Merlin took a drink from his waterskin having just finished his training session with Nimueh. His father had demanded that along with her training him with magic he also increased his training with weaponry.

Initially he thought that meant that his time with Nimueh would be split between the two, but the high priestess decided to combine the two and torture him instead.

She was training him to fight a statue she had brought to life with a sword while making him defend himself from the elemental spells she kept throwing his way.

"Break's over."

Merlin nodded taking a quick gulp of his drink he moved to put on his helmet and pick up his sword.

"Let's try this again and make sure to verbalize. You did very good with that shield charm you just need to make sure that when you call the elements for offensive attacks you say the spells."

"I still think it's ridiculous."

"Merlin you will not be able to do every spell in a nonverbal way no matter how powerful you think you are. At least not yet, and as I have explained a main part in spell casting is-"

"Proper pronunciation. I know! "Merlin says cutting her off causing the high priestess to smile in amusement.

"Yes, well if you knew you would listen and quit complaining."

Merlin rolled his eyes and nodded to Nim that he was ready to start again.

Nim had called the stone solider to come back and get into a fighting stance. Merlin copied the stance.

"Forbane" Nimueh called for fire pouring her magic into the spell and watching the flame grow larger before changing into the shape of a sphere. Meanwhile the soldier striked to Merlin's right. As Merlin moved to block Nimueh pushed her hand in Merlin's direction the flaming sphere now heading towards him.

"Boucchild" A clear bubble shield appeared behind Merlin the ball colliding with it. Once the flame hit the shield it grew smaller in size before bouncing back in the direction it had come.

The knight attempted another blow. Merlin blocked. Nimueh tried throwing a stream of fire. Merlin's shield held up for the spell but then fell afterwards when the knight picked up speed. Merlin looked at the knight's feet.

"Sturztep" Merlin mutters eyes glowing gold watching as the soldier fell to his knees. Merlin quickly moved his sword preparing to place it on his opponent's chest stopping him and winning the fight when he felt a sharp burning in his back.

"AHH!" Merlin's eyes glowed and the pain vanished as did the flame that Nimueh had thrown at him when he lost his concentration.

"How disappointing."

"You!" Merlin turned to glare at the high priestess "You cheated; you didn't say a spell."

"I did if you didn't hear that just proves you weren't paying attention. You need to be aware of your surroundings and your opponent's better."

"Okay that's it, Nim. I'm done."

"I don't think so. Your father put me in charge and we still have over 20 minutes left."

"I don't care."

"Merlin."

"Nim."

"You should call me high priestess during training."

Merlin laughed, "You'd like that wouldn't you. Fine I'll stay but I want another break. Five minutes and no more fire, use water if you must."

Nimueh put her arms over her chest, "I give the orders."

"Yeah for the next 20 minutes after that I'm in charge."

The high priestess scoffs and glares at the prince, "I would love to see what your father would say."

Merlin narrowed his eyes, "Yes tell him how you burned his only heir."

"Please it didn't leave any markings, but you are right we should switch to water clearly you're not ready to defend yourself with fire. I understand." She said concededly with a smirk on her face.

"High Priestess!" Both sorcerers turned to look to the entrance of the training arena to see two ladies making their way towards them.

"Morgause, you're early. I supposed you could observe till it's time however we won't be training for today I'll be going over the pronunciation and former uses of sleeping and stunning spells in the classroom."

"Of course. Thank you." The blonde said respectfully about to head to one of the benches when the high priestess turned to her sister.

"Morgana you should head back to your chambers."

"I would like to observe actually."

"I am sure you would, however-"

"Hey Gana, that's great you can take my spot." Merlin said rising from his spot on the bench and walking towards the witches.

"Thank you, Merlin." Morgana said smirking fully aware that Merlin did it to undermine Nimueh.

"Merlin the last thing you need is another distraction."

Merlin blushed slightly, "I won't be distracted this time."

"Fine, Morgana can stay for today and that's it. You don't have magic the last thing I need is for you to whine because you got hit by a stray spell."

"Come on Morgause lets go sit." Morgana said ignoring the red headed witch and pulling her blonde sister to the bench Merlin had sat on.

Merlin put up another shield spell to protect him from the water being thrown his way and moved to strike the knight. The knight stopped the blow then hit Merlin's sword causing it to fall from his hands.

Merlin moved towards the sword as Nimueh shot water at him once more pushing Merlin across the room and towards the knight. Merlin turned to Nimueh about to shout a spell her way when he felt a sharp sting to his upper arm. He turned and saw the knight ready to deal him another blow and his irises glowed gold as he slowed time and moved behind the knight giving him a sharp kick causing the knight to fall.

Nimueh sighed and muttered the spell that would turn the knight back to a statue. Merlin turned to look at her waiting for her to tell him what he did wrong.

"We are done for today we will pick up with training tomorrow."

Merlin nodded eyebrow raised, "Is that all?"

"Yes, you already know what you need to work on no need on me repeating myself."

Seeing as the training session ended Morgana rushed to Merlin's side. "We should take you to Alice to heal your cut.

Merlin smiled "I'm fine Morgana it was just a scratch."

Morgana grabbed his arm watching him wince, "Doesn't seem like it, come on."

Nimueh let out a laugh at the couple causing Merlin to blush he had forgotten they weren't alone.

"Gana." He muttered pulling away.

Morgana rolled her eyes at his embarrassment, "You weren't all bad with the sword, I can give you some pointers."

"You should stick to embroidery." Nimueh said sternly glaring at the dark-haired lady.

"Why is that?" Morgana said scowling and turning to high priestess.

"You should not handle a weapon is all. Frail thing you are. Weak."

"I can fight." Morgana growled flinching her sister's hand of her shoulder. "Tell them Morgause."

The blonde nodded, "She has been getting better with a sword. Father says she is quite skilled."

Nimueh raised her head hauntingly, "I'm sure your father is adept at teaching, Morgause. However, a lady-" she says tauntingly "-like Morgana has more things to worry about. Following the crowned prince like a puppy for example."

Morgana gasped and moved to challenge the priestess, but Merlin moved in between them. "That's enough, Nim. Morgana let's go."

Nimueh smirked at Morgana waving her hand for her to move along.

"She is the worse! Who does she think she is?" Morgana muttered as her and Merlin were making, they're to the palace.

"Morgana you shouldn't let her get to you."

"I just don't understand why she hates me. What did I do?"

Merlin sighed and pushed his hair off his forehead. He was wet head to toe from the water Nimueh had thrown at him and his arms and back hurt from the sword fighting. "I don't know."

"And she says I shouldn't fight. Morgause is a great sword fighter why can she fight and not me."

Merlin nodded in agreement knowing that at times like this Morgana just wanted to vent.

"Do you think it's because I don't have magic?" she asks looking at him and watching as he just nodded absentmindedly.

"Merlin! Are you even listening to me?" Merlin looked up in surprise.

"Uh yeah you think Nimueh hates you."

"Ugh. Do you think Nimueh hates me because I don't have magic?"

Merlin's brows furrowed as they entered the palace and headed towards the physician's chambers. "But you do have magic."

Morgana sighed rolling her eyes, "She doesn't know I have magic though!" she whispered harshly.

"I don't think she would discriminate just because she thinks you don't have magic."

"Then what?" she asked as she nodded on Alice's door waiting.

"Maybe she's jealous?"

"Why would she possibly be jealous of me?"

Merlin was about to reply when a kind plump old women with grey hair and sparkling eyes opened the door. "Prince Merlin! Lady Morgana, come in. Come in." Alice welcomed moving aside and taking some stuff off the bench so there was a place to sit.

The physician's room was impeccably organized the only messy area was her worktable and bench were she already had a potion simmering and bottles and test tubes filled.

"What can I help you two with?"

Merlin motioned to his cut sleeve, "I was nicked during training its fine, but I was wondering if you could heal it."

"Let's have a looksie." The woman said grabbing her glasses and moving closer to his arm. She nodded muttering to herself then took a step back and went to her shelf to grab a jar with some murky brown looking substance. "It's not bad enough for magic. Just apply this salve and bandage for the next few days."

Merlin nodded, "Thank you. Do you have any oils for muscle relief my back and arms are hurting from training?"

Alice nodded as she moved to look.

"You should do some stretches after training to help relax your muscles." Morgana said as she moved to take a closer look at the boiling pot.

"Here you go, Sire. Now what can I do for you, Lady Morgana?"

"I'm alright Alice. I just came to accompany Merlin."

"Are you sure? Have you been sleeping better?"

"Yes, much better, thank you."

Alice smiled, "Very well. If there is anything feel free to come back."

The two exited and Merlin paused turning to Morgana, "I'm going to have a servant prepare a bath. I can meet you after dinner with my parents."

The king paced in the cave. "That's impossible."

The great dragon shook his head, "I can assure you it is not. King Uther Pendragon is dead. His brother in law, Agravaine De Bois, has become regent."

"Uther's death changes everything."

"I agree however I have come to see that perhaps his passing is not for the better. Camelot will fall and the Five Kingdoms will be thrown to war."

"I fail to see how that matters to us."

"The time of Emrys will soon be dawning Merlin must start his search to find the Once and Future King."

"Merlin is not ready yet."

"You must let him go. It's his destiny to unite Albion. Once he finds the one true king the people of the Isle needn't fear crossing the border. Magic users and non-magic users will be able to reside peacefully side by side. Our kin will soar in the sky around the earth free."

"I know. I want that too Kilgharrah, but my son is but a boy."

"We both know he is much more than that."

"I forbid it. Merlin will not leave the Isle, not yet."

"No man can escape their destiny nor can a man stop destiny from occurring." The dragon said before bowing and flying off towards another group of dragons in a higher landing in the cave.

Merlin had finished his bath. He had had a servant add the oils to his back and joints and change the bandage on his cut and was making his way to dinner. He didn't know how his mother had done it, but Will had said that he saw the chef preparing venison for dinner and his mouth was watering at the idea of the meat on his tongue rather than another fish meal.

As he entered, he saw his parents quiet down. He narrowed his eyes. "Hello mother, father." He greeted and took his seat.

"How was training?" Balinor asked noticing the bandage on his son's arm.

Merlin groaned and grabbed an apple from the table too impatient to wait for his meal and not particularly wanting to talk about it.

"Fine. I'm sure Nimueh told you."

"She told me you lost your focus."

"It's just a small nick and besides I won."

"That wasn't what High Priestess Nimueh told me."

"Well did she tell you how she burned my back with a fire ball."

"Yes. You should have brought up a shield."

Merlin spluttered before turning to his mother to help him. "Merlin you need to take your training seriously."

"But."

"High Priestess Nimueh is only trying to help you." His father added grabbing a bread roll.

"I do take training seriously!"

"By inviting the Lady Morgana?"

"I did not invite Morgana. She showed up with Morgause. I don't really see what she has to do with anything. Nim let Morgause stay to observe so I didn't see why Morgana couldn't."

"Lady Morgause is a fellow student and a future high priestess."

"So just because Morgana doesn't have magic she should be excluded?"

"That is not what I said." Balinor answered. "However, at this point of your training the fewer distractions the better. Morgause observing you is good. She can help explain what you missed and how you can improve with your spells and sword work."

"Lady Morgana is a fine swordswoman also."

Balinor smiled, "I'm sure but-"

"In fact, I asked Morgana to help me with training." Merlin said his smile strained as he turned to see the servants coming in with his and his parent's meals. Morgana hadn't said she'd train him he didn't even know why he said it, but he was so tired of his father and Nimueh telling him he shouldn't hangout with her.

"Lady Morgana is training you?" He's mother asked hesitantly as she started to cut up the meat on her plate.

"Yes." Merlin repeated before stuffing a piece of meat in his mouth not really wanting to continue with the conversation.

"When will you start?"

Merlin looked at his parents who were both looking at him.

"You're okay with it?"

His father held his tongue, but he saw how his mother nodded, "Morgana is a strong woman she is more than capable and if she wishes to help a friend, I see no problem. Vivian and Gorlois will be so proud. Right dear."

Balinor sighed, "Yes, Gorlois has mentioned how well his daughters are with the sword. Although I would think Morgause would be a much better option."

Merlin reached for his goblet he didn't want to start another argument he just wanted to enjoy his meal, but it seemed every time he got in a room with his parents a fight was bound to occur.

"So, when do you start?"

"Umm… tonight? Yeah tonight were meeting in her cham- uh my cham- we haven't really discussed it." Merlin finished he knew his parents wouldn't approve of both of them being alone in the other's private chambers. "We are probably going to end up going to the training grounds. I'll go pick her up tonight and we'll head on over."

He saw how his dad was eyeing him suspiciously and tried to restrain himself from chugging down the rest of his drink knowing his father would notice.

Morgana sat on her bed with her arms crossed as Merlin finished explaining.

"So, I have to train you?"

"Yes. Look I am so sorry. I know I'm supposed to be helping you, but we can help each other or. I mean look we obviously need an excuse for us spending time together at odd hours. This way if someone suspects anything, we can say you are helping me train."

"But we won't have any privacy!"

"Not necessarily we can still have our private sessions it's just every now and again we will have to meet in the training grounds so no one will suspect. I can talk to you about magic and if we have to get a chaperone then I am sure we can convince Morgause to join us. She can tell father that you are really good and are helping me be a better fighter."

Morgana nodded a frown on her face.

"Look I will make it up to you I swear."

"Okay. We will deal with it. What are you teaching me today?"

Merlin winced, "Well umm… I told father that we were starting tonight."

"Merlin!" Morgana yelled annoyed as she got up and started heading towards her wardrobe.

"Sorry. What are you doing?"

"Looking for my coat. Apparently, we're heading to the training grounds. This so not what I meant by me giving you pointers"

"I'll make it up to you."

"Shut up, Merlin."

Morgana sighed as she watched Merlin put his sword away, she had set up a straw training dummy for him to attack. He did well but she had to correct his stance and his hold on the sword a couple of times. She also made him do some arm, back, and leg stretches before starting and once they finished.

"I can teach you how to conjure water like Nimueh next or how to levitate objects. I can teach you a spell to-"

"Merlin, I'm not upset anymore."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well we can take a walk near the water we will be far enough away from the castle to do a spell or two and then I'll walk you to your chambers."

Morgana smiled, "Are you sure?"

Merlin smiled shoving her softly before reaching for her hand, "Come on."

They reached the beach pretty quickly and sat on a large rock overlooking the water the sky was too dark to see the mainland, but they could see and hear the dark waves retreating and coming back to shore.

"Let's start were we left off last week." Merlin said opening his palm he muttered the spell watching as the flame lit up both their faces.

Morgana took a breath and copied Merlin putting her arm facing up she said the spell and a small flame appeared.

"That is perfect Morgana. Now remember what I told you about making the flame larger." She nodded. "Well now try that."

Morgana nodded and pictured the flame getting bigger she pictured the warmth it would give off and watched as the flame in her palm turned to the one, she had thought of."

Merlin made his flame disappear and then he clapped his hands causing her to blush although if he asked, she would say it was due to having the flame so close to her face.

"Make it smaller."

She pictured the fire dimming.

"Well I can say that you have mastered that spell. Congratulations Morgana."

Morgana closed her palm the flame disappearing leaving them back in darkness. "Thank you, Merlin."

"No problem. Now what spell do you want to try next?" "Well-" Morgana started but stopped when she heard footsteps. She turned to Merlin watching as he was looking around his eye's gold looking into the dark for the intruder. He saw a cloaked figure heading towards a small dingy. 'No one is supposed to be fishing at dark' he remembered and saw how the person got on the boat and then the boat started moving with magic.

"Merlin?" Morgana whispered; she couldn't see as well but she could just make out the figure on the small boat.

"Someone is leaving the Isle." Merlin said softly not quite believing what he said or was seeing.

Prince Arthur was following Sir Leon through the forest they had been walking for almost a week. They had made camp a few times and sought refuge in some villages but had to move quickly the fewer people who remembered them the better. They also really needed to find some horses.

"Once we cross the border, we can keep heading East till we reach Salisbury. There are still a good number of villages and cities between here and there so all we have to do is hope that someone can sell us two good horses."

Arthur nodded, "Yes. Then after Salisbury, we'll head south to your family's estate in Dorchester?"

"Yes, Sire. We should be able to stay there for a day or two before heading to my family's land. Hopefully, your uncle hasn't sent any men in that direction looking for us."

...

Agravaine was furious. He couldn't believe his idiotic nephew had left and ruined his plans. He had sent men to search the forest, but knowing his nephew knew the land well and how to cover his tracks he doubted he would be found quickly. After Arthur had left Arthur had to think up an idea to tell the noblemen. Luckily, he was smart enough to spin the situation to his advantage. The prince had left after his best knight had killed his brother in cold blood. Arthur Pendragon and Sir Leon were now fugitives. Leon charged with the murder of his brother Sir Leopold and Arthur for aiding in his escape.

There was some doubt amongst the council, but they were few and would never speak out against him. He just had to make sure to win them over and deal with those who did speak against him. He also had to make sure to find his nephew soon and end him making sure no one could challenge his claim to the throne.