"I hate going to Cenred's kingdom" Merlin moaned, "Nothing good ever happens there"

"Don't be such a pessimist Merlin" Arthur teased, his horse following behind his brothers, "Be positive, perhaps this time e wont have any trouble!"

Merlin scoffed, completely unaware that behind him Arthur had just been struck by a dart, piercing his neck and knocking him off his horse. Merlin opened his mouth to start complaining again when a sharp pain in his neck distracted him, he turned to see a dart, however he didn't have long to study it because his eyes fell closed and he slid of his saddle onto the ground.

The next thing he was aware of was a group of blurry figures looking down at him. Arthur among them. They were standing in a deep pit with stone walls. After giving him a slap to wake him up Arthur carefully helped his brother to his feet, snapping at a man as he grabbed his shoulder.

"Touch me again, you die!" He threatened, Merlin just laughed

"Gwaine?"

"Still no manners I see" Gwaine teased, "Merlin my friend you look terrible!"

"Likewise!" Merlin grinned, he was happy to see the man again.

"What are you doing here?" Arthur asked, relaxing slightly

"Oh you know, wrong place, wrong time, wrong drink" Gwaine grinned

"Nothing's changed there then" Arthur sighed, "Where's Lancelot?"

"We got separated when Jarl took me" Gwaine muttered, "Haven't seen him in weeks"

"Jarl?" Merlin questioned

"This is his castle, lovely bloke, slave trader" Gwaine explained

"We're going to be sold as slaves?" Merlin gaped

"Alright you maggots" Announced a man from the top of the pit, assumably Jarl, "Who's ready to face my champion?"

Nobody moved.

"No volunteers?" Jarl whined, "Well I shall have to pick one of you toe rags myself then, how about you?"

His finger pointed at Merlin, Merlin flinched, he could of been wrong but he thought he saw a similar reaction from Arthur.

"My brother is weak" Arthur boasted, "I'd be ten times more entertaining"

"Arthur!" Merlin hissed, "I can-"

"I'm better with a sword and you know it" Arthur hissed right back

"Very well then" Jarl grinned, "But if you lose, I'll feed your brother to the crows, piece by stinking piece. Are you ready my champion?"

"I am"

Both princes swung around to face Gwaine, who had answered the call. He shrugged.

...

Arthur and Gwaine were tossed into a crude fighting ring made of bandits, Merlin was held back to watch by one of Jarls men. He gave Arthur and Gwaine a look that said please be careful!

"Alright, the rules are simple, one of you lives and one of you dies!" Jarl announced as a man chucked two slightly bunt swords into the arena, "If you cannot or will not finish off your opponent, I'll kill you both"

The men let out a series of yells for blood, Arthur and Gwaine just looked at each other, slowly picking up the swords and began to circle. It was Gwaine who acted first, swinging the sword powerfully, but clumsily, at Arthur who jumped back easily to avoid it. Pushed back into the ring by some greasy haired man Arthur had no choice but to lunge, metal clashed against metal, the sound almost drowned out the yells of the crowd.

"Take it easy will you?" Arthur panted

"It's gotta look convincing!" Gwaine hissed

Again they parted and dove back together, swords smashing against each strike and block. Both men were excellent fighters but even so, eventually Gwaine managed to disarm Arthur, who knocked him to the floor. Of course Gwaine 'accidentally' dropped his sword during this tackle and soon they were tumbling about on the floor.

"So far so good" Arthur grunted, Gwaine pushed his hand into his face, Arthur reciprocated

"What's next?"

"Um, there was no next" Arthur admitted

The two panicked slightly until suddenly the ropes that lined the ceiling were ablaze. Arthur had no doubt Merlin was behind it but he didn't hesitate, grabbing Gwaine and hauling him to his feet the pair rushed at Merlin, pushing him out the door while the bandits and Jarl yelled for water. The group didn't stop running until the castle was out of sight and they were safely in hidden in the trees of a near by forest.

"How did...you two...end up in...a hole like that?" Gwaine asked through pants

"Were...on a quest" Arthur admitted slowly

"To find the Cup of Life" Merlin finished, Arthur knocked him lightly over the head.

"What part of the word secret do you not understand?" Arthur groaned

"Gentlemen" Gwaine interrupted, "It seems, what ever it is you are doing, you could use some help"

The princes smiled.

"Come on, Jarl will be coming after us, let's keep moving" Merlin said finally.

The journey lead them deeper into the forest, it was going to take them days to walk the distance back to Camelot after they found the cup. Merlin was sorely missing his horse. The walk would of been pleasant were it not for Arthur and Gwaine's bickering over who would of won their fight had they really been trying. Finally Arthur stopped outside the mouth of a moss covered cave leading into the earth.

"This it?" Gwaine asked, Merlin nodded, he could sense the weak magic of the druids.

The inside of the cave had a homely feel to it, the arm light of candles and red material seemed to take away from the fact it was a dark dank cave. Strips of material decorated the place, roughly made furniture was scattered about however there were no druids.

"Hello?" Merlin called, "We come in peace"

"We just want to talk" Arthur yelled. After a few minutes a small boy poked his head out from under a table and looked at them before rushing off down the cave, bringing the rest of the group back with him.

A white haired man in a greek cloak approached them.

"You seek the Cup of Life" He stated, how did druid do that? The trio nodded.

"It is yours" He said handing over the gold goblet without batting an eye lid, "I have no doubt if we do not give it to you, Uther will simply use force"

Arthur took the cup from his hand slowly.

"You must know, that you are meddling with a power you do not understand" The druid told him, "You must tread cautiously"

"I'll take my chances" Arthur whispered, "Let's go"

Emrys, Called the druid telepathically, The cup is in your care now, guard it well. The future of this land depends on it.

...

As they walked, silence was their only companion. Merlin knew Arthur was worried as he was. The cup would be safe in the vaults at Camelot, the problem was getting it there safely. Merlin really hated silence, he resisted the urge to growl in annoyance, Arthur wouldn't mind but Gwaine might start asking questions if he did. Suddenly he stopped.

"Arthur, it's too quiet" He said finally, the other two stopped and listened as well, no bird song, no animals. It wasn't right. This was proven seconds later as men barring Cenred's crest appeared over the rise, swords drawn.

"Go!" Yelled Arthur pushing Merlin behind him and running.

Merlin bolted, splitting from Arthur, enough so that the men had to split up as well, but close enough that he could hear his brother should he need him. Which turned out to be a good idea because seconds later he heard a short cry from Arthur. He ran towards the sound, arriving in time to see a solider holding the cup as he stood over an unconscious Arthur, he had an arrow in his leg. Merlin didn't even bother with a spell, simply pushed his magic outward with a wave of his hand, sending the solider flying and sadly, the cup as well.

Merlin ran trying to catch it before it rolled down the hill side but he was too slow, the cup landed in the outstretched hands of Cenred's man. He looked on as the men ran, glancing back to Arthur. What should he do? He bit his lip and turned back to help his brother.

Arthur came first, Arthur always came first.

Please review :) It keeps me writing