Thank you again for the reviews and the support, it really means the world to me. Hope you like this next part.

Arthur barely slept that night. Merlin fell into a fitful doze but Arthur knew it was because the younger boy was so exhausted. After everything he had been through over the last day – especially with having his magic suppressed more than once – Arthur couldn't blame him. But Nimueh sat by the fire, her unblinking eyes locked on Arthur all night. He couldn't get comfortable in the cage and every time his eyes started to droop, something would jerk him back to alertness. He owed it to Merlin to keep watch. It didn't matter that Arthur couldn't physically do anything even if he wanted to, he needed to stay awake. He needed to know what happened next.

When dawn came, Nimueh extinguished the fire with a wave of her hand and stood up. Arthur tensed. His head was pounding and his eyes felt gritty and sore due to the lack of sleep. Merlin jolted awake, sitting up and looking between Arthur and Nimueh with wide eyes. Arthur tried to smile reassuringly at him, telling his friend without words that nothing had happened while Merlin rested. But his smile slipped when he realised Nimueh was stalking towards the cage. Arthur pushed himself back to the furthest point possible, but she only smiled and rounded the cage to be closer to him.

Arthur moved back to the middle. There was a dangerous glint in Nimueh's eyes that he had never seen before. Even when he had got into trouble, she had never looked at him in such a predatory way.

"Let us go," he said quietly. He wouldn't beg – she had taught him what pride was. But he couldn't sit here and let this happen.

"I can't," Nimueh responded. She didn't look like she regretted that fact. "I've worked too hard, I've given up too much to get to this point for you to be an ungrateful brat and spoil it now."

"Ungrateful? You've lied to me my entire life. You've taken my memories, kept from me knowing who I am. And then when you tell me – which, let's face it, you weren't going to do if this hadn't happened – you tell me you want me to kill my own father."

"He's no father," Nimueh spat. "He never deserved to be a father: he never should have been. I enabled him to become one and it's only right I'm the one to take that away again."

"What did he do to you?" Arthur said. He knew he didn't know the whole story. Perhaps he never would. But he wasn't a child anymore. He refused to let Nimueh intimidate him in such a way. For a split-second, emotions clouded Nimueh's expression and Arthur could see the pain of her past on her face. But then the pain was gone and the anger was back.

"He hunted me like an animal," she said. Arthur knew that wasn't the reason for the pain. But before he could say anything else, Nimueh's hand shot through the bars, trying to reach him. Arthur pulled back.

"Come here, Arthur."

"No."

"Sit with your back against the bars. Put your hands through."

"No. You can't make me." If she wanted him to move, she was going to have to use magic. But Nimueh lifted an eyebrow, her expression cool.

"If you don't, I will leave Merlin in the cave. Trapped by the power of the crystals, he will be imprisoned outside of time until the time is right for him to fulfil his destiny."

"You wouldn't dare. That's not even possible," Arthur snarled. But his heart gave an uncomfortable thump as Nimueh merely looked at him.

"Isn't it?"

Arthur swallowed. He looked over to Merlin. His friend was watching the exchange, gnawing on his lip. There was no fear in his expression though and Arthur realised he was out of earshot. Arthur felt defeated. He shuffled closer to Nimueh. He couldn't risk Merlin – not after everything the boy had already gone through for him. Arthur knew Merlin would never forgive himself if he knew he was being used against Arthur in such a way. Sighing, Arthur twisted and sat back against the bars.

"Hands," Nimueh instructed. Shutting his eyes, Arthur let his hands slide through the gap in the bars. It came as no surprise when Nimueh grabbed his wrists, but Arthur still gasped as he felt a strong leather cord wrapping around them. Within a few moments, his hands were securely bound to the outside of the cage, leaving him trapped where he was sitting.

"What are you going to do with Merlin?" He asked, fear in his voice.

"Show him his destiny. Once he sees the land the pair of you will create together, he will help you in becoming king."

"But I don't want…"

"You can't fight me, Arthur. Do you really think you can fight against the pair of us?"

Arthur had no answer to that. Merlin wouldn't turn against him.

Would he?

Arthur wondered what was so special about the cave that Nimueh was convinced it would be enough for Merlin to side with her rather than his friend. But he didn't have the chance to ask. He caught a glimpse of Nimueh's wrist appearing through the bars, but as he opened his mouth to ask what she was doing, she slid a rag between his teeth. Choking, Arthur tried to pull forward, but with his hands secured, he had no leeway. There was nothing he could do as she tied the gag behind his head, silencing him.

"What are you doing?" Merlin cried, hurrying forward. Nimueh stepped away from the cage, grabbing Merlin's arm and stopping him from moving any closer.

"Ensuring he doesn't attract unwanted attention," Nimueh said calmly. She stepped back, pulling Merlin with her. Arthur locked eyes with his friend, seeing the helplessness in Merlin's expression.

"You can't do this!"

"If you don't come quietly with me now, I will whip him."

Arthur tried to tell Merlin it was alright. Nimueh had watched them grow up with each other. She knew threatening one would get the other to do as they were told. It had worked with Arthur already and now it was working with Merlin as he let her pull him back another step.

Merlin didn't turn until Nimueh had dragged him out of sight. Arthur tried pulling against the ties around his hands but it was no use. Nimueh had secured them tightly. He tried kicking out with his feet instead, hoping the noise would attract someone's attention. Who would be in this part of the forest, Arthur had no idea. But that was no use either. He couldn't reach the other side of the cage with his feet – there was nothing for him to strike out again. Still, that didn't stop him from struggling and Arthur was panting with the effort of trying to free himself.

After a while, Arthur thought he heard a noise. He went still, his heart beating hard. All was silent. But then he heard it again – a voice crying out in the language of magic. But it wasn't Nimueh's voice. It was Merlin's. Arthur twisted the best he could, straining to see where his friend had vanished. He didn't have to look for long. Merlin came sprinting back into the clearing, his eyes wide and a smear of blood running from his nose. Arthur knew that was a sign he had used too much magic and he tried to call out in concern. All that escaped him was a muffled noise, but Merlin quickly ran over to the cage.

His fingers made short work of pulling away the straps around Arthur's wrists. Arthur himself then yanked the gag free, twisting and clutching at the bars.

"What happened?" He demanded. Merlin met his eyes but quickly looked away again. He didn't answer as he rounded the cage and lifted his hand, aiming it at the door.

"Aliese!" He cried and the door swung open. Arthur hurried across and dropped to the ground, thankful that he could move again. Merlin made to step away, but Arthur caught his arm.

"What happened?" He repeated in a softer tone. "Where's Nimueh?"

"In the cave," Merlin mumbled. His fingers were twisting at the bottom of his shirt. Recognising his friend's uncertainty, Arthur put a hand on his shoulder. Merlin was trembling under his touch and Arthur squeezed gently.

"Merlin?"

"She took me to the cave," Merlin began. He twisted around to look the way he had come from. "But I refused to look. I don't want to see the future, Arthur. No one should have that much power."

Arthur knew what Merlin wasn't saying. The teenager didn't want to see a future where he had coerced Arthur into something he didn't want to do.

"She grew angry with me. Told me I had to look or she would whip you. I pushed her and ran. I… I used magic to collapse the entrance of the cave."

Considering the blood coming from Merlin's nose, Arthur believed that this cave held powerful magic. But if Merlin had only collapsed the entrance, then they had no time to lose. Even if Nimueh had been knocked out by the falling debris, it would only take her seconds to clear herself a path to freedom once she regained her wits. Arthur tightened the hand on Merlin's shoulder.

"We have to go," he said quietly, his voice soft and urgent. "If she finds us again… Merlin, I have no idea what she will do. She wants me to kill the king."

Merlin paled even further but his eyes shone with determination. He shrugged off Arthur's hand and began walking away from the clearing in the opposite direction to the cave.

"We have to get back to Ealdor."

"It's too dangerous." Arthur shook his head as he spoke, but he moved after Merlin anyway. This time, it was Merlin who spun to face him, eyes burning with anger.

"My mother is there, Arthur. You might not have parents who care about you, but I do. I will not let anything happen to her because we ran."

Arthur flinched as if Merlin had struck him. Merlin instantly clapped a hand over his mouth as he realised what he had said.

"Arthur, I… I didn't…" His words were barely audible behind his palm but Arthur forced himself to smile. It was tight and strained, but it was all he could manage right now.

"You're right," he said. "You're completely right, we have to go back there."

"What about the knights?"

"Maybe it's time for me to stop hiding," Arthur mused thoughtfully. Merlin lowered his hand but Arthur started walking off before his friend had the chance to say anything else. He knew Merlin hadn't meant that. He was fifteen; it was only natural that he was going to be worried for his mother. He was also right. Arthur didn't have anyone to care for him…anyone apart from Merlin and Hunith. This was his fault, meaning it was his responsibility to make sure she was safe. If that meant finally confronting his father, then so be it.

The pair of them walked fast, silence hanging between them. It wasn't an awkward one though. Arthur wondered if they had the slightest chance of making it back to the village in time before the knights closed in on its inhabitants. Nimueh had travelled through the night by horse and Arthur knew it would be quicker to ride. But neither he nor Merlin had enough experience on horseback and falling off and twisting an ankle would lose them even more time. They had to keep moving and on foot seemed to be the only solution.

"Arthur?" Merlin's voice cracked through the silence after nearly an hour of walking had passed. Arthur glanced at him to see his face was still pale and his lips dry. Arthur knew the feeling. Neither of them had eaten or drunk for hours.

"What?"

"Are you really going to confront the king?"

Arthur paused, running a hand through his hair in distraction. His head was still pounding and he had never felt so exhausted. But his mind was made up; his decision final.

"Yes. I know the truth of who I am. I can't say that I can be his prince. What do I know about that? But he was prepared to hurt you in order to find me. I can't let anyone else be hurt because of me."

He looked at his friend as he spoke. He couldn't let Merlin be hurt again. He had been pulled into Nimueh's game and their friendship meant he couldn't escape it even if he wanted to. Arthur couldn't let anything else happen to those he cared about just because he was too afraid to face his father.

"You know-," Merlin broke off, chewing his lip. "You know if it doesn't go well, you can always… Well, Mother already sees you like a second son… You can come and stay with us."

Merlin was blushing when he finished speaking. But Arthur didn't notice. He felt tears pricking at his eyes and realised his previous thoughts had been right. Merlin and Hunith were the only people who still cared about him. Not knowing what else to do, he grabbed Merlin's arm and pulled until the boy stumbled closer to him. Then Arthur pulled him into a hug, saying without words what that had meant to him. It only lasted a few seconds before he roughly shoved Merlin away again, rubbing his knuckles into his scalp.

"Hey," Merlin protested. Indignation was in both his voice and his eyes and he shoved Arthur back. Arthur pretended to stumble dramatically and it had the desired effect as Merlin laughed. They continued walking, but Arthur knew the silence between them was easier than before. Arthur didn't know where they were – he had never been this far into the forest before. But Merlin kept steering them and Arthur had a feeling his magic was leading them back home. Arthur had always trusted Merlin's magic; he wasn't going to start doubting it now.

It was mid-morning when Arthur stopped again. Merlin followed suit. But when Merlin opened his mouth to ask why they had stopped, Arthur reacted. Slapping his hand over Merlin's mouth, he proceeded to drag his friend from the path and into the undergrowth to one side. Merlin shrugged him off, glaring as thorns scratched them through their clothing.

"Now what?" He hissed, keeping his voice low. Arthur might trust Merlin's magic, but Merlin trusted his instincts.

"Can you hear that?"

Merlin listened for a moment. Then the colour drained from his face. There was no denying the sound of hooves. But it wasn't coming from behind them. It was from the path ahead.

"It could be nothing," Merlin said uncertainly. Arthur listened for a few seconds longer and heard a second set. He shook his head.

"Ealdor is the closest village, I'm sure of it. And we only have one horse."

"What do we do?"

"You-," Arthur poked his friend in the chest to add emphasis, "stay here." He scrambled back to his feet and stepped out into the path. "I'll find out."

"Arthur, no."

Arthur set off at a run while Merlin still tried to free himself from the bush. If these were approaching knights, he couldn't let them take Merlin a second time. He didn't have to move far before he caught a glimpse of red through the trees. Knowing it was a cloak, Arthur slowed to a walk and caught his breath. His run had made him feel dizzy and he knew he had no way of defending himself. A cry went up and Arthur knew he had been seen.

That was when Merlin crashed into his back and almost knocked him off his feet.

"What are you doing?" Arthur hissed, grabbing Merlin's shoulders as he turned in order to keep them both upright. He groaned at the look on Merlin's face though. The warlock was not about to back down – nor be left behind, it seemed.

"They've seen you as well," Merlin said simply. Arthur stared at him. That hadn't crossed his mind. But it was too late to send Merlin away. The sound of horses were closer now and Arthur knew these men knew the forest better than he and Merlin did. They were taking hidden paths, doubling around behind them. Arthur knew they were surrounded.

"Stay quiet and let me do the talking," he muttered. It was the only thing he could think of now. There wasn't time to come up with a plan, for the first of the horsemen burst into view. Arthur swallowed hard as the rest appeared within seconds. All had their swords drawn and the boys were surrounded by a ring of steel.

"It's the sorcerer!" One cried in surprise. Arthur felt Merlin stumble into him and turned to see his friend trying to avoid a sword. He was pale and shaking. Arthur drew himself up to his full height and pulled Merlin closer to him.

"Don't touch him." His voice was calm and cool. It was the opposite of what he was feeling, but Arthur's shoulders squared as the men looked at him in surprise.

"I don't think you are one to be telling us what to do, boy," one sneered. Arthur knew he hadn't been recognised yet. His heart thudding hard in his chest, he looked the man in the eye.

"I am Arthur," he said boldly. "I am the missing prince of Camelot and unless you want me to have you executed, you will do as I say and leave him alone."

There was a moment of stunned silence. Arthur heard Merlin suck in a sharp breath beside him and knew the speech had taken him by surprise as well. There was no going back now, but Arthur didn't think there had been a choice. He had to protect Merlin.

One of the men swung himself down from his horse. He took a few steps towards them, visibly looking Arthur up and down. He didn't seem to know what to think.

"You need to come with us, Sire," he eventually muttered. Arthur only just stopped himself from looking around to see who they were addressing, realising at the last moment it was him.

"Very well," he said. He lifted his chin challengingly. "But Merlin comes with me and no one hurts him."

"That's for the king to decide." The man shifted uncomfortably, clearly not being sure what he was supposed to do. He eventually gave some sort of signal and the steel disappeared as the men sheathed their swords. The man gestured towards his horse.

"You can take my mount, Sire."

"I'd rather walk." Arthur didn't want to admit he was worried he would only fall off in his exhausted state.

"But…"

"I said: I would rather walk." Arthur didn't blink as the man looked at him. But then the knight sighed and clapped his hands. As one, all of the men dismounted. Arthur flushed, realising they couldn't ride while their supposed prince was walking. He should have thought it through.

"Hey!" Merlin's voice made him spin around and Arthur stepped forward with a snarl. Two of the men had seized the warlock's arms and were binding his hands behind his back. Arthur made to take another step and another two knights stepped between them. Their hands rested on their swords and Arthur froze.

"What are you doing? You said you wouldn't hurt him!"

"And we're not, My Lord. But he is a known sorcerer, we cannot take the chance."

"He is a boy!" Arthur cried. He made to shove past the knights, only for their grip to shift from their swords to his arms. Although there was nothing tight about their hold, Arthur knew if he continued to argue like this then he was potentially making it worse for both of them. He relaxed, taking a step back and saw the knights exchanged relieved looks. Clearly they were concerned how the king would react if they had to drag back his missing heir bound in the same way as a known sorcerer.

"I stay next to him," Arthur declared, locking eyes with the man that seemed to be in charge. He looked unsure, then seemed to realise Arthur would not back down. He gave a short nod and the knights drew back. Arthur planted himself by Merlin's side.

As the order was given to move out, the two boys looked at each other. Arthur attempted to smile reassuringly. He wasn't sure it worked. He had promised to keep Merlin safe from the king and once again his friend was bound and being taken before the man. But Arthur hoped his presence would be enough to stop anything happening. And if they ran, would being found by Nimueh be any better?

It didn't take long until Merlin's feet were tripping over themselves. Arthur ended up holding onto his arm in order to keep him upright. It didn't help that he could feel himself stumbling as well. They hadn't eaten, they hadn't drunk and they had barely slept. Arthur wasn't sure whether they were going to make it to be presented to the king or not.

Merlin suddenly tripped again and Arthur felt himself lurch as he tried to keep the boy on his feet. But then one of the knights stepped closer and took Merlin's other arm. Arthur's words of warning died on his lips when he saw the hold was gentle.

"Are you two alright?" The man asked softly. He didn't look to be much older than them although he was significantly taller. Arthur nodded and at the same time, Merlin shook his head. The knight looked amused. Arthur sighed.

"We haven't rested all night," he admitted quietly. He wasn't going to go into what had happened, but he knew they both needed to eat. The knight nodded.

"Here." He reached down to his belt and unhooked a water-skin, passing it over to Arthur. Arthur took it and took a long draught. Awkwardly, he held it to Merlin's lips and somehow they managed to get some in his mouth as well as splashing down his front. Merlin shot him such an annoyed look that Arthur would have laughed if it had been any other occasion. As it was, he smiled and knew by Merlin's answering grin that had been what his friend intended.

"Have you eaten?" The knight asked and Arthur shook his head, eyes on the floor. He felt ashamed of his own weakness. This was hardly how he had imagined meeting the king. But the knight then proceeded to hand over strips of meat for the pair of them.

"I'm sorry, I don't have the authority to untie him."

"We'll manage," Arthur said shortly. He didn't want people too close to Merlin. But then he softened as he chewed. "Thank you."

"Leon," the man said.

"Arthur. This is Merlin."

"I know," Leon said with a smile. "The pair of you have managed to cause quite a stir in our camp already and the king hasn't even met you yet."

"What's he like?" Arthur asked, feeding Merlin some of the meat as they walked. It was a miracle neither of them fell over, but Leon's hand was still resting on Merlin's arm. "The king?"

"He's… He's the king." Leon flushed as he spoke but Arthur didn't push him for more. A knight who couldn't immediately say what was good about their leader was an honest one. But it made Arthur's stomach churn. How was he supposed to keep Merlin safe from the man who was apparently his father if his own knights were wary of him?

"Don't worry," Arthur murmured. "I promised I'm not going to let anything happen to you and I stand by that. Alright?"

Merlin caught his eye and nodded. Arthur could see the trust in his gaze. Leon pretended he hadn't heard anything and Arthur wondered if they had found themselves a potential ally.