Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Summary: Set after series 3 – With Merlin leaving Camelot regularly the past few months, Arthur sets out to discover his secret. However, Morgana is closing in, but is Camelot all she is after this time?

AN: Thank you DarkAngel2112 and xEmrys for beta'ing; you guys are awesome! So this is another story that just floated around in my mind for so long and I decided to write it and see what happens. This happened. It's not a long story and the updates should come regularly.

Enjoy!

Evidence

Chapter 1 – The Discovery

When exactly had he started to watch Merlin leave? Arthur searched his mind, but he couldn't find the answer to his question. Merlin had been leaving Camelot every weekend, for a few months now. He didn't know why and he couldn't remember when that had originally started. However, he remembered the day when Merlin had come to him with an odd request.

He wanted two days in the week where he was completely free. Had he asked a few months earlier, Arthur would have snorted and thrown a goblet at his head. Instead, he had found himself agreeing. He'd wanted to ask a million questions – and still did – but Merlin had asked him not to. Again, Arthur had complied. Now that he thought of it, he was giving Merlin a lot of freedom. He should reaffirm who was the Prince and who was the servant.

Footsteps approached, but Arthur didn't have to look behind him to see who it was. A faint smile curved his lips.

Gwen slid her small hand into his and rested her head on his shoulder. "Is he leaving again?" She asked. Her gaze fell on the small figure below them. Even from a distance, Merlin was easily recognized by his very dark hair, brown trousers, blue shirt and favourite – and according to Arthur, ridiculous – neckerchief.

"Yes," Arthur said, "back to Ealdor. How long has he been going now?"

Gwen straightened her back and lifted her head. A small frown creased her forehead which made her look almost adorable. Not that Arthur would ever tell her that. "A few months now," Gwen concluded, "he told me it was because Hunith needed his help."

Arthur spun around to look at her. She wore her new purple dress which he had bought for her. She had refused to wear it at first, but eventually gave into his pleas. Around her neck lay a thin, star-shaped pendant. It was another gift she had initially refused to wear. He smiled at her when remembering how far their relationship had come. Nothing was official - yet - but Arthur was certain now that one day she would become his wife.

"He never told me anything about his mother," Arthur said, "she isn't ill or anything, is she?"

Gwen shook her head, her lively curls bouncing up and down around her face. "No, no," she assured him, "she is fine. It can't be easy for her though, living alone in that small village. Escetia is in disarray ever since Morgause killed King Cenred. It can't be easy living there."

Arthur knew too well how that land was ruled by chaos, seeing as it now threatened Camelot. Rumours had it that a new leader had risen, but Arthur prayed for that rumour to be untrue. Morgana had apparently sieged the castle and had full control of Cenred's army. Morgause ruled by her sister's side, encouraging and manipulating her. Arthur's heart shattered when he thought of what his half-sister had done to them.

"At least we know Merlin will be back," Arthur said, sighing. He escorted Gwen away from the balustrade. "I don't have any obligations this morning, so we can do what we want."

Gwen blushed slightly. "You know how your father thinks of -"

Arthur pulled her into his arms and she placed her arms around his neck. "I don't care what my father thinks of our love," he smiled. "Let's just enjoy it, shall we? I'll fetch us some horses and we can go for a ride."

Gwen leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss against Arthur's lips. "I would love that."

-o-o-

When Arthur returned from his outing with Gwen, he found Leon awaiting him. The knight looked reserved, but his eyes spoke of slight distress. Arthur quickly dismounted his horse and hurried towards Gwen to help her get down as well. Normally she would smile at him, but obviously she had seen Leon's distress as well.

"My Lord and Lady," Leon bowed his head in respect.

Arthur waved away the formalities. "What is it?"

Leon shifted his balance, almost looking uncomfortable. "She has been seen, Arthur," he said, "Morgana and some of her men have been spotted on the road to Ealdor."

Arthur exchanged a quick glance with Gwen. They were both thinking the same, single word. Merlin. This was not good news and it certainly didn't spell anything good for the servant. So many questions invaded Arthur's mind. Why would Morgana be on her way to Ealdor? What were her devious plans this time?

"How many men?" he simply asked. Before jumping to conclusions, he needed to get all the facts straight. Perhaps this was a coincidence, but Arthur knew he shouldn't lie to himself.
"More than fifteen men," Leon answered, "Morgana had a carriage and the guards were carrying heavy trunks."

Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose. He'd received this news before, but it still startled him. "She's been travelling a lot lately," he sighed, "trying to buy alliances. King Olaf of Mercia has already sent word to warn us; they won't disrespect our peace-treaty, but King Alined is very keen on war."
"She will buy their allegiance," Gwen said, understanding the situation, "but the land of Albion lies to the south and Ealdor lies in Escetia, which is east."

Arthur let his eyes slide from Gwen towards Leon. He bit down on his lower lip, trying to make sense of it. "Morgana must have learned of Merlin's weekly trips to his home village then," he concluded, "perhaps she wants to capture him and use him as bait to draw us out."

A new voice sounded strong and confident, "Then she knows she'll succeed." Behind them, Gwaine approached and came to a halt when standing besides Gwen. He carefully examined everyone's face, before continuing, "If Merlin is in trouble, we must help him."

This wasn't a difficult decision for Arthur. Of course he would run to his servant's aid. The only difficulty was convincing his father and the entire Court to allow them to undertake this quest. The truth wasn't always helpful, Arthur then decided, and he was willing to lie for Merlin. After all, wouldn't it be a white lie?

They raced towards Ealdor. It was normally a two-day trip, but at the speed they were going, it would only take them about fourteen hours to reach the village. Arthur rode ahead with Lancelot, Gwaine and Gwen followed directly behind. Arthur had objected to Gwen accompanying them, but she was far too stubborn to have anyone tell her what to do. After all, Merlin was her friend, and Arthur couldn't help but admire Gwen's loyalty and protectiveness. She was capable as a fighter and that knowledge reassured him slightly, but he had sworn to himself not to let her out of his sight.

Back home, everyone in Court – including the king – thought they were on a hunting trip. The other knights knew the truth, but Arthur had ordered them to stay behind to defend Camelot should it be necessary. Morgana was cunning and who knew when she might attack their kingdom again?

When they had been on the rode for six hour, Arthur decided that they needed a break, and so did the horses. He sat down on a green patch of grass, with his horse close by so that he was ready to jump on its back if they were attacked. After all, they were dangerously close to Escetia. Gwaine and Lancelot had gone to search for fresh water while Gwen had remained with her Prince.

"What if we are too late?" She posed the question that lay on everyone's mind, but no one dared to speak. She let herself slid down beside Arthur and placed her hand on his.

Arthur turned his head and stared into her kind, brown eyes. "Let's assume that we will be there in time," he said. He didn't want to grow desperate. Merlin had proven that he could take care of himself and the inhabitants of Ealdor were hard people. They had fought for their land once and Arthur knew they would do so again in a heartbeat.

"Something is going on with Merlin," Gwen said softly. Her eyes seemed to avoid Arthur's for a moment, and he sensed that she was worried. "I've thought about it, and the fact that he doesn't like being questioned about his trips, is a little suspicious."

Arthur nodded understandingly, "You think he's hiding something."

"Yes," she admitted reluctantly, "And I know that Merlin wouldn't do anything dangerous or idiotic, but you have to admit that he's oddly secretive about going to Ealdor. He never talks about it when he returns; he just says everything is fine."

Gwen had grown to dislike that word almost as much as Arthur had. Every time Merlin even uttered the word, Arthur wanted to slap him around the head. For so long he had wanted to just grab Merlin by his neckerchief and demand some true answers. However, there was a little voice in the back of his head that told him Merlin would never admit to hiding anything. He was far better at keeping secrets than Arthur ever gave him credit for. And that was a thought that scared the Prince.

"We'll know soon enough," he eventually sighed. Hearing Lancelot and Gwaine return, he stood up and grabbed the reins of his horse. He mounted the magnificent beast and waited for the others to follow his example. And soon, they found themselves riding again, knowing that they wouldn't stop until they had reached Ealdor.

-o-o-

They crossed the large, strangely empty land. Last time Arthur had been here, wild flowers and grain had grown on this patch of land. It was first proof of the trouble Escetia was in. They had only just crossed the border and already, Arthur dreaded being there. Camelot offered him safety which wasn't something he experienced at the moment.

Only a short distance away from Ealdor, Arthur got off his horse and lead it further towards the village by hand. The others followed him and they were now walking side by side. It reminded him of the last time he had been there, only then Morgana had been walking to his left. She was never going to be walking beside him again, Arthur thought sadly.

"This is it," Gwen announced, "We'll know what Merlin has been hiding from us."

They reached the border of Ealdor and found that it hadn't changed since their last visit. People walked around and worked in the little vegetable gardens. Pigs and cows ran freely through the streets and the little houses still looked well kept. Arthur sought out one particular man and soon, his eyes fell on Merlin.

Merlin, however, wasn't walking alone. In his arms, he held a small bundle from which tiny arms and legs stuck out. The blanket didn't cover the child's little face, though. Black hair could already be seen growing wildly and standing brightly against big, blue eyes that were slowly fluttering shut as the baby fell asleep.

Arthur was aware that he was gaping, but he couldn't help himself. The resemblance between Merlin and that child – was it a boy or a girl? – was undeniable. Could it be? Could it really be? Was Merlin holding his own child? Was Merlin a father? He swallowed down all his questions and began walking again, knowing that he wouldn't rest until he had some answers.

His idiot servant definitely had some explaining to do.