I must say, I was lucky to get this chapter up today! My laptop crashed three times today, losing the chapter twice! But here it is, on time and my longest chapter yet! Over 2,000 words!
As requested by quite a few readers, Arthur's POV on chapter 5, which leads up to chapter 6. Arthur a bit OOC but with the amount dumped on him in this chapter, I think it's allowed. Enjoy!

Arthur had just finished the interrogation of the latest witness to be brought in. Like most of the others, it had been a waste time. The druid, like all the other, had been unwilling to talk, reciting the same phrase in response to all of Arthur's questions. "Emrys will bring the age of peace, prosperity and magic." As much as that sounded appealing, the young King knew he couldn't risk the safety of his people on the word of a few hermits. But Emrys was proving very difficult to find.

He exited the dungeons to find Geoffrey waiting for him.

'Ah, Geoffrey. You found something then.'

'Indeed, my lord. But I believe you are not going to like it.'

Arthur frowned. 'Walk with me.' He began to climb the stairs, with the record keeper close on his heels. 'Whatever it is, I'm sure we can handle it. The more we know about this person, the better chance we have of finding him.'

Geoffrey nodded. 'Although there are many passages about Emrys' destiny, and what he is set to achieve, there is another, older text that links him another man. A King.'

'A King?'

'The Once and Future King, to be precise.'

Arthur sighed. 'So, not only am I facing a potential threat from the most powerful sorcerer ever, but his King friend as well?'

'Maybe…'

The King frowned again. 'What do you mean by that?'

'My Lord!'

Arthur turned and glared at the young serving boy approaching him.

'What?'

'It's Lord Agravaine, sire. He… he says he found… him.'

Arthur felt his breath catch. 'Where?'

'In the woods, sire. He said he'd meet you by the front steps.'

Arthur took a deep breath before nodding. 'Thank you. I'll be there shortly.' He turned away from the boy, back towards the old librarian. 'This information will have to wait, Geoffrey. See what else you can find before I return.'

Geoffrey nodded, and bowed. Arthur watched him leave before glancing back down at the dungeons. He shook his head and made his way up the stairs to meet his Uncle.

XxX

Agravaine was stood to the side, watching the people of Camelot go about their daily lives with an almost unreadable expression on his face. It was this expression that made Arthur hesitate.

'Arthur!'

He forced a smile as he made his way over to him. 'Uncle. I understand you've come into some more information regarding…'

'Yes, I have.' Arthur frowned at being interrupted; he didn't appreciate Agravaine cutting him off. He let the Lord continue, though. 'I have reason to believe that he will be in a clearing just outside of Camelot this afternoon.'

'How do you know this?'

Agravaine smiled. 'I have my informants.'

Arthur stared at his Uncle for a moment. 'I will need to speak to these informants once Emrys has been arrested.'

There.
A flash of panic in his Uncle's eyes before he smiled that false smile. 'Of course. I'm sure they'd be more than happy to testify.'

The young king narrowed his eyes at his Uncle, but, before he could say anything, Agravaine was off, striding towards his horse. Arthur shook his head, and followed. They mounted up, and rode out of Camelot.

XxX

Agravaine led him to a small clearing in the Darkling woods; they had left the horses by a stream and made the rest of the journey on foot. From their position, they couldn't see the entire clearing; Arthur attempted to move to find a new position, but Agravaine held him back, shaking his head.

So they stayed put.

Arthur hated waiting; he always had. That feeling of sitting there, not knowing what was going to happen made him feel powerless, and, as a King, being powerless was never a good thing. And now they were lying in wait for a sorcerer who may or may not show up, and who would almost certainly kill them on sight if he did.

'Are you sure he'll be here?'

'He'll be here,' Agravaine smiled.

'How can you be sure?'

The look Agravaine gave him was unsettling. He saw emotions on his face that didn't look right. He almost looked pleased with the thought that Emrys would soon be within their grasp; just not for the same reason as Arthur.
There was more to this story than he originally thought.

'Agravaine…'

A rustle in the bushes opposite caught his attention, silencing him instantly. Arthur immediately crouched lower as a twig snapped and a shadow appeared behind the trees.

Arthur held his breath.

This was it.

Emrys had come.
Emrys would soon be within their grasp.

Emrys was…

The figure stepped from the shade into the clearing, light falling across his face for the first time.

'No…'

Merlin stayed close to the edge of the clearing, as he looked around himself warily. He took a step forward, still glancing around, before focusing his gaze on something out of Arthur's eye-line.

Agravaine let out a triumphant laugh, but Arthur couldn't move. He could feel tears welling up behind his eyes, but his arms were too heavy; he couldn't bring himself to raise them and wipe the droplets away.

This couldn't be happening.

It couldn't… Merlin was just being his usual idiotic self. He wasn't Emrys; he'd stumbled across the trap by accident, whilst out getting herbs for Gaius.

Yes, that must be it…

Arthur barely noticed Agravaine move as Merlin took another step forward, already half way across the clearing, still focused on something Arthur couldn't see.

'I must say, I never expected this!'

The young King's head shot up, as Merlin spun round, his arm outstretched. In that moment, Arthur knew that Merlin was, indeed, the sorcerer they were after. He could feel the power radiating off of his friend as he faced the threat.

'These are innocent people!' What?
'There's nothing innocent about what you're planning to do, Emrys.' Merlin didn't deny it, and Arthur felt his heart plummet.

Merlin couldn't be planning against him. It had to be a misunderstanding… it had to be…

Arthur blinked desperately, trying to stop the tears that were now sliding down his face as he was confronted with the reality of Merlin's betrayal.

'Astrice!'

Arthur ducked instinctively as a fireball erupted from Merlin's hand. When he looked back up, Merlin had disappeared and Agravaine was vanishing into the trees on the other side of the clearing. He immediately jumped to his feet, sprinting into the clearing, but stopped suddenly when he saw what Merlin had been looking at.

A woman, bound and gagged, in the centre of the clearing. From his position behind the tree, he hadn't been able to see her. But Agravaine had.

This was the missing piece. This was what Merlin had come. He had only seen Agravaine; a threat. And he had done what he could to lead the threat away.

The young King immediately made his way over to the woman, drawing his knife and cutting through her binds. She stared at him, wide eyed, as he pulled the gag from her mouth.

'Get to Camelot; find Sir Leon. Tell him King Arthur sent you. He'll protect you.'

She nodded, tears streaming down her face. He clambered to his feet, and ran into the forest, picking up on Merlin and Agravaine's trail.

Arthur had to find them before Agravaine hurt Merlin.

He could hear voices in the distance, and breathed a sigh of relief as he picked up his pace. Merlin was still alive; he still had a chance to set this right.

'You would kill you own nephew?' Arthur skid to a halt, his feet sliding out from underneath him. What?

'Why not? I killed my own brother-in-law.' Arthur felt sick. Agravaine… 'The only thing that matter to me is Morgana taking her rightful place on the throne of Camelot. And now, Emrys, you will no longer stand in her way.' So Agravaine had been using him all along; he simply been a pawn in Morgana's sick game. Again.

'Morgana will never be Queen!' Arthurs' head shot up at the confidence in Merlin's voice.

'And who's going to stop her?' Agravaine laughed. 'You? By the time Arthur realises anything is wrong, it will be too late.' That's what you think.

'Arthur will be the greatest King to ever live!' Again, that confidence; that determination and sheer resolve as Merlin stood at the edge of the cliff, refusing to back down from Arthur's treacherous Uncle.

'Not if Morgana has her way. You're words mean nothing to me! Without you around to protect him, it will not be long before King Arthur's reign comes to an end.' Arthur placed his hand on the hilt of his sword as the Lord pointed his own at Merlin's chest. 'Prepare to die, Emrys.'

And suddenly, Merlin's eyes flashed gold. Agravaine flew backwards, hitting the ground with a loud thud. Arthur rose to his feet, preparing to grab Merlin once he entered the safety of the tree line, but he didn't make it. Agravaine twisted round, grabbing Merlin's leg and pulling him to the ground. Arthur sprang to his feet, fighting past the bushes as Merlin cried out. He saw Merlin kick out at Agravaine, scrambling for something on the floor.

Arthur finally broke through the bushes as Merlin staggered to his feet, Agravaine already up and advancing once again.

'Merlin!'

Merlin spun round, and let out a horrific, terrifying scream.

'No!' he roared as he watched Merlin fall, Agravaine holding the bloody dagger he'd just drawn from Merlin's side.

He drew his sword, and thrust it forward, finding his target. Agravaine screamed as his eyes went wide, staring at Arthur in horror. Arthur watched is Uncle fall before throwing his sword to the side and dropping to his knee's beside his friend.

Merlin's eyes were open but unfocused as Arthur lifted him, gently, into his arms.

'Merlin?'

Merlin's eyes drooped closed as he slipped into unconsciousness. Arthur cursed, and ripped off a strip of material, bandaging Merlin's wound as best he could.

He stood up, carefully holding Merlin as best he could. With one final glance at his Uncle's still body, Arthur made his way back through the forest, towards the horses.

XxX

Leon and Gwen were waiting for them when they rode back into Camelot. Gwen paled when she caught sight of Merlin's limp body, as Arthur and Leon slowly lowered him down off of the horse.

They remained silent the entire trip to the Physicians chambers, and laid Merlin down on the patients bed. No one spoke as Gaius tended to Merlin, stitching the wound and applying the appropriate salves. It wasn't until they'd put Merlin to bed, that Arthur turned to his second in command.

'There's a small cliff, on the edge of a clearing in the Darkling woods. I need you to take a patrol out there and… and recover Lord Agravaine's body.'

Leon stared at him, before nodding and departing without a word. Gaius poured everyone drinks, before looking, expectantly at Arthur. 'What happened?'

Arthur swallowed heavily, praying that the lie he'd come up with would be convincing enough to protect Merlin.

'We… Agravaine had a lead on Emrys. We went out to investigate; just the three of use. Merlin was with Agravaine and I was with the horses when Emrys attacked. He killed Agravaine straight out, but Merlin managed to kill him. He was wounded though, when he pushed Emrys over the edge of the cliff.'
Gaius frowned, and Arthur bit his lip, before the old man nodded. 'At least Emrys no longer poses a threat.'

Arthur shook his head, before looking down at his tunic. 'If you'll excuse me, I need to…'

'Of course, sire. I shall inform you when he wakes.'

Arthur nodded again, and departed.
Once outside, he sighed leaning against the wall.

He wasn't too sure why he'd lied to Gaius and Gwen to cover for Merlin, but it had felt like the right thing to do. Morgana had wanted Merlin, as Emrys, dead, which meant he was dangerous. To her; not Arthur.
And, despite everything, Arthur smiled.

Morgana sure was in for a surprise next time she showed her face around Camelot.

And, there we go. Hope that explained everything! This chapter is only partially betaed, thanks to illnesses, amongst humans and computers, so if you spot any mistakes please let me know.

Happy Mothers Day for tomorrow to my lovely mum, Arthursmol! Have a fab day all the mum's out there

Next chapter: the talk between Merlin and Arthur, and Arthur's plan begins to come together! Please review and let me know what you thought, and if there's anything you'd like Merlin and Arthur to discuss in particular!

Until then TTFN

Valkyriexx