I'm back... Vacation was a blast and so was writing this chapter...in the end. Thanks for all the reviews! I find each of you amazing! I'll try to update a bit sooner in the future.

AN: Again, not beta'ed...

Chapter 11: Gone Is The World You Know

... Da-thump...

"Merlin..."

...Da-thump...

"Merlin...!"

It finally faded.

Merlin groaned and breathed in deeply for the first time since the bludgeoning force had released his hold. He tried to shift his legs. His limbs felt heavy and at that very moment Merlin realised two things: he was uncomfortably lying on the cold rocks and Leon and Gwaine were frantically hovering above him. Merlin finally opened his eyes though he didn't want to.

Gwaine was the first to react, "Merlin, are you alright?" His voice was laced with worry.

"There's something wrong..." He managed to mumble. His voice felt hoarse and unused. He managed to push himself up a bit so he was leaning on one arm, while Leon held up a water skin. Merlin gratefully drank a few gulps.

"Yeah, with you. You fainted." Leon said anxiously, he really didn't like this place.

"No, something has happened, something …" Merlin tried once more to convey this feeling in words but couldn't. He felt too raw. His gut was screaming, he felt sick, literally sick. Something perverse just happened. We were to late...

"You said something about smoke." Gwaine tried to be helpful. He didn't like Merlin being this thoughtful and quiet.

"I did?" Merlin rubbed his eyes and sat a bit straighter. He didn't remember that, to be frank he didn't remember how he had gotten on the ground at all.

"Yes, right before you fainted." Gwaine said, emphasizing that last word.

"I didn't faint!" Merlin snapped loudly. Couldn't they see that there was nothing wrong with him? They had much more pressing reasons to worry, instead they were fussing over him.

He had felt magic shift. Magic didn't do that. It wasn't right.

"I think I agree with Merlin here, Gwaine." Merlin looked grateful at Leon, glad the knight was on his side. Unfortunately the older knight wasn't finished, "He stopped breathing for a minute, I reckon that's worse than fainting."

"Fine, I fainted. There. Satisfied?" Merlin said annoyed as he got up, "Now can we go on?"

He asked that question, but didn't wait for an answer as he headed for the path. He needed to get back to Camelot. There was nothing more pressing at the moment.

"Merlin, you can't keep running off like that without saying something." Gwaine shouted angry and grabbed Merlin's jacket before he could take one more step. He didn't understand what was going on, why his friend was so vexed and he hated that, "We're your friends. We deserve an explanation."

Merlin sighed. Gwaine was right. He was acting foolish and rude. But they didn't understand, they couldn't. He still felt a bit weak, but it wasn't his own strength that had faltered. It was magic itself.

"What is it?" Gwaine still insisted. It wasn't like Merlin to be this distant or difficult.

"Do you trust me?" Merlin finally whispered as if he was scared all of a sudden. This was something Gwaine could do something about. He gave one of his sincerest smiles, "Of course."

"Yes, Merlin." Leon added.

"No, I mean really trust me, not just trust me with your food or with the horses." Merlin spoke louder this time, he wasn't satisfied with their swift answers. He needed to be sure before he would take the next step. He bit his lip. He could just hear Gaius and Galahad arguing again in the back of his head. Reckless, foolish, watch out, don't do this!

"Why are you so worried? What happened?" Gwaine was still prying for information while Leon quietly observed.

Merlin ignored his questions and asked one instead, "Do you trust me to make a decision on which the safety of Camelot depends?" Merlin swallowed harshly. This was it. Depending on their answers there was no turning back.

Gwaine nodded seriously without hesitation, but Leon took a moment to think about that question. He trusted Merlin, didn't he? He looked back at all those quests over the last few years, at Merlin's role in Camelot these days, on the grim determination he saw right in front of him now.

"Yes, I trust you, like a fellow knight with my life." He said after a minute and Merlin relaxed his tense shoulders.

"Good, thank you. Now take my hand and close your eyes. And whatever you hear do not let go." He ordered as he raised his hands. He saw the surprised faces of his companions as they silently did what he asked.

"Merlin, this looks pretty silly what…" Gwaine started to protest as he closed his eyes, but Merlin wasn't listening anymore. He gritted his teeth and reached for his magic. In spite of the disturbance a few minutes ago, Merlin felt his magic surge with ease. It felt natural, normal and was more healing than the water Leon had given him to drink. His magic seemed to spark and in an instant it engulfed everyone. Merlin took a deep breath and closed his eyes as well.

"Forelæde færeld geond forescýwan, bescín úre færeld, álynne ús hæghálra!"

As the world was vanishing around them and the ground collapse below, Merlin gazed into the swirling wind he summoned and looked through the sudden fog.

"Is this the sound of my voice? IS THIS THE SOUND OF MY VOICE?" The man waited until the echo's died down before he grinned and twirled around merrily, "Yes it is. How grand, how grand. Forever frolicking through forest of icy sleeves and mashed wheels that turn the eels round and round the ragged bush and back again... Aaah. Iiieh. Ooow. Disgusting vowels. Terrible things, they are like toe nails. You can life without them but it is a horrid inconvenience if you do."

Too say Morgana was baffled was a gross understatement. She stared at the man before her. He was standing on the bottom of the basin and was contentedly inspecting his fingers, before running them along his face. He was humming happily and completely ignoring her and Aithusa.

After a few minutes of tense silence on her side Morgana cleared her throat.

"Ahem, welcome back. I am-" She started solemnly but was swiftly cut short.

"Mmm, I'm naked, that's … different. I don't remember being naked." The man said puzzled, "Scratch that, I distinctly remember having clothes on. I'm guessing from your gaze that you didn't expect this either." He spoke to her for the first time. This and his uncommon yet, Morgana had to admit, dashing appearance was enough to baffle her even further. The man grinned at her and suddenly opened his mouth and put on a shocked expression.

It took her a second to realize that he was imitating her. Morgana shut her gaping mouth quickly and blushed, but the man seemed unfazed or uninterested in this and proceeded inspecting his body once more.

"So no chance of a spare set of clothes? Men's clothes that is." The man looked up to her once more and sighed disappointed, "Pity. Mmm, luckily I'm a talented fellow. Let's see, what do I want?"

He stretched his hands and closed his eyes. The air around him gulfed and twirled and before Morgana blinked, the man was fully clothed.

"Excellent, always loved green." He said appraising the emerald green tunic he was wearing. Other than that he now was wearing a shining pair of black booths, equally black trousers and a dark green sleeveless jacket with golden runes sewed on. A black cloak was fixed upon his left shoulder with an elaborate golden clasp depicting two dragons breathing lifelike fire towards each other.

"A bit excessively but all is fair to impress a beautiful lady like yourself." The man said and waited for a response. "Are you shy or something?"

"What?" Morgana was still a bit baffled, "No, it's... you're just not what I was expecting."

"So you rather had an old and greyish fully clothed in black kind of guy?" The man grinned and twirled around once more, "Preferably with wrinkles and bad breath? Great, I just love being a disappointment."

"No, it's..." This whole exchange was not what she expected, but Morgana prided herself in being unfazed by surprises. So she took a deep breath and continued what she initially started to say.

"I am Lady Morgana, true Queen of Camelot and High Priestess of the Old Religion. I summoned you here to aid me in taking back what's rightfully mine." Morgana said with pride and watched happily as her titles seemed to have their impact. Aithusa's presence was working fabulous as well as she sensed the man's interest. She smiled. "As your Summoner I order you to take down Camelot."

"Camelot" The man yawned and jumped out of the basin. "Sounds boring. Buckets full of bug's blood."

"Sorry what?" Morgana's smile vanished like mist under the sun. She shook her head in confusion and involuntarily took a step back as the man came closer.

"Hm, I'm guessing you didn't read the small letters in that big bad magic book, did you? I'm sorry to interrupt this party, but I won't be assisting no one, least of all a mere servant of Magic. But I'm being rude. I forgot to introduce myself. You shouldn't hold that against me. Being caged for ages does deter the required forms of etiquette." He gave her a mocked bow,"You can call me Hréonhes. Or Master. I'm kidding, 'master' is such a plebeian word. Do you think 'emperor' would suit me or does that make me look old?"

Morgana had no idea how to answer that and scowled in return. "Mmm, scratch sense of humour..." Hréonhes mused, "Let's rediscover my city shall we? I'm dying to see how she fared."

A second later the trio reappeared somewhere else. Merlin immediately felt grass below his feet instead of rocks. The smell of the sea was gone and the sound of the surrounding forests filled his ears instantly.

When the last strand of fog vanished, his magic released them and they tumbled hard on the ground.

Gwaine was the first to speak, "Wow, can we do that again?"

"Why? Don't you feel terrible?" Merlin massaged his temple and warily looked left. Gwaine was being way to cheerful, something he wasn't up to with the massive headache he had.

"Meh, had worse hangovers." Gwaine shrugged and stretched his legs before he rose.

"Merlin, I'm no expert, but this wasn't some Dragonlord trick, correct?" Leon hadn't moved and looked at him intently.

The warlock didn't met his gaze and stared at his feet. A few moments ago his rashness felt justified. But now... He had showed them his magic, because he felt it was the only way. He needed to get back to Camelot. He also needed Gwaine and Leon to accept him. Oh no, what had he done? He could have left them there.

"You have to tell Arthur." Leon sighed when Merlin stayed silent. He got up and started to pace. "You can't keep this from him any longer even if this knowledge devastates him. He deserves that."

"I know, I will." Merlin muttered and cringed under the silent treat that accompanied Leon's composed reaction. I will hold you responsible if that happens.

"When?" Leon insisted. They were facing Arthur soon and he knew he wouldn't lie for Merlin. Arthur was still his first allegiance.

"Today, I suppose." Merlin relented. There was no time like the present, not when he was running out of it. And that was the real reason for doing this he suddenly realised. If, no when he would die, he wanted to die as himself.

Leon seemed satisfied with this answer as he stopped pacing.

"You should have taken the horses with us." Gwaine said out of the blue as he looked around the clearing Merlin landed them in. "It's at least an hour hike before we reach the castle."

"Sorry Gwaine, next time when I cross the land in the blink of an eye, I'll remember." Merlin answered irritable, "Just be happy I didn't leave you there."

"Yeah, Nortcliff would be boring compared to this." Gwaine grinned.

"I didn't mean Nortcliff, I meant the place in between." Merlin clarified, "While you just saw fog I saw pathways through it. They were like whispers calling to follow. It was dangerous, sinister and beautiful at once, like a whole world just hidden in the corner of your eye..." He trailed off, "I can't really explain, it's fairly new to me."

"How often did you to this?" Leon asked a bit harsher than he intended.

"This was a first."

"Merlin, are you feeling okay?" The older knight asked all of a sudden while trying to keep the worry out of his voice. The young man hadn't gotten up with Gwaine and himself and was still leaning back on his elbows like when they first appeared.

"I'll be fine, just give me another few minutes." Merlin answered trying to control the pounding headache. "I may have overstretched myself a bit." He reluctantly admitted.

"You think?" Leon raised an eyebrow, not believing the ridiculous statement he heard. Overstretching himself? Now that sounded like a typical Merlin thing to say.

"So what did you do exactly?" Gwaine was really beyond curious.

"I thought that was obvious." Merlin almost snapped again, "I magically transported the three of us to Camelot."

"Yeah, but how did you do it?"

"I used magic."

"Merlin."

"All right, all right." Merlin huffed and finally got up as well, "I took the Halfway." He quickly held his hand up before Gwaine started questioning him further. "Before you ask, I can't really explain how it works. I read it in some obscure book a few months ago and figured this was the same way Morgana travelled on occasion, but it takes great focus and a certain amount of desperation for it to work, though a powerful enough sorcerer would be able to enter the Halfway whenever he wishes."

"I take it it's some sort of road?" Leon carefully ventured. This conversation still made him uneasy.

"It's all the roads and paths from what I could see."

"See?"

"I told you to close your eyes because the book clearly stated that untrained eyes might be distracted and be lost forever..."

"That's encouraging..." Gwaine mumbled.

"Look, I really need to find Galahad so the sooner we reach Camelot the better. You can ask questions while we walk, okay?" Merlin suggested though Leon felt it wasn't exactly a question, more like an order. This time it was Merlin who led the way.

Tom and Gerard weren't having a good day. Truth to be told it started out to be pretty promising, if you counted hiking between sharp rocks and traitorous waves fun. They did.

But from the moment they'd gotten down, it became tense. Death wasn't something they enjoyed, so seeing the place where Tristan died wasn't exactly the highlight of their day. Still it was promising, Tom decided as he had gone down into one of the caves with Gerard. Gwaine was always an adventure to be around and although he didn't really like those stick-to-the-rules kind of guys, Leon seemed to be tolerable and Tom itched to spar with the man. He could hit Gwaine if he was sober and the other wasn't. It would prove to be entertaining if nothing else. But that Merlin fellow was pretty intriguing, he mused as he motioned Gerard closer.

"Get this going would you?" He asked and Gerard grunted in response, but kneeled down nonetheless to start the fire. "I'll get the torches."

"You know," Gerard called back as his friend disappeared into one of the darker tunnels, "Next time you ask someone without the gash on his chest to accompany you!"

"You'll get bored!" Tom echoed back.

That was ten minutes ago. After they had lit the torches they decided to explore this cave a bit before getting back to the rest. But it was a pretty boring one, with a death end and everything so now they found themselves standing back outside.

The place was deserted.

"Where do you reckon they went?" Gerard finally said as he looked up and down the cliffs.

"Beats me." Tom scratched his head, "Now they wouldn't be so foolish to go exploring one their own, now would they?"

"It's Gwaine."

"Blasted eel."

"But even Gwaine wouldn't be that stupid, we have the torches." Gerard raised.

"So they went back?"

"I can't see them on the pathway..."

Tom cursed again and watched as Gerard carefully made his way towards the sea.

"You don't reckon they all ended up down there?" Tom shouted to make himself audible above the crashing of the waves.

Gerard shrugged his shoulders and looked around. Tom backed off a little as well and looked at the cliff wall in front of him. They wouldn't be that stupid?

"I can't find a trace of them, they seemed to have vanished just like-" Gerard said as he went back and stood next to Tom. They both gazed at the caves in front of him.

"Don't say it." Tom said and shook his head, "We'll better go back to the Death Cap, Duncan would want to know."

"Daft Old Donald was right, this place is really cursed after all." Gerard mumbled and hurriedly followed Tom.

Two torches slowly burned out on the rocks, before the sea claimed them as a prize.

"So these paths, to what do they lead?" Leon asked. They were walking, almost jogging back to Camelot. He could see all the castle's towers already.

"Anywhere and anytime." Merlin answered flatly.

"You're joking, right?" Gwaine interjected disbelieving. But Merlin shook his head and almost whispered, "But it's a dangerous place."

"How powerful are you exactly?" Leon was relentless in his questions. He needed to get to the bottom of this. He hadn't defined what this was, if it was called for to label it treachery or something else. Merlin had used magic and had done it before. Nonetheless he stood by what he said a few days ago: not everything was that black and white anymore. So if Merlin had a good reason, then Leon would listen.

"I don't know. Do you know your own strength, your limits, your weaknesses?"

"No, not until I'm tested. But I'm fairly certain you had your challenges these past years."

"I'm…" Merlin started, thinking back at everything he faced these last years, "I'm a force to be reckoned with." He decided.

"I'm pretty sure you're just being your modest self. You're like our own law of nature." Gwaine said cheerfully. His grin hadn't faltered for a moment and just grew an inch.

"Thanks Gwaine, now I don't feel like a freak at all."

They almost reached the gates when Merlin stopped abruptly.

"You guys are taking this remarkably well." He suddenly realized and looked at them with suspicion.

"I didn't expect it either." Leon said, finally voicing his own conflicting emotions. True, he wasn't acting like he was supposed to.

"You're not going to run me through?" Merlin asked hopeful now.

"To be honest, it did cross my mind briefly. But… I still trust you." Leon admitted. In the moment they had landed he had opened his eyes just in time to caught sight of Merlin's golden eyes. In a reflex his hand had grabbed the pommel of his sword, but then Merlin's knees buckled and pulled them down with him. Leon understood now that worry had quickly replaced his anger. "You revealed yourself, that alone is a statement of your desperation." Leon straightened his back and said the following words with as much solemnity he could summon, "Whatever's coming to Camelot is much worse and I like the odds better with you at our side."

"Same here, Merlin."

"Your Highness, the sentry just spotted eleven knights riding towards here at great speed. They're wearing Camelot's colours."

"Very well, Brickem, inform Sir Elyan that I'll be awaiting his presence at the Outer Gate." With a wave of her hand Queen Annis dismissed her loyal knight and stood up. Five minutes later she was standing below the Gate and gazed at the plain in front of her.

"Any ideas about your fellow knights' business, Sir Elyan?" She asked as the young man joined her watch.

"My guess is that he send help, Your Highness."

"Mmm, I suppose your right, it's a bit small to be an invading army." Queen Annis said seriously, but Elyan knew she was joking. It had been quite the revelation actually when he first came here, now four months ago in order to tighten the bonds of trust between Camelot and Caerleon. At first he thought Arthur wanted him out of the way. He couldn't fathom why the king trusted him enough to carry out this mission. But now Elyan felt confident he was doing a good job. Queen Annis was a surprise. He only met her once under dire circumstances and he found her cold and vengeful even if she honoured the deal she made with Arthur in the end. But once you looked past that first tough exterior, the Queen was very enjoyable company. For one she never once treated him as the lowly commoner he was due birth and seemed patient if he misunderstood some of her court workings. Elyan suspected she admired Arthur's gut to sent him here instead of some stuffy old hoot of a noble with nothing interesting to tell except to brag about his disappointing children and the number of horses he sold last year. Her words, not his.

Of course his job was far from easy. Arthur sent some pretty mixed signals when he killed her husband, yet offered a peaceful solution. Queen Annis had made up her mind the moment she shook his king's hand – or that's what Elyan suspected – but the rest of the court, not to mention the knights weren't so easily persuaded. Steadily the trust between the two kingdoms was growing, not in the least because of the two sovereigns seemingly friendly correspondence. Elyan never found out who started writing, although he suspected Arthur was the one who needed to grovel some more, yet she had written back. He suspected one of the reason for this was the speculation that had arisen among the other kingdoms. In other words, it amused her.

"Lothian! What are you doing here? And don't give me one of those looks." Queen Annis exclaimed when the eleven year old boy skidded to a stop, nearly toppling of the edge of the pathway.

"I heard Sir Brickem talking about the knights. I wanted to see them. Are your friends coming, Sir Elyan?" The boy turned towards him in the hopes of ignoring his aunt. Clever kid, Elyan thought.

"Yes, Prince Lothian, they are. From this distance I can recognize my friend Sir Percival easily."

"The giant you talked about?" Elyan nodded.

"Lothian, where should you be at this moment?" Queen Annis asked sternly. The boy writhed his boots and mumbled something.

"I didn't hear that, neither did Sir Elyan."

"Studying." Lothian said dejectedly, "But Aunt, this is also educating! Instead of reading about friendly visits and how they proceed I can actually watch you welcome the knights." Elyan coughed to hide a snort. The prince did present a persuasive argument.

"All right, but I expect a written report of everything you saw here compared to the textbook examples." The queen gave in, but her eyes twinkled for a moment. Not smart enough yet to better your elders, Elyan thought as he saw the prince's enthusiastic expressing fade into one of horror.

A few minutes later Percival rode up, motioning the rest of the knights to wait. He stopped a few metres in front of them and got off his horse. He took a sealed letter out of his saddlebag before handing the reins to one of the waiting servants.

"Your Highness," He said kneeling down and lowering his eyes for a moment, "Greetings from King Arthur of Camelot. He sends his regards and hopes you and your family are still in good health. My name is Sir Percival, Knight of the Round Table and I'm at your service."

"Rise, Sir Percival," Queen Annis said and accepted the letter, "I hope your King and Queen are in equally good health and Camelot's summer was a prosperous one." She smiled and nodded towards Elyan. The knight thankfully took a step forward and somewhat awkwardly embraced his friend.

"You're well?" Percival asked, returning to his normal form of speech.

"Of course, you?"

Percival shrugged and smiled, clasping the shorter man's shoulder for a moment before returning to Queen Annis. She hadn't opened the letter yet and Elyan knew why. To many prying eyes were around them, besides there might be something surprising in the letter and she hated giving herself away. Let them guess what you think instead of showing what you think, was one of the things she was learning Lothian. He wasn't very good yet...

"Welcome, Sir Percival, I am Prince Lothian of Caerleon's House," The boy said solemnly as he too stepped forward, "Why don't you have sleeves, Sir Percival?"

"Lothian..." The queen sighed.

"What?" The prince argued, ignoring the amused looks of Elyan and the baffled expression of Percival, "That was a perfectly acceptable question. It followed decorum and everything."

"I'm sure your teacher mentioned something else, didn't he?" She reproached him slightly.

"Timing... and tact."

"Indeed." Queen Annis looked at Percival again and almost smiled, "Sir Percival, you must excuse the rashness of youth. My nephew interrupted a study session to greet you. I'm sure he'll be more motivated by this event to acquire the necessary skills for the next official welcome."

"Yes, Aunt Annis." Lothian said miserably, fully understanding her words were directed at him. The prince walked towards the Gate, but turned around once more. "Will you and Sir Brickem show me that block again this afternoon?" He asked hopefully with a sad smile.

"If I'm not busy, it would be my honour." Elyan said and bowed. The boy's smile lit up before he disappeared behind the Gate.

"That was nice." Queen Annis commented.

"No one likes to be scolded in public, Your Majesty, not even by someone as subtle as yourself." Elyan said respectfully. Queen Annis eyes darkened for a second but were quickly replaced by a twinkle, "Subtle indeed, Sir Elyan." Elyan inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"But now more serious business. Sir Percival, I gather you're not here for a mere visit. I expect you and your knights to be ready for a council meeting in an hour. Sir Elyan, see they're properly welcomed." She quickly ordered, motioning a string of servants to get moving, "After that, both of you are welcome in my study. I think we'll have much to discuss." She patted the sealed letter before walking back into the castle.

"Much to tell?" Percival asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You have no idea." Elyan smirked.

Morgana shivered as the cold wind flung her hair across her face. She was standing a few paces behind Hréonhes and looked at him warily. It had all gone wrong. Probably one of the runes had been out of place. He was supposed to obey her. She was silently seething with anger, mentally repeating everything she read, everything she did in the ritual. It didn't make sense, she couldn't have made a mistake.

Hréonhes hadn't said a word since they exited the crypt. He walked around for a while before finding some stairs which he quickly ascended. Morgana had followed him of course, not having another choice. As long as he was in her line of sight, he couldn't sneak up on her. The stairs crumbled to dust in the end, but they arrived at a higher platform. Morgana imagined it had been a magnificent hall once, big enough to host a dozen dragons. Aithusa flew around them.

Morgana, are you alright?

She smiled. Of course, just keep close, okay?

Hréonhes was standing at the edge of the platform now and just stared at the ruins around him in utter silence. It was even more discerning than his insane ramblings. Toe nails, seriously? Morgana could just feel the anger washing off him in waves and waves. She took another step back, just to be on the safe side.

Honestly, she found him handsome, but there was something wrong with him. As she watched him she noticed his silhouette was blurred. If the light fell just right she could see it move. It was as if he wasn't there completely, he didn't feel whole...

"No dragons, I CAN'T FEEL ANY!" Hréonhes unexpectedly roared towards the sky."Except this poor excuse you have beside you." His shoulders sagged a bit and stared at Aithusa, "Sorry love, you're just no use to me now."

"There is another one, the Great Dragon, he already proved to be an enemy. He aligned himself with Emrys and burned-"

"You're saying Emrys is here? I mean now?" Hréonhes looked at her truly happy all of a sudden, "That's terrific! I hadn't had a worthy adversary since I killed my father."

"You killed your father?"

"Another thing I presume we have in common, my love." Morgana huffed at that name, but refrained from commenting. As long as he killed Emrys...

"But don't worry about him." Hréonhes went on and raised his hand in front of him and conjured a flame without uttering a word, "I'll sniff him out like a candle." He shot the flame towards one of the ruined walls and it exploded, "In one deadly blow."

"And Camelot's Court?" Morgana asked hopefully, maybe he'd changed his mind about helping her.

"Why kill them, if you can manipulate them to do the killing for you? It's much more fun to watch and not as messy, bloodstains are hard to get rid of even with magic."

"But if you kill them, they won't bother you."

"They don't bother me." Hréonhes looked bored again, "Did you know blood's a colour too?"

Morgana decided to ignore that statement, "So why would you take the trouble to manipulate them?"

"Because it's fun."

"How are you going to explain our timely arrival? It's not as if we could have gone to Nortcliff and back in four days?" Leon became restless as he greeted the guards at Camelot's gate. And come back on foot, he thought.

"Believe me, Arthur wouldn't notice." Merlin suddenly smirked, "The things I've gotten away with."

As they entered the courtyard, they almost collided with Sir Orrell. "You're in a hurry!" The knight huffed as they trio quickly walked towards the stairs.

"Sorry, we need to find Galahad." Merlin waved apologetically, but Sir Orrell stopped him and sighed.

"He's with Gaius." The knight said gravely, "He just collapsed this morning. One moment we were about to escort the Queen to the Lower Town and the next thing you know, he's on his knees having some kind of fit."

"Is he okay?" Gwaine asked immediately.

"Don't know, Gwen's with him now."

"Merlin! Back already?" Gwen greeted him happily as he entered the physician's chambers first followed quickly by Leon and Gwaine.

"We took a shortcut." Merlin answered vaguely and looked at Gaius, "How is he?"

"Alive, awake and angry." Galahad muttered irritated from the bed as he brushed off the damp cloth Gwen was holding on his forehead. "I'm fine Gwen, I told you that already."

"Now listen, young man, there is no need to be rude." Gaius admonished him sternly, "Everyone's just worried."

"Look, I felt sick, I fainted, now I'm well and bursting with energy." Galahad argued and got up to prove his point. But Gaius was faster and with the agility one wouldn't expect from a man of his age, he was beside Galahad in a moment and pushed the young man back to bed, "Sit. Down."

Galahad was about to argue when he caught sight of the warlock, "Merlin, are you feeling alright?"

"Of course, why do you ask?" Merlin replied with a smile.

"You feel less..." Galahad started unsure before Leon interrupted.

"He's not alright, he fainted this morning." Leon said as he walked towards Gwen to greet her. He was tired of this game Merlin was playing. That and he was shocked at the ease Merlin spun the truth. And why was he downplaying everything?

"And screamed and stopped breathing for a moment." Gwaine added.

"Gwaine!" Merlin yelled indignantly. Of all the things to say in front of Gaius...

"My boy, you should have said something the moment you walked in here." Gaius reproached him as he steered a reluctant Merlin in a chair, before turning towards the two knights, "And you two, why was he still walking?"

Leon sputtered under Gaius' stern gaze but was saved an explanation as one of his knight's walked in.

"Arthur heard you're back and has summoned an emergency meeting." The knight announced. "He's waiting at the Round Table and said that Galahad is exempt for this one if he wishes."

Good, Merlin thought, no time like the present to face the storm. He stood up.

"He wishes that everyone would stop worrying about him." Galahad huffed stubbornly and stood up as well, "I'm fine and coming to the meeting."

"I'll convey that to the king." The knight bowed towards the Queen and left swiftly.

"Don't you start with me Gaius, I would have asked for a meeting anyway." Merlin quickly said. From the look on the physician's face he reckoned Gaius realized he lost the battle with Galahad and now planned to face one with Merlin. He already clasped two foul looking potions.

"Don't give Gaius that look, Merlin. Arthur can summon whomever he wishes, but none of you are going before Gaius deems you healthy enough." Gwen said unsympathetically as she crossed her arms and gazed upon the two young men. Galahad and Merlin both swallowed hard and slowly sat down again.

Merlin sighed and accepted the vials his way to cheerful mentor offered. As he drank the foul liquid he pondered why he ever thought Gwen ordering Arthur around was an amusing sight.

As she watched him rebuilt the city with a wave of his hand and a strung of unfamiliar words, Morgana questioned her newest 'ally' for the millionth time that day. He scared her. He was unbalanced, she couldn't think of a more fitting word. Hréonhes spoke sense most of the time, but then suddenly he would mumble or shout something completely nonsensical, like he was having a conversation with someone other than her. His sometimes charming words were countered with the sudden chill of his appearance every now and then, which also physically lowered the surrounding temperature. She had the distinct feeling that he was more than one man and couldn't help but shudder of utter wrongness when he came close. Strangely enough she also reacted in a totally different way. Every time his mischievous smile crossed her eyes or when he called her 'my love' Morgana stomach clenched in an odd way. If there ever was any doubt that moods and emotions affect a person's magic, Hréonhes would take all these doubts away in one glance.

Suddenly he paused mid rant and looked at her as if he saw her anew. Morgana shivered under his gaze.

"Is there a reason why I need you?" Hréonhes asked puzzled for a moment.

"Sorry what?" Morgana asked sharply.

"Why would I keep you around?" He rephrased his question, "It is a fair point. I'm more powerful than you and quite capable of conquering the known world on my own. So what's your contribution?"

"I FREED YOU!" Morgana yelled and clenched her fists.

"True, but that was then and now is now." Hréonhes stayed utterly calm.

"You need me to know how this world works, it has changed since you once lived here." She said quickly and started to back up a bit.

"Why would I need that if I'm going to change it anyway?"

"I'm… You need…" Morgana stammered not believing her latest plan backfired so tremendously.

"Mm, yes?" He inquired curiously. But Morgana couldn't think of anything. So she tried something else instead.

"Hleap on bæc!" She shouted, but Hréonhes was much faster. With a blink of an eye the spell shot back towards Morgana. She held up her hands, but it was too late. The spell collided and smacked her against the newly rebuilt castle wall.

"Oh my, that wasn't very nice of me. Well I guess we can keep her around. She is indeed very pretty, mmm, thought so too. Bit foolish tough, she can keep us company. Yes, that would be nice." Hréonhes mumbled to himself, gently brushing her hair out of her face. He lifted her unconscious form up and walked into his castle.

Aithusa soared high above them unable to help.

The spell is roughly translated (Old English Translator): lead the way through shadow, illuminate our way, deliver us safe and sound. I thought it sounded cool... :)

Now, please leave a review, I'm dying to know what your thoughts are on this chapter, it gave me some trouble in the beginning...