Hi everyone!

Sorry for the late update. My PC had some technical difficulties since one day after my last update so I wasn't able to write anything until it was fixed today.

Again many thanks for the reviews!

Here's the next chapter, have fun reading and please don't forget to review!


The noises the bandits made while setting off were loud enough allowing Arthur to pull his servant away with him unheard.

They hurried away quietly, not risking that the bandits would realize their presence.

After some minutes when they had brought some distance between the bandits and themselves they rested for a moment, catching their breath from the stressful run.

Merlin was the first who spoke, still lightly out of breath.

"We will never arrive at Camelot in time. They have horses and ours are too far away. We'll never make it."

"But we have to. The night will start in about 5 hours. We just have to figure out a way to make it back in less time than that. So let's stop talking and return to the running."

Merlin sighed but obeyed.

The way back to the horses was difficult because they moved through a mountainous region. The bandits surely wouldn't take the same way as Arthur and Merlin, it was just impossible with such a huge number of men on horses. They would have to use big trading routs.

But still Arthur and Merlin wouldn't be any quicker by just walking the straight way by foot. Both knew that but just giving up was out of the question.


Suddenly Merlin heard the strange voice again. It got louder though he was still not able to understand any word. But at least this time he was able to fight it off with some effort. After all there was no time to be distracted by unknown magic.

Working against the influence demanded a moment of concentration so Merlin had to halt for some seconds.

Arthur realized it and paused as well, thinking that his servant was simply exhausted and needed a break.

"Come on, Merlin. We have no time for interventions. Just grit your teeth and move on."

No reaction.

Confused Arthur looked at his servant more closely, calling for him once more.

"Merlin?"

There was it again, this strange empty look but it vanished before Arthur could see it clearly. Merlins normal expression returned to his eyes as he looked at Arthur.

"Sorry! Let's go on."

Merlin wanted to walk on as Arthur suddenly held him back.

"Wait, what's that over there?"

Merlin looked to the place Arthur pointed to.

"Looks like an underground road."

"Pass me the map."

Merlin took out an old map from his bag which showed the region they were walking through, handing it over to Arthur.

The prince looked at it for a moment until he was sure.

"That's great! This must be the underground road guiding near to Camelot. Look, it's marked here. If we take this way, we'll surely make it back to Camelot in less than 3 hours even without horses."

Merlin looked at the map as well and read the written name of the road:

'Ordeal Vault'


Oh no, everything but not that. Merlin remembered a rumour Gaius had told him of. They came across it when Merlin read in the spell book and found a recipe for a potion that could heal dangerous flesh wounds. One ingredient was a plant Merlin had never heard of before. So he asked Gaius where to find it. But Gaius reaction was shocked.

"Why do you ask for it?"

"Nothing specific. I just read about this potion and thought that it could be handy to have it around in case it would be needed. You know how much Arthur likes to get himself injured. Is something wrong with the potion?"

"No, not the potion itself but this plant can only be found in an underground road called the Ordeal Vault. Merlin, listen, this is a very dangerous place, you should never go there, no matter what!"

"Why?"

"It's known to be a hideout of the most powerful still remaining sorcerers. After the great purge the few sorcerers who were able to get away with their lives hid in the underground and I know that this is one of those places. Nimueh came from there before she attacked Camelot and she wasn't the only evil sorcerer. She was trained and educated there. I'm sure of that, so, Merlin, promise never to go there!"

"Fine. I'm really not eager to encounter another sorcerer like Nimueh. It's a pity not to have such a potion around but it's not worth to risk someone's life for it."


This was really not Merlins luckiest day. Why of all things did they have to cross this road? However, Merlin had to stop Arthur.

"Arthur, we really shouldn't go in there."

"Oh Merlin, not again! What is it this time? Afraid of the darkness or dangerous animals? Don't worry, I'll hold your hand if you insist on it."

Merlin rolled his eyes but was too excited to react to this insult.

"That's not it! It's just ... Gaius once told me about this cave. It's a hideout place of evil sorcerers."

The prince began to laugh.

"Seriously Merlin, how do you always come up with such stories?"

"Haven't you listened? Gaius told me."

"And Gaius knows everything or what? I've never heard of such rumours. So like it or not, we'll take this road."

"But Arthur ..."

"Stop complaining, Merlin. Just face the facts. We'll never make it back to Camelot in time if we keep on walking through this mountainous area. Do you really want to see these bandits fall into Camelot undetected and unprepared?"

"Of course not."

"So, we'll go. I'll let nothing stop me from reaching Camelot before the bandits do, no matter what! Come on, let's hurry."

Merlin realized that no argument would change the prince's opinion. Merlin knew his master well enough to figure that out.

Sighing Merlin followed Arthur inside the underground road.

When it got too dark to see the road Arthur turned to Merlin.

"I guess you don't have a torch with you coincidentally, do you?"

"No, oh ... wait, I actually might."

Merlin took the bag from his shoulder and rummaged through it. Of course he didn't have packed a torch but he could easily summon one.

Looking up he realized that Arthur was curiously staring at him. The prince would surely see if Merlin used a spell right now. Eyes blazing golden were hardly to disguise in such darkness. Some distraction was needed.

Looking up Merlin gestured behind the prince.

"What is that?"

At once Arthur looked behind himself, not realizing how Merlins eyes quickly blazed up golden, causing a golden light inside his bag as well where a little torch appeared.

The prince jolted back.

"There's nothing but wasn't there a light over here?"

Merlins answer was prompt, maybe a little too quick and forced to sound innocent.

"No."

"But I clearly saw something."

Merlin cocked his head and looked pitiful at Arthur as if he had gone mad.

"Really? Maybe the stress causes some hallucinations."

"Don't be ridiculous! So what's about the torch, found one?"

Merlin pretended to go on searching through his bag just to pull out a little torch with a huge grin on his face.

Arthur took it astonished.

"How forward-looking of you. I actually wouldn't have imagined that you would carry one with you."

"Well, I'm full of surprises!"

Arthur shot a depreciative look at his servant but didn't comment his remark. He was just too glad about this unique occasion.

Looking around himself for stones that could serve as lighter, Arthur ended up unsuccessfully gazing at Merlin again.

"You surely don't have some fire stones with you, do you?"

Merlin grinned though he really tried not to let Arthur see it.

"Why don't you try with this stone over there?"

Merlin pointed to a stone lying on the ground behind Arthur.

The prince turned around to look for it, giving Merlin time enough to use another spell for summoning two fire stones while Arthur commented the meant stone.

"That's a simple pebble, not in the slightest useful for making a fire ... hey!"

At once Arthur turned back around pointing furiously towards Merlin.

"There was it again! Some ... light!"

"Oh, I just found two fire stones. They must have collided and thereby caused a short light. Here."

Merlin pushed the stones quickly into Arthurs hands to distract him from further investigation.

Arthur – though still looking a little bit suspicious – swallowed down any remarks as for one time there was really no need to complain about his servant. He passed the torch back to Merlin who held it ready to receive some fire from the stones.

The prince was very skilled in creating a fire and it took only seconds until the torch was inflamed and filled the surrounding with a comfortable light.

Returning the torch to Arthur they went on.


They continued their hasty walk through the underground for nearly 3 hours without any significant incident, unless you would count in Merlin startling at every corner looking around while fearing that the strange shadows would prove to be evil sorcerers. Arthur constantly rolled his eyes listening to Merlin who always swore that he had heard something. The prince found various terms to express his amusement about it like:

"You would also fear your own shadow, wouldn't you, Merlin?"

"Yes, that rock looks definitely dangerous."

"How about that stone wall? Wanna test if it is enchanted before we pass it?"

But Merlin was too excited to answer to these insults. It was no lie that he sensed something. He always felt as if someone was watching them and appeared behind them. But everytime he turned to the source he couldn't spot anything. And then again this strange voice reappeared in his head. Fortunately Merlin was able to fight off any influence from it but still it made him hyper anxious and alerted.


As they walked further, Merlin startled again and looked around scared but Arthur didn't react to it anymore as this was at least the twentieth time that Merlin did this without having any obvious reason.

Nevertheless Merlins alerted voice reached Arthurs ears.

"Arthur!"

Merlins voice was more scared than the times before but Arthur didn't realize it and just acted disturbed as always.

"Not again, Merlin! Just get it into your head. THERE IS NOTHING!"

"Yes, THERE IS."

Irritated Arthur turned around and spotted an old man standing some meters away from them, obviously watching them calmly.

"Oh!"

Arthur needed some time to settle his surprise. Why hadn't he recognized the man? Where did he come from? Arthur couldn't imagine to have passed him unnoticed, neither had he heard his steps.

But still there was this old man who approached them on slow legs due to his high age and spoke firmly towards Arthur.

"So you have come, Arthur Pendragon, Prince of Camelot."


Well, we're getting closer.^^

I hope you liked this chapter. I guess you know what the next will bring (at least most of it).

Please don't hesitate to click the button below, I look forward to your reviews!^^

By the way, I don't know when I'll be able to update the next chapter because I'm quite busy with other stuff at the moment.

And in case somebody reads this who had also read my other story "The Importance of an Embrace" and waits for a sequel, I have to say sorry, at least for now. There weren't that many who wanted a sequel so I have to skip writing this at the moment due to my other duties and I guess there's more interest in "The Blood of the Pendragons" than in the other story. Unfortunately I have to set priorities. Maybe I can write the sequel when I get more free time. I hope you're not angry with me. Please complain about it to my job, I really hate this amount of work overtime. T_T

Bye, Cennamace