Merlin had to get out of the castle, and drifted along the corridors at top speed. He caught sight of Gwen, hurrying along with an arm full of material. She looked at the floor and her body language seemed to have changed. She walked with a slow gait and looked very tired. Merlin sighed. He had done this. He drifted closer, could Gwen see him. "Gwen?" He said it in a small voice. "Gwen can you hear me?"

Gwen looked up at the sound of his voice but shook her head and kept walking. Merlin drifted closer and before he knew what was happening a shot of cold pain ripped through him and left him bent double. Gwen gave a cry of shock and the material she was carrying fell to the floor. Before Gwen could look up, Merlin fled the corridor and drifted out of the castle. After a few minutes he found himself in the quiet peace of the forest.

Tall trees reached to the sky with branches laden with new leaves, and birds trilled in them and flitted from tree to tree. Somewhere nearby a blackbird sung a shrill and beautiful tune, and closer another joined it in a duet. The forest was alive with new life as winter gradually merged into spring. In a few months bluebells would be out, carpeting the forest floor with their bell shaped heads blooming a bright light blue, and among them lavender and long grasses would spring up. Mosses and lichen glowed on the dark brown bark of the towering Beech trees, shot through with Elms, Alders, Ash, Yews, Hornbeams and Sessile Oaks. Merlin remembered Gaius spending painstaking hours teaching him each different kind of tree, herb, shrub, flower and grass that grew around Camelot, so much that he could name each one at a glance. He sighed inwardly as he thought about Gaius, and smiled a little at how irritated Gaius had become with him when he deliberately got it wrong.

Merlin drifted through the trees, trying to get as far away from the castle as possible. After a few minutes, he came across a small, shaded clearing, cut through with a fallen log. At one side there was the humped earthy opening to an underground burrow which Merlin recognised as a badger set, but it was long abandoned by the badgers that built it and was most probably now home to a fox or some other sort of burrowing animal. New green grass covered the ground in patches, along with the twiggy saplings growing from the various acorns and seeds the squirrels had failed to return to during the long and cold winter. Dappled sunlight filtered through the trees in bright hazy late afternoon shafts. It was calm, beautiful, peaceful and quiet. It was away from the main forest tracks, trampled down from constant walking and horse's hooves. Merlin walked into the middle and waved his hand through a shaft of light. It shone straight through his hand in a strangely warm way, but if he focused enough on his own form, he saw the light ripple slightly, like a raindrop on a still puddle. It was almost mesmerising to watch, and it made Merlin wonder about what else he could do if he focused enough. He turned to a small pile of leaves and outstretched his hand. "Forberne" The leaves rustled in a light wind, but there were no flames. Merlin sighed and let his hand drop. He had clearly become visible to Gaius back in his chambers, and Gwen had heard him, but hadn't seen him. Did that mean only certain people could see him, or could he make himself visible and invisible at will?

Gaius sat on his bed, rubbing his tired eyes as he watched the door. The message had been sent to Hunith three days ago, so she should be arriving soon. After a few minutes he sighed and began making a herbal remedy for indigestion, just so that he had something to do. As he waited for the water to boil, and crushed the correct herbs, his thoughts drifted back to what had happened yesterday evening. Merlin's ghost, he was sure it was, seemed so real. He had backed up, and pushed him away, when he should have been gentler. Ghosts were omens, but Merlin's ghost had seemed so detached, so confused and sad. He had moved in a different way to most ghosts, as if he was still connected to life and not just lost souls drifting from place to place. He sighed and concentrated on the remedy, looking up at the door every few minutes, half expecting to see Hunith standing there, half expecting to see Merlin. It still didn't feel real, and Gaius was finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that Merlin was gone. But was he really?

Arthur sat cross-legged on his bed, head in his hands. His dream still playing on his mind, and the pile of uncleaned armour serving as a reminder of Merlin's absence. Arthur had realised his feelings for Merlin way too late. He missed his manservant more than he could bear, and still half expected to see him standing in the doorway or wandering the castle. It felt as if part of Camelot had been ripped out, leaving a hollow shell that looked like Camelot but wasn't Camelot, not really. Of course, life went on, and the daily business still kept him busy. Servants and knights bustled about the castle and in the village peasants worked and lived, bustling about their daily lives. Arthur sighed and went to the window, needing some air.

The sun had gone in behind a dark looking cloud and the first of the spring showers started to fall in a dreary drizzle. Arthur sighed; the rain seemed to reflect his mood. Slowly, the drizzle picked up speed and was soon falling in a constant downpour, making a static noise as thousands of droplets of water plummeted from the sky and hammered the ground. Arthur found it calming, and stuck his hand out to catch some of the moisture. It was cold and stung his hand, but Arthur was grateful he could feel it, could see it. Soon, a rich earthy, heady scent came into the air and Arthur breathed it in, and smiled. It was one of his favourite smells and seemed to calm him, but inside he was still hollow and empty. His stomach rumbled, but he wasn't hungry. To stem the uncomfortable feeling, Arthur grabbed a piece of bread from the tray that had been left for him that morning. He chewed and swallowed, but didn't taste. Once he had finished, Arthur wandered over to the table, where his armour and sword lay, still uncleaned. A servant had offered but Arthur declined, the armour was a stark reminder of Merlin's absence but it was something he wanted to do himself. He picked up the sword and weighed it in his hand. It felt heavier and colder, but it somehow gave him a warm feeling. Gently, Arthur set it down, picked up the clothes that had been left folded next to the armour and got dressed.

Afternoon slowly merged into evening, and Merlin was still in his clearing. He had managed to make the pile of leaves move, and with a lot of focusing had managed to light them into a small fire. He now felt drained completely and drifted back towards the castle. The sky overhead had darkened into a dreary grey and another downpour had started. The droplets drenched everything and made a light pattering sound against the leaves and woody ground. Somewhere nearby an animal called, and the sound echoed amongst the trees. It called again and Merlin recognised it as fox. He smiled at the life unfolding all around him, but felt sad that he was no longer a part of it. The castle came into view and Merlin looked up at the looming castle, remembering the first time he saw it, when he was so oblivious to the destiny that had rested upon his shoulders, the destiny that had got him here. He sighed inwardly and drifted through the gates, unseen by the soggy guards. He was never going to get used to that, he thought. Nearing the courtyard, Merlin heard Arthur shouting. Curious, he drifted in that direction and came to a stop by the covered walkway. Arthur was in the centre of the courtyard, hair plastered to his head by the rain. He swung his sword in fighting move after fighting move, the blade catching the light, eerily reminding Merlin of the dagger that had killed him, the dagger that was meant for Arthur. Merlin watched for a while, marvelling at the skill with which Arthur swung the sword, repeatedly cutting and slicing at his imaginary opponent. After several minutes, he stopped and let the sword drop and it hang limp in his hand. He looked at the floor, panting heavily and water droplets clinging to his hair and running down his face. Merlin turned to leave, but Arthur's voice, hoarse from shouting took him by surprise.

"Merlin?"

Merlin slowly turned back around. Arthur was staring right at the spot where he was standing, the same look of fear and recognition in his eyes that Merlin had seen in Gaius, but a look of sadness and confusion was also mixed in.

"A…Arthur? Can you…see me?" Merlin moved closer, and Arthur stayed where he was, but didn't say anything. "Arthur?" Merlin raised a hand and Arthur tentatively outstretched his hand. Merlin reached out his own and touched Arthur's. A jolt of energy seemed to jump between them and Merlin pulled his hand away. He looked at Arthur and smiled.

"Merlin? Can you…hear me?" Arthur's eyes were bright with fear. Merlin nodded and outstretched his hand again. Arthur hesitantly reached out and their hands met, and Merlin's glided through Arthur's solid flesh, sending an ice cold shiver dancing up the prince's arm. Merlin kept his hand there.

"Can you hear me now?" Merlin asked, hopeful but not expectant of a reply.

"Merlin? I can hear you!" Arthur's eyes were bright, brimming with tears. Merlin took his hand away and tried to hug Arthur, but ended up falling straight through the prince, sending a hot wave through Merlin, and a cold shudder through Arthur. Merlin turned, an apologetic look on his face. Suddenly, he felt very weak, and knew he was running out of energy to be visible for much longer. "No, don't go!" Arthur sounded pleading, and it sent a wave of guilt washing through him.

Merlin looked deep into the prince's deep blue eyes. "I'm always with you" He reassured him, unsure if his words were heard. With a strange sensation, he let himself dissolve from view.

Arthur stood in the rain, letting it hammer relentlessly onto him, the droplets running down his face, and mingling with the hot tears that stung his eyes and spilled down his cheeks. Arthur threw the sword to the ground with a harsh, metallic clatter and sat on the floor, not caring about the wet, and curled into a ball. He shook with silent sobs that soon escalated into gut wrenching ones that echoed in the sodden courtyard. After a few minutes, a knight came out of the main building, helped Arthur to his feet and ushered him inside.

Arthur's sword lay cold and wet, a puddle of rainwater forming around it. Merlin watched the spot where Arthur had been, turned and drifted away.

"Hunith, I'm so, so sorry." Gaius' eyes were brimming with tears as Merlin's mother sat opposite him at the rickety table, a hot cup of herbal tea sitting in front of her. She looked at Gaius with a tear stained face.

"H…how?"

"He protected Arthur, leapt in front of a dagger, thrown to kill Arthur." Gaius' voice trembled as he relived the moment the dagger hit.

Hunith looked down at her tea. "Did he suffer?"

Gaius paused, unsure of what to say, "No, he died in the company of his friends, and I made sure he felt no pain." Tears came to Gaius' eyes as he thought back to seeing Merlin, so fragile in Arthur's arms, just slipping away.

"They, Merlin and Arthur, they were close?"

"As close as prince and manservant could get." He sighed. "Two sides of the same coin."

"I sent him here because I thought he would be safe." Hunith's voice was trembling and Gaius could see that she was close to tears. He moved round and put his arm around her.

"It's not your fault."

"I never thought…I didn't want it to be like this." Hunith couldn't hold the sobs anymore and let it out, sobbing as Gaius gently hugged her, rubbing her back and comforting her. After a few minutes, Hunith stopped sobbing and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Sorry."

"It's okay." Gaius stood up. "It's late; you've travelled a long way. You should get some sleep." He sighed. "I'll sleep in Merlin's room, you can have my bed. Would you like me to make you a sleeping draught?"

Hunith wandered over to Gaius' bed, refusing to look at the sheet which was still covering Merlin's body, it was still waiting to be taken to crypt. "No, thank you, Gaius, for everything." Hunith lay down on the bed, closed her eyes and almost immediately fell into a light sleep.

Merlin was standing in Arthur's room, watching as the prince slept on top of the covers, tossing and turning in his seep, face contorted into painful expressions. "No! Merlin!" He cried out and rolled over. "Merlin!" This time it was clearer, and Arthur sat up. Groggily, he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. He curled his legs up under his chin, hugged his knees and sobbed. Merlin drifted over and stood by the bed. He focused on his own form, and felt the tingle that signalled that he was visible. Arthur looked up with tear stained eyes, "Merlin?"

Merlin smiled sadly and gave a half hearted wave. "Arthur, I can't…"

"Don't leave again." There was something pleading in his voice, he was lonely and hollow.

"Can you hear me?"

Arthur nodded. "Just, but when you go I can't."

"I don't have enough energy. I wish I did but…" Merlin could feel himself weakening, his form dissolving again. With a huge push of energy he kept himself projected.

Arthur watched, full of sadness and fascination as Merlin's transparent, ghostly form rippled as he moved, shifting and reforming, and a ripple of invisibility seemed to pass through him as he pushed himself to stay with him.

"Merlin?"

"Yes?"

"I miss you."

"I miss you too" Merlin reached out a hand and touched Arthur's lightly. Arthur shuddered, and that electric feeling buzzed through the both of them. Merlin smiled again sadly, and gradually became invisible once more

. Arthur was still watching the place where Merlin was standing, tears pouring down his cheeks. "I love you, Merlin" he said it softly, then lay back down and curled up to sleep.

Merlin sighed, he needed help, needed guidance. He quickly drifted through the castle and stood at the top of the stairs that lead down to the cave, and the dragon that was secured there. After a moment's hesitation, he drifted down them, and was soon standing on the smooth rock platform, facing the empty, yawning cavernous space.

"Hello?" He called, not expecting a reply. After several minutes, the clanking of the huge chain that secured the dragon could be heard and soon the great creature was settling itself in front of Merlin.

He peered at him with his orb-like eyes. "Young warlock, what happened?"

Merlin was a little taken aback that the dragon could see him. "You can see me?"

"And hear you, yes. Dragons have always been able to converse with spirits. Tell me, what happened, how did you become what you are?"

"I fulfilled my destiny, took a dagger that was meant for Arthur."

The dragon chuckled, a musical sound that echoed around the cavern. "A valiant act, but it was not your destiny. You are not in Avalon, and Arthur is not yet king."

"Then what am I here for?"

"You and Arthur are linked, bound together as one. He is the only one who can return you to Camelot."

"What does that mean?"

"You need him, young warlock, and he needs you. Together you must figure it out, and the prince must understand magic, as it is the only thing that will return you."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"Ah, so many questions I cannot answer. Arthur is the key." With that the dragon unfolded his wings, and with a single flap launched himself away.

"Great, another impossible-sounding-but-yet-obviously-simple riddle. Thanks for that."

"You're welcome!" The dragon's voice sounded from somewhere far off in the cavern, followed by another musical chuckle. Merlin sighed and left, pondering what the dragon had said, and how he was supposed to explain it to Arthur.