Hello, hello!
It took me a while, but I finally decided to write a Merlin fanfiction. Before I begin, I just want to say that English is not my native language so spelling errors may occur; I'd like to ask you to be patient with me. :)

When I was 13-14 I've watched a tv series also named "Merlin"; it was with Sam Neil, Helena Boham Carter etc. In this series, Merlin's main enemy was not Morgana but a fairy queen named Mab, who also appears in a few Arthurian legends. This fanfiction is based in BBC's new version of Merlin, but other references will appear. I also mixed a little bit of Nordic mythology; and yes, I'm a huge Loki fan. Hope you like it!

Plot: Uther is dead. It's been five years since Arthur became king; Camelot has grown into a prosperous kingdom under the eyes of its noble and (almost) wise king. Magic still is prohibited, but our beloved young warlock is no longer a servant but Arthur's most loyal counselor and friend; Merlin still hopes that one day his friend will realize the true nature of magic. It's been a while since Morgana disappeared for the second time, no one knows she's still alive; but no one is thinking about her when there is a mysterious army forming in the horizon; it's up to Merlin again to preserve the future of Arthur and Camelot, but will he maintain his loyalty to his king when new events from the past emerge?

PS: Merlin spoilers!

Chapter one – To Find You

It was nightfall.

He had been traveling for two days now, his body was tired and his eyes were urging to shut. He kept moving, stopping only to heal his horse's exhaustion and eat very fast; he was closer now, inciting the horse to run more than the poor beast could handle, his heart was beating loudly in his ear curious and excited to find out if the rumors were true, he almost didn't believe; it was just not possible. He stopped on the top of a hill and looked down feeling nervous and a bit sick; there was an entire army camped in the valley near the river, tents scattered on the grass, little dots of light indicating fires and a few obscured ants walking around the open field. It was a beautiful view tinted by the twilight, but he wasn't there to admire, he had to find her.

He dismounted tying the horse to a tree and went on foot; the cold air of the night was not the only thing that kept him awake, his bones were aching and clicking in an uncomfortable way complaining about the excess. It was already dark when he reached the border of the camp where the noises became lauder, he could distinguish the conversations and the rude noises the soldiers were producing, there were so many of them… He needed a distraction. An occult force heard his thoughts and a whinny broke the night; a few steps from him were seven horses tied to a wood support, hiding himself behind a bush he concentrated and for a very brief second his eyes turned bright yellow; at this very moment the reins cut loose and the animals run to the woods, a large smile appeared on his face when a bunch of disconcerted man drop what they were doing and chased the horses.

Trespass the watchers line was easy, the tricky part was finding out each of those tents was HER tent. He walked very slowly and carefully through the camp taking a pick on the inside of the tents, listening the conversations, searching for any clue that would lead him to her; he even tried to hear her thoughts, but it was useless. This last finding made him feel a little depressed… There were only two reasons why he couldn't hear her thoughts; first: she was blocking him, second: the rumors were false. He couldn't decide each one makes him feel worse… In the old days he would be able to find her in a blink of an eye; they used to be in each other's mind all the time, the thoughts of one were no secret to the other, they were connected by a very strong mental bond almost if they were the same person; so, if she was blocking him that would mean that their bond was lost forever. If the rumors were false, that would mean that she REALLY was lost forever and his quest worth absolutely nothing.

Lost in his own mind, he forgot to pay attention in what he was doing… A stick cracked beneath his feet; his heart started to pound, this is it… It's over; but nothing happened, he waited for a few seconds and took a deep breath so relieved that his vital organ started to beat too loud, so loud that he was afraid that someone may hear it. He kept on, but his amazing lack of dexterity made him trip in a hot caldron spilling all its contents on the grass and, of course, catching the attention of the soldiers. They came fast with their wielded swords screaming unnecessarily; the intruder ran away making his way through beds, fires, tents, weapons and other obstacles left on the ground.

In a tent not so far from that, there was a woman dressed in silk with her feet on the table and a wrinkle in her forehead while she read a very confuse report. There is a commotion outside, probably one of those stupid men decided to insult the masculinity of one another again; they were good fighters, but very irrational sometimes; let them solve their problems by themselves, she would not raise a finger. The noise was getting closer, she put down the papers and got up annoyed; she was going to put them on the stocks again, approaching the entrance of the tent she begin to hear the words they were saying… "Get him! Now, don't let him escape! Intruder!". Intruder? She went outside the tent and there were dozens of man running around the camp; lots of things spreading on the ground, two tents on fire and figure being persecuted.

Forb fleoghe! – She heard the figure saying, five men flew across the camp landing a few feet away… Magic, she thought.

Before she could do anything about it, one of the men hit the intruder in the neck with the hilt of the sword making him stumble and fall dizzy on his knees; two soldiers approached and raised him by his arms.

What is going on here? – The woman asked to her men.

My lady, he is an intruder! We think he's a spy.

A spy? – She approached the man. –raise your head; let me see your face.

He raised and when their eyes meet they got caught in an endless vortex of nostalgia; so many memories passing through their heads, so many moments they shared; the woman took a few steps behind trying not to let her emotions emerge on the surface. The man looked at her with his mouth and eyes open; he tried to break free, it was true… The rumors were true, she was there! She was alive! A warming joy burst within him and all he wanted was to pass his arms around her in a long broken hug.

You are alive! Y-y-you're here! – A thin line of tears formed in his eyes and a large friendly smile curved his lips. –I missed you so much! What happened?

SHUT UP! -She swallowed with difficulty and taking a deep breath recovered her posture; she approached him, their faces only inches apart –these are dark times and this is a dangerous place, keep quiet! –And turning to the soldiers she continued – Release him.

But My lady, we mus-

I said, release him! –Her eyes were fierce and threatening –if he is a spy I need to know if he found out anything about me… I will interrogate him.

Yes, My lady. –the guards released the man but looked at each other confused.

No one must disturb us, do you understand? –The woman sounded even more dangerous.

Yes… My lady. –Both men left with fear written on their faces.

The woman took the prisoner by the arm and pushed him into her tent, he tripped almost falling in the persian carpet. The inside of her tent was oddly decorated in some sort of oriental style, carpets and big cushions scattered all over the place, an oak table in a corner buried with papers and shy bowl of fruits, everything was in tones of red, brown, orange and yellow. She stood in the middle of the place with her back turned to him, only now by the weak lights of the candles he could take a good look at her; her hair was yet in that sweet tone of dark brown, full and long with curls on the edge of her back; there is no denial that her semi see through outfit emphasized all the good qualities of her fitting body, as a man he couldn't not notice that, but he would never looked at her with these eyes… He already tried, but it didn't work out.

Mab… -He said with a melancholic voice making her turn around; her face was the same… Just like he used to remember, but where once was softness and tenderness was maturity and aging; she was still beautiful, but… -You look different…

Yes, death causes this effect on people. –She said sharply, but his eyes full of compassion and kindness brought her structure to the ground again. –You look different too, with the beard and everything… -She pointed in her own face the location where his thin beard was. – I barely recognized you… Although, your eyes betray you. –a shy smile illuminated her face.

Yes, I remember you were the only one who was able to recognize me in my elderly form. –He laughed with the memory, but his smile soon faded when he saw the pain expression in her face.

What are you doing here, Merlin? Why have you come?

I came to find you.