Arthur slept soundly under the shade of the twisted oaks. He hardly ever dreamt or at least did not remember if he did but when he woke in the morning he had such a positive feeling that he thought he must have had a wonderful dream that he just couldn't remember. Yesterday had started out like this and ended far less comfortably. At this rate thought Arthur 'I'll have more fun when I'm asleep.' He looked down at Merlin, still caught fast in sleep. His dreams flitted under his eyelids and Arthur was certain they were not as restful as his.

The way ahead was clear and although the road was unfamiliar it had that pleasant air of much use, a well-beaten path is what Gaius would have called it. The mountains loomed ever closer, once they were over them they would be outside Camelot's borders, though still inside the Kingdom as it was in Eadbald's time, for on Gaius map the valley beyond the mountains was still called Camelot.

They made camp overnight at the foot of the mountains and rose the next day ready for the hard toil of the climb. They would have to dismount and lead their horses most of the way. Arthur caught a rabbit and gave it to Merlin who had crammed in some cooking tips from Sir Rupert before he left, there would be little chance for a hearty meal on the inhospitable mountain. As they sat eating breakfast Arthur spread the map out before them.

"You do realise Merlin that this map makes Ealdor within Camelot?

"No." said Merlin moving in closer to see it. "I didn't notice that..I always thought we ought to be part of Camelot, our King treated us like outsiders, as though we didn't matter. At Least Uther is not like that."

Arthur looked at Merlin with curiosity.

"How can you speak of him in that way after what he did to you".

"My father you mean?" queried Merlin.

Arthur gave a short nod.

"Gwen taught me." Merlin said simply.

Arthur smiled. "Yes I can see how she could do that".

"There was a time." Merlin hesitated, remembering the full story and trying to edit it quickly. " A time when Uther's life was in danger and I knew about it, I felt I had a choice to make, prevent Uther taking more lives or......"

"Wait." interrupted Arthur, "When was this?"

"When he had Tom killed."

"Ah yes." said Arthur, hanging his head. He looked up under his brow, " You knew someone was going to kill my father and what did you do?"

"I considered not doing anything about it."

"There was silence between the two friends. Arthur gave a deep sigh. I'm glad you didn't let him die Merlin."

"Gwen said that it would make me a murderer, make me as bad as he was."

"Yes..I see that. But that would not have stopped me." Arthur spoke with a grim honesty.

"You don't know that Arthur, you can't know what will happen or how you will react until the time comes. I thought that if I could stop him…. if ever I got the chance to end all the suffering he caused then I would, but it was more complicated than that."

"So how did you foil this would-be assassin?"

"I didn't, Morgana did."

Arthur answered silently with one of his tight-lipped nods and rose to his feet.

"So." he said, kicking over the traces of their fire. "Shall we say hello to Hunith."

………………………………………………………………………………………

The last time Arthur had been in Ealdor there had been great euphoria. It had been an extraordinary circumstance so he had never really seen what the village was like everyday. He had found it hard to imagine his bold, quick-witted servant living this slow and simple life. And he had never got a straight answer from Merlin as to why he left. But he was beginning to suspect that Merlin was more than just bold and clever. He didn't know how it worked being born into magic but he guessed that it must leave its mark. Whether Merlin was already a sorcerer or not he was evidently different from the people of Ealdor.

Hunith welcomed her son and his noble friend. It was clear she noted that they were more than just servant and master. They played the parts well but there were signs of affection and respect that could not be hidden. She tried to discover what had brought them out to Ealdor but both men expertly skirted around the question. The villagers insisted on feeding them up and recounting every month that had passed between Arthur's departure and their coming now. She noticed a slight glazed expression on the Princes face as Tobias' account of last years harvest ambled into its second half hour.

That night she took Merlin to one side. He had written to her about Balinor, she imagined he was too upset to come and tell her himself and perhaps too angry.

She looked up into his eyes, so like his father's in their intensity, but blue like hers.

"Merlin." she said softly. He diverted his gaze the way he used as a child when he was trying to lie.

"Merlin. Look at me."

Merlin smiled at her, "OK, I know what you want to say."

"Do you son? Perhaps you only think you do. Why don't you hear me out?"

Melrin sat down accepting that this was a conversation he would have to have.

"Your father didn't know about you, I could have told him, I wanted to, but I knew he would never leave if I told him and he had to leave. I often wonder if I did the right thing." Hunith paused trying to fathom her son's impassive face. "But I know there was one mistake I did make."

Merlin looked at his mother. All the love and affection he felt was still present in his eyes but there was also an understanding there that she had not seen before. She returned his smile and placed her hand on his cheek.

"You are truly grown up Merlin," she said. "How did that happen?"

Merlin grew thoughtful and Hunith did not press any more words on him or ask for any.

When they had sat a while listening to the chatter and celebration from the campfire Merlin spoke.

"I saw you both as two people…..caught up in something terrible." Merlin looked down at his hands. "I have known what it is to be caught like that."

Arthur watched Hunith stroke Merlin's hair, she gently pulled him towards her and kissed his forehead. Deep within him Arthur felt the familiar hunger for a mother's touch.

……………………………………………………………………………………

Hunith made them flat bread to take and wrapped some salted pork. She embraced her son and almost did the same to Arthur as he seemed, not exactly one of them, he could never be that, but he seemed like them in some way. Not anything like any nobleman she had ever met and Hunith, despite her lowly lifestyle, had met many a knight in her younger days.

Merlin and Arthur mounted their horses, the villagers of Ealdor gathered to wave them off. Suddenly Hunith remembered the food and rushed in to get it. She opened Merlin's saddlebag and as she pushed the parcel in, her hand brushed against the journal and she instinctively pulled it out.

"Merlin! Where did you get this!" She said excitedly.

"I found it in the library at Camelot. Why mother? What do you know about it?"

"This is the journal of Aidith." said Hunith waving it at Merlin emphatically.

"Who was he?"

"She Merlin, she was my great great grandmother."