~<>~

For one who had spent her entire life on the road, she had never traveled alone. It took three days for her to work her way back south. She found it strangely lonely without Merlin. She had been with him for almost twenty years. While he wasn't overly affectionate, he was the closest thing to a family she had since she lost hers.

She also felt strangely vulnerable out here alone, but for her eagle and her horse. She had a number of defensive spells and knew how to take care of herself, but a woman alone attracted attention she didn't want.

She scryed for Sir Bedivere's location on her first night alone while she was still north of the wall. She didn't want to venture south where she was in danger from Vortigern's men until she had a clear plan and destination. She chose a small grove of trees a ways away from the road. She gathered tinder, a few small logs, and sat, closing her eyes as she focused on calling fire to her hand. Fire wasn't one of her elements, but Merlin had always insisted she learn the basics of all elemental magic, regardless of her preference for earth magic. Fire came to her call and she threw the small tongue of flames into the dry tinder.

Once the fire was crackling she tossed her combination of herbs into it and cut off a small square of the cloth that had once belonged to Bedivere. She held the cloth in her upturned hand, closed her eyes and focused; breathing deeply until she was in a deeply meditative state. Then she threw the cloth into the fire. The flames seemed to slow and she snapped her eyes open, staring into the heart of the fire. There, in the fire she saw Sir Bedivere. The old knight was living among a group of resistance fighters and their families, hiding from King Vortigern's men.

The second part of the spell required her to wait until morning for the fire to burn itself out. Once the ashes were cool she reached inside and dumped a handful on top of a map she had spread on a rock. She closed her eyes and whispered a few words. A glow started on the map, the spark flared to life and went out just as quickly. She blew the remaining ashes off the map, revealing a small burn mark, no bigger than the tip of her pinky finger. Bedivere was perhaps a day and a half's journey north of Camelot and two days south of her current location. She rolled up the map, slid it into a pouch on her saddle bag and set off.

~<>~

She arrived unannounced at Bedivere's hideaway two days later. It was a cave system, buried half underground and well hidden in the surrounding landscape. Had she not used to magic to locate it, she would have had a difficult time.

She rode up to the entrance and sat on her horse, waiting. Surely there were guards, they would need to decide how to proceed when faced with a seemingly unarmed woman.

Moments later a group of armed men came out of the bushes, surrounding her. She kept her face perfectly impassive and didn't allow them to see any hint of fear or any other emotions on her face as they pointed bows at her threateningly.

"I am here to see Sir Bedivere," she called to the men.

They frowned at one another at the sound of her accent. One of the men stepped out from the others. He had dark brown hair and shrewd eyes. While the others seemed uncertain, he was confident and steadfast. He lowered his bow. "There's no one here what goes by that name," he said.

She turned her head to him, capturing his gaze with her own. She tilted her head to the side as she had watched Merlin do to unnerve bigoted villagers. The man shifted his weight, but he didn't look away. It made her think better of him.

"I do not play games," she intoned. "He is expecting me."

She swung down, pulling her cloak around her. Up above her, her eagle landed in one of the top branches of a tree and screamed. The men all flinched at the raptor's sudden appearance. The guard dogs started barking and she turned her head and connected with the beasts, quieting them with little more than a passing thought.

"Mage," one of the men spit out the word as though it tasted badly in his mouth. He tightened his grip on his weapon, coiling himself for an attack.

Her eyes snapped severely to the man. He took a step back in when he saw the dark glow of the dog's eyes shining out of her face. She released the dog's mind and her eyes transformed back to her usual dark brown color. The man stumbled away from her in fear.

A young man with shocking blonde hair bowed his head respectfully to her despite how unnerved he was by her casual use of power. "I'll fetch him," he promised. "Please wait here," he said respectfully, bowing his head before hurrying away.

She didn't bother waiting outside with the men who feared her. She swung off her horse and flipped the reins over a nearby branch. Instead, she followed the young resistance fighter deeper into their hideout.

It was an ornate cave system, carved into the side of the hill overlooking the lake. They were well hidden. They would have to be to avoid capture by the Blacklegs for so long. She was surprised by how civilized the cave seemed to be. They had created rooms with doors and hallways out of the natural rock, building both public and private rooms out of wood and stone. The halls were cool and she could feel a breeze blowing through from somewhere deeper inside the cave, it made her cloak swirl around her legs.

She moved silently behind the blonde man. He may not have heard her, but the hair on the back of his neck stood up and he was uneasy nonetheless. When he glanced over his shoulder his eyes widened at the sight of the mage following him. With her hood up, it hid the softness of her features and added an air of mystery only enhanced by her swirling cloak. For men not accustomed to interacting with mages, she painted the picture exactly how they had all imaged a mage to be.

Despite his unease, the young man knocked on the door respectfully before opening it. "Someone here to see you," he said in a low voice, using his body to hide the person in the room.

She couldn't hear the response from inside the room, she was still too far away, but she didn't slow her progress. The man in the room would see her regardless of what he said. She hadn't come all this way to be turned away at the door. She had been assigned this task, and she wouldn't fail.

"I think you need to see her," the young man said hurriedly, but she didn't bother waiting. She stepped around him into the room as though she owned it.

Bedivere was a fletcher. He was leaning over his table, sanding a new bow he had recently strung. He hesitated as the strange woman moved across the room towards the window.

She glanced out, curious how a cave could have such a large source of natural light. She kept her curiosity well hidden however. Much of what kept her people safe was that people feared what they could do. She didn't like to be feared, but for now it was useful. The rebels would hesitate to hurt her if they feared what she was capable of. 

Merlin had told her stories of Bedivere, of his bravery and his honor. He had been one of Uther's most trusted advisors and had been forced to flee the night Uther was killed along with the other loyalists. Only Bedivere and one other of Uther's knights had managed to escape.

Bedivere sat and just watched the strange woman, waiting. He hadn't had an opportunity to see her face yet, but he had been expecting a visitor.

"Do you know who I am?" She asked after a long moment of silence. Her tone was measured, almost bored. She had a thick accent, but it was difficult to place as though she had traveled a great deal, something continental. Perhaps Frankish. She turned to face Bedivere and he went very still as he recognized her face.

"I know who you are, Mage," Bedivere agreed, although not outright fearful, he was cautious.

The Mage bowed her head in respectful acknowledgement. Outside the dogs were all howling once more. She turned to the door and tipped her head to the side as she focused on reaching for them with her mind again. They all fell silent once more.

Bedivere's eyes widened though otherwise he didn't acknowledge what she had done. "I've seen you in my dreams, you've been sent by Merlin."

Merlin promised her he would reach out to Bedivere through dream walking so the old knight would know to expect her. She could dream walk, but when she did, she could only see what the other person was experiencing. She had never been able to influence the dreamer.

"Then you know why I am here."

"So, you will be his guide," Bedivere said.

There was a question in his gaze. One she had expected. Perhaps everyone would wonder why Merlin himself had not come. She certainly wondered that herself. If they successfully overthrew Vortigern, the legend of the Born King and Excalibur would live on in infamy. She was not nearly as experienced as Merlin, and everyone knew it. Bedivere may actually have met the old Sorcerer during the war against Mordred.

"You will help me," She intoned, her eyes daring him to contradict her.

Bedivere nodded. There was no argument on his face. His eyes looked over her shoulder to where she had silenced the dogs, but he didn't ask about it. Sir Bedivere had known Merlin, had fought beside him and King Uther. He was familiar enough with mages to be wary of The Mage, but not outright afraid. Her people had been in hiding for almost twenty years now. Most she would encounter on this task would not be familiar with Mages, nor the magic they wielded. The majority of the population had been either in support of, or too frightened to contradict, King Vortigern's purges of the Mages.

"Where do we begin?" Bedivere asked. "The sword has revealed itself, but we did not know until Merlin came to my dreams that Uther's son Arthur had survived. How did Merlin know?" He asked.

The Mage arched a brow imperiously. "Merlin knows and sees many things. If Uther's heir were dead Vortigern would have been able to pull the sword from the stone."

Bedivere paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "How do you know the sword is trapped in stone?" He asked.

"I've seen it," she said.

"The sword only recently revealed itself..." Bedivere started than he hesitated and shook his head at his own foolishness. "After a freak incident with the river draining..."

The Mage didn't respond to his prodding, instead she stared into his eyes unblinking until he looked away.  Bedivere turned and let the subject drop. He knew Merlin. While strange, the old man had always been warm and quick to put people at their ease. This Mage was very different.

Bedivere glanced behind her, but she seemed to be their only visitor. "Did you travel here alone?" He asked with a sudden concern. As a young lady, it was appalling for him to think of her out without an escort. She couldn't be much more than mid-twenties.

She felt a spark of temper rise. His tone implied he didn't think she should have been on the roads alone. "I assure you, I am more than capable of taking care of myself."

"Oh I have no doubt," Bedivere quickly agreed. "Otherwise Merlin would not have sent you. What is your name?"

"Mages don't give their names," she explained.

"Yes I know that, but if we are going to work to find Arthur together I need to call you something."

She frowned at his question. She hadn't really considered this to be an issue. "Mage is fine," she said after a moment.

Bedivere nodded and didn't look like he was going to argue. "Had we known about Arthur we would have searched for him...not left him. So how do we find him?"

The Mage turned to face him. "The sword will find him," she assured him. "It calls to him even now in his dreams."

"And in the mean time?" he asked.

"You and your men must be ready. We have much to prepare.

~<>~

It took a week. The Mage was given a place to stay in the caves. And Although the Rebels were cordial it was obvious they did not consider her one of their own. Many were cautious around her or avoided her all together. She didn't do much to dissuade their feelings. If they disliked Mage's she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of trying to change their minds. She had been forced to run from bigots her whole life. She was done running. She wouldn't apologize for who or what she was.

She was out in the forest when she felt it. Bedivere was with her and even though he was not a magic user he also felt it. The magic was like a shockwave after an earthquake. The small pebbles at her feet bounced and the trees shuddered and groaned. The Mage jerked as it hit her and she whirled around. Her eyes searching their surroundings but there was nothing to see. Just as suddenly as it began, it stopped.

"Mage?" Bedivere asked uncertainly.

"It's time," she said in a hushed voice.

"You mean-" he started to say.

"Get your men ready. We must go to Camelot. Excalibur has awoken." 

~<>~

Bedivere sent five of his best men with the Mage. Their spies had found that Arthur had indeed pulled the sword from the stone and now both he and the sword were in Vortigern's custody.

The Mage hadn't anticipated this scenario. She had hoped they would find Arthur without his uncle capturing him. It complicated matters. Now, Vortigern had scheduled Arthur's execution and she and the rebels would need to intervene before the executioner's ax swung.

Luckily for them, Vortigern didn't seem to be satisfied with merely killing his nephew. He had decided to make a public display of it. A public display took time. Time the rebels used to plan a rescue.

It was a good plan, but one that hinged entirely on her ability to move from animal to animal.

"They will have dogs and horses," Bedivere assured her. "Have you done something like this before?"

"Yes," she responded, although she didn't tell him that she had never attempted to control so many animals at one time before. "When it's done, I may be weak," she told him. Hating that she had to admit weakness.

"Rubio will get you out," Bedivere said, gesturing to the blonde young man who had first greeted her so respectfully. Of all the men in the group going into Camelot to retrieve Arthur, he was the one who had seemed to be bothered by her status as a Mage the least.

The Mage nodded to Rubio in appreciation. "Make sure you get the sword," she said, turning to the other men.

"And Arthur," Bedivere added wryly, but there was something in his gaze that belied his light tone.

"Did you know him?" the Mage asked after a moment of consideration.

Bedivere and Bill would not be joining them in the rescue attempt. They both claimed to be too easily recognizable by the Blacklegs. The element of surprise and their ability to blend into the crowds was absolutely necessary for their plan to work.

Bedivere nodded. "But he was very young. He will not remember me."

"He will need a reason to trust us," The Mage said thoughtfully as she remembered Merlin's words. The old man had seemed convinced Arthur would trust her, but she had no idea why.

"We're rescuing him," Rubio argued as though it would be enough.

The Mage snorted and shook her head. She was not so naive to think the Born King would trust blindly. "What have your men been able to discover about him?" The Mage asked.

Bedivere looked away in shame. "He grew up on the streets. Raised in a brothel. He has developed quite the business extorting protection money from local merchants. He has several Blacklegs in his pocket...he is well respected and feared..." Bedivere shook his head.

"Interesting..." The Mage commented thoughtfully.

Bedivere's head shot up and indignation flared through his eyes. "My oldest friend's son was left to be raised a thief on the streets and all you can say is interesting?"

The Mage shrugged. "Interesting that he created a kingdom to rule. Ambitious even..."

Bedivere hung his head in shame. "I have failed Uther. What sort of King will his son be now?"

It took The Mage a moment to realize Bedivere was actually expecting her to answer his question. She exhaled. "We are all of us more than the sum of our pasts," The Mage responded, remembering a time when Merlin had soothed the pride of a knight who had failed his Lord. "It was not a failing on your part. You had no way of knowing the boy had survived."

"I should have looked," Bedivere said.

"Had you done so you might have been caught, and would not be here to help guide him now. Fate has a way of making fools of us all," she said, quoting Merlin. She wondered what the old man would think if he heard her now, spouting off his prophetic whimsies when she used to get so upset with him for doing the same to her.

Bedivere nodded, looking slightly mollified by her words. "Safe journey. Bring him back."

~<>~

I really hope you are enjoying the story. It's so hard to get a new story started. Please like and comment!