A/N: This is written purely for my enjoyment - if you like it too, yay! Obviously, some story lines aren't going to fit with the actual storyline of Merlin, because this is my version of events. This is set after Arthur becomes King and marries Gwen, but before the start of season 5 (pretend that never comes)

It will involve Merlin/Morgana (not romantic, maybe later), Arthur/Gwen (obviously, they are married!) and a bit of Merlin/Arthur (no slash, just bromance!)

Anyway, enough of my drivel. I hope you enjoy this!

"Emrys."

Merlin's eyelids twitched.

"Emrys."

He shifted, his back scratching against the rough sheets of his bed.

"Emrys!"

With a gasp, his eyes flew open. The darkness of his room blinded him and he clawed at the cloths he was entangled in, his breath coming harsh and ragged. Something had woken him...a hand on his shoulder...

A faint sliver of light oozed through the window, creeping its way into the black recesses of the chamber. There was silence. He was alone.

Merlin wiped his brow, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat. He made to settle back down but something caught his eye: the door was slightly ajar.

"Leoht." He whispered, wincing as the bright light erupted on his palm. Trying to ignore the icy sense of foreboding churning in his stomach, he slid his legs off the bed and got to his feet, cautiously stealing to the door. Very slowly, he pushed the wooden slats, clenching his teeth together in anticipation of a creak.

As the light flooded into the room, he saw a black outline dart out of the door at the other end. Forgetting about being stealthy, Merlin leapt down the stairs and sprinted across the room, flinging himself at the door and narrowly missing a vial that wobbled precariously on the table. Scrabbling to open it, he heard a voice behind him.

"Merlin?"

It was Gaius. Merlin quickly extinguished the light.

"Merlin, whatever are you doing?" He sounded rather indignant, his tone a lot sharper than usual. Merlin took a deep breath and turned around.

"I...er...I needed to do something." As he said it, he could picture Gaius' expression clearly in his head, even if he couldn't see it. That usual look of 'I may be old but I know that you're lying as surely as I know that Arthur is a dollop head' was no doubt etched upon the physician's lined face.

"I'm sure it can wait."

"No, really." It was rather an awkward conversation, as neither of them could see the other properly so they were aiming their words at the air. "I...supper didn't agree with me. I think I need to go and...sort it out..."

"Merlin, you do know that I'm the physician? Stomach aches are what you come to me for."

"Armour! I need to polish the King's armour." Merlin crossed his fingers at his side.

"In the middle of the night? Go back to bed, Merlin."

"Look," Merlin's shoulder slumped. He cast a glance at the door. "There was someone here. They just ran out and I need to follow them before they get away."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! I felt something on my shoulder when I was asleep then I ran out here and I saw someone leaving..." his voice trailed off as he realised his story sounded rather lame.

"I think you're just tired. You need to go to sleep, you have training first thing in the morning and you know what Arthur's like when you're not wide awake."

"I do." Merlin said bitterly, his thoughts on the hammer he was often treated to as a 'wake-up call'. With a final glance at the door, which stood innocently shut, he traipsed back to his room. Flopping onto his mattress, he stared up at the ceiling, thoughts racing through his brain. Just as his eyes started to pull closed and he was falling into an uneasy sleep, he heard a voice beside his ear.

"Emrys."

Sitting bolt upright, Merlin spun around. Even in the obsidian dark of night, he could see the bright blue eyes staring at him.

"Hello, Emrys." Merlin could feel breath on his neck – whoever they were, they were inches from him.

"Who are you?" was all he could gasp out.

"Mordred."

There was a knocking on the door. Arthur groaned, turning over and trying to fall back asleep. The knocking continued, more persistent.

"Come in." He croaked, pushing his torso off the bed and rubbing his eyes. He had a vague feeling he should be angry about something, but he wasn't sure what...

A figure shuffled into the room. It was Gaius. Frowning, Arthur looked at the physician. "Gaius, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I'm afraid it's not good, sire. It's Merlin."

A cog clunked into place in Arthur's brain. He leapt to his feet, suddenly wide awake. "Where is he?"

"I was going to ask the same question."

A silence fell. They both stood with their mouths hanging slightly open, their eyes darting about the room as if hoping he was hiding behind a bucket.

"Well, where could he be?" Arthur demanded after a while, trying to hide the worry in his voice.

Gaius gave a small shrug, but his attempt at hiding something was obvious.

Arthur slowly drew towards him. "Gaius...is he at the tavern?"

"What?" The old man gave a startled laugh. "Oh, no! At least, I hope not."

"I hope he's not, too. Because otherwise, he'll wish he'd never been born." Arthur cast a nervous glance at the window as he spoke, a part of him secretly wishing that Merlin was at the tavern. He passed a hand across his eyes. "Well, he can't have just disappeared! I'll inform the guard to keep watch. Where could he have gone?"

"Sire, he was acting rather...peculiar...last night. Talking about seeing someone. He wanted to leave, to follow them." Gaius watched the King pace agitatedly, his feet thumping against the floor.

"You think he did?" Arthur leaned against the wall, folding his arms across his chest.

"I don't know, sire. He may still turn up, he may just be in the stables or in the armoury..."

"Merlin, working at his time of the day?" Arthur snorted.

"Stranger things have happened..." The feeble hope in Gaius' voice was hanging by a thread.

Arthur fixed his eyes on Gaius'. "We will find him. Don't worry."

With an incline of his head, Gaius turned and left. Arthur waited for the door to shut then closed his eyes and rolled his head back, heaving a sigh.

Merlin grunted. He opened his eyes and stared blearily around. He wondered if he'd fallen asleep during training with Arthur and Arthur had hit him over the head with the hammer. As he tried to push himself up, he suddenly felt something wrench him back. With a yelp, he looked down and saw two iron chains clamped over his wrists.

"Hello, Merlin."

He cried out, wheeling around, trying to find the source of the voice. The world was spinning. His feet slid uselessly over the cold stone floor.

"Shh." He felt a hand settle on his head. "I won't hurt you. At least...not yet."

His insides turned to lead. He would know that voice anywhere. Breath shaking, tears stinging his eyes, he raised his gaze to stare up into the beautifully terrible face of Morgana.