A/N: I am aware that it's been a month since my last update but I have been ridiculously busy with school work, as I will be for the next few months. My post schedule might be a bit erratic as a result, but I'm not giving up on this story.

Thanks to Photogirl5520113, Larien Jenova, even0211, ashuri-chan24 and Ezza555 for your review. I'm so pleased you're enjoying this story as much as I am!

even0211 - I hope this chapter clears up any doubts about what you asked me

Chapter 9

Cas felt the change in the air as they approached Merlin's house. He stepped forward cautiously and was pleased to discover that he wasn't locked out by any warding. He squinted at the walls of the house, but couldn't detect any sigils, cloaked or otherwise.

"There is great power surrounding this place," he said, turning to the young sorcerer. "It is like nothing I have encountered before."

"Just a few simple cloaking spells," Merlin explained dismissively. "I picked them up in the 1800s after one too many run ins with unfriendly forces."

"Oh, man, you're gonna have to teach me those," Dean commented, coming up beside them. Cas spotted Merlin giving him a curious look before unlocking the door and beckoning them inside. Books and papers were scattered everywhere and there were paint splatters on every surface. Cas picked his way across the clutter to a corner where an easel was set up; a canvas resting on it was coloured in splashes of red and gold with a dragon at the centre. He reached down and picked up two other canvases, studying them intently.

"These are very beautiful," he murmured admiringly.

Merlin shrugged, though his eyes were fixed on Arthur. "I had to find something to kill a thousand years with."

An uneasy silence fell across the room, broken only by the clanking of Arthur's armour as he moved. Cas shifted awkwardly and glanced at Dean in the hope that he could do something to diffuse the tension; he had never been good in social situations. Dean cleared his throat and clapped his hands together.

"Well, how about the Tin Man over there gets himself cleaned up and we set a few things straight, huh?" he proposed.

"What did he call me?" Arthur indignantly interjected. Dean rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Right. Keep forgetting you've only just popped out the casket. Wizard of Oz?"

"Which kingdom is this? Merlin, do you know this so-called wizard?"

"It doesn't matter," Merlin said reassuringly. "I've got some dry clothes in the spare room and you guys can dump your stuff in one of the other bedrooms if you want."

"Fine. Meet back here in thirty?"

Merlin winced, eyeing Arthur's expectant stance. "Better make it an hour."

Merlin's house wasn't the Bunker, but it was still far more comfortable than any place they'd stayed in before, including the hotel they'd holed up in before heading down to the Lake. Dean whistled in appreciation as they headed down the hallway to find a place to stow their gear. Not that it was difficult - Merlin had about as many spare bedrooms as the Bunker, and they were all pretty big too. He caught Sam's arm as they passed each other in the corridor.

"What do you think?" he asked quietly.

"Dean, this place is amazing. He's got lore books, spell books, things with magic I've never even seen before. I think maybe we could use some of this with hunting."

"Of course you do, you big nerd," Dean sighed. Sam frowned and shook his head, looking like he was about to argue his case further but Dean cut him off; they had more important things to be discussing.

"So I'm guessing you're still buying the whole 'let's be friends' thing then?"

"Why wouldn't I? With power like this... let's just say that if he wanted us dead, we'd be dead."

"Yeah, I know," Dean grudgingly agreed. "Alright, first things first, we've gotta find out who this guy is. We know all the stories, but how accurate have those been this far? No, I want to hear this for myself."

"Yeah. But Dean... Be nice."

Dean frowned in confusion. "I'm always nice."

"Right," Sam said sceptically. "What I mean is, don't go setting Arthur off. He's only just got back and he will take a swing at you."

"Mom's been alright hasn't she?"

"Yeah, but that was 33 years, not over a thousand, and she knows you. He doesn't."

"Relax, Sammy," Dean said, grinning at his brother. "They'll love me."

"I don't understand why I have to wear these peasant clothes, Merlin," Arthur whined.

"Because that's how you'll fit in here," Merlin patiently told him, for the fifth time.

"With who? Those other people with the odd accents? I'd rather not."

"No, with the 21st century. No one dresses like we used to anymore, and there's not such a big divide between the people. Well, there is, but you're with us now, right down at the bottom of the pile. And those other people are Americans, and they are friends. Now, hurry up. We need to go."

Merlin saw Arthur bristle slightly at his words, but to his relief he said nothing and strode out the room without a backward glance. Merlin shook his head fondly, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Clotpole," he muttered, before following Arthur to the front room.

"So, what do you want to know?" Merlin asked nervously.

"Okay, first of all, why the hell do you have so many rooms in this place?"

"Dean-" Sam started, exasperated.

"No, I'm serious. C'mon dude, you're just one guy. I'm all for personal space, but really?"

Merlin chewed on his lip, unable to meet their stares. "I'd hoped that when Arthur returned the other would too. I wanted to make sure I had space for them just-" his voice caught slightly and he took a deep breath to stop the tears. "Just in case, you know?"

"Oh," Dean said, taken aback slightly. "I'm, er, I'm sorry about that. Okay, how about you tell us what's going on here? All I came here to do is rescue my brother and suddenly I'm caught up in some fantasy novel?"

"I don't know what's going on," Merlin replied honestly. "All I know is what Freya has told me, and I trust her to steer me along the right path."

"Right, because she's been so forthcoming with information up to this point. I don't even know who the hell this chick is and you want me to trust her? No."

"Yes," Merlin insisted. "You don't know her, but I do and she would never do anything that would hurt me. She meant something to me back in Camelot and I would give anything to have her here again to tell me what to do. But I cannot, so I have to trust that she has told me all she can and I expect you to too." Merlin glared over at Dean and waited for a snappy retort, but none was forthcoming. Sam looked back and forth between the two and cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Alright! Glad we got past that. Why don't we start with introductions? I'm Sam, this is my brother Dean, that's our mom, Mary, and our friend is Castiel."

Merlin rubbed at his eyes and nodded. "You already know us; I'm Merlin and he's Arthur."

"King Arthur," Arthur interrupted smugly.

"Not anymore," Merlin muttered before turning back to Sam. "How is it that you're okay? As recently as last night I was dreaming about you in that basement, yet you have no marks on you."

"Perks of having an angel as your best friend," Sam shrugged. "Cas fixed me up, then we came down to meet you."

"Yeah, what's the deal with the dreams?" Dean asked.

"I don't know. I presume they're from Freya, but I can't know for sure."

"Hey, do you know anything about the British Men of Letters?" Sam asked him earnestly. Merlin stiffened, long ago memories flashing through his mind.

"I've come across them once or twice. Why do you ask?"

A silent conversation ensued between the two brothers, consisting of glares and violent hand gestures. Merlin watched as Dean sighed and sat back whilst Sam, apparently the victor, nodded triumphantly and turned back to face him.

"They were the ones keeping me in that cellar. They wanted information on Dean and me but I refused to give it to them. Which, as you probably noticed, didn't make them very happy. How do you know them?"

"Remember I mentioned the reason for the spells out front? They caught up to me in the 1800s thinking I was some run-of-the-mill supernatural freak. They captured me and almost killed me, but I managed to escape and I've pretty much been hiding from them ever since. Then, about seven years ago, they found me again, I don't know how, and acted all nice like. They told me about some massive surge in supernatural activity, which I already knew about, and asked for my help in getting rid of some of the bigger players. I said no of course... What?" he asked, noting Sam and Dean's guilty looks. "What's wrong?"

Dean laughed nervously. "Seven years ago, you say?"

"Yes. Why... Do you know something?"

"That surge in monster activity? Yeah, we might have caused that. Tell me something, Merlin - have there been any other... increases recently?"

"Um... Demonic possessions rose in 2007, and I heard something about angels falling in 2013, although I didn't believe it at the time," he added, with a sideways glance at Castiel. "And then just last year there were loads of strange deaths, but I couldn't figure out what was causing them. But you know, don't you?"

Sam and Dean were both visibly uncomfortable by this point, shifting awkwardly in their seats. Merlin saw them wilt under the sharp gazes of everyone in the room and felt some sort of satisfaction at the sight; for all Dean's bravado and tough act, he was just as vulnerable as the rest of them.

"Dean, we've gotta tell him," Sam mumbled.

"Wait, were you boys involved in all this?" Mary asked in disbelief. Sam looked up at her with wide eyes and nodded slightly; she made a choked noise and her hand flew to her mouth.

"We should have told you before, but things kind of spun out of control. The demonic possessions happened after a Devil's Gate opened in Wyoming, which we did close but not before thousands of demons escaped from Hell. But, Mom..." Sam hesitated slightly and looked down at the floor. "Dad got out then too."

Mary brushed away some tears and smiled slightly. "Okay, that's... okay. What else?"

"Seven years ago was because I let Lucifer out of his Cage. He killed so many people before we could shove him back in and it was all my fault. Don't worry though; I more than paid for it," he said wryly. Dean looked like he was about to argue, but Sam held up a hand to stop him. "Later." He went to carry on speaking, but Cas interrupted hi,

"The angels falling happened because I allowed myself to be tricked and influenced down the wrong path. I believed I was doing the right thing but..." Castiel sighed deeply. "I was wrong. We all were."

Once Castiel had finished talking, Merlin slumped back into his seat with a sigh. If they were telling the truth, which Merlin knew them to be, then he dreaded to think what this new evil could bring. If Sam and Dean had fought against Lucifer, and angels, and demons then how could something possibly be bigger than those? It was going to be a long, hard fight, and Merlin was starting to get the feeling that maybe not all of them would make it out this time.

He sighed again and stifled a yawn, forcing himself to his feet. "Look," he started, glancing round at the exhausted faces of the rest of the group. "We're all tired; why don't we pick this up later. You're welcome to stay in the other rooms for as long as you need them."

No one said anything, but slowly the other picked themselves up and trudged wearily off to their respective rooms. Merlin stared after them and rubbed a hand over his face, wishing more than ever that he had Gaius or Freya there to guide him.

A/N: I'm not as happy as I could be with this chapter. Not a lot of action, but it's important we have stuff like this, right? I already have parts of chapter 10 written down so hopefully that will be posted ASAP. Thanks for reading and please leave a review if you have a moment. Bye!