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The sea breeze picked up and Elyan questioned the validity of a brewing storm. Perhaps he should take Gwen's advice and dock the ship overnight at the next harbour.

Elyan was careful to steer the ship away from the famous jagged Death Crags that protruded out of the sea.

Many a sailor had met their end at the Death Crags and it seemed that yet another ship had recently joined the long list of wrecks. The scraping bedrock surrounding this area could shred a ship to pieces.

Although there was no evidence of a half-sunken vessel, cargo was bobbing in the water. No doubt most of it was already lying on the ocean floor.

Elyan had been looking out to sea, ensuring the path was clear, when he noticed a peculiar lump on one of the barrels.

He took out his spy glass to look closer and realised that the odd shape was an unconscious man, slumped over it.

"Man overboard, port side!" He bellowed. His crew scuttled to the left side of the ship.

The man was hoisted aboard. He spluttered water from his mouth. His slicked down hair was turned an ashy colour by the water drenching it. His shirt was bloodied, a waterlogged wound on his side had bled through the material of his shirt and stained it a rusty red.

"Lancelot," Elyan called. He looked around when he got no response. "Someone go and get Lancelot! The man's wounded."

The stranger's eyelashes were a wet coppery fan against his cheeks and beneath them lay dark circles, indicating his exhaustion.

The man stirred feebly, blinking those brilliant lashes open to reveal two bright blue eyes that were startling in his pale, ghostly face.

"You're safe," Elyan reassured him. "You're going to be alright. What's your name?"

"Arthur. Arthur-" He hesitated, swallowed. "Smith."

"Welcome aboard, Mr Smith."

Lancelot hurried towards them. "What is it?"

"We just picked him up. He's been in the water for what I'd assume is hours, going by how wet and chilled he is. He's just choked up half the sea and he has some kind of bleeding wound on his side."

"No," Arthur said suddenly when they tried to raise his shirt.

"Don't-" he groaned as the wet material was peeled back by Lancelot’s steady hands.

It was a short but deep line. It seeped red and looked painful. The salt of the sea must've made it feel even worse.

Arthur seemed exhausted and dehydrated. They'd have to ask questions later.

"Can you help?" Elyan prompted as Lancelot finished assessing his injury.

Lancelot nodded. "Yes, but he shouldn't stay exposed out here on the deck."

"You can use my cabin," Elyan allowed.

"Have someone bring him in, carefully." Lancelot advised.

Elyan decided to do it himself. He gently lifted Arthur and carried him to his room.

He lay him on his bed and left Lancelot to do his work.

"Wait," Arthur murmured. Elyan paused, lingering by the door.

"Thank you."

Elyan smiled and closed the cabin door behind him.

Arthur had screamed himself hoarse whilst Lancelot stitched him up. He remained out of it for the next few days, the lull of the ship made it easy to slip in and out of consciousness.

The bed seemed too hard and the light inadequate, a single low burning candle staved off complete darkness. He squinted to see. It was spacious and decorated with dark colours.

The faint sound of water sloshing. The smell of damp wood and ocean air musk invaded his nose and made his head spin. He felt drained, his face was a grey tinged pallor. His mouth tasted brackish and salty. His lips felt papery, his veins itched and his torso throbbed.

His chest was bare. Lancelot had removed his shirt to better access his wound.

"We've almost reached port," Lancelot told him softly. He'd been sat at the end of the cot. "Most of the crew will gather supplies. We may stay here for the night as the captain suspects a bad storm is coming. I will stay with you for now; you seem to be doing a lot better."

"What port have we reached? And what ship am I aboard?" Arthur asked, blinking to wakefulness. He didn't move for fear of undoing Lancelot's hard work.

"The Dark Raven."

Arthur stiffened. "I thought The Dark Raven belonged to the alleged pirate king?"

Lancelot smirked. "Ah, so you've heard of him. He's much nicer than his reputation leads people to believe."

Arthur took a moment to truly understand what Lancelot was saying. He was aboard the pirate king's vessel. The ruthless, blood thirsty pirate king. Tales of the captain were used to terrorise small children.

"I have to get off this ship," Arthur said.

"What?"

"I have to-" Arthur moved, sitting up suddenly and gasped. He flinched as his side scolded him for trying to move so fast.

Lancelot coaxed him back to lying down. "Relax. Elyan won't hurt you. Like I said, he's a good man."

"A pirate cannot be a good man." That lesson had been drilled into Arthur from a very young age.

"I saved your life, yet I'm a pirate. Does pirate have to equate to wicked?"

Arthur's breath was rapid as panic started to set in, his side burned with a hot fury. Breathing was agony, the rise and fall of his chest was torturous as it pulled at his side with every inhale.

"Where are we stopping?"

"The isle of Mora. We're on the outskirts of Camelot."

Camelot. Arthur shuddered and breathed through clenched teeth, not only the pain of his wound causing his heart to ache.

He needed to get off this boat. The harbour would be the perfect chance to escape, the ship would be moored and the crew would be busy doing their supply run.

"Land ahoy!" Someone overboard shouted.

"You need to rest," Lancelot said and gave him a stern look. Arthur lay back, feeling defeated. He watched as Lancelot left the room.

Once he thought it was clear to do so, Arthur rolled onto his stomach and very slowly eased himself up onto his knees. He bit his lip so hard it bled in order to keep quiet.

He'd got all the way to the door of the cabin when he realised the stupidity of his plan. He couldn't get off the boat here, the Isle of Mora was an offshore dominion of Camelot. The risk of getting recognized was too high. He'd practically be delivering himself to death's door if he were discovered.

He was much safer at sea, for now. He needed to put some space between himself and his former kingdom.

Muttering a curse, he stumbled his way back to the cot.

He'd just have to lie here and wait and watch his chance at getting off this dreaded ship slip by.

The waiting was almost worse than the pain.

Elyan was feeling quite cheerful.

He'd got a good deal on grain and other supplies they'd needed to stock up on and now he was spending that money on drinks at the Sailor’s Inn.

He'd even managed to swizz the harbour master out of some coin.

Gwen sat next to him in the tavern. "You know the point of saving that money isn't for you to spend it in here. Finance is tight at the moment and the weather is uncertain. The Seas of Meredor are vast; we don't know when we'll reach the next port after here."

Elyan swallowed down more mead. He wished his sister wasn't so sensible sometimes despite the amount of times her sense had saved his arse.

"I know. That also means this is the last chance for me to drink a tankard of good mead for a while. Let me revel for a bit."

"Alright." Gwen ordered a tankard of mead and clinked mugs with Elyan.

Speech like the babbling of water filled the inn, noisy and incessant it lulled the room. A loud voice rose above the chatter. It was someone from a few tables over.

"Have you heard? It's a dreadful tale." They began. "I'm sure we'll start feeling the effects of the new reign soon."

The person clearly realised he had a captive audience and continued on with his story.

Elyan turned to listen, as did Gwen. The rest of his crew were dotted about the inn and they all turned a keen ear. They hadn't heard any new tales in quite some time.

"It was been a dark and stormy night, not many weeks past."

Elyan tried not to scoff. The weather had been perfectly fine for months, perhaps a little cloudy by land lubbers standards.

The man continued, "When Agravaine DuBois, the brother of our dear Queen Ygraine landed on Camelot's shores. King Uther had banished him many years ago, but it seems he's been planning his revenge during his long exile. He snuck into the palace and slit King Uther's throat. The young prince witnessed it all but perished shortly after. Agravaine has usurped Camelot's throne and I suspect we'll be even worse off for it."

"Good riddance to the lot of them," Elyan contradicted. "Bastards killed our father."

He and Gwen chinked cups again in celebration.

But the narrator wasn't finished yet. "We have not lost hope. It's rumoured that the young prince did not die but escaped, carried away to another land in the dead of night and that he will recover to come back and fight for his rightful throne."

A small cheer went up, clearly Camelot's residents and those surrounding Camelot hated Agravaine. Elyan harrumphed, surely anyone was better than Uther Pendragon and his ilk.

A slightly drunk man approached the counter and ordered another drink. He caught sight of Gwen and leered, shuffling closer.

"Hello," he said. "What's a pretty girl like you doing in here?"

Gwen gave Elyan a sideways glance. He repressed a grin. He wouldn't want to be on the other end of Gwen's fury, the very few times he had been he'd barely escaped unscathed.

"Drinking," she replied curtly.

The drunk laughed. "Don't play, we all know why you're really here."

"Oh, why's that?" Gwen asked and finished the dregs of her tankard.

"To get fu-" Gwen smashed her empty tankard into the man's face.

"Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Say again?"

The man roared and flung himself towards her, only to be swiftly felled with a simple kick to the balls and a punch to the face.

Gwen sighed and watched as the chaos around her began; people would use any excuse to start a bar brawl.

They wouldn't be staying at the Isle of Mora for the night.

Arthur's sleep had been fitful but he was soon dragged back down to a blank, dreamless vacuity each time.

When he woke again, the ship was moving.

If he'd had any second thoughts, it was too late to act on them now. He rolled over and saw that Elyan was sat at his desk, reading over some maps.

Arthur always thought the pirate king would look ugly, or at least be a lot less beautiful.

Arthur shook his head.

Was this a fever delirium? Maybe the wound was infected. He stretched to look for himself and regretted it when black spots blotted his vision and made him grunt.

"Are you alright?" Elyan was hovering above him. "Should I get Lancelot?"

Arthur considered it for a moment, perhaps he'd be safer if Lancelot were here. Lancelot was loyal to Elyan though, so then it would be two against one should anything bad happen.

Arthur shook his head. "No, I'm fine. Why are we moving? I thought we were staying at the port for the night?"

Elyan smiled. "Ah. Unfortunately we were run out of town. They didn't appreciate our presence."

"What happened?"

Elyan shook his head. "It doesn't matter. He got what he deserved."

The ominous phrasing made Arthur remember that despite his kind face and soft smile, the man before him was the renowned pirate king and could very easily kill him. Especially if he uncovered Arthur's true identity.

"How did you get on that barrel? Why didn't your fellow crew save you? I mean, there was no shipwreck that we could see and no other survivors. It was just you. Not to mention the mysterious wound you have."

Arthur was aware enough to feel the air of suspicion he was being scrutinized with.

"I honestly don't remember. I think I must've hit my head when the boat crashed into the Death Crags. It's all a blank." It was a flimsy and transparent excuse but Elyan seemed to buy it, or at least settled for it.

"Well, rest up and recover. You'll need to prove your worth soon enough."

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked as Elyan went back to his desk.

"It's a long way until the next port and a storm is coming. We'll need all the help we can get."

Arthur seemed to take Elyan's words to heart and recuperated quickly. He was only bed ridden for two more days before Lance cleared him on the condition that he didn't do anything too strenuous.

Elyan decided Arthur should learn the ropes, the literal ropes.

"Storm’s coming. You need to know what you're doing; it'll be all hands on deck. Come on, get a move on."

Arthur hadn't been on his feet at all in days. He wobbled a little as he crossed the deck, feeling the strange heaving sensation under him.

"Land lubber," Elyan said, shaking his head.

"Pardon?" Elyan grinned.

"No sea legs on you. Yet," the last word held a threatening note.

Arthur bristled, and his hands felt rubbed raw as he heaved and hoed, twisting the ropes into knots and tying them to the correct places.

Elyan kept an eye on him for the first few days until he was satisfied with his work.

He had him practice on the ropes for hours until Arthur's arms shook from the strain and his calloused hands risked blistering. When it seemed like Arthur had done enough for the day, Elyan would give him a quick break and switch him over to folding sails.

Arthur hadn't had that much practice and less time to improve than even Elyan had assumed.

The storm was upon them.

The clouds were a saturated grey and thunder rumbled above them like the groan of a beast.

Sheets of rain washed down on them, making the decks slick and the crew wet. The ship rocked violently as the sea battered against it, slapping into its sides.

Blinking raindrops out of his eyes, Arthur pulled on the ropes. His fingers slid over the rope, he tightened it quickly, yanking it into submission.

Someone yelled on the other side of the boat, just audible over the thundering weather.

A tall man with cropped hair and corded arms was failing to fasten a knot, he grappled with it before the rope slid out of his hands.

The others around him were too busy securing their own ropes or too far away to reach in time.

Arthur ran to help but slipped as a particularly vicious wave slammed into the ship. He skidded and hit the deck with impact, sliding all the way to the other side of the ship.

He cried out as he felt the stitches in his side rip, he felt splintered. Arthur knew the sheer force that he'd fallen with would pattern him with bruises over the coming days.

He'd landed right under the rope, he reached up for it and gritted his teeth against the pain. He yanked it and the tall man quickly secured the ropes.

Arthur let his head lean against the side of the ship. He felt paralysed, felt like if he moved he might shatter.

The tall man kneeled down next to him, gripping the side as the ship was rocked by another harsh battering wave.

"Thank you! I'm Percy." He shouted to be heard. "You hurt?"

Arthur grimaced and squeezed his eyes, making a pitiful noise as he shifted. The pelting rain hammered against him but the cold didn't numb him. Minutes felt like hours, time seemed to pass excruciatingly slow. He sank down further against the ship, feeling enervated.

Percy said something to someone standing nearby, though Arthur couldn't make it out.

He'd started fading, his eyes drooped. The ship moved again, and his head pressed hard into the ship's side.

"Arthur." He blinked and Elyan was crouched next to him. "What's the idiot done now? Percy, help me get him inside. He's only just got off the sickbed. I hope we don't have a malingerer on our hands."

Arthur groaned. It was too dangerous for Elyan to single handedly carry him, what with the unstable surface churning beneath them. Percy carried his legs and Elyan had his shoulders.

Arthur tried to twist away from the feeling as he was stretched between them, jolted by each rock of the ship. He felt like a puppet and each tug brought him closer to the brink.

Percy was explaining what had happened as they lowered Arthur onto Elyan's cot once more.

"That was brave. Guess the lessons we drilled about the importance of the sails worked. We would've all been doomed had the sail flown away in the high winds, which it could've easily had he not got the rope."

Arthur wanted to protest, wanted to say he already knew that sails were important. He'd picked up one or two things when he'd been forced on an educational tour of his own navy. It was probably for the best that he passed out instead.

When he woke up the storm had ended and the sea had settled.

"You missed all the fun," Elyan commented sarcastically. "Glad to see you're finally awake."

Arthur had a feeling he'd been awake before, multiple times in fact, but it all blurred together into one string of unpleasantness.

Elyan came over, holding a cup. "Water, you haven't drank anything in a while."

"Thank you," Arthur rasped.

"Come, join me for dinner. Lancelot assured me you would be well enough to eat and to move about."

Arthur stuck a leg out of the cot and slowly got to his feet. He limped over and slid into the chair on the opposite side of Elyan.

A plate had been placed there. There were a few serving trays, filled with food that were all crammed onto the desk.

Elyan gestured for him to help himself.

Arthur plucked some grapes from a bunch and cut through the hard bread with a sharp knife.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine. I'll have to thank Lancelot for stitching me back up again."

"Yes. Quite a tale Percy told me, about how you valiantly came to his aid when he lost his hold on the rope. Others have confirmed it. It's a miracle you didn't hit your head or get thrown overboard." Elyan almost sounded like he was berating Arthur despite his admiring tone.

Arthur didn't mention that he had bashhed his head and instead looked around the cabin. A thought crossed Arthur's mind that he'd been too preoccupied to think of before.

He took a bite. "If I've been staying in your bed, where have you been sleeping?"

"Under my desk," Elyan replied, slightly abashed. "You needed the cot more than I did."

Arthur had never heard of a captain giving up his bed for the sick and wounded before. He contemplated what he'd been told about pirates.

"That was kind of you."

"Need you to be healthy again so you can continue to be of use. Should you stop being worth it, we'll leave you at the next harbour."

Arthur got the impression that Elyan didn't know how to respond to compliments.

He smiled. "Noted."

Arthur was given a hammock bed below decks. It was strange how easy it was to adjust from a large lonely bed to an unsteady hammock surrounded by others.

His heroic story was massively over exaggerated, as he pointed out many times only to be hushed by various people. The story had gained him a lot of people's favour.

The crew were inclusive and seemed to have warmed up to him. It seemed like he'd somehow proved himself.

Arthur felt a sense of belonging for the first time.

Arthur dined with the captain every evening, an unexpected but welcome event that slotted into his new daily routine.

Arthur enjoyed Elyan's company and found their conversation flowed as freely as the alcohol did. They played chess some days and others they just quietly enjoyed one another's company.

Pirates, at least these ones, had a strong sense of fairness. Theft was not permitted on board, and the belief in privacy and personal belongings was held strongly.

Meals were shared and the quality of food was equal. Elyan ate the same food as those below deck, the only difference was that he did so cloistered in his cabin.

On one of those evenings, both Arthur and Elyan had overdone the rum. The two had giggled their way to tears and ended up quite literally under the table.

They were pressed against one another, heads drooping.

Arthur felt hazy and relaxed. He started to nod off. Elyan shifted them so they were both lying down under the desk.

When they woke entangled, Arthur quietly extricated himself. He fetched a pillow and tucked it under Elyan's head before he returned to his hammock.

He felt groggy, it seemed like a punishment for indulging the night before. He'd would've fallen out of his hammock when the morning came if it hadn't been for Lancelot's fast save.

Perhaps he was still feeling the effects of the alcohol because he was thoroughly bewildered by the knowing grins and the elbow nudging from others whenever Elyan was around.

Arthur intrigued Elyan. There was a quality about him that Elyan couldn't place that drew him in. They discussed kingdoms and planned hypothetical adventures. It seemed Arthur was well travelled. He found himself opening up to Arthur during their shared dinners and actually making jokes.

It helped that Arthur was stunning, of course. The way he smiled when he beat Elyan at chess and the strange look in those azure eyes when he got lost in thought had burned onto the back of Elyan's eyelids.

Elyan tried not to set his hopes too high, Arthur might leave the ship the next time they docked. Although it seemed Arthur had made friends, he'd never expressed any interest in staying. Arthur wasn't a pirate and it was clear he'd never spent much time at sea.

Part of Elyan wanted them to never touch land again for fear of losing Arthur but he wouldn't put his fascination before his quest and he wouldn't keep Arthur captive if he wanted to leave.

Gwen had managed to avoid Arthur so far.

She wasn't sure what she felt about him. He was an interloper with a mysterious background who had her brother sleeping under his desk for a week. She had mixed feelings to say the least.

When Arthur noticed her, he seemed slack jawed to find a woman wearing trousers, suspenders and leather boots.

"You're wearing men's clothing," Arthur observed.

Gwen sighed. "Yes. It's not very practical to run around in a dress and a petticoat. Don't get me started on corsets."

Arthur floundered, lost for words. "No, I- I suppose it's not. I thought the Pirate King's crew were all cut-throat men."

"Guess I'm a cut-throat woman," she shrugged. "Problem?"

"No, no," Arthur had the sense to back off.

Elyan joined them and clapped Arthur on the shoulder, jostling him comradely. "My sister seems to have you tongue-tied."

Gwen huffed and went to check on the rigging.

"Just surprised. I've never met a woman like her." It was true, the court had been filled with traditional types of women who wore dresses and spent their time doing needlework and figuring out how to marry off to someone of good calibre and immense wealth.

"It's refreshing," Arthur said.

Elyan moved away from him, hand slipping from Arthur's shoulder. "Well, I don't have to warn you what will happen if you mess with her. She's the best knife thrower I've ever seen, she's never missed a target."

"I don't doubt it," Arthur shook his head. "But beautiful as Gwen is, she's not my type."

Elyan looked out the corner of his eye to see if Arthur coveted someone else onboard but instead Arthur was looking at him, refusing to give him a clue as to who his type might be.

Arthur's eyes traced Elyan's features. Elyan looked away.

"Alright, back to work with you. I'm going to see if I can find land."

Elyan hopped up to the quarterdeck and looked through his spyglass but he found his focus wondering.

He had been looking out to sea, searching for land, however his hand had slipped and now he seemed to be gazing at Arthur. He watched through the spyglass as Arthur bent down to tie the sail.

Someone cleared their throat besides him.

Elyan startled, then glared at his sister.

She gave him a look, her eyebrows raised. "Arthur's ass might be a fine one, but nonetheless it isn't land, and it won't provide our crew with food and drink. We're running low on supplies, we need to find land soon before things get dire."

A flash of guilt passed over Elyan's face. Hee looked thoroughly chastened.

Gwen gentled her expression and tone, looking out towards Arthur who was still doing his tasks, oblivious to the twin gaze on him.

"I've never seen you so enamored with someone," Gwen commented. "The crew have noticed too. Hard not to, you haven't exactly been discreet. Sometimes I think Arthur is in your cabin more than you are."

"They crew are already aware of my preferences," Elyan said offhand. Anyone who decided they weren't fine with it would suddenly find themselves adrift.

"They don't care that you like men; they care that you fancy Arthur and that you aren't doing anything about it."

Elyan's eyes narrowed. "How much did you bet?"

Gwen feigned a look of innocence. "Hmm?"

"You wouldn't bring this up unless there was a bet running and you'd put some money in. So?"

"Does it have to involve money for me to care about my brother's happiness?"

"No. I'm sure you do care about my happiness, as I care about yours. But I also happen to know you, so how much?"

Gwen sighed. "Five silver pieces. The stakes are high. You were supposed to kiss yesterday and you didn't, so I changed my time. I can't do that again, so bloody get on with it."

She bit her lip and didn't look at Elyan. "And I do care about your happiness. He makes you happy. You've smiled more in the past two months than in the past two years. I want that for you. And if you got your head out of your ass, you'd see that he wants it too."

She gestured with her head. Elyan followed her like of sight and realised that Arthur was watching them. Arthur looked away when he realised that Elyan had seen him.

Elyan felt his cheeks flush a little and noticed as other crew members picked up on what had just happened and gave each other furtive glances.

"How long has the bet been going on?" Elyan asked.

"Since you first brought him into your cabin. There aren't many people you'd do that for. We knew there had to be something about the stranger that had appealed to you to give him that liberty."

Elyan's blush deepened. "Yeah, okay. I get it, it's obvious. I fancy him, alright."

"At least you're finally admitting it. Now do something about it," Gwen implored.

"Alright, I will." Elyan steeled himself and started to walk to the bow of the ship, towards Arthur.

"What, right now?" Gwen asked.

"Good a time as any," Elyan called back.

"Land ahoy!" Gwen called loudly, stopping Elyan in his tracks.

The anticipation in Percy's face turned to disappointment. That explained the increase in the odd crestfallen looks from the crew. It meant they'd just lost the ongoing bet.

Gwen grinned at Elyan as she lowered the spyglass.

The crew bustled, preparing to dock. Arthur was dispersed among the madness.

It was the first land they'd stopped at in what felt like years.

Arthur remembered during the storm that he'd begged for land, prayed that they'd find a harbour soon so Arthur could get the hell off The Dark Raven and return to his normal life on land.

Yet when they finally docked, all Arthur could think about was being back at sea.

His gaze didn't fix on the bustling people or the distant green hills that he'd missed so terribly at one point.

His eyes were glued to Elyan. There was something arresting about him. Elyan looked magnificent at the helm of the ship. A red silk bandana adorned his head and a gold hoop in his right ear winked in the sun.

Arthur had never noticed the piercing before and now he just couldn't stop looking.

Elyan didn't meet any of Arthur's expectations. He was kind and thoughtful, he cared about his crew. He didn't fit the description for pirates that Arthur had been taught at all.

"You ready?" Gwen asked, marching past him. "Don't suppose you're any good at haggling?"

"At what, sorry?"

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Of course not, nevermind. Just stand there and look pretty."

That puzzled Arthur further. Percy snorted.

They spent the next few hours buying supplies and loading them onto the ship. Arthur had been carrying a heavy sack made of coarse, scratchy material. When he noticed Elyan and Gwen stood by the side of a tall building. They had a secretive look about them.

A woman wearing a hat with a feather in it met up with them and the three of them went inside.

They didn't come out for over an hour. Arthur was starting to worry.

He'd crept closer, ready to burst in for fear of the worst when the door swung open.

The woman in the hat looked straight at him and her eyes widened.

Arthur realised his mistake too late, he turned hastily and busied himself with picking up another sack of grain to carry onboard.

He watched as Elyan gave her a pouch of coins.

She nodded farewell to them and shot a last look at Arthur. Elyan and Gwen conferred quietly with one another over something before heading towards the ship.

Arthur lugged the last of the supplies on and tried not to let paranoia creep in. Who was that woman? And what did Elyan and Gwen pay her for?

They hadn't left the port that long ago and Elyan had already holed himself up in his cabin.

His crew had seemed surprised. Elyan had always been a very social captain, who was involved with his crew and the ship, but more and more he was withdrawing to his own quarters. He was sat at his desk again, pouring over his papers.

The secrecy of it all was wearing on him; he hated keeping secrets from his crew.

Elyan tried to suture the information the informant had given him with the lines on the map, assuming the feather capped woman was telling the truth. He wasn't sure how much faith he could put in the idea of a sea witch on a remote island but Gwen had pursued the idea.

This could very easily be a trap.

Although few knew what the pirate king looked like, the ransom on his head was large. He had to be cautious of who he confided in.

"Arthur." Elyan placed a much larger map of the north sea on his desk, obscuring the one he'd been reading so closely. "Is everything alright?"

Arthur had been tasked by the crew to go and check on Elyan, seeing as he hadn't come down for their tradition of sharing a meal after leaving the harbour. Last time Elyan had used Arthur as an excuse, saying he'd watch over him, in order to continue his work.

"The crew are worried about you. They said you haven't been as... present as usual."

"So they sent you?" Elyan tried to keep his voice light.

"Well I am still the newest, maybe this is an initiation thing. Brave the Captain's rage." Arthur smiled.

Arthur wasn't sure why they'd chosen him to be spokesperson either. Elyan had a feeling it was to do with the bet. The crew were correct though; he'd spent hours buried in paperwork and he'd ignored his other responsibilities, like the Harbour Meal.

"I've just been working on something," Elyan hesitated. "I'm looking for a small, mostly uninhibited island in the East coast. Known as-"

"The Isle of the Blessed. You're looking for the acclaimed sea witch?"

"You know it?" Elyan hadn't pegged Arthur as the superstitious type.

Arthur couldn't reveal the many exploits his father had taken to try and attain a cure for his mother when she'd started ailing. They'd talked to the best medical advisors. When none of them had a satisfactory remedy, Uther got desperate enough to seek a magical antidote.

"My father went looking for the sea witch once. Not in person, but he funded an exploration to the isle. They didn't find anything."

Elyan exhaled. "It's my only lead. I have to try."

Fear bloomed inside of Arthur, wrapping like vines around his lungs at the heart wrenching notion that maybe Elyan was searching because he was secretly sick like his mother had been.

"You're not..." He sought for the words to ask the question, shaken by the prospect. "Are you well? Are you seeking the sea witch for help with an affliction?"

At Elyan's puzzled gaze, Arthur felt himself redden.

"I'm quite well, thank you. I seek something else from the sea witch. I will not disclose what, for I am yet to see if it'll reap any results. I don't want to jinx it."

Arthur nodded. "Yes, I'll leave you to it then? I don't want to bother you."

"Your company is always welcome. I'd wondered if you'd return to the ship, part of me expected you to stay on land."

"I considered it," Arthur told him honestly. "But then I thought about someone- everyone really, that I'd be leaving behind and I realised I didn't want to go."

Arthur held Elyan's gaze.

Elyan was sure the loaded looks they'd been exchanging over the past few weeks weren't in his imagination. This was the perfect opportunity to find out.

Elyan twisted his ring around his finger, anxiously. "Arthur-"

The cabin door opened.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't realise you were busy. I need to talk to you," Gwen said.

Elyan sighed. Gwen's face brokered no argument, Arthur would have to wait.

"I'm sorry. I'll have to enjoy the pleasure of your company some other time, Arthur." It was a lovely dismissal but a dismissal nonetheless.

Arthur rose and Gwen closed the door behind him.

"What was that?" Gwen asked, taking Arthur's vacated seat.

"What was what?" He focused intently on the map.

Gwen let it slide, though she did smirk. "Alright. Down to business. What exactly are we going to ask the sea witch?"

"The location of the treasure."

Gwen rolled her eyes. "Obviously. I meant is there anything else? I doubt we'll travel all the way back to the Isle of the Blessed should you change your mind."

"Is this about Arthur?"

"Not everything is about Arthur, Elyan."

"Then I have no other requests. There's nothing else I want," Elyan replied candidly.

"What about the Pirate Coven?"

Elyan stiffened. This wasn't going when he had expected. "What about them?"

"Finding the the Cove would make you a more legitimate option for the Pirate King."

"We haven't found it yet, besides I'm already known as the Pirate King."

"The official Pirate King gets power over the sea."

"I already have power over the sea." Elyan's temper flared.

"No, Elyan. I mean-"

Elyan cut her off. "I know what you mean. And I've already told you, there's nothing else that I want."

"You're being stubborn," she accused.

"And you're being foolish." Elyan knew where this line of thought stemmed from.

"We won't find her, even if I did have that power," he softened his tone. "I'm sorry."

"You said you cared about my happiness, brother. It seems that was a lie," Gwen shot back.

"Gwen, you know what being the Pirate King would do to me. We aren't even aware of all of the consequences. I can't do it, I'm sorry."

"Captain," Percy greeted through the closed door. "An island has been spotted nearby."

"I'll be right there," Elyan called to Percy.

"The Isle of the Blessed," Gwen assumed.

Elyan stood and sheathed his cutlass. "Time to find the Cove."

There was something strange about the island, Arthur thought as the rush of waves lapped at the beach.

It looked normal: a flat stretch of sand curved around the island to create the broad bay, the sand was warm under his feet and sea birds flew overhead. Yet something niggled at Arthur, a repulsion that made him want to wade back out to where they'd moored The Dark Raven.

There seemed to be an echoed uneasiness in his fellow company.

They focused on hauling the rowing boats further up the shore. Two crew members volunteered to stay with them while the rest followed Elyan.

They moved sluggishly as if weighed down until they reached the spiky grass of the dunes. It poked into Arthur, prickling his legs as they moved further in land, heading for the trees just beyond.

Percy reached high, cutting away at the thick foliage to clear a path.

Elyan stepped forward and yelped as he was yanked upwards by his foot. He'd stepped in some kind of trap and he dangled uselessly mid air. He reached for his cutlass but it slipped from his belt.

"Stay still," Arthur told Elyan. "The rest of you stay alert."

Lancelot eyed the forest, hand resting on the weapon at his waist. Gwen looped brass knuckles around her fingers and armed herself with a bone handled blade and a small knife.

Arthur stretched to cut the rope encircling Elyan's ankle.

Unfortunately he didn't think far enough ahead and Elyan came crashing down on him. They both tumbled to the floor in a tangle of limbs. Elyan's knee pressed into Arthur and his weight pinioned him, squeezing the air from Arthur's lungs. His hands balanced on either side of Arthur's head, fingers digging into the floor to prevent their heads colliding.

Elyan groaned with discomfort and shifted, lowering his arms. He exhaled and his breath fluttered over Arthur's face, their mouths were centimeters apart.

"Are you," Arthur sounded breathless, he put efforts into not tilting his mouth forward, "okay?" He asked, turning his head to the side.

Elyan scrambled off of him, rolling away.

"Who are you?" Percy questioned.

Arthur's head snapped up to see the slim figure clad completely in black that Percy was addressing. She had riotous hair that was piled on top of her head. She looked almost ghostly, like some supernatural figure as she crept towards them.

She reminded Arthur of the shadows.

They weren't sure where she'd come from but there was a distant spiral of smoke coming from higher up the forest, perhaps she lived there. She just be an inhabitant of the island, based off her ramshackle appearance.

Her green eyes were wide. "I'm Morgana. Who are you?" She echoed. "And what are they doing on the floor?"

Arthur stood hastily, brushing himself off. "We're looking for the sea witch."

There was silence as the crew gave her an expectant look.

"Oh, I'm not the sea witch," she said, her hand covering her chest.

"You- You aren't the sea witch?" Elyan replied.

"No. No, no," she gave a small laugh. "You want Myrddin. He lives in that cave, just over there."

She pointed.

"Oh. Uh, thank you. I'm sorry for assuming-" Elyan stumbled.

She cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Happens all the time."

Elyan nodded and thanked her once more, then began to carve a path towards the cave. The crew followed suit.

Morgana looked deep into Arthur's eyes, a hint of recognition lighting them.

As Arthur turned to join them, he felt her grab his wrist.

"Be careful, little prince. You aren't in the clear yet," she warned and with a hard tug on his sleeve, she let go.

Arthur hurried to catch up with the others whilst rubbing his wrist.

How had she known his true identity? Or had little prince been an insult? There had been a flint in her eyes that made Arthur doubt that theory.

"Ah, you're all here!" The voice interrupted his thoughts.

An unruly man with large ears and an even bigger smile was stood at the mouth of the cave.

"I've been waiting," he said. "Please, call me Merlin. And come in! I so rarely get visitors. I even have the fine china ready in anticipation of your visit. I see you've already met Morgana, my neighbor."

"She's a bit of an odd one," he added and pulled a broken pocket watch out of his waistcoat briefly.

The crew loitered, unsettled, as they waited for Elyan's response.

Elyan seemed unsure himself, but he hadn't come all this way to be put off now. "We'd be honoured."

They followed Merlin into the cave.

Trinkets hung from the cave roof and time had carved out small indents into the space that Merlin used as shelves to store even more of his peculiar collection.

The cave had a cozy vibe despite the clutter.

Arthur was more than surprised to find it equipped with a lush chaise lounge and a large oak dining table that took up the majority of the space. There were no dining chairs, but a bunch of wooden stumps and other makeshift furniture had been made for their visit.

A tattered blanket had been folded up next to a ragged looking pillow on the chaise lounge. Arthur realised that was where Merlin slept.

They sat, hesitantly, and upon Merlin's insistence. The seats were close enough together that Elyan and Arthur's legs touched. Chipped, mismatched teacups and saucers had been placed before them. It was clear the crockery had once belonged in a fine stately home before they'd fallen into disarray.

"We're looking for answers about the Isle of Avalon. We'd like to know more about where it's located," Gwen ventured as Merlin served the tea from a humongous teapot.

"Is that what you're really looking for?" Merlin set the teapot down.

"It's said to be a very interesting island with something valuable on it," Elyan interjected.

Merlin shook his head. "Fortune’s fool. I hope you don't make the mistake that so many men do. Why go searching for gold when the real prize is right under your nose?"

Gwen's knee bounced. She was losing her patience.

"Indeed," Arthur replied, playing along with it. "The wealth of gold could never amount to the riches of the heart."

Merlin's eyes lit up. He took a sip of tea. "Exactly."

Gwen opened her mouth, so Arthur quickly cut in. "How long have you been here?"

"Oh I don't recall. Time is," Merlin waved his hand vaguely, "Foggy."

Arthur had seen some familiar titles when he'd passed the books earlier. "Is that a copy of John Dunne's poems?" He enquired.

"You like John Dunne?" Merlin clapped his hands, delighted.

He blinked and his eyes glowed gold. Elyan reached for a weapon and one hand shot out to grab the back of Arthur's shirt, as if to pull him away.

The book floated over to them.

Arthur had never seen magic before. He'd heard of its existence but he'd never truly thought-

The book drifted down to land in front of him.

"You were asking about the Isle of Avalon?" Merlin prompted.

Elyan loosened his grip on Arthur's shirt.

"Yes. We were wondering whereabouts it is from here," Arthur replied. He'd learnt from court that appeasing people was key to getting the information you seek.

"It's been some time since I've left this cave but I believe it's west from here. I have a book on it somewhere."

Merlin's eyes flashed again, invisible hands were pulling out each book then putting it back upon realising it wasn't what it was looking for.

"Aha!" Merlin exclaimed and a hardback book joined the Dunne poems. Merlin flicked his wrist, and the book fluttered open to the page about Avalon.

"Do you have a favourite poem of his?" Merlin asked.

"I like many of his poems but I like The Flea the best."

Merlin nodded. "Yes, very good. I think that is my favourite too. There is a map tucked in the next page. More tea?" he asked.

Everyone shook their heads, their cups had remained untouched and contained the tea from the first serving.

Arthur drew out the map and opened it wide so that Elyan could study it whilst he continued to talk to Merlin.

"There's no need to study it so," Merlin commented, observing Elyan. "I can make you a copy."

With the click of his fingers, a rolled up replica appeared in Arthur's hand.

Merlin straightened, alarmed. "Hurry, hurry now. Trouble is on the horizon."

Arthur hadn't even blinked and they were outside the cave again.

Merlin pressed his hand to Arthur's, quickly wrapping Arthur's fingers around whatever he'd placed in Arthur's palm. "For your beloved. To restore their kingdom and to help you find yours."

Merlin had already flounced off, giggling as he returned to his cave before Arthur could question his meaning.

"What was that about?" Elyan asked.

Arthur pocketed the trinket. "I have no idea."

The encounter with the sea witch had stirred some uncertainty in some members of the crew. By the time they'd got back to The Dark Raven, an argument had started.

The two soon came to blows about their disagreement and Elyan was embroiled with breaking up the fight. He also knew he needed to maneuver them out of shallow waters as soon as he could, especially after the minatory message Merlin has issued.

"Arthur, can you fetch my spyglass? It's on my desk."

Arthur went to get it immediately.

He picked up the spyglass and was about to head back when he noticed the Pendragon crest. He shuffled the other papers out of the way and picked up the chart.

It was a map of the Isle of Avalon, the Pendragon crest lay on the left hand side of the title. Cross marks dotted around the edge of the island's coastline, many of them had been scribbled out. One large cross in red with a small question mark next to it made Arthur's blood chill.

In tiny, cramped handwriting, that Arthur assumed was Elyan's, was the note: "Pendragon cove?"

That was the treasure Elyan sought? This was the reason they'd gone to the sea witch? The pirate king was after the legendary Pendragon fortune.

Did Elyan know Arthur's heritage? Had this all been a trick?

Is this what Morgana meant when she'd warned he wasn't out of danger yet?

Arthur shook his head. No, he refused to believe that. Refused to believe that Elyan had fabricated his interest in Arthur to lull him into giving Elyan his trust.

It was a lesser known part of the myth, but to get into the hidden cave to access the Pendragon Cove, the entrance had been enchanted to only open for Pendragon blood.

But what if that was why Elyan had let him stay onboard, because he needed him to open the cave?

Arthur was rocked out of those thoughts when the hulking frame of the ship shuddered. Arthur stumbled as another blow jerked the ship. He scraped his head against the sharp edge of Elyan's desk as he lost his footing.

He shook himself off and rushed up to the deck, spyglass in hand. Elyan had been making his way down to get Arthur. They nearly ran past each other.

"Arthur!" Elyan grabbed a hold of his shoulders. "Are you alright?"

Arthur had a red mark on his forehead from where he'd hit the desk. He rubbed the area.

Elyan's concern seemed genuine and the distress on his Captain's face somewhat relaxed him. Maybe he really didn't know he was harbouring the lost heir of Camelot.

"What's happening?"

"We're being attacked. A Camelot navy ship is firing on us. Find Gwen and Lancelot and take shelter." Elyan said, then rushed off to his cabin.

"Where are you going?" Arthur shouted after him.

Elyan came back a moment later, a rolled up map in his hand. He tucked it into his inside pocket.

"Come on, move it."

When they reached the deck, Arthur could see the direness of the situation.

They couldn't have been in a more disadvantaged position. They were in shallow water, having only just left the island, and they were facing the navy ship head on. They were unable to blast any canon balls back at them. They had no way to attack, all they could do was hope The Dark Raven could sustain this much damage.

Arthur watched, dismayed as hunks of metal bit into Elyan's beloved boat. People were cowering, trying to shelter themselves from the blasts. Elyan was still shouting commands, trying to ensure everyone's safety as best he could.

Arthur had an idea and a failsafe too, in case the first plan didn't work. The risk was phenomenal, he didn't know if Elyan would go for it but it might be the only chance they had.

Elyan dodged canon blast and came to crouch alongside Arthur and Lancelot. Gwen had hunkered down on the other side of the ship.

"What are we going to do?" Lancelot asked.

"I have an idea," Arthur said. "We can either abandon ship and wait it out on the island, but we may be worse off as the Camelot navy are ruthless in their pursual of pirates."

"Or?" Elyan incited.

"Or we can continue forward and fake surrender."

"Why on earth would we do that?"

"So that we can commandeer their ship."

"Are you mad?" Lancelot interjected.

"If it looks like we're surrendering, they'll bring us aboard. We can take over the ship and continue onwards to the Isle of Avalon."

"You are mad." Elyan was grinning as he said it.

Arthur shrugged. "It's that or swim."

Elyan felt hopped up on adrenaline, it bubbled in him.

Arthur grinned at him. A magnetic energy sparked between them, pulling them closer to one another. Elyan's eyes shone like two jaspillite gemstones, and his lips parted in expectation.

Arthur was tempted to reach over and press their mouths together. Lancelot cleared his throat and Arthur grabbed for Elyan's hand instead.

They made a run for it, sprinting across the deck to the wheel. They stayed ducked behind it, using it as a semblance of protection from the chaos raining down on them as they advanced towards the navy ship.

Lancelot set about spreading the plan across the ship. Percy rigged up the white flag as they neared; it rippled in the wind, a waving surrender.

The canons ceased firing.

A board plank had been erected between the two ships. The pirates were escorted onto the Camelot navy ship, The Beagle.

They'd concealed various weapons on their persons before handing themselves over.

The soldiers were too busy escorting them onto the boat to be holding their own weapons.

Arthur's plan was going perfectly.

Slipping their hidden knives into their hands and pulling their swords from their scabbards, The Dark Raven crew leapt into action, slashing and kicking at their captors.

Arthur threw his fist forward, and bone crunched under his knuckle. He kicked hard, his boot drove into soft flesh and the combatant doubled over with a choked noise.

Gwen had hidden her gilded knives in her jacket and her boots. She kneeled, retrieving them and swept passing soldiers' legs out from under them, sending them sprawling.

She threw her knives, one after the other. They arched through the air and hit their marks with a wet thunk. The targets staggered back and were engulfed back into the thick of the fray.

Arthur had just knocked the pistol from a soldier's hands when he was slammed into the side of the boat by another. His spine screamed and two fists pummeled his ribcage.

Arthur's heart pounded, he was weaponless. He tore at his attacker and headbutted him. He managed to push him off but the soldier retaliated, swiping at his face. The blade nicked just under Arthur's eye, drawing a thin line there. Blood welled from the cut. The soldier raised the knife, readying for the kill strike when Gwen appeared. She'd picked up the discarded pistol and rammed it into the back of the assailant's head.

Arthur nodded his thanks.

A soldier tried to take on Elyan from behind, Arthur shouted a warning to him.

Elyan whirled round and jammed a dagger into his shoulder. He shoved him hard and the soldier toppled over board.

Percy held someone in a headlock and flexed, waiting until the soldiers had stopped tussling to drop him to the deck.

Arthur pushed down hard until the soldiers leg gave way. Unbalanced, he crashed to his side and rolled away.

Arthur had underestimated the amount of soldiers on board. They poured out from the lower levels of the ship and flooded the deck, replacing those that the pirates had felled.

The crew were suffering; Elyan was suffering.

Gwen had used her last blade. Improvising, she reached for a lantern and smashed it over her opponent's head. The soldier howled and stumbled back before rearing into her, Gwen raked her nails over his face leaving red welts in their track. She struck him down but two more replaced him and attacked.

Arthur's plan was going terribly. He was out of bullets and the crew were fighting hard but not hard enough to overcome the innumerable navy.

The colour vanished from Arthur's face when he saw the scarlet smudge glistening under Elyan's nose and the shining knife at his throat.

Arthur didn't have a choice. It was time for the failsafe.

"Stop!" Arthur cried. "I'm the Pendragon heir. As your rightful king, I demand that you let them go."

The soldiers slowed their assault and the crew were stunned into stillness.

Elyan looked confused but Gwen’s eyes shone with something, not quite knowing but perhaps a suspicion that had been confirmed.

Arthur was quick to tell his tale, he needed them to believe him.

"Agravaine massacred the court. He slit my father's throat in front of me. I escaped to the harbour and got onto a merchant ship. I was discovered. They'd assumed I was a stowaway, but someone recognised me," Arthur couldn't help the bitterness in his tone.

"Half of the crew were loyal to me but the other half mutinied; they wanted Agravaine to claim the throne. They overpowered us. I was stabbed," Arthur lifted his shirt to show the healing pink line on his abdomen, "and thrown overboard. They also cut loose a bunch of barrels and other cargo to make it seem like a ship had run into Death Crags and wrecked."

Arthur looked towards Elyan, who was holding very still. "I should've bled out and drowned, but the pirate king saved me. Please, don't hurt them."

"Lower your weapons and you'll come to no harm," the officer said.

Arthur nodded at Elyan to do as bid. Having no other choice, the cree dropped their weapons.

They were taken down to the lower decks and shoved roughly into the brig.

"It was a good plan." Elyan sounded resigned. "Fast thinking too, you were very convincing with the Pendragon story."

He shook his head and sighed.

They sat quietly, recouping their strength. Many of the injuries sustained were superficial but Lancelot checked everyone over just in case. He said there was a chance the cut under Arthur's eye would scar, but Arthur was too wracked with anxiety to care.

The naval officer approached the prison bars. "We want proof. The Pendragon line has a hereditary scar, a little star shaped mark on their left shoulder. Show us."

Arthur felt Elyan tense, readying for another fight when Arthur refused to show the scar that Elyan didn't know existed.

Arthur leaned his forehead against Elyan's for a second and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"What? Arthur-"

He trudged over to the naval officer and pulled his shirt collar to the side, revealing the little puckered white mark.

The naval officer gaped. He'd expected Arthur to give in and admit that he was in fact an imposter.

"Your majesty!" He gasped and fell to one knee. Arthur could feel Elyan and the crew’s gaze drilling holes into the back of his skull.

"Now let us out," Arthur commanded.

The officer looked past Arthur to the others. "Sir-"

"Yes, all of us."

One of the soldiers fumbled with the keys.

"I'm officially commandeering this ship in the name of the rightful heir, myself."

"Elyan, will you see me in the captain’s cabin?"

Elyan felt stupid. He'd trusted Arthur enough to let him sleep in his cabin, to eat with him like an equal and that whole time, Arthur had been lying to him.

The betrayal stung but still couldn't overwhelm other, more powerful feelings that Elyan felt. He cursed his heart for its foolishness and his head for its gullibility.

Elyan scowled. "Don't really have a choice, do I?"

"I will never force you to do something you don't want to," Arthur replied. He looked at Elyan, trying to show through his eyes that he had a plan.

Elyan consented. "Fine. Nothing had better happen to my crew whilst I'm gone."

"You heard him," Arthur said. "Don't hurt any of the pirate king's crew. If you do it'll be more than your job that you'll lose, am I clear?"

As soon as they were in the confines of the Captain's cabin, Elyan swung round and backhanded Arthur.

The ferocity of the slap caused Arthur to stumble. He touched his hot, reddening cheek.

Elyan clenched his jaw and didn't look at all remorseful. He'd been kind enough not to hit the side with the cut.

"I deserved that." Arthur cleared his throat. "Now, please let me explain."

"I think you'd better," Elyan replied with an edge to his voice.

"I didn't plan this. I really thought we could beat them. I don't know what the Camelot navy are doing this far out, I suspect my uncle knew I was on your ship. He probably had spies at one of the ports we stopped at. I didn't think-" He shook his head. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you."

"Why did you stop the fight? If we'd had a few more minutes-"

"If I'd waited a few more minutes, you'd be dead. They had a knife to your throat and there were three men trying to take down Gwen. I felt like we were losing and I couldn't bare it if- if you'd died. If any of you had died. It would've been my fault."

Elyan's balled fists loosened. He thought about the cool blade against his neck and his sister struggling.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Elyan's voice was quiet, flat. The fury melted to disappointment.

"I'd mentioned something about my father once. Someone in the crew had jeered and laughed, I can't remember who. When I asked why they hated him so much, they told me that King Uther had killed your father. How could I tell you, after that?"

Elyan swallowed. The loss of his father was an ache that would never fully go away, like an old broken bone that flared up in cold weather.

He nodded. Despite his bloodline, Arthur was a good man and he wasn't the reason why his father had died. Had Elyan discovered Arthur's identity much earlier on, he doubted that he would've cared enough to spare him.

"You'll make a good king."

"I don't want to be king," Arthur replied.

"Then what do you want?"

"I think you know."

Their eyes met and Elyan felt a jolt at seeing those usually bright blue eyes gazing at him with dark pupils and lowered lids.

"But right now, I want to know why you're looking for the Pendragon treasure. I discovered the maps right before the navy tried to blow us up."

"You-" Elyan was preparing to slap Arthur again.

"Do you know?" The sharpness of Arthur's question stayed Elyan's hand.

"Know what?"

"To open the Pendragon Cove, you need Pendragon blood."

"No, I didn't. Although I don't see why it matters. In case you hadn't noticed we're stuck on a boat full of soldiers that we just beat the crap out of, they're hardly going to make a round trip to the Isle of Avalon. Why were you looking at my maps?"

"I wasn't, not intentionally. I'd been fetching your spyglass, and I noticed the Pendragon crest. I haven't seen it since I fled the palace." That same haunted look that Elyan had seen so many times before returned to Arthur's face.

Seeing the stricken expression, Elyan realised just how much Arthur had been through in a short period of time. The adjustments he'd had to make and the sudden, brutal death of his father in addition to the forced exile from his homeland must've been incredibly difficult.

Maybe he'd been too hasty in his conclusions about Arthur.

The haunted look faded, suppressed as an idea bloomed in Arthur's head. Elyan caught the glint in Arthur's eye.

"Why are you telling me about the Pendragon Cove?"

Arthur drew him close and told him his plan.

Elyan felt a conspiring look cross his features. "I see."

"You were in there a long time," the officer commented when Arthur and Elyan finally returned.

Arthur ignored him in favour of attending the crew.

"Are you all alright?" Arthur queried.

They grumbled, having not yet forgiven him for his deception.

"Did they hurt any of you?" Elyan questioned. They gave a clear answer. No, no one had been hurt.

"Is it just you three down here?" Arthur asked the naval officer.

"Yes, sir."

"Good," Arthur said then promptly punched him in the face. He hit him once more to knock him out. The others had taken initiative and took down the other two.

The whole crew helped to drag them into the cell.

"So, what's the plan?" Percy asked.

Elyan grinned. "We're going after the treasure."

"And how are we going to do that? There's more than 200 men on this ship. We can't possibly defeat them all. We already tried once," Gwen said in hushed tones.

"Yes, but we have Arthur on our side," Elyan pointed out. "He'll lure small groups of soldiers in whilst we hide in wait and ambush them. If some of you take their uniforms, you can trick other soldiers and corner them under the guise that they're needed by Arthur."

Arthur took over. "Similar scenario to what we'll do in the Captain's cabin, you draw them in and you ambush them. Try to keep the noise to a minimum. Once we've disarmed them all, we can throw them overboard. It's near enough that they can make their way to the island."

"Same rules as always: no death unless it's necessary," Elyan reminded.

The crew nodded.

"So we're meant to trust him even though he lied about his identity the whole time?" One voice piped up.

An uneasy silence passed.

Arthur had made an impression on the crew, which was probably why the deception had cut so deep. They'd considered him a friend.

"Yes," Elyan said, standing next to Arthur. "We don't discriminate on who can be a pirate. It doesn't matter that he's royal, he's one of us. I trust him."

Even Gwen gave Elyan an incredulous look.

One by one the crew mumbled their assent to the plan.

They split up into groups and divided the levels of the ship between them.

It was almost too easy.

"You four," Arthur said. "I need to see you in my cabin urgently."

They'd dutifully followed after him and Arthur had locked the door behind them. He got a hit on the closest soldier before the rest of his ambush team joined in.

The plan went smoothly. They repeated it a few times and were pleased as the numbers of soldiers stationed visibly dwindled.

Arthur called in the last batch for their level.

One of the soldiers had put a spanner in the works by pulling out a dagger and aiming it at Arthur the minute the door was locked.

"Agravaine is the true leader. He will bring us to glory," the soldier said and tackled Arthur to the ground.

The ambush started but Arthur was still grappling with his attacker. Arthur reached for a paper weight that had fallen off the Captain's desk to smash over the fanatic’s head.

He couldn't reach it. The dagger started to pierce through his clothes, Arthur felt the tip of it touch his skin. The perpetrator was trying to get to the same spot that Arthur had previously been stabbed in.

Arthur looked at the man's face.

"You," he whispered before the man was wrestled off of him.

Elyan straddled the man and repeatedly punched him. Elyan reached for the very same knife that had been used on Arthur. Elyan brought it down, stabbing the man in the same place where the scar on Arthur's abdomen was.

Arthur was stunned by the brutality of it but a darker part of him was gleeful. Poetic justice had been served.

It was time to see how the teams in the lower deck were doing.

The rest of the ambush party walked ahead of them.

"Thank you," Arthur said quietly.

"Don't know what you're talking about," Elyan replied. His hand brushed Arthur's. Arthur was quick to link it with his own.

"Thank you," he said again and squeezed Elyan's hand.

They reunited with the rest of the crew, who had done a great job of disarming and imprisoning the soldiers on their floors.

They looked at the cell crammed full of soldiers, some of whom were still passed out. Arthur couldn't believe they'd pulled it off.

"What now?" Gwen asked.

"Well, I had thought we could chuck them overboard but it might be easier to just go back to The Dark Raven now that we know this ship is basically disarmed and unable to follow us."

"You know I'd never leave The Dark Raven behind unless I had to," Elyan said. "I'd take her no matter what, though I must say she's in a sorry state at the moment."

Arthur looked at The Dark Raven and saw that Elyan was right. It'd take a miracle to fix the ship.

The trinket in Arthur's pocket sang. Arthur reached for it then laughed in disbelief as it hummed louder.

"What?"

"Before we left, Merlin- the sea witch gave me this," Arthur held it up. "I had no idea what it was for, I'd just assumed it was some strange memento he wanted me to have."

Arthur thought over Merlin's parting words and finally understood their meaning. For your beloved. To restore their kingdom and to help you find yours.

"I think this will restore The Dark Raven."

Gwen eyed the trinket suspiciously from her seat.

They'd taken two of the rowboats from the naval ship and made their way back to their ship. The planks securing The Dark Raven to The Beagle had been destroyed during the fighting and the two ships had drifted away from one another.

The rowboats loitered next to the ship.

The damage was extensive. The hull had been near obliterated. The mast had a large chunk of it missing and the main sail had ripped.

Arthur held the artifact up to the ship. After a few minutes of no visible changes, he shook it. Still, no result. He brought it close to himself and inspected it.

"Maybe there's an activation code or something."

"Or maybe you were wrong and we rowed all the way out here for nothing."

Elyan sent a glare toward the back of the boat, in the direction that the negative comment came from.

"Can I see?" Lancelot examined it, turning it around in his hand. There was a small inscription etched into the side.

He smirked and read: "Two hands entwined would be divine but better still, two hearts aligned."

The trinket shone, lighting up as if awakened but nothing happened to the ship.

"So, two people have to hold hands? That's it?" Arthur surmised.

A sly look cast over Gwen's face. "I think you and Elyan should both touch it at the same time. Put it in your hand."

She manually moved Elyan's hand over Arthur's open palm. Lancelot slipped the ornament between their joint hands.

The trinket shuddered in their grasp and exploded with light.

They watched in awe as a gleam of golden light softly lit up the boat, starting at the water’s edge and rising slowly to the top of the ship.

It healed the boat as it went; the hull was solidified, wood patching over it like invisible carpenters. The mast was restored and the main sail was replaced. It looked brand new.

His ship was back. His ship was back! Arthur had got his ship back.

Elyan turned Arthur's head and captured his lips with his own.

Percy gave a cheer and the others in the rowboat joined in.

Elyan didn't care; he was too busy luxuriating in the taste of Arthur's mouth. He'd waited so long for this. Arthur cupped the back of his head and drew him in closer, deepening the kiss.

They broke apart, Arthur's lips searched for one last kiss before they boarded The Dark Raven once more.

Elyan could barely peel himself away long enough to get the ship running, Arthur didn't seem eager to part either.

"Come on," Arthur said, giving Elyan a final kiss. "Let's go find the treasure."

"I've already found it," Elyan breathed and pulled Arthur into another long, sound kiss.

They broke apart, startled by the loud cheering from below deck. It seemed Lancelot had won the bet.

Elyan shook his head and grinned into Arthur's neck, amused by his perplexed expression. He'd have to explain about the bet some other time.

Elyan unrolled the map to the Isle of Avalon. It was smooth sailings, the weather was on their side and the waters were easy to navigate.

They passed Crab Graveyard and sailed around the sand bar. The horizon dawned before them, the high cliffs of the coast nutted into the skyline.

Instead of searching on foot, they sailed around the island looking for a break in the rocks.

Elyan spied a gap in the coastline. The indentation marked the entrance to the cove.

They anchored The Dark Raven and rowed out to investigate.

The rocks were treacherous and slippery, the group tread carefully.

Elyan was right. This was the threshold to the Pendragon's fortune.

Arthur grinned, exalted. "You found it."

"Please don't kiss again," Gwen murmured. Elyan laughed and gave Arthur a peck on the cheek just to spite her.

"Does anyone have a knife?" Arthur questioned.

Gwen produced a small, sharp edged dagger and passed it to him.

Arthur pricked his finger with it and drew a swipe of blood over the rock, smearing red along it. The rocks convulsed, one or two fell down and smashed. The crew stumbled back as the entrance yawned open.

A dark, dank tunnel led them down to the main chamber. It opened out to reveal the Pendragon hoard.

Ancient suits of armour and weaponry were also included in the treasure, diamonds and pearls glittered amongst the gold.

Expensive gems and thousands of coins littered the room, chests of riches and jewels shipped over.

They bagged as much of it as they could, pocketing silver, shoving coins down their boots and gems up their sleeves.

A small container with the Pendragon crest, hidden away within another chest caught Arthur's eye.

Elyan was busy with Gwen, who had jokingly placed a crown on Elyan's head.

Arthur approached the chest and pulled it out. He found it was locked. It was the only bolted chest in the cave.

Arthur felt determined to discover the chest's contents. He grabbed a gilded sword and wedged it between the lid, using it as a lever.

The chest trembled and gave way.

No sparkling valuables gazed back at him but rather multiple rolled parchments. He drew one out and realised they were important documents relating to Camelot. He skimmed through them and realised some of them held the secrets of previous kings and queens.

The circumstances of his birth would no doubt be among these papers. Magic had produced Uther an heir; he was well aware of the fact.

What he didn't expect to find was a record pertaining to the birth of another Pendragon child, born of Uther Pendragon and Vivienne Le Fay.

The child had been secreted away to an island at a young age, her name struck off and her existence hidden. Everywhere except here, in a locked box buried in a cave that was nearly impossible to open.

Her name was written in ink at the bottom.

A hand touched his shoulder. "Arthur, are you okay?"

Arthur tried to school his expression but failed.

Elyan crouched down, seeing Arthur's distress. He cupped his face, stroking a thumb against his face. "What is it?"

Arthur clutched the document and looked up at Elyan.

"I have a sister."

He closed the chest. "This changes everything."