Then…

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Bran came to ask for help from Gaius early in the morning, before the physician was to begin his morning rounds. The prince had passed Merlin earlier in the corridor when servant was supporting an overloaded tray on it's way to the king. Merlin was muttering something when he passed, without noticing Bran walking past.

"I'm late, I'm late, he kill me…"

Bran briefly glanced at him with concern.

"So, you must be Bran Fendigaidd." Gaius said when Bran finally arrived. "Merlin told that you have something to show me. A book?"

Bran took out a book and placed it gently on the table with caution. Gaius opened it and glanced at the first pages.

"The old language, and a very old dialect. So, what part would you like to explore more?"

Bran flipped the pages until it showed them a picture of a very peculiar-looking compass.

"The Golden Compass. The one that shows you the way to the thing you seek most. Very powerful and very very old object. It's says, oh, this is hard to read. I wish Merlin could be here right now." Gaius muttered. He focused for a moment, trying to read the passage.

"There is some history written here. It's original use was more like a spiritual guide. It showed you how to find yourself, I don't understand this clearly, your true self? Then there were some modifications. Now it's used to show you the way to where you want to go most, literally. But this says, that it's guarded by… I don't know what this means. Some kind of fire monster? I can't be sure. It was created far in the east. It migrated over the centuries to the west. As far as…" Gaius took deep breath. "As far as Atlantis. It's last king asked for advice, and was saved from destruction. Then, there is nothing more."

Bran sighed with disappointment. "Dead end again. Atlantis? Then it's gone forever."

"No, no no no. Listen. Atlantis' last king asked advice and was saved. Of course, he took the compass with him. Atlantis, Atlantis… I have it somewhere in here." Gaius started to delve into the huge pile of books in the corner. Before Bran could do anything to help the door opened.

"Sire? Great, you are here." Merlin smiled. "Someone was looking for you." Merlin stepped aside and revealed the person behind him.

"Esca? What are you doing here?" Bran yelled and looked at his old friend. Esca shook his head with sorrow.

"I have a message. Your father, our king, is dying. He is asking for you to come home."

Bran froze. Not now. Not now, when he was so close…

"Ah, I found it! Listen. Atlantis' last king was Avallach!" Gaius exclaimed suddenly.

They turned to stare him.

"So?" Merlin asked finally.

"Avallach! God's sake Merlin. The Fisher King!"

Merlin paled. "What?"

"Avallach came to this island and settled beside a large lake to live in peace. He had achieved a lot, and lost everything. He was badly wounded, and focused on the study of magic. You know what happened then." Gaius explained.

"Do you mean, the Perilous Lands? Do I have to go there?" Bran asked. He looked little bit terrified of though. "I heard that the king haunts the castle."

"No, the Fisher King is dead and gone." Merlin said quietly. Bran looked at him in surprise. Merlin quickly looked the other way. "I and Gwaine have been there, we know the road. If you want our help, that is."

"Of course, but your duty in here… And my father…" Bran didn't know what to do. Merlin watched him struggling between the choices. Esca opened his mouth to say something but Merlin got first.

"You are too close. You can't be even sure if you make anyway in time to take your father's place before he is dead. Ask Arthur. That won't do any harm. And you have to hurry. If you get some knights to go with you, it's better that way, when we go into that realm. Believe me. And, Arthur knows that too. So, just go and ask." Merlin's tone was deep and calm.

Bran stared at this man, who sounded more like advisor than a servant. Bran realized that behind that innocent and clumsy mask was something more. Something very old and very wise. There was a flash in Bran's mind. Will used to tell him how he sometimes saw behind the person's mind, and Bran was laughed inwardly. But now... He foresaw that the burden Merlin bore was greater than any king ever had. It was a frightening realization. Who was this man?

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Now

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"Is he dying?" Arthur asked. He and Gaius stood in the door way, their eyes on Merlin.

"Yes." Gaius sighed. "He has got weaker and weaker every day. He doesn't eat well, and he doesn't move. He is just withering away. And the marks, they are spread out along his back and legs. When Bran returns, I hope we will get some answers."

"He is running late." Arthur murmured.

"This winter is hard. The weather…"

"I know, I know. I… " Arthur shut his eyes. "I shouldn't let them go back then. Why I did that anyway. It sounded like a good idea. I couldn't go, but Merlin and Gwaine… I should have seen that something was wrong when they came back. Before we all went to the north and… It's my fault."

Gaius' hand fell onto the king's arm. "No, this is not your fault. This was not anyone's fault. And I ... That day when I told Bran, I saw something about Merlin. I can't explain it, but he had to go. With him, Bran managed to find his brother. And now Bran is coming back to us. "

"How long Gaius? How much time does he have left?"

"Not long, sire." Gaius admitted. "Not long."

Thank you your reviews, I now allow the anonymous reviews and I hope you behave, okay?

So, Fisher King, I really wanted to use him. There is lot of diferent kind of versions at him, so I just pick up something and I do my own version LOL.

Some of you maybe noticed some characters names like Will (not Merlin's friend's name, but if you put Bran and Will together maybe you notice it), Bran Fendigaidd and Esca.