all the Knights convened at the Round Table. "Certainly we have enough gold or jewels to assuage him."

"It's not the monetary worth," Arthur countered, abruptly, "the man is a MERCHANT. He has enough money for a hundred slaves. This is a matter of principal for him."

"I agree." Sir Gwaine concurred. "We need to find something that is more valuable to him than wealth. Blackmail, perhaps?" he suggested, "We suspect that the child was not bought, but actually taken from her home."

"Be that as it may," Arthur replied, "we have no proof on the matter, and the girl was too young to remember."

"But could we not throw him in the dungeon until we sort this out?" Sir Leon inquired. "I heard that Sir Gwaine is accompanying the girl to her homeland soon in search of her family. Surely the truth will come out then?"

"I cannot with good conscience clap Holun in chains without evidence." The Prince responded, "We've done that in the past with disastrous consequences." There was an uncomfortable silence as Arthur glanced over at Sir Elyan. "Sorry." He told him, as he remembered that Elyan's own father had been executed in a similar fashion.

"No need, Sire." Sir Elyan graciously acknowledged.

Arthur cleared his throat and ended the meeting. "If there are no more suggestions, let us convene again in two days, and hopefully we will find a solution at that time."

"You are truly going to the Far East with Ragnelle?" Sir Percival asked Gwaine as they exited the War Room.

"It will be quite a grand adventure, I'm sure." Gwaine replied, jovially.

"Are you not afraid of missing out on all the excitement here?" Percival inquired.

"No doubt you'll manage quite well without me." Gwaine became distracted when he spied Raag coming out of the dressing room with Gwen. Raag gasped, and like a startled rabbit, ran as fast as she could down the corridor. "Excuse me..." Gwaine barely muttered as he chased after her, stopping only briefly to pick up the towels he knocked out of Gwen's hands, and tossing them back into her arms. Raag had quite a head start, but even as he ran down the hallway, Gwaine had no worry that he would catch her, as he knew she would be heading to the same place as always. Past the Grand Ballroom, down the stairs, and across to the Knight's Quarters. He saw her disappear into the room, catching up to her just as she jumped onto his bed giggling as he leapt on top, giving her a hearty embrace.

"No time," she protested breathlessly as he pulled at the strings holding her blouse in place. "No time. You promised to teach me how to ride a horse."

"We have plenty of time." Gwaine assured her. She laughed out loud as he nuzzled her neck.

(...)_

"Alright now, use your legs to coax her to go faster." Gwaine instructed as they trotted through the field. She was riding his horse, Fortunata, whilst he had mounted the more spirited Gringolet, the new steed that she had bonded with in the corral. "Try using one hand when you steer her." He suggested. "Let's go into the wooded trail, there." Pointing over to the woods, he urged his horse into a gallop, as she followed him.

Ragnelle caught her breath for the excitement of going so fast thrilled her to the core. Her cheeks were rosy from the wind and she had a wide smile on her face. She had found her forte.

Gwaine admired her fearlessness. He could hardly believe that she was able to master a gallop in only two days. Racing Gringolet through an arch of leaves, he inadvertently startled a kaleidoscope of butterflies, who then surrounded Fortunata. The horse raised up on her haunches, and Raag slid off the saddle, landing with a thump onto the ground. As Fortunata galloped past Gwaine, riderless, he whistled for her, and turned back, alarmed.

Dismounting, he saw Raag lying on the ground and ran to her, but his fears were quickly eased when she suddenly sat up, laughing. "Let's do that again!"

Gwaine breathed a sigh of relief as he helped her up. "Are you alright? Did you hurt anything?"

"Who knew I would be done in by butterflies!" She exclaimed, as she began to chase them. They made their way through the arch, where Fortunata stood, waiting.

He gallantly helped her back onto the horse. "The fall aside, you are catching on splendidly. We should be ready to leave by week's end."

"Actually, I need to wait until after Holun arrives."

Remounting Gringolet, he questioned her decision. "Why?"

"I need his maps." She explained. "There are no maps of Mongol in Camelot."

"His maps?" Gwaine was never so prepared, always preferring to travel wherever the wind took him.

"Just because I cannot read, does not mean I do not know how to use a map." She commented, cavalierly, "They are just pictures, after all, and I have watched Holun navigate them all my life."

He didn't like the idea, but appreciated the fact that they could end up going in circles without a map. "Alright," He conceded, "but we leave at dawn, right after he arrives."

Ragnelle nodded in agreement as she urged Fortunata into a gallop, with Gwaine following close behind, at the ready in case she fell again.

(...)_

A few days later, Merlin served the Knights their lunch in the war room. "Arthur, I need to ask a favour of you." He requested as he placed the platter down.

Arthur raised his eyebrows. "A favour?" He snorted contemptuously as he picked up a cluster of grapes. "Now why should I grant a favour to you?"

"It's not really for me, it's for Ragnelle, and it may be the solution to your problem."

Arthur paused for a moment, contemplating the request. "Alright, what is it you want of me, Merlin?"

"I just need you to assure that Holun won't go searching for her until the dawn after he arrives tomorrow. I have a plan." He disclosed.

"And are you not going to let me in on this 'plan'?"

"Well, actually, there are a couple of plans stirring around in my head, and I'm not sure which one I am going to pick. Unless you have a plan of your own?" He replied, cheekily.

Arthur was caught. After days of brainstorming, they hadn't come up with any feasible ideas, and Merlin, who had been serving them all the while, knew that.

"You will have no doubt when my plan takes effect." Merlin urged, "I promise you will know exactly when to propose an offer for the black powder."

Intrigued, Arthur agreed, and as Merlin left, he pulled Sir Leon aside. "Spread the word. Make no move until I order it myself." He commanded.

Sir Leon bowed his head and joined the other Knights at the table.

(...)_

"Ooooh!" Wide-eyed, Ragnelle admired the ball of flame floating in front of Merlin as he worked his spell in Gaius' chambers. "It's so beautiful, but will it not be dangerous to be so close to Holun's black powder?"

"This is the 'Perpetual Fire'." Merlin explained, concentrating on controlling the fire's direction. "It cannot be extinguished, nor does it actually burn." He lowered the flame onto the table. "Touch it."

Raag tentatively passed her hand over the ball. "It feels like air!" She remarked with wonder, "There is no heat from it whatsoever!"

"Artos Ennius Toni!" He commanded, as the ball flew across the room and engulfed the door, just as Gaius walked through.

"Are you playing with magic again, Merlin?" He asked rhetorically. "What have I told you about that?"

"Exteribus!" Merlin's eyes glowed as he quickly extinguished the flame. "I wasn't playing with it, per se, I was just practicing. We need it to help Raag escape tomorrow."

"As dramatic as they are," Gaius warned, "try to recite your incantations quieter, you need not shout them out for them to work!"

"I know." Merlin nodded, "I will." Gaius glared at him sceptically. "I promise!" As Gaius pulled back, Merlin turned to Raag, "Which caravan contains the black powder?"

"The black one." She confirmed. "It's always in the black one."

"Good." He grabbed a torch, "I just have one more thing to do." He said as he left the room.

"Gaius, do you have a sleeping tonic?" She asked him, "Gwaine keeps waking up in the middle of the night, and he can't get back to sleep again."

"Yes," he turned to his shelf of potions, "this one will keep him asleep, and he will wake up refreshed in the morning."

"Thank you, Gaius." She said, as she took the elixir, putting it into her pocket. "Oh, I forgot to ask Merlin something!" Looking out the window, she could see him making his way through the town. "Please excuse me, Gaius!"

Gaius nodded as she rushed out the door.

(...)

Merlin ran to the clearing on the mountain, torch in hand. "O Drakon, todis errinabu d'atali." He commanded.

The sky stirred, and a great wind blew down on Merlin as Kilgharrah perched himself on the edge of the cliff. "I am not at your beck and call, Merlin." The dragon insisted, "What is it you need from me this time?"

"You are at my beck and call," Merlin reminded him, "I am the Dragon Lord."

"So you are." Kilgharrah conceded, "but just because you lower your voice down an octave to summon me, does not mean I am obliged to appease your whims." The dragon smirked, if indeed a dragon truly could smirk, "Tell me what you want, and I will contemplate my assistance in the matter." he allowed, on the pretence that he had a choice.

"I need for you to create a distraction, so that a girl can escape from her Master."

"Why do you not create the distraction yourself?"

"Because it cannot look like anyone in Camelot is involved." Merlin admitted.

"I am not to be called to provide a 'distraction'." He growled, miffed that he had been summoned for such a trivial reason. There was a gasp behind them. Startled, the dragon roared, sending a flame into the air. "Who's there?" He demanded.

"A Dragon!" Raag stepped forward.

"What are you doing here?" Merlin cried out, expecting Kilgharrah to alight at any moment.

"I saw you leaving the castle and followed you..."

"You are She!" The dragon hissed.

Merlin was caught unawares. "How do you know her?"

"I know a great many things." The dragon bowed his head. "The Lady Ragnelle."

Raag laughed. "I am not a Lady, but yes, I am Ragnelle," she stepped closer, unafraid. "How did you know?"

"Gwaine's love." He observed her with interest. "You are mentioned in the history books yet to be written."

"I don't understand." She reached out her hand.

Merlin grunted. "He alway talks in riddles."

"Oooh," Raag exclaimed as she petted him. "you are warmer than I expected."

"I am made from fire and magic," The dragon explained, "and born from the ashes." Raag stroked the giant creature's chin. "I will do as you ask." He told Merlin as he gurgled with contentment.

Merlin regarded the Dragon and the Empath with wonderment.

(...)_

Holun arrived on the second full moon, as expected, to all the pomp and circumstance he had enjoyed during his previous visit. Arthur greeted him, and suggested they dine together and then he could enjoy a good night's sleep before they started a search for the boy. Holun agreed, and as he mounted the castle stairs on the way to the banquet room, Arthur held back a moment. "This had better be worth it." He muttered under his breath disdainfully to Merlin.

"Think of this as a wonderful exercise in diplomacy." Merlin quipped back.

Gwaine did not feel like attending the banquet for Holun, and under the circumstances, Arthur agreed with him. Instead he and Ragnelle enjoyed a lovely private dinner in his chambers, whereupon afterwards they toasted to their new adventure, and retired to his bed.

Raag arose in the middle of the night and nudged Gwaine. Normally he would have woken up with a start, but this time he merely groaned and rolled over. She quietly donned her new travelling clothes. Gwen had folded the skirt so that the trousers would not show until she climbed atop a horse. Before she put on the black cape, she gazed down at her sleeping love. 'Wake up.' Ragnelle told Gwaine in her mind. 'Wake up and stop me. Wake up and forbid me to leave, and I will stay forever in your arms. Damn Holun, Damn finding my family and damn Camelot. Tell me I have no choice, that I can never leave your side, and I will obey you, happily.' Tears streamed down her cheeks. 'Ask me never to leave, and I'll say... I can't.' Conflicted, she lay back down beside him, and rested her head on his shoulder. 'Just one more moment in your arms.' Gwaine stirred and instinctively hugged her to him as he slept. 'One moment to last forever...' She cherished his last embrace. So warm, so safe. She was tempted to go back to sleep, to forget her troubles, to forget what she had to do... with a stuttered breath she opened her eyes. "I will love you forevermore," she whispered, "but you have your destiny and I have mine." And with one final, everlasting kiss, she left his bed.

As she ran down the castle stairs, she saw Kilgharrah fly across the sky. He circled the citadel breathing flames onto several trees on the hill and through to a nearby field. As the townspeople screamed and ran to take cover, Raag took the advantage by creeping into the red caravan and obtaining the precious maps.

Merlin was waiting outside. "Are you ready?" He asked. Ragnelle nodded. "I'll meet you at the stables. Go. Now!" He turned to face Holun's wagons. "Artos Ennius Toni!" He chanted.

Raag ran through the streets as the black caravan burst into flames. The guard that Holun had stationed at the stables put down his weapon and ran to help extinguish the sudden fire. Picking up his crossbow, Ragnelle snuck into the building. "Altani!" She called out.

Altani whinnied, and Raag could see the fear in the mare's eyes. "Shh, shh," She reached into the stall and calmed the frightened beast. She unhooked the bridle, fastening it onto the horse. As she secured her to the stall, Merlin rushed in.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Merlin asked.

"Tell Sir Gwaine I love him." Was the answer, as she lashed another bridle onto Fortunata.

"I think he already knows."

"Tell him anyways."

Merlin thrust a small bag of coins into her hand. "Here. It isn't much..."

Ragnelle wanted to say no, but thanked him instead. "This will help immensely until I can find work." She told him, gratefully.

"What will you do?"

"With your 'gift', I should be able to be hired as an interpreter." She replied. "Don't worry, I'll be discreet." Raag hugged Merlin fondly. "Thank you for helping me."

Merlin held her tightly, relishing what could possibly be their last embrace. "It's been a pleasure knowing you, Lady Ragnelle." Letting go, he took a deep breath. "Arouunis tel'kne vitu." The enclosure snapped in two. Merlin chased all the horses out of the building, following them down the road. Only Altani was left, still tied to the post.

As Raag quickly fastened the saddle, she heard a low growl behind her. She whirled around, sharply. "Ken..." She only had enough time to say half his name before the dog attacked. Recognizing her at the last minute, he landed on Raag, smothering her with kisses. "...do!" Laughing, they rolled around on the ground, celebrating their happy reunion.

Merlin stopped at the crest of the hill, and took a moment to watch Holun's men drawing around trying to extinguish the perpetual fire with a grin. He then raced to join Arthur.

Raag held the dog's face and looked into his eyes. "I'm going on a wonderful adventure, Kendo!" She told him, "You can come along if you want, it's your choice." She put the crossbow into the holder on the saddle and mounted Altani. "Come with me, or stay with Holun."

Stopping right outside, she turned to face Kendo. The dog wavered for a moment, looking over at the direction of the burning wagon, and then back at Raag.

She spurred the horse on with a laugh as Kendo darted past them and down the road, her dress blowing behind her in the wind.

"The wagons! The black powder will explode!" Cried an agitated Holun, gauging the chaos from the castle walkway.

"It's only your wagon that is on fire, Holun," Arthur reasoned, "will you now sell us the back powder if we help you extinguish it?"

"Yes, yes, as much as you want!"

Arthur called down to his Knights who were standing below, waiting for his order. "Make a bucket brigade."

The men did as they were told, and alongside Holun's soldiers, they worked at putting out the flames.

Merlin eyes glowed behind them. "Exteribus!" He whispered, and the flames died down, disappearing altogether within moments.

With all the commotion, no one noticed a dog, a horse and a girl escaping into the night to find their family.