Sweet Caroline, how long has it been since I update this story? I'm so sorry, you have every right to hate me now. I had to take a step back from... well everything for a while, but it appears that I'm back. Hopefully it won't be another 6 months before I update again, but no promises. Anyways I'm trying out a new separator thing because just the line thing supplies me with just didn't look nice. So yeah tell me what you think in the reviews or PM me, whatever shakes your boat.

Now on to the story, and as always enjoy!

Merlin flipped to the next page shaking his head in disbelief. "This can't be right it says- it says Arthur disappears, and Uther is killed. Morgana takes over, and everything, everyone is destroyed by her evil." Merlin buried his face in his hands. "It's all my fault. I've failed the kingdom; I've failed my destiny." Buffy sat up, she looked at Merlin, then smacked him across his head. "OW! What was that for?"

"You're moping, stop moping!" Rubbing the back of his head Merlin frowned at her. Buffy sighed. "Look if there is one thing I know it's that no matter how hard you try, you can't fail, or even change your destiny. So if the some great big ol' dragon told you, you're going to help some prince learn to rule guess what? That is exactly what is going to happen."

"But the book said-"

"Forget the book, what does the book know? It's probably just upset that it's not still a tree!" Merlin stared down at the book still looking unconvinced. "Look, I am going to get you home. I won't give up until I do, so stop worrying so much, that'll age you ya know."

"Merlin, you complete, and utter clot-pole!"

"Oh here we go." Merlin muttered. Everyone turned to see an enraged crowned prince storming into the shop with two exasperated Scoobies trailing after him.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I've been- I've been here Arthur."

Willow sat down next to Buffy. "He saw his friend through the window, and took off before we could do anything."

"Hey! Xander stood up. "He's wearing my clothes! He's wearing my clothes, and he looks better in them than I do!" Willow shrugged. Meanwhile Arthur was still busy shouting at his servant.

"First I wake up in that godforsaken hospital, and you are nowhere to be seen. Then I get kidnapped by a witch no less, and she's brings me here where I find you, Merlin sitting around with her friends as though you're all great old chums!"

Giles tried to interject. "Young man, if you could just calm down then we can ex-"

"No!" Arthur turned towards him. "You are a person of magic, who knows what sort of things you've been filling my absent-minded, dimwitted servant's head with!"

Merlin rolled his eyes. He raised his hand pointing it at Arthur. "Sorry M'lord, swefe nu."Arthur's eyes snapped shut. He fell against the table dead asleep. "There that should keep him quiet for awhile."

One long research session later, with the unconscious Prince tucked out of the way, the Scoobies were scattered throughout the shop in various stages of calling it a night. Shortly after one in the morning several heads popped from their drooping states when Giles let out a loud. "Aha!"

"Did you find something?" Buffy yawned.

"Yes listen here. When the female Oxoed demon feels her life is in danger she will release a pheromone that will render her would be attacker into a state of unconsciousness. She will then use Oxoedian magic to cast their bodies at least three miles from her present location." Giles dropped his book triumphantly. "That's why we were in the forest that night. It was a female Oxoed! Driving me positively bananas."

There were multiple facepalms.

~oOo~

For the second time in only a few short hours Gaius's quiet chambers were disturbed by the sounds of a distressed maid banging on his door. After ushering Gwen into a chair, and forcing a cup of tea into her hands, Gwen was able to recount what she had seen. When she told him about the mysterious orb he began rifling through a large book. "Was this the object?"

"Yes." Gwen nodded. "Yes that was it exactly." Gaius ran his hands over his face with a sigh. "What is it Gaius?"

"Something very bad."

~oOo~

Xander flipped another page of his book. He was 60% sure had already read this one, but at least if he looked busy no one would harass him to actually try and keep looking. Xander was this close to abandoning the book when he came across something that had potential. "What's an orb of Gulliez?"

Anya had been napping against Xander's arm; at his query she pulled herself back into an upright position with a yawn. "The orbs of Gulliez was created by the D'orun. A demon tribe, found mainly in the maritime provinces of Canada. They're a nice group; know how to whip up a mean potato salad. Their leader at the time Gulliez, hence the name, he created the orbs to protect his people from being attacked. Now quiet, when you talk your arm moves. It makes it very difficult for me to lean on."

"Why do you ask Xander?" Giles questioned.

"Well it says that the orbs can transport things." Ignoring Anya's indignant huff Xander continued. "The orbs, they can poof anything... anywhere?"

"Yes, well not anything. The orbs are limited to moving only living beings. For the orbs to work, a hair from the creature, or person you wish to banish must be placed inside the orb and an there's an incantation you have to say. They wouldn't work on anything hairless As for where they can be sent, nowhere is beyond the orbs power. There have even been cases where people have been sent as far as other- oh."

"Oh?" Buffy piped up. "What's oh?" Giles took the book from Xander with an determined look on his face. "Giles! What's oh?"

He was silent for a moment. "It's said that Gulliez used to use travel to the different realms, selling his inventions including the orbs."

"Okay, but what's oh?"

"Oh, Buffy, is perhaps Gulliez visited Albion. Oh, is I believe Xander has just stumbled across the solution to this young man's problem."

"Point for the Xan-man!"

~oOo~

For the rest of the night and all of the following day Gwen was walking on eggshells. Everything from a soft breeze to a person sneezing, she believed was Morgana finally making her move. Gwen guard was just starting to drop as she made her way back home in the early evening. Immediately after she closed her door Gwen knew she wasn't alone. "Morgana! What- what are you doing here?"

Morgana put on the most innocent smile she could muster. "I was walking by, and thought I'd visit my friend of course. I knocked, and thought I heard you say come in. Clearly I was mistaken." She laughed.

"Well I just got in. What are you holding?"

"Hmm? Oh your hairbrush, it was on the floor. I was just saving you the trouble of picking it up. Anyway I really can't stay." She handed Gwen the hairbrush, and stepped passed her towards the door. "Do take care of yourself won't you, Gwen?"

"Yes M'lady."

That simple girl was too easily fooled, how could she ever believe Gwen could be trusted? Even worse now she wasn't just untrustworthy she was dangerously close to discovering what had happened to Arthur, and Morgana couldn't have that now could she?

Back in her chambers, Morgana took out the hairs she had acquired from Gwen's home as well as the orb of Gulliez. She placed Gwen's hair against the orb. The orb of Gulliez appeared to be made from a thick glass, and yet the hairs passed through it as though it were nothing more than a puddle of water. When the hairs reached its centre, the entire orb began to glow a bright orange.

"Ádón híe forþweg." She breathed out, reveling in the familiar feeling of power rushing through her veins. As she spoke the orb glowed brighter, and then all the colour was extinguished from it.

There. That would take care of Guinevere, leaving Morgana free to begin preparations for the next part of the plan.. no. Something- something wasn't right. Morgana felt dizzy, the world was spinning. "What?"

"I'm sorry Morgana."

Morgana whipped around. Gwen stood behind her. Tears ran down the maid's cheeks. "I knew what you were planning, I couldn't- I couldn't let you take me. I'm so sorry."

The orb slipped from Morgana's shaking hands, and smashed against the floor. "How are you doing this?"

"The hairbrush. The one you took; it wasn't mine, Morgana... it was yours."

Morgana let out a barely human snarl. "You will pay for this!" And with that threat hanging in the air, Morgana disappeared without as much as a tiny pop.

And there you have it. Like I said, no promises on when the next chapter will be up, but hopefully it will be soon.

In the immortal words of Tigger "Ta ta for now!"