A/N – Greetings! I have so far spent my week sleeping and watching videos like this watch?v=sYyh6e5Dedg&list=UUBm4JMlxAGZbGGf_8eKYGaw&index=1 on youtube. I seriously need to do something productive with my time.

The quote isn't really to do with the chapter, but more to do with Merlin and Arthur both trying to understand magic and how fits into society. Brian Cox is someone I really look up to.

"You dig deeper and it gets more and more complicated, and you get confused, and it's tricky and it's hard, but... It is beautiful."
― Brian Cox

"Shut up! I need to concentrate." Merlin growled.

"Concentrate on wha-" Gwaine began to say, before Tarrian elbowed him hard in the ribs.

Turning, Tarrian gestured to the stunned stable boy who was watching events with his mouth hanging open.

"Ready the horses!"

"How many?" The stable boy asked, eyes wide.

"All of them."

Merlin placed both hands on the bars of the portcullis. It would take too long for them to wind it up by hand – he had to do this. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply.

Memories of his childhood flashed through his mind. A small boy with dark hair running through a field of golden wheat.

With a flash, the portcullis shot upwards and the rope wound around it, holding it in place. People around Merlin gasped and clapped him on the back.

"Well done Merlin!" Gwaine said, nodding to him.

Merlin turned to Arthur, who was watching him with slight apprehension in his eyes. He sighed.

"Haven't you got over this yet?" Merlin asked.

The apprehension drained from Arthur's face as he realised that Merlin was disappointed in him. "Give me time," he said quietly.

The boy came running out of the stable clinging to a horse's reins in each hand. Arthur and Percival ran up to their mounts and vaulted on effortlessly. Quickly looking over the bridge Ignitrus had escaped on, Merlin realised there was no sign of him. This wasn't a problem now though, as Merlin could use his magic to see where he had gone. That was one of the many good things about everyone knowing he had magic.

Nearly all the knights were on their horses now. Merlin quickly mounted and as Arthur shouted some loud commands over the loud clamouring, the knights and Merlin galloped out of the castle in a long formation.

Gaius had chosen to stay behind. He felt that he would only slow the knights down, and his skill as a physician was only marginally better than Merlin's. Sighing, he sat down and started to crush some herbs for a potion.

He didn't notice the glowing amulet covered in dust and tucked away at the back of one of his shelves. In fact, no-one had noticed it for years.

Except one person.

"This way!" Merlin yelled back to the knights following him. They were cantering through a thick forest and the light was quickly fading. They swerved left at a fork in the road, going deeper into the forest.

The air was heavy with the smell of pine trees and moss, and as the sun began to dip below the horizon, long shadows streamed out behind the horses. The sound of hooves pounding the ground was muffled by the thick layer of leaves and pine needles.

"We should camp here," Leon said to Arthur. "If we continue without the sunlight, the horses will get tired and lose their footing. We can't have lame horses."

Arthur sighed and nodded. "We'll stop here. Give the command."

As Leon shouted to the other riders, Arthur noticed a marking carved into the trunk of a tree.

"Merlin!" He shouting, grabbing his manservant's attention.

"Yes, sire?"

"What does this marking mean?" He nodded in the direction of the tree.

Merlin tilted his head in thought for a moment.

"That... means... oh yes, it's a marker for an old tribe of druids that used to live here. They were lost in the Great Purge."

"Just another harmless group of sorcerers murdered by my father." Arthur stated, his face emotionless.

Merlin opened his mouth but stopped, not knowing what to say. His forehead creased as he stared at the ancient marking.

"What your father did... it has nothing to do with you Arthur, or your actions. You are a good person. You have accepted me as the person I truly am, and though you were scared at first, you learned. That is what makes you strong, Arthur. Your ability to learn, and to see the truth behind the lies."

"Thank you Merlin," Arthur said, smiling. "I would give you a manly clap on the back or something at this point if we weren't on horses. I think mine wants to kill me!"

They both laughed, but knew that what Merlin had said was true.

Arthur padded through the silent forest. The full moon hung above the trees and as Arthur stared at the sky more and more stars appeared. He craned his neck, looking into the deep sky. His breath formed clouds of silver on the cold air.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Gwen said, clasping Arthur's hand in hers. "I'll be one of those, one day. A star. You'll have to let me go, though."

"Let you go?" Arthur asked, not moving his eyes from the stars. An owl hooted somewhere behind them.

"Stop coming to visit me. Accept my death."

"No," Arthur whispered. "I can't. Just stay with me for a while."

"I have to go Arthur. You being able to see me... it's wrong. It shouldn't be happening. And I have to go." Gwen held his hand tighter, then began to loosen her grip.

"No, I-I don't want you to, no!" Arthur began to panic and stared into Gwen's face with tear-filled eyes. "Don't leave me on my own."

"I'm sorry, my love." Gwen faded into the night.

Arthur sobbed and sank to the ground. He curled up under the low branches of a tree and drifted off into a fitful sleep.

Merlin had been watching Arthur for a few minutes now. He had woken up after a twig fell on him and noticed that Arthur was tossing and turning rapidly. He crept closer to him and heard the words that Arthur was feverishly whispering. Suddenly Arthur stopped whispering and started sleeping normally, but Merlin had heard enough. Arthur was being visited by the memory of Gwen in his sleep.

Hope you enjoyed! Did this one make you cry? Hopefully *laughs evilly*

As always, reviews/follows/favourites make me smile!

Thanks to my amazing beta reader Jess, who better at being a beta reader than she is at being a little sister. ONLY JOKING JESS love you really.

Jess: Thank you

Also thanks to Mum who included Tarrian in an exam question for University students!