*AUTHOR'S NOTE* I'm really sorry I haven't been updating as often as I should, but to tell you the truth I haven't felt like writing in a long time, and the ideas just haven't been flowing as well. I managed to cobble together this chapter during a few boring classes, so sorry if it's a little sketchy. I'll try to get the next chapter up ASAP! x

"Riddle me this!" Scarlette sat opposite Merlin, looking at him with bright, eager eyes.

"Scarlette, please, now is not the time." Merlin stared into the dying embers of the fire. Arthur had taken a bad turn during the night and a fever had set in. Luke was working with him, and had been battling through the night to keep him breathing.

"Please, give me an answer. Lee asked it last night and I don't have an answer!" She got to her feet and wandered off, talking non stop to 'lee'.

"Hey, is Scarlette giving you trouble?" Conan sat next to Merlin and gave him a sympathetic smile.

"I don't mind."

"Oh, but you do, boy, I can see it is bothering you."

"I can put up with it" Merlin picked up a stick from the ground and poked the fire.

"You're upset. It's your prince friend, isn't it? Its okay, Luke will fix him; his medicine was renowned all over once."

"I know, Wynter told me."

"You look tired." Conan got up and disappeared into one of the huts, reappearing seconds later with a rabbit in his hand. "Here, you haven't fed since you got here, you must be feeling very weak."

Merlin tried to resist but before he could he had grabbed it and was already draining the blood. When he had finished, he felt the strength return. "…Thanks."

"No problem." Conan smiled and took the rabbit from Merlin's hands. Taking a small dagger from his belt, he began to skin it. Conan paused, and looked up at Arthur. "Why are you so loyal to him?"

Merlin looked up. "It's my duty; I'll protect him till the day I die. He's my friend."

"You know where you stand, don't you."

"What does that mean?"

"You know where your duties lie; you are a confident young vampire, and a strong one. I'm just saying, you would be better off to stay here."

"No. Once he is better I will take him back to Camelot. And continue to protect him." Merlin looked up at the hall. "He can't survive without me; wherever I go he'll follow and find me."

"Merlin! Come quick!" Luke burst through the doors, face stricken. Without saying another word to Conan, he was on his feet and sprinting towards the building.

Arthur lay on the table, breathing gently. Every so often he let out a moan and wriggled a little, beads of sweat adorning his face.

"Arthur!" Merlin ran over to the prince and grasped his clammy hand. "What's wrong with him?" He turned to Luke, panic rising inside him. Suddenly Merlin was lost. His prince was dying, his destiny failing.

"I don't know. I've tried everything and it hasn't worked. I've never seen anything like this before."

"He's not changing. He can't" Merlin's voice had become low. "He can't."

Arthur moaned again and writhed on the table, breaths becoming ragged and shallow.

Merlin looked at Luke. "He can't."

"What do you suggest?" Luke was already at the table and lowered his face to the prince.

"No!" Anger flared in Merlin's eyes and with an outstretched arm sent the vampire flying backwards. Then the idea came. He had magic. Frantically racking his brain for the right spell, he ran to Arthur's side. "Hold on, Arthur, just hold on." He placed his hands flat on Arthur's chest and prepared for the energy to flow. "Spíritus tui te maneant et vivat!" The shout echoed around the building, and the power sent Merlin flying to the floor to rest. Silence pressed down upon the place until Arthur gave a heave and coughed.

Merlin got to his feet, stumbled a little and found himself caught. He looked up to see Arthur holding him, a smile on his face. "..Arthur! You're okay!"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"…It doesn't matter. You're okay!" Merlin gave a laugh and flung his arms around the prince. "You're okay!"

Luke stood, watching the two of them. After a minute, he cleared his throat and walked towards the two. "Merlin…that was quite something you did there. I'm impressed."

Merlin looked at Luke, face stricken. He couldn't tell, not in front of Arthur.

"Merlin…what does he mean?"

"Oh? He doesn't know?" Luke smiled and clapped his hands. "Well isn't this awkward."

Arthur looked at Merlin. "Merlin…?"

Merlin looked at the floor. "I had to…I couldn't let you die!"

"Merlin, what does he mean?" Arthur's voice had taken on a defensive tone. "Tell me."

"I can't."

"Merlin."

Merlin looked up at the prince and had started to shake. "You'll hate me. It's not safe here." He looked at Luke and back to Arthur. "You can't leave me now."

"I won't if you tell me."

"You will. I'm a monster."

Suddenly, the doors to the hall were flung open. A figure stood in the doorway, hunched. Lank hair hung down, framing a pale and rounded face. The figure hobbled in and stopped a few feet away, eyeing the three of them with dark crimson eyes. "Where is he?" He demanded in a husky voice. ".?"

"Jared, now is not the time." Luke shot Merlin a look that said 'get out' and nodded towards a narrow door behind him.

"Where is Yaxley?" Jared's shout sent a wave of pressure rippling through the room, and the power almost bowled Luke to the floor.

"I don't know, Jared."

"Don't lie to me." Jared's hand disappeared into a pocket and he brought out a stake, tipped with iron. "Am I going to have to force it from you?" He waved the stake inches from the healer's face.

"You wouldn't dare."

Jared laughed, low and menacing, and suddenly Merlin realised; this was the vampire that had changed him. Anger boiled in his stomach and his hands bunched into fists. "You" He stepped forward, an angry growl ripping itself from his throat. "It was you."

"Oh, who's this then? Your new apprentice?" Jared laughed again and turned to face Merlin. "I know you, you were my snack that got away! Maybe I should finish the job." He raised the stake and advanced towards Merlin in a flash.

"No!" Arthur grabbed a long sword off of the back wall, which Merlin hadn't noticed until now was covered in assorted weapons. "Leave him alone!"

"Arthur, don't." Luke warned him, and Merlin gulped eyes not leaving the stake that was inches from his chest.

"Why not?" Jared looked the prince up and down. "Such a fine looking young man. Shame, he would make such an impressive specimen."

"Don't you dare." Merlin growled. "Don't you touch him"

"Oh but I do dare." Jared turned and threw the stake at Arthur.

"No!" Merlin screamed.

Luke gave a snarl and leapt in the way, tumbling to the ground inches from the prince. Jared looked him up and down in disgust. "Such a waste." He turned and walked to the door, turning back to snarl, "this isn't the end, Merlin!" He turned and disappeared, leaving Merlin and Arthur in a state of shock.

"Merlin…" Luke wheezed.

"Luke…I'm so sorry."

"Don't blame yourself." Luke shifted and gave a groan.

"Luke." Arthur took the dying vampire's hand. "That was a noble thing."

"I couldn't stand by….and….let him…kill you."

"Luke!" Wynter screamed and in a flash was at Luke's side. "Oh Luke…"

"Wynter…protect them…don't let him….get you."

"Luke, please don't…"

"I'll see you again…" Luke's face contorted in pain. "I'll be waiting for you." He looked around at the three tearful faces surrounding him. "Don't forget me." He gave a shudder and lay still, and his eyes changed colour to a muddy brown, staring starkly at the ceiling. Wynter gave a scream and buried her face into the chest of her fallen lover and Merlin felt the hot anger return. He placed a hand on the stricken vampire's back.

"We'll avenge him. We'll kill him. He won't see another day." Merlin got to his feet and led Arthur outside. Blinking in the brightness, they cast their eyes about for Jared but he was nowhere to be seen.

"We need to begin rounding up fighters" Arthur tightened his grip on the rusty sword he held.

"Include the women; they're stronger than you think." Merlin looked at the prince.

"I know, I learnt that in Aealdor!"

"I'll get Conan to call a meeting in the courtyard." Merlin set off to the leader's hut and sighed. This was going to be a long battle.