"Halt!"

One of the two cloaked riders being addressed stopped abruptly in the middle of the road, pulling sharply on the reigns of their horse. Merlin shook his head at the immediate show of obedience. Granted the child had been subject to the orders of every official since birth, but they were an apprentice now and things were different.

Some sort of respect was due to the practitioners of the art, respect to the common traveller, or at least respect to the elderly and the very young. It was unfortunate the guard was simply not giving any of the three. Unfortunate for him that was. So, without a second thought, he continued forward.

"I said halt," the guard said angrily, moving his horse closer, "Are you deaf man?"

"I see no reason why two travelers should be stopped without reason," Merlin answered, his voice calm and reasonable.

The guard snorted.

"The royal progress is coming this way," he said, "And I doubt very much that their majesties of Lothain and Orkney would care to be held up by peasants."

Merlin smiled. Oh dear, the man really didn't know his sovereigns, did he?

"Oh really?" he asked, "Tell me, how long have you been in their employ? No more than a few weeks I should wager."

The guard flushed angrily and drew his sword. Merlin could practically feel the nervousness of his new apprentice. Again, that was understandable. They were new to their art, and some places in England actually burned the sorcerers unlucky enough to be caught. Even so, they were about to learn an interesting lesson.

"You'll pay for that!" the guard thundered.

"I rather think I won't," he said nonchalantly, rubbing his hands together.

"You dare-!"

"What's this then?"

Another rider cantered up, his raiment obviously of better quality than the other's. His face was bright and he couldn't have been more than twenty. His face was also rather familiar. Sighing Merlin eased his mind away from the spell he had been planning on. It would do no good now. The guard paled before stammering;

"No….nothing Prince Gawain. It…it's ju…just…some peasants who won't get out of the way."

"Uh huh," Gawain said, looking at the guard with plain displeasure, "And you normally go around and threaten people in your way?"

"Well I-" stammered the guard.

"Don't answer that," he said before turning to the two travelers, "I'm sorry about this. The royal house is not in the habit of-"

Gawain frowned and cocked his head.

"I'm sorry, this may sound rather strange, but do I know you?"

Raising his eyebrow Merlin withdrew his hood and gave a terse reply;

"I should think you do Gawain."

For a minute Gawain looked at him in shock. Then he bellowed out a laugh.

"Merlin!" he yelled, dismounting from his horse, "Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"I was simply trying to teach my young apprentice a lesson," Merlin replied as he grasped hands with the young man.

"And an interesting lesson I'm sure it would've been if I hadn't interfered," Gawain said, shooting the guard a dirty look, "Go back to the rest."

Now looking as though he were about to vomit the guard turned around and galloped back the way he came. Gawain shook his head once before turning back to the old man.

"It's hard to find good help these days. So, you've got a new one then?" he asked, interested, "This is what, your third?"

"Third and last," Merlin laughed, "Finding these children is taking a toll on these tired old bones."

He motioned towards the figure on the horse.

"Come now, don't be shy," he said, "This may be the first royal you've met, but it'll by no means be the last."

Hesitating only a minute the figure stepped lightly off the horse. It took a few steps before coming into a deep curtsey. The gesture was almost instinctive but not very well practiced. Merlin was sure it would get better as time went on though.

"May I introduce Veronica of Scarborough."

The ten-year old girl straightened uncertainly. She practically shrunk back into her cloak as she waited on what happened next. In his turn Gawain gave a short nod of his head in recognition before turning back to Merlin.

"Taking on a girl now?" he asked, "And Scarborough is some distance away."

"I travelled a good way for all of my apprentices."

"Well yes but…never mind," he said, "And how are you finding the craft?"

The last question was directed at Veronica with a cheerful patronization. Her eyebrows raised but she said nothing. Gawain opened his mouth to repeat the question but Merlin held up a hand to stop him and shook his head. Shrugging Gawain went on to say;

"My mother will be thrilled to see you again. And father…well…he's always thrilled at whatever mother's thrilled at. We're on our way to Camelot ourselves, royal visit. We would be honored if you would accompany us."

"The honor would be all mine," Merlin said pleasantly, "Travel has been somewhat rough in these past days. Come Veronica."

The small girl scurried to get back on her horse. Gawain looked at her oddly.

"Not very talkative, is she?"

Merlin shook his head.

"While her power is undeniable she does not speak," he said, "Not often in any case."

"That shy huh?"

For a moment Merlin contemplated telling him the truth. It was only for a moment though. Even though Gawain was a good man, an excellent fighter and loyal to the bone he was also somewhat stupid. It didn't take much to outsmart him. He certainly took after his father rather than his mother, much to his disadvantage.

"Indeed," he said, avoiding a deliberate untruth, "It is a radical change of lifestyle for her after all."

"My only worry is how you're going to handle her with those two boys you've got," Gawain said, "If half of what my brothers write home and tell me is true than you've got your hands full."

"You've seen them before, you know what they're like," said Merlin with a touch of irritation.

"Only at state occasions," remarked Gawain, "That's the only time you let them out of that keep of yours. Maybe if you let them out more often than they wouldn't-"

"They need peace to learn," interrupted Merlin sharply before the young man could finish giving him instructions on how to train his apprentices, "And adding another to their number should balance them out."

"Just as you say Lord Merlin," Gawain said meekly, "Just as you say."