"Who said that?" Merlin spun back into the alcove. It was impossible to see.

"It's not the fire, it's the light. Just call on the light."

The creatures screamed and dove for them. Merlin hesitated.

"Quickly!"

As the creatures dove down Merlin could hear its teeth gnashing together.

"Solius!" A small spark of sunlight emerged from Merlin's hands. The creatures backed off but it wasn't enough to stop them, their claws scraped at the walls.

"Take my hand!" She whispered at him.

"Amarah?"

"Shut up, just take my hand and try again!"

Amarah grabbed Merlin's hand. Immediately Merlin could feel himself filling with power. It ran up his hand and arm and made his mind buzz. It felt like nothing he had ever experienced.

The creatures screamed and swooped to attack.

"SOLIUS!" Light burst out of Merlin's hand and flooded the hall with a brilliance. The creatures screamed a horrifying piercing shout and exploded into dust.

As the light slowly faded Merlin saw Amarah before him- the gold flecks in her eyes blazing with magic. They stood in silence for a moment, Merlin still holding her hand.

It wasn't scarred or blistered from burns. It was perfect and amazingly soft only as a hand that had been protected in a glove forever could have felt.

"Are you able to let go?" She whispered. The light was getting dimmer as the darkness creeped back in.

"Yes, sorry." He dropped her hand and took a small step back. She sighed in relief.

"That didn't hurt."

"What do you mean?"

Cries of people being attacked and clattering of metal hitting walls were echoing from outside.

"We have to help them. Come on. We need to get to the roof! Can you get us there?"

Merlin nodded.

She reached out and took his hand. She had slid her glove back on. Merlin wasn't sure if he was grateful for it or not. His head still felt the slight buzz of power from the connection, but more so he missed feeling his rough skin against hers.

Dodging several more clusters of creatures they made it to the roof. Merlin's knowledge of the castle and short bursts of sunlight helped them reach the top.

"Sorry, what are we going to do here?" Merlin asked, he hadn't known what she was expecting.

"Do it again. Except this time fill all of Camelot with the light."

"What? All of Camelot! I don't have that kind of magic"

"You do now." She took the glove off one of her hands and reached out for Merlin's. He felt the connection instantly as he had before. Their eyes shone gold in the darkness.

"Pull the magic from me. I can't tell you how to do it, I don't know how. Just don't stop until you've done it, no matter what. Please just trust me."

Screams continued to come from all over Camelot as the creatures attacked relentlessly.

"You need to do it."

Merlin concentrated on their connection. He could feel the power right there on the edge. It wanted to be unleashed like a bow tight on an arrow.

"SOLIUS!" Merlin yelled. A stream of light shot out of his hand and up into the sky above Camelot.

The light covered the sky right above the castle but stopped. He pulled more magic to him and the light grew. Amarah breathed heavily and leaned into him to stay upright.

"Amarah?" Merlin paused and the light dimmed.

"Don't stop Merlin. I'm fine. Please." Merlin looked concerned but still turned back toward the sky and pulled.

Magic exploded into him setting his nerves on fire. Light exploded over the castle then beyond filling all of Camelot like a full summer day - cries and shrieks from the creatures rang out from all over as they disintegrated into dust.

Merlin let go of the magic and it left him dizzy. The light lingered, as it did before in the hallway. He knew it would fade slowly, letting the night back in. Amarah rested her head on Merlin's shoulder and went limp. He pulled his arm around her waist and held her to him, keeping her upright.

"Amarah?"

"It usually feels like knives ripping me apart." She looked up at him and smiled. "We need to get off the roof before they stop being relieved they were saved, and start looking for a sorcerer to burn."

"They are always throwing me in the dungeon anyway." He smiled. "You knew how to stop them, then why didn't you?"

"I can't use magic Merlin. Sorry, but can you ask your questions later? I'm so tired now and we need to leave before we are spotted. Can you please help me back?"

She tried to walk holding on to his arm but her legs gave out.

Merlin scooped her up in his arms. She was so light he did not struggle to carry her. Her gloved hands wrapped around his neck and she once again closed her eyes and leaned her head against his chest. .

Merlin's mind whirled. She couldn't use magic? But had access to such large quantities of it. Merlin had felt the need for more power before but didn't know it was possible to get, except through practice of summoning it, or through use of a magical staff. Neither however could compare to the magic he could draw from her.

They made it back to her hut right as the last of the light was fading into darkness.

"Thank you." She said as he set her down.

Merlin nodded. He was so confused his words were failing him.

"Merlin, we will keep each other's secrets. Won't we?" She smiled up at him then gently touched her lips to his cheek.

He was so stunned at her action that he almost missed the slight buzz of power the connection left. The gold flecks in her eyes were still bright, but not blazing as they had been when he had been pulling power from her.

"I believe our lives depend on it." He smiled back.