Chapter 5

Merlin lay awake, listening to the sounds of Camelot falling asleep. He heard the last shops being closed up, the last horse being led to the stable, and finally the last drunk stumbling home from the tavern as it closed up.

He sat up in bed and strained his ears to catch any sound from downstairs. Other than Gaius' usual snore, he heard nothing, no movement. Gently, being careful to walk softly, he got out of bed and crept softly across the room and down the hall.

He surveyed the large room. It was easy enough to remember where Gaius' bed was and avoid it, but he had to strain his eyes in the darkness to make out the dark shape that was Arthur's.

He careful slid along the wall. He reached the front door and slowly eased it open, wincing as it gave one particularly loud squeak and then he was through and outside.

He sped up now, hurrying towards one of the side gates of the city.

Twenty minutes, and a simple spell to distract the guards at the gate, later and he was out in the woods. He walked quickly looking about him for landmarks, making sure he was on the right path. He was so busy following the path, he nearly jumped when the figure stepped out from behind the tree.

"You should be more careful," said the cloaked shape, "Always be on your guard. I could have been anyone."

"Morgause," said Merlin, smiling, "Sorry if I'm late."

"Not at all." The figure pushed back the hood of its cloak, revealing the woman's face and letting her blonde curls loose. "Let's walk."

She turned and started into the woods, Merlin falling into step beside her.

"How is Morgana?" she asked, after a minute of silence.

"She's good, she's really good," said Merlin, "The bracelet seems to have really helped. Gwen says she hasn't had a nightmare in weeks."

"Good…you told no one it was from me?"

"No, I didn't…" Merlin hesitated a minute and then asked, "But I don't understand…you ask after her every time, you had me make sure she got the bracelet. You obviously worry and care about her, why don't you let me bring her one night? We could trust her."

"It's dangerous Merlin. At least, at the moment," said Morgause firmly. "She's is Uther's heir, and you yourself have said she supports him."

"Well yes," admitted Merlin, "She does support him but she also questions him. She's not as convinced all magic's evil as Uther is. She could be brought around."

"Maybe, but what if she could not? What if loyalty to Uther wins out and she tells him about me, or about you. We cannot risk it. Not now." Morgause stopped and turned to look Merlin squarely in the eyes. "Not yet. Listen to me. If you joined me Merlin…if we worked together, our combined power would be unstoppable! We could create a world where all can live in peace. Think about what we could do."

"I've always felt," said Merlin after a long thoughtful silence, "That I had to have been given this magic for a reason. There must be something good I was meant to do with it. When my mother sent me here to Camelot I'd hope maybe…I'd find what that reason was…but I'm just as lost here. And seeing Uther grow more and more hateful towards magic…I grow even more confused. I don't know what I'm supposed to do."

"Merlin, we could accomplish great things, we could create a great era. Together."

Arthur was startled awake by a loud creek. He glanced towards the front door. A murky light, suggesting early dawn, illuminated a figure coming in, and as the person turned to close the door behind it, Arthur was just barely able to recognize Merlin's face.

Arthur closed his eyes again and listened as Merlin creep slowly across the room and up the stairs. He wondered what Merlin had been up to.

He tried to ignore it and go back to sleep, but the effects of whatever Gaius' had given him, had worn off and his mind was racing through the events of yesterday.

He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Well, he decided, he was going to get nowhere until he found out what kind of spell it was that had taken away all memories of him and how to break it. He could try and track down the person who had cast it but at the moment he had no leads in that direction.

Of course finding out how to break the spell would also prove difficult. As Uther's son he knew nothing about magic or anyone who used it.

Now that wasn't quite true was it? He reminded himself. He did know of the druids and since no one was remembering him maybe they would be more open to helping him then they would if they knew he was Arthur Pendragon.

He supposed the it was possible the spell only affected Camelot. But if so, he could find people, Kings, noblemen, friends of his father, who Uther might believe.

Either way, he decided, rolling over and closing he eyes again, now he had a plan. Tomorrow he would leave Camelot.