Arthur sighed as he leaned over on the stone windowsill, staring at the small gathering of trees in the castle's grounds. He still held Hazel's necklace and couldn't help but feel melancholy at the thought of her half brother and his followers. They had taken away the only real friend he ever had. And all because of her lineage.

Those thoughts soon drifted away as something caught his attention. Something small and furry running through the garden. It was a small chocolate brown squirrel. It seemed to be running from another squirrel. A smaller redder more feminine looking squirrel with a bushier tail. The rosy squirrel was much faster and more agile than the brown one, for she easily caught up to him. She jumped and pinned him into a hug, but the male didn't seem quite interested. He quickly squirmed out of her grasp and ran away, only for her to run in front of him again. He tried to go around, but she only ended up blocking his path several times. Arthur watched as she continued to chase the little male squirrel up and down trees and through the grass. She gave him a cute little hug but the boy squirrel shook her off, shoved her away and aggressively pushed her to the ground. She flopped on her stomach roughly. She lifted up her head and with sad bent ears, turned it to see him quickly run away. A tear fell from her eye as she quickly got up and ran away. 'Probably to be eaten by a wolf.' Arthur added. 'A Scottish wolf named Cameron.'

Poor Hazel. Much like him, she never knew her parents. But there was a difference between the situations. His parents had passed away, hers had abandoned her. He didn't know the power he had been shielded from his entire life and thought he deserved all the comments about him being worthless. She knew very well of her high status but was forced to hide it and accept all the teasing and being treated lower than dirt. Why oh why did Merlin introduce them to each other. It would have been much better if he hadn't, none of this would have happened.

"Watching history repeat itself, are we now?" Merlin asked as he came into the room.

"You could say that," he said before sighing. "I'm sorry about what I said."

"Oh think nothing of it lad. We have much more important things to worry about. And besides, you were feeling a bit lonely."

"I still am."

"You really miss her," Arthur silently nodded with sad eyes. "You know my boy…..we all feel alone sooner or later in our lives."

"But Merlin….feeling alone and…and being alone….," He paused to shake his head. "They're two different things."

"Don't worry. We will figure something out. No harm will come to her."

"That's what I said and look what happened."

"Well that is because things happen, good and bad. And you can't always blame yourself or the world for it. But there is always a solution to anything, now matter how obscure it may seem. You just have to have the patience and determination to find it. I know she is counting on you to help her. So help her, you must."

"I know I have to, but I just don't know how."

"You will know."


"Hello Astella,

I would like to make a trade with you. I know Onyx is alive but out of generosity, I will not lay a finger on him. He is of no use to me, so unlike all his brothers and sister, I will let him live. But as you may have discovered, my long lost sister is no longer with you or baby Pendragon. She is with me. She and I do have some catching up to do and we are spending some quality time together. And you know the law of her finding and I am sure you do not wish to recall the brutal penalty that may be waiting for her. But then again, maybe I will spare her. But nothing comes for free. Bring me the key to the Eye of Leodegrance box tonightand I will spare her measly life. But make your choice carefully. I don't know if she will want to live after carrying the guilt of Timothy, Massimo and Alexander's murder. Yes, that's right. Sweet little Gwen is responsible for it. If she had not got up and fled the palace, then they would have never come looking for her and been brutally slaughtered. So in a way, I think she deserves the punishment. But if you insist on making me spare a criminal, you and only you - I do not need Onyx butting in on this - will come into the wilderness, don't worry it is only about a mile away from Camelot. There, you will find an isolated tent with a wagon. That is where we will be and where you will give us the key. If the delivery is successful, the girl will live and I will give her back to you. If not, then you and her brother can come and pick up her body..or at least what's left of it.

~ Cameron."

Astella sighed as she finished reading the letter to Merlin.

"When did that one arrive?" he asked her.

"This morning," Stella answered. "Just like the last one, it just magically appeared on my pillow. I don't know how though," She dropped her head into her hands and started to sniffle. "What am I going to do?" she sobbed before looking up. "The key was lost years ago, I can't possibly give it to him. But if I don't he'll kill her. She's only thirteen years old, I don't want her to die." Merlin thought for the moment. Hazel had left the key here. If he gave it to Stella to give to Cameron, they could get her back. But at the same time, the stone in his and Mim's possession could cause even more damage.

"I understand and I can only imagine."

"I can't. What is the hope of even going to him if she could be gone already?"

"Well, there is always hope. Hope can defeat the greatest of evil."

"But that is nothing like this. There is no way he will let her live. Do you know what the penalty og her finding is?"

"Unfortunately I do."

"He'll whip her, beat her, pierce her, bludgeon her until she finally drops dead. He will make sure not to leave any fatal injuries throughout the torture process so she will suffer as long as possible until the climax. It is a terrible way to die."

"Indeed. Such a beautiful and sunny child does not deserve it. I would hate to explain this to the boy."

"You can't tell him. I know I wouldn't. Which is why there just has to be a way out of this!"

"Maybe there is."

"What?"

"Come with me, Astella. I have an idea that I think is going to work."


"It's not gonna work Stella." Onyx said in a heedful tone.

"Of course it will," the auburn haired woman insisted. "It will work, right Merlin?" she asked as she turned to face the wizard and Arthur to gain reassurance.

"You'd need to think me silly to have any doubt about this." he said quite confidently.

"I'm entitled to my own opinions." Onyx muttered.

"Not now, Onyx!" Stella hissed. "We have to try. It's already sunset and we're running out of time!"

"Well if we give him the fake key he'll know right away. Then he'll surely kill her, you and all of us. Too many things have gone wrong in the past and I don't want to have another moment of that genre." Merlin sighed and looked at the agitated teen.

"Mr. Leodegrance, I know you've been hurt. And I cannot even imagine what your family has put you through. But if you keep obsessing over where you were, you cannot focus on where you are going. Your mind is only concerned with what you have done instead of what-you-are-doing," he said as he poked the boy's chest with every word. "You've run away from your home Onyx. From your family and from your title."

"I don't have a title anymore. Even if Cameron is defeated I'm still not the Emperor"

"But you are still her elder brother. You said it yourself, she is your responsibility. So it is time to stop running."

"But Merlin, what if he does something to Astella?" Arthur squeaked. "What if he does worse to us? What if—-."

"Oh, what if shmut if," he said as he swatted the air. "This will never be fixed if we wait for something to happen. And if that is what you want then by all means have at it. But it is not what you want isn't it?"

"Well not really."

"Good. Because we have unfinished business here. A little girl out there who needs you," he said as he got up and walked over to a table that blended in with the rest of the cluttered mess of chairs, stacks of books and other old artifacts. On the table was a red sheet that covered a long object. Like a magician, he pulled the sheet off to reveal a shiny majestic looking silver object: The Sword from the Stone. He picked it up and gave it to Arthur, who stared at it confused. "And you will need this."

"Is that….." Astella couldn't even finish her sentence.

"The sword in the stone?" Onyx finished, astonished.

"Indeed it is." Merlin assured them.

"But Merlin..I can't use this. I don't know how to fight."

"Who said anything about fighting?"

"H-huh?"

"The sword is only made of steel my boy. What are you made of?"


To Be Continued...

AN: Happy Valentines Day! :)