Merlin shivered against the rain, looking to Thalia in unspoken communication as they blinked at the dead Knights scattered across the ground. She circled around the horses, wearing an incredibly haughty and cross expression. Beneath her green battledress she wore leather pants and dragon bracers. Her sword hung from her hip underneath her grey cloak. Her Knight's cape was wrapped around Merlin, who pulled a face as the Knights bustled around him.

Arthur rallied his orders. 'Check for survivors. Seems their attackers headed north! Come on!'

'Do you think we should be going after them?' Merlin growled over the wind.

Arthur turned around, shaking his head at the servant. 'You are such a girl's petticoat.'

Thalia dug an elbow into his side as she walked past.

'Ow.'

Merlin wiped water from his face and followed Thalia into the field, trying not to slip over the grass.

'I just want to go home,' he moaned, shivering.

'Bloody Uther,' she hissed.

'He's as stupid as he is stubborn.'

The year had passed with the search for Morgana costing lives, recourses and time. Merlin had found himself wishing Morgana had been killed to prevent Uther ever finding out he'd poisoned her, or at least was hiding from them and would never be found.

Thalia had bitterly agreed, and they both approached their situation with increasing aggression and impatience, knowing that finding Morgana was the last thing they needed, but to keep searching until both Uther and Arthur had passed wasn't a solution.

Morgana's betrayal and absence had thrown their world into a series of constant risks and inescapable problems. Uther was distant and colder than ever, putting Thalia's patience and tether to the test too often. Arthur was terrified that Uther would push her too far, and missed Morgana terribly. Together with Merlin, Thalia spent nights scrying, seeing and considering Morgana's status, dead or alive, an enemy or not, lost or with a plan. Nothing they found gave them any certainty, and Thalia's books could only help get Merlin so far in understanding the art of seeing.

Gaius meanwhile had been looking at Merlin and Thalia with growing concern, watching as Uther grew further unreasonable by the day.

For that reason, Merlin and Thalia decided it was better to get the inevitable over and done with and find Morgana before Uther's reason was completely lost. It was a risk, but they weren't ready to spend years serving a despairing, stupid king on a pitiful quest that merely delayed their problems.

Arthur had further noticed that Thalia and Merlin spent a lot of time increasingly impatient and cross, though he could tell they were for reasons slightly different to his own; his concern for Morgana.

Through the rain he could see the two stalking across the field, not bothering to check the pulse of Cenred's men. The rain glided over Thalia, once again when he really paid attention, the world moved differently around her.

Thanks to her constant haughtiness, these days the world bent to make her look further sinister and ill-tempered. He watched as one of the enemy knights tried to move when she and Merlin approached his place.

She killed him in a flat second, sword out, across his neck, and in again by her hip. Merlin didn't pay it any mind and hadn't stopped walking.

Trying not to express his unease on his face, Arthur nodded at the Knights to follow him.

He couldn't blame them, but the increasingly irritable Thalia and Merlin were making his life further difficult every day.

The following day made for clearer skies, and slightly less angry spellcasters.

As they rode through the woods Merlin moved in his saddle, wincing as they moved up the hill. 'Ow.'

'Is there something wrong with you?' Arthur grumbled.

'I've been on a horse all day,' Merlin replied.

'Is your little bottom sore?'

'Yes! It's not as fat as yours.'

'You know, you've got a lot of nerve, for a wimp.'

Thalia ignored them, merely watching ahead.

'I may be a wimp, but at least I'm not a dollophead.'

'There's no such word.'

'It's idiomatic,' Merlin shot.

'It's what?!' Arthur asked.

'You need to be more in touch with the people.'

'Describe "dollop head",' Arthur challenged.

'In two words?'

'Yeah.'

'Prince Arthur,' said Thalia and Merlin at the same time.

Before Arthur could retaliate they came across and abandoned campsite.

Dismounting from their horses, they moved forward to the tents and fires, moving silently. As they looked around, a crossbow hit the back of a Knight that hit the leaves and dirt with a thud. Thalia and Arthur spun on the spot, pulling Merlin behind them as bandits swarmed the camp, racing toward them with drawn swords.

'On me!' The two yelled and the fight began.

Thalia was drawn away from Merlin and Arthur as the fight raged on. She turned in a gap, looking for another opponent when she saw a bandit run up to Arthur from behind.

Merlin, from the ground, sent a spear straight into the man's chest as Thalia closed the distance.

Arthur turned around, looking for the thrower. He stopped when he saw Merlin on the ground.

'We're not playing hide and seek, Merlin!' he grumbled, before walking off, sword twirling through his hands.

'Dollophead,' hissed Merlin, looking up at Thalia's arm.

She pulled him up. 'Well done.'

The fight was won in under a minute and as they surveyed the camp once more, twigs snapped in the trees further north, in the fog.

Carefully, they moved forward.

Through the fog appeared a dishevelled Morgana, shaking and shivering. Her eyes widened when she saw the knights, then caught sight of Thalia and Arthur.

'Morgana,' he breathed.

'A… Arthur? Thalia?'

Almost begrudgingly, Thalia moved forward and pulled her cloak off and wrapped it around Morgana.

Merlin stood there in shock and fear, trapped with much the same expression Thalia returned with. The next phase of their nightmare had arrived, and neither looked very happy about it.

Thalia and Merlin avoided Morgana, leaving Arthur to handle her as they set about preparing for the ride back to Camelot. Arthur seemed more than happy to talk with and help Morgana, so they had no problem in leaving him to it.

If she says anything to Uther about you, I'll stop her. Thalia repeated the plan.

And if she does anything, we tail her.

At the first sign of trouble-

-we count her as untrustworthy, but until then-

-we've got our friend back.

Glancing at each other heavily, they mounted their horses and waited.

'Thalia.'

'Sire.'

'I must thank you for your efforts. Finding Morgana… was no easy feat, I know. There is nothing more I could have asked for.'

Thalia ignored the urge to glare at the dazed king. 'She's home, sire,' she said simply.

Uther nodded. 'Thank you,' he breathed. 'I don't know how you did it, all I know is that fate is on our side.'

Thalia walked out, and ran into Merlin within a minute. He was smiling.

'So what happened?' she asked.

'Morgana apologised. She said she was naïve, that she's sorry for what she did and that she would have done the same as I did in our position.'

'Well that's good,' Thalia nodded, looking to the floor. She then looked up at with a wide smile. 'Good,' said Merlin.

An hour later, Thalia walked past Arthur's open doors in time to hear the words; 'Would you like me to show you how to use the bucket?'

'No-,'

She stuck her head in time to watch Arthur throw Merlin's bucket of water over him.

As Merlin stood there in shock, Arthur held the bucket upside down and put it over Merlin's head. He gave it a knock for good measure and went back to his screen.

'Arthur,' she sighed.

He laughed. 'What brings you here?'

'Uther wants us to arrange the patrol guarding the grain supplies before the feast tonight.'

'Will do,' he nodded.

She went out again, then stuck her head back in again. 'Training in half an hour.'

'I know, I know, I haven't forgotten,' he called.

Merlin groaned, the noise ringing from the base of the bucket. 'I'd forgotten how boring it is to you watch you two beat the living daylights out of each other and the knights.' He pulled the bucket off and shook his head, sending tiny beads of water around him.

'You could always learn something, Merlin,' Arthur replied.

'What, how to boast?' Merlin scoffed. 'No thanks.'

'Merlin,' Arthur replied, patiently, 'I'd have thought you'd just learnt your lesson not to be witty. Do you want another bucket of water thrown at you?'

'Not really,' Merlin picked his cloth up, 'but you're too lazy to go and get one, so I think I'm safe.'

Arthur's response was lost to Merlin as he left the room, dripping across the hall.

Thalia sat with Merlin was Arthur fought blindfolded against two knights. After a few minutes he pulled the cloth from his eyes and walked over. 'Let's change weapons.'

Merlin stood up and into action.

'What'd you think?' Arthur asked him.

'I've seen better,' Merlin shrugged.

Arthur tried not to appear bitter. 'Course. Well, you are the expert at fighting with your eyes closed.'

'But you didn't see what I did when we rescued Morgana.'

'Because you were hiding behind a tree.'

'No,' scoffed Merlin, 'I was not.'

Thalia chose not to weigh in, passing Merlin a cloth.

Arthur walked back to the knights. 'I'm not going to use the blindfold, I'm just going to fight like Merlin here.' He bent back, staggering and whimpering. '"I'm Merlin, don't hurt me..."'

As the guards laughed, Arthur sent a look back at a peeved Merlin.

'Ready?'

As they fought again, Merlin aimed at Arthur's hand. The sword slipped from his hand and he took a blow to the stomach.

Thalia chuckled before Arthur had even hit the ground and rolled over with a face full of mud.

'That's a good look for the feast,' she called, 'really setting a trend, there, Arthur!'

The knights began to laugh again.

'Guess I really was fighting like Merlin,' Arthur responded, spitting mud from his mouth.

'That was your own fail, though,' she added.

'I'd like to see you blindfolded, thanks,' Arthur nodded as he stood up.

The Knights and Merlin didn't dare to move, trying not to disrupt the ongoing teasing.

'It's a stupid idea,' she laughed, 'what's fighting blindfolded got to prove?'

'In the dark, when we can't see,' he said, gesturing outwards like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

'Only you would be stupid enough to engage an enemy in pitch black, though,' she tossed back.

'Well let's hope I don't decide to do that to you, then!'

'You wouldn't stand a chance,' she scoffed.

'Oh go on, then!' Arthur taunted, knowing she couldn't use her magic to win this fight.

'You really want to put a blindfold on her?' Merlin called, in a high tone.

Arthur caught on, realising Thalia could cast a spell without the risk of anyone seeing her eyes. 'Only if she fights fair.'

The knights were beginning to turn blue, trying not to interrupt. The silence killed them until Thalia stood up, drew her sword and Merlin passed her a blindfold. 'Go on, then, Arthur.'

He ran over to Merlin, who wiped the mud off as best he could and switched his sword.

Merlin put Arthur's blindfold back on as Thalia tied her own.

Then Merlin pushed them steadily toward the middle of the green again and dove back again as they swung their swords through the air, ready to fight.

From above, Gwen and Morgana paused in their walk to watch them.

'GO!' yelled Sir Leon in excitement.

Thalia swiped and so did Arthur, their swords clanging.

Don't kill him, Merlin chuckled, in a moment he was sure she wouldn't get distracted.

I'll try my very hardest not to.

Merlin ended up invested in the fight, watching as they encountered multiple close calls.

Eventually, Thalia rolled under one of Arthur's attacks and kicked out as she did so.

Arthur realised too late she wasn't in front of him and felt a whack near the back of his knees, finding himself falling straight to the floor. He rolled as fast as he could as Thalia reached out from her crouch and placed the tip of her sword near his sternum, pushing down slightly to assert her victory.

Gwen noticed Morgana's eyes hadn't moved from Thalia even after the duel finished.

'She's quite something, isn't she?' she smiled.

'Yes,' Morgana agreed, a gentle smile crossing her features.

The Knights and Merlin cheered for their Crowned Warrior and she stood up. The cheering continued as they took off their blindfolds.

Thalia blinked against the light and watched as Arthur spat out the grass in his mouth.

'Oh, well done.' He pulled himself up and squinted at her. He shook his head, laughing a little. 'I wish you weren't so nimble.'

The first thing Arthur had done at the feast was laugh at Thalia. No one could deny she looked lovely, and certainly not Arthur, but he knew she would not be fully happy. By this stage he took entertainment from seeing Thalia in a dress, even if she loved the garment.

By this stage, the principal of Thalia in a dress made even the Knights laugh.

'You do look incredible,' he said, smiling at the green dress. He wasn't sure what his favourite part was. The elegant way the skirt flowed from a sash, or the see through cloth that draped across her front under her shoulders from an embroidered high collar-like necklace, pulled up slightly to also cover her shoulders and then falling out to drape behind her. The silver embroidery matched the circlet on her head, but the golden clasps at the neck and sash matched the gold details on her silver sword.

'I happen to like this one,' she said, surveying herself by looking down, moving the drape around as she lifted her arms.

'I can see why,' he nodded, raising his eyebrows. He sat beside Uther, Morgana on the other side of the king.

Thalia sat beside him, to his right.

'My father looks happy to have Morgana back.'

'So does the entire hall,' Thalia said, as the chatter began to pick up.

Merlin came over, standing behind their chairs. 'Well, Thalia, you look great,' he smiled, pouring her wine from a jug, 'and Arthur… we-ell…'

'Merlin,' warned Arthur, blinking at the servant crossly.

Merlin and Thalia laughed, making him cross that he was outnumbered.

As they continued to laugh, Uther stood up, making the room fall silent.

He was highly emotional from the first word. 'Standing here…, seeing so many happy faces, seems almost like a dream. I can tell you, I have not felt like this in a long time.'

'What, drunk?' said Arthur.

The hall erupted in laughter, and Uther turned to whack him with his handkerchief. 'Well, drunk with happiness.' He turned to Morgana. 'I would have searched the entire world, the seas, the skies, the stars, for that smile. To have it stolen from me was like a blade to my heart. Morgana, there are no words. You mean more to me that you will ever know. To the Lady Morgana.'

'The Lady Morgana,' the hall echoed, and the music started again.

Uther stumbled a little as he hugged Morgana, and left with a smile. 'I need some air.'

Arthur watched him leave. 'It's good to see him overdo it,' he smiled.

'It has certainly been a while,' she said, drinking from her goblet.

'Here, try this pork.'

'Mmm,' she said, happily reaching for the plate. She took one bite, and glanced around for Uther, seeing he was still gone. 'Merlin, come try this, it's amazing.'

As Merlin shared the pork with Thalia and Arthur, a guard entered the room.

'Sire, My Lady. The king, he…'

Arthur and Thalia read the guard's voice immediately.

'What is it?' Arthur asked, rising from his chair.

Morgana noticed and frowned, looking around worriedly.

'He collapsed, by the well, screaming, we don't know what's wrong with him.'

Arthur helped Morgana leave the table.

'GAIUS!' Thalia called across the hall, waving him to follow them. 'Come on, Merlin.'

Merlin stuck the rest of the meat into his mouth and followed them out.

They heard Uther's screams once they left the music. Arthur ran ahead, looking out of the door and down to the well. Uther was cowering, curled into a ball.

'What's wrong with him?' he asked after Thalia reached them.

'Goodness knows,' she replied, 'wait for Gaius, and then get him inside.'

Gaius set to work, kneeling by the king. Morgana and the others stayed back before Gaius turned and nodded to Merlin. 'We can move him.'

Arthur picked up his father.

Merlin ran ahead, opening doors for them to Uther's chambers.

Gaius and Thalia walked behind.

'He was muttering about Ygraine, saying he saw her in the well,' Gaius murmured to her in disbelief.

'What?'

Once inside, Morgana shoved the bedsheets back and Arthur laid Uther down.

Morgana helped him. 'Careful. Is he going to be alright?'

'He should sleep 'til morning,' Gaius said watchfully.

Thalia stood beside him and Arthur, watching the nearly unconscious Uther with a distant, thoughtful expression.

Gaius and Merlin left and Arthur followed, not before noticing Thalia's expression. They left Morgana with Uther.

'What could've made him like this?' Arthur demanded, following the trio of spellcasters.

'I've no idea,' Gaius replied, barely turning.

'Gaius, he was lying on the ground crying!' Arthur pursued.

'Exhaustion,' said the physician flatly, turning to face Arthur.

'Gaius.' Arthur spoke in a flat, firm tone, walking forward. 'What aren't you telling me? What's wrong with him?'

Gaius lowered his head a little, keeping his gaze on Arthur.

'Tell me,' Arthur asked.

'When I spoke to him, he was mumbling. Most of it was incoherent, but...'

'What?'

'He kept mentioning your mother's name.'

'He never talks about her,' he frowned.

'He claimed that he saw her. In the well.'

Arthur looked around. 'Did the guards see him in this state?'

'I think you're worrying too much,' Gaius soothed.

'If the people get to know about this...!'

'We say that he was ill, but now he's recovered,' Gaius whispered.

'Nothing else we can do right now,' Thalia stated.

Arthur nodded. 'Take good care of him,' he said to Gaius, and moved along the corridor.

'I didn't see a thing,' Thalia said, 'I checked the well; there was nothing there.'

'Then it was most likely a hallucination,' Gaius agreed, 'in which case, Uther…'

'Is finally going mad?' Merlin asked hopefully, eager to avoid the other possibilities.

'Possibly,' Gaius spoke even quieter now, 'or we're under attack.'

Uther woke fine the next morning, which could not be said for Thalia.

Arthur, wondering where she was half an hour after breakfast, stuck his head into her chambers, to find her still asleep.

'Thalia?'

She didn't move and Arthur tutted, walking in further. He poked her shoulder.

'Thalia.'

Her arm moved faster than he did and she caught his wrist, demanding, 'What?' in an aggressive tone.

'What's… wrong with you?' he asked, raising an eyebrow.

'I don't know,' she moaned, snapping her hand open again. 'Something is stopping me from sleeping well.'

'Well… I'm sorry to have to say this, but…'

'What?' she raised her head. 'What? What is it?'

'There are reports of mercenaries entering Cenred's kingdom. Probably for an army.'

'Word of Uther's madness… grea-a-a-t,' she whined and threw her covers off.

'I'm going to tell my father,' Arthur said, already walking out, 'I'll see you on patrol.'

'Grea-a-a-t,' she sang again.

She'd dressed and ate only two bites of food when Arthur burst back into her chambers.

'THALIA, IT'S MY FATHER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN.'

He scanned the room and saw her emerging, carrying half a loaf of bread in her hand. He waited for her to reach the doors, swiping her sword from the table by the door and hurried into Uther's chambers.

'Where's Gaius?' she asked.

'On his way.'

'Did he see your mother again?'

'No, he was just shouting at something to get away. Saying he'll have them hanged.'

'You came to get me yourself?' she asked.

'Y… yeah,' he replied. 'It gave me something to do instead of sitting around. I hate being useless.'

'Situations like these are very different to a battlefield,' she agreed. 'But in a way, you are being useful by stepping aside and letting Gaius handle it.'

'I wouldn't count that as enough.'

'Well you'll have to handle the rumours of Cenred's army if Uther continues like this.'

'There's nothing you can do?'

'If I knew what was wrong with him, then maybe.'

They reached the king's chambers and the guards opened the doors.

Morgana was sitting by Uther's bed, Merlin and Gaius next to the king as the physician examined him.

'What did you see, sire?' asked Gaius gently.

'The… a… a boy. Covered in water.'

'Drowned,' Thalia realised.

Arthur notice Thalia's concern for Uther seeming to decrease the more they got from him.

Thalia stepped outside with Gaius and Merlin when Arthur sat with his father.

'There must be some explanation,' Merlin sighed. He noticed Thalia's expression.

Gaius folded his arms. 'During the great purge, Uther drowned many he suspected of sorcery. And some, God help them, were children, killed for the magic they were born with.

'Maybe his conscience is playing tricks with him. Whatever it is, we can no longer hide this. A king's hold on his people's a very fragile thing, Merlin. If they start to lose faith in him, I fear for Camelot.'

'Thalia?' Merlin asked, gulping.

'Uther's never shown any form of remorse for any of his actions in the Great Purge. Now that he has Morgana back, I'd say he has further reason to be happy.'

'So what can cause-,'

Merlin was interrupted by the clanging of the castle bells.

Immediately, Thalia ran for the council chambers as a guard ran for Gaius.

Arthur met her there.

'What is it?'

'A guard was found,' Arthur said. 'We don't know any more than that.'

'They sent for Gaius, we'll know more soon.'

Morgana entered a minute later.

'You don't seem too upset that my father is being seeing these things,' Arthur murmured very quietly.

'Should I be?' she said flatly.

Arthur had no response.

Gaius strode into the room.

'The sentry must've been attacked at some point during the night,' he said.

'Who could've done this?' Arthur asked, standing in front of the throne.

Morgana stood in front of her own chair. Thalia stood only a step away from Arthur.

Gaius passed Thalia a dagger. 'Correct me if I'm wrong, my lady.'

Thalia turned the dagger over in her hands. 'It's a sigil of the Bloodguard.'

Gaius nodded. Thalia passed him the dagger.

'The Bloodguard?' Arthur asked, looking between the two of them.

'Warrior priests sworn to protect the high priestesses of the Old Religion,' Gaius said.

'Most of them were killed in the Great Purge, those who weren't learned the hard way to keep their heads down,' said Thalia, voice void of any bitterness. 'Whoever this belongs to has ties to the High Priestesses.'

'So you believe there is a traitor in Camelot,' Arthur said thoughtfully.

'It is possible, Sire. The sentry will be able to tell us soon enough.'

'He's still alive?!' Arthur and Thalia asked at once.

'Indeed.'

Thalia tilted her head, nodding to the guards at the door. 'Put guards on Gaius' chambers.'

They bowed and exited the room.

'Keep working on him, Gaius,' said Arthur gratefully.

Thalia looked up when Arthur burst into her chambers, pacing back and forth.

'Gaius wants me to betray my father.'

'You'll betray him if you don't protect his kingdom,' she said immediately, not looking up from her book.

Arthur blinked, stunned. 'What?'

'You think protecting the people and keeping their faith in Camelot is undermining your father.'

'Well-,'

'And that it, despite being your duty, is an acceptable thing to do. You're too reluctant to see the situation.'

Arthur opened his mouth, 'and you're too quick to storm onward,' and Thalia shut her book.

'Listen to me. Your father, whether you like it or not, cannot help Camelot now. Crowned Prince is the following rank. If I have to, I will assume regent. And if I have to go through you to save Camelot, then I will. If Cenred is going to attack then we don't have time for this, and your stubbornness is going to get us all killed.'

Arthur stared at her in shock. Then he shook his head. 'It will be too hard for me now.' He stopped, looking at her with pleading, lost eyes. 'Do it with me.'

She watched him, looking him in the eye. Determining that Arthur was asking for her help, that Camelot was probably better off with both of them assuming Uther's role and that she currently seemed to be the better option for regent, she moved her head in a tiny, undetectable nod, eyes relaxing.

Arthur let out a breath and deflated into a chair.

He wasn't happy about the situation, but he felt a little better knowing that he'd have Thalia and Merlin to help him.

'My Lady!'

Arthur and Thalia turned around to see Gaius walking after them.

'Gaius?' they asked, knowing that tone.

'Have you seen Merlin?'

'No,' Arthur frowned.

'Why?'

'He didn't come home last night.'

Thalia's head lifted. 'You don't think…?'

Gaius nodded anxiously.

Arthur gulped and glanced between them.

'We'll find him, Gaius,' Thalia assured.

He nodded and returned toward Uther's chambers.

'How? He could be anywhere,' Arthur asked.

Thalia looked out of the windows. 'We can't risk a patrol, not with Uther like this and the rumours of Cenred.'

Arthur stopped by a guard. 'Send Sir Leon and five other knights to search for Merlin, no further than half a day's journey away.'

Thalia waited for him to catch up and they continued walking, approaching the council chambers.

'It'll have to do for now,' Arthur said as the guards opened the doors.

They nodded their greetings to the knights and stood in front of Uther's throne, Morgana already standing in front of her own.

'Sire, My Lady! We've had further reports from Cenred's land.'

Arthur steeled his nerves, looking at Thalia as she nodded.

'Further mercenaries are moving into the land, but it seems they are not travelling to the castle anymore.'

The hall watched as they were silent for a moment. Then they spoke in unison, in heavy tones.

'Double the guard everywhere.'

'Take precautions of who we let into the citadel,' Arthur said.

'Ride out to the outlying villages facing Cenred's kingdom. Tell them to prepare in case they have to leave.'

'Scout Camelot for places the people can shelter and make sure the citadel is as it should be.'

'As far as we know now, there is no definite cause for panic, so don't spread the word. Tell the villages it is simply a precaution, and that their safety will be ensured.'