The Samhain celebration was in full swing, the room was decorated with ivy and Camelot's colours, it was truly a great scene. Arthur and Merlin had joked and eaten for most of the night, they had not had time to relax together in a long time. Finally Arthur decided it was time for him to give 'his' speech, he couldn't help but notice the smug grin on Merlin's face as he stood. He followed suit and stood at Arthur's side, Agravaine on the other while the rooms occupants settled to listen.

"Saiham, it is the time of year when we feel closest to our ancestors." Arthur began, "It is a time to remember those we have lost, celebrate their passing."

"To the king!" He announced raising his glass, as did everybody else.

He turn and clinked glasses with Merlin just as the tower struck midnight, the bells signified now they were as close to the world of spirits as they could be, but they seemed to effect Merlin as well. The effects were instant his eyes went glassy, he began to shake and his breath trembled. Arthur didn't even have time to ask if he was ok before he leant backwards and slammed into the ground, eyes still half open.

The room went deathly quiet as the regent knelt at his brothers side, Lancelot came running over to help him. Merlin's skin was freezing, unnaturally so, this wasn't a normal sickness.

"Spread a rumor," Arthur hissed when he saw Lancelot make the same deduction, "My brother has been ill for some time due to his nine month ordeal, he was trying to hide it! And make sure our father doesn't hear of this!"

Lancelot nodded and quickly muttered something to the maids, they would spread it like wildfire. Gaius was quickly at their side helping to lift the still trembling prince up and take him to his chambers.

"I've never felt anybody so cold before..." Gaius gaped.

"What can I do?" Arthur asked hurriedly

"I need Hawthown to improve the blood flow." Gaius ordered, "And blankets, lot of blankets!"

...

It took a lot of convincing for Arthur to be pushed back downstairs tot he feast, eventually Percival convinced him to in order to keep everybody calm. Gaius sat at the princes side as he shivered through the night, he'd almost fallen asleep himself, then an icy hand grabbed his wrist. He jumped in shock but sighed in relief when he saw Merlin looking up at him bleary eyes. He was rapt with Merlin's story of the ancient woman.

"When she spoke...her voice, it was as if it came from the depths of the earth." he explained, "Her eyes, they were so sad, there was so much pain in them...Who is she?"

"The Cailleach." Gaius answered, he knew as soon as Merlin described her it could be no other, "The gatekeeper to the spirit world."

"WHy was she there?" Merlin asked, "WHy could couldn't anybody else see her?"

"It was on midnight of Samhain eve, that is when the veil between the worlds is at it's thinnest." Gaius explained, "As for why only you saw her, I think you know that."

"I'm Emrys." He sighed bitterly, Gaius nodded, "She called to me in my druid name."

"If the Cailleach did appear it could mean the veil between the worlds has been torn," Gaius said slowly, "If that's true, then may God help us all."

...

Arthur groaned when light invaded his vision, a dull thumping in his head told him he'd had too much to drink last night. Stupid.

"Rise and Shine!"

"Merlin!"

Arthur's headache was forgotten in seconds as he leapt to his feet to check his brother, who looked fine. However he'd learnt not to trust when Merlin looked fine, he could use magic and make up to cover it.

The warlock quickly explained the rip and the vision he'd had of the old woman with dead eyes, it made Arthur nervous. A rip in the veil of time and space? What could that do?

He'd been about to ask Merlin these questions when Leon burst into the room.

"Sire, you're needed in the council chambers!"

...

They arrived with Sir Leon in the council chambers to see a small crowd of people surrounding a peasant girl. She was pale and trembling terribly, the picture of fear, Merlin felt his stomach twist, something terrible ha happened.

"What happened?" Arthur whispered to Agravaine

"Her village was attacked?" He replied gravely

"By who?" Merlin asked, but Agravaine ignored him, opting to answer to Arthur.

"Not entirely sure sire."

Arthur made his way to the girl who looked at the floor, he leaned over to that he was at eye level with her and began speaking in a soft voice to inspire confidence. It was moments like this when Merlin saw the great king Arthur was destined to be.

"What's your name?" The future king asked

"Drea." She trembled.

"Drea, I'm Arthur," He smiled, "Don't be afraid. Tell me what happened."

"My mother, my father, my little sister…" She broke off with a small sob, Merlin's heart went out to her.

"It's all right." Arthur soothed, "Take your time. Who attacked your village?"

"They were just shaped, nobodies, like skeletons of smoke…" She whispered, "They did not even have faces!"

Arthur turned to Merlin as if seeking silent confirmation of magic, Merlin gave a small nod. He was sure no earthly bandits could become faceless.

"I- I keep telling you. They were there, but...they weren't there. They moved so quickly. It was as if they weren't real, but...they must've been. I could hear the people screaming!" Drea continued, now that the dam had opened it was like she could not stop, "Then…they were all dead…"

Gaius took the girl by the hand and lead her away as she sobbed. Merlin knew before Arthur had given the order that they were heading to the woman's village.

…

The ride had been hard, a full day. The day had seemed even longer since it was endured mostly in silence. The usual party of knights were with the princes, the ones they'd knighted at the round table. It seemed that today they were all imitating Percival; the only sound was horse hooves on the ground.

The village appeared after the sun went down; bodies were littering the streets, so still.

"It's too quiet" Arthur frowned as they dismounted and slowly made their way through the village, the bodies were icy as if they had drowned in a winters lake after falling through the ice. It was the middle of autumn, no snow to be heard of for months.

A terrible scream filled the air, Merlin felt his eyes nearly burst from his sockets as he caught a glimpse of what appeared to be living smoke fly around the corner.

"We're literally chasing shadows…" Gwaine mused, even the joker.

"Come on, let's split up to cover more ground." Arthur ordered, Merlin headed through several houses without glancing anything. He wasn't sure if that made him relieved or edgy. Relived that he appeared to be alone, or worried that he wasn't and was being watched.

"Leoht." He croaked, setting up a small fire in his palm, which shone for a moment before extinguishing. That was odd.

"Leoht." He ordered again, nothing happened. He'd been about to try again when the same screaming from before invaded his ears. He turned to see what appeared to be a mixture of smoke and bones flying toward him.

"Fleoh nu on moras!" He yelled, nothing happened he tried again. Still nothing. His magic was failing him!

"Merlin!"

Bright firelight invaded his vision as Arthur jumped out in front of his warding away the monster with his torch.

"What happened?" He asked looking worried

"My magic…I couldn't use it." Merlin gasped, he'd never felt so venerable.

The others ran to their side, the screaming was echoing around them now but none of the monsters showed its form.

"There's something out there." Merlin hushed

"You saw it?" Elyan asked

"We did, it fled when it saw the light." Arthur nodded

"It scared the horses" Gwaine admitted, "I don't think we can go after them."

"It's not something you can chase or kill" Merlin said with certainty, his Emrys side shining through in a brief show of wisdom.

"We need to leave." Percival suggested when another howl echoed down through the houses.

Sorry for the slow reply I was on a school camp!