"Emrys! Where the devil are you, Em?" Gwaine Emrys, the son of the great sorcerer of Camelot Merlin Emrys, cast about the garden for his younger brother Arthur Emrys. Since King Arthur was ruling Camelot, that was one Arthur too many, and everyone just called him Emrys. Gwaine ran a hand through his black hair. How did his little brother disappear so easily?

"How many times must I tell you not to call me Em? It's Emrys." Gwaine jumped and looked around him. There was no sign of Emrys anywhere. Unless ...

Emrys flickered into sight. He and Gwaine were very close in appearance, though Gwaine was two heads taller than Emrys. Both had black eyes and black hair, though Emrys let his grow out a little longer than Gwaine. That usually just ended up making it so he had shaggier, messier hair than Gwaine.

Gwaine jumped back when Emrys appeared. "Don't do that to me!" he yelled.

Emrys grinned. "Do you like it? It's a new spell Father taught me."

"No. I do not like it," Gwaine bit off. "It's terrible. I could have died of a heart attack and it would have been your fault!"

What bothered Gwaine even more than his spontaneously appearing brother was the fact that Emrys had the ability to do so. Even though their parents were Morgana and Merlin, the only one to inherit any magic was Emrys. Gwaine was a regular person, not a sorcerer. And nothing bothered him more than that.

Emrys had the grace to look sheepish. "Sorry, Gwaine," he said. "I didn't mean to scare you. Say, what were you looking for me for?"

"Father says he's expecting visitors today," Gwaine said. "He wanted us to meet them."

"Oh, really?" Emrys looked curious. "Father never gets visitors. They're almost always here to see King Arthur."

"Not this time," Gwaine replied. "He hinted that they were old friends of his. More than that, he wouldn't say."

Emrys got a curious expression on his face, his brow furrowing in deep concentration. Then his face brightened. "I think they're here," he said. He grabbed the sleeve of Gwaine's shirt and dragged him along behind him. "Come on!"

Gwaine, his legs a good deal longer than Emrys's, quickly outpaced his brother. Emrys insisted on wearing ridiculously bulky robes that hung from his skinny frame and they often slowed him down. By the time Gwaine reached the gate, Emrys was several feet behind him, puffing in exertion. He sent Gwaine a dirty look, and he shrugged in response to it. Emrys may have had magic, but Gwaine was far superior to him in physical aspects.

There was no one there. The guards gave the two boys curious looks before hastily averting their eyes. Although Emrys was mostly quiet with everyone except for his brother, he had a bad temper if people made fun of him. Particularly after physical exertion. "Well?" Gwaine said. "Where are they?"

Emrys shot him an annoyed look. "How should I know?" he retorted. "I know they're here. Perhaps Father has already seen them off."

"I really doubt that," Gwaine began.

"Pardon me," a woman's voice said from behind them. The two boys swung around to face the petite, slim, blonde woman standing there. Beside her was a much taller, dark-haired man in armor. The woman smiled. "Could you direct me to Merlin Emrys, please?"

"Are you Father's visitors?" Gwaine blurted out. He had a more speak first, think later approach.

The woman's clear blue eyes swept over them, understanding dawning. "Are you his sons?" she asked.

"Yes, milady," Emrys put in, shooting a glare at Gwaine. The two were constantly at odds over what they considered to be the "proper" responses to certain situations. "I am Arthur Emrys, but you can simply call me Emrys. This is my older brother, Gwaine."

"I'm Rachel Andric," she introduced herself. Then she motioned to the man beside her. "My husband, Guy of Gisborne. I believe Merlin was expecting us."

"The resemblance is uncanny," Guy said in a low voice, his dark eyes focused on Emrys. Gwaine flushed. Because of their differences in height, he was almost never compared to his father. It was always Emrys who resembled Father so much.

Rachel glanced at Gwaine. "You both resemble him greatly," she commented. Gwaine ducked his head, feeling rather like she'd read him like a book. "Now, I am afraid that we're in a bit of a rush ..."

"Oh, of course," Emrys said. "Father is probably in his room. He spends a lot of time there."

Rachel looked uncertain. "It's been twenty years since I've been here last," she admitted. "Maybe one of you could take me there?"

Emrys and Gwaine exchanged glances, and each knew what the other was thinking. Merlin was renowned for being extremely guarded in the secrets he told people. There was something going on, and both wanted to find out what it was. "We can both take you there," Gwaine piped up. "Come along, Em."

Once again, Emrys glared at him, but he didn't say anything. They didn't like to argue in public. They saved it for when they were alone. "Yes," Emrys agreed. "If you will follow us ..." He motioned to Rachel and Guy.

Nobody spoke as the two boys led the Gisbornes through the castle of Camelot. Gwaine was considering the couple curiously; despite having been knighted a few months previously, he'd seen very little of the world. And somehow, he knew that Rachel and Guy were from far beyond the world that he had seen. Whatever the secret that Merlin was keeping from them, it involved magic. Otherwise, Emrys wouldn't have sensed the Gisbornes' arrival.

It only took a few minutes for them to reach Merlin's room. Contrary to what most people believed, it wasn't his bedroom. It was the room he'd occupied before he married Morgana le Fay, and it now doubled as both his study and a library. He spent most of his time there. Emrys walked boldly up and knocked on the door. "What?" came the rather annoyed response from his father.

"Father," Emrys said respectfully, "your guests have arrived."

The door opened immediately and Merlin looked out. His raven hair was rumpled, as if he'd been running his fingers through it, and his black eyes had dark circles beneath them. Both Merlin and Emrys stood at the exact same height—much shorter than average, particularly for a man. But a smile lit up his face when his gaze fell on Rachel and Guy. "You came!" he exclaimed. "My goodness, it must be nearly fifteen years now since I last saw you. For Will's wedding, I believe?"

"I wish I could say it was for pleasure," Rachel said grimly. "But it's not. Aphrodite is dead."

"I know," Merlin answered. "But it gets worse." He glanced at his sons as if he'd forgotten they were there. "Come in."

Gwaine and Emrys exchanged disappointed looks as Merlin let Rachel and Guy into his room and closed the door. Of course, they'd both been expecting that they would have to eavesdrop, but it was still a little disappointing. After waiting a few moments, Emrys then proceeded to lay his hand on the door. His hand lit up briefly before they both leaned their ears against the wood.

"—strange to see you looking older," Rachel was saying. "I keep picturing you as a teenager, not a forty-year-old man."

Merlin gave a laugh. "It would look a little odd if I went around with my sons looking like I was the same age as them!" he said. Emrys's spell was highly effective. Gwaine could hear their voices as if they were in the same room. "Still, it feels like I'm in somebody else's skin. It's not quite right. I always feel most comfortable in the body of a teenager. Probably because that's how I came into The Story."

Looking at Emrys, Gwaine mouthed, "The Story?" to his brother. Emrys shrugged but motioned for him to keep quiet. Thinking irritably that he'd mouthed the words so he wouldn't make any noise, Gwaine nonetheless put his ear back to the door.

It was Guy speaking now. "I do so hate to interrupt," he said, "but we came on urgent business. Concerning the death of Aphrodite."

"Yes, I was wondering when you would find out about that," Merlin admitted. "Nasty business. She's the second Guardian to die in a month."

"The second? Who was the first?" Rachel asked, looking startled.

"Oh, let me see ..." There was the sound of shuffling papers, followed by a "Aha!" from Merlin. "Found it. Let me see, oh yes, here it is. Morgiana from Ali Baba's Story. She was found murdered in the desert. Everyone assumed it was a surviving member of the Forty Thieves, but Aphrodite's death and recent ... things lead me to believe otherwise. Will was quite upset when he learned that Morgiana was dead, I can tell you. Apparently, she helped him grieve properly for Alan when he died in Cinderella's Story."

"You told Will but not me?" Rachel said, sounding insulted.

"Will was a friend of Morgiana's. I don't believe you and she ever met. And at the time, I thought it was an isolated incident."

"At the time?" Guy said.

"Well, now we have Aphrodite and the recent ... things."

"You keep saying that," Rachel said with a sigh. "What recent 'things'?"

"I may have had a vision," Merlin admitted.

"A vision of what?" was Guy's question.

"A vision that spells bad news for all of us," Merlin answered. All traces of his jocular tone were gone. He was deadly serious. Emrys and Gwaine shared concerned glances as they leaned forward, as if hoping that by becoming one with the door they would hear more. "I saw Nimueh speaking to Gothel. You know, Gothel—Rapunzel's witch mother."

"I know who Gothel is," Rachel retorted irritably. "But what about?"

Gwaine had never heard anyone speak to his father in such a way and not receive a tongue-lashing. However, apparently Rachel Andric was the exception. "Before I go on," Merlin said, "I must ask you how much you're willing to put on the line for this. To stop this."

"I don't understand," Rachel protested.

"Don't you remember Lana?" Merlin said, his voice hard. "Our children are at risk. When we agreed to keep The Story from our children after that, we thought it would protect them. But I have reason to believe they may be targeted. Rapunzel lost her hair trying to protect her daughter from a kidnapper, and I fear that may only be the first attempt."

That was concerning. But Gwaine was a knight of Camelot! Why should he fear a kidnapper? He was seventeen years old, not a child. Though, Emrys looked a little concerned. "Then I don't see how we have any choice," Guy said. "We need to end this before that happens."

"Then we're in agreement," Merlin said. There was movement very close to the door, and Gwaine felt the wood move from his ear as the door was pulled open. The two boys stumbled forward, looking embarrassed when they saw the raised eyebrow that Merlin was giving them. "Hello, boys."

"Hello, Father," they chorused sheepishly.

Merlin drew his sons into the room. "I suppose you heard all of that," he said. "I thought I recognized the spying spell you used, Arthur." Merlin was the only one who called Emrys "Arthur".

Emrys flushed. "Sorry, Father," he mumbled.

Merlin clapped Emrys's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry about it," he said. "I would have been disappointed if you hadn't listened, to be honest. But that just means I've got a lot to explain to you. Guy, would you kindly go and look for Morgana for me?"

"Morgana?" Guy sounded uncertain.

"Yes," Merlin said impatiently. "My wife, if you don't remember. A surprisingly good mother, actually. Now, shoo." He waved his hands at Guy, and with a dour look, Guy went.

It took a while for Merlin to tell his sons about The Story. Emrys was unimpressed, but Gwaine was filled with questions. It was probably Emrys's desire to impress his father that kept him from asking any questions. Gwaine had no such inhibitions. After a good deal of questions about the people of The Story and the Guardians, Merlin finally insisted that they conclude.

By that time, Guy had arrived with the tall, luxurious Morgana le Fay Emrys, Merlin's wife and Gwaine's mother. Her raven hair curled down to her waist, and her dark green eyes were piercing. She did smile when she saw Merlin and kissed him. Then she saw Rachel. "Lady Rachel Andric," she said, her eyebrows raising. "Oh, of Gisborne, I suppose, since you're married. I assume you've come because of the trouble?"

"Yes," Rachel said. "Have you talked to Will about it?" That question was directed at Merlin.

"No, not yet," Merlin admitted. "He's an amiable fellow, though. He shouldn't be too difficult to convince."

Rachel inclined her head in agreement. "Then you'll be sending your sons to Nottingham?" she guessed.

"Yes. Emrys, just in case, let me teach you how to make a Story door." He took Emrys aside to instruct him, and Gwaine silently fumed. What he wouldn't give to have magic ...

In short order, Rachel had entrusted Gwaine with a note to her daughter Eve, Morgana and Merlin had bid them farewell, and Emrys and Merlin had managed to open a Story door to Nottingham. With the note clutched in his hand, Gwaine anxiously eyed the door that appeared to lead to nowhere. "Are you sure this will work?" he asked, addressing his father.

"What, you think that just because I made it means it won't work?" Emrys said hotly.

"No. It's a door that leads to nowhere," Gwaine answered. "That's what concerns me, not whoever made it."

"Oh." Emrys looked embarrassed.

"We'll be back soon, lads," Merlin interrupted. He probably knew how long their arguments could last. "In the meantime ..."

"Eve isn't particularly fond of strangers," Rachel put in. "So treat her gently at first, or she'll probably try to stab you with the sword someone taught her to use." She sent Guy a glare. The man shrugged innocently.

"I'll bear that in mind," Gwaine said. "Good-bye, Father, Mother!"

Emrys looked sheepish and whispered a farewell to his parents. He didn't like public displays of emotions.

Then the two boys went through The Story door.