He cast. The instant warmth of magic flooded over him which reached his eyes. A shield flew from the floor and hit a thug full on in the face, before they crumpled pathetically to the floor.

Once again he was engaged in combat and using his gifts unbeknownst to Arthur and his knights against the opposing side. Arthur was effortlessly fencing through one man every 10 seconds, while the knights ploughed through the hordes of armed vagrants with vigour.

Merlin would be targeted randomly as easy pickings, and he would, with difficultly, ward them off. And his last resort would be magic.

Occasionally, one of the knights would look over to see if Merlin was still there, unscathed. The knight in question being the youngest Pendragon, Arthur. Luckily Merlin would make sure he was doing something remotely normal when the Prince would check, though most of the time he was on his back after falling over.

"Merlin you're an idiot!" He would hear Arthur remark. Merlin unfazed would gather himself and proceed to kick out at approaching attackers. He would succumb to the embarrassment after the battle was over, and he would receive a mouthful of snide remarks from his party. Though being very different from other servants at Camelot he had the nerve to retort back, sometimes wittily, to the surprise of the others. Merlin would then catch Arthur knowingly smile off to the side, Merlin would see this as the prince taking back everything he had said.

"Will one ever cease?" Arthur then saddled his horse.

Merlin wasn't sure if he meant that to the retorting or surprising him. His master at random moments would express a single positive comment on him, which would have him reeling, most the time it was Arthur being the one that reeled. Arthur could admit, sometimes in front of his men that Merlin was weirdly unpredictable.

"Please tell me the druid hunt is over." Merlin half whined, clambering onto his steed.

"Quit grizzling M-e-r-l-i-n, you are a nagging maid. Do you have plans we are disrupting?" Arthur half heartedly mocked riding alongside him. "Did you wish to spend your afternoon in the tavern with a comely wench?"

"Are you giving yourself ideas?" Merlin chimed, Arthur barked.

He knew if he was in a better mood they would most likely abandon their mission. Merlin at this moment in time was content; he was with a friend and his men, who had allegiance to protect the future King, 'his destiny', and himself. They were no longer in immediate danger and he was happily riding along as if a knight himself, Would he be too bold to call himself a squire?

He wasn't looking forward to the eventful return to Camelot- that's for sure, his routine would consist of stowing away the horses, mucking out the stables, collecting water to draw himself a bath, and then clock in at the castle to clean Arthur's tunic and boots, all the while avoiding the bewitching Lady Morgana. If she ever popped up anywhere it would be in one of the many castle corridors. If she was with someone he would have to stall what he was doing to bow or exchange a fake pleasantry. If she was alone; the girl would be very unpredictable. Dare he say enchanting? If she hadn't done what she had done, and shown such disregard towards her two remaining friends- he would have been more enthusiastic towards saving her. But she was lost. It made him feel better to think she had died when she had gone to Alvar, and from the smoke was born 'the witch'.

The Dragon had warned him, but it seemed he(Merlin) alone had built this destiny, the more he did, whether intentional or not- the end result would be exactly what was prophesized, meaning he was doing everything he was supposed to do...even saving the people he was told to destroy?

Merlin nearly whooped when he saw the towers of castle Camelot, he smiled, for he knew no more druid causalities would take place today. Though what else could go wrong today, and what will Morgana be wearing?

R&R, not sure who to ship yet...I have two plans.