So this is my new story for the Merlin FanFic category it's finally Merthur which is what I actually ship despite my other Merlin story being a Mergana fic, it's also slash but it will be a LONG time coming but it will be there…if you squint! And it will contain eventual lemons….eventually!

But if you find this isn't your thing check out my other Merlin story it's called "The Darkness To my Light" and it's well on its way to being finished which is why my brain came up with this idea to keep me on my toes.

Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin!

Merlin sighed as he watched Cenred pace up and down in his dark throne room. He was dressed in black to suit his mood and his long hair swung wildly on the young man's shoulders. He was clearly distressed but Merlin stood back in a passive stance trying to give the young king no reason to turn his temper onto himself.

"You are sure of this?" He asked barking at Merlin.

"Yes my lord, Camelot's messenger arrived under a white banner this morning, I questioned him myself and found him to be telling the truth and reported to you directly," Merlin replied keeping his gaze lowered.

"What is his point, what is he trying to achieve?" Cenred asked and resumed his pacing.

"Peace?" Merlin said lightly.

"Peace? Essetir has been at war with Camelot for a while now why would Arthur want peace?" Cenred questioned.

"Because he knows he cannot win my lord, you have magic on your side," Merlin whispered. There was a long pause before the king replied looking Merlin up and down with an evil smirk.

"Yes I do don't I?"

Merlin ignored his arrogance and continued "Arthur is new to his reign and lacks his father's foolhardy confidence he knows this war cannot be won and seeks to put an end to it."

"Your words are as wise as ever Emrys," Cenred said a glint in his eyes.

"I am yours to serve my king," Merlin said bowing.

"Where are your friends?" Cenred asked.

"They should be here shortly my lord," Merlin said.

As If on cue Will and Archer entered the throne room and knelt to their king. Will Merlin's childhood best friend had long outgrown his once boyish looks and now walked with confidence that came from his obvious skill with a sword. Skills which like Merlin's, Cenred had exploited for his own ends.

Archer, on the other hand Merlin's other friend was younger in his appearance but had a sharp gleam to his eye, he wore light clothes of chaps and a tunic of the dark black of Essetir's colours that outfitted him as an Archer of Cenred's army. It was fitting that his name should be the same as the discipline he favoured.

"Rise," Cenred said.

"Thank you my Lord," they both replied quietly.

"Is what this messenger says true?" Cenred asked.

"Yes my lord, Camelot has retreated to its borders under a white flag, it would be against the rules of war to take advantage of this, we don't want to win Camelot by cheap tricks," Will said staring at Cenred with such a level of hate that Merlin envied him. If only he were able to show his true feelings without the fear of Cenred killing him.

"Of course not, I have no need for cheap tricks, I will defeat Camelot by my own skill before the end, but perhaps this talk of peace is interesting, to have Camelot as my dogs body," Cenred said now lounging on his throne grinning at the three young men before him.

"What does he request?"" Cenred asked.

"That you meet him, and discuss talks for a treaty so no more blood will be shed," Archer said.

"I'm not stepping one foot into Camelot, surely Arthur knows I'm not that stupid," Cenred said.

"Of course, my Lord," Archer replied.

"I will send you three instead, you are my consort my three loyal bodyguards, you will hear out the foolish king and you will report back to me," Cenred said decisively.

Merlin stared at Cenred in shock. The three of them enter Camelot? It was an absurd idea, magic was banned in Camelot and Merlin's reputation was known throughout the five kingdoms, sending him there would be suicide.

"Permission to speak freely sir?" Merlin asked.

"Granted," Cenred replied.

"Is your decision wise, Arthur will surely have me killed you know of his hatred for magic?" Merlin said.

"You can defend yourself very easily Merlin don't be coy," Cenred replied.

"Still having me there would be seen as an insult," Merlin replied.

"Then we shall have to insult him," Cenred laughed "Let him look upon my prize in fear and know that should he continue this war, if he doesn't give me what I want then I will set your magic upon his kingdom, under my control."

"Fear, shall be his undoing, he will take one look at you Merlin and Camelot will be as good as mine," Cenred continued "And Will and Archer will of course protect you as they always have and always will I suspect." Cenred said glaring at Merlin's friends who stood next to him.

"Of course," Will said once again glaring at the king and Archer nodded his head in agreement.

"Then I shall send word back telling him of my decision and what to expect, if he declines your presence there Merlin, then I shall invade his kingdom and Camelot will still be mine, so either way I win," Cenred beamed at the three of them.

"Yes my lord," the three of them said bowing.

"Send the messenger and prepare to leave I have little doubt that the spoilt brat will deny my request," Cenred said. They bowed again and left the throne room and made towards Merlin's chambers where they could discuss Cenred's latest evil scheme.

Arthur paced the throne room which had once belonged to his father as he wondered what his dead father would be thinking of him right now. Would he agree with Arthur? They had lost far too many lives in this battle against Essetir and though Arthur was a courageous fighter he knew when a battle was lost.

"Have I made the right choice?" Arthur asked turning towards his loyal knights and Gaius the old physician who was still enjoying life despite his old age.

"I believe you have sire," Gaius said.

"There's been no reply in weeks what if Cenred is planning an attack?" Arthur said.

"We are flying a White flag your majesty, to attack would be too cowardly for Cenred to consider, he is a man of pride after all," Sir Leon said.

"When has Cenred ever played by the rules?" Gwaine said from his corner in the throne room where he was nursing a tankard of what smelled like mead.

"Just be patient Arthur, things will play out" Gaius reasoned.

"I have lost so many men, to my father's war I refuse to lose any more," Arthur said.

The doors to the throne room burst open and Elyan and Percival came through with a very disgruntled looking man dressed in Essetir clothing. His clothes were muddy and his face was worn, he looked like he had spent a good few hard days travelling.

"And you are?" Arthur asked looking at the man in disdain.

"A messenger of my King," the man said.

"Your name?" Arthur asked forcing himself to overlook the man's rudeness.

"To you, I'm just a messenger," the man sneered. Leon made to step forward in temper but Arthur raised a hand stopping him.

"Then deliver your message and be gone with you," Arthur said.

"My King, Cenred, declines your request to meet." The man said and watched as Arthur closed his eyes in despair, this was a war he would not win.

"He will however," the man continued "Send people in his place to oversee this treaty for him."

"And why do I not deserve the king's presence?"

"He will not risk you double crossing him," the messenger said.

"And who will come in his stead?" Arthur asked.

"Perhaps you have heard of them, the council of shadows?" The messenger said with a sadistic grin on his face and watched as the hall fell silent and everyone stared at the messenger in shock.

"If you refuse, war will resume and you will lose," the messenger said in a tone that broke no argument.

Arthur considered. The council of shadows were legendary across the five kingdoms; they were the people that made Cenred so powerful. Never having met them before Arthur had doubted their existence but now he realised they could no longer be denied. Cenred had in his service a sorcerer of incredible power, a sorcerer whose magic was shackled to Cenred's control. And if that wasn't enough rumour talked of two men who walked in his shadow protecting him with sword and bow. No one knew why the men were loyal to this sorcerer and not Cenred but then little was known of the council of shadows other than that they inspired fear and awe wherever they went.

"I hate to rush you, but I will need an answer, now," the messenger said.

"We don't even have a chance to discuss this?" Gaius asked stepping forward.

"I would think the choice would be simple, either play host to Cenred's loyal servants or restart the battle, either way the choice is yours," The messenger said.

Despite the rumours Arthur knew there was only one decision he could make, he would have to invite the most powerful sorcerer in the world into his kingdom. His father would be turning over in his grave.

"I accept," Arthur said.

The messenger smiled and rose and headed towards the doors.

"You should expect the council within the next few days," the messenger said. He bowed his head and with a mock salute strode out of the door.

"The council of shadows Arthur?"" Percival questioned his face pale.

"I had no choice," Arthur said "We meet them here on my terms or we inevitably meet them out there on the battle field and we all know how that battle would go."

"At least here we have a chance"

"A chance, a chance against the most powerful warlock to ever walk the world and his loyal protectors? We have zero chance Arthur," Elyan said.

"They are not here to attack us," Gaius said stepping in "They are here for the treaty, and remember if rumours are true than this mighty warlock is just a boy who is being forced to serve under an evil tyrant, perhaps he will be sympathetic to us."

"Sympathetic?" Gwaine said "Uther murdered all of his kind I doubt he's going to greet us with hugs and kisses."

"Yes thank you Gwaine" Arthur said "I don't want his sympathy, magic is evil, he is evil perhaps more so than Cenred but we will entertain him and his friends so I don't see more of Camelot's soldiers killed."

"You can't believe that Arthur, if the rumours are true then this boy is being forced to do Cenred's bidding for nearly all of his life" Gaius said.

"He still has magic," Arthur said resolutely.

"Well if being nice to him makes any of his stay go better, then I won't be one to punish him," Gaius said.

"We will treat them as we would any other guest," Arthur said "we'll just be keeping an eye on them whilst they are here."

"And under no circumstances is that sorcerer to be left unsupervised in Camelot on his own, from the moment he gets here I want someone watching his every move"

"Even when he's sleeping?" Gwaine asked one eyebrow raised.

"I don't care how you do it Gwaine, rotate a system, I want him watched," Arthur said.

"Yes sire," the knights replied bowing their heads in respect.

"Now don't we have stuff to be doing?" Arthur asked hands on his hips and watched in amusement as his council scampered and flustered and ran about doing their jobs and helping with the wounded, one thing was sure, life was about to get very interesting!

What do you think then? Continue or not? Next chapter: we go back in the past and learn how Cenred got Merlin under his control!

Review!