Upon arriving at the palace, Merlin and Arthur had to sneak in unseen. They took the staff entrance where two men stood guard. Arthur swallowed thickly and Merlin did his best to greet the two men as he normally would. If they recognized Arthur the King would know he had left and they would be in trouble. Merlin pressed in his code and hurriedly dragged Arthur inside. The door closed behind them with a slam and only then could they breathe a little easier -but it was short-lived.

Awaiting their arrival were agents Thomas and McGwaine. They did not look happy.

"Your highness, good to see you back. Is there a chance you might tell us where you went?" agent Thomas said in an angry tone of voice. It did not sound like he was asking a question, it sounded far more like a command.

Arthur hesitated. "I'm sorry, but I really can't tell you."

Agent Thomas took a deep breath. "I see. And why is that?"

"We just went travelling," Merlin so obviously lied and flashed a goofy smile. It made McGwaine frown and Thomas crossed his arms.

"I know you are under my father's employment, but it's important he isn't told about this. Please," Arthur added looking the two agents in the eyes. "Do I have your word?"

McGwaine looked at Thomas who looked at Arthur and then Merlin. He narrowed his eyes. "Did you find what you were looking for?" agent Thomas asked, much to everyone else's surprise.

"Yes..." Arthur said. "But do I have your word? It really is important."

Agent Thomas turned to McGwaine and gave him some sort of instruction to which he nodded. "This time you do," agent Thomas said.

Arthur's jaw might as well have dropped to the floor. "You're serious?"

"Yes," Thomas replied. "Which is why I advise you to head to your rooms before your father returns from his current appointment with his brother." With that the agent walked away still not quite happy, but not angry either.

"Did he just provide us with an alibi and agree to lie to your dad? What happened?" Merlin said, dumbstruck, and a confused McGwaine shrugged.

"Don't ask me, I don't understand the man," McGwaine said. "Is there really no chance you can tell me what you were doing?" He looked from Merlin to Arthur.

"We can't," Arthur maintained. "I'm sorry, McGwaine, I know you're a good man. But this secret is an important one.

"If you believe it's for the best." McGwaine didn't look completely convinced, but left Arthur and Merlin to themselves.

As soon as he was gone, Merlin took over. "I didn't get a chance to show you this until now, so..." he pulled out the drawing of the spiral Myers had drawn on his paper and showed it to Arthur. "Myers gave me this. He said if I was who I was, I'd know what it is and where to look. Thing is I haven't got a clue what he meant by that."

Arthur raised an eyebrow.

"I know it sounds odd," Merlin continued. "But I do feel like I've seen it before. I just can't remember where..."

"I think I know where it is. On my father's ring he inherited from my grandfather. It has a spiral on it."

Merlin frowned. "Weird..."

Agent Thomas appeared at the other end of the hall and cleared his throat to get their attention. "Your father asks that you retire for the night, Sir, you should be well rested in the morning for practice."

Arthur nodded and looked Merlin in the eye. "My father might know what it means. I will ask him if you talk to Mr Gaius. Show him the translation, if necessary. You can join me at practice, it will be fun - and we can talk then in an unsuspicious way.

"All right," Merlin said doubtfully. He was more than sure he was going to regret that answer. "But I don't know how to use a sword, Arthur."

Arthur smiled. "I'll teach you. It'll be good for you to get some manners knocked into that thick head of yours anyway."

Merlin made a face. "I have manners! But you don't!" he called after Arthur who rounded the corner with a deep chuckle. Merlin looked at the symbol in his hand again and it was almost like it made less and less sense every time he did it. And there were other worries on his mind. Not just the attacker, the Willshire Stone and the symbols, no this was about himself. The changes that were happening to him were beginning to escalate to the point where it really was starting to scare him. Whom could he talk to? Arthur was not the right person to trust with this, even though Merlin was sure that Arthur would keep his secrets if he asked him to - he just wouldn't understand it. There was a big chance that Mr Gaius wouldn't either, but he was the better option this time. Merlin went home to Nothumberland Street and knocked on Mr Gaius' door. He was let in, handed a cup of tea and had someone to listen. He told the old man about what had happened during the trip to Carleon, showed him the translation and then told him about the weird episode at King's Cross that morning.

"Do you have any idea what's happening to me?" Merlin asked in all honesty. "These dreams, these things can't just happen. It's too odd. I'm either going crazy or there's someone playing tricks on me, I don't know."

Mr Gaius had calculating expression. "I can't say that I doesn't seem strange, but I'm not sure I have an answer for you, Merlin. I'm sorry, but I am not sure what it means."

Merlin nodded and stared into his tea for a long time until Gaius suddenly spoke agai

"But I do know something else," he said and made Merlin look up in wonder. "It's about your father."

Merlin made a face. "M-my father?" he repeated.

Mr Gaius nodded. "Did your mother ever tell you that he was an employee here? He worked as a museum guide and he was quite good at it. One day he told me something strange had happen to him. It must have been shortly after your birth. Unfortunately, and as you know, he died not long after. I never got to ask him about what it was he'd seen, he only mentioned something about strange coincidences - like you do now.

This information did not only shock Merlin, it scared him. Not because he was afraid of dying, but because his father hadn't been a real character in his life until now. Merlin hadn't thought much about him, especially not after his mother had become sick and not even after she passed. He swallowed thickly and tried not to let it affect him.

"And there is something else I should tell you," Mr Gaius said. "Your father was a strong believer in the Wiccan Celts. He studied the Triquetra and the meaning of the Trinity. You know there is the sword, there is the cup and there is the tree. Your father believed that they were all important in their own way. He said the sword was Excalibur, forged in the dragon's breath, and that it meant strength - strength that came from King Arthur. The cup meant wisdom and belonged to Merlin, your ancestor. He was wise and used the cup for good only. The tree can be interpreted as many things, but your father said that believing it is a tree is a false translation. The tree really means 'druid'. It's not unimaginable that Merlin was a druid and this can explain why your father believed the spiral, the Sun, is the last of the Trinity. The old druids believed in continuance and therefore immortality. Merlin is only your English name, to the druids, you would be Emrys."

"Emrys?" Merlin repeated. He thought of a strange song his mother used to sing. He couldn't understand any of the words, but he was somehow sure that Emrys had been one of them.

"So the Trinity is strength, wisdom and immortality?" Merlin said.

Mr Gaius nodded. "According to your father," he answered and watched Merlin fight not to let his emotions to get the better of him. Mr Gaius put a hand on his young friend's shoulder. "Your father was a good man. He was always kind. I'm so sorry you never got to meet him.

Merlin nodded and felt the first tear hit his cheek. "I just don't know, Gaius. I have no one. My mother is gone and my father was never there. We never talked about him. All I have is this chance to get a fresh start, a new life for myself, but no matter what I do or where I go I always get tangled up with these legends. Sometimes I think I'm not meant to move on from my past."

Mr Gaius made sure to look Merlin in the eye. "You are and you will. But it takes time, my boy, it takes time."

And it did take time. If Merlin could close a single eye that night it would have been sheer luck. He didn't sleep well and in the morning he went after some coffee and headed to the palace on his own. When he was let in, Arthur was already at the field, waiting. He had an extra set of gear that Merlin was set to put on by the help of the person in charge of the entire tournament, Mr Leon.

"There you go, Merlin, you're all geared up now," Arthur declared and gave Merlin a few pats on the right shoulder. Merlin wobbled slightly, but stood up straight when he was handed a sword.

"Isn't anybody else coming?" he asked Arthur, who was warming up lightly.

The prince nodded. "They should be here any minute. Oh, there they are right now."

Merlin turned his head to look and almost fell over himself. Arthur couldn't stop a chuckle from escaping him and Merlin's cheeks gradually went over every shade of red there was. Elly, her friends - there amongst Gwen -, Stuart and a man that Merlin had never seen before was approaching. Apparently, he was French and his name was Mr Leon. He'd been in charge of the tournament for over a decade and didn't seem very happy about Merlin joining practice today, but of course he didn't speak up against Arthur, the crown prince.

"This isn't a good idea," Merlin mumbled and Arthur gave him a look.

"This is a perfect idea," he said, loud enough for Merlin to hear only. "We can talk under warm up which is starting now."

Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Won't it look weird though? You having dragged me along when I have no experience in this... sport?" Merlin tried to keep up as Arthur showed him some basic moves. He couldn't help but notice how Stuart (and probably also everyone else) was eyeing them.

Arthur gave Merlin a little smile. "But you are my friend, Merlin. That's what I will tell them."

Merlin forgot what he was doing for a moment and that he was supposed to defend himself. Luckily, Arthur was quick enough to register it and stopped Merlin's sword before it could hurt anyone.

"Do you mean that?" Merlin said, dumbstruck.

"Yes," Arthur answered seriously and moved on to the next exercise. "You've helped me loads. That's what friends do, isn't it? Besides, few people would go all the way to the midlands to get a simple translation. By the way, I have thought about it and I think it's some sort of prophecy."

Merlin frowned. "But what if it isn't just a prophecy? What if it's a warning?" he questioned. "That would explain why the Triquetra is so important. It would explain why the engraving is about future and fall! And to end you and your father's lineage is exactly what this traitor wants, we have to assume that."

Arthur only nodded.

"And we have to consider everyone as a suspect. That includes your father and Elly and Stuart and McGwaine and Thomas..." Merlin explained.

"I know," Arthur interrupted. "And we will. We also have to take Mr Gaius into account."

Merlin made a face. "It's not him, Arthur. He's helped us all along. He knows things this attacker would kill for."

"So how do we know it's not him? He has the ideal placing to know these things. It would be perfect."

Merlin made a disapproving face. "Just because he's a historian and knows things that only your grandfather did besides him doesn't make him a suspect. It makes him a great help for us." Merlin was a little surprised at how angry that sounded. He had never felt so strongly about Mr Gaius before. All of it, however, was true. Gaius could not be the person behind all this. He couldn't be.

"What are you talking about?" Arthur asked.

"I think the Triquetra is the reason the Willshire stone is important," Merlin explained, silencing Arthur effectively. He almost forgot they needed to keep up appearances. "It tells not just the propechy of this land, but also the instruments that will determine it! That must be connected to the Triquetra."

"And you think this has got something to do with the theft?" Arthur guessed.

Merlin nodded wildly. "Yes! If this attacker believes in the legends as much as Myers, then why else would he steal the stone?"

Arthur thought it through. "Because he needed time to interpret it's meaning and couldn't be seen doing it."

"Exactly," Merlin declared. "That's why the Trinity is important, that's why this happened. The attacker wants the three relics connected to the Triquetra because it is the symbol of victory. In the wrong hands Albion can't continue, the kingdom your family built, and Morgana's lineage will take over. We can't let that happen."

"But," Arthur interrupted. "We know the attacker wants my family gone because he finds us... unworthy. We've known that all along." He looked at the symbol again; wisdom, strength, life. What Merlin was suggesting was logical enough, but Arthur had a strange feeling. A feeling he couldn't explain - and it didn't concern the whole mystery around the attacks, it was about Merlin. From the moment they met, Arthur knew Merlin was different, but more than that Arthur was beginning to understand why; Merlin was keeping things from him and it was frustrating and impossible to tell why. He had hinted it several times, but Merlin had refused to give a clear answer, so Arthur didn't dare to ask any further. He knew he needed Merlin to solve this problem - and because it was nice to have someone from the outside to talk to.

"What does the Wiccans make of the two other parts, then?" the prince asked.

Merlin, who hadn't noticed Arthur's interrogative stare, pointed to the symbol once again. "Strength is symbolized in the sword, Excalibur. Life is a bit different. It can mean the tree of life, a circle of life of sorts..."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

Merlin ignored him. "The Wiccans believed it meant not only life, but continuance. It means, in other words, immortality."

Something flickered in Arthur's eyes. He didn't say anything, but went to get the paper on which they had the translation of the Willshire Stone's engravings:

Albion the Once and Future King shall rule. Triquetra, the unity of the three, shows what is to come of the kingdom's future or fall. Without the three, no kingdom is to be, and with them the immortal shall succeed.

"So we have to find three relics as old as these legends themselves. We have no clue where to look, but we have to find them in order to stop this mad man attacking my family?"

Merlin nodded. "Yes," he answered. "We have to."

Arthur seemed to think about it and was then called over by Elly and the investigation had to be broken off for now. To Merlin's surprise, Stuart approached him. Merlin knew he was Arthur's best friend, but Stuart had never talked to him before. Merlin wasn't sure he really existed in Stuart's head. Until now, that was.

"Merlin, hi," Stuart said, still a bit out of breath from training. "Do you have a minute?"

Merlin nodded sceptically.

That made Stuart smile. "Thank you. You see, I wanted to apologize for behaving badly. Arthur has only ever spoken fondly of you, you must be a good friend."

Merlin tried not to look suspicious, but this Stuart was making it hard. "Apology accepted," he answered. "But I get the feeling that there's something else you really want to ask me."

Stuart did look surprised now. "Oh, you got me. There is something. You have noticed, I'm sure, that Arthur's mood hasn't been that good lately? I wondered if you had any idea why. He won't talk to me and I'm starting to get really worried. Any chance you could help me there at all?"

"Uh," Merlin said, taken aback. "I wish I could tell you, but I don't know. I'm sorry. If anything, I think he worries about these attacks and who could be behind them."

Stuart nodded. "Got any idea who it might have been? Elly and I have wondered too, you know," he said.

Merlin shook his head. "I wish I did."

Stuart looked over at Arthur training. "I want to help him," he said. "I really do. But he's making it hard, talking about these old legends... I'll try and talk to him again, but I have a feeling it's really about something else..." He seemed to be lost in though for a few seconds, then saluted Merlin and ran off. Merlin was left with a surprisingly positive attitude about Stuart. However, he noticed the sister, Elly, eyeing him with a deep frown like she had heard everything. Her eyes meet Merlin's and she smiled, but he was not entirely convinced. A theory was making its way inside Merlin's head as to whom the real attacker was. Right now, Elly was surely making the top of that list, and Merlin wondered how he was ever going to tell Arthur that. Family was his absolute weak spot. True or not, he would never believe someone so close to him could so evil. That a person he had known throughout childhood and adolescence could be a coldblooded traitor. It was almost too close to the legends, Merlin thought. Too close for comfort.