A/N: Phew this actually a ridiculously fast update for me. As I previously mentioned, I originally wrote this fic intending for it to be a one shot so WARNING there are a lot of events that are rushed in this chapter and it's also why the chapters are presently short. After chapter 3, the size of the chapters will probably increase.

OH MY GOD! 10 reviews for the first chapter alone? You guys are amazing! I've never gotten such positive feedback for the FIRST chapter of any of my stories! Please continue supporting me like this because it is GREAT motivation for me to continue updating this story!

A lot of you really seemed to like the idea of Freya being Gwen's protector, which makes me really happy because I adore Freylin! Many of you asked if Freya and Guinevere will have a really good bond. The answer is yes, but I'm afraid we don't really see the development of the bond in this fic, rather,(SPOILER) you will see a Guinevere who is SUPER protective of Freya hehe even though Freya is supposed to be the protector.

Chapter 2

Merlin blew on his hands and rubbed them together to keep warm as he tended to the fire. Beside him, the knights slept restlessly, shivering and shaking in their sleep. He didn't have to be genius to know the cause of their worries. They all wanted to rescue their queen as soon as possible; they'd become so restless that Merlin was forced to put a sleep drafting into their stew so they'd at least have a few hours of sleep. Geez, the things he did for his friends…no doubt Arthur would give him the cold shoulder in the morning. But Merlin was used to this sort of the treatment by now. He was used to his best friend no longer treating him like an equal.

In the three years since his marriage to Guinevere, Arthur stopped asking Merlin for his council. It wasn't all so bad, as the queen had a wise head on her shoulders, and she was kind and caring. But she was as merciful as Arthur when it came to the laws of magic. While the number of executions had greatly decreased to only those sorcerers who attacked the crown or the people in anyway, magic was still outlawed in Camelot. In the three years since Arthur began taking council from his wife, he'd unconsciously pushed Merlin further and further away.

Naturally Merlin was always there for Arthur, helping him and saving him from any threat, magical or otherwise, but since Arthur's coronation and marriage, his sense of propriety overruled his heart. Being forced to take the crown at such a young age, and then being betrayed by his own Uncle, Arthur made a code of rules for himself and Camelot. No one could break or was excused from those rules, not even Arthur himself. Among those rules was to treat servants like servants.

Sure, Arthur and Merlin still joked and bantered when it was just the two of them, but the time Merlin was forced into submission far outweighed those times. His words no longer held value to Arthur. It wasn't just Arthur either, since his ascension to King, Arthur depended heavily on the Knight's of the Round Table. And after the incident with the Lamia, the Knights grew distant from Merlin as well.

The gap created between the Knight's and Merlin was fully confirmed during siege of Ismere when he was left to die in the cave after Mordred dragged the King away. Merlin had almost frozen to death before the caves were completely devoid of Knights and prisoners so that he was able to use magic to escape. He spent the next three days dragging himself back to Camelot on his own.

The Knights, and even Gaius, assumed that Merlin was with them the whole time. They never suspected his injuries or disappearance. Arthur, who was present when Merlin was viciously thrown at cave walls by Morgana, seemed to have completely forgotten what Merlin had done for him. No, Arthur was too busy investing personal training in his newest knight and "savior" Mordred.

Mordred was Arthur's bane. That was a fact that Merlin would remember. He would never let his perception of the new Mordred deter that. It was confirmed when the Disir had kept Mordred alive. Why would the witches bother killing Arthur when he was destined to die at Mordred's hand anyway?

Merlin had many great mistakes in his life, ones that the people he loved always seemed to pay for, but to convince Arthur there was no room for magic in Camelot and letting Mordred live…that was it for Merlin. He messed up, and this time no amount of magic could heal the rift he had created between the Once and Future King and himself.

Emrys…Emrys….Emyrs….

Merlin's senses jolted to awareness. He used his magic to feel around for the source of the voice in his head, trying to determine if it was malicious or friendly. But he felt warmth…the warmth of healing magic. By gods, it was severely misplaced in this forest full of misery and fear. Merlin followed the call without hesitation.

Buried under a log, was a tiny sliver of a stream of water. It wasn't until droplets rose into the dark sky that Merlin suspected it was magic. He rolled back on his haunches. A pale face appeared in the droplets.

"Vilia?" He whispered in disbelief, and then more panicked, "What are you doing here? This forest is dangerous for your kind!" The Vilia were kindred spirits with powerful healing magic. Their magic was pure and full of light just like Merlin's. But unlike he, who had a physical body to shield him from the darkness of the forest, the Vilia were completely susceptible to the dark magic.

"We have come with a message, Lord Emrys," The Vilia's voice twinkled like an omniscient lullaby, soothing but solemn in tone. "But we cannot remain in Mab's region of long.

"The prophecies are changing Emrys. The time of Magic's acceptance has been delayed. It has become Arthur Pendragon's destiny to die at the hands of the Once and Future Queen."

"No!" Merlin exclaimed without thinking. Blood pounded in his ears as the thought of Arthur's death shook his heart with fear. How could Guinevere, kind and sweet Gwen, cause Arthur's death? "That cannot happen! There must be a way to stop this!"

"There is young warlock, and the solution is a very simple one. The bond between King and Warlock must be repaired." The Vilia replied. Merlin felt the color drain out of his face. There was no way he could do that! Arthur was changed! He wasn't the same clotpole he was when Merlin first began working for him. It was impossible…but he had to do it didn't he?

"H-how do I do that?"

"We cannot say, my lord. Now you must hurry Emrys, for dawn is almost upon us. Remember in a forest filled with misery and greed: left is right and right is left. The way behind is the way ahead. You have a powerful mind's eye Emrys. You must use it." The Vilia warned and slowly began sinking into the stream. "You have many trails ahead Emrys and when the time comes, you will be forced to make the ultimate decision. Heed our warnings and act according for otherwise one of you shall not return."

"What do you mean? Who will not return?" Merlin adamantly questioned the Vilia, but it was to no avail. The Vilia were gone and the water seeped back into the soil. Merlin cursed and tried to reach out for them with his magic but it was no use. He walked back to the camp and settled into his bedding beside Arthur.

She must not die Emrys… was the last thing Merlin's mind registered before sleep swept him from this world. It was also the first thought he remembers when Arthur oh so dutifully woke him up with a kick to the stomach and a "You'll pay for this later idiot." Arthur seemed to be in foul mood after that, but Merlin's mind was too occupied with the Villia's warning to cheer the King up. He acknowledged that the Vilia had in fact left him a lot more clues than certain blasted lizards but still no clear instructions what so ever.

Merlin had no bloody idea what to think. He absentmindedly followed the Knights through their rushed morning routine, and allowed Arthur to harshly berate him for the sleep draft. They quest was to be resumed immediately. He followed them silently wondering what the new prophecies were. What was the catalyst that resulted in prophecies (One's that had been written since the beginning of time) to be changed so simply?

The time of Magic's acceptance in Camelot has been delayed…

The epiphany sent a jolt of shock and mortification through Merlin. He did this…he messed everything up. He told Arthur there was no room for magic in Camelot. He became distant and subservient when Arthur was crowned King and magic had not returned. He destroyed the bond between King and Warlock. Merlin really messed up.

"Wait!" Arthur suddenly halted the garrison of soldiers. He held up a tiny piece of bright red fabric that clung to the thorny vines in the forest. He looked to the Knights for recognition. Sir Gwaine lifted his cloak, revealing an identical hole in his cloak to the piece of fabric in the king's hands. Arthur hissed and thrust his sword into the ground. "We have gone around in a circle. We have wasted an entire day!" He shouted at no one in particular. He collapsed onto a stray log his face contorted with grief. Merlin sensed that Arthur was barely keeping it together in front of his knights. He had to do something.

You must mend the bond between King and Warlock…..you've a powerful mind's eye Emrys. You must use it…

"I made you a promise, Arthur. We will find her," Merlin responded slowly, when the knights had gone silent at the King's defeated expression. He saw Arthur flinch and stare at his boots in shame. Merlin bit his lip. He needed Arthur to see that he would always be there for him, to protect him, to guide him, to be his friend. He needed Arthur to believe in him. "We will bring her home."

"You're right." Arthur abruptly stood up, giving Merlin's shoulder a quick squeeze. Merlin felt his heart warm. Arthur was giving him a chance. He felt that a bit of their old relationship had come back. His maniacal cheeky grin was rewarded with an eye roll from Arthur. Maybe Merlin was imagining it, but he thought he detected a bit of amazement in the king's cobalt eyes. But it was just his imagination right? Unbeknownst to him, the knights shared a similar expression. "We must find the clearing where we saw the Dark Tower."

"Which way is that?" Elyan questioned.

"North," Merlin blurted without thinking. "Please. I know I can get us there. I wouldn't do anything to risk Gwen's life. I can get us to the Dark Tower, I'm certain." A look of doubt passed through the eyes of knights. Merlin wanted crawl into a hole. This was it…the Knight's had forgotten they once used to believe in and trusted Merlin's judgment, that his word was more than just the word of a servant. It hurt but he was partially to blame for that wasn't he? "I know what Gwen means to you, to all of us, we need to head north."

"And which way is that Merlin?" Arthur asked almost incredulously, a shared look of disbelief passed between them.

"That way" Merlin instinctively pointed in the right direction.

"No it's…" Arthur slowly drawled and then checked which way the sun cast the shadow from the hilt of his sword. "over there…and how on Earth would you know that?"

"Trust me." Merlin grinned almost cheekily. The Vilia's words bounced around his head. They were right, the solution was very simple. He needed to mend the bend. He needed to show Arthur who he really was. After all, it was the secrets that tore their bond in the first place. If that was so, then the truth must be the answer to repairing the bond. He received a nod of approval from Gwaine and Elyan who had decided to give him a chance. Merlin stared at Arthur long and hard and slowly saw a faint smile stretch across the king's face. Arthur nodded.

Concept 2: I found that in Season 5, Merlin seemed much gloomier and that he couldn't talk to Arthur as freely as he had in the previous seasons. And I personally think that when Arthur and Guinevere's relationship began to develop, Merlin and Arthur started to drift. As much as I love the Guinevere/Arthur romance, I don't like taking the attention away from the Merlin/Arthur bromance. I hope to salvage that in this story.

Review, review, review! (I'd love to hear your opinions on this)

Kiki1770