Hey everyone! So this was just and idea I had, and since my other Merlin story is wrapping up, I thought, why not start it now? Anyway, enjoy, and please leave a comment telling me what you thought! Thanks for reading

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin

And Once Again Beheld the Stars

Merlin collapsed on the grimy floor of the dungeon. He struggled to his feet, but the heavy shackles weighed his thin wrists down.

He managed to drag himself over to the tiny window, where he could see the harsh and unforgiving rain pelt the dark forest below.

"He's not coming," the voice behind him said, both taunting and pitying. He didn't turn; he didn't want to face the origin of the voice. Instead, he stared dejectedly out the window, waiting, searching for any sign of the friends who had forgotten him and forsaken him to endure this hell.

One day ago

Merlin rummaged around in the saddlebag, searching for the map Arthur had requested. The knights were lounging about the clearing, tired after a long day of riding. The king had taken his knights along to the border of Camelot and Cenred's kingdom, to address some reports of bandits in the area, and they had been successful in clearing up the matter. Merlin passed the map over to Arthur, who took one glance at it and rolled his eyes.

"No, not this map, the other one, Merlin," Arthur said, tossing the old scroll back into Merlin's hand.

"Well, you could have specified," Merlin muttered as he turned back to his saddlebag and began digging through the numerous scrolls.

"I am your king, Merlin, and I will specify as much as I want," Arthur said, puffing out his chest slightly in response.

"Prat," Merlin said under his breath. Arthur whipped around to glare at his manservant. Gwaine stifled a laugh at the look on Arthur's face.

"I heard that!" Arthur threw his plate at the back of Merlin's head. He was satisfied with a muffled 'ow' from the young warlock. "And clean that, too, while you're at it!" Arthur moved back towards the fire, this time with the correct map in his hand. He spread out the scroll so that everyone could see, and he spoke to the knights gathered around.

"Now, we're heading east," Arthur said, indicating the direction on the map and the trail that they would follow. "We will be back in Camelot in two days time." He rolled the map back up, and the knights returned to their relaxed positions around the warm fire.

"Pass me the stew," Gwaine said to Merlin, who abandoned the many dishes he had to clean and hauled the heavy pot over to the knight. He deposited it at Gwaine's feet, and the knight smiled up at him. "Thank you, Merlin." Gwaine said, still smiling.

"Merlin, the stew, please," Leon called from across the clearing. Merlin pursed his lips and heaved his burden over to the grinning knight. Now everyone was smiling at Merlin, and each called for the stew to be brought to them in their turn. When each had been served, they ate in comfortable silence. And then they called the fuming but silent manservant over for second helpings.

They took turns on the watch, but the night was quiet and peaceful. They all slept well, and once the morning came, they packed up their things and rode off in the direction of Camelot.

A little ways down the road, Arthur called for the company to stop. As the knights slowed their horses down, they saw that there was an old man walking in the middle of the road. He looked up in surprise at the men in armor and smiled.

"Where are you headed, old man?" Arthur asked, sheathing his sword as he spoke. The other knights followed suit, as it was rude to brandish their weapons at a defenseless old man. Merlin, on the other hand, remained wary. There was something about the stranger's eyes. They were not old man's eyes, but young and shining with perfect clarity. Merlin knew in the back of his mind that something was wrong.

"Wherever the path happens to take me," the old man responded in an amiable voice.

"Does that path happen to lead to a tavern of some sorts?"Gwaine perked up somewhat. "I don't know about the rest of you fine gentlemen, but I could do with a drink." Leon and Elyan laughed, and Merlin allowed a vague smile, still watching the stranger.

"None," the old man said with a gracious nod. "My name, good knights, is Foren. My castle is not far from here, perhaps you would like to dine there instead?"

"No, we must return to Camelot," Arthur said, shaking his head. "But thank you for the offer."

"Camelot?" Foren said. He raised his eyebrows. "You are knights of Camelot?"

"Yes," Arthur replied. He vaguely felt the uncomfortable nature of the Foren's stare and the coldness of his smile, and he hurried on. "But we must be going on, now. Thank you for your kindness." He spurred on his horse, and the others made to follow, but they found they could not move. Each struggled against an invisible force that was holding them back. "What-what is going on?" Arthur grunted as he tried to move forward.

"You are knights of Camelot, and I am willing to bet that your leader is none other then the king, Arthur Pendragon. I am afraid that I cannot allow you to leave," The old man said, and his eyes flashed gold. Everyone was thrown back from their horses and landed harshly on the forest floor.

Arthur got to his feet and drew his sword, murder on his face. The knights did the same, and they charged the sorcerer. They were no match. If any of the knights came close enough, they were thrown back once more, as if there was a force field surrounding Foren.

Elyan had been tossed into a tree, and had fallen still, presumably unconscious. Gwaine lay on the forest floor, his sword grasped in a limp hand. Percival and Leon fell also, and so Arthur was the only knight left standing. Merlin hovered off to the side, uncertain whether he should use his magic, with Arthur still fighting. But after Arthur was thrown to the ground, Merlin stepped forward, one hand extended as he gauged the power of the threat. The sorcerer narrowed his eyes in concentration.

"Ah, a warlock. Interesting," Foren mused. He thrust his hand forward, but not before Merlin did the same. Merlin's eyes glowed gold, and the sorcerer staggered back. Merlin shouted, and again Foren was shoved back farther into the forest. The old man panted as he got to his feet. He glowered at Merlin for a moment, then gave a high whistle which echoed throughout the forest. Without warning, two burly men came out from behind the trees and lunged at Merlin, tackling him to the ground. Merlin thrashed and struggled, but the two men were twice his size and would not budge. Merlin could feel the magic tingling in his veins, and he opened his mouth to spit out a spell. Before he could get anything out, though, a strange smelling bag was shoved under his nose, making him gag. He slumped to the ground as his body shut down, the world flickering and warping before his eyes.

The men dropped Merlin, his eyes now closed and his body unconscious. Foren spat on the ground, his hand massaging his chest.

"It's been a while since I have faced such powerful magic. Strange, though, that he would be protecting Arthur. Very strange..." Foren rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "All right, pack him up. Leave the others. I have a feeling that this one will be more useful to us after all."

The men obeyed, dragging Merlin out onto the path where their horses waited for them. They threw Merlin on to one of the horses, then they rode off down the path, Merlin's head lolling as he slept in blissful ignorance.

Leave a review? Thanks! This was just a sort of taster, the other chapters will be longer. Whump to come next chapter…