Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

AN: An early update from me cause you guys have been awesome, thank you all who took the time to read this little story and leave me a review or a PM, it means a lot. Warning for dark!Merlin in this chapter so if that's not your thing you might want to skip this part. Other than that hope you enjoy the update!

-oo-

Chapter 5

The horses were moving like the wind. Its riders held on for dear life. You could clearly see the exhaustion on their faces. Merlin knew that they would not be able to go for much longer. His shoulders ached and his head was pierced with a mind numbing pain. Still, he didn't stop because Arthur was before him ridding like a madman.

Merlin turned to cast a glance towards Gwaine who had also grown quiet in the last part of their journey. It looked like the exhaustion finally caught up with him and he was just hoping to make it to their destination. He decided to finally acknowledge that they could not go any further otherwise they would be a sitting duck for anyone who decides to attack them. They needed to rest.

"Arthur! We have to stop."

Arthur only looked back towards them and said, "We need to ride on, if we are caught in the swamp in the evening we may be in for a hell of a time."

Merlin finally looked around him, gathering his surroundings because for the most part of their road trip he was only half paying attention, mostly just trying not to fall asleep on the horse as that would lead to a bigger problem of him dying of a broken everything because he fell off of a horse.

Now he noticed the obvious humidity that somehow crept in despite the cold weather. The view of the sun was obscured by the mountains far away and he could only see the last rays as they lit up the swamps. He finally noticed that the horses were moving on the last part of the solid ground before they were in the muddy fields of the swamp.

He could see the crows as they flew over the vast place probably circling around another dead body somewhere in need to feed. Still, his hands ached from holding the rains and he bet the others felt the same. He really didn't believe that they could make it any further from here. Bad luck has caught up to them.

"Guys I can't ride anymore. I think my whole body has gone numb, I can't feel my hands."

He turned towards Gwaine who had a miserable look on his face and Merlin knew that he felt bad, but he knew how much this all had put a strain on him. Merlin and Arthur at least slept somewhat during their 'unconscious moment' after the griffin but Gwaine probably kept watch so he didn't sleep at all.

Merlin greeted his teeth for he knew they had to stop. Had to risk it. Soon they saw the last rays of the sun extinguish and darkness set in. They had to stop. Except Arthur was pushing on.

"Arthur, we have to stop. We can't move anymore and if we tire ourselves needlessly we will be an easy prey. At least if we make camp, the fire and the three of us rested a bit could prove harder to kill."

Arthur slowed his horse and Merlin could see how much he wanted to continue but sadly not all of them were Arthur and used to this kind of break neck pace so they needed rest.

"I feel like I am going to regret this," he started before adding "Fine, but at the first thing we do when sun shows up is go back in the saddle and out of here."

Before he even finished his sentence Gwaine was already off his horse and on the ground taking the rains and leading the horse towards a giant tree.

"Over there, maybe we can make shelter in the hollow of that tree. Give us some cover."

The mud squeaked beneath his boots as he moved towards it and Merlin and Arthur did the same. By the time they made it there the only thing lighting up the darkness was the glow from the moon. In the next moment Gwaine was inside the tree and collapsed on the ground to sleep. Not a sound was heard from him.

Merlin felt guilty for pushing so hard but he knew that when Arthur set his mind on something there was no dissuading him.

Merlin went to sit down and used his magic to start a fire. Arthur soon joined him.

"I don't like this Merlin. It isn't safe here."

Like Merlin didn't know that. The swamps were a dangerous place. Only mad men would thread in it during night and more so with moon up so high. He could feel that they were being watched but tried to remain calm.

In the swamps all sorts of creatures lived, from ghouls, imps, vampires, trolls and cyclops to giant spiders and centipedes. Not a good place to spend the night.

"Hm."

Merlin could say much more than that but was too busy listening and trying to understand where the threat would come from. Arthur seemed to realize it and he also looked around the swamp trying to peer into the darkness.

"Try to get some rest Merlin, I'll keep watch."

Merlin was about to argue but then what good would that do. He knew the difference between a command and a suggestion when it came to him. So he made himself comfortable and tried to fall asleep which was easier said than done considering the hard surface.

How degrading for a lady to be sleeping in this kind of a place.

Morgana just stop fidgeting so much, I am trying to sleep.

Hm, this could work. Merlin turn around.

Wait what?... I am not your pillow.

I am also not a lady so I will make do with what I have.

Really?

You know for someone so lean you are awfully comfortable.

Thanks I guess.

Goodnight Merlin.

Get some rest Morgana.

He stirred awake and realized that more sleep won't be coming to him, not when she was on his mind. Which reminded him he hasn't slept in ages. Placing a hand behind his head he stared at the night sky trying to just clear his head a bit.

"Still can't sleep Merlin."

Merlin glanced and saw Arthur by the fire sitting with his sword leaned in front of him.

"No."

Arthur only stared into the night before answering.

"Me neither."

Merlin hummed and continued to look at the sky. It was a clear night which was weird for this terrain. Usually it was fog or rain. Soon he startled when he heard howling from nearby. He quickly jumped up, his blade in front of him as Arthur slowly looked towards him, not giving away anything.

"We were being watched since we set foot into the swamps. Now they are circling their pray."

Merlin looked towards the tall grass and could see the bright illuminated eyes of a wolf. Soon those eyes were joined by a couple more and then some. Merlin's unease grew with every passing moment. Was it too much to ask that it all went well, no fuss for once.

Soon the growling started and that stirred Gwaine, but this one had an interesting response.

"...is still too early. I wanna play with the ponies..."

Merlin just looked confused and Arthur got up and kicked him in the foot.

"Get up, we have company."

As Gwaine rubbed sleep from his eyes the growling intensified as the howling came to join the little party. An eerie atmosphere was before them. Gwaine went to his sword and the three of them stood around the fire, alert and ready.

"How many?"

Arthur only placed his sword to the ground, the tip touching the mud as he made a slow circle, watching the eyes of the wolves close on the movement and growl.

"Dozen, a full pack of them."

Merlin also concluded the same but wondered where the alpha was, he still had doubts that he was present among them. They had more urgent matters to attend.

"The fire won't keep them back for much longer. They are hungry."

Arthur stopped his sword movement and Gwaine did the same.

"Some incentive for them to back off Merlin."

He knew what he meant. Merlin concentrated and felt the magic roar from his fingers as he placed a spell that had Arthur and Gwaine swords heat up until the steal from the blade was red hot.

"Nice." said Gwaine as he felt the heat from his sword.

The wolves were relentless as they slowly started to emerge into the light, giant and black with salivating mouths. This was not going to be easy. The first one attacked while others testily watched what they would do. Arthur gave them no quarter as he sliced through the animal after he dodged his lunge.

"Come on, I want to do it as well. Come at me."

It might not have been the right thing to say at the time as in the next moment all hell broke loose.

The pack immerged no longer willing to test them out and after Arthur sliced their friend they looked about ready to tear them to pieces. With that they came at them and Arthur and Gwaine were slicing, dodging and rolling away. Four came at Merlin while others busied themselves with Arthur and Gwaine and Merlin had had enough of this.

Irritated by the lack of sleep, frustrated over not knowing what Morgana truly did and the fact they keep running themselves ragged to find people who didn't want to be found he let it all out. With an almost dragon like roar he let the magic speak through him. He put the blade in its sheath and extended both of his arms towards the oncoming wolves and in the next moment the fires of hell came from his fingers.

The animals squealed and whined but couldn't get away from it and Merlin didn't relent calling out more power as it started to burn away the darkness and the covers of the tall grass. The other wolves that were attacking Arthur and Gwaine fled the moment they saw this monster in front of them. He didn't let up, not until he heard Arthur shouting.

"Merlin stop! You'll burn everything!"

Like that, the fire was gone, his hand almost enveloped in the current of the powerful outrage. He saw Gwaine looking at him like he was someone else and he was once more reminded of his mother's face. It hurt. His golden eyes swept over Arthur who was already wiping the blood from his sword and looking over the dead wolves. It was a massacre.

"I'll take from them what we can carry, meat and fangs. They sell well. Others I will leave in the swamp. Nobody should see this."

With that he left and Merlin felt the regret and rage still bubbling beneath the surface. He still couldn't control it.

You have an infinite source for your magic Merlin. Unlike me, I have studied and learned. Know what I possess and can use it to its fullest. Could defeat you with little problems now. Your magic is you, beautiful in its turmoil and despair. Your feelings rule your magic, so to control the magic you have to control yourself.

I will try Morgana.

Let us hope you don't turn us into ashes. Unintentionally, of course.

"Where did you drift off Merlin?"

He looked at Gwaine who still had a look of discomfort on his face.

"Mhm, nowhere important."

Gwaine scratched his head and looked at the mess around him and then back at Merlin.

"That was quite an upgrade from lighting camp fires."

"Yeah-"

With that both of them stood awkwardly, not knowing what to say until Arthur came by with wolf pelt on his shoulder.

"Yes he is freakishly strong and still a klutz and an idiot. There it is, the truth is out there. He's a warlock born with magic blah, blah, blah. Get over it. Everyone has a sob story."

He tossed the pelt at them and motioned for the other two.

"Take that and carry the other two. We will make some coin at least. With this and the griffin's head. Now you ladies have talked it out enough. We are losing daylight so let's move."

With that he stumped to his horse and started preparing to resume their journey. Merlin really didn't know what else to say with Gwaine looking even more confused than he already was and Arthur ignorant of the whole incident but before he could give in to self-pity completely he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"You're alright Merlin."

Merlin swallowed and nodded, afraid that if he said anything it would ruin the impression and the opinion Gwaine already came to.

"Come on, let's go."

With that they rode of from the swamp with nothing but the smell of burnt flesh following them for miles.

Against my better judgment. You are alright Merlin.

Morgana?

You will join me and my brother. Arthur don't be so grumpy say hi.

Hi.

There, no harm done. The three of us are going to have some awesome adventures together.

It looked like it was a start of a beautiful friendship, he just hoped it doesn't end like the last.

-oo—

AN: There you have it, I was a little on the fence about Merlin in this chapter but as this is an AU and his backstory is a lot different than on the show I don't think he's too OC. Also virtual cookies to any of you who can guess which game/book series inspired this story :)