Fira was glad to see that the snow had melted by the next morning. It was still very chilly, so she wore a comfy blue tunic, tights, brown boots, plus her cloak, to keep warm.

Merlin hadn't been in his chambers when she woke up, but a plate of food was sitting on the table. Guessing it was for her, Fira ate quickly, grabbed the large pack she'd filled last night, and navigated the halls of the Citadel.

When she got to the courtyard, Fira met up with Percival and Elyan. She greeted them.

"Good morning!" they both replied.

The three of them made their way to the Stables. Opening the door, they were surprised to find Merlin busily working. His and Arthur's horses were harnessed. He was now tacking up Gwaine's.

"Merlin! Thanks for the breakfast."

"No problem, Fira. Could you three help me get the horses tacked up?"

"Of course," she replied. Walking over to Aland's stall, she spent the next several minutes tacking him up. She hooked the lead rope to his halter and tied it to the wall. Then she went to help Merlin with Leon's horse.

Percival and Elyan finished up their horses, Luagor and Lamri, just as Merlin and Fira finished Leon's. They began leading the horses outside. First went Aland, who insisted on going first, followed by Arthur's horse and Gwaine's horse Gringolet. Elyan and Percival led their own horses along with Leon's.

The two missing men met them outside deep in conversation. Arthur took Hengroen's saddle in his hands and hoisted himself up. The others mounted quickly.

"Where's Gwaine?" Merlin asked.

Arthur groaned, "If that idiot isn't here soon..."

"I'm coming, princess. Calm down!" Gwaine laughed lightly, coming around the corner.

Fira smirked at the knight as he mounted Gringolet. Figures Gwaine would be late. Well, no harm done. They bid goodbye to Guinevere before trotting down the streets and out of the castle. They set the pace at a light canter, not wanting to appear as if in any rush.

They rode like this, galloping off and on, for the remainder of the day. The group stopped only once for lunch. When the sun began setting behind the trees and they hit a stream, Arthur ordered a stop. They had ridden along the edge of the woods for most of the day so that now the party could go straight through tomorrow and arrive at Ealdor.

"Gwaine, Leon, the two of you go track down something for dinner!" Arthur instructed.

The two knights nodded and grabbed the crossbows, setting out into the forest.

"Merlin, Percival, collect up some good firewood."

Merlin groaned but nodded. Percival chuckled at the servant and grabbed a small hatchet on the way out of camp.

"And the three of us won't do anything," Arthur grinned. Elyan and Fira laughed. The two knights sat down, backs against the trees. Fira went to tend to the horses.

She removed the bridles. The horses were such beautiful creatures, each unique and complementary to their masters.

Gwaine's was the black stallion Gringolet. He was a speedy horse, fast and furious especially in battle and built for endurance. Fira could tell that like Aland, Gringolet was uniquely gifted with magic. He had more than the average beast.

Leon's was the bay Hengist. Also a stallion, he was built for strength, pure and simple. He could carry almost anything and crush a skull with one step.

Luagor was Percival's stallion, and he was also strong, but hardier. Weather, water, rocks, nothing fazed him. He did what he was commanded without a single protest. His coat was various shades of grey.

Lamri was Luagor's cousin, and belonged to Elyan. A brown horse, Lamri was bred more for maneuverability than strength. What he lacked in strength he made up for in intelligence and intuition in battle. The horse seemed to know what Elyan would want before being ordered.

Arthur's large white stallion was Hengroen. Hengroen was mighty. He knew his place as the top horse. He carried himself with an air of royalty, and he had the strength to back it up. Hengroen had Hengist's brute strength and Lamri's intuition.

Finally, Merlin had the only mare in Arundel. Named for her swiftness, Arundel was a beautiful paint horse who's as gentle as she possible.

Fira loved how each animal had its own personality. She relished in getting to know them, exploring their lives. She got along well with them.

Merlin and Percival got back soon enough, piles of firewood in their arms. Merlin had just got to work building the fire when Gwaine and Leon returned with two pheasants and a large rabbit.

"Good catch," Elyan complimented them.

"Thanks!" They said simultaneously. Gwaine and Leon looked at each other before shaking their heads in something akin to defeat.

"Where's Fira?" Leon asked after a moment. She wasn't with the horses any more.

Merlin put a finger to his lips to quite Leon. He pointed down to where the stream ran. There was Fira, laying down on her stomach, head near the water.

Gwaine looked at Merlin in confusion. What was she up to?

Merlin shrugged, but he took the two pheasants and cooked them.

-*-

After dinner, they decided to change into less conspicuous armor. Off went the crimson cloak, the Pendragon insignias, and on went rough brown, white, and green cotton clothes over their chainmail. Fira took off her black Pendragon cloak and traded it for a ragged black one.

-*-

The next morning was beautiful. The sky was an immaculate blue, and a few fluffy white clouds floated through the air. They ate the rabbit and some fruit for breakfast before mounting again and setting off at a brisk trot. They planned on reaching Ealdor before lunch.

When they reached the edge of a small hill, Merlin smiled fondly and pointed down below them. Little cottages and farms were close by. Not more than a few minutes at a full gallop. So gallop they did. Everyone was eager to reach Ealdor quickly. They looked forward to a good meal.

Dismounting at the earliest fence, the company led their horses through the main path in the tiny town. They received a few stares from the townsfolk. After all, they probably didn't get strangers very often. A few of them seemed to recognize Merlin and Arthur, which Fira guessed was because of the story she'd heard about rescuing Ealdor. Back when Morgana was good.

Finally they reached a particular house. Merlin went up and knocked. A middle aged woman with worn hands but a friendly smile laughed loudly and pulled the warlock into a hug.

"Oh Merlin! I'm so happy you're here," she grinned. Then as if noticing the other six for the first time she cleared her throat and smiled happily.

"Hello again, Arthur."

"Hunith," he bowed his head slightly. "Allow me to introduce my knights, Leon, Elyan, Percival, and Gwaine."

"And I'm Fira," she chipped in.

"Nice to meet you all. Do come in, please. I've got two visitors at the moment still recovering from the attack but we can squeeze in."

They followed Merlin's mum inside and were pleasantly surprised to find it was larger than expected. Hunith had done some additions on the house, expanding it.

At a couch on the right say a boy. He couldn't have been much older than Fira. He was shirtless, instead he had a large white bandage wrap around his torso. He had shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes. He took a sip of something.

"Ms. Hunith, this is delicious!" He exclaimed. Noticing the travelers, he quickly stood out of respect, wincing in the process.

"This is Gareth. His brother Gaheris is in the backroom sleeping."

"I'm Arthur."

"Leon.

"Percival."

"Elyan."

"Fira."

"Merlin."

Gwaine just stood there, eying Gareth with suspicion and curiosity. So this was Gareth. This was Gareth.

"Gwaine."

Gareth snapped to attention at that name. Had he and Gaheris finally found him?

"Gwaine? Son of Lot?" Gareth asked hopefully.

"And Gareth, son of the woman Morcades?" Gwaine responded in an even tone, still unsure of what to think.

"By God it’s you! We've been looking everywhere!" He grinned, before shouting for Gaheris, "Gaheris! Get your lazy self out here, brother!"

The door opened and another young man appeared. His hair was chocolate brown and he had blue eyes. He was probably a little over twenty-three.

"What is it Gareth?" he complained, sleepily.

Gareth slapped him across the cheek, "Its Gwaine!"

Gaheris was wide awake then. He stared at Gwaine, open mouthed. He glanced from Gwaine to Gareth and back.

"Excuse me, but how do you three know each other?" Arthur interrupted.

"You mean Gwaine hasn't told you?" Gareth asked, a little hurt.

Arthur shook his head.

"Of course he hasn't," Gaheris scoffed, "Why would he care to bring up his two younger brothers."

"Brothers?" Merlin sputtered, utterly confused.

The others echoed his outburst. Brothers? Since when!

"Tell them, Gwaine," Gaheris smirked.

Gwaine let a long breath out, "Gaheris and Gareth are my half-brothers, through our mother Morcades."

"Yes. But he probably didn't want to mention us because we aren't noble like him," Gareth said sadly.

Gaheris shook his head, "No, Gwaine doesn't like nobility."

The others, except for Merlin, stared from Gareth and Gaheris to Gwaine. Noble? Gwaine wasn't noble.

"What do you mean," Percival asked.

"You mean you don't know?" Gaheris laughed.

Gwaine clenched his fists. Gaheris always was a smart aleck.

"Know what?"

"Gwaine's dad. His name was Lot. He was the older brother of King Cenred."

Even Merlin looked up at Gwaine in shock. Gwaine? A prince?

The knight's eyes were blazing. He was furious. Gwaine pushed past Leon and Elyan, slammed the door, and just kept walking. It was either that, or strangle his younger siblings.

-*-

Arthur stared at the spot where Gwaine had just been standing. It was all so unbelievable. Gwaine. Gwaine, the knight who despised the Nobility. One of the common knights. Had he not admitted it himself? And yet here were two strangers, no older than themselves, claiming Gwaine was their brother. But more importantly, Gwaine was the heir to Cenred's kingdom.

-*-

Elyan stood silent, thinking over what he'd just learned. If it hadn't been for Gwaine's reaction, he might have dismissed it all. But obviously Gaheris was serious. Elyan looked at the two young men, mulling them over in his head. Gareth was young, closer to Fira's age. Gaheris was older, more experienced. He resembled his older brother in many ways.

-*-

Percival and Leon were eyeing Gwaine's brothers. The younger of the two, Gareth, was a blonde. His hair was scruffy, with a bit of curl at the end like Gwaine. But with his blue eyes, he looked very different from the knight.

His brother Gaheris, however, was a different story. He seemed about twenty-three, his chocolate brown hair wavy like his older brother's. He had the same smirk, the same eyes. When Percival looked, he could really see the family resemblance.

-*-

Fira felt hurt. Gwaine had known her deepest secret, but hadn't bothered to tell her his. But she put that behind her. She knew Gwaine. Gwaine was prone to rash action and she was worried about what he might do.

So she pushed out the door and looked for the knight. She caught sight of him near the horses. For a moment Fira panicked. What the hell was he doing? She ran as fast as she could towards him.

"Gwaine! Gwaine!" Fira shouted.

He turned to look at her, his brow creased in frustration and deep thought.

"Not now, Fira."

"I just wanted to know what you're doing with Gringolet," she hinted, slowing to a walk as she got close.

Gwaine looked confused and then gave a short laugh. "I'm not running away, if that's what you're afraid of. I just needed space."

Fira blushed, "Well, one can never be too careful. I guess. . I guess I'll leave you be then."

Gwaine nodded, the smile gone from his face. He turned back to face his horse and Fira walked back to Hunith's.

-*-

"So he left after that, then?" Elyan was asking the brothers when Fira got back inside.

"Yes. Gareth wasn't even a month old then. I was probably eleven," Gaheris nodded.

"Where's Gwaine?" Merlin questioned her when she came in alone.

Fira told them that he wanted some space.

"Figures," the older sibling grumbled, "He never did care for us much."

"I'm sure that's not true," Hunith interjected.

"But it is," Gareth added, "We haven't heard from Gwaine for years. Last time we heard from him, I was only ten."

"He never bothered to tell us he was in Camelot. Let alone a knight."

"I'm surprised King Arthur knighted him without telling anyone that Gwaine was noble," Gareth mused.

The knights grinned and Arthur laughed softly. Apparently these two hadn't figured out who he was.

"Well, actually, even I didn't know."

"You're King Arthur?!" they both gasped.

The knights of Camelot chuckled at their reactions.

"Yes, that's me. And actually, Sirs Elyan and Percival aren't Noble born either."

"Oh," said Gareth.

Suddenly the door opened and they turned to find Gwaine stepping through the door. His face was grimly set, but an air of determination was around him. Determination and control.

"Well look who it is, Sir Gwaine's come back," Gaheris sneered.

Gwaine narrowed his eyes and Gareth elbowed his older brother in the side. Gaheris gave a shout and Gwaine groaned.

"If you could be quite for just a minute," Gwaine hissed at his impertinent brother.

"Gwaine, you're a prince," Arthur stated.

"No. I'm not," he insisted angrily, "My mother and father were never married. Lot left as soon as I was born."

"Still, you're a nobleman. Why didn't you just tell my father and become a knight?"

"With all due respect, Arthur," Gwaine stressed, his voice dripping in disgust, "I'd never serve under a man like Uther. In fact, I've come to think that you and Leon are the only nobles I'd respect."

Fira felt a strange feeling. For some reason she felt the need to get some air.

"I'm...going to go check on the horses," she said quietly, slipping out the door.

Fira made her way over to the animals. When she put her hand on Aland's flank, she noticed that the horse seemed nervous too.

Suddenly the world went blank.

-*-

They had heard Fira saying she would be with the horses but no one really processed it. They were too intent on listening to the three brothers conversing.

So when they heard a high pitched scream followed by more screams, they panicked for a moment before remembering they knew where she was.

Nevertheless, the knights, Merlin, Gaheris, and Gareth rushed outside, drawing their swords. By now shouts had joined the shrieking and the clanging of metal was heard.

They were met by an onslaught of mercenaries. Twenty, maybe thirty men in dark armor with some sort of green insignia on their shields. Yet they didn't seem like organized soldiers. And unlike true soldiers, the knights came out of the house just in time to see a particularly burly mercenary chop off a little girl's head.