Disclaimer: BBC Merlin is too awesome for a mere mortal like me to own. But I do own my lovely OC's. Well Redding isn't so lovely, but he's still my fault.

A/N- Yes I did change the summary a bit. Even though there are lots of reviews, there wasn't too many hits so I felt I needed to try and reel more people in!

So a HUGE thank you to: Kitty O, pawthorn, Arisprite, agent iz hyper, Griffinesque, sarajm, Drakan722, ShiverMeFunzies, WolfAngelDeath, joosj, Kez26, TeganL74, HighEmpress, and Rocky181 for reviewing. Thanks so much guys!

And thanks again to Drakan772 for beta-ing!

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The next day Merlin had a shadow named Lancelot. He didn't mind exactly- it meant that he had company during his every day chores. But the knight knew him far too well and left him alone only to use the privy. And even then Lancelot would keep up a steady stream of conversation as if he was afraid Merlin would disappear in a puff of air- which the servant found terribly awkward. Technically Merlin couldn't magically travel yet, but Lancelot did not believe him.

"You know," Merlin mused, "if you wouldn't mind fetching Arthur's armour for me." Merlin's eyes were slightly narrowed unbeknownst to him.

Lancelot frowned. "So you can run off and search for Redding? I think not."

Merlin resisted the urge to huff. "I wouldn't do that," Merlin tried and had to laugh when Lancelot looked at him disparagingly. The dragonlord rolled his eyes after the knight continued to stand guard in front of the door to the physician's chambers.

"Ha!" Gaius laughed from where he was collecting more medical supplies. "So I suppose I was arguing with myself last night, when I wanted to use myself as bait?"

Lancelot immediately stared disapprovingly at him.

"I can take him!" Merlin said incredulously. "I mean, I have got something he doesn't."

"Yes," Gaius snapped, "lack of a brain! He is dangerous, Merlin."

"Not more dangerous than me," Merlin maintained.

Lancelot intervened before Gaius could make a disparaging remark. "Either way, my friend, you are not searching for him alone."

The physician immediately turned a stern gaze toward him while Merlin started to grin. "You're coming with me then?"

Gaius fell into disgruntled silence as he listened to the two younger men. "No. You are coming with me," Lancelot pinned Merlin with a severe stare. "I say when and how we do this, and you must listen."

The smile on Merlin's lips faded and Lancelot could see he was forming his argument, so the knight continued before the servant could get going. "Either you agree to this Merlin, or I will tell Arthur of your intentions. And then it will not be just me watching you."

Merlin still looked rebellious, so Lancelot said his final piece. "Swear it to me. Please." The servant sighed through his nose and could not keep back a scowl.

"When are you planning on finding him?" Merlin asked instead of agreeing.

"Tomorrow evening, when the sun goes down."

"But who knows how many more fires Redding can start?" Merlin appealed like Lancelot knew he would. "What if I don't see it in time?" He instantly broke off to stare into space thoughtfully.

"Absolutely not Merlin," Gaius scolded, "I know what you are thinking and it would be immensely difficult."

"That has never stopped me before, Gaius."

Lancelot looked to Gaius curiously and the physician answered his unspoken question. "He plans on making it rain all day. Correct?" The old man directed a raised eye brow to his unashamed ward.

Merlin self consciously lifted his chin. "I can do it. I don't even need to think about it."

"Merlin," Gaius tried in a gentler tone. "As much faith as I have in you, do you really think that you can keep a spell going day and night?"

Merlin thought for a moment. "I'll do it in my sleep," he answered half heartedly.

"How about we see what tonight brings? And then we can choose our course of action?" Lancelot put forth.

Merlin sighed. "Alright."

So they would wait.

And they waited.

And nothing happened. Night had covered Camelot in darkness, and morning came again without mishap. Merlin looked through the window of the prince's chambers half expecting to see dark ribbons of smoke. But the only thing his eyes saw were the puffy white clouds frolicking in the turquoise sky. "Do you think Matthew was just acting alone then?" Merlin asked while scanning the rooftops.

Arthur answered after swallowing a hastily downed breakfast. "I have to assume he isn't. He is insisting that he has been but..."

"Redding is probably involved," Merlin finished with a frown.

"Yes," Arthur said and stood up, wiping his chin with a kerchief. "I'm going to question him myself right now."

"In the dungeons?" Merlin asked while trailing behind the prince.

"Where else?" Arthur scoffed, not registering the reluctance in Merlin's voice. He was too busy reflecting over the interrogation he had planned to notice the dragonlord's silence. Merlin followed him like Arthur trusted him too, but the warlock had doubts about traveling to the cells. He steeled himself throughout the entire walk and only when they were making their way down the final staircase were his reservations proven right.

Merlin frowned as he inexplicably started to sweat. His stomach twisted in trepidation and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end when he noticed the cooler temperature of the lower levels. He followed Arthur down the steps until they reached the guards. Merlin took one look past them and his feet decided to adhere themselves to the floor. He could see the narrow, dark corridor leading to the dungeons and the cold glittering of the bars of a cell.

Merlin remembered that he hadn't been in a cell in three months and looked as the shadows seemed to grow darker, imagining a horrifyingly tall figure standing in the gloom, an ashen white hand reaching out. Closer, closer, closer, clos-

"Merlin?" Arthur's voice snapped him out of his fears and he jumped. The prince started when his eyes met Merlin's spooked ones. Merlin flicked his eyes past Arthur to the guards, wiping his clammy hands on his trousers. He only felt small relief when the guards were paying no attention to him. He looked back at Arthur and opened his mouth, but could not utter a word. Dryness scratched at his throat and he averted his eyes when he realized he was trembling.

He immediately spun on his heel and forced himself not to run. Arthur's stare burned the back of his neck though the sensation was most likely from his embarrassed flush. A torch flickered out as he past, just in time for Arthur to see him jump and pick up his pace. Merlin balled his hands into fists, trying to defy the fingers of darkness reaching out to-

No, the dark was harmless, Merlin repeated to himself. As he climbed the stairs his eyes met Arthur's for a fraction, and shook his head when the prince made to follow him. "I forgot to polish your armour," Merlin lied for the benefit of the guards. He successfully kept his voice steady but knew Arthur wasn't fooled in the slightest. Merlin climbed the stairs faster, his eyes searching for a threat in the shadows that was not there. A breath of relief escaped him when he made it to the ground floor and he kept his legs firmly in check and did not run.

Merlin found his way to a window in a haze of building panic. And only when his face was warmed in sunlight, did he deflate. His elbows rested on the stone ledge and he bowed his head in shame- punching the wall in anger. Merlin fought to get his trembling hands under control and he thumped the wall again. The side of his fist connected in a smack and Merlin's eyes darkened with fury.

"Merlin!" Elyan's voice called out after the knight turned a corner. He ran up to Merlin with a frown marring his face. "Do you know where Arthur is?"

"...In the dungeons," Merlin replied flatly after getting a hold of his voice.

Elyan hesitated upon hearing his tone and registering his pale complexion. "Alright, someone tried to set fire to one of the wood stores. I need to tell him." The dark skinned knight frowned at the lack of time before starting for the dungeons. He would have wanted to ask Merlin what was bothering him, but he had his duty to take care of first.

"Wait!" Merlin called and matched pace with the knight. "I'll tell him. Every knight should be searching for the one responsible."

Elyan nodded and clapped him on the shoulder. "Thanks Merlin, don't let the prince work you too hard now." He left with a smile that Merlin did not return.

The dragonlord set a swift pace back to the dungeons. He would not be cowed by some juvenile fear. He would not be a coward, and he would not let Driscoll affect him from the grave. He climbed back down the stairs and made strong strides forward- Merlin did not see the guards avert their eyes apprehensively from his own blazing ones for his goal was firmly in mind. He swept past the dark cells and barely got a handle on suddenly overwhelming nostalgia. Merlin made his way toward Arthur's level voice even as a musty scent entered his nose, the smell of a disused cell, whiffs of mouldy air whistling through gaping cracks in the fortress and to the drafty dungeon. He ignored the slight pinpricks in his shoulders and stings on his wrists from the shackles, the warm lines across his chest, and the wrongness trying to crawl through his veins.

Merlin turned a corner and the sight of Arthur staring into a cell banished those phantoms. He still smelled the draft of the dungeon, but this one he knew was akin to Camelot's. The prince looked back and hid his surprise upon seeing Merlin, blinking at the intensity in the servant's eyes. "You're needed elsewhere," Merlin told him, and did not hear the hardness in his own voice.

Before Arthur could think to reply, a voice from the cell cried out. "You!" The man's voice was aghast. Merlin took a few steps to peer past Arthur into the cell, looking at Redding's servant with still hard eyes. He recognized the man as the servant in the horrible yellow livery that announced Redding's arrival to Camelot what seemed like years ago. Merlin's jaw clenched, suddenly over sick of threats.

"Me," Merlin said evenly. "...I know your master is here in Camelot. And I assure you he will be found. And he will die for his crimes."

If Arthur wasn't in control of himself as he was, he would have gaped at this strange Merlin.

"Not if he finds you first," Matthew grinned impishly. Arthur glared threateningly at the man who confirmed his questions and one fear.

And then Merlin smiled. It took both Arthur and Matthew aback, and the shackled man hesitated. It was not a warm smile. It was cold and grim. But most of all, it was ready.

~/0\~

The flames in the grand fireplace warded off the chill in the air and brightened the room. Darkness was falling once more in Camelot to the particular ire of the prince. Arthur grabbed a blanket from his bed and brought it to his servant. Merlin was sitting motionlessly in a chair, staring at the flames with dull eyes. He had forgotten his and Lancelot's plans for the knight, and the knight certainly did not remind him when he had seen Merlin's face when he and Arthur left the dungeons. The prince laid the blanket over Merlin's shoulders, and frowned when Merlin did not even twitch. He grabbed another chair, and dragged it closer to Merlin before sinking onto it and studying the flickering shadows dancing over Merlin's angular face.

A sigh escaped his lips and the comment making its way out of his lips finally had Merlin looking at him. "I could just slap you upside the head."

Merlin blinked and frowned, causing Arthur to feel relief that his expression changed. But he did not let Merlin jump to the wrong conclusion. "You have nothing to be ashamed of, you idiot," Arthur told him strictly.

The servant snorted, seemingly regaining a drop of energy. Merlin bent forward and pulled the blanket tighter across his shoulders. "I'm pathetic," he said, "like a silly child afraid of the dark."

"Nonsense," Arthur growled emphatically, "Merlin, you are afraid what lies in the dark. And frankly, after what happened to you, you would be a fool not be."

Merlin just shook his head and sighed. "I shouldn't be afraid."

"Being afraid is nothing to be ashamed of," Arthur said and leant forward so his elbows were on his knees, to be on an equal level with Merlin. "And you came into that dungeon anyway, that takes courage. Never forget that you are the bravest man I know."

Merlin blinked at him before adopting a small smile. "Who are you? And what have you done with Prince Arthur?"

"Good question!" Arthur declared and ruffled Merlin's hair roughly, earning a loud squawk and swipe from the servant. The prince laughed and seized Merlin in a head lock, swiping his knuckles across the warlock's scalp.

"Ouch! Stop!" Merlin futilely tried to pry Arthur off him. "Arthur, come on! Hey!" Merlin sent a punch to Arthur's gut- light enough to not hurt too much but firm enough to surprise him into letting go. He couldn't resist laughing as he sprinted away, making the mistake of looking back to see Arthur running after him.

"You'll pay for that!" Arthur called just before Merlin managed to open the door. The servant let out an unmanly laugh when he succeeded in slamming the door in Arthur's face. Unfortunately, he did not get far before the prince caught up with him. Merlin ended up being hauled along to Gaius' chambers in a headlock; both able to laugh out loud away from the eyes and ears of Camelot.

~/0\~

It was the following morning, two hours before noon when the next fire broke out. Arthur was leading a patrol, and they were nearing the city. The prince had arranged for himself to lead the group but had Merlin in behind with Cadmon. He cast surreptitious glances back at them, wanting to make sure the oldest knight was having a talk with the servant. The corners of his lips turned downwards when he seen that Merlin's mouth was not opening and closing at a rate that was healthy. Cadmon's patient green eyes met his and the knight dipped his head toward the forest. Arthur nodded and ordered Cadmon, Lancelot, and Merlin veer to the east and walk alongside them at a distance.

Arthur did not go far, and he led the group slowly. Gwaine griped about leaving Merlin behind until Percival made a comment about mother hens. Gwaine then started flapping his arms but elected not to make clucking noises because he was a knight of Camelot on patrol after all. Five minutes later he stiffened on his horse, and called out to the rest of them. Arthur followed the direction his finger was pointing and narrowed his eyes at the smoke peeking through the trees. He clicked his tongue and urged his horse into a gallop toward where Cadmon, Lancelot, and Merlin should be. Arthur was calling out to them and met up with the three men quickly.

Their faces were alarmed and their eyes on guard. "What is it Arthur?" Lancelot asked. He was a ways in front of Cadmon and Merlin and scanning the trees at the prince's back.

"A fire. Large, judging by the smoke, close to the city. Come on," Arthur stated and turned Aldieb toward the city, kicking her into a run. But before she even got to a gallop, the previously clear skies darkened and rain poured down when thunder rumbled across the clouds. The rain made it difficult to see and was worse than any storm the previous days. He looked curiously at the rain and turned around to squint at Merlin, keeping the budding suspicion from his eyes.

Merlin was peering through the storm with slightly raised eyebrows. Both Cadmon and Lancelot were rigid on their saddles and staring straight ahead. The prince fancied that they were avoiding looking at Merlin, and he quickly turned his head back around. He was relieved when none of the other knights were looking back at his servant and his brow furrowed. Arthur wondered about how Merlin was a dragonlord with mysterious powers no person alive knew about, but he shook his head to banish creeping suspicions. Though the fact remained that every time Merlin noticed that there was a fire, a storm would miraculously appear. Arthur could not help but find that odd.

When they got to the source of the fire- barely a mile outside the city gates, they found Aldwin and Gerrick among a group of knights who were carrying unused buckets of water. Many were scratching their chins and ducking their heads against the pounding rain, and some were even dumping their buckets on the blackened ground just for something to do. Fire had burned a clearing in the forest and the area smelled of the smoke that was streaming off of the dead trees. Gerrick stood up from kneeling next to a fallen, burnt tree, holding up darkened fingers. Merlin glanced quickly at the sky while everyone's attention was on the knight, and whispered an incantation to stop the rain.

"Pitch was used this time," Gerrick frowned, "it must be Lord Ass, he always was a sneaky bast-"

"How did he get his hands on pitch?" Gwaine asked scathingly. "Someone needs to up security."

"With what men?" Arthur spat.

Merlin cut in before an argument could break out. "All these attacks seem random," he mused, "last time he was fairly orderly." His comment earned glares from Arthur, Aldwin, Gerrick, and Cadmon. As well as Gwaine and Lancelot who had heard of the story from Eadric. Percival took it upon himself to send the servant a sympathetic glance which was returned with a bright grin.

"I will go back to Camelot and organize a search party," Arthur said to them, all with a slight edge in his voice. "The rest of you pair off and look for tracks. Merlin, with me."

The prince and servant set off at a gallop, and the knights quickly did as Arthur bid. Aldwin made a bee line for Cadmon, and the two hurriedly set off toward the other side of the clearing. The oldest knight glanced up at the others searching through the clearing. Only Gwaine speared them with a discontented stare before Lancelot got him to help.

Cadmon looked back at Aldwin who was giving him an expectant glance. He didn't know why Arthur had chosen to tell him what happened yesterday with Aldwin in the room, but he would hazard a guess that the prince was relying on Aldwin to keep up his already keen watch on the servant. "He'll be fine, Aldwin," Cadmon told him quietly.

"But it isn't normal Cadmon! Not for Merlin! He always bounces back. After everything! I mean, it has been three months! He still isn't the same!" Aldwin burst out, quite obviously relieved to have spoken his mind.

"You forget Morgause was there. Dark magic was used."

"But the dragon healed him!" Aldwin hissed.

"He got rid of it. He could not heal what already was done. A dragon could not fully heal him. Aldwin, I do not think you realize how powerful the magic must have been. We are lucky that he is not even worse," Cadmon spoke clearly.

"Well how was he today?"

Cadmon sighed. "He needs to get used to the fact that recovering will take time. These kinds of scars take time to heal."

Aldwin glared at the ground heavily. "Well we need to find Redding. Who knows what the man has planned."

"Revenge it seems," Cadmon said lowly.

"Unfortunately for him revenge is on my mind as well," Aldwin said menacingly. Cadmon looked after the younger knight with a frown on his face. At Cadmon's next words of advice, Aldwin lifted his dark eyes to meet the older knight's.

"Revenge helps no one Aldwin. It is not so sweet as it smells."

~/0\~

Redding was furious- another one of his attempts failed! He stared at the cold grey sky and ran his nails down a nearby tree, relishing the feel of ripping off the bark. A scowl was painted on his face as he thought; his patience for causing mischief was waning. He did not know how none of his fires spread and he personally did not care. It was now time to exact his revenge. The thought caused a cruel smile to pass over his lips.

Redding pushed his lank ginger hair behind his ears, and pulled his hood over his head. Sneaking back into the city proved all too easy in the chaos of the started fire. Disappointment filled him for a moment that more of the forest hadn't burned down but was quickly overshadowed in the wake of his excitement. All too soon would he be watching Merlin burn. Redding would wait until the servant made his way back to the physician's chambers. And if he was escorted, the former lord would try again another night.

~/0\~

Shadows danced eerily through the streets of Camelot, casted against the silver moonlight. A figure crouched beside a short stone fence, waiting until the sleepy guards walked past. When they did, he slunk toward the closest broken down house. Merlin paused and stared at the window, which was a hole in the wall, squinting because he had trouble making out the shapes in the darkness. Sudden fear drenched him as he recognized there was a figure looming inside it. He sucked in a sharp gasp and then stared at the empty space. Merlin stayed where he was for a moment unmoving before he forced out an uneasy laugh.

He cursed his imagination and then carried on with what he set out to do. The servant scurried under the rickety scaffolding holding up the roof and placed a long hand against a beam. Merlin had seen it enough times to be able to use his magic without seeing anything. With a few muttered words, the structure became firmer. He had no mind for construction but with magic he didn't need to. The wood beneath his fingers groaned as his magic worked to fortify the scaffolding but a different sound had him jumping like a startled cat. It sounded like a rustling of a cloak and Merlin searched around for the source. When he found nothing, he wasn't surprised. Merlin frowned and decided to call it a night.

He soundlessly made his way back toward the street, wary of any guards. Sounds of heavy boots walking across the cobblestones alerted him to a patrol and he just vaulted behind a pile of timber before he was in their sight. When they passed, his eyes nearly bugged out of his head- it was Hadwyn and Cadmon walking by, and Merlin just remembered that Arthur had more knights patrolling the streets. Since he had no wish to deal with Hadwyn telling on him if he made himself known, or Cadmon lecturing him, he did not stick out his neck and scare them. Even if it might have been great fun. So when they walked out of his sight, he stealthily crept out of his hiding place. When he flattened himself against a wall of a wooden house, he breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled content in the fact that he was safe. But Merlin barely got a moments reprieve before a shadow darted in the corner of his vision and a cloth was being pressed against his face. His magic flared up in defence but flickered out when strong fumes overpowered his senses. Merlin was only able to make a muffled shout when his eyes rolled back into his head and darkness swept over him.

~/0\~

Giddy laughter resounded faintly in the small, broken down building. The house sat in the lower town, on the edge of a row of homes. It was one Redding picked out when he had first snuck into Camelot- it was partially destroyed when Cenred's army took the city and was deserted. Which suited his needs perfectly. The former lord could not believe his luck- he was resigning himself to another uncomfortable night of hiding from the guards when he caught sight of Merlin sneaking toward the lower town. The young man had walked right into Redding's clutches, and it had only been too easy to subdue him. He used his old handkerchief, one with his family seal on it and left it on the streets, drenched in a chemical his servant concocted. When this house burned down, the cloth would be the only signature. And it would burn, Redding thought with a smile. His mud brown eyes scanned the murky trails of pitch he had smeared throughout the room, following it to the unconscious figure tied to a wooden beam.

Merlin sat slumped against the support, his head bowed with his chin resting on his chest. A thick rope was strapped across his shoulders and tied to the beam behind him, and more was tightly trussing his wrists together. Redding giggled and skipped to the servant, sending a sharp kick into his ribs. Merlin cried out and his eyes flew open, looking around frantically until they settled on Redding. The former lord's smile got wider as the warlock took time to rifle through the muddled fog in his head. Realization darkened Merlin's eyes and they narrowed. "You!" He growled and tried to get up. He looked down and noticed the rope binding him to the beam behind him. Merlin's head gave a vicious ache and he groaned- the scent of the handkerchief was still in his nose and it made his vision swim and his stomach churn.

"You have no idea how long I've waited for this, boy," Redding said softly.

"This will be your last mistake, Redding. You will pay for your actions," Merlin spat, forcing his anger to rise over his nausea. If Redding was in full grasp of his sanity he might have had the good sense to be fearful of the aura emanating from Merlin. But he could not see it, due to the film of madness covering his eyes.

"Oh no, this is going to be my last mistake," Redding purred. A wild grin stretched over his face as he sauntered over to the far side of the room and crouched down. "I shall be going down in a blaze of glory, you however..." Redding brought out a flint and Merlin's already pallid face became paler.

"No!" Merlin yelled as the flint was struck- bright fire sparked to life and caught on the flammable pitch. Redding sprang backwards and ran to the doorway, turning and waiting. "You fool!" Merlin shouted and the sound rang painfully in his head. The heat of the rapidly spreading fire caused sweat to break out on his skin and black smoke started to fill the room. Merlin's head swung from the laughing Redding to the fire, the action itself causing him to see double.

"Scréadan þæt hrðpan," Merlin hissed only to see stars when pain lanced through his head.

Redding's smile faltered and he frowned. "What are you doing, boy?" He demanded.

Merlin did not even glance at him, the smell of fire and smoke was stinging his eyes and nose, creeping into his throat. "Scréadan þæt hrðpan!" The tightly wound rope snapped off in a loud crack and Merlin meant to jump up, only to slide sideways onto the floor. His shoulder hit the ground when his bound wrists failed to steady his weight. Merlin wished he noticed that before, but had no time to free himself.

"You're a sorcerer," Redding gasped and then dissolved into coughs because of the twisting black smoke filling the room.

Merlin forced himself onto his knees, flinching when the heated wood stung his hands. He cried out when the flames surged forwards, leaping up the walls and onto the ceiling- surrounding him on all sides in a blistering inferno. Panic engulfed him, like the swelling smoke confined in the room with nowhere else to go. The heat was stifling, it stung his skin though the fire never reached him as if blocked by a barrier- making it hard to breathe and even move. Merlin's mind was frozen, with fear and the chemical that was still fogging his head. He was trapped and it was worse than a cell, he may as well have been tied to a pyre.

Screams of pain from Redding mixed in with the man's mad laughter, the blistering heat, and the suffocating smoke spurred his magic to erupt. Merlin's stormy ocean eyes blazed a gold brighter than the fire and he did not hear the thunder overhead due to his hacking coughs, the hissing flames and crackling wood. And then a dangerous splintering came from the ceiling, forcing him to dive out of the way when the beam behind him crashed to the floor. It was deafening in the small room and more sounds of a crumbling building were added to the chaos. The warlock could no longer hear or see Redding, and darkness was creeping in the corner of his vision. Desperation gave him strength though and he blindly made his way forward, not knowing where he was going- his watering eyes were forced shut to ward off the stinging smoke. The fire burned hotter around him, his gasping coughs stuttered in pain as his unconscious barrier moved with him. Smoke invaded his mouth and nose, choking him- slowing his way. Merlin miraculously found the window, only realizing he was outside when the howling wind and rain replaced the heat of the fire.

He gasped in the cold air, doubled over coughing on the soaking dirt and shivering violently in the rain. He was soaked through already, still in darkness because his eyes were stinging too much from the sharp smoke. The driving rain beat his body like sharp pebbles, the water running over him in waves. It, along with the roaring thunder and incessant flashes of lighting flaring in front of his eyelids that kept him from giving into exhaustion. As well as the throbbing fear of being crushed by the building behind him. But Merlin could not get his hands to find purchase on the ground- his wrists were still tied together. The realization caused a fearful jolt to pass through him but then the glorious sound of desperate voices echoed faintly in his hearing. Numerous hands were then hauling him up by the shoulders.

Merlin tried to get his feet under him as he coughed, but the lack of air made his already fuzzy brain waver. His legs dragged beneath him, and the heat from the burning building got farther away, making him far colder than he was already. Whoever was pulling him finally eased him to the floor, and he was suddenly fearful of losing his figurative legs, so he fastened his hands on a drenched sleeve. His aching throat did not do much more than cough when he tried to talk to Arthur- he knew it was Arthur- and sudden dizziness made Merlin unaware of everything around him, including his bound wrists. The cold bit through him, and he finally sank into warm unconsciousness.

~/0\~

Frantic knocking pounded on the wooden door, startling Arthur out of his sleep. The prince just got out of his bed when Cadmon burst through the door. "Redding has made his move!" The old knight panted, skipping the introduction. He snatched one of Arthur's shirts off the dressing screen and threw it to the prince.

Arthur caught it and put it on as he strode forward and he did not need to waste any words on telling Cadmon to elaborate. "We found this on patrol," he said quickly, walking swiftly out the room after Arthur had pulled on his boots. The knight presented a handkerchief which Arthur recognized- and he smelled the comatose inducing chemical in the rush of air when Cadmon passed it to him. It was Redding's seal. Fear made his stomach twist.

"Merlin?" He asked immediately.

"Hadwyn is checking on him now," Cadmon said.

Arthur growled and the bad feeling he just became aware of got worse. He set out at a jog to the courtyard and the older knight kept on his heels. They came to the courtyard to find Hadwyn already running across it. The youngest knight's face was grave and he called to them as he slowed to a jog. "Merlin's gone," he gasped.

Arthur cursed under his breath while Hadwyn forgot himself and asked the question that was on everyone's minds. "Where do we begin?"

"Sound the warning bell," Cadmon hissed. His dark jade eyes were staring at the sky above where the lower town was. The moon illuminated meandering coils of smoke, and Hadwyn took off at another run just as shouts were being passed along through the streets. Arthur and Cadmon set off toward the fire at once, only going faster when no rain poured down from the night sky. Merlin's face once again flashed in Arthur's mind. Peals of the warning bell then rang through the night, masking the sound of their breathing. They heard frightened yells of the peasants, and smelled the smoke before they saw the fire. Their feet pounded against the cobblestones and then the muddy ground of the lower town. Fear spiked in their hearts as they finally saw the burning house- most of it was aflame but a wall and some of the roof had yet to be encompassed by the hungry flames.

"It's spreading to the other houses!" Cadmon shouted as he ran beside Arthur. The prince yelled out a stream of curses as he stopped and looked around for anything that would help. Some guards had arrived with pails of water but were fearful of going near the burning house. Before Arthur could speak, thunder ripped through the sky, a heart stopping roar that caused the two knights to jump. The prince stood listening for more, eyeing the sky eagerly and breathing loudly through his mouth. A laugh escaped him when rain started flooding down from the clouds hovering in the sky even as the cold droplets slapped him in the face. Many more reactions like the prince's were emitted from the people who believed that they were being protected by a guardian angel.

Arthur could barely see through the pounding rain bombarding the dark night. A loud crash rumbled from inside the building and Arthur had to yell to get his orders to be heard. As he gestured for everyone to back away from the dwindling flames, and froze in horror. A long drum roll of thunder overpowered his alarmed shout as he laid eyes on a figure struggling out through the window of the burning house. He sprinted toward Merlin immediately, and Cadmon quickly followed him. "Merlin!" Arthur shouted. The servant did not seem to hear him as he gasped and tried to find his balance.

"Come on, come on!" Arthur burst out. He put on a spurt of speed as the house gave a foreboding groan and got to Merlin in a few long strides. Arthur roughly hauled him up, and with the help of Cadmon, they dragged the servant swiftly away- he was hot to the touch. Merlin could not seem to get his legs working and they dragged on the wet ground as he was pulled along. Both the knights were breathing heavily by the time they got a safe distance from the fire, and Arthur started to lower a shivering Merlin to the ground. The dragonlord found his sleeve and hung on tightly and with a furious jolt, Arthur saw that they were bound. Merlin's weak coughs intensified and his grip got tighter. To Arthur's panic, the servant then became loose in his and Cadmon's arms.

"Merlin!" Arthur called and gave his unconscious friend a shake.

"We need to get him to Gaius," Cadmon pointed out and lifted Merlin onto his shoulders before the prince could. The knight stood up shakily under Merlin's weight and denied the prince's appeal. The storm showed no signs of abating and they were already soaked to the bone. Merlin was a heavy weight for an older man to be lifting.

"Cadmon, let me!"

"Not with all these people, Sire," he grunted and started walking. Arthur growled and followed, shouting for the clustered people to make way. All were worried, the prince even more so though he schooled his expression to one of hardened calm. After longer than Arthur expected, Cadmon buckled to one knee and the people got to see their prince take his servant onto his own shoulders. The older knight apologized and followed Arthur who walked along like he had no burden on his shoulders. For Merlin would never be a burden.

~/0\~

The sound of a crackling fire and chattering teeth filled the momentary silence in the physician's chambers, among the softly falling rain pattering on the castle walls. The smell of smoke lurked as well, seeping from the obscured figure sleeping on the patient's cot. Merlin lay naked under an impressive pile of blankets, pale and shivering, while Gwen tipped his head forward so Gaius could pour a potion down his throat.

"That will warm him somewhat," he told the people packed into his chambers. Gaius might have objected to twelve bodies standing idly in the room but their body heat had the chambers warmer than was comfortable. Well he was tempted to say thirteen, since Percival could count for two people.

"I hope that bastard is alive just so I can kill him," Gwaine grimaced sourly.

"He probably burned to death anyway," Arthur said coldly. Anger made his face frigid and his eyes were stuck to Merlin's pale face, as if glaring at him could wake him up. Gwen looked at him compassionately, knowing his anger was not directed at the servant and went back to drying Merlin's hair with a cloth. He was taking in uneasy breaths and his brow was pinched in with discomfort.

"A fitting end then," Lancelot said quietly.

Gwaine frowned in consideration. "I'll settle for that."

"We should make sure there is a body before we jump to conclusions," Gerrick put forth.

Leon nodded. "Though the house should be knocked down first to avoid it collapsing."

"See to it at once," Arthur ordered. The knights nodded, all of them anticipating a way to help.

Gwaine and Lancelot stayed where they were; Lancelot was quiet but Gwaine of course had something to say. "If you find his body, keep it around so I can spit on it later," he said with a grin to the macabre amusement of Eadric in particular. When they all filed out, the air in the room became blessedly less stifling.

"How soon until he is alright, Gaius?" Arthur asked.

"Perhaps a day or two," the physician said, "he only needs rest. His throat will likely be sore for a while, though thankfully there are no burns."

Relief spread through Arthur once again at the reiterated news and he nodded to himself. "Remarkable, really," he mused.

Gaius shared a glance with Lancelot, and the knight naturally spoke. "Thankfully Merlin has always been lucky."

Gwaine chuckled, "Luckiest bloke I know, though of course he's friends with me!"

"Yes I'm sure that is the reason," Gwen smiled.

Arthur and Lancelot too broke into smiles on a previously cheerless evening. "You wound me Guinevere," Gwaine said in a pained voice.

A sharp intake of breath froze their attention and all of them looked to see Merlin waking up. Arthur shoved his way in front of Gwaine and peered down at Merlin anxiously. "Merlin?" All of them called.

The dragonlord groaned and his eyes fluttered open to reveal bright cobalt, immediately shutting as they watered. "'S bloody freezing," he croaked and mustered up a smile. Gwen looked at Lancelot as his grin lit up the room but then looked to Arthur whose smile was absolutely blinding. Merlin then coughed painfully, "My throat." His voice cracked and then he groaned.

"Easy now, Merlin," Gaius said calmly, "just go back to sleep now."

Merlin did not seem to want to obey any orders though for he blinked furiously and opened his mouth once more. "Redding- there was- he-"

"Shut up Merlin," Arthur silenced him quickly, wincing himself at the painful sounding hoarseness of Merlin's voice. "Just go to sleep, you idiot."

Merlin stubbornly shook his head, causing him to moan and bring a hand to his head. Gwen cleared her throat when his bare arm stretched out of the covers. She silently excused herself, taking the rest of the now cold bathwater away. Arthur and Gwaine would later have fun by lying and telling Merlin that Gwen had been in the room when he was being cleaned. Lancelot was the one to save him from his mortification.

Merlin then gasped and one of his hands shot to his wrist. He sighed when he felt that they were free and tried blinking his eyes open only to be unable to.

"Perhaps we should give him a sleeping potion," Lancelot suggested.

Merlin groaned crankily in response, though did not fight when Gaius brought it over and helped him swallow, however painful it was. He soon fell into a deep sleep, uncharacteristically content with four pairs of eyes watching him.

~/0\~

A day later, the door to the physician's chambers opened with a quiet squeak, and the prince came striding through. Arthur smiled when he met Merlin's gaze. The servant was sitting at the table, eating some soup that Gwen had made him.

"Arthur," he greeted. His voice was still hoarse, and still painful to hear. Beside him, Lancelot sent him a frown.

Arthur stopped before the table and patted Merlin on the shoulder, adjusting the blanket on his back at the same time. "You best listen to Lancelot, Merlin, he's worse than a mother," the prince said lightly.

Merlin rolled his eyes very expressively, earning a laugh from Arthur and a proud nod from Lancelot. "What brings you here, Arthur?" Lancelot asked keenly. Merlin immediately became very disinterested in his lukewarm soup.

"I just came to tell you that Redding's body was found this morning. And that his former servant has confessed to crimes that are punishable by death."

Both Lancelot and Merlin frowned at the second part. "He probably wants to join his master," Lancelot mused.

"What's going to happen to Redding's body?" Merlin managed to ask and then winced. Lancelot practically shoved a cup of water in his hand.

"Let me take care of that," Arthur told him, "just be grateful that we no longer have to deal with him. Get your rest, Merlin." With that he turned and left Lancelot to watch over the dragonlord. Only when the door was shut behind him did he utter a sigh of relief. Merlin was alright, Redding was gone and there was no threat on Camelot's door.

He could never have known that Morgana would decide to strike again in just two short weeks.

~/0\~

Scréadan þæt hrðpan- Cut the rope.

And there folks, is the segue into the King's Legacy Sequel :) Which again, won't be coming any time soon. But I'll be having a study break next week- maybe then I can get some writing done. I can dream!

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it! And please review! I did spend time I didn't have writing this for everyone after all (I am grinning like a lunatic here btw) :D