Thank you to those of you who have added this fic to alert/favs and of course to my loyal reviewers who have stuck with this story this far. The next few chapters may not be that exciting but please try to stay with me. The rest of this story is planned out and there should be more happening soon. I do tinker with things quite a lot as I write though, and Merlin and Arthur especially do tend to get away from me a bit.

Enjoy and do review if you get chance! :D

Chapter 12

This is absurd, Uther thought. He was not even feeling unwell, and he certainly wasn't dead – was he? Perhaps the sorceress had lied to him; those who practiced magic were hardly the most trustworthy individuals. Perhaps she had killed him. What if he was a ghost? The very thought that he, King Uther Pendragon could become such a being was repugnant. Was this his punishment for his crusade against sorcery, to walk these corridors unseen for an eternity? Uther had never sought death, but he had faced its cruel grin on more than one occasion. Still, he never envisioned the outcome of his demise as anything like this. He always thought he would be reunited with Ygraine. He could only hope that when he was, she would be able to forgive him his sins. He thought he would watch proudly from wherever lay beyond as Arthur was crowned king, but now he didn't even know where his son was or if he would even survive to return and take up the throne. No, he thought, he had to have faith in him.

It was only then he realised in his agitation, that he was breathing rather more heavily than usual. He was still breathing. Standing quietly and concentrating on his internal workings, he could feel his heart, still pumping valiantly away in his chest. His initial assumptions were correct then, he still lived, but that didn't excuse the fact that he couldn't be seen or heard by anyone.

Turning his back on Gaius, Hadwyn and Caradoc, who were continuing to discuss the grimness of situation, Uther went over to the wall and brushed his hand against the stonework. It felt rough against his fingertips. He pushed harder and the wall stayed firm against his touch. He was still solid then; that was a bonus at least. He felt he must look incredibly foolish as he flapped a tapestry madly in a vain attempt to attract attention, but it would seem that the court had succumbed to a sudden attack of blindness, or no-one was aware of his actions any more than they were aware of him. He attempted to touch someone again, first Gaius, then each of his knights, but each time he did they stepped out of his way as Gaius had before or ignored him completely. Gaius had briefly looked confused by the manner in which the three of them, including himself, were randomly waltzing around the corridor to avoid contact with an invisible man, then seemed to shrug it off as perfectly normal behaviour. Uther wondered what would happened if he tried to hit one of them. Obviously, he would never strike Gaius, but he contemplated shoving one of the soldiers before deciding against it for the moment, if they moved suddenly to avoid him, the results could be most undignified even if there was nobody to see it. Besides, that sort of behaviour was hardly befitting of a king. Not when they could not anticipate it first.

He returned to the ongoing conversation, which had turned from the whereabouts of the king and the absence of Arthur the issue of resources.

"We have plenty of food in stores," Caradoc said.

"But water could be more of a problem," said Gaius seriously, "Given that the well and the pumps are outside."

"We were told anyone who went out would be attacked," Hadwyn reminded them both.

"Regardless, we will need fresh water soon."

"We need to determine if the sorceress's threats have any ground," Caradoc said.

"I'll gather a group together and we'll attempt to draw some more water from the well in the main square," Hadwyn said, and made to do just that. The giant knight stopped him as an idea flashed in his head."

"Wait, what happened to the prisoner? The one that was supposed to be executed this morning."

"Eadric's killer?" Uther and Hadwyn asked simultaneously.

"You're not serious?" Gaius exclaimed.

"I think they returned him to the cells," said Hadwyn.

"Fetch him."

Good thinking, Uther thought. Gaius and Hadwyn didn't seem to agree.

"I am willing to go out there myself," Hadwyn argued.

"This way we can determine what we are dealing with."

"We know what we are dealing with that's the problem. But does he know?"

"He's a criminal."

"And already a dead man." Uther added, unheard.

"He's also a human being," Gaius said, "And regardless of his crimes you cannot force him to be your test subject."

"Think of him as a scout. Are you suggesting this murderer, this man who admittedly has consorted with sorcerers, deserves better treatment than the people lying in the infirmary right now who were hurt fighting in defence of their kingdom," Caradoc said as if challenging him.

"Of course not," Hadwyn tried to reason, "But I am willing to protect Camelot with my life if necessary, and I am sure every other soldier in Camelot would say the same."Uther admired the man's loyalty, but if he had been giving the same orders he would have expected them to be carried out without complaint.

"There will be a time for heroics," Caradoc relished the last word, knowing full well that Hadwyn still felt guilty that he had not been among the number that accompanied the prince in the final confrontation with the dragon a month ago. It was a shame that Caradoc took full advantage of exploiting for his own pleasure, despite his own lack of involvement in that particular battle. "But we may as well find out what we can about if and how these wyverns will attack, or if the witch has any more tricks up her sleeves, before we risk our own men."

"A sound point," Hadwyn reluctantly conceded whilst Gaius scowled. Uther nodded in agreement with Caradoc. At least someone was taking firm charge over the situation, although he was still furious that it wasn't him. After all, he had been demoted to a mere observer in his own domain, and that was more enfeebling than any physical hurt the sorceress could have inflicted.

* * *

"I don't want to cast on doubt your superior, princely navigational skills, but are you absolutely sure we're going the right way?" Merlin asked Arthur for the third time as he pulled a thorn out of his finger.

"Yes Merlin, for the final time." Arthur heaved a sigh. He got off his horse and hacked away at the thicket that was blocking their way, clearing a path in seconds. "See," he said, motioning to the gap he'd just cleared. "It's not that difficult."

"If it's not that difficult, why can't you do it yourself," Merlin complained as he sucked his pricked finger.

"If I'm not mistaken, I just did. You really are completely useless, you do know that?" Arthur said irritably. "I don't know why I even bother hanging on to a servant like you sometimes."

"Because you value intelligent company?" Merlin suggested.

"Again, I don't know why I even bother keeping you around."

Merlin regarded his woodland surroundings. The track they were following was not well travelled and had been overcome by the surrounding vegetation. This was making their progress extremely difficult, particularly with the horses. Merlin had spent several minutes trying to clear the pathway that Arthur had unblocked annoyingly quickly, and he now had several cuts and scratches up his arms to show for it. As the afternoon sun cast its dappled light down on him, Merlin wiped the sweat from his brow.

"So remind me again why we're engaged in brutal combat with a shrubbery. I mean, I know that brambles pose a serious threat to the kingdom, but we are sort of in a hurry."

"It has been ten years since anyone has had needed to come this way, so it's bound to be a little bit overgrown."

"Oh yes, just a little bit."

"But despite the fact the bushes are almost as dense as you, this is still the quickest way to Heolstor, or at least it would be if you had any competence whatsoever in clearing a halfway decent route."

"I'm your manservant, not a gardener."

"Merlin, you're from Ealdor. There's nothing to do there except farming. You must know perfectly well how to dig up beans and sow a potato."

Sow a potato? Merlin chose not to question Arthur's horticultural expertise.

"So a small about of basic weeding really shouldn't be a problem."

"There's nothing basic about this. Besides, growing vegetables generally doesn't involve slashing madly at impenetrable undergrowth with a sword. You know, if you gave me a little more help, we would get through the rest a lot quicker."

"I'm the prince."

"Just pretend it's a magical creature," recommended Merlin. And try not to get yourself knocked out,he thought as the pair led their horses carefully through the path Arthur had just cleared.

They continued on, stepping over branches that lay in their path and chopping away at encroaching bushes.

"If you think about it, if no-one has been this way for a decade there could be anything in these woods," Merlin pointed out.

Arthur shook his head. Trust Merlin to come up with the worst-case scenario. Still, he was right. He didn't know what lurked out of sight in this forest. The difference was he didn't spend a lot of time thinking about it.

"Did you hear that?" Merlin exclaimed suddenly twisting his head round wildly trying to locate the source of the noise."

Arthur listened. "I don't hear anything." He looked around and saw nothing. "You're far too superstitious, Merlin." Then Arthur did hear something. There was a rustling in the bushes. He turned around to the source of the sound. "Merlin?" His servant was nowhere to be seen "Merlin?" There was a further rustling.

Arthur stood on guard, following the noise through the foliage. He was unable to see what was causing it, but whatever it was had taken Merlin. The thing was directly in front of him now. Cautiously he moved forward, sword at the ready in case it should strike out at him. He slowly pushed back a clump of leaves with one hand.

"BOO!" Merlin shouted. A humongous grin was plastered across his face as Arthur jumped ever so slightly out of his skin.

"Merlin. You…." Arthur could not find an appropriate word to describe him. Merlin was in hysterics as he scrambled out of the bushes, despite almost tripping up as he did so. "Idiot!" Arthur said, slapping Merlin around the back of his head. Merlin rubbed himself, where he had been hit, still wearing a massive smile. "Do you feel better after that?"

"Strangely yes."

"How old are you, five?"

"I was just trying to cheer you up," Merlin admitted. Something had been distracting Arthur since they had left Camelot. At first he'd thought it was just the aftermath of battle coupled with worry for Camelot's safety, but now he wasn't so sure. Arthur was covering it well, but Merlin wasn't fooled.

"What makes you think I need cheering up?" Arthur laughed to hide his discomposure.

"Something's bothering you. I can tell." Arthur's face fell slightly at Merlin's words..

"Yes, what's bothering me is the fact that I seem to be playing hide-and-seek with my immature servant while a sorceress terrorises people back home," he said defensively.

"You can tell me."

"You don't think this conversation sounds oddly familiar? Besides," Arthur pointed a reprimanding finger at Merlin, "I don't tell you things, I tell you to tell me things."

"Fine, don't tell me then. It's probably none of my business anyway." Merlin stared at Arthur expectantly.

"You're right, it isn't." Merlin still didn't blink. "Honestly, it's really nothing."

"I'm sure it is nothing," Merlin said.

"Exactly. It's not important. Let's keep moving." Merlin's eyes still bore into his own. "Will you stop doing that?!" Arthur groaned. "Are you always this stubborn?"

"I prefer to think of it as determination."

"You really are making too much of this." Arthur took in a deep breath. "It just feels a little strange going back there after what happened and that's all there is to it."

"Back there?" Merlin asked him, breaking his stare as they began walking again.

"Heolstor," Arthur began to explain. He had started now, so however reluctantly he would have to finish. "I was eleven when my father found out about the magical settlement that had survived The Purge. I've never seen so much fury and delight combined in one man. He wanted to be there himself to see it destroyed, and to put the rumours about the place to rest."

"And you went with him?" Arthur nodded.

"It was part of my education."

"Ah." Merlin understood.

"I don't know why I let it get to me. I'd seen people killed before, public executions and the like, and I've seen plenty more since. I've taken many of those lives myself; rather more than I'm comfortable with." Arthur didn't know why he was telling Merlin all of this. He supposed the fact that he was occupied with clearing the way ahead somewhat disguised the fact that he was actually engaged in a heart to heart talk, and with a servant nonetheless. Though now he was talking, it did feel good to open up. "We stood on the cliff top, me and my father, while he admired his handiwork," Arthur continued. "I had known what we were going there to do and still the sight still shocked me. The destruction of entire towns, killing everyone who lived there was something the enemy did, but not us and yet here we were. Most people didn't even fight back, they just stood there and died and that didn't seem right to me, not then, not now."

"They were sorcerers though."

"And magic is evil, I know. I've been told that since birth." He found Merlin was staring at him strangely again. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"No reason," Merlin said innocently, averting his eyes upwards. Arthur did not believe that for a second, but finished his story nonetheless.

"There were no survivors; at least that's what we thought. The town was searched for any dangerous magical artefacts to be taken back to the vaults and all the wooden buildings were burned to the ground. As we begun our return to Camelot, there was a young woman travelling in the opposite direction. She was about 17 or 18, red hair, grey eyes. I can't believe I still remember. She was a peasant going by her dress, and she asked for directions to the town. I thought my father would have her killed too but he didn't. Instead he just told her to 'Look for the smoke'."

"I can see why this would bother you."

"That's the thing, at the time it did, but recently I've never even given it a second thought. Then, after this morning…. If that place has so much power and sorcerers can use that, then against a whole village, we shouldn't have stood a chance. Unless…."

"Unless what?" Merlin asked. His was tone odd, almost as if he was testing him. Arthur realised he was making his doubts known and that would not do. How did he allow himself to get into this situation anyway?

"Nothing. It doesn't matter." Arthur produced a map and pointed ahead. "We should be getting to a clearing soon and then we're nearly out of these woods," said Arthur, rapidly changing the subject. Merlin realised the conversation was over and knew better than to push it.

"Great!" he said cheerfully, relieved that he would be spared any more chopping duties. "So it's an easy ride all the way to Heolstor then?"

"More or less."

"Right, I'll take that as a no then."

"It's only a swamp."

"Oh, that's not so bad. Wait a minute, we don't have to swim through it do we," said Merlin, turning white.

"Don't be ridiculous. There's a causeway."

"Good."

"Which due to border disputes now takes us into Cenred's kingdom," Arthur added.

"That's not so good."

"But it's only very briefly, and it is very unlikely that we'll encounter any of Cenred's men."

"Why?" Merlin asked suspiciously.

"People don't tend to guard swamps," Arthur pointed out logically.

"That makes sense."

"And it's supposed to be haunted." Arthur muttered almost silently.

"Pardon?" Merlin hadn't quite heard him. Arthur decided he did not really need to know.

"Never mind."

(Yes, I am well aware that potatoes weren't around then, but then neither were tomatoes, sandwiches, stiletto shoes or talking dragons. Don't take it too seriously - I don't.)

Hope you liked this chapter and Happy Easter everyone!!!