Right, a new chapter for you all. I apologise again about the long wait. And if it weren't for the reviews and follows then it probably would have taken me even longer. So thank you all for keeping me motivated.

Enjoy.

Arthur could hear Merlin tying off the rope on the ridge above them, he wasn't exactly being quiet about it but then, they should be far enough from the bandits' camp to not be overheard.

Not that any of them were saying anything. At all. To anyone. He could feel Gwaine's glare alternating between him and Leon; not sure which to be more annoyed at but wanting to defend his friend regardless. Elyan and Percival had both come closer to the group but were shifting uneasily from foot to foot glancing at each other nervously.

Arthur was just about to snap at them to stop it when Merlin appeared above them holding the end of the rope.

"All done" He smiled stupidly.

"Finally Merlin" Arthur breathed sounding more relieved to get out of the oppressive air than he had wanted to.

And of course, the idiot had picked up on his tone, he could see Merlin briefly looking around and taking in the way everyone was acting as he realised something was wrong.

Arthur quickly moved forward so that Merlin could pass him down the rope, hoping to stop any questions Merlin was about to ask. He took the rope in his hands and gave a firm tug putting his weight behind it to make sure it held. Earning him a sarcastic eyebrow from Merlin for his lack of trust in him. Arthur almost smiled.

He turned to look at the group around him; sighing silently to himself, he started planning who was going to be helping who up the ridge, trying to make sure to keep Leon from being alone with Merlin. Or worse, Gwaine from being alone with Leon.

"Right. Percival, you go up first, Elyan and I can pass Gwaine up to you." He was interrupted by Gwaine protesting that he could manage but Arthur ignored him and carried on. Gwaine could barely stand up by himself let alone pull himself up a rope.

Arthur shook his head then continued. "Elyan you can follow Gwaine up, and I'll make sure Leon can get up okay" He looked at Leon sharply then, before motioning for them to get moving.

He could still feel Merlin watching him strangely as if trying to read from his face what had happened while he was gone, but at least the idiot had enough sense not to ask him right now. No, it would be best if they could hold off this conversation until they were at least back at their own camp.

Arthur went over to Gwaine and Elyan as he watched Percival climb up the ridge. Carefully hoisting Gwaine up between them, they passed him up to Percival who had reached down to grab Gwaine's arms.

Gwaine muffled his grunts of pain as he was pulled up and over the ridge. Arthur could hear him getting quieter as he moved away from the ledge but he could hear Merlin chuckling about Gwaine's protests so he knew Gwaine was still complaining.

Even their banter couldn't lift his mood right now. He kept thinking over what Leon had said, and as much as he didn't believe that Merlin would leave, he couldn't help but think Leon must have seen something to make him react like that.

Leon had been knocked out, but Arthur still trusted his judgement. The knight was the most experienced and had been through as much as any of them. If Leon said something was wrong, then there was something wrong. But, Merlin?

Arthur didn't know of any ill feeling between the two of them before today, in fact, he would have said Leon admired Merlin slightly. So, why would he have changed his mind so suddenly?

Arthur knew that Merlin was sympathetic to the druids, he had helped one escape Camelot before after all, and he supposed living with the court physician may have made him even more sympathetic to those who were suffering but to suggest that Merlin was actively helping a sorcerer. No. Maybe Leon had assumed too much after seeing Merlin help the person out of the cage. Whatever it was, he would have to talk to them about it once they were safely back in Camelot.

He sighed as he noticed Elyan hesitating before climbing up, looking between him and Leon.

"Go on Elyan, we have to get back to our own borders before light"

Elyan nodded briefly before climbing up the ridge. He could still hear Gwaine grumbling about something to Merlin, doing his best to lighten the mood.

Arthur turned to Leon, trying to stop his thoughts from circling.

"Can you climb?" He wasn't about to have this conversation here; out in the open, overheard by the others. Plus, they really did need to make it back to their camp and by extension Camelot. Gwaine's arm, though not life threatening, still needed looking at or it would become infected.

Leon nodded warily; he was still a little wobbly on his feet but looked as if he could make the climb alright. So Arthur motioned for him to get up the ridge first.

Percival was still at the top and helped Leon over the ridge and over to where the others must be as they disappeared from view.

Arthur took a deep breath. This was going to be a long ride home. Hell, it was going to be a long trek back to camp and that wasn't even that far. Or, well, he didn't think it was that far but they may have come further out than they thought in their haste to get away from the bandits' camp. But if Merlin could make it by himself then it couldn't be that difficult to find the camp.

With one last look around him at the empty forest he scaled the rope himself; climbing over the ridgeline and up to the others.

"Right, which way's camp Merlin?" Merlin looked at him with that eyebrow raised again as if about to make a silly remark about why Arthur was asking him, but he had obviously seen something on Arthurs face to stem his remark and simply jerked his arm behind him.

"That way"

"Lead the way then" Again Merlin gave him a funny look before shrugging and helping Gwaine up from the tree trunk he was leaning against.

Arthur set off behind Merlin, putting Gwaine and his helpers between himself and Leon. He didn't want to think about this right now and he knew if Leon thought they were in danger from anyone (Merlin really?) then he wouldn't stop pestering him about it.

The walk was actually much shorter than Arthur had expected, they had ended up closer to the stream that marked the edge of Camelot's territory. The ridge must have bent back towards their camp further along.

Arthur was glad, as he didn't think he could take one more moment of the silence they had walked in. Gwaine had started the journey telling all kinds of jokes but had soon lapsed into silence, whether from his injury or being ignored Arthur wasn't sure, but the longer the walk had gone on, the more he had begun to whack over hanging branches and kick twigs out of his way. He could feel Merlin wasn't by his side anymore, which was an odd show of self-preservation from him.

When at last they did make it across the stream, the light was starting to show over the trees; they must have spent longer at the bandits' camp then they had thought. Or maybe they were unconscious for longer than they thought and Merlin hadn't woken them up straight away like he had first assumed.

Arthur sighed for what felt like the hundredth time and collapsed by the river, speaking over his shoulder to the others.

"I'm getting a drink, go back to camp and I will join you soon"

He could feel the others hesitate then move off through the trees back to camp, but was aware that not all of them had left.

About ready to shout at this point, Arthur didn't turn round, he just stared resolutely at the stream in front of him, willing whoever it was to just leave. He assumed it was Leon, and really, hadn't he realised by now that Arthur was not going to talk about this here.

Still not turning round he spoke again. "Go back to camp Leon, that's an order"

He wouldn't normally say something like that, heck, he wouldn't normally have had to say something like that. But he could feel Leon still standing there.

Arthur pushed himself to his feet and slowly turned to his Knight.

Now that Arthur could see him, he realised why he hadn't left. Merlin was also there, standing back against the treeline, as if he sensed that for some reason he should keep his distance from Leon.

But when Arthur took another glance at his manservant he altered his previous thought. Maybe he was staying back from him as well. Merlin did after all have absolutely no idea what was going on, so maybe he was just staying back from everyone.

"Leon" Arthur's voice was cold, daring Leon to disobey the direct order he had given him.

Arthur watched as Leon spared one last glance at Merlin before finally acquiescing and walking back towards camp. Finally slumping down by the stream again he splashed his face with the cold water.

It wasn't till Arthur was sat back on his heels that he eyed Merlin suspiciously.

"Why are you so quiet? Not that I want you to annoy me or anything but you're never this quiet. I would like to think it was because you had some common sense but I think we've gathered over the years that you don't."

No reaction, nothing. No silly comment about how it was him who had no common sense. He had been at least expected some kind of poor insult thrown back at him but Merlin just stood there. Looking at the spot Leon had since vacated.

"Merlin?" Arthur was on his feet now, though he seemed to be rooted to the spot. Why was Merlin being so quiet? Had he overheard the argument they were having before he got back to them or, was he hiding something like Leon had been suggesting?

"We should get back to camp sire; the others will probably have packed up and be ready to leave by now."

They probably should, but Arthur wasn't about to go back to camp in a worse mood than he had been before.

"You're acting suspiciously you know Merlin." Arthur said just throwing that out there to test Merlins reaction.

"You're the one attacking tree branches, prat" Merlin shot back and Arthur found himself relaxing just a little.

Maybe he had been over reacting a bit.

"Come on then Clotpole, back to camp"

"That's my word!"