Woods Outside Camelot, Wednesday Afternoon

Hours, Arthur had spent preparing himself for a private chat with his father; the entire conversation itself had lasted scant minutes. He had known better than to press harder for the druids' women and children to be spared - Uther might have been under the influence of a troll the last time he opposed Arthur's counsel, but Arthur had gleaned some of his own lessons from that debacle.

When the choice fell between a druid camp and a bloody civil war, concessions had to be made. They hurt with every step he made through the forest, though, ached with every twig the soldiers behind him snapped.

But he was not out of plans, yet. It wasn't going to be enough, but it was going to be the best he could do, like saving a dozen others at the price of three dead druid sympathisers. With Merlin's aid.

"Not much further now."

Half to three quarters a candlemark's travel, at best-- for a heavy army. A single runner...

[[ ocd up! for he who knows who he be, OOC-okay. spoilers for 'The Nightmare Begins', Merlin 2x03 ]]