I am the Keeper (Prince Arthur and Merlin)

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur had made his decision, though the thought of betraying his father still pained him. He did not like this; not one bit. But he knew he would forever regret it if he did not help this boy. He would never regret saving him, even if he was caught. Arthur had gathered a saddle and such, putting it in the stables, as he did not want to prepare one single horse. Knowing Neav's devotion with them ran deep, he would let the boy select one, even if it was from the Prince's selection. He knew -- from seeing Neav work -- that no horse would be in better care than with the boy. Once that was done, he hurried back into the castle, stopping at his bedroom for a quick moment as he pulled out a cloak from his cupboard. It would keep the boy warm.

Arthur noticed his dinner sitting there as well. Without giving it a second thought, he wrapped up the bread and vegetables into a cloth pack, making sure it was securely tight. Furthermore, he poured some water for him so that he could carry it along. If Anhora was indeed his grandfather, then surely he would look after him. But that man was so elusive, Arthur did not want to send the boy to his death by depriving him of food and water. It would take long enough to get out of the kingdom. He grabbed the things and then headed back to the dungeon, being as quiet as he could, pulling out the keys from his belt. He peeked around the wall, noticing the guards were asleep, and decided that it was now or never.

He then began to walk towards the dungeon . . . when he saw something. Or, someone rather. He should have known. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he saw Merlin standing in there with Neav. How long had the idiot been in there?! Arthur didn't say a word, he opened the cage and glanced at both of them. He then tossed Neav the cloak and pack of food and water. "Follow me," he said in an authoritative voice, turning around as soon as he said it. He was referring to Neav and well, Merlin too since he knew his servant would probably just follow them anyway. He did not wait or turn to see if they were following. If he wanted to get out of here, then they had to move quickly, so Arthur just continued to walk with his back turned to them, saying nothing while doing so.

[neav]

It probably was a good thing that Neav did had not realised Merlin's magic, but he still felt a little foolish about it. After all, he had known that Emrys was in Camelot; he had just never thought to look for him, to try and seek him out.

But Merlin (as he said he would rather be named) was right also in saying they had to leave before the Prince came back. Neav nodded, grinning when he also mentioned the guards. It sounded like Merlin had magicked them asleep.
"Yes," Neav agreed. "We have to - "
He broke off suddenly, fearfully, hearing footsteps on the stairs. And in that terrible way people have of arriving just when they are not wanted, Prince Arthur of Camelot entered.

Neav stared at him, horrified. To worried even to wonder what the Prince might be carrying...
His eyes flickered to Merlin and then back to the Prince. Would Emrys be threatened too now, for trying to help him? Neav could not stand for that to happen...
But though the Prince's face was as hard as before, he suddenly threw the items he held at Neav. The boy caught them automaticly and then stared in wonder. He held a traveling cloak, water and a small bundle of food. He glanced up at the Prince, hope shining in his eyes.
He is going to let me escape!

It became even more clear as he walked away with the command to follow him. Neav caught Merlin's hand because he still very much wanted him to come, whispering
"He is letting me go free! I thought his heart must have become the coldest of stones, but he is letting me free!"
And he ran to catch up with the Prince.

[pie]

Merlin has begun to reach forward to grab Neav's hand and quickly pull him out of the cell so that they could leave, when he heard the footsteps from the hallway. His heart seemed to skip a beat, pounding in his chest painfully as his eyes shot open. Who could that possibly be? He needn't ask the question, as he knew already. Arthur. What was he going to say to the Prince? Would Arthur be angry?

Click. Click.

Even if they were faint sounds, to Merlin they couldn't seem any louder. He took a deep breath, steadying himself, as he had chosen this course and didn't regret it. He would do anything to protect Neav now, even if it required to use magic to escape Arthur and Camelot. If treason was required... Then so be it.

Click. Click.

The sounds seemed to come slowly to Merlin, as if everything was moving at a slow pace. Yet only seconds passed, he knew. This time, he turned around, his gaze set and locked in a determined look. And there stood Arthur. He wouldn't say anything until Arthur did.

To say the least, he was surprised when he saw Arthur toss the pack and cloak to Neav and ordered them to follow. So... Arthur was going to help, then? He couldn't stop a small smile from pulling across his lips. It calmed his nerves tenfold that Arthur didn't plan on letting an execution happen either.

He looked at Neav when he grabbed his hand, and still smiled more. "Yes, it appears Arthur isn't as cruel as we thought!" he whispered back, and hurried after Neav and Arthur.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur did not speak to either of them. He just kept walking, and his familiarity with the castle and security of it enabled him to lead them both out of the dungeons rather quickly. Everyone was asleep; the place was practically abaoned . . . say for Arthur, his partner in crime, and a child fugitive. Arthur just kept having to move forward because he knew if he stopped for once second, he would start to have second thoughts. He already felt an extreme sense of guilt for betraying his father like this . . . and yet, somehow, it was not enough to stop his actions. He felt that he was doing the right thing, even if it was in direct disobedience to his father.

When they got outside, Arthur first led them to the stables. There were saddles rested on the side, and he knew Neav would take only a few seconds to prepare the horse. "Take one," Arthur said in the same monotone voice he had been addressing him since the moment he arrested the boy. This was his way of saying to choose one, and as Neav showed extreme loyalty to them all, he knew it would be difficult to select just one friend out of the many. But still. One was better than none, was it not? Arthur took a few steps outside the stable, allowing Neav a moment alone -- though Merlin may remain -- to select which animal he wanted, and to give him a chance to say a quick farewell to them all. Could he truly communicate to them, now that he revealed he had magic in him. Arthur did not know how deep these powers ran; and there was no point asking now.

[neav]

If Neav had not had someone to follow, he would have been lost in a moment. He was not familer with the castle at all, and all these twisting turning ways made his head spin. He kept having to break into a skittering trot to keep up with the long legs of the Prince, and kept glancing back over his shoulder because he was afraid they would be followed.

And then suddenly they were outside. Night-time sounds and smells washed over Neav senses. The breeze danced in his hair as if to welcome him and scold him for hiding away inside. Neav closed his eyes and sighed. He would never go into a stone room again as long as he lived.
Then he had to run to catch the Prince once again.

It was only a moment before they were standing outside the stables. Each horse, either sleeping or awake, knew he had arrived. Their whispering greetings ran through his mind.
Neav's breath caught in his throat as he realised that he would have to leave all his friends.
But not quite all. For the Prince, in his same strange expressionless voice, ordered him to take one.
Neav stared in shock and it was a shock with three parts. At first he was shocked because not only was the Prince letting him free, but he was also allowing him to take - to steal, in fact - one of his precious horses. Second he was shocked because how, oh how could he possibly choose one from the many? It was like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. Impossible.
And the third shock... the third was because he realised that it was not impossible at all. In fact, the was only one horse that he could possibly choose.

Neav placed the things he carried on the stable floor. Then he lightly ran to a stall at the end of the stable. Inside stood a palomino mare.
"Celendine," Neav whispered her name. Some of the horses were older than he was. Some he had seen being born, had gentled them and taught them to understand the language of the riding knights. Some, like Gillyflower, he had saved from a certain death.
Celendine, named such for her butter-gold coat, had been with them only a week. She was naturally nervous and shy and though she trusted Neav she still believed every human to be a predator... Neav was what would happen to her if he left her here. Those stable hands would try and beat the understanding into and Celendine would never learn that was, and then she would be labled 'bad' and killed for meat.

He opened the door of her stall and she followed him out. Neav needed no saddle or bridle. He paused where he had left his things and fastened the heavy traveling cloak. Then he grabbed a travel-pack from a shelf and placed the food and water inside.
And then he stood very still. Every horse was quiet now. They knew something was about to happen. Neav closed his eyes. He knew he did not have long.
I am going. He told them through his magic. I am going... I must join another herd. But you shall be protected. And he detached small threads of his magic, connecting one to every horse in a silver spiderweb. If they were ever in trouble or pain, he would know.

There was no time for anything more. He walked from the stable and Celendine followed, shimmering like a ghost in the moonlight.

[Arthur Pendragon]

It did not seem to take long for Neav to emerge from the stable, leading his selected horse. Arthur had been keeping a very close watch on the guards, making sure that they did not attract any unwanted attention. He was hiding the intense paranoia he was feeling right now, for he knew that if he was caught . . . it would be a bad situation for all of them. Neav may be immediately killed, and Merlin would be severely punished. But thankfully, none of this seemed to be happening. For Neav came and it would only be few seconds before he left.

Arthur watched him, his expression softening a bit for he knew this would be the last time he would see him. "Do not return to Camelot for some time. I fear the fate that awaits you here for the time being." he told him. His voice was not demanding, but rather, it had become less stern and filled with genuine concern. When Arthur was king . . . he would not let Neav be killed. Well, granted the boy may not be a child anymore by then, but still. "I wish you the best of luck Neav. And be safe in your travels, wherever they may lead you." This was farewell.

[neav]

Neav stopped in front of the Prince and Celendine halted behind him. Her head was lifted, alert. She smelled freedom in the air.
Neav looked cautiously up at the Prince. He had set him free, given him the chance to 'steal' Celandine, but... he did not say he had forgiven Neav. He still acted as though the boy had done him a great wrong and Neav did not want to leave while the Prince was still angry with him. He wanted him to be proud, wanted it with all his childish heart.

He opened his mouth to speak - and saw Prince Arthur's face grow a little softer. He listened to his words. Then he smiled, ice blue eyes filled with hope and freedom.
"Thank you for saving my life." Neav hesitated a moment... and then suddenly wrapped his arms around the Prince in a sudden hug. It only lasted a moment before he sprang back, more than a little embarrassed and vaulted onto Celandine's back.
"The Keepers will never forget what you did for me," he continued. And then... then he said something that he ought not to have said. His grandfather had told him many stories - stories of the past and stories of the distant future. Neav knew that he should never repeat any of it, least of all to a mortal like the Prince... but somehow he could not help himself. The Prince had done so much for him. Neav wanted him to know that he would do something in return.
"I will be on your side in your last great battle. This I promise."

Then he twisted to face Merlin, leaded close to whisper so that the Prince could not hear.
"I will never forget this, Emrys." Meaning he would never forget the way Merlin had helped him... unaware that a very different boy had spoken just those words, with a terrible meaning behind them.

[Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur was a bit surprised by the hug, so he sort of awkwardly put his arms around the boy, the fact that this would be the last time he ever saw him, slowly sinking into him. Or maybe not. Perhaps one day he would return . . . as his words that followed gave that slight impression. But still. Arthur did not wish him to be here while the laws against magic were so strict. The assurance that the keepers would never forget this . . . was comforting indeed. He knew Anhora was a powerful man, and so the fact that they had in some informal way, allied themselves with these magical sorcerers -- as contradictory as it was -- gave Arthur a strange sense of relief.

He gave a nod to Neav, in response to practically everything he had said. How did one truly say good bye to a friend? There was no way really . . . no way that would fully encompass its meaning and impact. A great battle. While Arthur was unsure if its meaning, he did not question it for time was of the essence, and something they were greatly lacking. "I hope to see you again . . . some day." He said, taking a few steps away from the horse so that he could ride off. It was a true statement for even the Prince did not wish that this would be the last time he saw Neav, despite his lies -- as they were understandable -- Arthur still felt he was greatly loyal, hence the reason he would not accept his father's judgment and severe punishment.

[neav]

Neav gave on last smile, hesitated on a moment longer. The moon shone down, dancing off the palomino's coat and reflecting in Neav's eyes. Already those eyes seemed different... they held pictures of winter days and wild horses, and a slow and silent sunrise. He had been given freedom. He would haunt the forests and speak with the unicorns. He would become who he was born to be.

And suddenly, though no sign from Neav could be seen, the mare sprang into a canter. The Keeper's strange magic coated her hooves so they made no sound against the stones.
Neav left Camelot by a little back gate. There was no one to stop him. He and the horse raced over the grass, swift and silent as twin ghosts. They entered the forest.
Neav called with the part of him that was connected to his Grandfather.
Vaari! Vaari! There was trouble. Please let me come home!
And the answer came whispering through the trees.
Welcome, littlest and best. Perhaps next time you shall listen to wise words.

Neav was with his grandfather, Keeper of the Unicorns. He was home.