If anyone takes any note of these ANs, then you will know what I said last week. I know it is Thursday. I didn't have my morning seminar at Uni, meaning I am still at home and can upload it now.

And from today, this is on a three times a week upload. Woo party.

I still have five chapters left to write but they should be written very soon (I seem to be on a roll with writing at the moment, hopefully it still is after I have told you guys that).

Anyway enjoy and I will see you again on Sunday.

The Quest of the Trident

She wasn't going to lie, she was miserable and she knew that Merlin felt the same. She kicked herself for not thinking that he had overheard what Morgause had told her.

Morgana had voiced her concerns to Gwen and even went running to her after Merlin had … well broken up with her. It killed her to think that he would give up that easily with their relationship, that he didn't want to fight for what they had. She knew that Morgause had said it to try and make her see that the Eorðdraca were the bad ones and not her. Morgause had tried to break them up and succeeded.

"Morgana, are you alright?"

She turned to Gwen. "There is no point in lying to you. No and I don't know how I can make Merlin see that it is what she wanted. How I don't care if his uncle killed my father. My father fought against magic for Uther, Deagal would have fought for magic. They were on opposite sides. My father also took Uther's side after the rebellion. To Deagal, my father was a traitor to his family. You can understand why he would have killed him."

"I can speak to Arthur. See if he can talk any sense into him."

"I don't want Arthur knowing. He will only make a big fuss." Morgana rested her head on the window. "I don't know what to do but I want to stop hurting."

Gwen rubbed Morgana's shoulder before leaving her alone. She had to do something to help her.

"The council have asked me to pass on their wishes." Gaius said.

"Please join us Gaius."

The physician looked at the chair next to Merlin and opposite Hunith.

"I think it will be best ..."

"Gaius just join us. Please." Merlin tried again.

The old man sighed as he took the chair.

"You were saying about the council."

"Arthur would know this but each crown prince is asked to complete a quest to prove that they are worthy of the throne."

"But I am no longer crowned prince though."

"They wish for you to still do it. I tried arguing that point as well but they were very keen for you to complete yours. I do recommend that you do it. It will keep your council happy and I know how you are struggling to get them to agree to anything. They all seem to see you as the servant still."

Merlin dropped his fork at the same time as his stomach did. They might as well have called him to the Council Chamber and put a sword in his stomach. It would have been better than knowing that they only saw him still as a servant.

"Merlin." His mother whispered … well he thought she whispered.

All he could hear was his own breaths. He was sure he wasn't breathing as heavily as it seemed he was. He was just breathing normal, wasn't he?

"I need ..." He started by he didn't know what he needed. He stood up and just allowed his feet to take him to wherever he thought he needed to go.

He stopped outside Morgana's door and wanted to raise his hand to knock. She would know what to do, she would know what to say. But he felt like he couldn't run to her any more. They weren't together and seeing her would only make his heart sink as well as his stomach.

Merlin turned from her door and carried down the hallway. There was only one other place he could go. He stopped outside Arthur's chambers and just walked in, as he used to.

Arthur was sitting at his desk with his head in his hands.

"They see me as a servant still." Merlin said.

Arthur jumped and looked at his cousin. "Who thinks that?"

"The council. They want me to go on a quest to prove myself."

He blinked for a few moments, taking in the information. "But you are king."

"But the council don't see me anything more than a servant. I am going to have to do it just to prove myself to them. Maybe I can get my father's laws through."

"Maybe." Was all Arthur replied.

Morgana felt a pull of magic and walked around the corridors, trying to find out where it was coming from. It led her from her room out into the courtyard and to Merlin, just as he was leaving. She rushed down the stairs as the pull of magic weakened as he cantered off.

"Was he sent anything?" She asked Arthur when she reached the bottom. "Wearing anything that he usually wouldn't?"

"What you on about?"

"Arthur tell me."

"A bracelet. He was told that it would give him the strength to complete his quest."

He called out in surprise as Morgana grabbed his arm and pulled him into the castle.

"Ah good, Courage and Strength." The Dwarf said.

"I am not even going to ask." Arthur mumbled to himself.

"Magic is waiting for you help."

"The idiot is meant to be doing it on his own."

"Well Magic would never be able to complete the quest without you. It is as much your quest as it is his."

Arthur shrugged and walked forward to go across the bridge.

"You are just accepting all this." Gwaine called out.

He turned back to him. "I have really given up questioning everything. It is a lot easier just to accept it now. When you have found out so much about yourself that you didn't know as I have done, you will understand why I just accept things. Now you are here because even though you hate nobility, you like Merlin and we better go and save him."

Gwaine sighed but smiled as he watched Arthur walk over the bridge. He had no idea how Arthur knew that he had actually enjoyed Merlin's company, well for the small amount of time that they had spoken. He had heard everything that had happened in Camelot and he had wished that he hadn't judge Merlin so quickly. The more he had learnt about Merlin, the more Gwaine felt like he should have stayed. He didn't know what he would say if Merlin asked him again.

Merlin could feel his words slur and he couldn't keep his eyes open. He had no idea why and he was starting to panic. The wyverns were coming closer to him and he had no idea how he was going to get himself out of this one.

He didn't know how, but he allowed the arms that came behind him to pull him out of danger. He didn't even try to see who it was saving him, he was just grateful that they were saving him.

Then suddenly he felt awake and was staring up at Arthur and Gwaine.

"I thought I was meant to do this alone."

"I said that to the dwarf but apparently it is as much our quest as it is yours." Arthur said as he helped his cousin up.

"Well I cannot lie and say that I am not happy to see you. How did you get me out of there?"

"You are just lucky that you are as skinny as you are." Arthur pointed towards the floor. "We managed to get you through that gap."

Merlin looked at it and nodded. "Come on. Let's get this trident and get out of here." He started to walk off but stopped by Gwaine, patting him on the shoulder. "I am glad that you could come and help."

They navigated their way through the corridors, looking for the throne room. Merlin was the first to enter and see the forever dying Fisher King.

"An Eorðdraca. A house of pride and loyalty." He said once the young king had stood in front of him. "And Pendragon and Luwddoc. I have been waiting for this day since it was told to me."

The three young men all looked at each other before turning back to the king.

"Emrys, you were sent on a quest not because they cannot see the king that you are destined to be but because you cannot see it. Doubt fills you mind and you cannot seem to remove it. Become like your father and his father and his father before him. Become what it means to be an Eorðdraca. Be the fair and just king you want to be. All the evil in the world cannot win as long as you stay true to yourself."

Merlin took his words on board. He didn't really want Arthur to know how he had been feeling but the Fisher King was right. He just had to do what he thought he had to do.

"As for you two, he needs people to protect and guide him." The Fisher King held out his trident with one hand and a vial of water. "The trident will just be a keepsake. Use this in your greatest need."

Merlin took both off him.

"I trust you still have the eye of the phoenix."

The young king turned to Arthur. "The what?"