The salve took away the sharpest pain, but still Arthur grimaced when he felt the needle passing through the skin.

"The wound is not deep and it is clean, so I assume that you wouldn't have any difficulties. Try to only take care not to sleep on your side, sire. "

Gaius dry voice instructed him. Arthur sighed. He hadn't been at his best when he had competed against Tristan. In Tristan's eyes on the other hand was blinked a small vengeful shine.

"I was surprised that Tristan and Andrew agreed to be knights of Camelot." Arthur muttered.

"The reasons are probably more political. Andrew is the youngest child of Annis, so he must succeed in finding his own way. Standing as Camelot, he ensures the connection to Annis, his older brother, and between you. Tristan again; well, probably more so that he can escape Annis. "Gaius said. "As Camelot's knight he is now secured his political positions." Gaius stood up and began to put the goods away. "I will give more pain medication that you can take before going to bed. Merlin can in the morning ... "Gaius came to a halt, and Arthur stirred. Gods it hurt to hear his name.

"Someone will bring medicine in the morning." Gaius muttered.

"Gaius…" Arthur got up and Gaius turned to look at him. His expression was hard.

"Sire, now is not the best time to discuss the matter. Hunith has perhaps been able to forgive, God knows how, but I ... "Gaius took a deep breath. "Sire, we must focus on tomorrow."

Arthur remained silent. He nodded and dressed. "Of course. Tomorrow. "

"Alator would like to discuss this with you. He has a few suggestions that you have probably the best to listen sire. "Gaius turned away. Arthur stared him a while and sighed.

"Good night, Gaius."

"Good night, sire."

Arthur came out of the tent in a cool evening. The day had been hot and long. Arthur found Ywain, Hunith's cousin, who also had become one of the new knights, chatting with one of the healers.

"Sir Ywain." Arthur called him and walked closer.

"Sire." Ywain turned to greet him. Arthur felt his heart leave a space between. Ywain was like an older version of Merlin. He had a short beard and longer hair that hid his large ears, he was perhaps a little longer, and the eyes were green. Arthur thought that Ywain may have came Camelot for political reasons. He was fast gained some agreements with Annis and became friends with Hunith. Ywain didn't showed any way if he was angry at him, he just smiled gently.

"Have you heard anything from sir Gwaine?" Arthur asked, although he didn't wait to actually hear anything.

"No. But what I understand, I don't wonder why he's not here now." Ywain shrugged his shoulders. "Although I miss him, he is good drinking buddy." Ywain grinned. "Good fight today sire."

"Thank you. I can learn some things from Sir Tristan."

"You win, so I think that Sir Tristan could learn something from you." Ywain flattered him and Arthur grinned too. "Go, I think that you want to go celebrate."

Could anyone's smile go so wide? Arthur though when he watched Ywain.

"Yes sire." Ywain bowed and left to walk toward where Arthur could hear most of the noises were coming.

"Ah, you, wait." Arthur stopped the healer who was about to leave. "I need to find Alator."

The healer, young woman, bowed. "Then I can show the way if you want to follow me sire."

"Yes, of course." Arthur started to follow her but soon he was walking beside of her. He was afraid to ask the question what was rounding on his mind.

"Ah, what's your name?" he finally asked.

"Annie, sire." She didn't looked him.

"I… I want to ask about something." Arthur tried to find right words.

"Yes sire?"

"Your family… I mean…" Arthur just couldn't say it. He was afraid to hear the answer. He was afraid that the healer would be angry. But Annie just nodded. She seemed to understand what was going on.

"My family are just farmers on the south border. My mother noticed when I was fourteen that I have some gifts."

"Gifts?"

"Gift of magic." First time Annie looked him. "She took me to the druids that I can learn proper way to use my gift. To learn what kind of magic was mine. It was ten years ago. I haven't seen my parents or my sisters or brother since then. Because the law." She didn't sounded angry at all, but Arthur felt guilty.

"I'm sorry."

"Why? It was you father, not you. You have chanced the law now. Now I can go see them again without fear." Annie suddenly smiled brightly and Arthur could sense her eyes observing him.

"You don't know much of magic, don't you sire?" Annie asked.

"No, not exactly. Only what Gaius had told me." Arthur murmured the answer. He had seen how magic was used. But now, walking beside this young woman, he realized that have to be more.

"Do you know what the magic is?"

Arthur shook his head. Annie though for a moment.

"If I but it simply, it's a bond that bind everything together. And some can use that bond. Every magic users are different. They use magic differently. There are druids, magicians, healers, hunters, witches, wizards, seers and lot more. If you choose to use your gift you can became something of those." Annie tried to explain. Arthur looked her curiously.

"You made your choice, to use magic. Why?"

Annie smiled again. "My magic is bounded to earth, I can heal. So I chose to help people, save them. Gift is frequently invoked as a teenager. Sometimes no one even notice it. If you don't use the gift, it will disappear slowly until there is nothing left. But if you want to learn, you can do so, but it takes lot of efforts. Only warlocks are different. And they are rare among us."

"Why so?"

"Because they can't make the choice. Even if they want to live normal life, they never can. Their bound to magic will stand what ever happens. They are strongest. And now, there is only one of them. "Annis said and Arthur remembered what he had heard.

"Emrys."

Annie nodded.

"Will he be there tomorrow?" Arthur asked.

"I don't know. I have never met him." Annie grinned apologetically. Arthur was surprised.

"I though that every one of you know him."

"No, there is only small group who actually know him. To rest of us, he is more than myth. But, maybe you understand tomorrow and you can ask yourself. There, that's Enid's house. Iseldir and Alator are there."

"Thank you Annie." Arthur started to walk toward the door when Annie stopped him.

"Sire."

Arthur turned to see her.

"Thank you, I wish that you find tomorrow what you are looking for." Annie smiled to him. Arthur stared after her. He didn't know what was more painful, that Merlin was dead because of him, or the crime for which he and his father were committed; the murder of innocents. What ever everyone else said, he would never forgive himself.

Sorry it took so long this time, haven't any motivation to do this. And not being home so much lately. Oh, and it's finally spring in here :)