By first light, the group was ready to go, all their belongings packed. Arthur led the group to the edge of the forest. From their vantage point, they could see a vast expanse of trees, which Arthur confirmed was the Impenetrable Forest. Beyond the seemingly endless forest, they could only just make out a tower at the edge of the horizon. From there, they started on their journey through the forest. Along the way, Gwaine unknowingly ripped his cloak when it got caught in a branch. None of them knew that this would come back to haunt them later. They continued along on their journey, their thoughts only of their queen, sister, friend and wife, depending on who you referred to. Except Gwaine. His thoughts were of cheese.

As the sun continued to travel across the sky, and the men through the forest, they stated to grow weary. Slicing through a forest can do that to a man. Merlin, being the clumsy idiot(as Arthur would put it) he was, tripped over a root and fell face first onto the ground. He got up, ignoring the knights' laughter, noticing a shred of red cloth which he knew could only be Camelot made.

"Arthur, come see this," he called, taking the cloth.

The men lifted their cloaks to check for tears and sure enough, Gwaine groaned.

"This was a new cloak!" he complained.

Arthur on the other hand looked furious. "You mean to tell me we've wasted a whole day travelling in circles?" he yelled. "We don't have anymore time to waste, we have to get to the tower."

The king trudged back to the front of the group, only to be stopped by Merlin and Gwaine.

"It's too late. The sun is about to set. We'll never get out of the forest in that kind of darkness. We'll just get even more lost," Gwaine explained apologetically.

Arthur actually listened. If Gwaine was being logical, he knew he needed to stop. The king ordered Merlin to set his bag down; they would make camp there.

As the others slumbered, Merlin took the opportunity to find a discreet magical way out of the forest. As he wandered not too far from the camp, he heard a voice.

"Ah, finally. Emrys," the voice quipped. Merlin pivoted around, noticing what he could only assume was a fairy sitting on a tree branch.

"You must be wondering who I am, Emrys." Merlin opened his mouth to agree, but was interrupted by the 'fairy'.

"I am Queen Mab, the spirit of this place, as well as of despair in men's hearts, and we have an unwelcome guest."

Queen Mab looked somewhat bemused, but Merlin had not noticed her expression, having whirled around and frozen the 'guest' on the spot. He paled when he realised who was standing frozen before him.

"G-Gwaine," he stammered. "You can't tell anyone, Arthur can't know my secret yet he-" Merlin was interrupted by Gwaine.

"Mate," he started, thankfully not sounding angry or hateful in the slightest. "Please let go of me."

Gwaine looked more surprised than anything. Merlin, finally realising he was still freezing Gwaine in place released him and his eyes turned back to their natural blue. Gwaine finally started getting suspicious, questioning Merlin.

"Merlin, you have magic?" he asked, the suspicion not leaving his voice. "And why did that fairy creature call you Emrys?" he continued.

Merlin could see the gears turning in his friend's head. He must think I'm a spy for Morgana or King Lot or something, he thought.

"I was born with it-" he started to explain before he was interrupted by the knight.

"Wait, people can be born with magic?" he asked, looking shocked for a moment before his expression became unsure. "Uther was so misguided... people can't be born evil..." he trailed off, distracted by his own train of thought. Merlin just sighed and continued.

"Yes, Gwaine. Now we'll be sitting here all night unless you stop interrupting me." That got Gwaine's attention again and he glanced apologetically at Merlin and gestured for him to continue, Merlin dimly aware that he had made a very inaccurate assumption about his friend.

"As I was saying, I was born with magic, and this spirit called me Emrys because that is the name given to me by the druids." he continued on, explaining his destiny and the prophecies about him and Arthur, that together they would unite Albion. Gwaine just looked at Merlin with understanding.

"Ah," he realised. "You're the reason Arthur legalised magic again. The whole council thought he was mad, some thought he was enchanted."

"No, you dollop head! Didn't you hear me say just now that you couldn't tell Arthur? He doesn't know, and you can't tel him! I'm trying to figure out how to tell him that..." Merlin trailed off, looking down in guilt.

"That you've been lying to him for the better part of ten years?" Gwaine joked. Merlin just looked at him with clear irritation on his face. "Don't worry mate, things will work themselves out," he empathised. Merlin just sighed, and continued on with the encounter with the Disir, and saving Mordred. He left out the part about the young druid having been Arthur's doom. He didn't want Gwaine to look at Mordred any differently.

As if finally remembering Queen Mab's presence, Merlin turned back around to look for her. Surprisingly, she was sitting on her branch, patiently waiting for Gwaine and Merlin to finish their heart-to-heart and remember she was there.

"Finally, Emrys. I have important things to tell you, you know." the spirit looked more amused than irritated, but Merlin still apologised.

"The forest is but one step on your journey," she stated, her demeanor subtly changing to one of dominance.

"How do we find a way out?" Merlin asked, stepping closer to the branch she was sitting on.

"Oh, little one," she responded. "You shouldn't have to ask." Gwaine shot Merlin a questioning look but the young warlock just shrugged. "Left is right and right is left; and the way behind is the way ahead. It is simple," she finished, as Gwaine snorted.

"Simple," he quipped sarcastically.

Queen Mab just ignored his remark and continued. "You have a mind's eye, Emrys. You must learn to trust in it, for far greater challenges lie ahead."

"When we reach the Dark Tower," Merlin concluded.

"If. You must beware, Emrys, for the tower is not a real place. It is the heart's rest. The mind's deepest fear, the stillness in the hummingbird's eye-" Queen Mab was interrupted.

"Stop talking in riddles," Gwaine demanded. The spirit finally looked at him, and spoke a bit harsher.

"Then I shall speak in rhyme,
For your race is against time.
When it comes to revenge do not take your fill,
For your queen is gravely ill."

Queen Mab smiled darkly at Merlin

"What do you mean?" he asked. But the spirit just chuckled and disappeared. "How is she ill?" he questioned to thin air. But it was no use, Queen Mab was gone. Merlin sat down and sighed.

"You can't tell the others about her warning," he told Gwaine. "Arthur will be a prat and not think things through if he knows Gwen is ill. He'll also question why she appeared to me. You know he will." Gwaine just nodded solemnly. They walked back to the camp in silence, Gwaine looking curiously at Merlin until he decided to break the silence.

"You're so powerful and yet you lower yourself down to the position of a servant. You have had every chance and every reason to take over Camelot and yet you stay and serve Arthur. Uther was so wrong about sorcery," he noted.

Merlin just smiled thinly. "Uther Pendragon was a coward. He blamed magic for his own terrible actions." His face became hopeful as he continued. "Arthur was misguided by his father's teachings, so he doesn't truly see the value in magic yet, but I hope that now he will start to. The knights and the citizens too. From what I can see, there's still so much dissent among the council over Arthur's decision. I hope he doesn't regret his decision."

They got back to camp, quietly lying down, hoping they would save Gwen in time. Merlin drifted off, an idea forming in his head about how to get out of the forest with Queen Mab's 'directions'. He eventually fell into a dreamless sleep.

The Dark Tower

Gwen sat in the room of Mandrake roots screaming, her eyes shut and ears covered. She cowered in a corner as Morgana watched from outside. She was lucky to have discovered and befriended the Dochraid, who told her about the Tiana Diaga. It had been a few days since she kidnapped Gwen, and already the queen was falling prey to the ritual, her will slowly becoming Morgana's. She knew that the knights would find a way to get through the forest, especially with Emrys on their side. But she would just have to hope that they took just a bit too long to escape the forest. She opened the door and ran in to comfort the screaming Gwen, as she had done a few times over the past few days.

"Don't worry, you're not alone now. You've been so courageous, Gwen. The Mandrake root was cruel, but necessary." Morgana stood up, Gwen following along and nodding. "You need never be alone again. I'm the only one you can trust, the only one you have left in the world. The others, they taunt you, they hate you." She pulled Gwen along with her. "Come, you need some rest, some proper rest." Gwen followed her a few steps, but then pulled away.

"No," she said. "Whatever twisted game you're playing, I want no part in it," she sobbed. "I'd rather stay in here and die."

Morgana smirked. "So be it," she said as she left the room.

The queen would break before the knights came to rescue her. She guessed that it would be another day before they arrived, and set to finishing the ritual and enchanting a little 'present' for her dear brother.

Oh my my this chapter was very very long and not what I expected it to be. I meant for something else to happen but Gwaine butted in while I was writing and found out about Merlin's magic. I'm not entirely sure what happened honestly. I expected them to reach the tower by this chapter but I got distracted by Gwaine. Woohoo. So now Gwaine knows.

So, on to reviews.

AndreKI: I will definitely take what you said into account, and I think it's interesting. When they get back to Camelot, we'll see what happens. Merlin already mentioned dissent within the council, so that'll be addressed later:)

The rest: I will definitely update more! It's been a long time since I've written, so I'm so encouraged to see these positive reviews and 'desperate fans' wanting more:) Thank you!