Hey! I'm sure I need not introduce this story too much,but I will say a few words anyway. Welcome to 'Saviour' the sequel to 'Captive' (at last). So after much deliberation and time, I decided to write this sequel. The next few chapters are all planned out and this should be up and rolling before you know it. As is the case most of the time with sequels, it is recommended that you read 'Captive' first before thoroughly indulging in this fanfiction. Enjoy this introduction, I am enjoying your company on this little jaunt immensely already. ~
- L.

2 months later

The young servant took the stairs two at a time, rushing with remarkable haste towards his master's chambers. His slow beginning to the day had resulted in a frenzied scramble towards the kitchen and now he had this race with time on his journey up the stairs. Huge oak doors came into the warlock's view as he reached the top of the staircase, stopping only for a second to catch his breath (which never lasted as long as he needed) before hurling himself through them. He looked on in dismay as he watched the prince (fully clothed) as he wrote at his desk (curtains open).

"Ah, Merlin. Nice of you to grace me with your presence," he called sarcastically, not looking up from his parchment. The servant rolled his eyes and shut the doors, advancing towards the sickening amount of laundry. He placed the shining platter of food on the dining table en route. It clattered as he placed it down with unnecessary vigur.

"Shut up."

"No, I have things to announce," Arthur responded, choosing not to reprimand the manservantiin favour of getting to the point. "Listen to me carefully, idiot – we have a trip to go on."

"A nice trip?"

"In some ways," the prince decided. It wasn't a lie, but then it was more of a false statement than a truthful one.

"Yay, disaster here we come," the warlock muttered, unamused. He made himself busy by straightening out the crumpled bed sheets. Pain swallowed his stomach up when he bent down, causing him to gasp sharply. He covered it quickly with an abrasive sounding faux cough. Arthur raised an eyebrow in his direction but refrained from commenting. Both knew the cough had been false, but Arthur respected Merlin's attempts to retain some pride after all that his master had seen.

"So I want you to saddle the horses. We leave at dawn," the prince ordered.

"Of course. Why dowe always leave at dawn? Why can't we leave at midday for once?"

"Because I like you to get up early and put in a nice day's worth of work."

Muttering something about Arthur not knowing what a 'day's worth of work' was, the manservant came up to stand next to him, reading over his script. He smirked slightly at the spidery scrawl and made to leave.

"Really, sire? 'We work hard and I know you know that we do'?" Merlin commented on his way out of the chambers. He closed the door into the nicely polished boot that would have hit him squarely on the head.

Laundry in hand, he descended the stairs and made his way to the kitchens, remembering an earlier request from Gaius for honey. Before he had the chance to fulfill the task however, he was stopped by one of his closest friends: Gwen.

"Merlin! I haven't seen you in days! How have you been?" she beamed. Her own laundry basket was half full and resting comfortably on her hip, which was clothed in a thick rose-coloured dress. She was the picture of health and happiness, a picture Merlin knew very well from wearing as a mask for so many days. Her smile brought one to his own face as he balanced his own laundry.

"Well, thank you. Let's not talk about me, though. You have much more interesting news: I hear you've started crafting jewelry?" he questioned, placing his own basket on the floor. The young maid blushed brilliantly, shaking her head.

"No, I made one wedding ring for Gina, that is all."

"Well perhaps you should begin. She was showing it off all day after it was finished, obviously very happy with your work," Merlin suggested. "I might even request some floral patterned necklace for myself."

Gwen laughed then moved the conversation back round to him skilfully. They stood in the hallway talking for a while before the young man finally remembered he had a task to complete He said his farewells to his friend (who insisted on taking his washing so he could rest, arguing that he works too hard) and continued on his way.

After retrieving the clay pot of honey he walked slowly and carefully back to his guardian's chambers. His calculated steps were due to his exhaustion and fatigue. Only three weeks prior to that day Merlin stepped from his bed for the first time since being placed there. He was steady on his feet again but he still felt the pain and suffered exhaustion, and to be truthful he was unprepared for the following day's trip with Arthur.

As his brown boots collided with the floor outside the door, he smiled lightly, hearing Gaius potter around inside. Two months ago he had never thought he would hear that familiar sound again, yet here he was. He had spent his days thanking each person in his head in turn, yet the list was so long he never completed it.