Thanks to Lozrii, Hogaboom, Skoellya and xXStephRheaXx

I love the fact they brought in Emrys and Mordred!

Just for those who haven't realised yet or don't know the Arthurian legends, I just wanted to clarify. Bedivere is not exactly an OC. I didn't create the name. You can research if you want but I won't give any more away.

Merlin had seen Arthur and Bedivere escape safely and knew it was time for him to leave. In his current form all he could do was claw and scratch the witch, Nimueh, as she through spell after spell at him. Fortunately, in his falcon form he seemed to be super fast and dodged many of her curses. A few hit but seemed to have little affect, none that he could feel anyway.

With a spiralling dive towards Nimueh's feet, the warlock confused the sorceress enough to give him time to dart away. He skimmed along the rocky ground, so close the floor that he could feel the stone brushing Elsu's under feathers. The falcon shot through the black hole that led to freedom. Behind him he could hear the furious scream of a beaten witch. Merlin was sure she would seek revenge for such humiliation but he hoped it wouldn't be too soon. He needed time to work out the current predicament he had landed himself in – trapped in a bird's body.

Arthur and Bedivere literally fell through the mirror, landing in an awkward heap on the other side. They scrambled swiftly apart and climbed to their feet, dusting themselves down. Then, as one, the pair stared back into the glass surface from which they had just come. Arthur looked shocked, Bedivere looked worried.

"What about Elsu?"

"What about him?" Arthur frowned, turning away – he needed to find his father. "He's just a bird." Although it hurt him to say it, Arthur knew that was the truth. They could not really risk their lives for an animal.

"You don't understand. Its not just Elsu in there it's…" Bedi never finished his sentence because at that moment the mirror rippled and something small and dark shot out. Arthur grabbed the boy by the arm and pulled him back out of harm's way. For all they knew the thing could be sent by Nimueh. However, once the blur stopped, Bedivere gasped with relief. Elsu had escaped.

With a huge grin, the youth ran over to where the bird had landed on a window sill and reached out to stroke the animal. As his long, slender fingers brushed along the smooth feathers he felt Elsu shudder under his touch. The animal hadn't completely recovered from its ordeal.

"How on earth did he escape Nimueh? Do you think she's following?" Arthur looked warily back into the portal. Bedivere did the same but what he saw, and the prince didn't, was that Elsu gave the mirror a fierce stare and the glass stopped shimmering like disturbed water. The gate to the cave had closed. And, thank the lord; Nimueh was on the other side – for now.

"I don't know but I'm just glad Merlin's safe," Bedivere said and then realised what he'd allowed to slip out. Arthur offered him a strange look but seemed to pass over his mistake. Instead the prince strode from the room.

Lying on a bed in the physician's chambers was a body. This body was deathly still and cold. It was so white and lifeless that it could easily be mistaken for a corpse. But it wasn't because the body still had a pulse and, if you looked close enough, it was breathing. Other than those things there was little movement. This was Merlin.

Beside him, keeping a constant vigil was Gwen. She had not left his side since she had found him. Gaius had tried everything to wake him but nothing had worked, the young manservant remained asleep. Morgana had visited once to check on both Merlin and her handmaid – she was worried about Gwen making herself ill. She had joked that Merlin was a male version of the tale of Sleeping Beauty and that Gwen had to kiss him to wake him up. Unsurprisingly the servant had found this unfunny.

The handmaiden just wished that Arthur would return, she held out on the hope that somehow he would have the answer and he would know exactly what to do. They had had no more news of his disappearance and the King was distraught – he was sending out search parties day and night whilst he brooded in his room.

Gwen continued to hold Merlin's icy, pale hand. It was so cold that it hurt her hand but she would not let go. She feared that if she severed the link then the young man would just slip away. She was his anchor.

Suddenly, the door to the room burst open and a boy hurried in. His bronze hair was wild and his face was streaked with dirt and….blood. With wild eyes he searched the area until his gaze fell on the girl and the man in the bed. Gwen had no idea who he was and was unnerved by his rough appearance. She shifted herself slightly, moving in front of Merlin – protecting him.

"Who…?" She began just as the boy began to talk.

"Prince Arthur has returned! He is safe. But what of Merlin? Is he okay? I thought he would have returned to his body by now." The words ran together because of the speed at which the boy spoke and Gwen had difficulty deciphering what he said. She understood that Arthur had returned though and that was brilliant.

"Arthur has returned?!"

"Yes, he has. He's talking to the King right now."

"And who are you?" Gwen asked.

"Oh, sorry, we haven't met. I'm Bedivere. I am…was Fabien's son."

"Fabien? The trader?"

"Yes," the boy's excited demeanour seemed to have sobered up and his voice had less enthusiasm.

"Oh."

"So is Merlin awake yet?"

"Yet? I'm not sure whether he's ever going to wake up," Gwen sounded disheartened.

"Well he should, Elsu escaped so really he should be back…." Bedivere halted. Magic was forbidden in Camelot and if he kept blabbing about Merlin being able to transfer into animals' bodies then the poor warlock would be in a lot of trouble. Therefore he would shut up now.

"Elsu escaped? Escaped from what?"

"You don't know? Let me explain what happened."

At this exact same time Arthur was explaining the entire episode to his father. Uther listened with disbelief and then fury. He could not believe that he had been betrayed by the trader and that he had allowed Nimueh to get so close to killing his one and only son. The thought of Arthur's death actually sickened him.

When the prince talked of the trader's son saving him by murdering his own father, the King was struck first by astonishment at the child's bravery and then his loyalty. Uther would definitely reward the youngster for such an act. Despite the boy being born of a tradesman, the King knew that he was from noble blood. He had recognised the secondary name that Fabien gave him. The man, although treacherous, was the grandson of one of Uther's great friends.

"But you are alright?"

"I am fine, Father," Arthur assured the older man with a nod. "I should go now." The young man began to leave the room. He desperately needed a wash.

"Well that is good. That you are fine, I mean." Uther called after him. "By the way, you may wish to get a new servant." Arthur's neck snapped round so fast it must have hurt.

"What?!"

"A new servant. Your old one, what's his name, Matthew, Marlin? Whilst you were gone was struck with a mysterious ailment. He isn't showing any sign of ever getting better according to Gaius."

"His name is Merlin!" The Prince corrected his father angrily and sprinted from the room.