chapter5

Merlins horse walked in the middle of the knights. He was quiet as the knights all joked with each other. Merlin stared down at his palm where he held Arthurs gift. Arthurs family seal.

But something didn't feel right.

Why did arthur say 'Come back save to me'? Merlin was just going on a small trip. Right? It wasn't like he was going on a dangerous adventure or anything.

It seemed like everyone but he knew where he was going and he had to know why.

"Where is this trip taking us?" He asked the knights.

"Don't worry, you highness. The King had strict orders to keep you far away as possible from the kindom." One answered.

"Why?" He asked.

The knight turned to him. "To keep you away from danger."

Merlin shook his head. "Danger." He repeated. "I'm in more danger out here than I am in the castle."

"Not according to the King and Queen."

Merlins brows narrowed. "What aren't they telling me?"

Just then there was an explosion a few feet in front of them. Merlins horse got on it's back legs startled and the dark haired prince ended up falling backwards and onto the ground.

Merlin hissed as his head made contact with the dirt, which wasn't at all soft. He grit his teeth and lifted his head. The young princes eyes widen as he saw a man with dark hair that had his palms out in front of him.

But that wasn't what scared the young prince. It was the fact that the knights were all flying through the air. When all the men were out of sight, the man turned to Merlin.

"We finally meet, my love."

Merlins eyes widen.

XOXOXOXO

Arthur was in the library looking through every single book he could find. And he was really starting to annoy the librarian with all the books he left around.

Arthur sighed and shut another book. Then grabbed another and opened it. The prince sighed again and turned the page. Then another, then another. He was about to turn the page again, but his eyes caught something. He read the passage.

"That has to be it." He whispered. Then he ran out the library.

XOXOXOXO

"I think I found it!" Arthur yelled as he ran into the throne room.

"Found what, Arthur?" His mother asked.

The young prince walked up to Merlins parents. He held the book out to the Queen.

"Is this him?" He asked.

The Queens eyes trailed from Arthurs face to the book. She brought her hand to her mouth and gasped.

"Thats him!" The Queen yelled.

"What is it?" The King asked as he stared at the picture.

Arthur shook his head. "Not 'it'. 'Him'." When boths Kings and both Queens stared confused, Arthur explained.

"It says that he's a man made with greed. He's created when a person seeks power. He preys on the innocent. On people... unselfish. He tells them he would help. Only... he would really be helping himself. Whatever the person wanted, the man would be sure to want something more valuable."

"So, when I asked to conceive..." The Queen said. "He knew Merlin was to be born?"

Arthur nodded. "He wanted the child for himself for a reson. He wants-" Just before he could finish, the door burst open.

"You majestys!" The man yelled as he ran up to the thrones, holding a bleeding arm.

The Queens eyes widen as she realized it was one of the knights that had been with Merlin.

"I'm sorry your majestys." The knight said through frighten eyes.

Arthur dropped the book he was carrying and ran out of the room.

XOXOXOXO

It was dark, yet the lake shined beautiful. Three tiny animals all walked closer to the water as they watched an unfamilar black bird with blue eyes. Amongst these curious animals was a small white bunny. To this tiny little creature, this bird seemed... familar.

The small animals all stopped when they heard whistleing. They watched as a man with dark hair and dark eyes walked up to the water. The animal in the water turned it's head away from the man.

"Oh. Don't be like that, love. There's a reson I came to visit this time of night." The man turned his gaze to the sky. "See that beautiful moon? It has no beauty compared to you."

The animal looked up to the sky. It blinked once then turned back to the water. The black swans blue eyes widen when it saw the water around him turning gold.

It moved it's tiny feet under the water as it felt it's toes unforming to something much more familiar and comfortable. The swan shut it's eyes as it felt a slight tingle around it's midsection.

The small animals stared as the black swan turned into...

A person?

Merlin blinked as he stood in the water. He looked down and saw that his bare feet could not be seeing in the water.

"It's now midnight, my love. You are a young man."

Merlins eyes trailed up from the water to the man, who was digging in a small money bag.

The man pulled out his hand. "And a beauty such as yourself should always have a present to celebrate his coming of age." He held out his hand to Merlin.

The young princes brows narrowed. "I don't want anything from you." Merlin began to walk out of the water. When he reached the corner of the water, the man was quick to slip in front of him.

Merlin stopped before he could get any closer to the man.

"Where are you going, darling?"

"Home." Merlin growled. He scooted to the side and continued walking.

"Oh. But you're forgetting one thing. My spell will back when the moon leaves the lake." The man turned to see Merlins reaction.

Merlin stopped walking and turned to the man. "What?" He whispered.

The man smiled dark. "Doesn't matter where you are, my little trinket." As he still carried that smile, he walked closer to the prince. "Here's the tricky part. Once you turn back into a swan... if you want to turn back into a human, you'll have to be on the lake on the next moonlight."

Merlin stared as he tried to keep his eyes from watering. He shook his head. "What do you want?"

The man smiled just as dark as eariler. "I want to be by our side when you rule your kingdom."

Merlins brows narrowed. "Never!" He turned again and began walking again.

"I wonder what young Prince Arthur would think when he sees what you've become."

Merlin froze. He stared into the distance as he couldn't stop the tears from forming at the thought of Arthur laughing at him as a swan.

"The young Pendragon would surley have a good laugh. Wouldn't he, love?"

Merlin lowered his head. He sniffled as he tried to silence his sob.

XOXOXOXO

Arthur galloped on his horse to the place where the knight said they were ambushed. Arthur took long deep breaths as he looked around the smoking woods.

The prince wiped his eyes as he thought about where Merlin could have been taken. He blinked, and thats when something caught his attention.

Arthur walked up to the shiny thing on the ground. He bend down and picked up the round and shiny crystal with a golden dragon on it. He shut his palm as he thought of Merlin carrying his family seal around as a symbol of their love.

"I'll find you. I promise. And when I do, i'll give you what you always wanted. I'll prove my love."

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