'Morgana's party hasn't returned to Camelot. There's no sign of her anywhere.'

Thalia's head snapped up from the map below her.

Uther looked up as well, eyes filling with worry. 'Send riders to the outlying villages. I want every guard, every sentry looking for her.'

'Dispatch them immediately.' Arthur nodded and Thalia stood, following him.

They rode through the forest on the road. Thalia pulled her hood back when they saw the sight of the dead Knights.

'Check to see if anyone's alive!' Arthur pulled a sword from a dead Knight's back and turned it over, examining the dulled blade. 'This is Mercian craftsmanship.'

'I might've guessed,' Thalia murmured and jumped off her horse to the ground.

'Thalia, Arthur!' said Merlin, who walked over and pulled a piece of paper off an arrow in another Knight's back. 'It's a ransom note! They've taken Morgana hostage.'

Arthur glanced around. 'Tracks lead off this way.'

They snuck through the woods as quietly as they could. They all halted when they heard footsteps. While Arthur swapped his sword for a crossbow Thalia unsheathed her sword and went ahead of them.

'Thalia!' whispered Arthur.

She motioned with a hand, telling him to shush and crept forward. She went around some trees and her mouth fell open when she saw Morgana in her underdress running toward her. Thalia sheathed her sword and stepped out from behind the tree. Morgana gasped when she saw Thalia and ran into her outstretched arms.

Thalia immediately pulled her cloak off and wrapped it round Morgana, putting an arm round her shoulders, taking note of the injuries around Morgana's head.

'Morgana are you alright?'

'I am, yes. But Gwen…'

'Gwen?'

'Gwen injured her ankle and couldn't run.'

'How long ago was this?'

'Too long, they'll be gone by now.'

Thalia nodded grimly. 'Let's get you back to Camelot and see what we can do.'

Thalia, still holding Morgana, led them back around the trees. They came face to face with Arthur's crossbow which was lowered immediately when he saw Morgana bundled up in Thalia's black cloak.

'Morgana! Are you okay?'

The slightly shivering Morgana nodded.

'Where's Guinevere?'

Morgana and Thalia shook their heads.

They entered the council chambers. Uther stood as Morgana, now in a green dress, hurried to him.

'It's such a relief to see you safe. I couldn't bear the thought of anyone harming you.'

'The bandits still have Gwen!' Morgana was panicking.

'I believe they were Mercian. We've received reports that Hengist has crossed the border.' Arthur said.

'Hengist?'

'You must send a rescue party!'

Uther remained calm. 'If Hengist is holding her, it would take a small army to rescue your maid.'

'We can't abandon her!'

'How many men would you have me sacrifice to save a servant?'

Arthur and Thalia glanced at each other. So much for Morgana and Uther being pleased to see each other, this was going to end in a fight.

'As many as it takes! Gwen gave herself up so that I might escape. I owe her my life!'

Uther wasn't listening and remained ignorant. 'She did so willingly, and she will be honoured for it.' He turned away only to have Morgana march after him.

Morgana nearly scoffed. 'I don't want her honoured, I want her rescued!'

Silence followed as Uther glanced to the floor and Thalia and Arthur stood on opposite sides of Uther and Morgana, preparing themselves should an argument break out.

'She is more than just my maid. She's my friend,' Morgana pleaded.

Uther took a breath, saying what he'd been trying to avoid. 'A servant is of no value to these bandits. I fear she's dead already.'

While everyone looked down at hearing it said out loud Morgana raised her voice once more.

'No!' she stepped out of Uther's arms. 'We cannot give up hope! Arthur? Thalia?'

They glanced at each other, knowing what the other was thinking.

'I'm begging you. You have to do something!'

'My father's right. I'm afraid there's nothing we can do.'

'How can you say that?! How can you live with yourselves?! All of you!'

'Morgana…' Thalia began. Morgana turned and walked to her. 'I'm sorry but it's seeing reason. Gwen is smart and clever, she may have even escaped. I'm not giving up hope but in the face of truth there's little we can do.'

Morgana sobbed and Thalia pulled her into a hug.

Thalia was in Arthur's chambers stuffing armour and food into a bag when Morgana burst in.

'How can you be so heartless?! Gwen is the most kind, loyal person that you would ever meet, and she has been more than a friend to all of us! And you two would leave her at the mercy of those animals!'

'Morgana...' Arthur said, shoving something else into the bag.

'Have you no shame? Do you think of no one but yourself?'

'Morganaaaa….' Arthur put down a sword and looked at Thalia who was grinning.

'I knew you were many things, Arthur Pendragon, but I didn't know you were a gutless coward! And as for you, Thalia Brightsword, I thought-'

'Morgana! Arthur said firmly. 'Perhaps if you would stop shouting at us for one second, you would notice that we are packing.'

'…You're going after Gwen.'

Thalia put a dagger into the bag.

'Of course we're going after her. What do you take us for? But we couldn't disagree with my Father in public.'

They each slung a bag over their shoulders, grabbed their swords and walked out.

'Thalia, Arthur?'

They turned.

'Bring her home.'

They pulled the same smile and walked out.

They met up with Merlin and crouched behind a cart, looking at the two guards.

'I'll fetch the horses, you distract the guards.' Arthur stood and turned, only to turn back at Merlin's remark.

'Wha...how do I do that?'

'I don't know, do I have to think of everything?' He threw his arms out and left.

Merlin sighed and looked around. Both his and Thalia's eyes rested on the barrels.

'You do the honours,' Thalia grinned.

'Binne tófléon. '

A single barrel rolled out in the open toward the guards who approached it warily.

'álíese.'

Thalia laughed silently as Merlin made the barrel snap upright.

'Whoa!' The guards took a step back. Thalia smirked as she and Merlin exchanged humoured looks.

'Swéor þá.'

Thalia laughed as more barrels joined them and looked around, suddenly no longer laughing.

'Merlin,' she whispered urgently, tapping his arm.

'What? Oh.'

Too many barrels had been sent rolling and they both winced sympathetically as the guards were knocked unconscious. Before they could do any more damage, Arthur returned looking round in bewilderment. They stood up.

'What did you do?! I said distract them, not knock them out!'

Merlin folded his arms and shook his head at him. 'There's just no pleasing you sometimes.'

Thalia and Arthur stopped their horses and turned as they heard a thud. Merlin was on the ground in a bush as his horse cantered away beside Thalia on Leroy.
Arthur rolled his eyes. 'What are you doing, Merlin?'

He lifted his head from the ground. 'I must've fallen asleep. Ugh, I'm exhausted.' He sighed, laying his head down once more. 'I can barely keep my eyes open.'

From atop his horse Arthur emptied his canteen onto Merlin's head.

'Thank you. I feel so much better(!)'

'Come on, Merlin,' Thalia laughed, 'Gwen's counting on us!'

'Ugh…' Merlin heaved himself up, caught his horse and got on once more.

Merlin and Arthur were both woken up under a tree by having water poured over their faces.
'Merlin. Arthur. Up.'

'Aargh… what's happening? How long was I asleep for?' Merlin shook the water off of his head.

'Long enough. Arthur, up!' Thalia poured more water over him.

'Alright, alright! I'm awake!'

'Did you get some rest?'

'Mm, only just woke up.' Thalia tightened her girth.

'Is that a lie? How much sleep have you had?'

'Merlin, relax, I've been asleep nearly as long as you. Why are you so worried?'

'Because Gwen's a good friend of yours.'

'Yes, but I know I'm not going to do her any good by being tired when we reach her, now come on. ARTHUR! Get up!'

'I'm up!'

'No, you're really sort of not.'

Once they'd got on their horses and ridden for a while they stopped by some tunnels and looked at a map.

'Arthur, Merlin… look at this.' Thalia passed Arthur the map. 'The ransom was supposed to be delivered to the Veil of Danaria. So if Gwen's anywhere, it has to be there. Which means…' she left the rest of her sentence to Arthur.

'It'd save a day's riding if we cut through the tunnels of... Andor...'

Merlin took one look at their identical set jaws and groaned.

'Oh, no. I know those faces. I'm not going to like this, am I? What's in the tunnels?'

Arthur rolled up the map. 'They're...infested with Wildren.'

'Yeah, nothing really.'

'What are Wildren?'

Thalia and Arthur spread their hands wide in the air. 'Well, they're like giant...'

They saw Merlin's startled face and glanced at each other before moving their hands closer.

'Baby rats…' Arthur finished.

'…yeah.'

'Baby rats? They don't sound so bad.'

'They feast on human flesh,' Arthur said quickly.

Merlin replied without hesitation. 'Maybe we should go over the mountains.'

Arthur walked over to some bushes with berries. Thalia caught on and also went over.

Merlin frowned, not catching on. 'Er...what are you doing?'

'Wildren are completely blind, they hunt by sense of smell,' explained Arthur, smearing the berry juice on his face. 'Gaia berries will put them off the scent. So, if we smear ourselves with them, perhaps we can pass through the tunnels undetected.'

Thalia smeared her face as well.

Merlin put one finger near his noise and recoiled. 'Oh! Oh, these stink! Oh, they're really bad.'

'Would you rather get eaten?'

'Pass me some more, will you?'

Arthur picked a few more and rubbed them over Merlin's face. Thalia laughed as Merlin recoiled, scrunching his nose and stepping out of reach.

Arthur had a torch and they were trudging through the tunnels when they heard screeching. They stopped, listened and kept going, not being able to do anything else.

'Ah! I just stood on something.' Merlin freaked out.

'That was my foot.' Arthur ignored Merlin's panic and kept walking.

'Oh, sorry. How much further is it?'

'Shh…' Thalia and Arthur held up a hand to silence Merlin.

Arthur dropped the torch and stamped on the fir to extinguish it. 'Wildren coming this way.'

They hid behind a rock and Arthur whispered to Merlin; 'Whatever happens, keep completely still.'

One came right in front of them and sniffed right by Merlin's face. Thalia's mind found a spell and she was ready to use it at any given second.

The wildren went away and they breathed quiet sighs of relief.

'Come on,' Thalia helped the still in-shock Merlin up.

They made it out of the tunnels and found a stream where they washed the stink and the smears of the berries off.

Arthur rubbed his face. 'Gaia berries worked. Ha!'

Merlin paused. 'You didn't know if they worked?

'Not for sure,' Arthur said casually as he stood up and Thalia closed her eyes, waiting for Merlin to-.

'Now you tell me?! Oh! ' Merlins stood up. 'Oh, what's that Wildren eating? It's all right. It's just Merlin. You trying to get us all killed?!'

Arthur chuckled. 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't've risked your life like that.'

Thalia stood as well.

'Well, they do say love makes you invincible.'

Arthur turned round as Thalia walked away to organise their bags, out of earshot.

Arthur glanced to make sure Thalia couldn't hear them before rounding on Merlin. 'What are you talking about?'

'Why can't you just openly admit your feelings for Thalia? You're so much more confident when she's by your side.'

Arthur scoffed and walked away.

'It's so obvious. A blind man could see it. Is it really that hard to admit you like her? Just say it.'

Arthur turned with a pained expression. 'I can't! How can I admit that… I think about her all the time. Or that...I care about her, more than anyone? How can I admit that...I don't know what I'll do if any harm ever comes to her?' Arthur was reminded of the time she had vanished, leaving only blood when fighting the Questing Beast, all the times she had gone to fend off and fight dangerous sorcerers, all the times he'd got jealous when she was complimented by nobles and Knights, how she calmed his nerves and always saved his skin, her courage and humour and how he felt when she was there with him in a fight, knowing they had each other's backs and they could rely on each other.

'Why can't you?'

'Because nothing can ever happen between us! To admit my feelings knowing that...hurts too much.'

'Who's to say nothing can happen? She's royalty!'

'My father won't let me rescue a servant. Do you honestly believe he'd let me marry a sorcerer?'

'You want to marry Thalia?'

'No! No...I...I don't know...' Arthur turned to look at the other side of the stream. 'It's all talk, and that's all it can ever be.'

'When you're King, you can change that.'

'I can't expect someone like her to wait for me.

'She feels as you do; she'll wait for you.'

'…Come on. We've got a long trek ahead. Oh, and Merlin...if you dare tell anyone about this, I promise I will make your life a living hell.'

'You mean, more than you already do?'

'Yeah.'

'What's this about making Merlin's life a living hell?' Thalia reappeared. 'You'd have to go through me first.'

Arthur gave Merlin a sharp look. 'Fine. We've still got a lot of walking.'

'We could talk about your feelings while you walk.'

'Shut up, Merlin.'

From behind a bush Merlin, Thalia and Arthur looked at the fortress in front of them.

'No visible way in,' Thalia said

'Then we'll have to scale the walls.'

'Maybe there's another way in.' Merlin sounded uneasy.

While Thalia chuckled Arthur looked at Merlin. 'Why don't you go and knock on the front gate? I'm sure if you ask nicely, they'll hand Guinevere over to you.'

Merlin's hand slipped on a rock and Thalia held hers out. Merlin took it and hauled himself to a better spot.

Arthur sighed. 'You really are completely useless, aren't you, Merlin?'

'It's...harder than it looks.' Merlin watched as Thalia and Arthur climbed with ease. 'Oh, now you're just showing off.'

'Less talking helps, Merlin,' Thalia called as she and Arthur kept climbing.

'You distract them. We'll knock them out.' Arthur said the plan for dealing with two bandits.

'How do I distract them!?'

Arthur put his arm over Merlin's shoulders as if to explain but instead pushed him into the room.

'What are you doing there?'

'Nothing. Actually, it's a funny story. I was out walking and I took a wrong turn and here I am. Do you know the way to the Veil of Danaria?'

Thalia laughed silently as she and Arthur crept in.

'Who are you?'

'Me? Er, I'm no one...It's them you need to worry about.'

As the bandits turned Arthur and Thalia knocked them out.

Once Arthur and Merlin were dressed in the bandit's clothes Thalia cast a spell on hers.

'That actually worked pretty well,' Merlin said, surveying his own stolen clothes. They hurried out and made it into the main hall. A wildren was in a cage with Gwen and a man Thalia didn't know.

'It's Lancelot!' Merlin whispered in her ear. She nodded; Merlin had told her about him.

As the wildren found Gwen and Lancelot, Thalia and Arthur wasted no time in unsheathing their swords and jumping into the cage.

'My Lady!' shouted Gwen.

Arthur untied them and threw Lancelot a spare sword while Thalia kept the wildren at bay.

She pushed Gwen behind the three of them as Lancelot delivered the first strong, precise blows to the wildren.

'What are you doing here, Lancelot?' asked Arthur.

'I came to save Gwen. What about you?'

'Likewise.'

'Gwen, stay behind us.' Thalia said as she swung at the wildren. She noticed Hengist aiming a crossbow at them. 'Merlin!'

Moments later the chandelier fell but Hengist dodged it to the Crowned Warrior's annoyance.

'The tunnel, that's our only chance. Merlin! Don't sit there cowering, let's go!'

'He is not cowering, he just saved our lives!' Thalia shouted back at Arthur.

'We can argue about this later, come on.' Arthur took her wrist as Merlin jumped into the cage.

Thalia took her wrist back. 'If you would believe me from time to time we wouldn't have arguments!'

'Later!'

'Take Guinevere! I'll hold them off.' Lancelot stood at the back of the party.

'No!' shouted Gwen.

'Guinevere, we have to go!' Arthur shouted.

Thalia pulled Lancelot behind her. 'Go, I'll hold them off.'

'Thalia, come on!'

'Arguments later, remember?' she yelled and turned to look for something to use her magic on.

Then she figured it out.

The gate to the tunnel shut, leaving Hengist trapped with the wildren.

She turned and ran with Merlin and Lancelot.

'I see you're still up to your old tricks, Merlin.'

Thalia laughed as for once Merlin took the credit.

'It's probably best you don't tell anyone about that.'

They ran to the end of the tunnel and found the locked bars. Arthur tried to break the chain.

'Good to see you both. Where are your knights?'

'It's just us.' Arthur said, looking at Thalia and Merlin.

Lancelot looked at them in surprise and Thalia explained.

'Uther isn't the easiest to convince so we snuck out. Here, Arthur, move over.'

Arthur gave up with the chain. Thalia's eyes flashed a storm and the chain broke, though she smashed it to make it seem to Gwen and Lancelot she had done it by hand.

'We've got to keep moving.'

'Really, Arthur, I thought I'd stay for a picnic.'

Arthur rolled his eyes and they ran out.

When they were out of range Lancelot spoke. 'Thank you, Arthur, Thalia, Merlin. We owe you our lives.'

'I'm surprised you would undertake such a rescue mission...with just the three of you.' They were all sat around the campfire.

'My father would not risk the lives of his knights for a servant.'

'And Gwen is a dear friend,' Thalia added, 'there was no way I wasn't coming.'

Despite the fire Gwen shivered and Thalia winced, remembering she'd left her cloak with their horses on the other side of the tunnels. She would give it to Gwen if she could.

'I think I will get some rest,' Gwen said.

'We should all get some rest.' Thalia agreed, stretching her legs in front of her and looking across the orange glow at Arthur.

'In a minute, we need to continue our argument.'

'Oh for the love of-,' Thalia mumbled, 'I thought you'd given up on that. Merlin did save our lives and that's all there is to it. Now I'm going to sleep, Arthur.' She stood up, leaving a pleased and smirking Merlin to direct his smirk to Arthur.

'So run it by me again, Arthur?'

'Hm?'

'Where's Lancelot?'

'He just… decided to leave.'

'…Right.'

'Morgana. There's someone here to see you.'

Arthur and Thalia stepped aside and Morgana's face lifted when she saw Gwen.

'Gwen! I thought I'd never see you again.' She pulled her maid into a tight hug.

Thalia and Arthur left them to it.

'I'm so tired,' Thalia yawned as they walked through the square.

Arthur yawned as well. 'Me too.'

'Look on the bright side, you've still got me.'

Thalia smiled at Merlin while Arthur looked at him doubtfully.

'Is that supposed to cheer me up?'

'Thought it might.'

'You really are a complete idiot, aren't you, Merlin?'

'Arthur…'