A/N: Geez, this chapter was a real Witch to edit, but I guess I shouldn't complain. I've had SIX snow days this January. Crazy right?

Once again, 11 REVIEWS! You guys are crazy generous! Thank you so much for all your epic support! I could the general outline of this story done, I don't know how many chapter it will be, but it definitely turned out to be much longer than what I originally planned. Once again, it seemed a lot of people noticed that Merlin and Arthur drifted in Season 5. I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought so. I thought the whole season seemed gloomier because the two of them weren't as close anymore. Oh well, at least I got my fanfics to fix that huh?

I forgot to do this in the first chapter, so I'll do it now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin in anyway, all rights go to BBC.

Chapter 3

Merlin paused to flash Arthur a pleased smirk as if to say "See, you need me too, you clotpole." Knowing that Arthur trusted him was an incomparable feeling. He wanted to hold onto this feeling; keep it close and remember to win back Arthur's trust. Starting with finding Gwen.

Merlin concentrated the magic in his eyes, and took off in the correct direction this time. He made sure that he always stayed a few feet in front of the patrol, diving under low branches and flying over decaying stumps. His eyes searched for their tracks from yesterday. It wasn't long before they passed Percival's broken hilt; the Knights looked at Merlin in astonishment and picked up their pace dramatically.

Merlin, Arthur, Leon, Gwaine, Elyan, and Percival stumbled onto the ridge that showed the first real glimpse of the tower that Queen Guinevere had been abducted too. After restlessly fighting their way through vicious looking thorns and wines, they'd finally found it. I did it, Merlin thought, astonished.

"Well done Merlin, let's keep going," Arthur patted Merlin's back and gestured for him to lead the way. The flutter of happiness in Merlin's heart would have to be pondered upon much later. He continued stressing his eyes to look forward, stifling small gasps of pain. He could deal with that later.

Merlin saw flashes of the path ahead, there was broken tree stump, an ash grey tree with gnarly wines wrapped around it, a patch of fern and then, there were bright rays of sunlight. Merlin pulled back with a muffled gasp and shot forward before knights could question his reaction. First the wines disappeared, and then the ivy trees slowly faded into small maples. The hot sun beat down on them as they finally passed through the last stretch of scorched trees.

Merlin abruptly stopped running and was blinded by the scalding waves of heat and life on the barren dessert. He caught his first real glimpse of the tower of nightmares. The whole tower permeated an illustrious aura that reeked of black magic. He feel its dark seduction trying control his mind. The magic caught him off guard and for a moment he thought he was going to be possessed.

Then he found himself falling to the forest floor, as the knights had all run into and tumbled over his small body.

"Oomph" Merlin gasped as they all lay in pile in the clearing. Arthur laughed into Merlin's ears, proudly calling him an idiot before they rolled off one by one. Gwaine clapped Merlin's back and called him a genius, Leon nodded at him with a rekindled respect, Elyan's dark eyes reflected how grateful he was, and Percival's silent appreciation didn't go missed. Just like that…the lost bond between he, the knights, and Arthur seemed to smooth over even if only by a little.

"We must make way to the tower without delay," Arthur reasoned in his authoritative voice after the knights had taken a quick water break. "If we mean to save Gwen as soon possible, we must get to the tower before sun down. I've only heard rumors but…it seems these deserts come alive with, err, magical beast at sign of the moonlight. Ready your arms gentl-"

"Arthur look!" Elyan interrupted Arthur's speech and all eyes flew to the direction Elyan was pointing. Merlin, who had the best vision of them all, was able to make out the outline of two women. One was garbed in a brilliant violet colored dress with mocha skin and vivacious locks of curly brown hair; the other figure was completely covered in a black cloak with not a hint of skin showing, if it wasn't for her curvy outline it would be hard tell if she was woman it all. As they walked a bit closer a realization dawned on them.

"It's Gwen!" Arthur exclaimed. He drew his sword out and began running. Leon and the others copied the gesture and began running towards the queen. Merlin's eyes were momentarily frozen on the black cloaked figure beside Gwen. What was Morgana doing out here? He didn't have time to think as Arthur shouted his name. Merlin began running.

The shouts of "Guinevere," and "My lady," were loud and frantic as the knights tried to capture the queen's attention. Gwen twitched at the noises at first, but when she was close enough to make out the screams and the figures garbed in the bright scarlet red cloaks of Camelot, she began running.

"Arthur!" They heard Guinevere's voice echoing across the desert plane. She dove into Arthur's arms without hesitation and peppered the side of his face with small kisses, a trail of happy tears falling down her cheeks. It was impossible not to notice Gwen's disheveled wavy hair or the bags of sleeplessness under her eyes. Worst of all it was the pale withdrawn color of her once healthy skin. Merlin didn't want to imagine the horror she'd been put through, not when he could see her so safely tucked into Arthur's arms.

Arthur held Guinevere tightly; the two were lost in their embrace for a moment longer before the knights caught up to Arthur. Arthur, Leon and the other were so wrapped up in checking over the queen, they didn't notice the hooded figure quietly approaching until she was right in front of them. Arthur let out an angry growl and covered his wife protectively. Merlin took his place at Arthur's side glaring fierce daggers at Morgana, and the knights all stood poised with their swords ready.

The hooded figure threw a hand out in front of her and sent all their swords flying a good hundred meters from where the stood. Merlin tensed when he felt the powerful magic radiating from Morgana and at the realization that Arthur was currently defenseless.

"Morgana!" Arthur growled. "You've a lot of nerve kidnapping my wife and then showing your face like this!" The hooded figure flinched and seemed to take a step back. Gwen, who was thrown into a turmoil the moment Arthur protectively stood in from of her, pushed her husband aside and stood protectively over the hooded figure.

"Stop it Arthur! She's not Morgana. She saved me from Morgana!" Guinevere pleaded and pulled the hooded woman behind her. They stood in shock, a maelstrom of emotions flickered in Arthur's eyes: confusion, suspicion, fear, disgust, anger, worry. It was hard to miss. Merlin was just as frozen as his friend; his eyes never left the hooded figure. He wanted to use his magic to probe her, but if it was Morgana, his cover would be blown.

"Even if she isn't Morgana, she has magic Gwen. Do not be deceived. She probably captured you from Morgana just to use you against me!" Arthur shouted, panic finally taking over him. Gwen still hovered protectively over the hooded figure not budging an inch, and suddenly, Guinevere was glaring at them. But it wasn't anger in her eyes; it was pity.

"Y-you don't understand Arthur. You don't even try to." The queen whispered softly, trembling as her eyes became glassy with tears. Arthur and Merlin found themselves lowering their protective stance, speechless. The knight's attention was no longer on their mysterious hooded figure, but on their queen. Guinevere was a strong woman, one of the strongest women they'd ever known. Yet here she was, lowering her guard and earnestly protecting the sorceress. Guinevere looked tired and frightened of course, but the knight's saw the Queen at her core, they saw in her the qualities that made her queen in the first place. They saw her fierce honesty and compassion.

Gwen took a shaky breath, but there was no hesitation in her voice as she spoke with her heart. "M-Morgana did kidnap me. She had me locked in the t-tower for two days ,and there were these…things handing from the ceiling…screaming and crying. I-It was awful Arthur! Absolutely awful!" She cried, gentle tears rolling down her face as she relived her horrifying memory.

"For two days, I saw nothing but the images of you, Elyan, and Merlin; I thought you were there to free me, to save me, but y-you laughed in my face, you taunted." Gwen shivered and wrapped her arms around her torso, her gaze lowered. "I was nearly put under Morgana's enchantment when she saved me."

"Why would a sorceress save a Pendragon? She must be plotting something. You might be under her enchantment, my lady," Leon quipped. Gwen shook her head before he finished talking. But neither Leon nor Arthur paid mind to her protest.

"Whether she saved you are not, she has magic, and by the laws of Camelot she must be sentenced to die." Arthur replied emotionlessly. He didn't take pleasure in this but he wasn't going to take the chance that this sorceress might be enchanting his wife.

"There's no room for magic in Camelot," The cold words hung in the air like a storm cloud. No one noticed the hooded figure or Merlin both flinch at the same time. "And there never will be."

"I know you Arthur. You're not a cruel man. She saved my life. That must elicit a sort of pardon…" Guinevere was convincing no one. In last desperate attempt she exchanged a look with the hooded figure and back to Arthur.

"She's a druid Arthur. You took an oath that their kind wouldn't be hunted any longer. Look here, she is a druid." She said, grabbing the hooded figures arm and rolling back the cloak to reveal a pale slender arm with a black swirling druidic symbol tattooed on her wrist. "If you still cannot put your trust in my savior, then put it in me Arthur. She will not harm us and I will not let any harm come to her either."

Arthur looked torn. His eyes flickered to Merlin, the knights, to Gwen and then the hooded figure. He never really had a choice did he? How could he refuse Guinevere after all? He had never seen her persist so strongly about anything. No, he still couldn't trust the sorceress, but he would trust Gwen. He knew the look in her eyes all too well to believe she was under an enchantment. Maybe…just maybe…he could give her a chance.

"Ah-alright." Arthur conceded in resignation. Gwen's eyes lit up in bliss and sprung forward to hug her husband. Arthur sighed but returned the hug. He then turned his steely blue eyes to address the hooded figure.

"On request of the Queen, no harm shall come to you until we reach the boarders of Camelot. After that…I can't answer for my actions. Is that understood?" The hooded figure nodded her head. "Good. Now remove your cloak. Slowly! If I have even the slightest doubt that you mean us harm I will strike you down."

The woman removed the hood with deliberate caution and revealed her pale other worldly beauty. She had a soft heart shaped face, warm chocolate colored eyes, and lips as plump and red as strawberries. Above her long tresses of raven black hair sat a tiny silver band of holly leaves and red berries. She was young but not without wisdom in her precocious eyes.

The knights became captivated by her beauty. They were unsuspecting to the sharp zing of sword being pulled out of its sheath until it was pointed at the sorceress's face.

"Who. Are. You?"

Uh-oh! Who picked up the sword?

Concept 3: I always wondered what would happen if someone Arthur loved very much like Gwen or Morgana in the beginning, had told Arthur to give Magic a chance? Arthur believed in it on his own once right? So that's why, rather than Merlin, I wanted Gwen to be the first supporter of Magic in this story.

And oh look, my first shot at some Arwen, hehe.

Review, review, review!

Kiki1770