Just short intro chapter for you all. Trying something new while taking a break from my other fic. Not entirely sure where I'm going with this one but that's part of the fun. This fic takes place during Season 2, the episode "The Witches Quickening". I MAY incorporate some material from future episodes but for the most part it will be splitting off into AU.

Disclaimer- I don't own Merlin.

As he sat by the fire, he stared at the soft fabric that held crystal, feeling a strange draw to it. It felt like it was calling to him, reaching out into his mind and whispering his name. Arthur.

"Arthur?" Arthur ripped his attention away from the crystal to glare at Merlin.

"What?" He snapped. He regretted being so short with his servant and friend, but at the moment all he wanted to do was hold the crystal in his hands and investigate every inch. He was itching to answer the enticing call.

"What's wrong? Arthur, you've been staring at that thing for almost an hour." Merlin held out his hand and gave a worried smile. "Maybe I should hold it while you get some rest."

On some level, Arthur was touched by his concern, but he couldn't bear to let the crystal out of his hands, so he lashed out. "Merlin, if I were to let you take this extremely valuable and dangerous magical artifact it would be lost somewhere in the bush before I could even tell you to be careful with it."

Merlin huffed indignantly, but continued to watch Arthur with apt attention and concern. Arthur silently wished that Merlin would sleep, so that he could examine the crystal properly. He didn't think that Merlin would understand.

After a few moments Arthur could wait any longer, and Merlin's suspicious gaze was no longer a concern. He slowly slipped the crystal out of the bag.

When the crystal touched his bare hand, he gasped as he felt power rush into him. More than that though, he felt something inside him fall into place with a strange Clink. Every part of his body buzzed as his mind filled with beautiful music and raw power. All he could see was the pulsing light that emitted from the crystal, entrancing him while it changed him. In the back of his mind he could hear Merlin calling to him, but he couldn't respond.

Finally, as the power pulsing through him peaked, he collapsed, and mind slipped into nothingness.

Let me know what you think!