AN: The steady pace of updates is continuing and as I do not want to delay you on your quest for more content all I can say is march on fellow traveler…

Chapter 12

They took their time passing through the small village. Arthur on one side with Gwaine in tow and Morgana on the other close but just not close enough for people to draw conclusions about their relationship.

Merlin remembered she was the same before. Free among the small group they called friends and very stoic and distant among the masses. It used to annoy him to no end, because he just thought she was being ridiculous and now was no different.

"So where can we find this naughty priestess?"

Gwaine as always was the first to break the companionable silence.

"Must you always grace us with you lode comments."

He tipped his hat towards the passing woman all the while glancing to Morgana and responding at her question.

"All part of the charm m' lady."

Arthur snorted at his obvious flirtation.

"Sure, as long as they know you will leave the next morning Sir Sensitive."

Gwaine nodded with a self-satisfied grin.

"Well it is all a part of the mystery my friend."

Arthur only turned to look ahead.

"You are as mysterious as an overgrown cow. Everyone knows its purpose."

"You know when you say things like that it makes me think that you may not like me all that much Arthur."

"And you would be right Gwaine."

Morgana looked at Merlin and rolled her eyes at their antics. Merlin had to agree, those two were like two friends who you never understood why they were friends in the first place, but underneath there was a bond that was unquestionable.

"If I remember the last time Arthur and I visited this place she was in a castle not far from here, working as a healer."

Arthur nodded in agreement.

"Yes she was, but that was nothing more than an image that she showed to common folk. Treacherous wrench that one."

Morgana regarded him with interest.

"I'm guessing you two got crossed by her."

Arthur scoffed and tried not to grit his teeth.

"She may be beautiful but don't let that fool you. She is pure evil."

Morgana had contemplated what he said and glanced at Merlin. He already knew what she was going to ask.

"So she is beautiful, Merlin?"

Merlin on the other hand sighed and glared at Arthur. He knew this would happen and by the self-satisfied smirk on the idiots face he knew what he had done. He wanted to take him down, well he will take him down with him.

"Arthur would think so, especially after she charmed him all the way to her chambers and left him tied to her bed with nothing but a pillow. A rather horrendous image if I might say so."

"Really, that is not what the other women would say Merlin, after all compared to your sprout bean build I am a warrior."

Merlin knew that Arthur was just angry and in return smiled at his good fortune because Morgana would surely be annoyed by an annoyed Arthur. He may even dodge this one.

"I have seen what kind of a warrior you are when you went at her with a sword and she made you hallucinate it was a puppy."

"She did what?" Morgana asked, the laugh already escaping her.

"It was a ridiculous sight, when I arrived there and Arthur was clapping hands at a sword on the ground, telling it what a good boy it was."

All of them laughed but Arthur only turned towards Merlin and he knew he went too far.

"Oh really and what made you so late Merlin, care to share. Oh yes as I recall she put a potion in your drink and you forgot most of the letters and so saying spells proved a bit difficult when you want to summon a hurricane with a resounding 'pleerlr'. Just a strong moment for you there almighty warlock."

Morgana was doubling over with laughter while Gwaine was holding on to Arthur to keep himself upright, until he turned serious all of a sudden.

"You said she was beautiful?"

Arthur only shook him off.

"I wondered when you would inquire about the fair lady Gwaine, being such a suave womanizer."

Merlin gave him an incredulous look.

"Really Gwaine, even after we told you that she is not a very nice person, let alone a witch."

Gwaine only looked lost in thought.

"I bet she is one of those that take charge, like Morgana but less infatuated with Merlin. A hellcat."

Morgana raised her voice in disagreement.

"Hey that is not true I don't fawn over Merlin."

Arthur was more than happy to turn this conversation towards something else other than him.

"Yes because the mere thought that Merlin may find some girl pretty didn't make you boil the said girls eyes and cut her to pieces."

She pouted in return.

"Well not at first."

Gwaine was still lost in his fantasy of Nimueh when they made it out of the village and on to the lone path that lead to her castle.

"All kidding aside, she is not someone you underestimate. She is quite powerful and conniving so thread lightly."

"I bet when she sees the glorious Gwaine, she will fall all over my charm and we could spend a couple of quality evenings together. I feel left out now that Merlin has Morgana, don't glare at me Arthur, you don't count here. You have the charm of a stubborn mule."

Arthur only raced after the man leaped away from his fisted hand.

"God damn it Gwaine!"

Merlin noticed though that Morgana was watching it all with a fond smile on her face.

"I forgot how it is among friends. I missed this." she said softly.

He understood what she went through and what she had to do, but still he was a bit disheartened that she didn't share her burden with him. So he laced their fingers and let their bond carry the comfort that he just could not voice right now.

"Be careful Morgana, Arthur is right. She is not someone to be trifled with."

She turned to him with a confident smile.

"We can take her."

He hoped they could.

The path lead to a small castle that looked abandoned for the most part, but he could feel powerful magic within its walls and knew that she was there somewhere. It was also probably correct to assume she already knew they were here and was watching them for some time already. The little light shone in one of the chambers and he glanced at Arthur in hesitation. He also shared his doubt that this would be an easy visit.

"Come on people, how bad could she be?"

In the precise moment that Gwaine had said that, two wyverns came at them from the trees. One tossed Gwaine to the ground but Arthur already had his sword out and was pushing back the beast, every swipe precise and deadly, making a turn to accelerate his sword's speed. He was a skilled swordsman, Merlin had to give him credit there and in the meantime he pushed back the other while Morgana blazed fire at him and unsheathing her sword to attack him.

Merlin could see at the top of the castle a figure standing and watching their struggle below. Nimueh. It was all probably some sort of a trial they needed to pass to gain audience with the smug priestess. Better not to reveal all his cards now. Morgana was strong enough and she could handle a sword so he would provide assistance to both.

"Not so fast, you won't get rid of me that easy."

Gwaine was up and launching himself into battle alongside Arthur who was giving the beast trouble as it was. It didn't take long for them to parry up their position and deal deadly damage to the foe.

He and Morgana on the other hand didn't allow much of resistance for the monster. He ignited her sword with fire and while she attacked he pulled a shield around her so the claws and the tail wouldn't get to her. But when the beast decided to hurl itself towards him he was ready and took the small window of opportunity to violently pull the beast to the ground with as much power as he could manage. Exhausted, he stumbled but it was enough of an opening for Morgana to jam the sword into the beast's head and follow with a spell that lit the already ablaze sword on fire and let it travel inside the body and incinerate it from inside.

He turned just in time to see Arthur cutting the head of the wyvern with a powerful swing all the while Gwaine was holding his sword embedded into the ground with its tail pinned with it and no way for it to move.

"Good one Arthur. It is nice to know all that looking after your sword serves something."

"Shut it Gwaine."

Merlin and Morgana shared a tired but pleased look. This battle cost them some magic but still it turned out better then they hoped. A slow clap could be heard not far from them and they all turned towards it.

A figure form before revealed itself to be none other than a woman in a blood red dress and a piercing gaze. She appeared young, not a day older then when they last saw her, magic surrounding her presence. A high priestess indeed.

"Wow you are captivating."

Gwaine just didn't know when to quit and judging by her predatory smile she already pegged them for what they are.

"Welcome."