It wasn't the first time when they walked through the forest at night, just the two of them. Arthur jolted the memory of the days when Merlin had been wounded and he was forced to leave his friend. And he remembered the joy when he saw Merlin again.

"I'm not leaving you behind this time." Arthur murmured and Merlin turned his head to watch him.

"What?"

"Nothing. But are you sure you can walk?"

Merlin had demanded to be able to walk by himself. Arthur hovered behind him ready to help.

"It feels a lot better. Not tired. Maybe all this is only temporary." Arthur certainly hoped so, but when he watched Merlin he thought if Merlin was lying, because he didn't looked any better. Maybe Merlin was again pushing himself too far. But Arthur didn't wanted to argue. He wanted Merlin back to Camelot as soon as possible.

"I really fucked it up this time, right?" Merlin suddenly said. Arthur tried to laugh, but his laugh was a weak attempt. "Yes, you did." He said finally. In the moonlight Arthur saw how Merlin smiled. "Nothing new, right?"

"Merlin, don't…"

"I always end up messing everything."

"What a hell you are talking Merlin?"

"My fault, every time…" Merlin sighed and stopped. "Headache." He rubbed his forehead but started to walk again. Arthur watched him going. "Merlin, wait…"

"Fixing all the problems…"

"Merlin…"

Merlin spun on his heels and stared Arthur.

"Who killed Erick?" Merlin asked. "And why? There wasn't anything valuable."

"No there wasn't." Arthur admitted.

"So why he was killed such a way?" Merlin wondered and continued his walk. "It not makes any sense."

"Merlin…"

"Here is something, something in the woods." Merlin stopped again and looked around. It wasn't so dark. The full moon was lighting the area. "It's so magical, being here like this. Can you feel it Arthur?"

"What are you talking?"

"Listen it, touch it." Merlin stretched out his hand, and the moonlight glistening through his fingers. "Look."

"Merlin?"

But Merlin just watched the light.

"We should go now Merlin."

"Yes. Maybe we have to run." Merlin said still watching his hand and the light.

"Run?"

"They are watching. And waiting. I don't think that we can actually run."

Merlin's speeches began to little by little scare Arthur. Was it all caused by the poison? He grabbed Merlin's shoulder. "Just walk ahead."

Merlin looked at him and nodded. His gaze was strangely glazed. "Let's go. I don't think that they will attack yet. They are watching."

"Whose are watching?"

"Probably the ones whom killed Erick. Don't you see them?"

Arthur gulped. "Merlin. There is no one anywhere near us. Come on. I think that the poison is affecting you somehow strangely."

Merlin's face lighted up. "Oh, yeah. Poison. Let's go then." And again, they continued their journey. Arthur observed Merlin under increasing scrutiny. Merlin rubbed his head more and more often, and muttered something quietly to himself. Arthur began to feel himself increasingly anxious. He had just suggesting a rest break when Merlin came to a halt again. Merlin covered his ears and Arthur helped him quickly to sit. Merlin had closed his eyes, and Arthur was able to just watch and wait until the pain was over and Merlin relaxed again, but still holding his head and his eyes closed.

"My head. Gods it hurt so much."

Arthur felt himself helpless. "Maybe we have to just rest a bit."

"No. We have to walk. We are in their area. We can't stop now." Merlin shook his head.

"What a hell you are talking now?"

"Dryads. I got it Arthur. I know why they killed Erick. And why they will kill us too. Eventually. They are hunters. And now they play with us."

"Dryads? There is no one Merlin. You are hallucinating if you think that some kind of …"

"Oh, they are very real Arthur. Saw them before, near my home. They are not nice ones. Believe me. Magical beings, so of course I can see them and you can't. You can't even sense them before it's too late." Merlin whispered.

"What do you mean I can't but you can? Listen to yourself! Snap out of it and we can…"

And then Merlin opened his eyes again and Arthur backed off and in hurry fell over. He dragged himself urgently further away from Merlin not being able to detach his gaze.

"What's the matter Arthur?" Merlin asked worriedly.

"Your eyes…"

"Something wrong with them?" Merlin asked nervously and Arthur stared him in shock.

"They are glowing…"

"Oh no." Merlin eyes widened like he was suddenly realizing something.

"…golden."

Been on my way around the USA so I can't always update so much than what I want. Nice country I have to say. And San Diego Comic Con was just too great! It was nice to visit. Oh my, I can't to wait to see the next season of Merlin!