Hope you enjoy.

Chapter Nine

"What happen to you two?" asked Gwaine, as they walked once ago thought a dark tunnel. Gwaine was glade that all four of them were back together again. He felt better when they were all together, knowing where everyone was. Gwaine wanted to make sure everyone got out of here in one piece.

Leon and Percival looked at each other unsure what to say, they had debated about what to tell Gwaine and Merlin since leaving the lake. They debated most about how much to tell Merlin "I don't think you would believe us," said Percival

"I think me and Merlin are the open minded sort," said Gwaine at once "Whatever you say, I am sure we have just seen stranger." Merlin nodded his head a little from next to him.

"We saw Lancelot," said Leon more bluntly than he meant. Merlin and Gwaine stopped walking and turned to look and Leon and Percival. "We saw Lancelot," repeated Leon unnecessary. Gwaine looked shocked at this but Merlin looked almost hopeful. "He was dead and everything – but it was Lancelot. He wasn't a ghost…but….I do not know what he was….but he was talking like he was alive."

Merlin was the first to speck. "Are you sure? Are you sure it was really him?"

Percival nodded his head. "He told me something that I only told him – they was no way he could have know otherwise."

"What did he say?" asked Merlin, it seem to Leon that Merlin believe what he and Percival said very easily. But then again if anyone was going to believe they story it would be Merlin.

"Said we all been there before, and he talked to us all," said Leon "but never me and Percival together. Said we have to listen to you more."

"Lancelot was always good at listening," said Merlin more to himself. Merlin thought that if Lancelot has been with them they might have not ever step foot in the cave in the first place. If Lancelot was there they would be at the village right now looking after the sick. Merlin wished he could talk to Lancelot again, he could be himself around him. Merlin guessed now there was Percival and Gwaine they seemed to accept him of who we was – at the moment at is. Merlin couldn't help but feel uneasy still. Percival had seen accidental magic and he half expected Gwaine to shout about it. If they got out of these caves and got bad to Camelot would they change they minds and tell Arthur? If Lancelot was here maybe he wouldn't fill so bad.

Leon and Percival looked at each other and thought best not to mention Freya right now. Merlin had a look about his eyes that make them think he was thinking about going back and finding Lancelot – and that, they thought would be a bad idea, they cannot turn back now. If Merlin knew about Freya – then he would be harder to stop. They knew if Merlin wanted to do something – he would find a way to do it. And even if Leon gave Merlin a direct order not to go back, Merlin would most likely not listen. Much as Merlin like to complain that the knight never listen to him – Merlin wasn't good at following orders. They would tell him about Freya but when they were out of these caves.

"What happen to you?" asked Percival changing the subject before any more questions could be asked about who he and Leon had talked too.

"Well," said Gwaine eager to share the story "I don't know where Merlin and me ended up. Somewhere strange. And there was a labyrinth and the sea was upside down in the sky. And this wolf - that wasn't really a wolf, but was really a thousand year old druid…..he said we are nearly at the end. So, I take it as good sign – that there is an end to all this,"

"So, you talk to someone else?" asked Percival who was finding it hard to follow Gwaine story. Gwaine story sounded like a drunken dream.

"Yeah, the wolf druid," said Gwaine "He got trapped in this cave and try to dig his way out – then up getting cursed and turned into a wolf…so, no short cuts for us… we have to go the long way round."

"Did he say anything else?" asked Leon – any information would be useful.

"Not a lot really," said Gwaine "It was quite disappointing if I am being honest…but he had to leave somehow by the upside down sea in the sky…. It's like one messed up dream…" Gwaine looked towards Merlin who mind was still on Lancelot and not really following the story. "So, the good news is… we are almost out of this place…"

"We need to keep moving," said Leon at once "We can't turn back now."

"Well," said Merlin getting his mind back on track again "Stop talking – more walking," With that Merlin started to lead the way thought the tunnels. The knights all looked at each other's. "Well – come on then – unless you want to stay?" called Merlin.

"You hear the man," said Gwaine following Merlin quickly to catch up with him.

"Do you think we did the right thing?" asked Percival – he felt bad holding back about meeting Freya. As much as it made sense not to tell Merlin – it also made sense to tell him. But, then again when it comes to following his heart or his head – Percival didn't know what Merlin would choice.

"We have to get out of these caves," said Leon "And if he is mad at us for a few weeks… I can live with that."

"I guess you're right," said Percival then he and Leon went to catch up with Gwaine and Merlin who were waiting for them up ahead.

"Looks like we got an underground vault," said Gwaine – he nodded in front of them and they saw gold, and coins and treasure. They were so much that it was piled high towards the roof of the cave. "What do you recon the chances are the gold is cursed and if we take any we are trapped here for ever?"

"Very likely," said Leon. Any treasure in a cursed cave was likely to be cursed itself.

"Well, no one take anything then," said Merlin simply "If no one takes anything…or even touches anything… then we should have no problems what so ever…"

"Sounds like a good plan," said Percival, it would be a shame to get this far only for them to get cursed. And the four of them walked thought the gold as carefully as they could. The further they got in the more temptation it was to take something. It was like they minds were slowly turning against themselves.

Gwaine felt his fingers twitching and once they started they didn't stop "Guys…" he said "I think… I think….the gold is effecting my head." He said

"Seriously?" asked Merlin in disbelieve. Leon and Percival both agree quickly agree with Gwaine. "Not all of you?" Merlin knew it was thanks to his magic that he wasn't effected the same as the knights. But Merlin wasn't sure how he was going to stop them if the temptation got too much.

"You feel nothing?" asked Leon "At all?"

"No," said Merlin he run his hand thought his hair. "Right," he said coming up with a solution to the current problem "You three need to put your hands on top of your hand and walk in front of me…." The knights all looked at Merlin like he had grown an extra head. "Just do as I say! Swords away and hands on heads…"

Leon didn't think he should put down the rusted sword – the one from the tombs. "They is still a dead one of you walking about." He said. "These are the only things at work on them…."

Merlin lifted his rusted sword up, "I still got this one," he said "I will carry the swords if it make you feel better – just put your hands on your heads and start walking." The knights did what Merlin had said – while it seem childish and unknightly it make sense to follow Merlin instruction. "Just walk….and walk fast….try to keep your eyes in front… do not look at the gold. Now move!"

Having hands on their heads made it slightly easier for the knights to not take anything. And with Merlin keeping a hawk like eye on them made them behaviour even more. The temptation was getting stronger as they walked but Merlin was able to keep them in line. It was almost like being reprimanded by their parents.

The knights made it out of the vault of gold. Once they were away everything felt lighting somehow. Like the weight of the gold was holding them back. Merlin had stopped walking and was looking at someone out of view from the knights – whatever it was had gain Merlin's attention for the first time "Merlin," hissed Leon "Don't look at the gold."

"I'm not looking at the gold," said Merlin slowly. "It's…the dead me…." The knight went to move forward but Merlin hold his hand up to stop them. "You can't be here…the temptation of the gold is too great…."

"You are going to fight it yourself?" asked Gwaine

"Yes," said Merlin, he put down the extra swords he had be carrying and lifted one of the rusted swords.

"No you are not," said Leon "Just get here…. Are we run…" Arthur wouldn't be happy if Merlin got himself killed.

Merlin shook his head, "No," he said "That will be too easy. I think I have to do this." Merlin looked at the knights, "And… you can't stop me."

"Merlin!" said Leon in a tone that could rival Arthur's "Don't you dare…Get here NOW!"

An almost playful grin spread on Merlin's face. "Like I said before all this mess – I am not your servant and I don't have to listen to you at all." Then rocks fell blocking the knights from getting to Merlin.

"Merlin!" yelled Gwaine but he knew he wouldn't be able to get thought the rocks. Gwaine just knew it was Merlin that caused the rocks to fall down. If the dead Merlin didn't kill Merlin – then Gwaine was going too.

"How is he going to get thought all this?" asked Percival looking at the rocks.

"He'll find a way," said Gwaine "he always does… and if any luck these caves might give him another way out…."

"So what? We just wait here until he finds his way out….if he finds his way out?" said Percival

Gwaine shrugged a little "Merlin good is pretty at getting himself out of trouble," better than what Gwaine first thought.

Leon looked completely confused at the rocks. "How did the rocks just fall like that?" somehow this didn't seem to add up for him.

"Must be the cave." Said Gwaine quickly "Merlin, will get out….he is smarter than he looks…but I am still going to kill him once he gets back."