I don't own Merlin or The Adventures of Tintin by Herge.

Screams echoed in the air around him. He stood, helpless, as the bandits killed everyone in sight. He wished he could do something, anything, but how could he? He was only a twelve-year old boy.

"Galahad!" called his father. "Galahad, get out of there!" The man ran up to protect his son as the leader of the bandits came into sight, riding a great black mare. Merlin couldn't move. He was utterly terrified.

"No! Father!" he screamed as the bandit's axe came down in a shining silver arc―

He looked away. When he could stand it no longer and looked back, the bandit was staring at him strangely. Merlin pulled his eyes away from the limp form on the ground and met the bandit's gaze, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Listen to me, boy," said the bandits' leader. "I was once a Druid, you know. Hunted by Uther until I was forced to become this." He gestured around him. "But still I retain the gift of Sight, as I always have. And I can see that you are destined for great things." He sighed. "Emrys is protecting you, even before he is born." With that, he rode off, back into the battle, leaving the boy untouched.

"Bann! No, Bann!" His mother's voice came. She was crying, calling for her husband. "No…" She blinked back her tears and grabbed her son's shoulder. "Galahad, follow me. Hurry!" She ran, and Merlin ran after her.

They stopped at a ditch hidden under a large bush. His mother shoved him in, hiding him in the leafy shrub. Merlin was cold and wet and wracked with grief, but he said nothing.

"Stay here, Galahad. Do not move until I come for you again."

"What if you don't?"

"I will. I promise. No matter what happens, Galahad, I will always come back for you." Then she was gone.

She did not return.

"Merlin?" Karanth's concerned voice woke him. "Galahad? Are you two alright?" The sorcerer sat up, and saw that he and Galahad must have passed out at the same time. The brigand was awake now, though, looking stunned.

"What happened?" Karanth persisted.

"I've no idea," Merlin said. "We just touched, and then…"

"What did you see?" Galahad's voice was urgent.

"I-I saw your village being attacked," Merlin stuttered. "Did you see something, too?" Galahad looked sheepish.

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"It's my fault… it happens, sometimes. My mother told me to keep it hidden, it's too close to magic… I can experience others' memories, and they can see mine, if I let them."

"What did you see?"

"Your… your father's death. I'm so sorry."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Merlin asked, trying to avoid the flood of memories that washed over him at the mention of his father's death.

"I'm sorry, I just… try to tell as few people as possible; it's an ingrained habit. Like you and your magic."

Merlin opened his mouth to reply when he was interrupted by a loud banging on the door.

"Who is that? It can't be any later than third notch?" Merlin got up and opened the door; Gaius was still sleeping (somehow). In the rain stood a figure… a strikingly familiar figure. "It's you," Merlin breathed. "Why are you here?"

"I have nowhere else to go," he replied. "I have been cast out of my home, and you are the only person I can turn to." He looked up at the warlock pleadingly.

"Alright then," Merlin relented. "Come in." The boy stepped inside, shaking water from his long, brown hair.

"Galahad! Karanth!" he cried, running to meet them.

"What are you doing here?" Galahad asked. Gaius chose this moment to awake,

scanning the scene with obvious confusion.

"Who is this, Merlin?"

"Oh, this is Gareth."

oOo

Merlin woke with a start. He was sure he'd heard something. Sitting up, he thought he heard a faint whizzing noise, followed by a dull thud. Then, a rustling at the window. The sorcerer leapt up and ran to the window, pulling it open. There was nothing there, save for a faint shadow he could make out running into the lower town.

He sighed and closed the window. As he made to go back to bed, he noticed something protruding from the wall. On closer investigation, it proved to be a small dart. Merlin pulled it from the wall, examining some kind of sticky substance that coated the end.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place.

He dropped the dart, breathing raggedly. How close he had come to the same fate as the other two. If he hadn't woken when he did… it didn't bear thinking about.

He stepped over the sleeping forms of Galahad and Gareth, and made his way over to his mentor's bed. Merlin felt a bit guilty about waking him, but it was urgent.

"Gaius," he whispered. "Gaius!"

"What on earth is it this time, Merlin?"

"I think someone tried to kill me."

"What?!" Merlin held out the dart.

"Whoever they were, they missed. It hit the wall, not me." Gaius took the small, deadly sliver of wood and sniffed the sticky substance.

"Curare," he said. "A vegetable poison that paralyses the breathing. You were extremely lucky, Merlin."

"Well, whoever this killer is, they've claimed two lives already. I'm not going to let them take a third."

oOo

It happened almost too suddenly for him to fully register. One moment, he was walking through the lower town, trying to find a good stall in the marketplace for him to purchase his friends' breakfasts, as on any normal(ish) day.

The next moment, he doubled over in pain as he felt his destiny shatter into a million pieces.

It felt like a part of his soul was being ripped out of him. He gasped and fell onto his hands and knees, breathing hard. Concerned voices hazily drifted past his ears, but he thought only of the one thing this could mean.

Arthur!

Merlin tried to stand, but it felt like he was only half there. He could feel hands trying to help him up, voices asking if he was alright, but all he said in reply was Please, take me to Arthur, I must get to Arthur.

A few minutes later, he found himself in Gaius's chambers, with the old physician flitting about worriedly.

Merlin? Merlin? His mentor's voice was calling his name, faintly but distinctly. Merlin didn't answer; again he tried to stand but it felt as though he were one side of a coin trying to stand on end by itself.

Where's Arthur, he whispered. Please, Gaius, he's in danger!

Sir Leon burst into the room. The knight looked terrified.

Gaius, come quickly. It's the king.

Gaius walked as fast as he could, supporting Merlin, who was trying to prepare himself for what he knew he would see. And as they entered the king's chambers, passing a sobbing Guinevere, there lay Arthur on the bed.

He wasn't breathing.