As the turrets of Caerleon came into view, Arthur called a halt. The knights reined in their horses and Gaius brought his cart to a stop.

"Merlin!" Arthur called, and Bri, disguised as Merlin spurred her horse forward to reach Arthur.

"Yes, Sire?"

"I want you to ride to Camelot and give Queen Guinevere the news that we've reached Caerleon safely and in good time."

"You want me to ride back alone?" Bri complained.

"Are you afraid Merlin?" The knights chuckled.

"No, Sire, just realistically cautious."

"Any other complaints?"

"Who will help you dress, Sire, while I am away?"

Emrys chuckled into his beard. Bri was playing it for all its worth.

"I can very well dress myself, Merlin!" Arthur scoffed. Sir Leon rubbed a hand over his face to hide his grin. Gwaine didn't bother. Arthur scowled at him.

"Very well, Sire!"

"Since you're such a scaredy cat, Merlin, I'll have Gwaine and Emrys escort you over the hill, yonder."

Bri looked over to the hill. It was only about a ten minute ride away.

"So considerate, Sire," she mumbled.

Without much time for leave taking, Bri nodded towards Gaius and the other knights and took off, followed by Emrys and Gwaine. When they had gone past the hill, well past the last of the Camelot army they slowed their horses and dismounted.

Gwaine went off to scout and returned.

"There is no one about," he confirmed.

"Are you ready?" Emrys asked her. She nodded and placed her hand in his. "It's been odd staring at myself all day," he told her. He cupped her cheek and said the words, his eyes glowing bright. A shimmering enveloped Bri and when it dissipated, she was once again herself.

"I don't like it that you have to travel back to Camelot alone," Gwaine said, coming closer.

"To have it otherwise would have looked suspicious," Bri said. "Well, I'd better go if I'm to make the most of the hours of daylight."

Emrys took a small bundle out of his robes and passed it to her.

"What's this?"

"From Gaius," he said, using her own words, and winked. "You haven't eaten all day."

"Ah! I see." She gave him a grateful smile. "Thank Gaius for me." She stepped in the stirrup and mounted her horse.

"One more thing," Emrys said. He held out his hand and spoke another spell. Bri and her horse were enveloped briefly in a white mist.

"What was that?"

"You'll attract no unwanted attention on your journey home. It will wear off once you reach Camelot."

"That's very well done, Merlin," Gwaine said, somewhat relieved. "Safe journey, Bri!"

She nodded at them one by one and turned her horse towards Camelot.

"Bri!" Emrys called out.

She turned around again and brought her horse alongside his.

"Yes Merlin," she said expectantly, her head tilting to the side.

His gaze flickered towards where Gwaine waited, and then back to hers.

"You do find your moments, don't you?" she said wryly.

"I have a gift, according to Arthur."

She laughed and touched her hand to his cheek. "You have a smudge here," she said.

"Do I really?"

She grinned and bit her lip. "No, not really. I made that up. I needed an excuse."

He covered her hand with his. His heart was drumming loudly in his chest. "You don't need an excuse."

"I'll keep that in mind. For when you get back." Her smile melted away. "You will, Merlin? You will get back."

"I promise."

She nodded and let her hand drop away.

"Safe journey, Bri."

"Safe journey, Merlin."

He watched her go and when he could no longer see her, he turned his horse around and found Gwaine watching him with a peculiar expression on his face.

"So that's how it is, eh?" Gwaine let out a low whistle. "That explains why she's been so indifferent to my charms." He grinned at Merlin and Merlin grinned back. "Although I have to say, Merlin, being thrown aside for a doddering old man is very hard on my ego."

Merlin scoffed.

"Who are you calling doddering? I happen to be in perfect health! You watch your mouth young man, or I will make you grow a tail."

Gwaine guffawed. "How did you keep this side of yourself from us all these years, Merlin? We were missing out!"

They spurred their horses forward and hurried back to join the others.

...

As they approached the castle, Queen Annis rode out with a small escort and met them on the road.

"I am glad you've come, Arthur Pendragon!" she called to him.

"Camelot will always come to the aid of her friends and allies," Arthur replied solemnly.

Annis angled her horse and moved sideways until she was face to face with Emrys.

"So this is your Sorcerer, Arthur Pendragon?" she asked in her outspoken fashion. "I have heard that you lifted the ban on magic in your kingdom, and I wondered at it." She watched Arthur and her eyes narrowed as if trying to read his mind.

"Queen Annis," Arthur spoke, "allow me to present to you the Sorcerer Emrys." Merlin bowed his head to the queen and she nodded cautiously in reply. "He has saved my life countless times, even before I knew of his magic. He has been a friend of Camelot long before I knew to thank him." He paused to pick his words carefully. "I have come to see that my father's fight against magic was ... misguided. I have come to see that magic in itself is not evil. All that matters is how it is used."

Annis watched him thoughtfully. "You are a wiser man than your father, Arthur Pendragon." She turned again to Emrys. "You are welcome to Caerleon, Emrys. A friend of Camelot's is a friend of ours."

"I am grateful for your welcome, Queen Annis," Merlin replied.

Annis and Arthur made arrangements for the army to camp out on the field beneath the castle, while Arthur and his closest were invited to join the queen as guests. Arthur left Leon and Mordred to see to the troops and join them in the castle later.

Night was falling and in the deepening twilight the tents were being erected and fires started. Leon was about satisfied that everyone had shelter and food, and he and Mordred led their horses on foot towards the castle. Between the main campground and the gates, they passed through a dark patch of forest. The sounds of campfires and men chatting fell away behind them and they could hear their own footsteps and their horses' hoof beats in the dirt.

Leon's horse pulled at its reins and pawed the ground nervously.

"Come, boy, we're almost there," Leon said patting the horse gently. He heard a branch snap, and he turned his head, instantly on alert, but he was too late. The blow caught him on the side of the head and Leon dropped to the forest floor like a stone. The last thing he saw as he fell and his vision blurred were two men dragging an unconscious Mordred away.