As I warned after the previous chapter, this is extremely fluffy. Like, PetSmart would sell it it's so fluffy. And it's short. Like, Warwick Davis short (not trying to be mean, I love his acting! But let's face it, he is short). It's pretty much Akasha's point of view during the cave-in onwards, with a tiny bit of actual useful information at the very end.

I know what I want to happen in the next few chapters, but am having a hard time turning my ideas into words that people won't read and go, "Did this girl pass kindergarten?" Please bear with me!

FranceGamble too, good question! That's actually going to be addressed in the final few chapters, so keep reading! (hehehe, see what I did there?)

Akasha gripped Gwen's hand tightly as the ceiling finally gave way, sending tons of stone and marble crashing towards their heads. Gwen was breathing quickly, but steadily. The Queen of Camelot was certainly made of sterner stuff than the royals she worked for. Akasha wondered, would her magic work to save someone not in her destiny? They were about to find out.

Summoning all the power she could possibly muster, she imagined the sphere of light that Merlin had taught her to conjure, only this one would wrap around Queen Gwen and herself, shielding them from the crushing debris. There was a bright flash of green light just as the rocks reached them, but Akasha was unable to tell if the spell had worked, because a heavy stone cracked down upon her skull, sending her toppling into oblivion.

Merlin

The next thing she heard was a horrible grating noise that drilled into her ears, making Akasha wish she was still unconscious. She was not yet fully awake, her mind still muddled and memories swirling around in a confusing order. There was Merlin, helping her learn magic, and then an image of her childhood, being bathed in boiling water to purge the same magic from her soul. So many thoughts, so many feelings, but impossible to decipher them all. Just as she was starting to be overwhelmed by all the memories, a soothing warmth washed over her, sinking into her bones and sweeping away the cluttered memories. She felt the warmth settle on the areas that hurt the worst, lingering just long enough to leave an impression. He head was suddenly clear, and she opened her eyes.

Her head was being held in the crook of an arm that smelled of herbs and soot. She opened her eyes further to see the bemused face of Merlin looking at something out of her sight.

"M... Merlin?" She could feel phlegm and dust clogging her airways, making it difficult to speak.

"Hey. How're you feeling?" Merlin had a goofy grin on his face, making it obvious he had been worried. Strange, seeing as he knew she had magic.

How was she feeling? Well, her lungs burned, her throat felt like someone had scrubbed it with hot coals, her head throbbed in rhythm of her every heartbeat, and her body felt like one giant bruise, so...

"Ow," Merlin's lips pursed, obviously wanting more information than "ow."

"My head hurts," And as though to contradict her, a disgusting cough forced it's way through her body, making her sound like a rheumatic old man, "and it hurts to breathe, but otherwise I'm good. What happened?" Her memories might be more organized now, but she still didn't remember much after Gwen had grabbed her hand.

Merlin's grin was back, this time with a slight hint of pride. What?

"Well, I think you saved the queen of Camelot from being crushed to death, but I wasn't there. You tell me,"

"The ceiling was collapsing," She forced herself into a sitting position, even if it caused a wave of nausea. She was tired of being cradled like an infant. She finally looked around, only to find herself in the hallway with the entire infirmary filled with rock, "Wow. It really collapsed didn't it?"

"She was fantastic," Queen Guinevere stepped forward, dragging none other that King Arthur along with her. Akasha suddenly knew this was going to be embarrassing, "She got all of the wounded out before even thinking of herself," Actually, she was thinking of nothing but herself. She couldn't live with the guilt of abandoning the injured to a crushing tomb, "and when she saw me carrying a man," Really, it was more like dragging. How could she not go to help? "she ran over to help instead of going to safety. Many people owe her their lives, including myself," Gwen was smiling so brightly at Akasha she felt like she might get a sunburn.

"It was nothing, milady. Anyone would have done the same," She ducked her head, trying to look small. Maybe small enough to disappear, because she did not take compliments well. She would rather be chastised any day.

"I wouldn't be so sure," King Arthur had extended his hands, one to Merlin, and one to Akasha. Merlin took his and stood, seeming completely unfazed by the casual assistance given by the King of Camelot, but Akasha was wary, and hesitated before carefully taking the offered hand and allowing herself to be pulled to her feet. This was not how royalty treated servant, "When this is over, I'll see about a reward for your help,"

"Oh no, I-"

Akasha was ready to spout any one of a thousand excuses to not be rewarded when an earsplitting shriek interrupted her. She slapped her hands over her ears in an attempt to protect her eardrums from being split. Her heart nearly stopped.

She recognized that sound.

"What is that?" Merlin yelled, looking just as uncomfortable as she was, but without the horror.

"I don't know, but what do you say we go find out?" Arthur was scanning the group, trying to find any weakness in them. She shoved down the growing fear and replaced it with false courage, hoping that it would soon turn real. Because she had faced this creature before, and destroying it would not be easy.

After all, Wyverns were vicious creatures.

Whaaaaat? Wyverns? But surely Merlin would recognize those! And since when do they shriek? The whole world's a lie!

Well, maybe not. Answers soon to come!

PS: Reviews make my world go round, and might actually motivate me to update more than once a week.