"I'm sorry, Arthur. But you should know this, a king will do anything for their kingdom," Merlin says solemnly. He walks away from the group, nobody dares chasing after him, just watching. Anticipating. Wanting to know what is about to happen. Merlin turns around, walking backwards, watching them

"Merlin?" Arthur asks softly. Merlin stops and nods. He has a stone look on his face. Right before their very eyes, Merlin takes off. The group chasing after him to the top of the hill, watching as he ran, watching as he turned into a...

A wolf.

A beautiful black wolf. With impeccable speed.

He left, leaving King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, Percival, Elyon, Leon, Gwaine, Mordred, and Gaius confused on why he left. All they know is that Merlin got a letter, his face was happy one second, sadness, then anger came onto it as he crumpled up the paper in his hand and threw it on the ground and ran out. Anger was not a usual sight on their happiest friend.

"Well what are you guys waiting for? Let's go after him!" Arthur shouts after shaking out of his stupor. He immediately ran to the stables, ignoring the protests coming from everybody else. His knights followed after him, no hesitation. They got on their horses and took off, not caring that they have nothing on them.

As soon as they took off, leaving Gwen and Gaius behind, they followed the tracks. It felt like weeks, in what was hours as they chased the wolf that was Merlin.

Back at Camelot, Gaius and Gwen wanted to know what made Merlin react the way he did. They made their way back to the throne room, the place where he got the letter. Gwen walked in and picked up the crumpled up parchment.

Dear Myrrdin,

Hello, little princeling. Ephora is, and has been deteriorating, as you know. It is time for you to come back. We need you to come back. Your brother has been killed by Talos. You are the last heir. Come to the caves off the shore. We are planning to attack on the night where the sun meets the moon. I hope this letter gets to you, little princeling.

Your Dear Friend,

Eugine

"Gaius?" Gwen asked the physician as he walked into the throne room.

"Yes, your highness?" Gaius asked her.

"Have you heard of the kingdom, Ephora?" Gwen asked, still holding the letter that came from a crow.

"Not since before the Great Purge. It was a Magical kingdom. They thrived on it. It was known to be the home of the Ancient Ones. The Ancient Ones were thought to be extinct over centuries ago," Gaius informs her.

"What are the Ancient Ones?" Gwen asked, taking in this new information.

"Ancient Ones were human known to turn into wolves. Not like werewolves, they have no minds. Ancient Ones still have their mind and full control of their turnings, they can be full wolf or human," Gaius explains. "I've only heard of them from stories. Never thought them to be true. But what I saw Merlin do just now... I don't know what to think."

"I don't either," Gwen murmured before leaving to her room, worrying about Arthur as they rode out.

"What just happened?" Arthur asked as they stopped for the night, they have gotten far but it seems the track had continued far longer than they had gone. "Did Merlin really turn... into a wolf?"

"I'm just as clueless as you are," Gwaine muttered. "Am drunk and this is a hallucination?"

The group started to talk of what happened, why had he run out like that, and did he really just turn into a wolf? Surprisingly Mordred hasn't said anything. He looked deep in thought as soon as they settled.

Emrys? Mordred tried to call him through his mind. Emrys?

No answer. But what Mordred could hear, he heard panting. The sound of leaves and twigs breaking.

"... dred... rdred... Mordred... Mordred?" he heard someone saying his name, and tapping his shoulder.

"Hmm,"Mordred shook his head, turning his head to face with Arthur.

"Are you ok? We're going to turn in for the night. Leons on first watch. You should turn in, too, you seem out of it," Arthur tells him. Mordred just nods and turns to stare at the fire.

"You followed me," the sound of Merlin's voice swirled around Mordred in the blackness of his mind. "You shouldn't have. Go to the ocean, west of where you are. You will find a cave. In the cave you will find wolves. They will not harm you, ask for Ambrosius, say nothing else. Don't ask for the alpha. Just Ambrosius. They will take you to me."

All Mordred could do was nod as images of the ocean with pillars of rocks as they arched over each other, and the picture of a dark cave. He could smell the ocean from there.

"It is less than an hours ride from where you are. Hurry, my kingdoms new ruler is not a kind one."

When Mordred was woken up by Percival he got up and packed his things.

"Sire. I think I know where to find Merlin," Mordred came up to his king. He looked to him with his eyebrow raised.

"Then what are you waiting for? Let's go."

"Don't say anything. I have a... feeling of knowing what to," Mordred gulped and turned to the growling wolf. "Um, we're looking for Ambrosius."

The grey wolf stopped growling, now just glaring, but barked to a wolf in the back.