Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

Chapter twenty-two: You can't fight what you can't part 2.

Daegal quickly rushed up to Alice's chambers, he graded a bag and started gathering the things he may need, bandages, herbs and creams. The last time he and Merlin had been outside the kingdom borders, Merlin had been pushed off a cliff and caught by a patrol from Camelot and bandits. There was no way this was going to end well. As Daegal gathers up the last few things he needed, he notices a sword hanging by the door and quickly grabs it. He was not skilled with a sword but he could fight to a standard level, enough to keep him alive anyway. After all throwing knives was only good at long range. Daegal couldn't help but wonder who else was going to be on this team, Merlin and Gilli were putting together.

"Going out, are you?" Alice asks from behind him.

Daegal spins round. "Yeah, Merlin asked for some help…. You don't mind if I take this sword, do you? It's just where Merlin goes, trouble follows."

Alice smiled. "Take it, I have no need for it. Gaius was forever telling me, Merlin could get in to trouble not matter where he goes. So I'll wish good luck."

Daegal sighs with relief. "Thank you."

"Tell Merlin, that he simply has to enchant your weapons not forge them from magic." Alice advised. "He'll know what I mean, don't worry."

Daegal nodes. "Thank you, once again. We will hopefully be back before nightfall."

Alice nodes. "I will have food ready…. Oh and tell Merlin, we need to talk about Terrance later."

Daegal nodes and walks out the door. Tapping the hilt of the knife strapped to his belt.

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Bercilak pulled on his light amour. He was glad Merlin had asked him for help, since he had arrived here Merlin was the only one he could say he was friends with. But everyone seemed to be friends with Merlin, it was almost like people were drawn to him. People also seemed to trust him quickly, but then Merlin always trusted people in return. That worried Bercilak to no end, his trust of people could be his down fall. He could be lead into traps, or tricked into doing something he would never normally do. Merlin's power was great, many would try and use Merlin.

"Hey, Bercilak." A voice behind him purrs.

Bercilak turns and comes face to face with a young women. "My lady."

The women rolls her eyes. "My love, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?"

Bercilak smiles. "But you are my lady, you are mine and I am yours."

"Yes, but I am only a lady in Avalon. The same as you are only a knight in Avalon."

"You are the lady of the castle," Bercilak smiles. "And I am the green knight. But you will always be my lady."

She smiles slightly. "Do you miss Avalon, my love?"

Bercilak smiles. "I do, but we have a life here. I believe one day we will be called back to Avalon, but I enjoy my life here. I am in no hurry to return."

"Well, you better be going, you have to meet Merlin on the training field soon."

"You know Merlin?"

"Of course I do, who do you think saved me from Uthur?"

"That was Merlin?" Bercilak asks.

His love nodes. "I had done no wrong, so he saved me from the flames. He also knows I am a lady of Avalon, I'm not sure if he knows who you are."

Bercilak smiles. "Well, I am all the more honoured he asked for my help."

She laughed. "Change-wings are dangerous creature, so be careful, my love. Here take this as a token for luck." She hands him a piece of green silk.

"Thank you, my lady." Bercilak bows, kissing her hand and taking the silk.

She smiled. "Be safe, my love."

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Eira pulled her flame coloured hair back into a pony tail. She growled as she noticed her sword wasn't sharp. She and Gilli had been friends for a while, they had meet not long after Gilli had been to Camelot to fight in a tournament there. She had beaten him in a swords fight, it didn't take much skill to beat Gilli, he relied on his magic ring far too much. He had trained with her for a while, she had taught him how to use his magic better too. Gilli would never admit she beat him in a sword fight though, men and their pride, she sighed. To be honest she was pleased Gilli had come to her to ask for help, it had been too long since she had last been on a hunt.

"Eira?" A voice called, as the front door to her house opened.

Eira turned to find a young women standing there. "Sister." She greets.

The young women smiled. "I trust you have everything."

Eira rolls her eyes. "Of course I do. We are only going to hunt some change-wings."

Her sister nodes. "Well make sure you are back in time for the coven meeting tonight. It would be a shame if you missed it."

"If I miss it, I miss it, sister." Eira replies. "Plus I should be back in time. Some of the others need to get back in time for the druid meeting."

Eira's sister nodes. "Well good luck. Do you know who else is on this team?"

Eira shakes her head. "I only know Merlin and Gilli."

"Merlin? As in Merlin Emrys, king of the druids?"

"Yeah, I think so." Eira replies. "Why? Is it some big deal?"

"Merlin is king of the druids and he asked you for help! How is that not a big deal?"

Eira looks at her sister. "He's only human. Now if you don't mind I need to go, I would actually like to help them so I have to be there on time, so good day sister."

"Good luck, sister."

"Like I need it," Eira mutters. "It's Gilli who's going to need it."

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Sefa smiled as she picked up her long how. He father was in the chamber next door, so it shouldn't be too hard to sneak out. She had been pleased to be able to help Merlin out like this, they had meet quite a few times in the past. Merlin was always bringing people to their camp, he had saved from Uthur or Arthur. She knew by helping Merlin, she was going to help save the lives of many people. She had never heard of change-wings before, but she knew whatever they were, they couldn't be good. She picks up a couple of arrows that were lying around and added them to the ones in her quiver. As she slips out the door into the corridor as voice behind her stops her in her tracks.

"Where do you think you are going?"

Sefa turns around and comes face to face with her father. "Um, I'm meeting some friends."

"So why are you taking your long bow?"

"We are going outside the border, so I thought it was best I take a weapon."

"I have told you, Sefa, it is too dangerous to go outside the border. Camelot have many patrols in the woods close by. It is only the illusion we have casted, that stops them seeing our kingdom. It is too dangerous, I will not let you go."

"But, father, I will be with friends."

"Who?"

"Merlin, Gilli and a few other." Sefa quickly answers.

"Merlin?"

Sefa nodes. "It was he who asked me if I wanted to join him and the others."

"Well I guess if Emrys is with you, you will be safe. But you have to be back before the meeting starts. If you are not I will not be pleased, is that clear?"

"Yes father." Sefa mutters.

Sefa quickly turns and makes her way towards the training field, she was glad her father cared but sometimes he was just too over protective.

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Tyr yawned as he made his way out of the stables, he quickly headed to his home he shared with his mother. He looked around for any possible weapons, but luck was not on his side. There was nothing he could use as a weapon.

"Tyr, what are you doing home so early?" Tyr mother asks, sitting down at the table.

"A friend has asked for some help, so I came back early to find a weapon. We are traveling outside of the border."

Tyr mother nodes, as she sips her herbal tea. "I'm sure you can get a weapon from the training grounds…. What time will you be back?"

"We are aiming to get back before the druid meeting starts, some of us have to attend it," Tyr explains. "I'll make something to eat when I get back."

Tyr mother smiles. "No, no, it's okay, I'll make something. It just I can't help but worry about you, that's all, it is a mothers job to worry about her child."

Tyr smiles. "Do you need any herbs, I can pick some on the way back if you like?"

"No, no, it's okay. Just have fun okay?"

Tyr grins. "I will."

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Kara slipped down the halls of the tower towards the training ground. She had no family other than the druids who had taken her in, so she was staying on one of the rooms in the tower until somewhere else for her to stay was arranged. In her hand she carried a quarter staff, with a dagger blade stuck at one end. It was almost like a short spear, but was much stronger and easier to use in a fight at close range. It was the only weapon she had, it had been a gift from someone close to her before they died. The weapon its self was well balanced and easy to fight with, Kara had spent hours training with it.

"Kara." A voice behind her called.

"Iseldir." She replies with a bow.

"I have heard that Emrys sets out to kill the creature, is this correct?"

Kara nodes. "It is."

"Then tell him this, Mordred the dark only created nine creature."

Kara looks at Iseldir. "I will tell him."

Iseldir smiled. "Good luck, I hope all of you make it back alive."

"I hope so too." Kara replies, before turning and carrying on the way she was going.

Iseldir watched her go, Alator appeared beside him.

"Emrys will kill them, he has formed a strong group. There is hope for us yet." Alator explains.

"But is hope enough," Iseldir answers. "The druid council would aid Merlin Emrys, even if they died doing so. Yet the council that runs this kingdom, show him no respect or even listen to what he had to say."

Alator sighs. "The council fear him, he is powerful. But they are also jealous of that power, they fear Merlin will be to headstrong believing he can take on anything and endanger the lives of our people. They are yet to know him and learn what he stands for, in time they will come to respect him. Once they know him like you and I, they will take his words to heart and know he will never seek the power they fear he does."

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Merlin and Gilli stood on the training field, sharpening their weapons. They were both dressed in toughed leather armour and cloaks. Merlin as always had his scarf on, a dark blue to match his cloak. Gilli glanced at Merlin.

"So what they plan, then?"

"I thought it was you, who was coming up with a plan." Merlin answers. "This was your idea."

"Yeah, but you are the team leader," Gilli answers. "So you have to come up with the plan."

Merlin rolls his eyes. "Well first we need to track these creatures down. Which is going to be hard, but I have an idea that might work."

"And after that?"

"We'll think about that later." Merlin mutters. "But my plans always work…. In the end."

Gilli grins. "Well then this is just going to be an extreme hunting trip."

Merlin laughs. "Much more fun, than killing harmless, defenceless creatures for no reason."

"You will never truly be a royal will you? I pretty sure all royals doing hunting for sport."

"How many times do I have to tell you this, being king of a religious group is totally different to ruling a kingdom. Plus druids only hunt for food."

Gilli grins. "What do you think Arthur will do when he finds out you are king of the druids."

"I don't care as long as he doesn't kill me or hurt my people," Merlin answers. "I hope that in time, he will except magic and free it in his kingdom. Then I may be able to return to Camelot, sort of live in two places. I could life here for say four days a week and be in Camelot for the other three."

"But what if Arthur doesn't except magic and continues to kill our kind?"

Merlin looks at the floor for a moment. "Then Arthur isn't the friend I hoped and thought he was. When I saw him, early today, he wanted me to stay. But he hasn't freed magic. I cannot return to Camelot until magic is free."

"But will you still protect him?"

"Of course," Merlin answers. "He is the once and future king, but more importantly he is my friend. Many will no longer attack him, now we are free here. But there are others who still want him dead, those who follow Morgana and I will try my best to save and protect him."

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Kara was the first to arrive, she greeted Merlin with a hug and Gilli with a hand shake.

"Kara, Gilli. Gilli, Kara." Merlin quickly introduced them.

Before anyone else could say a word, Bercilak arrived.

"Bercilak!" Merlin grinned. "You know Gilli and this is Kara."

"Pleasure to meet you, Kara." Bercilak smiles shaking her hand. "I must say, interesting weapon, any good?"

Kara nodes. "It's the only weapon I fight with."

Next to arrive was Tyr.

"Merlin, Gilli, Kara." He greets.

Merlin grins. "This is Bercilak, Bercilak this is Tyr."

Next was Sefa.

"Merlin! Gilli! Kara! Tyr! Bercilak!" She greets pulling everyone into a hug.

Merlin was slightly surprised. "You know everyone here, I didn't think you knew Bercilak."

Sefa smiled. "He saved my life little over a year ago."

Merlin grinned. "Well that saved some time."

Daegal and Eira arrived at the same time, but from opposite directions.

Merlin grins. "Well Eira and Daegal, this is Tyr, Bercilak, Sefa and Kara, Gilli you already know. Everyone this is Eira and Daegal."

Once everyone had finished greeting each other, Merlin cleared his throat.

"From what I have just been told, if I enchant your weapons they will be able to kill these change-wings. Also there are only nine of them, so hopeful it shouldn't take us to long to kill them. I have an idea on how we can track them, but I'm not sure it will work."

"So what is the plan?" Gilli asks.

"Tyr here, can speak with all none magical animals. He knew about the change-wings because the animals told him. So therefore the animals know where the change-wings are, if the animals can help us we should be able to hunt them down. Change-wings like to stay in groups while they are not hunting, so if we are lucky we can get them all in one go."

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All eight of them stood in a clearing, Tyr had lead them here. Merlin glanced round the clearing was quite, too quite. He got the feeling he was being watched.

"Okay everyone," Merlin speaks up. "Whatever happens stay with someone. Do not get caught alone, make sure you have someone with you at all times. We still have no idea what we are up against. Once you have killed any of these creature, try and find the others and help."

Everyone nodes, suddenly Merlin sees something ripple out the corner of his eye. Kneeling down Merlin picks up a small rock and throws it. It hits something and falls to the ground, seconds later change-wings appear out of nowhere as they ripple into view. As the first one strikes, everyone drives out the way.

"Split up!" Merlin yells.

Merlin and Gilli runs towards the cover of the trees four change-wings hot on their heels. Behind them Bercilak and Kara rush down the path that lead them here, a single change-wing flying after them. Eira and Daegal dash of into the trees closely followed by two change-wings. Tyr and Sefa dive through the trees, two change-wings in tow. And so the hunter become the hunted.

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Sefa and Tyr duck behind a fallen tree as the first of the two change-wings flies over them. The second stops on the fallen tree above them looking round.

"What do we do now?" Sefa hisses. "We are at the wrong angle to kill the thing, it would see us before we even had the chance to stand up."

Tyr nodes. "We need to try and make it move. But without letting it know we are here."

Sefa slowly pulled her long bow from her back, trying to cause as little movement as possible. Change-wings were almost deaf, so noise wasn't too much of a problem unless you screamed of course. Tyr slowly drew the short sword he had been given by Bercilak, above them the change-wing moved forward, if it looked down now they wouldn't stand a chance. Through the trees Sefa spots the second change-wing making its way back towards them. Sefa quickly points it out to Tyr, who nodes.

"If you shot it," He mutters. "I'll take the one above us."

Sefa nodes. "We're going to have to do it at the same time, we can't risk one of these creatures getting away."

Tyr nodes. "On three... One... Two... Three!"

Sefa nodes and readies her long bow to fire and on three shots the change-wing throw the trees. The change-wing above them doesn't stand a chance as, Tyr swings his sword as he jumps to his feet. Sefa' arrow, hits the change-wing in the chest and straight through its heart. The enchantment Merlin casted on the arrow, causes it to burn with blue flame, which quickly engulfs the creature as it is hit. Tyr successful behead's the creature with a flaming blue blade, it's body bursts into flames and is reduced to a pile of ash in seconds.

Tyr smiled in relief. "That went better than expected."

Sefa nodes. "I doubt we would have been so lucky if we hadn't managed to catch them by surprise. Come on lets see if any of the others need help."

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Bercilak and Kara rushed down the path that had lead them to the clearing, behind them the change-wing hissed and tried to dive at them. But the path was too narrow for it to fly.

"We only have one following us." Kara yells, ducking under a low branch.

"Yeah, but we have nowhere to hide from it, it is to close. We are going to have to turn round and fight it."

"Not here, the path is too narrow for us to fight side by side."

"We should head back to the clearing," Bercilak answers. "That way we can fight it in the open."

"No, the area is large enough for it to fly. As soon as that thing gets in the air, we won't stand a chance."

"Then let's hope this path widens slightly, before we can't run any further." Bercilak answers.

Before Kara can answer a second change-wing dives towards them from the opening in the trees above them. Bercilak shoves Kara sideways into the undergrowth, leaving him to take the hit. He stabs his knife into the creatures' neck as it pins him to a tree, as the creature is engulfed by a blue flame and is reduced to ash, Bercilak collapses to the ground.

Kara jumps to her feet and rushes over to Bercilak, looking around the she sees the second change-wing vanish back the way they had come. Bercilak groans in pain, a mighty gash, was streaming blood just above his hip. Before Kara had a chance to move Daegal and Eira fall to their knees beside them. Daegal pulls out a healing crystal and holds it over Bercilak wound, the wound slowly heals, leaving it as no more than a scratch.

"Do you know where the change-wing went?" Eira asks. "We were attacked by two of them, but one got away."

"Bercilak killed it," Kara answers. "But the one we were being chased by got away."

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Daegal and Eira hide behind some trees, not far behind them were two change wings. Daegal glanced across at Eira who was breathing heavily, they had been sprinting for a good five minutes. They had unlucky chosen a path which lead out into field as far as the he could see and had been forced to circle round back to the forest, without the change-wings noticing and cutting them off. Daegal really hoped the others were having better luck. Eira lent backwards against the tree, breathing hard. She had never been forced to run so fast in all her life, to be honest she was better at cross country running. She was truly hoping these creature didn't find them anytime soon, she really didn't have the energy to fight them at the moment.

"Eira," Daegal mutters. "I think it's a good idea we try and kill them now. If we leave it too long they could vanish, once they are invisible again we won't stand a chance."

Eira nodes, her breathing slowly returning to normal. "I'm only good at fighting close range."

Daegal nodes. "I can possibly take one out with a knife, that should get the others attention and draw it to us."

Eira grins. "And I kill the other."

Daegal nodes. "That's the plan."

Taking a deep breath Daegal grips the hilt of his knife and steps out from behind the tree and takes aim. The change-wing closest to them notices him just as he throwers the knife, it hits it in the side of the neck, but isn't enough to kill it. The second change-wing takes to the air and flies off, whilst the first charges towards them. Eira grip her sword and readies herself, Daegal runs drawing the creature past her and as the creature passes, she drives her sword deep into its side. Killing it, as Daegal helps her to her feet, she looks round.

"We have to go after the second one, let's go!"

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Gilli runs sword in hand, not far behind him is Merlin. As the two of them crash through the trees, they don't even bother looking over their shoulders. Behind them are four change-wings, Merlin knew it was just his luck that they got most of them chasing after them. Gilli on the other had didn't really care just as long as they got out of this alive. Merlin missed working for Arthur least the worst they were chased by were bandits, this was far worse and a lot harder to kill. He couldn't just drop tree branches on them or make them drop their weapons. Gilli suddenly skidded to a halt as they made it into a small clearing at the edge of a high land cliff. Merlin unable to stop in time crashes into Gilli, nearly sending them both over the edge of the cliff.

"Oh crap." Merlin mutters. "This is not good. I'm sure the fates hate me."

Gilli turns around. "We have company."

Merlin spins round and is faced with four hungry looking change-wings. "So looks like we could be dinner if we are not careful."

Gilli grins. "Well I'm not planning on being dinner, so I hope these creature like the taste of steel, because it's all they're getting."

Merlin grins and draws Excalibur, if Arthur wasn't going to fight with it, Merlin might as well use it. "That's enchanted steel, Gilli."

Gilli almost laughed. "Yeah, because that's going to taste so different."

Merlin grinned, griping Excalibur, ready for the first strike. "I wouldn't know I've never tried it."

The two of them slowly made their way forward and stood back to back in the centre of the small clearing.

"So what's the plan?" Gilli asks.

"You take the ones on the right, I'll take the ones on the left?"

"That's you plan?" Gilli exclaimed.

"Have you got any better ideas?" Merlin asks.

"No."

"Plus my plans always work."

Merlin swung Excalibur at the first change-wing, as soon as the sword hit the creature in burst blue flames before turning to ash. Merlin raised an eyebrow, as he ducked a seconds' tail. Gilli bought his sword down on the first creature neck, it was quickly engulfed a blur flames. He rolls out the way of a second change-wing attack and get to his feet.

Merlin yells out as a change-wing claws' ripe through the flesh of his right arm. He falls to he knees almost losing hold of Excalibur, he throws his sword forward with a flash of gold. The sword flies straight into the creatures' chest, killing it. Merlin watches as Gilli kills the second change-wing he was fighting. Gilli pulls a knife from his belt and throws it at the creature, it rears back in pain and roars at the sky, taking his chance Gilli runs forward and drives his sword into the creature chest. The creature wipes round, in pain, sending Gilli flying into a tree on the far side of the clearing, with such force it was bound to brake some ribs.

Merlin slowly gets to his feet, holding his injured arm. "I told you my plans always work."

Gilli smiles slightly, before muttering weakly. "You didn't say we'd get hurt though."

Merlin grins weakly and pulls off his scarf. "I knew I should have warn the red one." He mutters wrapping it around his injured arm, his magic had healed it slightly, it was no longer life threatening, but that didn't stop it hurting or bleeding.

"MERLIN! WATCH OUT!" Gilli yells, ignoring the pain it caused him, as a fifth change-wing, appears out of nowhere.

Merlin turned round and throws up his hand, but it does little to help. The change-wing hits the shield Merlin created with such force, Merlin falls backwards. Pain shots up Merlin's arm as the cuts are forced open, Merlin lets out a pained cry and loses hold on his magic. His magic sends the creature back across the clearing, but not before its claws tear though Merlin left shoulder, deep enough to hit bone. Merlin vision fades into darkness as the pain becomes unbearable. Gilli forces him self to his feet and grips his sword, the change-wing advances on him, but before it has chance to get any closer as sword appears through his chest. As the creature disappears in blue flames, Gilli smiles at the sight of Bercilak.

"Glad you made it." He mutters, before passing out.

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Hey hoped you liked that chapter. So up next is the sins of the father and the lady of the lake, it should be up in the next couple of days. Yeah I know Merlin and Gilli were the only ones who got injured quite badly, but they were fighting five change-wings, everyone else only had to face one or two. Don't worry none of them are going to die, yet. Leave a review, until next time,

Blessed be,

TreeOfLife1997.