When Arthur awoke he found himself dressed in clothes two sizes too small, laying on a cold blanket in the middle of a forest camp full of strangers. Considering his last memory was of being in a castle being pillaged by his sister with really terrible anger management issues, he considered that perhaps he needed catching up.

"Merlin!" He hissed, giving the man a rough kick with his boot.

"You'd better have a damned good explanation for this!"

Merlin blinked at him.

"Or I could continue to kick you." Arthur offered.

Merlin was on his feet in seconds.

"You're back!" He said finally.

"What on earth are you on about?"

"Camelot was lost." Merlin admitted, "We only had minutes to escape and I knew you wouldn't go even though we had to so...I may or may not of enchanted you."

"You enchanted me!" Arthur growled.

"Just a little." Merlin shrunk, "I swear it's completely harmless, you were just a little...less thoughtful than usual."

"If you ever do that again-"

"I know I know." merlin hung his head, "But we're on our way to a safe haven, to Ealdor. Hopefully those who escaped will meet us there."

"Alright, so who are these people?" Arthur asked finally, Merlin bit his lip.

"They're uh...smugglers."

"Smugglers!"

"Shhh!"

"I swear I can't leave you alone for five minutes can I." Arthur growled, "You can't even find clothes my size!"

"It's the perfect disguise, nobody would suspect you of being the king."

"Boy!" Tristan yelled, "We're leaving soon, explain it to your little brother would you?"

Oh he was going to kill Merlin.

...

"Where's my sword?" Arthur asked.

"You dropped it." Merlin replied, "Be thankful it wasn't Excalibur."

"Give me that." Arthur snatched Merlin's sword fro him, Merlin let him. It was fair enough that Arthur was angry.

"I swear Arthur, it was he only thing I could think of." Merlin whispered.

"Is it safe letting that simpleton carry a sword?" Tristan asked.

"It, uh, makes him feel safe." Merlin replied ruffling Arthur's hair

Tristan scoffed and kept walking.

"Simpleton?" Arthur asked through clenched teeth.

"Just keep it up for a little while." Merlin pleaded.

"How long?"

Arthur's question was immediately answered when an arrow shot through the air and impaled the man to their left. Agravaine had caught up with them, at least his men had.

"Let's move!" Arthur hissed, pulling Merlin behind the caravan as more arrows embedded themselves in the trees around them. Arthur immediately located a crossbow inside and turned to Tristan and Isolde.

"Head for those trees we'll cover you." He ordered, the two shared a look.

"Do you want to live or not?" Merlin asked.

Tristan looked as if he were going to say more but was tugged away by Isolde before he had the chance. The prince and king grabbed the arrows and fired, reloading over and over but making very little difference.

"Now what?" Merlin asked.

"We're not getting anywhere with this, it's out turn." Arthur nodded.

"Who's going to cover us?"

"Don't be a simpleton Merlin." Arthur grinned, turning and firing a final time before taking off into the trees after the smugglers. The four huddled behind a mossy log, watching as Agravaine searched the area.

"They didn't find the cargo." Isolde breathed.

"They will but it doesn't matter." Tristan spat, "They weren't after the cargo they were after you! Who the hell are you?"

"My name," Arthur sighed, "Is Arthur Pendragon and this is my brother Merlin."

"The king and prince of Camelot?" Tristan growled.

"Well, we were." Merlin sighed.

"i've lost everything I worked for, for some good for nothing king!" The smuggler spat.

"Brave words from a smuggler." Arthur bit back.

"Well I wouldn't have to be a smuggler if it wasn't for your damned taxes would I?"

"Those taxes help protect the people of this land!"

"What about when the people are dead? You call that protection?"

"Sorry to interrupt but I think we can debate the taxes later." Merlin cut in, indicating to the soldiers currently coming their way.

Arthur drew his sword as did Tristan and Isolde, Merlin hung back, ready to use his magic if necessary. Arthur cut down a man and quickly threw his discarded sword to his brother. However he was swiftly distracted when Isolde cried out, she'd been struck with a sword and while the wound was superficial she was about to gain another, not so superficial one if somebody didn't stop the charging solider.

Arthur raised his sword and ran the man through.

Tristan ran to his wife's side.

"Isolde." he breathed, gathering her up in his arms, "We had a deal, partners for life remember?"

"When have I not kept my promises?" She whispered, Tristan kissed her forehead.

"We need to keep moving." Arthur cut in, "There will be more coming soon."

"Then go." Tristan hissed, "There's nothing stopping you."

"Come with us to Ealdor." Merlin offered.

"I'd rather keep my distance from you, this is your fault." Tristan growled.

"He saved my life." Isolde smiled, "Let's go."

"Very well," He breathed, "But know this Pendragons, I do this for her. You are your kind bring nothing but misery to this land."

...

They traveled through the mountains in silence for the most part. Settling down about a half days journey to Ealdor. Tristan and Isolde retired early, Isolde from fatigue and Tristan because he couldn't bare to leave her side.

Arthur sat with merlin around the small fire, the king was the one to break the silence.

"I can't believe I didn't see." He sighed, "I was just as blind to Agravaine as I was to Morgana."

"It's not your fault." Merlin replied, "I didn't see either."

"Is Tristan right? Am I really such a terrible king?"

"Tristan was angry." Merlin argued, "And afraid, he needed to blame somebody, that's all."

"you're my brother you have to say that."

"I was loyal to you long before I knew I was your brother and you know it." Merlin replied, "I'm not alone either, the people love you, just as much as I do."

...

"That's it!" Merlin exclaimed as they crossed the hill, "Ealdor."

The village was small and green, made up of stone huts and surrounded by fields. It hadn't changed at all since he'd left all those years ago. Part of Merlin felt guilt, after he'd started the fire that killed his guardian he'd all but been exiled. Not that the people knew it was his fault Mary's hut had burnt down but still, nobody wanted to extra mouth to feed.

"So, this is where you grew up." Arthur mused as they entered.

"Grew up?" Tristan blinked, "I thought you said that this was Merlin Pendragon."

"I am." Merlin replied, "But I grew up a peasant."

Tristan seemed shocked by this and opened his mouth to say more but he was stopped when voices cried out.

"Merlin! Merlin, is that you?"

A short man walk walking toward them with a girl with dark hair who promptly hugged the prince, Merlin grinned. The girl stepped back and the man grabbed the princes arm, both of them grinned like idiots.

"We thought we'd never see you again." the woman beamed, "Some people thought you'd been eaten by wolves or something."

"I'm not that stupid." merlin scoffed.

"Debatable." Arthur cut in.

"Who're these people then?" the man asked.

"This is my brother, Arthur." Merlin began, "And this is Tristan and his wife Isolde. She's injured and needs help."

"Here, I'll take her to the medical hut." the woman offered.

"Thanks. Tristan go with her." Merlin offered, he nodded in reply and walked off with the woman.

"So you've got a brother." The man mused, "That's interesting."

"Yes, if you don't mind me asking who're you?" Arthur asked.

"Oh, this is Will." Merlin introduced, "He and Freya are friends of mine."

"Yes, now let's get back to my place. You have a lot to catch me up on!"

Oh finally! this took forever to write!