-5-

I don't trust him... Arthur told himself after he parked the car close to the lake and started walking to the meeting place. But as he neared the tranquil lake, he knew that in his heart he didn't believe it. Despite their cold first meeting, he knew he trusted Mervin when the latter had told him to meet near this lake today.

The place around the lake was peaceful, as if its stretch of green hills was undiscovered to the world.

Arthur found this place familiar too. He ignored the eerie yet reassuring feeling the place brought him and kept walking, towards the lone, large tree where he and Gwen were to meet Mervin.

To his surprise, the pair were already there, standing at the tree's extensive roots next to the lake.

Gwen smiled at him when her eyes met his.

He returned the smile, saying 'Hi.' Mervin, on the other hand, only received a brusque nod from him.

Mervin -or rather 'Merlin' as he explained- told Arthur and Gwen to place their left palms on the tree trunk. 'The Great Dragon had told me of this day,' Merlin's tone held a sense of gravity. 'He passed a spell to me that will unlock your memories of our life at Camelot.' He grinned for a moment, 'the real Camelot.'

Arthur gave a light cough. 'A dragon told you this?' he raised his eyebrows.

The smile vanished from Merlin's face. 'If you're not interested in finding answers anymore, feel free to leave.' He looked Arthur in the eye. Funny how the words he recalled murmuring to Arthur, the last time they were here, were quite different. Please don't leave me, please don't...

'Come on, Arthur,' Gwen broke the stare-down, 'let's give this a try.'

Arthur took his eyes off Merlin, this time almost remorseful, and placed his hand on the tree. Gwen joined in next to him and both turned to Merlin standing on Gwen's other side.

Merlin spoke a series of words. Arthur didn't have a clue what they meant but could gauge their power. With careful intonations and a steady voice, Merlin himself sounded powerful, in control.

Then Arthur's eyes widened; Merlin's irises turned golden. After this he couldn't feel or remember anything. He and Gwen were tugged sharply backward, flying a short distance before landing on the grass, unconscious.

The stern look disappeared from Merlin's face, replaced with concern as he started walking towards his fallen friends.

Arthur was the first to get up. He walked up to Merlin, his expression hard to read. Then there was a hint of mischief in his eyes. 'Merlin,' he said, putting an arm around the sorcerer, 'why do I conveniently lose consciousness every time you use your magic?'

For a moment Merlin was stumped. Then he gave a laugh.

Arthur put his arm down and smiled, his eyes showing he remembered the real Merlin.

'Merlin!' It was Gwen. When Merlin walked down to her she threw her arms around him. She too remembered.

When they broke away Gwen's eyes fell on Arthur standing behind.

'Guinevere,' he breathed.

Gwen smiled but her eyes held a tender sadness, like she was trying not to cry. She walked up to Arthur and when they met he took her face in his hands and kissed her.

'Right,' Merlin grinned, 'I'll just leave you two alone then.'

The pair parted and walked over to him.

'Oh not just yet...' Arthur hooked his elbow around Merlin's neck and shoved him forward slightly.

Merlin complained, 'Argh!' But he also laughed, as if freed from an imprisonment.

From the other side of the lake, someone watched the three cheerful figures. Her face was concealed by the hood of her dark, stylish jacket. The limbs of the large tree she stood behind concealed her figure. There was emptiness in her eyes, as she watched the friends' reunion, then envy.

She stepped out from behind the branches. It was Morgana.