Alone in Gaius' tower, Bri knew she should set about restoring some of their depleted reserves in the wake of the army's departure. She walked aimlessly about the room, and almost despite herself, her feet took her up the stairs to Merlin's room. She walked just inside the door and looked at the plain and sparse furniture. She wondered what he was doing now.
She'd missed so many chances of speaking to him before he left, of wishing him a safe return. Surely he knew that she wished for that. Even though she hasn't spoken a word to him. Shaking her head, she walked out and closed the door behind her.
She started making a list of all the herbs she had to replace, when a knock sounded at the door. A guardsman entered with a call from the Queen to join her in the throne room as soon as possible.
Somewhat surprised, Bri left her work and followed the summons. She found Guinevere in the throne room with a guest.
He was a bald, plain man, dressed in simple clothes beneath a dark traveling cloak. He carried a tall staff with a carved top and girded with one simple metal band.
"That would be all," Guinevere said, dismissing the guards.
When they were alone, Guinevere turned to the man.
"You are among friends here. You may speak."
"My Lady, I am Alator of the Catha, warrior priest of the Old Religion. I have been much pursued because of my magic, but I have heard the royal decree that those with magic are once again free in Camelot and I have received word from a friend. I come here for his sake." Here he paused, uncertain of how much he could divulge.
"You are a friend of Merlin's," Guinevere spoke. "As are we."
Alator bowed his head.
"I understand that the Merlin accompanies the king to face the Saxons in battle. He has entreated me to trust the King and Queen of Camelot."
"And so you can," Guinevere said earnestly.
"I bring you news of Morgana. She is even now flanking Camelot's army on the west, following their journey into Caerleon, and plans to aid the Saxon army by attacking from behind."
"We must send word to Merlin," Bri said turning to Guinevere.
"I would second such a plan," Alator said. "I would do it myself, but I would better serve following Morgana's movements as I have done this far."
"I will send a man at once."
"I have another missive to send to him as well," Alator added. He looked uncomfortable for a moment. "Have you a man that is trusted enough? The information is precious. Should it be given into the wrong hands, even friendly hands that mean well..." here he trailed off.
"I will go," Bri said. Guinevere opened her mouth to refuse it. "It is either you or I, My Lady, who are left here in Camelot out of those that know the whole truth of Merlin's identity, and you are needed here more than I. I will return in a few days."
"You can't ride alone, Bri. It is too dangerous."
"I'll dress as a man. The army is only a day's ride away. We know where Morgana is," she looked at Alator, "and I shall keep well away from her. I shall be safe enough. You said you have a missive for him?" she asked Alator.
Alator shook his head. "I will not write it down. Give him my words. Tell him Morgana suspects Emrys' true identity. Tell, him, beware, there are spies watching for confirmation, and she may strike at any moment."
"I will," Bri said and felt a shiver of foreboding.
Back in the tower, Bri went straight up to Merlin's room. She opened the chest he kept at the foot of his bed and pulled out a set of his clothes. Once dressed, she tied her hair up and pulled a cloak over her shoulders and the hood over her head.
Night was falling. Guinevere met her by the stables, where she'd prepared a horse.
"Safe journey," Gwen wished her, and distracting the guards, gave Bri the opportunity to slip out of the citadel unnoticed.
The road leading to Caerleon was wide and clear enough even by moonlight. It was good fortune that the moon shone bright that night, and by its pale guiding light Bri urged her horse to a gallop. She passed by forest and moors and kept going, the speed of her horse a thin safeguard against the fear biting at her heels.
For all her reassurances to Guinevere, Bri was afraid. Afraid of the dark road, and of the dangers that may lay in wait. Memories of her capture and brief imprisonment, brief only thanks to Merlin's second chance, came unbidden to her as she rode. Fear, like a claw, squeezed her chest, and prickled at her back, and she rode on.
When the moon was highest in the sky, she thought she saw a shadow fly across it. Despite her better judgment, she slowed the horse down and looked up.
"It is only clouds," she whispered, trying to make light of her terror.
Just then, a fast moving thing with tail and wings, flew across the face of the moon again. A sharp cry echoed in the distance. Bri startled, and her horse, mirroring her surprise, whinnied and reared up. With her heart in her mouth and hands shaking Bri pulled on the reins and calmed the frightened beast down.
"It was far away, it was far away," she chanted breathlessly. "We have to keep going."
She pressed her heels to the horse's rump and she guided it to a gallop once more.
...
At the end of the second day of marching, far in the distance, Caerleon's castle turrets became visible. Arthur put his right hand up and the knights behind him reined in their horses, and the army slowed to a stop.
"By tomorrow midday, we would have reached the castle," Arthur said.
"We've made good time, Sire," Gaius said from atop his cart.
They set camp once more. Inside Arthur's tent, Gaius, Merlin and Arthur went quietly over the plan for Merlin's departure and Emrys' arrival. Outside, darkness fell and owls hooted in the forest. Merlin listened to them for a while then looked up and noticed Arthur's tenseness.
"That is no owl," Arthur said frowning. He reached for his sword and walked out of the tent. Merlin walked out after him. Percival and Gwaine were still sitting by the fire and Arthur quietly gestured for them to follow him. They walked silently into the forest.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? Walking into the pitch dark forest in the middle of the night through possibly Saxon infested lands?"
"Be quiet, Merlin!" Arthur hissed. "Remind me never to bring you to an ambush."
Ahead of them a twig snapped and a shadow detached itself from behind a tree. The figure wore a dark cloak and held both hands out at its sides in a gesture of friendship.
"Stop right there! Identify yourself!" Arthur called.
"I bring a message from Camelot, Sire," came the whispered reply.
"Who are you?" Arthur said taking a step forward, his sword raised.
The cloaked figure looked around, and when it had satisfied itself that only the four of them were present, it lowered its hood.
"Bri!" Merlin exclaimed stepping forward. She looked worried and relieved at the same time. She unconsciously took a few steps closer towards him.
"I have news for you. Is it safe to speak here?"
"Come!" Arthur spoke quickly with Gwaine and Percival and between the three of them and Merlin, they managed to sneak Bri into the King's tent without anyone else noticing. Percival took a casual stance before the fire outside the tent, and Gwaine melted into the forest behind it, and kept watch.
Gaius was surprised to see them enter. Bri went to him and he hugged her silently. His eyebrows went up as he took in her appearance.
"What's happened?" Gaius asked her.
"Are those my clothes?" Merlin exclaimed as Bri took her cloak off.
"They might be," she said, looking uncomfortable. It gave him a small measure of satisfaction that it was her feeling awkward for once and not him.
"I bring word from Alator of the Catha," she said. "A day after you left for Caerleon, he arrived in Camelot. He's been trailing Morgana. She is following you even now, out to the west. She has a great flying creature with her." Bri gave a shudder. "I think I saw it last night as I was riding."
Merlin frowned. Aithusa, the white dragon he had endangered his own life to save. The dragon that was supposed to have been a good omen for Albion. It hurt him to think of the twisted, crippled creature it had become, and its pitiful, misguided allegiance to Morgana.
"He has another message for you, Merlin. He says Morgana knows Emrys' true identity. She has a spy close to you, watching for confirmation for when Emrys and Merlin switch places, and waiting to strike."
Arthur ran a hand through his hair.
"Does he have any clues as to who this spy is?"
Bri shook her head.
"We have a whole army with us. It could be anybody. We can't do it then. We'll have to do this without Emrys."
Merlin shook his head. "Not with Morgana planning to attack us at the same time. You'll need Emrys, Arthur. You freed magic and now magic will serve Albion. We'll have to think of something."