the lost prince

prologue

"Merlin, come on!" Nankeen shouted, running down the hill.

Merlin smiled, walking lightly behind his younger brother, laughing. "I'm coming, Nankeen."

He walked into the citadel, a knife hanging at his side. He could use a sword of course, but it was much easier to fight with his magic, and a knife in his hand.

He now walked side by side with Nankeen, who had his own, slightly dull practice sword in hand. Nankeen was thirteen, and Father had not cleared him to fight in the army yet. He was also skilled with magic, but nowhere near as powerful as Merlin.

Merlin walked down the halls of the castle to the throne room, where he was meant to have a meeting with his mother and father, and found the doors to the room locked, from the inside. Nankeen was oblivious to it, but Merlin immediately knew something was wrong.

"Nany, I need you to go to the armory and alert the knights, please."

Nankeen looked up at him with confusion in his eyes. Merlin frowned. "Now, Nankeen, go!" Nankeen, realizing something was wrong, quickly nodded, and took off running down the hall.

Merlin closed his eyes, and rested his hand on the intricately carved doors of the throne room, and felt his magic rise, silently unlocking the doors. With a deep breath, Merlin pushed open the doors.

The sight he was greeted with was the worst he could ever imagine. His parents stood, bound and shackled in pure iron chains, repressing their power. They were each held at swordpoint by men who were strangers to Merlin, but the man sitting on his father's throne was one he knew well.

His uncle, Amar.

"Ah, Merlin, we were wondering when you would join us," Amar said, and Merlin seethed with rage, magic swirling in his palms.

"Oh, don't be like that, nephew. We were waiting for you to get started. I wanted you to be here when your family takes their final breaths. I want you to watch while the light leaves their eyes. Deal with the king and queen, men."

Merlin surged forward, but it was too late. The swords swung, and Merlin watched as his parent's heads hit the floor. Merlin screamed in agony, tears falling from his eyes.

"NO!" He yelled, and that was when the kingdom came tumbling down. Merlin collapsed on the floor just as Amar's forces barged into the throne room. Before anyone could do anything, he felt himself being lifted from the ground, and turned around to see Gwaine lifting him up, and slinging Merlin over his shoulder, running out of the throne room.

Merlin looked up, and looked one last time at his family, cold on the floor, despair in his mother's eyes, even after she died.

And then

everything

went

dark.

---------------

Merlin slowly blinked open his eyes, and abruptly sat up, eyes wide and chest heaving. He looked around to see Sirs Gwaine, Tareen, Samuel, and Elliot sitting around a small fire, looking forlorn.

"What's happening, where are we? Where's Nankeen?" Merlin fretted, standing up and looking around.

Gwaine stood as well, placing a hand on Merlin's shoulder. "We've lost the citadel, Merlin. Amar betrayed us." He took a breath. "Your brother is safe, he and the others fled the citadel and are hiding in the mountains, with the dragons. Nankeen led them to safety."

Merlin sat down on a log. At least they were hidden. Only a member of the royal family could access the mountains. "I can't... Gwaine, what am I going to do?"

Now Tareen, who was only a few months older than Merlin, stood. "You need to run, Merlin. Amar is after you. The closer you stay to the kingdom, the more danger you are in. Amar is coming for you next, sire, and you need to stay alive, so one day, you can return."

Merlin gaped at Tareen. "I... I can't abandon my people, I won't!"

Gwaine sighed. "You have to, Merlin. You must go where no one would follow. Here, we took this off of your father, we think he might have wanted you to have it. "

Merlin glanced up, and Gwaine was handing him a necklace, a stone with the Ambrosius crest etched into it. When Merlin touched the seal, he felt life flow through him, and he watched as the tattoos that covered his body glowed and came to life.

It is a tradition, in the royal family, for the children of the king to receive blessings from the druids. Merlin's were far more extensive than most, due to his status, as well as the fact that he was a warlock of legend; the fabled savior, Emrys.

Merlin sure as hell didn't feel like a legend, but he knew one day he would have to be. His father entrusted him with the kingdom, and he would not let him down.

When a king dies, his magic leaves his body and is transferred to his seal, which was passed to the heir to the throne. Merlin felt himself grow in power as his father's magic flowed through his veins. He allowed himself a small smile, placing the leather chain around his neck.

"Okay, I will go," he said, and the knights looked at him, appearing to be on the verge of tears. He felt a glamour cover his tattoos, and sighed. "I will go to Camelot. No one will look for me there."

Gwaine stood. "Well, you'll need someone to come with you, won't you? I could go be a knight of Camelot for a while."

Merlin smiled. "Thank you, Sir Gwaine."

The others stood. "It has been an honor to serve you, my lord. As soon as Prince Nankeen's forces are strong enough, we will return, and summon you to lead the people of Aurelia once more."

Merlin nodded. "Thank you, knights. I have asked so much of you, yet you never fail to meet my expectations. Please, protect what's left of my family. And protect Jade, please, make sure she knows I'm safe, and that I love her."

"We will, Sire," Elliot said.

Merlin nodded. "Come, Sir Gwaine, we must be on our way, I don't want Amar to have any hint of where we are going."

He clasped forearms with each of his knights, and rubbed his now bare arms. He looked to the sky, and closed his eyes, grasping the seal hanging around his neck.

"I will make you proud, father. I will save our kingdom."