Freya took care of Isolde while Will got the hungry travelers some food, Merlin and Tristan ate the gruel happily, Arthur had a little more trouble. His brother smirked at him, which forced Arthur to swallow without complaint.

"So Merlin, you found that family that took you in a see." Will smiled, "I hope you don't mind me saying but you don't look to well off."

Arthur looked down at his clothing, they did look like peasants.

"Actually, this is a disguise." Merlin grinned, obviously anticipating the reaction.

"Yes, I'm Arthur Pendragon." Arthur smiled, "King, Arthur Pendragon."

Will gaped, Freya almost fell over.

"But that makes Merlin..."

"Prince Merlin Pendragon." Merlin bowed with a grin, "Pleased to meet you."

Freya blushed deep red and ran out the door, strange reaction. Merlin sighed.

"She's had a thing for Merlin since they were kids." Will explained.

"Try telling that to Elena." Arthur teased.

"Oh, who's Elena?" Will teased right back.

"You two get on far too well." He grumbled.

Arthur laughed.

"Here." Will grabbed a pile of cloth, "Those clothes fit Merlin but I think you could do with a change."

"I like him." Arthur nodded at Merlin as he went to go change.

Tristan and Isolde whispered quietly to themselves as she rested while Merlin looked around the old hut with Will.

"Nothings changed." He mused.

"You have." Will sighed, half happy half sad, "Does Arthur..."

"Yeah, he knows." Merlin nodded, "The others don't."

"The king accepts you?" Will blinked in shock.

"We're working on lifting the ban, just slowly." Merlin smiled.

"Do you remember when we were kids and you almost flattened Old Man Simmons?" Will grinned.

"With that tree when I was trying to fell it...using unconventional means?" Merlin waggled his eye brows before laughing, "Of course."

They laughed.

"I have missed you Will." merlin smiled, but the moment ended.

There were screams coming from outside.

"What's going on?" Arthur asked appearing from behind the screen where he was changing.

"Merlin!" Freya called, "Men are surrounding the village!"

"Agravaine." The prince growled, "He's found us."

...

"Into the woods." Will instructed, "The tunnels, if you can make it that far they shouldn't be able to follow you."

Merlin nodded in thanks, the royals took off with Tristan and Isolde right behind him. Unfortunately Agravaine had his men surrounding the village and a small army was soon on their trail.

"I'll cover our tracks, you keep going." Merlin ordered, Arthur nodded, knowing the warlock had something specific in mind. He was right.

"O drakon, fthengomai au se kalon; su katerkheo deuro!"

Nothing happened yet but the warlock knew it was only a matter of time and took off after his brother toward the caves. He smiled darkly when Kilgharrah's beastly cries filled the night followed by the unmistakable crackle of fire. Agravaine's army would be severely depleted.

Quickly he ducked into the tunnel entrance where Arthur, Isolde and Tristan were waiting.

"Did you lose them?" Arthur asked.

"Yes." He replied shooting Arthur a look that said 'don't question my methods'.

"Will, Freya and I grew up in these tunnels." Merlin continued, "I know the way to the other side of the mountains."

"Was it safe? leaving them behind?" Arthur questioned as they made their way through the dark caves.

"Oh don;t worry about them." Merlin smiled, "They can take care of themselves."

The rumble of stones echoed about the cavern.

"I thought you said-"

"So I missed a few." Merlin hissed, "I'll go back."

"It's too risky." Arthur insisted.

"Just follow this path you'll be fine." Merlin nodded, "I know the tunnels. I'll be back before you know it."

And with that he was gone.

...

As expected Agravaine and a small group of men were blundering about the tunnels, despite their noise they would catch up if he didn't stop them. Taking deep breath he stepped out.

"Oh, Hello!" He bellowed before legging it back up to a dead end.

"Merlin!" Agravaine growled, "Where's Arthur?"

"Be careful." Merlin replied, monotone.

"What are you talking about?" the man exclaimed, "Where is Arthur, tell me now. Or I'm afraid I'll have to kill you. 'prince' or not."

"I don't think so." Merlin sighed shaking his head.

Agravaine snorted and took a step forward, Merlin barely had to move at all to send his men flying. All with a single look. Winded, Agravaine gasped or breath.

"You! You have magic!" he choked.

"I was born with it." Merlin replied darkly.

"Emrys..." The man breathed, "You're Emrys! And I thought I was a betrayal of Arthur's trust but you!"

"He knows. He's always known." Merlin sneered.

His 'uncle' got to his feet, grinning.

"Well done." He moved to shake his hand but Merlin stepped back, holding a palm up defensively.

"Come now no need to be so hasty!" With the last word Agravaine swung his sword but before the metal even came close to flesh the man was spiraling backwards, landing hard on the rocks that littered the cave floor.

Merlin heard his skull crack. He wouldn't rise again.

Then he turned, and didn't look back.

...

Arthur reached the edge of the tunnels, the cave mouth opened into a large valley, to the north Lot's kingdom, to the south Camelot. The sun was rising now, but Merlin wasn't back.

"Where is he?" Arthur muttered. Please be alright.

"Is it true, that he was a peasant?" Tristan asked.

"Yes. When we first met, he was my servant."

"And yet you care for him as a brother?" Tristan seemed confused, guess loving didn't fit into his Pendragon mould.

"Of course. He is my brother." Arthur replied.

"Never knew you cared!" Merlin called, emerging from the tunnels.

"Where have you been?" Arthur demanded.

"Worried were you?"

"Always."

Merlin laughed, Arthur grinned.

"We'll head down into the forest, that's where the people who escaped will be hiding." Arthur ordered.

"Gwen?" Merlin asked, Arthur turned serious.

"She will be okay." Merlin insisted, "Come on, let's go find her."

...

They spent the day looking for a suitable camp, Arthur even gathered fire wood. Tristan found this most amusing.

"Look at you getting your hands dirty!"

"Why shouldn't I?" Arthur asked.

"Good point. You're not special." Tristan spat.

"Well, maybe you're right. Maybe I'm not fit to be king." Arthur argued, filled with self loathing.

"That's okay, cause you're not. Not anymore."

The chores continued in silence.

Merlin meant to speak with Arthur when a deep roared filled the air and the leaves began to shift in a spontaneous wind. The others looked up in shock and horror as a large winged panther descended on the camp. That's all they needed, a bloody baset!

Arthur drew his sword as did Tristan but Merlin's yell stopped them.

"No, wait it's okay!" He calmed.

To the other mens great surprise Merlin approached the baset, which nuzzled at him happily. The creature was jet black and just as tall as Merlin.

"It's only Freya." Merlin explained with a smile.

"Freya?" Arthur gaped.

"She was cursed when she was a child, I um, used my healing arts to fix her somewhat." Merlin stumbled over the words, obviously not wanting to say the word 'magic' in front of Tristan.

"She is forced to change when the moon is out but other times she can shift at will." Merlin smiled.

"It's cloudy out." Tristan noted, "Why can't she change back?"

Freya lowered her large head in a motion that almost seemed, embarrassed.

"Do you seen any clothes around?" Merlin grinned.

Oh.

Freya let out a low rumble.

"She's going to guard us for the night." Merlin explained.

"You understood that?" Arthur gaped.

"Not really, we got used to communicating when we were kids."

Freya purred.

I decided I liked the idea of a tame baset :)

Sorry to say but this will be my last update for 2 weeks. I'm heading off to Japan and as much as I love to write, I don't want to spend my holiday writing fanfics :P