AN: Sorry for such a long wait (you forgot what this story was about, didn't you xD it's okay. I'll wait here patiently while you skim through Chapter 1 again) I clawed my way through finals this week and tomorrow's my first day of summer! YESSS!

Arthur sat at the round table, surrounded by the most courageous of Camelot. Sir Leon stood at his seat, having just finished giving the weekly reports as always. He stood, waiting for a response from Arthur, a dismissal at the least. But Arthur was lost in his own thoughts.

Finally, he broke the silence.

"Is there any word on Morgana? Her whereabouts?"

Leon was quick to respond. "No, Sire. There have been no sightings." He paused. "In fact, there's been nothing."

"Exactly." Arthur's gaze travelled to the Knights of the roundtable. "While this peace is more than welcomed, I fear it will be short-lived. Morgana is up to something. And while I don't know what, Sir Leon, I want to double the patrol during the night, just to be safe."

Agravaine looked on during the exchange, smug in his own way. Morgana wasn't planning something because Morgana had nothing to scheme about. After convincing Morgana her attacks against Arthur were nothing but futile, Agravaine had managed to focus her attention on recruiting more sorcerers rather than the throne of Camelot, a difficult feat in itself.

Agravaine needed to concentrate on Merlin without Morgana practically breathing down his neck. And as he looked over Arthur's shoulder to the servant standing in the shadows, he felt no regrets about what he was doing.

It will all be over soon, he thought as Arthur droned on about Camelot's safety. Merlin deserves this.

Merlin wavered on his feet. These roundtable meetings were all the same anymore. Merlin noticed that Arthur took his observation to heart, however; Morgana was no where to be seen. Why? Merlin did not know. All he knew was that he would much rather be sitting with Gaius trying to figure out Morgana's next move than stand here and do nothing.

But here he was, standing on his aching feet, holding a water jug with his quivering hand, and doing nothing.

Merlin sighed and looked about the room. The sun was setting, painting the room a dusty red. His eyes travelled to the door he so much wanted to walk out of, and to the guards standing stoically at their threshold.

The guards…

Why were they looking at him?

Merlin quickly straightened. Had he offended them in some way?

By looking around a room? He thought. I don't think so.

He let his eyes wander over to the doors again. They were still staring at him, and making no effort to hide it.

But what could he do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Because at the end of the day, he was a servant, and they were the guards.

He tried to focus on the conversation before him between Arthur and Leon. By now, the sun was streaming through the glass, glaring directly in his eyes. Merlin could tell the meeting was just about over, and he could nearly taste the freedom.

Suddenly, a sweaty hand clamped over his mouth while two more pried his arms behind his back. The water jug was sent crashing to the floor.

But not before a crude dagger was thrust into Merlin's side.

AN: You can thank my sister for forcing me to update this story tonight. I was going to do it anyways...fyi.

Longer chapters are to come. I'm still trying to find my niche :)

Not sure when my next update will be. Probably sometime after Sunday. My sister (KnightOwl17) and I are planning/hosting our other sister's baby shower Sunday. These next couple days are going to be full of last minute cramming haha!

I hope you guys are enjoying the start of your summer! Please don't hesitate to review!

Til' then, MerTrexTer :D