Hello dear readers,

Here's an another update for you.

Finally we get to continue with the story ;).

I hope you will like it and thanks again for the lovely reviews.

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

I'm always open for your suggestions and opinions.

Yours sincerely,

Bluewryter

Arthur looked on in dread as Merlin pitched forward, to be eventually caught by Boris. They all couldn't help themselves when they called out Merlin's name in fear for their friend.

"Be quiet will you, for goodness sake. He's only unconscious, not dead." Boris said annoyed.

"Okay boys, hoist him up and lets head back to camp." One particular broad and ugly looking guy picked Merlin up, drew him over his shoulder and carried him into the forest.

Then he hollered to the rest of them, "Move out you scum backs."

The rest of the slavers guided their dogs in a pack and went ahead. A few of them stopped at Arthur and the knights and ushered them in front of them.

And so in a row they made their way through the undergrowth of the forest, heading towards the slavers camp, hidden away in some dark faraway part of the thick forest.

Arthur craned his head in an attempt to catch a glimpse of Merlin, but he couldn't get a good sight of him. The guy who was carrying him was walking in front of the row with Boris and Arthur and the rest of the group were walking behind in line.

"So princess, got any plans?" Gwaine who was walking next to Arthur whispered. Arthur gave him an annoyed glance. "Not yet, first we need to get to Merlin, then we can start thinking of any plans."

"It may seem that getting to Merlin might be the hardest part. He's been under heavy guard and I don't expect that Boris will be letting him out of his sight soon after all this trouble to get Merlin." Percival commented.

"You may be right. It's strange that they went such a great length of hunting him down, he's just a serving boy after all. Granted he has great knowledge of Camelot and the king as being his manservant. But they didn't mention Camelot at all. They didn't even recognize Arthur." Leon mused.

Arthur looked up in surprise. He hadn't even thought of it, his mind had been solely focussed on Merlin, but it was strange that they hadn't recognized him or even mentioned Camelot. What did they want with Merlin then? The longer he thought of it the less it made sense to him. As far as he knew these men were looking for some profit and Merlin was… well Merlin. What would they want with a clumsy skinny servant?

But Arthur didn't get a chance to think about it any further for the line had stopped. He looked up and saw they had arrived at the slavers camp. He gaped at the mere sight of it. It was huge! A few acres of the forest were made free for some carts and tents and even a few pastures for the keeping of sheep, cows and horses. At least some fifty people were wandering around camp and not only slavers at the look of it. He saw few women busy with household chores. He even saw some children running around. It had more the appearance of a small village then a camp. Most heads went up at the arrival of Boris and his men and Arthur heard the people talking excitedly to each other.

He then stumbled when the big slaver who was walking behind him shoved him forwards.

"No stopping." He grumbled towards him.

Arthur and the knight were then herded away from the main camp to a place at the edge of camp near the trees where Boris with Merlin were already waiting for them. By the looks of it Merlin was still unconscious. When Gwaine noticed this as well he cursed under his breath.

Boris let out a greeting when he saw them. He then gestured to four men to stay and said to the rest of the men, "It's alright boys, you're free to go" and to the last man to go he mumbled "be sure you send Grover to me." The man nodded and headed off.

Boris then went down and started to check Merlin over. The four men were keeping a close eye on Arthur and the knights but Arthur couldn't care less. It was futile to try to escape now when all eyes were on them. When they had arrived he could feel the whole camp buzzing with excitement at the newest catch. For now he decided to keep a close eye to Merlin and his surroundings. First he needed more information before they could make any escape plans.

He looked back at Merlin when he heard Boris swear and found out that Boris had found the wound on Merlin's leg.

"Dammit, it's only a week before the big market. This won't be healed by then." He then signed at the inevitable. "You, get me some water and bandages." The man ran away and arrived shortly after with the supplies.

Boris started busying himself with wound, when…

"Why bother?" Elyan asked perplexed.

Boris looked up in surprise, as if he was wondering why Elyan would ask something to which the answer was obvious.

"Because he's no good to us if he's damaged. The price would go down and he would be worth much less as when he would be unscratched."

He then looked down at Merlin and placed his hand on the collar. He pressed some rune and like before the collar glowed a bright orange. Only a few moments later Merlin eyelids fluttered open and he looked around in a daze. Finally he growled something unintelligible when he spotted Boris.

"What? Don't like to see my handsome face after your nap? I'm truly hurt." Boris said in mock humour.

"Believe me I've seen prettier faces in my life and they aren't limited by human ones." Merlin replied when he sat up. He then noticed the bandage on his leg. "Thanks."

Boris merely shrugged at this. "No problem, all for a good profit."

"I know, but still." Merlin said to him.

Again Arthur was astonished at the easy going conversation between Merlin and Boris. Even though their relationship was that of a prisoner and prison keeper, they seemed to be more as friends than enemies. It was weird to say the least.

"You alright there Merlin?" Gwaine couldn't help himself but ask.

"Nothing to worry about. I see you made some nice looking friends." Merlin said to him while pointing out the men who were guarding them.

"Ah come now Merlin. You know the policy. We're just making sure your buddies here behave themselves. Wouldn't want them to meet our dear friend Silas would we?" Boris said.

At the name Silas Merlin felt a shiver run down his spine. That man was pure evil. He was the worst of all people here. That man knew nothing of kindness. He was only looking out for more profit and when he had found out that Merlin had magic… well he didn't like to think about the look in Silas eyes when he had realised that the worth of his newest catch had gone up.

Arthur was looking at Merlin during the conversation and he couldn't help but notice again Merlin's look of fear at the man's name. He wondered what had happened between Merlin and Silas that caused Merlin's fear but he would make sure the man would pay for it. He couldn't help but looking forward to meet the man so that he would know the face behind the organisation and know which person he should be punishing. He didn't know that he would get to meet Silas that very instance.

"And why wouldn't your latest friends want to meet me?" A silky voice behind the group said.

Boris flinched when he heard the voice and he suddenly looked as if he wanted to disappear. It was unsettling to see such a big heavy looking guy trying to make himself smaller, which by the way was impossible due to his seize. Arthur turned his head to see what kind of a man could install such fear in his men and found himself surprised at what he found.

The man itself was a tall but slender person. He was well past forty by the look of his already greying hair. He looked like if one swing from the other men could break him in half. So what was the reason behind his power? When he looked at the man's face he saw a sharp face and long nose, not unlike a birds beak, with eyes which were holding great intelligence. That intelligence was likely the cause of him being the leader, Arthur concluded. The other men didn't exactly look like they were the smartest bunch on the planet.

He walked next to another man which Arthur guessed was the man Boris had sent for.

"I heard from Grover here that you managed to catch our little culprit and that you even caught some fresh ones on the way. Very good." Silas nodded.

"Make sure you judge their skills and their worth. By the looks of it they will make a good profit."

Silas walked up to Arthur and the knights and looked each and every one of them over with his sharp icy eyes.

"Yes, very sturdy looking men, probably know how to handle a weapon. Good for guardsmen or hard labour, especially that one." Silas commented when he pointed to Percival, who was easiest the biggest looking man out here.

Gwaine's look got darker by the second but Arthur made sure by one look that they all would keep quiet for now. It would them do no good if they started to cause problems now. They would need a quiet moment or a good opportunity to attempt an escape.

He then walked back towards Boris and finally knelt before Merlin, who's eyes first had widened in fear when he first heard Silas voice but now was looking in defiance at him.

"But first I need to have a small conversation with our little friend here about escape attempts and destroying important artefacts, don't we Merlin?"