Oh my goodness! I had some very lengthy and lovely reviews for the last chapter! Thanks so much. I hope you all keep enjoying it.


EIGHT: PRIORITY (316 days)

Arthur paced his chambers. He'd found himself by the window several times, just to see if his raven-haired friend had suddenly returned. It was late in the afternoon, just before the evening meal, and still no sign of Merlin.

"Arthur," Guinevere said, as she entered the room. "Stop pacing."

"It's been three days. Where is he?"

"I'm sure he's just speaking with some of the druids. Gaius didn't seem worried when you spoke with him yesterday, did he?"

Arthur shook his head, thinking back to his conversation with Gaius. He'd been worried because it was unlike Merlin to miss two consecutive days of work. The man may be late nearly every day, but he rarely missed an entire day of work. And he only missed more than one day in a row when something was wrong.

The only person who'd seen him after he'd changed Arthur's bedding was a stableboy. The young boy had seen Merlin ride out of Camelot mid-morning two days prior to Arthur's conversation with Gaius. He couldn't tell Arthur what direction the manservant had ridden.

Arthur had gone to Gaius, hoping the old physician might have some answers.

His answer?

"He's at the tav- He's gathering herbs for me, sire. Very rare herbs."

Arthur had narrowed his eyes. Gaius had very nearly said "tavern." He hadn't argued with the old man, though. He had realized, in that moment, that when Gaius said Merlin was in the tavern, his manservant was actually using magic to protect Camelot. For years, he'd thought his servant was a drunk. And really, he'd been risking his life for the kingdom.

Now he looked back at his wife. "What if something has happened to the idiot?"

"He's the most powerful sorcerer to walk the earth. I am sure he can protect himself."

"He's still an idiot," Arthur muttered, almost reflexively.

Guinevere gave him a look. "Arthur."

"Well, he is."

She approached him, wrapping her arms around his waist. She rested her cheek on his chest. "I am sure that you're worrying over nothing. Maybe he just has to travel farther this time."

He sighed. She had a valid point, of course. "I have a bad feeling, Guinevere. I can't explain it, but something is not right."

Before his wife could respond, there was a knock on the door. Arthur knew it wasn't Merlin, since the insufferable man didn't seem to know how to knock.

"Enter," the queen called.

Leon entered the chambers, bowing slightly. "Sire, a woman has arrived in Camelot, and she is requesting a private audience with Your Majesties."

The king frowned at that. "Private?" People were very rarely granted private audiences with the king and queen, and even more rarely at this late hour. Most audiences were held during the morning. "Who is she?"

"She would only say that her name is Treasa. She claims to have important information regarding…Emrys."

Arthur's eyes widened. How could this woman know anything about Emrys? "She'll have her private audience."


Merlin groaned, trying to get more comfortable on the stone floor. Nearly every inch of his body was aching. There was dried blood on the back of his head, but at least his headache was mostly gone. He knew that no position was going to be comfortable, but that didn't stop him from trying to find one.

He closed his eyes, concentrating. He could sense his magic, barely, but he couldn't access it. Nothing had changed since he'd woken up in this dank cell three days earlier.

Somehow, the cell had a barrier that blocked all magic. He wasn't sure if it was limited to just the cell itself, or the entire building. Either way, he was entirely powerless in here. He couldn't even move the tray that his daily meal had been brought on - by a large man who refused to say anything to Merlin.

He couldn't fathom why she would put such a barrier in place - or how, considering the amount of dark magic such a spell would require. As far as he knew, Morgana had no knowledge of his magic or the fact that he was Emrys.

He certainly hoped she had no knowledge of his magic or the fact that he was Emrys.

But why else would she abduct him and throw him into a cell where he couldn't use his magic?

He hadn't seen the witch since she'd attacked him in the forest. He was left to wonder what her plan was this time around. He could only assume it would involve Arthur's death, like all of her other plans.

Without his magic, he didn't have a chance of escaping from her. He was going to die in this cell, at the hands of Morgana. He had never felt so hopeless before.


Guinevere and Arthur sat in the simple thrones. They were in the smaller, informal throne room. Arthur didn't plan on having anyone else present at this meeting. If she had information about Emrys, it would be better if only the three of them were there during this conversation.

Two guards entered, a middle-aged woman walking freely between them. She wore simple clothes, and kept her dark blonde hair pulled away from her face with a simple band. Her green eyes were kind and full of intelligence.

If she had information about "Emrys," he could only assume she was a druid, since that's who Merlin had been speaking to lately.

"Leave us," Arthur commanded.

His guards looked startled. "Sire -"

"I am certain that she will do us no harm. Leave, please."

Reluctantly, the guards bowed and did as they were told.

Arthur looked down at the woman. His heart was hammering in his chest. He didn't like the worry he saw on her face. "You must be Treasa." When she nodded, he continued, "You have information about Emrys?"

The woman nodded. "I was expecting him to arrive at my home three nights ago." So that at least explained where Merlin had intended to go. Guinevere had been right, he had been on his way to speak to some of the druids. "I didn't worry when he didn't arrive that night - it is nearly a day's ride from Camelot. I assumed he had simply been delayed. And then a day passed, and no Emrys. And another day. Last night, I had a vision. I left my camp as soon as it was light enough. I rode directly here."

"Vision?" Arthur asked sharply. Had something happened to his friend? What sort of vision could make her feel the need to rush to Camelot?

She inclined her head. "I am a druid seer, Your Majesty."

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked. He was glad she was, of course. But only those on his council had been told of Emrys. It was a little worrisome that someone not on his council would know that he had a connection to Emrys. "I'm the king of Camelot. Magic is illegal in my kingdom."

Her mouth twisted into a wry smile. "That will change soon. I know what you are trying to do, King Arthur. I've seen that as well. It is the reason Emrys was coming to meet me." Arthur sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. He wasn't sure how he felt about the fact that she knew so much. "I also came to you because he is your best friend."

That made Arthur stiffen in surprise. Beside him, Guinevere gasped. They both stared at Treasa. "My people call him Emrys. The name you know him as is Merlin. But you already knew Emrys's true identity, didn't you?" The woman's eyes were glittering with mirth by this point.

Arthur had to remind himself not to gape. He was especially glad that he'd sent the guards out of the room earlier. "Why Emrys? What does the name mean?" He shook his head. That wasn't important at the moment. "Never mind. What did you see in your vision?"

Treasa's good humor vanished in an instant. She sighed heavily. "He has been captured by Morgana. I do not know where she has taken him."

"Morgana?" She'd managed to get a hold of Merlin a second time? He cursed and stood up. He began pacing in front of his throne. "We have to rescue him. Do you know how we can find him?"


Arthur entered the small room, relieved to see that the others were already there. Leon, Percival, Gwaine, Elyan, and Mordred stood against the shelves on the wall. They all looked expectantly at Arthur as he came in.

Gwaine was the first to speak. "Why did you ask us to meet you in a linen closet?" He was simply voicing what they were all thinking.

"Because I need to talk to you about a very delicate matter, without the chance of being overheard. Morgana has captured Emrys."

Silence followed this statement. Leon, Elyan, and Percival looked confused. Mordred looked fearful. And Gwaine looked…angry.

"Emrys? This is about a sorcerer?"

Arthur was a little surprised at this reaction. So far, Gwaine had been fairly supportive of Arthur's plans to make magic legal in Camelot once again. "Gwaine, he's very important to what I'm trying to do. Camelot needs him, powers and all."

"Don't get me wrong. I agree with you bringing magic back to the kingdom. But this Emrys shouldn't be our priority right now. When was the last time any of us saw Merlin? I'm worried about him. Nobody seems to know where he is. And I don't believe Gaius when he says he's out collecting rare herbs."

"Gwaine -"

"No, princess. If you want to rescue some sorcerer none of us know, fine. I'm going to go find my friend."

Arthur sighed. He had wanted to let Merlin tell their friends his secret, but that plan changed as soon as Morgana abducted Merlin. If he wanted their help - and he was fairly certain he would need it - he would have to tell him the truth. "Merlin is Emrys," he said.

Gwaine's mouth opened in surprise. Leon, Elyan, and Percival shared a startled look. Mordred didn't seem surprised, though. Did he already know Merlin's secret? How? Arthur would have to worry about that later, though.

"Merlin is Emrys, and Morgana has captured him."

Several minutes of silence passed, as the men digested this new information. Then Gwaine straightened, his face determined. "Let's go get our boy."

They all nodded in agreement. And so Arthur quickly explained his meeting with Treasa. "Her daughter, Kerenza, can do a tracking spell, using something of Merlin's. I have one of his neckerchiefs. They're going to meet us in the forest at first light. Treasa says that she and Kerenza will help us rescue him. Apparently, Merlin is a very important person to the druids. Don't say a word of this to anyone. Just pack your things and be ready first thing in the morning."

They agreed. Arthur was glad that none of them decided to point out just how impossible this was going to be.


Kerenza is...She wasn't supposed to come into the story yet. She was a character that I intended to bring in later, and so I haven't really sat down and figured her out just yet. But she kind of just pushed herself into this chapter (just wait until you see her in the next chapter - so far you only know her name). I have a feeling she's going to be an interesting character. I wasn't really intending to make her a big part of it, so we'll just have to see what happens with her. She's already taken me by surprise, so she's bound to do it again.