#takeyourpick

Mixed feeling rushed though Merlin. He was happy to see a face he knew and have help to save his friends, but this was Mordred. The same person The Great Dragon had warned him about years ago, the same person he saw in a vision would kill Arthur someday. He swallowed. 

What are you doing here? He thought at the druid. 

Mordred was giving him a searching look. Like he had caught on to Merlin’s mood shift but didn’t understand it. My people have a camp nearby, Mordred told him, I was on my way there, when I heard the fight and recognized Arthur. I was hiding, waiting to see if I could help when I felt you coming.

Felt? He asked. 

Mordred smiled at him, you are Emrys. You have a strong presence. How do you think we know who you are? 

Huh, he hadn’t thought of that. But he also never understood how some people knew him while others didn’t. He turned back around and searched through the trees for his friends. He could see Gwaine and Eylan tired to a tree off towards the edge of the camp. But couldn’t see any of the others. 

Arthur is over there. Mordred’s voice was still calm as he pointed over Merlin’s shoulder towards where a group of men sat. Arthur was chained and kneeling next to a large blonde man. The man looked smug and kept patting the King on the shoulder. Arthur sending the man deadly glares as he did so. Merlin go the impression the blonde man was showing off his captive. 

Lancelot? He asked Mordred, moving his eyes away from the king. Trying to find the two others they had been travelling with. 

Who? Mordred replied. Merlin cursed under his breath. Of course Mordred hadn’t met Lancelot. In fact, the only knight he could think Mordred might recognize was Leon, another missing member of their party. He was sure Leon had been part of the group that had been searching the castle for Mordred when he was younger. 

Do you remember Leon? He tried to picture the man in his head. Not even sure if imagains could be sent. He felt Mordred jerk a little. 

There. Mordred said, sounding unhappy, Merlin felt a little guilty it up as he watched Mordred's hand move to point at two bodies lying on the ground. Almost hidden in the shadow of the trees. Neither looked to be moving and Merlin’s heart skipped. He shifted and probably would have moved for his friends had Mordred not still been holding him. 

Wait! Mordred ordered. Merlin froze. For a second it was like he couldn’t move. He hadn’t felt magic. So it had to have been his own surprise by the command. Ignoring it he looked back over at his friends. He wanted to ignore Mordred. The desire to see if they were okay was strong but he knew it wouldn’t help anyone. Not right now. If Leon and Lancelot were dead, running in now wouldn’t save them only put the others in danger. 

So, they waited. 

The only thing that made it easier was Lancelot stirring about an hour later and Leon soon following behind him. Merlin started to breath easier as all the knights woke and he could seem them looking around and from the narrowing of eyes and shifting of feet and shoulders, he knew they were planning something. It took forever for the men around his friends to start to drift off. The large blonde man by Arthur being the last. 

Without a word Mordred moved away from him. Sneaking around the back of the party towards Gwaine and Eylan. They were the furthest away, making them the easiest to get too. Merlin aimed for Lancelot and Leon. As badly as he wanted to go for the King, he was the most surrounded and they would need the knights to get to him. It was strange that he could feel Mordred as they moved apart and he sought his friends. It was like a humming in the air. He briefly wondered if it was because they were both using magic to remain unheard. He pushed the thought away as he snuck up behind the two knights. Lancelot jumped when Merlin put his hand on his shoulder, causing Leon to startle as well. 

“Just me.” Merlin whispered and saw both men relax. 

“Took you long enough.” Lancelot joked looking over his shoulder to send Merlin a smile. Then the man leaned in a started whispering to Leon, hiding Merlin and the chain that connected them from the other knights view. Merlin grinned. He loved that Lancelot knew about him and didn’t mind. He made things like this so much easier. 

“Aliese.” He whispered. The chains separated easily and fell to the ground. Leon startled and looked at Merlin and then at the chains. The knight grinned at Merlin and slowly gathered the discarded chain in his hand. 

“What about Gwaine and Eylon?” The curly haired man whispered. 

“Umm,” Merlin said looking over his shoulder, “a friend. You guys wait here until you see my signal.” He said then he backed away. Before Either man couldn’t question him. He didn’t have to wait long before he heard, Ready, in his mind. 

He looked at the fire by the sleeping group of men, “Bærne,” he commanded and watched as the flames flashed, burning higher and brighter than before. It was so sudden and large that it caught a couple of the sleeping men’s bed rolls on fire. A few screams filled the air and while they were distracted Arthur’s knights attacked 

Arthur mustn’t have been asleep because the second he noticed something was going on he threw himself at the man that had been next to him. Bring them both to the ground. Merlin didn’t bother with any of the other men, just dodged his way through the fight until he was by Arthur. 

Not that the King needed any help. 

“You just standing around, Merlin?” Arthur said, grinning as he pushed himself back on his heels and tried to stand. His hands were still tied behind his back, so he waveried a little. But the stubborn man found his feet and Merlin rushed over to help untie him. 

“Well fighting is your thing. Sire.” He said as he undid the rope. He heard Arthur chuckle. 

The second he was free Arthur moved to see if his men needed any help. They didn’t. The bandits or slavers as Merlin was starting to suspect from the chains the men had with them, were either dead or unconscious.

The only issue Merlin could see was the look Leon was giving Mordred who was standing away from the group bloody sword in his hand. The knight’s head was cocked to the side and his eyes narrowed. He looked like he was trying to place the druid’s face. 

Worried Merlin grabbed Arthur’s sleeve, “Distract Leon,” he whispered hurriedly. 

Arthur raised his eyebrow. Merlin gave him a pleading look. 

“Leon, make sure the survivors are secure. We will take them back to Camelot to stand trial.” The knight looked between his King and the druid, clearly battling with himself. Then sighed and grabbed Eylan to help him. 

When the two men were out of earshot, Arthur looked at Merlin, “Now why did I do that?” He asked. 

“Me.” Mordred whispered as he approached them, “Hello again, Arthur.”  Merlin watched as Arthur tried to place the young man in front of him. It took all of about two seconds before the blonde’s eyes widened. 

“Mordred?” He asked and before the druid could answer Arthur reached grabbed his arm, just like Merlin had seen him do when he greeted on of his knights, and pulled him into a quick hug,“It’s good to see you again.” He heard Arthur say before they broke apart. 

Merlin’s stomach sank. Not because Arthur was happy to see Mordred again but because it worried him how easy Arthur greeted him. Like old friends and Merlin didn’t think that was good. He was grateful for Mordred’s help but he needed to get the druid away from the King as quickly as he could without causing suspicion. 

“Do you feel like your missing something?” Gwaine asked cheerfully looking over at Lancelot, “I feel like I'm missing something.” Lancelot just chuckled. “Princess who’s the pretty boy?” 

Merlin looked at Mordred just in time to see a surprised look cross his face. He wondered if it was the fact that a knight called his King princess or the pretty boy comment. 

“And why did you send Leon off?” Lancelot asked, because he was a little more observant than Gwaine. 

Arthur looked at his friends then at Merlin and then back at Mordred. It took him a second then he looked back at the knights. He looked serious and when he spoke it was in a clear controlled voice, the one he used when sure his words would be obeyed. 

 “Mordred is a druid. One that Leon was once sent to capture by my father. And he is my friend.” Merlin almost groaned. He really needed to get rid of Mordred fast. 

“Oh,” Gwaine said before walking over and sticking his hand out to shake. “Well I’m Gwaine, thanks for the save.” Mordred smiled and shook the knights hand. Lancelot quickly introduced himself as well, then he turned to look at Arthur. 

“What are you going to tell Leon?” 

“The truth.” Arthur said with a sigh. 

“Leon, Elyan come here.” He called out. Merlin’s heart raced. He told himself it was stupid. Neither knight would do anything to Mordred, not with Arthur protecting him. Not that he should be worried about Mordred. The druid was destined to kill Arthur. But still something in him was worried. 

“Yes, sir?” Leon questioned, clearly noticing that Arthur had positioned himself between the two knights and Mordred. 

“This is Mordred.” Arthur said, “He is also a friend. And a druid.” Leon’s eyes widened. Then he looked back at Mordred. And Merlin saw it click in his head. 

“You helped him escape.” the knight asked. Arthur nodded. Leon seemed to think about it for a second and then nodded his head. “It’s nice to meet you Mordred. Thank you.” 

Merlin could see Mordred’s relief as he took the knights hand and shook it. It seemed things were going to be okay. Right up until Eylan spoke. 

“Does that mean you have magic?” The dark skinned knight asked, looking intrigued and worried at the same time. Merlin froze. Mordred sucked in a breath and his eyes quickly darted to Arthur and then at Merlin.

Emrys? Mordred asked in his mind. 

“It doesn’t matter.” Arthur said, saving both Mordred and Merlin from answering. 

“It doesn’t?” He asked because he had not been expecting that. The knights looked just as shocked.

Arthur shook his head. “No. Now we don’t have to hang about chatting. Sun’s still hours away. We need to move these bodies and make sure our prisoners aren’t going anywhere.” Merlin ached to ask Arthur questions. Why didn’t matter? Was it just because it was Mordred? Was the King changing is thinking on magic? But he didn’t get a chance. The small group broke apart doing as their king said. 

Some time later Merlin found himself sitting back against a tree far away from the rest of the group. He smiled when Eylan walked over and stood in front of him. 

“You okay?” Eylan asked.

Merlin nodded. “Just tired.” he said with a small smile. 

Eylan laughed, “Me too. Can’t wait to get home.” The knight grinned at him, “thanks for saving us.” He said sounding more serious, “Arthur may not have said but we all know we would have been in serious trouble if you and Mordred hadn’t come back for us.” He patted Merlin on the back and then hurried back towards the rest of the group. Almost crashing into Lancelot who was right behind him. 

“His right, you know?” Lancelot said reaching down for Merlin’s hand, “Though we both know you didn’t need the help.” Merlin laughed as he was pulled to his feet. 

“At least this way it was easier to explain.” He replied as Lancelot dragged him over towards the group. 

“Finally decided to join us, I see.” Arthur said looking up at Merlin. Merlin normally would have had a come back but seeing Arthur sitting there next to Mordred both smiling and happy, sent a spark of anger through him. 

“How long until you head back to your camp?” He asked Mordred instead of replying to the King's comment. He noticed the hurt look that crossed Mordred’s face but forced himself to ignore it. He couldn’t allow himself to see it because then he would feel guilty and then he might forget that Mordred was not a friend. He couldn’t be. 

“He’s coming back with us.” Arthur said. Merlin saw the glare the blonde sent his way. Merlin was sure that while the King didn’t know why he had caught on that Merlin didn’t want Mordred around. Merlin sighed. Which only resulted in a more intense glare from Arthur. 

He sat next to Lancelot and tried to ignore the various looks he was getting, curiosity from the knights, annoyances from Arthur, questioning from Mordred. 

Merlin closed his eyes and rested his head on Lancelot’s shoulder. He had been tempted to just get up and find a spot on the ground away from the group and sleep. But doing so soon after what had just happened would have made him look petty and only caused more questions later. So he leaned against his friend eyes closed as he tried to figure out what to do. 

He couldn’t tell Arthur about his vision. Because well everything about it. But he couldn’t lie and say that Mordred had done something to earn hs mistrust. Arthur would only question Mordred about it and know Merlin was lying wish would make things worse. 

Somehow he fell asleep like that. Only woken up hours later when it was time to get up and head back to Camelot. He tried to ignore the jealous feeling he got when Mordred and Arthur rode side by side the whole way back. And the hurt feeling he got when Gwen spotted their returned and how she hugged Mordred when she recognized him. He didn’t stay for the conversation just took his and Arthur’s horses to the stable. When he was done he headed for his chambers. Hoping to ask Gaius for advise. The physician wasn’t in and in a moment of frustration Merlin throughout his magic sending a water bucket across the room. It broke and the water went everywhere.