"You come to me with your false promise of peace and harmony, when you yourself want to watch the world around you burn. I know the crimes you are guilty of. You want to rip the lands apart and bath the hill side in the blood of my people."

"My lord, what I say to you is true. I wish these lands to be rich with crops and the people to share in the wealth of the kingdom. The people are suffering just look at them. With my help they will never have to worry about starving again. Once this comes to the people only then will peace and harmony will follow."

"You think that is not what I want for my people? You think I enjoy seeing them suffer? I assure you that I do not. I would do anything for my people, but not this. I will not join forces with a criminal. All you will bring is death to my people not peace."

"You can never achieve peace without sacrifice! If one or two people have to die in order to achieve a greater goal then so be it."

"It will not be only one or two! It will be one or two hundred! You do not understand the limits! Leave now before I have my guards throw you out." The king turned his back to the criminal.

"I swear to you that you will regret this. You do not understand what I am capable of. My powers are great and I will burn your world to the ground! A war is coming and you better hope you are prepared."

With that a growing cloud of white smoke suddenly filled the room. The guards rushed towards the criminal was standing not moments before but now stood nothing. The criminal vanished into thin air. All eyes turned to the king; eyes filled with bewilderment and rage.

The king stood tall, unshaken by the even that just took place in this throne room. He spoke with a strong voice but said only three words before turning to leave the room.

"Bring me Merlin."

...

Gaius was working on a new tonic to help the king sleep when he heard a knock on his door.

"Come in," he shouted as he placed the vial down on the table, "ah Gwaine how can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Merlin actually have you seen him?"

"I've sent him out to find me some herbs. He should be back any minute now"

"Arthur needs him, where exactly did you send him?"

"To the field just outside the south gate. Why, what's going on?"

"I have no idea we were just ordered to find Merlin."

...

He was gathering herbs for Gaius when they came for him. Three big men with even bigger swords. All eerily the same but different in so many ways. They approached him from three different directions and surrounded him.

"Hello gents how are you on this fine day?" Merlin asked with a nervous laugh. "I myself am doing wonderful. Are you three out for a stroll?" he looked around from one man to another. "Not much for talking I see. Well if that is all I should be on my way."

Just as Merlin started to leave one of the men stopped him by stepping in front of him. He tried going another direction but was blocked again. He turned to go the last direction but was stopped again and in that moment he knew he was in trouble.

"Let me pass." Merlin said trying to sound tough.

"You are coming with us." Creep #1, who Merlin decided was the leader of the group, said.

"Unfortunately, as much fun as that sounds, I have to deliver these herbs to a very sick, dying old man." Merlin spoke sarcastically.

"Well he is just going to have to live without them"

"You see that's the thing! He won't, see this is life or death. You men seem reasonable. Let me save a poor man's life."

"We don't care about one old man's life. Now enough, you are coming with us. We have orders from our boss to use any means necessary to bring you to him. Now do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?"

"How about neither." Merlin said as he smacked one with an energy blast. He turned and hit another one who crumpled to the ground. After the second man went down Merlin was hit on the back of the head and he fell to the ground. Black dots clouded his vision as he tried to get up. A kick to the stomach made him spit up blood. His vision kept getting more blurry by the minute. Another kick and he hear his ribs crack. He was determined not to give into the unconsciousness that was trying to take over him.

"Now are you done fighting?" Creep #3 said as he picked up Merlin by the front of his shirt.

"Screw you." Merlin said as he spat blood in the man's face.

He punched Merlin in the face multiple times then was thrown to the ground. His vision was getting darker.

He was starting to slip into the darkness when he heard something. He know what it was and who said it but he couldn't see them. It was no use fighting anymore. He gave into the darkness.

"Merlin!" Gwaine yelled as he rushed into the field. Merlin was laying on the ground a bloody, broken, unconscious mess surrounded by three men.

'They hit him. They attacked Merlin and beat him. They were trying to take Merlin away.'

"Back away from him. I swear on my life if you touch him one more time I will kill you." Gwaine spat out through clenched teeth.

"Stay out of this knight." Creep #1 said as the three of them stepped towards Gwaine

"I can't do that, that is my friend you have there and I suggest you back off before I make you regret this."

"What can you do? There are three of us and one of you."

"He is not alone so I strongly suggest you back away before the whole wrath of Camelot comes down upon you." Gwaine turned at the recognition of the voice and saw Percival walk out from behind him with Leon and Elyan.

"Now look who is out numbered. So I will tell you again, back away from him."

All four of the knights started approaching the men.

"You can't protect him forever. We will get him sooner or later. Our boss has much use for him" Creep #1 said as they turned and walked away from them.

They all rushed towards Merlin as he lay unmoving on the ground.

"Merlin come on wake up!" Gwaine said as he picked Merlin up.

"We need to get him to Gaius." Leon said.

"You two take Merlin to Gaius, Elyan and I will find Arthur."

...

Arthur burst into Gaius' chambers, "Where is he? Is he okay? What happened?" A thousand questions started spilling from Arthur's lips before he even laid eyes on Merlin. When he finally did his whole world came crashing down.

Merlin laid in his bed, covered in cuts, bruises and bandages. He wasn't awake and Gaius was still whipping the dried blood off of him.

"Sire, he is badly injured. He has 3 cracked ribs, and a lot of cuts and bruises. He is unconscious at the moment and I don't know when he will wake up. From what Gwaine has told me it seems three men beat him down and Merlin tried to fight back. They were trying to take him sire. They said that their boss has use for him. Sire what is going on?"

AN: Hope you all enjoyed this chapter.