Heather placed her hands on both sides of Merlin's head.

"Remain motionless for a moment. Try not to think about anything."

Behind them she heard a skeptical sneer. "Arthur, be silent, or do you not have anything better to do?" Heather snapped. Arthur quieted down, but still stirred restlessly. He was nervous. He wanted to know whether the healer would be able to help Merlin.

Heater reached inside him, exploring and searching. Time went by. Arthur thought that it was too long, as they remained motionless.

"Nothing yet?" Lancelot whispered when he walked beside of Arthur. Arthur shook his head in frustration. "Is everything ready?"

"When ever they are." Lancelot nodded toward Heather and Merlin.

"So what is Gwaine's great plan?" Arthur asked.

"I do not like it, but I think that we have no choices because we need to act quickly. And, well, this is the fastest and most direct way." Lancelot even sounded a little angry.

"Would you care to tell me?" Arthur commanded.

"He plans to bring a big skirmish. He intends to put his own skin on the line, and it may well be that he gets himself killed."

Arthur blinked his eyes a moment.

"That's it? Is he an idiot?"

"I think that he is ready to do everything that he can so Merlin can get out of here safely." Lancelot said. "They have become good friends, and Gwaine is really fond of him. "

"Aren't we all?" Arthur muttered. He coughed, troubled when Lancelot looked at him. But Lancelot just flashed a wide smile. Their attention was drawn once again to the duo, when Heather pulled out and dropped her hands. She looked tired.

"It has been made. Or as much as I could do. Now we just have to wait."

Arthur felt a little disappointed. He had been waiting for something even faster, although he knew that things could not rush too much.

"All ready? Merlin, are you okay?" Gwaine had appeared to them again. Arthur noticed that the man was trying to affect the upbeat, but his face still showed concern.

"Yes." Merlin answered.

"Good, now we have to break up. Gwaine? Are you sure? We can ..." Arthur said but Gwaine interrupted him.

"No, let me do this."

"Do what? Gwaine?" Merlin asked worriedly.

"My friend." Gwaine examined the Merlin and slapped on his shoulder. "If we will not see each other again, then ..." Gwaine started but Merlin cut him off.

"You really are going to do something stupid." He sounded upset.

"Merlin. You have to get out of here. I'm only one who can stay." Gwaine said.

"And me." Percival added and everyone looked him. For some reason nobody wanted to begin to argue with him over the matter. Gwaine just smiled to him. "Great. See Merlin. It's going to be alright."

"Maybe I should…" Arthur started but Gwaine shook his head. "No princess. We can't risk your life, you know it." Arthur stared him. So Gwaine had realized his identity.

"I will help as well." Lancelot said. Merlin was not able to say anything. He heard how firm his friends were. He knew that he was a danger to everyone if he stayed. And they should help these people get away, especially the children. Away from the lake, but especially from the slave traders.

"We must hurry." Heather said. "Merlin, be ready to go first."

"No. If I go first, that monster, it can sense me, right? And if I go first I get its attention to others too. I go last. It senses me and everybody can go safely." Merlin reasoned. Heather hated to acknowledge that Merlin could be right.

"Sounds like you Merlin. So, Lancelot, Percival. Follow me, would you?" The three of them separated and started to walk towards the guards.

"Heather?" Merlin asked, although he knew the answer. He didn't even bother to ask the same question at Arthur.

"No, I stay with you Merlin. Giles and Marcus know what to do. They will lead the others away."

She nodded toward the two men who watched them, waiting for their mark. They had gathered the children in one group and nearer the forest border.

"Can you see them?" Arthur asked, his eyes on the three man who spoke with the guards.

"I can easily see auras again." Merlin answered.

"Is that wise?"

"It hardly means anything anymore at this point. And if there is a monster in the lake behind me, I find myself with to much attention."

"Merlin?"

"Yes Arthur?"

"Just, don't go and die today."

They watched Gwaine speak to the guards, then Lancelot said something and Gwaine said something back and they began to argue. Soon they were in the hands of each other's throat, and two guards tried to separate them from each other. Percival was amazingly fast. He hit one of the guards at his side and grabbed the sword. Arthur's eye rose to estimate. He was impressed by the big man's agility. And the raw power which he exploited unhesitatingly. Gwaine and Lancelot were able to easily beat the other two. Arthur watched everyone pay attention to the three fighters. Arthur glanced behind him. The children and Marcus had disappeared.

"If they survive this alive, it'll be a miracle." Arthur said worried and saw the trio rush forward.

Then a shrill whistle echoed through the valley. Arthur slapped his hands over his ears, and fell to his knees. They had forgotten something very important. He glanced with concern at Heather, but she had turned her attention to the lake.

"They should not have ... This is not a good thing." Heather murmured.

"What was that noise?" Merlin asked in agony.

"Rooster whistles. A magical one. It can ... Oh no." Arthur realized.

Suddenly, all eyes locked onto lake. The black water had begun to bubble. Arthur growled. The lake monster was on the move.

"We are too late." Heather whispered. "Whatever happens, do not use magic." She warned Merlin. Merlin heard Gwaine's yelling.

"Run!"

Everybody startled and started to act. But…

Something reached out beneath the surface. Arthur realized that they were tentacles. Dozens, perhaps hundreds of tentacles plunged into the darkening evening. Screaming and crys filled the air as everyone turned away from the lake. But, as Heather had said it was too late. Tentacles grabbed for the escaping people with lightning speed, and began to pull its preys toward the water.

Arthur ran forward and grabbed for a sword that was lying forgotten on the ground. His sword slapped one of the approaching long tentacles. One of them managed lashing him to the side and Arthur reeled back in pain.

Merlin, even though he could see again people's auras around him, he was not able to see the monster's tentacles. Not even when one of them came directly toward him. But Heather saw it. She threw herself front of it and it hit her, sending her flying far away from the beach. She lay unmoving and remained motionless.

"Heather!" Arthur roared. His sword slapped yet another long tentacle, but he didn't noticed as one slithered beside him at his feet.

"Arthur, look out!" Lancelot screamed. The tentacle wrapped around his leg yanking Arthur upside down. The sword fell out of his hand.

"No!" It was Merlin. He heard, terrified, listening to Arthur struggle as he was pulled towards the water. He instinctively gathered his strength, and uttered only one word "æcyrf!" The tentacle fell apart, as if it had been cut in half and the stump pulled back into the lake. Arthur crawled back reaching toward his sword. He looked at Merlin who stood still. Merlin blinked. He had made a mistake. He had used his magic. Even Arthur didn't see it coming. He only saw Merlin being instantly pulled into the water and disappear beneath the surface.