Merlin sighed. Gaius had told him that he had done the right thing by sending Alethea home but Merlin didn't believe him. He couldn't. After all, had he done right by Alethea or by everyone else? And by doing so, he had gone and let his only true friend who understood his magic, the need for secrecy and understood him slip through his fingers. He had sent her home and given her freedom, whilst Merlin would be forever bound by secrecy. He had instantly regretted sending her home the moment that the portal had closed and he regretted it even more so now. He couldn't bring her back. He knew that even if he could re open the same portal, Alethea had been right. He would never be able to survive in her world long enough to find her, and even then they would have to find a way back somehow. Now, because of his one minute of kindness, he had no one his own age to talk to properly about his magic. Sorcery was forbidden so even talking of it could get you convicted, and there was only so much interest that Gaius could have. Even so, Merlin wished that there was someone his own age he could talk to about his magic. At least then he wouldn't feel so much like an outcast.

Merlin still hadn't forgotten the loss in Arthur's eyes when the Prince had discovered that Alethea had left him and since then, Merlin had rarely even dared to show his face. Instead, Merlin had opted to stay out of Arthur's way and do all of his jobs when the young Pendragon was busy. Some may call this cowardice but Merlin called it saving himself from the stocks and Arthur's temper. He didn't know which would be worse though when it came to Arthur's moods: anger or sorrow? The young Warlock could not bear to see anyone upset, even more so when he knew that he was responsible for it. Then again, Merlin didn't really want to be on the receiving end of Arthur's temper. He still had the bruises from not being quick enough to dodge the flying objects.

As the day progressed and Merlin finished his duties, he headed into town to run some errands for Gaius. As usual, the marketplace of Camelot was busy but Merlin soon managed to get the herbs that Gaius wanted. Handing over the coins, he caught a glimpse of Arthur. Merlin hid among the crowds but something puzzled him. Why was his master looking happy and like he was on a quest? Knowing that the Prince hadn't seen him, Merlin breathed a sigh of relief before going on about his business. That had been close and at that moment in time, Merlin didn't really want to see Arthur. He just didn't know how the Prince would react just yet.

It was a warm day in Camelot and Merlin kept to the shaded parts of town. As he did so, he caught a glimpse of something familiar but when he looked again he saw no one. Blaming it on a trick of the light, the young Wizard went to the forest where he found his favourite spot and sat down under the branches of an oak tree. Smiling as he tucked into the bread he'd bought at the market, he spent most of the afternoon trying to finish his book that Alethea had given him. He was just over half way to the finish.

As day turned to night and the air cooled, Merlin closed the book. He had near enough finished it, with just one chapter to go, and was sorely tempted to stay and read it but the chill air chose for him. It was too cold to stay there for much longer. As a bell somewhere struck the hour, Merlin was suddenly reminded that he should be serving at the feast at that moment in time. Grabbing everything together, he sprinted back to Camelot and dumped everything in his room before quickly getting changed. Nerves began to set in then as he wondered what Arthur would say to him. Would there be more arguing or just self pity? Merlin decided he would find out soon enough.

Running to the Great Hall, Merlin was glad to find that he hadn't been missed and as he scanned the room, he smiled when he saw Gwen looking fed up. Creeping up behind her, he poked her in the back and made her jump.

"What the…Merlin! You scared me half to death!"

"Hello Gwen." He said cheerfully. "How are you?"

"I'm fine thanks. Have you heard the news?"

"What news?" Merlin asked, half expecting it to be about one of the knights from the tournament or a new visitor from a different kingdom.

"Alethea. She's back."

"What?" Of all the things, Merlin hadn't expected to hear that news.

"Over there." Gwen pointed to the head table and, sure enough, Alethea was sat next to Arthur looking as happy as she could ever be.

"No….It can't be… She can't be here!"

"Arthur found her in Camelot today. I'm afraid I don't know the details. I was hoping you'd fill me in."

"I didn't know she was back… But she can't be…"

"But she is."

"You don't understand… She can't be here. I said goodbye to her. I saw her leave."

"Aren't you happy she's back?"

"I am."

"There you go then. I know she said her farewells and wrote them down for some of us, but she's obviously changed her mind and decided to stay a little bit longer."

"That's good news but..."

"You're jealous, aren't you?"

"Jealous? Never."

"Well, she is in Arthur's favour...."

What could he say to that? Nothing. As Gwen was called over to Morgana, Merlin filled cups with wine but it was all too much to take in. Returning to his room once the feast was over, Merlin gave Gaius his herbs before climbing into bed. Lighting a candle (with magic of course) Merlin didn't finish the book. His mind was too active to read. Instead he wondered just how exactly Alethea had returned from her own time. How on Earth could she have returned without help? That portal had only been open for a few minutes. If she had returned within that time then surely he would have seen her. So how had she returned to Camelot?

What made things worse was the fact that Alethea had immediately gone to Arthur rather than him and, to add insult to injury, Merlin hadn't even been informed of her return even though she was his closest friend. Had that been purposely done? Or had they simply forgotten to tell him? And if it was done on purpose then what on Earth were Alethea and Arthur up to? Merlin resolved that he would find out before the next day was out.

He didn't see Alethea until late morning the next day when he decided to return the book to her. This would be part of his test to see if this really was Alethea or if it was someone else. Merlin had finished the book that morning and so, knocking on the door, he walked into the luxurious room with a tray of food and placed it on the table, waiting for her to speak.

"Merlin?"

"Good morning Alethea." The young warlock greeted her, a smile on his lips.

"How are you?"

"When did you get back?"

"Yesterday."

"How?" he asked, his tone of voice not changing.

"Another portal."

"But you need magic."

"It appeared from nowhere."

"Oh… I'm glad you're back."

"Same here." He didn't quite catch her cruel smile but he did notice the evil tone in her voice. "Anyway…"

"I must say I'm sorry."

"What for?"

"Our argument."

"What argument?" the girl before him asked, a quizzical look on her brow.

"Before you left."

"Huh?"

"I just didn't want you to leave." Merlin saw that she was still puzzled and wondered whether he was right in thinking that this was not the real Alethea.

"Oh. My mind is still muddled, but I forgive you."

"Thanks, and I also came to return this." he held out the book and Alethea stared at it with pure curiosity, almost as if she had never seen it before.

"What is it?"

"The book you gave me."

"Oh." She opened it and nodded. "Just as I left it." But it wasn't. Merlin had changed the innards to contain something completely different. If it had been the real Alethea in front of him then she would have noticed.

"Did you get home alright?"

"Yes... Nothing much had changed."

"What was it like?"

"Houses and people. The usual. How I'd left it."

"Horses?"

"Lots of them." Merlin couldn't take any more of these lies.

"Alright, enough is enough. Who are you and what have you done to Alethea?"

"Merlin, I am Alethea."

"No you're not."

"I a…" Merlin cut her short.

"You are not Alethea. Who are you? What have you done with her?"

"Merlin, I am Alethea."

"No…If you were she then you would have noticed the switch in the books and you would have come to me first. Now, tell me, who are you?"

"You know me Merlin, and I know you. I am Alethea."

"You may look like her, but you are not the Alethea I sent home, or the one Arthur fell in love with."

"You know me Merlin. I told you I would be back."

"No…You can't be...I got rid of you." The truth dawned on him. But it couldn't be her.

"And your kindness brought me back. Your Alethea is probably dead by now, or well on her way to death. You sent her straight into my arms and now it will be your fault that Camelot falls."

"No…. She cannot be…" Merlin said in disbelief. He had sent Alethea to her death and now that could cause the downfall of the kingdom because of it.

"But she is…See." In the mirror swirls of smoke formed and cleared to show an image. The real Alethea was tied bound to a tree with her head down and her clothes sticking to her skin. From Merlin's point of view, the true Alethea really did look dead. How long had she been dead for? How long had she suffered before she had died? How long had she waited for someone to rescue her? Had she given up hope long ago? Had she been in pain? Anger took hold of Merlin as he tore his eyes away from the image.

"How could you do that? How could you kill her?"

"Quite easily. She got in the way." As Merlin went to leave, the fake Alethea smiled. "Going somewhere?" Merlin needed to warn Arthur. Alethea hadn't returned. Nimueh had. Someone needed to be told so that Camelot would have some sort of warning and be able to stop her.

"I…" He tried to open the door but found it locked. Trying with all his might, no amount of his magic could open it. Letting go, he turned back to the sorceress, ready for a duel if needs be.

"Do you really think I'll let you go now that you know who I am? You're stupider than you look Merlin. I can't let you go telling Arthur now, can I?" she laughed before uttering an incantation. Before he even had chance to register what she was doing, Merlin flew back into the wall with a sickening crunch resounding around the room. He felt nothing as he slid to the floor but he was just about aware of movement before he let the darkness consume him.