AN: Just a quick thanks to all those who showed their support by reading, favoring, following or reviewing. You guys are the best. Moving on...

Chapter 10

A sudden knock had him awaken from a pleasant dream. He didn't have many of those these days. The smell of leather made him realize it was a jacket that has landed on his face.

"Rise and shine lovebirds."

Oh yes Gwaine's chipper voice in the morning is just how to get ones day started. Merlin noticed a movement against his side and saw that Morgana didn't have any intention on getting up. He glared at Gwaine and tried to speak as low as he could so he wouldn't wake her up.

"Can't you just for once mind your own things Gwaine?"

The man in question continued to gather his gear, or what he managed to steal while they escaped. It made him remember that he still didn't have his blade and the unease grew with it. He had Morgana back which distracted him for a bit from the fact that they were in actual peril here.

"You might want to get up because Arthur said he spotted Camelot riders heading in this direction. I know you want to bask in your happiness but let me tell you mate, there is a place and time for it and this isn't it."

Merlin finally looked around and noticed that Arthur wasn't there. He quickly turned to Gwaine.

"I need a moment here so if you could leave-"

A smug smile on the addressed man's face told him all about how he would leave them alone. His eyes glowed and Gwaine was tossed a couple of feet back.

"Am I understood?"

Gwaine only nodded his head, not even looking upset about it.

"Look who decided to have some guts to step up. Good for you Merlin." he said before walking away.

Merlin didn't bother with making sure he was presentable as he was already trying to get his trousers and the shirt on at the same time.

"I always knew you were a secret clown but really Merlin there is no one here that is impressed with your skills."

He looked through the hole of his shirt to see that Morgana was now sitting up with the blanket around her shoulders and a teasing smile on her face. His words came muffled by his current predicament.

"Yes well there is always room for practice. My stumbling skills are honed with years of training."

Finally managing to get his shirt on he went to pick up the leather jacket and his overcoat that had some new holes in it since their last battle. All little souvenirs, ready to tell the tale.

"Sorry to cut this short but we've got company."

Morgana was already moving, her dress was found and she was getting dressed. Merlin on the other hand just stopped for a moment to admire the perfection that she was, once again wondering why she decided to give him a chance in the first place. She finished dressing before turning to look over her shoulder, a knowing smile on her face.

"Help me tie the knots."

He knew she could probably use her magic and do it herself but who was he to deny her anything in this moment. As his fingers traced the knots and he tried to focus on what he was doing Morgana was taking her supplies and arranging them for travel. There was not much there and he didn't know what most of those things were so he decided not to ask.

"We really didn't pick the right time for our reunion."

He tied every string with care, careful not to make it too tight; knowing her discomfort for the noble's way of wearing the dresses so tight their eyes would pop out.

"Morgana, one thing I learned is that there will never be the right time. We just have to make the most of it."

She nodded and he could feel her relax under his touch.

"You are probably right. No regrets?"

He finished with the tying of her dress and turned her to face him. He needed her not to have any doubts about what he said. She, for such a strong woman, was rather timid to face him and he would have none of it. Taking her chin under his fingertips he felt her gaze meet his.

"No regrets."

Her smile was infectious and if they were in a more appropriate place there would be some time for them but this way all he managed to do was lean towards her for a quick brush of her lips and he was off. Because otherwise he would lose what little control he had.

"Good. Otherwise I would have to punish you Merlin."

He only glanced her way as he tied his boots.

"Who knows maybe I would've liked it."

She was already placing her hood over and a laugh escaped her. He missed that.

"You definitely would."

Before he could say anything else, Gwaine came back with Arthur in tow.

"How absolutely wonderful for you both, but now my friends it is time for us to high tail it from this place."

They raced to their horses and were off as they heard the approaching march. Merlin heard the shouts behind him as they rode out, but wasn't willing to stop and look around. He pulled Morgana's hands tighter around himself as he held the reigns and the horse speed away.

The forest was narrow but they made their way, being a small group, and he knew that those who followed would have trouble keeping up with them.

Arthur was the first one to break the forest and then he stopped abruptly making Gwaine almost crash into him but he managed to stir his horse away in the last moment.

"Arthur what in the bloody hell are you doing?"

That was all he said before he looked ahead. Soon Merlin and Morgana came to join them, the clamor of those behind them was distant and a long way away. They were safe at least from the dangers behind them.

Before them stood a bridge. By standing he meant hanging, and he understood Arthur's hesitance because it looked very unsafe and probably was not made for horses to cross.

"We can't turn back, we have to cross."

"What, are you insane, that bridge could hardly hold a baby let alone us!"

Merlin also doubted they would make it, but they also weren't in shape to fight all those men behind them. What could they possibly do?

"Merlin and I can use our magic to hold the bridge while we cross."

Arthur and Gwaine looked at her with hesitance and he knew that was their only way over. The problem was that he still had problems controlling his magic. The power was not the problem, he had it in spades but when you can't properly channel it, it becomes useless and destructive.

He felt her reassuring presence next to him and could almost hear her in his head.

Just like we practiced Merlin. Chanel it slowly, calm mind and a steady breath.

He clasped her one hand that was around him and extended the other towards the one side of the bridge.

"I'll take the far side Morgana, you hold the foundation here."

She nodded next to him, her eyes already glowing as she concentrated.

"Let's move- steadily."

He guided the horse towards the bridge and slowly one foot over the other they started to cross.

"Arthur, Gwaine follow us!"

The cold breeze from the water bellow blew in his face but he focused only on the warmth of her hand in his and his magic slowly leaving him.

Just hold onto something familiar and don't rush. Magic is most effective when guided and targeted at a certain place. So do it slowly and concentrate only on the simple things, don't overcomplicate it.

They were almost across when the clamors became lauder and he knew that the soldiers were fast approaching. He could feel Morgana's harsh breath and he knew that this magic drain must be hard on her. That was what made him special.

You are magic Merlin.

He let his clasped hand channel magic into her and he could hear her surprised gasp. Things have changed - he was no longer just a clueless boy who thought that magic was there like a curse, draining every fiber of his being. No, he had trained months on end to just be a little better and have a small edge over his opponents.

When they passed over he felt the cold sweat running along his back, but he didn't give up as he watched Arthur and Gwaine step off the bridge just in time to see the others come at the other side and halt their horses. They didn't stop to think too much, seeing as they had made it over so they hopped off of their horses and watched the soldier try the same thing as them.

"No you won't."

Morgana next to him used her magic to blow the soldier back to the other side and shouted at him.

"Now Merlin!"

He knew what he had to do. With a vicious outpour of his magic he shouted as it violently tore through him and incinerated the entire bridge.

"Woah."

He heard Gwaine behind him but he didn't let up until the entire bridge was nothing but ashes. Arthur was already on his horse and he followed suit. He was suddenly exhausted but he didn't let it show. They needed to get to safety first. As they turned to go they were met with a couple of cloaked figures watching them.

They looked like druids to him, but he couldn't be sure.

"Emrys."

That one word was enough to confirm his doubts. Yes, they were druids and that meant trouble. As much as he was revered by them he knew that they also wouldn't stop until he was at their side, fighting for their cause. He was tired and he knew that Morgana was probably not at her best either but they needed to make it. They needed to hold out.

"What do you want?" Arthur asked, a stiff stance his hand at the sword ready. Gwaine was in the same position, but he knew they were in trouble if they stumbled on the group of talented sorcerers.

"We want what we always do. Emrys."

Arthur almost growled at their answer. He never liked riddles.

"Well get on with it, there is no Emrys here and how about you people just march on because I am definitely not in the mood to deal with you."

"Yeah what he said. Off you go gents."

What they said held little importance to the four sorcerers before him, but among them all the smaller one held a strange aura around him.

"It looks like we don't have a choice."

Morgana next to him pulled out a sword and glanced at him.

"Merlin?"

They were in a tight spot. It will be hard to defeat them if not for some surprises in store. They do not know Morgana has magic, but they can probably sense that there are two individuals that do. Him, they probably recognized and he needed to make the first step for them to make it out. He needed to get to that young sorcerer and make them back off.

It didn't sit well with him, too many ifs. The bottom line was they needed to risk it. Druids did not take kindly to outsiders so they needed to be quick about it.

He looked at Morgana and said, "On my mark, full on."

She gripped her sword in response and readied herself. He called out on his magic; his eyes glowed as the sweat gathered on his forehead. He was fatigued but needed to do this for them to have any chance of getting out of here. The druids stepped back in surprise and that was his cue.

"Now!"

With that he sent a powerful wave at them as the other three rushed at the druids. The said druids drew their weapons, all kinds of wear spears and swords but he didn't have time to dwell on it. Before they could even call out a spell he blasted them away, his hand trembling as he ran towards the youngest druid. His piercing blue eyes put Merlin on edge but he had no time to worry.

He was the only one not fazed by his attack and could see he was the most powerful amongst them and the only thing that he lacked was experience, combat experience which could give them an upper hand.

Morgana on the other hand had blocked one spell and was already discarding her magic shied and descending upon the poor victim. The fear was gone in her eyes, only steel determination as she provided magical assistance to Arthur and Gwaine and attacked with her sword. Truly magnificent she was.

He on the other hand faced of the young druid who also didn't possess a weapon. This time he needed to do it right or they were as good as dead. As the boys eyes flared into gold he called out on all his magic to push him down and immobilize him in some way.

He was a moment too late and the druids spell went through on one side and his shoulder was pulled back from the force of it. Luckily his spell also managed to get through and the boy, being the small frame was propelled back onto his back. He felt the searing pain in his shoulder but continued to run towards him.

He was surprised when the boy extended his hand a shock ripped his shoulder out of its socket but he slid toward the boy anyways all the while shouting towards Morgana.

"Morgana, now!"

She turned mid strike towards him and quickly pulled her blade from her belt and tossed it at him. He really hoped he was right about this. He stretched out his hand and used his reaming magic to pull the blade into his hand and before the boy could blink he was behind him, holding the blade to his throat.

"Call them off!"

He could see Arthur holding his own and Gwaine mostly just being tossed around like a rag doll, but that still didn't matter because they all lived thanks to Morgana's efforts, because she was fighting them both all the while keeping her own assailant busy.

He placed the blade even closer and saw a small trickle of blood run down the blade.

"Call them off, or I will kill you and finish them off."

He had to bluff, he could hardly keep his eyes open from all the pain and exhaustion but he needed to see this through. Morgana looked towards him worried about his state, but it took that moment to get unnecessary slice on the upper hand and in her anger she took the man's arm clean off with her swift strike.

"See, do you want them all to lose more limbs and die for nothing. Stop them or I will burn their bodies until nothing but ashes remain just like that bridge!"

The boy was silent before saying.

"Never figured you for a cruel man Emrys. Enough!"

The others stopped and everyone just held their weapons at the ready, nobody was ready to abandon them.

He pulled the boy to the standing position and addressed the others.

"You will leave and not look back."

"But what about Mordred? You let him go and we leave." one said.

It is not that he didn't believe them. It is that he didn't believe them.

"No, he goes free a day later. Once we are safe."

The druids wanted to argue but Mordred, as he was apparently called, said "Enough, do as he says and I will return later. Do not worry."

They still weren't convinced until he spoke again.

"Now! All of you, don't make me repeat myself."

In the next moment the druids left. Morgana ran to his side clearly worried but before she came a step closer he took the blade from Mordred's throat turned the handle and hit him on the head so that the boy fell unconscious. He let his body slowly fall to the ground as he fell back to his knees. Everything hurt and he was trying to catch a ragged breath.

Her touch was soft, but it felt like fire to him, so he jerked away only to cry out at his shoulder which was still looking like it was not in place.

"Shh, it's me, you're fine. Just calm down."

He looked around and finally her face came into view, followed by Arthur and Gwaine.

"You caused quite a mess here Merlin, got to hand it to you."

Merlin only looked at Arthur.

"Leave him here-" he said glancing at Mordred, "and we need to leave, get as far away from here as possible."

"Why leave him?"

"Because the druids only left to get more of them, and there are still a couple watching us, so it is best we leave."

Morgana knew he was in no shape to go anywhere but still supported him as he climbed onto the horse, this time she sat in front holding the reigns. He held as best as he could as they slowly rode away.

Arthur led the way with Morgana and him in the middle while Gwaine guarded from the back.

"You know Morgana, you were really something out there."

"Shut it Gwaine, now is not the time."

She held onto his one hand with a vice grip as her other held the reigns. He could hear a tremor in her voice but mostly was lost in the blurred lines that danced before his eyes. The yelp he let out as another wave of pain came on didn't go unnoticed by Morgana. Her hand unconsciously tightened around his.

"Arthur didn't do much this time."

"You weren't much better with your strategy of 'how many times can they toss me around until their magic ran out'."

"Ah don't be like that, I counted at least ten good falls until I saw their heart was not into it."

"Yeah tell that to your bloody face, you idiot. Could've handled yourself better out there Gwaine."

"Please if it weren't for Morgana you'd be the same pulp that I am."

No retort meant that it was finally a given point to Gwaine.

"Haha look I finally won one."

"You will win my sword up your ass unless you both shut up."

"Very demanding of you, I don't think Merlin likes being manhandled in the bedroom, or do you Merlin?"

He tried for most part to follow what they were saying but his mind just couldn't keep up. It was like being underwater where it was hard to take a single breath. He laid his head on Morgana's shoulder as he let the fogginess take over him. He felt her stiffen as she said.

"Don't you dare fall asleep on me. We are near a village here. There I will treat you and everything will be fine."

He coughed up some blood in the meantime as he stared vacantly ahead.

"Everything will be fine."