Got this one written faster then I thought I would.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, only my OCs and this storyline.

Hope you enjoy.

Parting Ways

"Uther ended the war." Magnus said. "The one he was fighting with a neighbouring kingdom."

"Arthur can go home." I said, understanding his meaning. We were sitting on our spot on the fence. It should have been happy news but I felt my heart fall when he said it. "Why didn't you tell me last night?"

"I didn't want to ruin the party." He explained. "We should all go. It isn't safe here anymore."

"It's been our home for the past four years." I looked back at the house where Aida and the others must still be sleeping. It was too early for anyone to be awake but here we were.

"It will be hard to leave behind." He looked at me with his warm eyes.

"You should know. You left enough times." It came out harsher then I had intended.

"It was never easy." I could see that I had hurt him.

"I know." I said as I took his hand. I had torn the ribbon that had bound us together the night before in half with my teeth and we had wound it around the wrists that Narendra had tied them around, Magnus' left wrist and my right.

"I have found a place." He assured me. "Somewhere where we can all be safe."

"What about Arthur?" I came back to the first problem. "We can't send a letter to Uther that will bring him here and to the others." I pointed back at the house. "That would only put them in danger. And we cannot leave Arthur to fend for himself."

"What do you suggest?" Magnus looked at me expectantly.

"Someone has to take him back." I said, looking away.

"Who?" Magnus asked, but seeing that I would not meet his eyes he knew the answer. "You."

"I am more then capable to get him to Camelot myself. No one will be looking for us." I tried to reassure him.

"I know. I know." He held my hand tightly. "But I've only just found you again."

"You won't be loosing me." I met his eyes. "You will lead the others to safety and I will take Arthur back to his father. The joy at seeing his son should keep him off your trail for a while."

"You know we have a traitor amongst the organization." Magnus lowered his head.

"I could piece that much together." I said. "We'll make a rendezvous point and I will meet you there. It will be a place only you and I know."

"What about the Stone?" He suggested. It was a clearing somewhere in the woods, I knew the place, and there was a single stone in the center. The sun shone through the trees in such a way that it only fell on the stone as if it were a pedestal for some great monument.

"No one goes there." I saw his reason. "It sounds perfect. No other members know of that place?"

"None." He assured me. "It was our place."

It was the place where we had first decided on the idea of the Black Feather. That place just seemed to be filled with such knowledge of destiny. Somehow you just knew that it was a place of legend as soon as you stepped foot into the clearing. Prophecy was tied to that place.

"Then I will meet you there. Lead the others to the safe place first then come find me in three days time." I kissed him lightly on the cheek. "And not a day longer."

"We should leave before the king sends out troops again to look for his son." Magnus hopped off the fence. "We should leave today, when the sun sets."

"So soon?" I came down next to him. I did not think we would have to leave so quickly.

"I'm sorry Joone." He slipped his hand into mine.

"No, we knew what we were getting ourselves into." I gently squeezed his hand. "We knew this day would come."

"We just didn't think it would be so soon." He read my mind. "At least we have one last day here."

"We should wake the others soon." We started to walk back to the house, hand in hand.

"Married one day and already our paths must twist away from each other."

"In hopes that they will twist together once more."

We woke the others shortly after arriving back at the house and told them the plan. Magnus snuck over to Narayan's to tell them. There would not be much to prepare. We needed to travel light so we would not be bringing much. I took the last of the money I had earned from my pots. It should be enough.

I found the small package I had hidden under a loose floorboard in my bedroom, opening it to reveal a set of cloths. My hand ran over the fabric that I had hidden away almost four years ago. I had put the garments away when I had started to concentrate more on protecting Aida. I could not be so reckless anymore.

Now I would adorn them again. They were the cloths of the ghost that was Redwing. I could not very well fight in a dress. I exchanged my skirts for a pair of greenish brown trousers. I slipped a light brown tunic over my head and wrapped a green jacket around my shoulders. The jacket had a small cap attached to it at the neck and it fell to just bellow my shoulders. There were many patches sewn on all over the clothes, each a memory of running through the forest and fighting. I remember the adrenalin.

I tied a short scarf around my neck and then took one of the small knives that I would be carrying with me. I put the blade to my silver hair that fell around my shoulders and in one quick movement cut it off, letting the hair fall to the floor. I covered my now short hair with a simple olive coloured cap that clung tightly to my head.

I took a long walking stick from the corner of my room and slipped on my flimsy brown boots. I went to find Arthur dressed in traveling clothes. He wore a simple, what used to be, white shirt and brown pants. He had a blue cloak wrapped around his shoulders with the hood covering his blonde hair. I draped a satchel over my shoulder that contained our provisions.

"Are you ready." I asked him and he nodded. "Is everything okay Arthur? There is no need to look so sad. We are taking you back to your father."

"I do wish to see my father." Arthur looked up at me. "But it means I will leave all of you doesn't it?"

"I'm afraid so. But it is not safe for you here anymore. We're all leaving, same as you." I knelt down in front of him.

"I don't like saying goodbye." Tiny tears appeared in his eyes.

"I understand." I took his small hands in mine. "You have to be strong now Arthur and I know you can be brave."

"Will I ever see any of you again?" He asked in his small voice.

"Oh I hope so." I kissed his hands. "I really hope so. Come on we cannot leave the others waiting." I stopped in front of the old cabinet before going out the front door.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Wait here Arthur. I just need to see something." I pushed the cabinet out of the way and made my way up those old steps one last time. I had to see it before I left. This attic had held all our secrets and the cabinet had been the lock that had protected them, my little birds.

I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Aida coming up the stairs. She stopped when she saw me. I reached out my arms to her and she ran into them. I held her close as she began to cry and I kissed the top of her head. She had grown so much over the last few years into a young lady. My little birds were now leaving the nest.

We stood in the middle of the attic together with our memories dancing around us. We had spent so many times up here and now we were leaving. Though the attic also represented something of a prison for all of us. Locked up here while their kind was being hunted. Those mad men catch the slightest sent of magic and they go charging out with swords drawn, ready to slay for their king.

"Do you remember the night Magnus brought you to me?" I asked Aida, still holding her tight.

"I remember it every night in my dreams." Her voice was soft.

"Do you ever wish you had not been brought here?" I asked her.

"I cannot imagine a better place Magnus could have taken me." She pulled away and looked up at me. "My life might have been shorter had I not met you. You saved me Joone. I wish you were coming with us."

"It isn't for long. I will see you again." I put my hands on either side of her face. "There is no need to worry. Keep safe, keep warm and stay healthy. Don't let any sickness through the door." I remember the woman I considered my true mother saying those words to me when I left to come here.

"You too." We descended the stairs together. We left with Arthur to go meet up with the others on the edge of town. The sun was setting in the sky. We walked away from that house and we never looked back.

They were there waiting for us and they smiled when they saw us coming. I looked out to the road we would soon be taking and remembered the letter I had sent that morning. It was the last letter I sent to Hunith. I couldn't leave without telling her. The words I wrote her weren't very detailed but I knew she would understand. I wished her and Merlin well.

"Well you best be on your way." Narayan smiled.

"You're not coming with us?" Olwen looked alarmed.

"Well someone has to be here to cover for Joone." He glanced towards me.

"I will miss you." Narendra grasped Narayan's arm as a brother. Fionn and Olwen ran forward and embraced him. "As will we." They said together.

"Until we meet again." He told them.

"Thank you Narayan for all you have done for us." I thanked him.

"Be safe." I almost saw tears in his eyes.

We left then before anyone could see us leave. We walked together until we came to a fork in the path. Arthur and I were going towards Camelot and the others were going in the opposite direction. Arthur went around hugging everyone and saying goodbye.

Something felt wrong about the goodbyes I was giving. I said them thinking I was going to see them all again. But still there were tears. I held Aida the longest. She was my little Songbird.

Magnus planted a kiss on my lips that I would savor and he gave me one of his crooked smiles. Our goodbyes could have gone on forever but we needed to go before the light was completely gone. So I took Arthur's small hand and headed down the road to Camelot.

"See you soon." I called out to them but the words tasted bitter in my mouth.

I looked back to meet Magnus' eyes. I looked back again further down the road but then they were all just a dark clump in the distance. I had the sickening feeling that none of us were safe. Not yet.

I would remember their faces until I died. I should have known that I would never see most of them again.

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