Life settled into a tidy pattern, of travelling, and work, as they headed towards the border with Mercia. Arthur eased into it with a minimum of fuss. He was eager to please and could manage most simple tasks. Very carefully, he stuck by the rules, staying as close as he could. He translated the rule of being is sight of someone at all times, to staying in sight of Percival. The big man seemed to be the strongest reassurance Arthur had, and Percival didn't mind. If there was any point Arthur had to stay with someone else, he did as he was told, but it was clear he felt more relaxed with certain members of the troop.

Merlin watched him carefully, after Percival's thoughts and observations of Arthur. He had watched them interact with Arthur. Percival was clearly the most trusted. Arthur followed him faithfully. Gwaine, as well, had won the prince over, able to handle Arthur's quirks as easily as Percival. Elyan tolerated Arthur's presence, but limited his interaction, and Lancelot behaved in a similar fashion. They would mind Arthur if the need arouse, but seemed quite happy to leave Arthur's care in Percival's hands.

It was Leon, and Merlin, himself that Arthur was nervous around. Leon had issues hiding his emotions over Arthur's state. And Merlin knew he was right, it related to Leon knowing Arthur before. It was now hard to see him now, with that knowledge, not only of what Arthur had been before, but also what the result of the accident had wrought. Elyan felt that a little, but with a remoteness that made it easier for him to handle.

And Merlin himself was the leader, Arthur wavered between fear and wary respect. Merlin had been tempted to ask Leon what he knew about the relationship between Uther and Arthur, but chose, in the end, not to provoke the already edgy knight by asking. Instead, Merlin observed Arthur's reactions, towards him, and the others. Clearly Arthur knew he had to stay within the good graces of the leader to remain within the group. He acted very deferential towards him, and often seemed to look frightened.

Merlin let it happen. The easiest way to allay Arthur's fears was to treat him as he did the rest of them. Expecting him to do his fair share, but he didn't push him, but he remained attentive to Arthur, and kind, in the hope that in the slew of Arthur's babble, hints of information would come to light. It was clear that asking Arthur would provide no result, other than to upset the easily confused man. But he could bring up information, if left to his own devices.

It meant that after two days, Merlin had an inkling, of where, ironically, Uther had taken Arthur. And who had trusted with his son's welfare.

He got an even more succinct answer a few days later.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Even Percival didn't notice the slow downswing in Arthur's behaviour. They had kept travelling, pushing further into Mercia for Arthur's safety. He probably didn't even understand the situation and he didn't complain about the hard pace. During the journey he had stuck close to Percival, as always, although by late afternoon he occasionally lagged and Percival was forced to call him to keep him moving.

However it took a little while into the evening as they sat around the campfire to realise that Arthur appeared abnormally quiet.

"Arthur?" Percival said as he turned and frowned at Arthur's blond hair as he hung his head, chin dropped onto his chest. Since he didn't receive a response Percival put a hand on Arthur's shoulder and with a disgruntled grizzle Arthur attempted to shrug him off, lifting his hand to bat Percival away. Simultaneously Arthur turned away hunching his shoulders.

"Arthur?" Percival repeated taking Arthur's shoulder a little more insistently. Arthur gave another disgruntled murmur, however, he let Percival take a firm hold of him. As he tried to turn Arthur the blond man dropped his head even further curling up on himself as Percival tried to get him to look up.

During the mild struggle Percival caught a brief glimpse of Arthur's face and frowned in confusion.

"Merlin?"

Merlin had already started across the small camp realising that something was wrong with the usually biddable Arthur. Walking around he moved to Arthur's other side. Arthur wriggled to try and get away as Percival changed tactic and took hold of Arthur's wrists to restrain him while Merlin could take a close look at Arthur.

Arthur kept his head down as Percival firmly but gently kept him still and he tried to angle away from Merlin.

"What's wrong with him?" Leon asked.

"Not sure," Percival replied. "I think his face is swollen."

"Come on Arthur, let me look at you," Merlin ordered.

"Hurts," Arthur whined. Percival gave Arthur's wrists a light squeeze.

"Let Merlin look then."

That command seemed to have some effect. Although he didn't move voluntarily he allowed Merlin to cup his chin and gently lift his head. Arthur flinched as Merlin stared at him and gently probed the mild swelling on Arthur's right cheekbone and his eye.

"Open you eyes for me Arthur."

Arthur did and Leon gave as gasp as he saw the red tinge to the white of Arthur's eye. Merlin frowned and ran his fingers past Arthur's cheekbone, up over his ear and along the side of his head. Arthur gave several murmuring noises of pain and discontent as he did so, digging his heels into the dirt. Percival kept his grip firm and made several gentle reassurances to settle him down.

"It's all right Arthur," Merlin added to them. Arthur pouted, looking less than convinced.

"What is it?" Gwaine asked.

"Hurts," Arthur repeated.

"I can only assume that is has some connection to the old injury," Merlin mused.

"Like what?" Leon asked sounding mildly alarmed. Arthur's squirming increased at the tone of voice.

"Arthur." Merlin drew his attention again using a low calm tone and it caused the blond man to pause. "Has your head ever hurt like this before?"

There was a short pause, Arthur's head dropped again before he slowly nodded.

"Yes."

"Often?" Merlin asked forcing Arthur to raise his head, cupping his chin to make sure he stayed in position. Arthur gave a low mumble and shrugged.

"Don't know."

"But you remembering it happening before?" Merlin said. Arthur squirmed, whined and nodded. Percival shuffled closer to him, changing his grip to put an arm around Arthur's shoulders. Arthur leant against him and Merlin continued to probe around the swollen area.

"Will he be all right?" Leon asked keeping his voice calm so as not to upset Arthur.

"I think so if this has occurred before," Merlin said softly. He placed his palm against the side of Arthur's head and concentrated, whispering in a low tone. Percival saw the golden flash in Merlin's eyes and Arthur gave another murmur. He reached up to explore his face as Merlin took his hand away.

"That's all I can do, for now at least. I'll make him something for the pain. Does it still hurt Arthur?"

"Uh-huh," Arthur said sounding slightly sorry for himself. Merlin patted his leg.

"I'll get you something to make it better."

Arthur gave a half-hearted smile and Percival tightened his grip, letting Arthur snuggle against him.

"What can you give him?" Leon murmured, as Merlin got up and went back across the camp to his pack, he leant over so he could talk without Arthur hearing.

"Nothing can immediately fix the situation. There has to be some level of pressure in his skull and sometimes it must just flare up. I felt some scarring so I presume that right side is where the injury occurred."

Leon flinched, the memory a strong one. After a short pause he nodded.

"Will it..." Leon tailed off.

"If it's happened before then I guess it will settle down. I'll make something which will also help him sleep. That will be easier rather than him having to suffer it.

"But what if...?" Leon started and then paused as he watched Arthur lean against Percival.

"There is no point in speculating further," Merlin said. "Let's just deal with what we have.

The group briefly bustled around the camp as they gathered some more firewood and water, carefully brewed the concoction which would at least ease Arthur's pain. Percival stopped clinging to him so tightly but still let Arthur rest against him. Gwaine busied himself setting up a bedroll for Arthur so he could lie down while the potion did it's work.

Merlin didn't want to wait too long for the potion to cool so he used magic to make it do so, and once he had carefully poured it into a cup Percival turned to take hold of Arthur.

Taking them all by surprise Arthur suddenly moved, lashing out, kicking Percival with well aimed accuracy and powerful force. He tipped Percival backwards so he fell off the log they had been perching on. Arthur reared back and Leon automatically moved in on the other side. Again with shocking speed, Arthur snatched the knife out of Percival's boot, drove his elbow into Leon's ribs and spinning while still perched on the log grabbed Leon's shoulder, pulled him over and had the knife to his throat.

Arthur's actions had taken no more than a few seconds and they all froze as they registered the danger Leon was in. Percival lay where he was, a shocked frown on his face, but as he shifted he saw the tension in Arthur's shoulder's increase and Leon took a sharp breath. Percival stilled down and glanced at Merlin. The others did, except Leon who didn't dare move because of the knife at his throat.

Merlin blinked, watching Arthur carefully as he slowly crouched down. Arthur tensed, his eyes fixed on Merlin. Leon blinked, shifting again but the knife pressed harder into his neck to the point that he didn't even dare breathe.

"Stay still Leon. The rest of you just stay calm," Merlin ordered.

"What?" Gwaine snapped. The others looked just as baffled by the command but Merlin ignored them in favour of Arthur. He met Arthur's steady gaze and gave a flicker of a smirk.

"Arthur Pendragon."

The others frowned, looking at each other in confusion. Merlin and Arthur stayed with their eyes locked. As the nearest of them Percival could look up into Arthur's face, and saw the sudden change in expression.

"Don't you move," Arthur growled at Merlin as he shifted slightly, putting the cup down.

"Merlin?" Lancelot asked.

"It must be whatever pressure is put on the brain causes a shift in personality."

Arthur frowned at the comment. The rest looked none the wiser. Merlin assessed the situation further.

"Do you remember recent events, do you remember today?"

"Of course," Arthur snarled. "I'm not an idiot!"

Merlin frowned at the scorning emphasis on that statement, as Arthur talked about the other part of himself.

"Then you know there is no need to threaten us," Merlin said keeping his tone calm, although he made an effort to remove the patronising edge that he sometimes had when dealing with his damaged part. The words caused a shift in the tension of Arthur's shoulders. He didn't look down at Leon, who remained as still as possible underneath Arthur. Instead his eyes stayed on Merlin, assessing him warily but with less aggression.

"That may not be the case now. As far I know, I am quite valuable." Arthur told him.

Merlin raised his eyebrows, looking slightly amused. "I don't think you would show us a glimmer of anything, unless you felt secure in doing so."

Very slowly Merlin held out his hand, palm upwards.

"There have been enough deaths in the ranks of Camelot's knights. I'm sure you don't want to add to that."

From where he sat Percival saw Arthur blink and he glanced down at Leon. Very slowly Arthur removed the knife from Leon's throat. Leon gave a heavy swallow in relief. Arthur offered the knife out to Merlin, turning it in his hand to give Merlin the hilt. Merlin took it and Arthur slowly sat back. Leon eased himself into a sitting position eyeing Arthur carefully. Arthur stared back at him, still just as wary.

"Sire," Leon greeted him formally.

Arthur's face flickered with a smile. "I don't think I'm that anymore."

"On the contrary you still have a clear claim to the throne," Merlin said. "The Pendragon royal seal is missing. Without it Morgana's claim is not entirely substantiated."

Arthur stared at Merlin with something close to shock. "I know she doesn't hold the seal, but my father named her as heir."

"The missing seal sort of hints at the fact that he wasn't entirely sure of his decision. No one knows what happened to it," Leon said.

"Morgana tried to get your father to tell her, but he wouldn't be swayed, no matter what she tried."

Something flickered in Arthur's eyes, a mixture of pain and pride. Merlin knew something of what Uther had gone through and didn't mind Arthur's sentiments. In fact his own rather matched despite the fact he had no love for the man who slaughtered so many of his kind.

"The assumption was that Uther removed it from Camelot the same time as you."

Arthur's eyes narrowed. "What makes you say that?"

"Because after you left Camelot he named Morgana on his return, claiming her to be of Pendragon blood. There was never another really notable time when it could have been taken," Leon said. He looked a little uncomfortable as Arthur glared at him.

"How do you know that it wasn't hidden in Camelot?" he asked the knight. But it was Merlin that answered.

"Because Uther Pendragon was no fool. Besides there is too much of a connection. Where did he take you? He surely didn't leave you to the mercies of the wilderness, or the bandits we found you with."

Arthur glared at Merlin, wincing occasionally as the flickering lights of the fire caught his eyes. Then his eyes darted around as Merlin calmly returned the steady glare.

"Sire," Lancelot spoke, sounding deeply serious. "Morgana has ravished the kingdom, she will completely destroy it if she isn't stopped. We can only do so much at the moment, no one is strong enough to stand against her."

"Except perhaps Merlin," Gwaine interjected. Arthur glanced between the two men, still looking angry but listening intently, and he ended giving Merlin a speculative glance.

"I don't think we can say that after the last time," Merlin said.

"You faced Morgana?" Arthur asked.

"Something like that, although that time most of it went in her favour."

"She wasn't left completely unscathed Merlin," Gwaine said.

"What I'm saying is," Lancelot interrupted again, glaring at Gwaine to quiet him. "Is that if we have the seal."

"And Arthur himself," Percival added.

"Yes, then the kings could be persuaded to take her on. Although it would need you Merlin."

"And me as a puppet!" Arthur snarled.

"If you like," Merlin snapped. "It would be better than leaving it to Morgana's mercies."

Arthur flinched and said nothing for a moment.

"But surely the kings would just split the kingdom. Camelot would be gone," Arthur said.

"They will not do that. I wouldn't let them," Merlin said. "They need something central to keep the balance between them. I do not believe that a single one of them would touch Camelot's lands. If I could truly swear that I could stop Morgana then I have no doubt they would agree to it. Camelot would remain as it is."

"I thought the point was to not leave it as such."

"Arthur Pendragon, you are the Once And Future King, destiny has written you into it's pattern."

"What do you care about that?"

"Because I am Emrys, the one chosen to guide and protect him."

Arthur huffed. "Where were you when my head got sliced open?"

"Fate, it appears, does not share the opinion. She is a crueller mistress than her counterpart," Merlin said. "However, Morgana searches for you, and I have done so. I found you, now we need to keep you from her."

"Hence why we needed to move out of Camelot quickly," Gwaine mused considering the punishing pace they had kept up for several days. "If they have sent word to her, then..."

"Then she would have been on the move to claim him," Leon reasoned. "She would not risk Arthur slipping through her fingers. There has been no word she has left Camelot."

"We might not have heard."

Merlin raised his hands. "She has not. I would sense her if she came near. But, that does not rule out any of the Blood Guard. We are best to get over the border and into Mercia as soon as possible."

"She'll still come for me though, if she knows I am..." Arthur groaned, dropping his head.

"Sire?" Leon asked. The others had tensed, except Merlin, who watched Arthur intently.

"It will pass," Arthur hissed through gritted teeth. Merlin reached for the potion to offer it to Arthur.

"I'm sorry, it will help with the pain but I had thought it better to make you sleep."

Arthur looked into the mug that Merlin held out to him.

"I'm fine."

"You are in pain, Arthur. I can be better prepared for next time, have something for the pain but not the sedative."

"Why bother?" Arthur asked, reaching out to take hold of the cup. He eyed the contents warily, but he didn't think Merlin would give him anything to harm him. Given the way he had treated his simple self, it was to ease the pain, and let him sleep.

"Because, if we get the chance to talk to you, then we might find a way to deal with this, maybe make your clarity last longer. At least see if you can remember where you went, and if the royal seal went with you."

"It hardly stands up against Morgana's magic."

"The rest of the kingdoms of Albion will stand against her, if we can prove that Uther took the seal with you. Therefore, it was left with whoever was caring for you. It never went to another king. You vanished, so did it. If Uther planned to retrieve either you or the seal isn't known, but if Morgana got hold of either,"

"Or both," Gwaine interjected glumly. Merlin glared at him.

"Or both," he conceded. "Then she could increase her claim. If we have the seal, and you, then we can get the rest of the kingdoms to back us. Bayard will lead that support."

"He was hardly a supporter of my father."

"That may be, he respected him," Merlin said. Arthur winced, rubbing the side of his head. Merlin waited. It took Arthur a minute or so before he looked up again, and as he blinked, against the light of the fire, tears flooded from his eyes. Arthur tried to hide them, and Leon led the rest of them in respectfully ignoring them. Merlin studied the reactions. Arthur was not upset, the pain, and light, caused his eyes to water. It was information he could store for use the next time this happened.

Looking away from the fire, meant that Arthur looked at Merlin, his eyes dropping to the markings on Merlin's arms.

"You're a druid."

"Yes, and no. It's complicated, but for the purposes of this conversation, yes, I am."

"Why would you care what happens to Camelot?"

Merlin raised his eyebrows. That was the more complicated part. What the druids had told him had been destroyed by the fact that Uther had hunted them. But then he had also turned to them.

"I care about the people of this land. So did Uther, in his own way. And as I told you, I am Emrys. Uther took you to the druids didn't he?"

The rest of the camp went still at that information. Arthur glanced around, and then nodded.

"The Druids have the Pendragon seal?" Lancelot gasped.

"Yes. You said something about having picnics by the lake, in which case I know where the Druids might have taken you."

"I never saw the seal, I only had one episode like this when I was with them."

"How did they handle it?"

"As if they expected it. They were very hard to ruffle."

Merlin smirked at that. "Quite possibly."

"So would the seal be there?" Percival asked.

Merlin shook his head. "The Druids wouldn't keep Arthur and the seal at the same place. In fact they may have kept moving it, and you. But, I know the Druids, and I know their hiding places, so I know where to start."

"And once we have the seal, then we can act," Leon said.

"One thing at a time," Merlin said. "The Pendragon seal is safe enough where it is, Arthur is not. We stick to the plan, get to Mercia, and speak to Bayard."

"Do you trust him?" Arthur asked, wincing at the pain.

"Yes, I do," Merlin said. Arthur nodded. He picked up the cup and swigged the potion before handing the cup back to Merlin, who took it gently.

"I remember him, but he doesn't ever remember me," Arthur said before his eyes flickered closed and he lay back as the sedative took hold.