AN: I'm going to do this at the beginning this time so I don't take away from the end. :] First off, I missed you guys on my ridiculously long break, and I'm sorry it was so long. Senior year sucks. And second of all, I hope you'll review this chapter. I'll try my very hardest to get back to you. Because in case you haven't noticed, I love you guys. So please enjoy!

Also, a big thanks to bcargill9 who was reviewing every chapter as I wrote this. She kept pushing me to finish in one sitting. So thank you bcargill9!

Her heart was pounding in her ears, along with the clatter of footsteps and the dissonant warning bell that was sounding throughout the walls. She was a complete loss of what to do. As she watched her companions running beside her, it was safe to say her life literally flashed before her eyes.

Arthur, the boy she had known practically her whole life, running from his own father… she remembered every moment they shared -the laughter, the fights, the way he took care of her after her father died.

Holding the hand of the prince was Gwen, her best friend and servant since she came to live in Camelot's castle walls… she was the girl who loved her like no one else could, who tended to her when she had terrible nightmares, and wasn't afraid to speak the truth, even if it meant dire consequences.

And then there was Merlin, the man she had only met a year prior to this one… she felt his warm hand against hers, leading her to some unknown place… hopefully a haven of sorts from this horrific reality. There was no way to describe her relationship with the young warlock. All she knew was that he meant more to her than the world. And she would do everything she could to protect him and keep him safe from harm.

"Come on! I know someone who can help!" he yelled beside her, beckoning for the other members of her party to follow.

"I sure hope you do!" Arthur called out from behind. She looked back briefly and saw that they were being pursued by two guards. They were far behind, at the very end of the corridor, but were gaining speed quickly.

"Merlin, please hurry! They're after us!" she cried, and she watched the flash of gold in his eyes as he glanced back and the two guards went flying through the air and into the wall.

"What the h-" Arthur noticed the commotion and paused at the distraction.

"Come on Arthur!" Gwen pulled on his arm. "We don't have time to stop!"

They kept going; all the while Arthur kept shooting strange looks at Merlin. She finally realized where they were headed as he led her around the corner and they started down a flight a steep stairs. This was the place where she heard the voice, the place where Merlin and she had collided in the middle of the night. She never discovered where those steps had led to, but she had a feeling she was about to find out soon.

At long last they reached the bottom, all of them panting for air and looking around, confused. Everyone except Merlin, of course. She watched him approach the edge of a giant cliff that looked like it was more than a thousand feet above the ground, the drop seemed to extend on forever. And in the very middle of the underground cavern was a giant rock formation that bore many large scratches. She stared at the odd abrasions and wondered what sort of thing could have caused them. That was when she remembered the legend she had heard before about Uther building an underground prison for-

"I need your help!" Merlin shouted, his voice echoing throughout the chamber. "Please! We don't have much time!"And then she heard the deep, booming voice that had repeatedly disturbed her as she slept.

"Who's we?"

"Morgana, Gwen, and… Arthur." Merlin answered, hesitation in his voice as he mentioned the last name.

"You mean the witch and the future king and queen of Camelot?"She noticed Gwen shift uncomfortably next to Arthur, blushing.

"Whatever you like to christen them! As long as you help them!" Merlin shouted impatiently. There was silence, and then she felt a gust of wind blow against the bottom of her dress, then work its way up to her face. She squinted her eyes but then immediately reopened them as an immense figure emerged from the darkness. Oh my-

A rush of golden wings and half a heart attack later and there was a massive dragon sitting before her. It surveyed the people standing in the room. First its yellow eyes turned upon Merlin, and it seemed smirk at his presence. Next it met with a doe-eyed Arthur and a trembling Gwen, clutching to the prince for dear life. It chuckled a bit, and turned finally to her. She held her breath as its grin turned to a scowl, her heart flip-flopping in her chest.

Its eyes bore into her until she turned her head away from it, her brain feeling as though it would explode.

"What do you require of me?" It focused its attention on Merlin once again.

"If you help us, then today is the day we set you free." Merlin said in a hushed tone. She couldn't help but gasp at Merlin's statement. The dragon drowned out her exclamation, however, with a vociferous laugh.

"And why would you do that? Is the king finally dead?" Arthur furrowed his eyebrows, clenching his jaw as Merlin continued.

"No, but I have someone here who can help me get you out of here." Merlin held his hand out to her and she took it cautiously, pressing close against his side and staring at the beast.

"I cannot leave unless the king is dead." The dragon didn't give a second glance at her.

"Why not? We can set you free." Merlin pleaded, and the dragon sighed, shaking its head. What little hope she had left seemed to drift away. If the dragon would not help them, then no one else would, and there was nowhere else to run.

Arthur stepped forward, momentarily leaving Gwen. "We're on the run from the king right now." he spoke, his voice unwavering and unafraid. "I give you my word that I won't let any harm come to you if we set you free. You can fly away into the forest with us, and you will never have to come back."

"You have a good heart, and you will make a fine king someday." The dragon looked up at a smiling Arthur. "But you can't keep running from your problems forever. Sometimes you have to face them head on. I want a world where I can coexist peacefully with the people of Camelot, not constantly be on the run from them. Until the king dies, this world can never exist." Arthur's smile faded as the dragon turned away, spreading its wings to fly. No…

Then there was the thunderous sound of many pairs of feet making their way down the dungeon stairs. The dragon turned back, his face showing sympathy.

"They've found us." Gwen said, a single tear running down her face. Arthur rushed over to her, taking her in his arms and kissing her forehead. There was nowhere to turn. They were all trapped, and they knew it was over.

"We're doomed if you don't help us!" she rounded on the beast, her eyes flashing gold in anger. "Uther may spare Arthur's and my life, but what about Merlin and Gwen? You would just let them die for your own selfish actions?" She yelled, her hair falling her face. "Peace will come sooner or later, but how do you expect it to arrive without them?" She pointed a finger at Merlin and Gwen, who were both shedding silent tears of fear. "… the future queen and the magic-doer need you." she whispered. "And you need them."

Lights flickered in the stairwell and voices could be heard as the dragon pondered her speech. She shook her head, wrapping her arms around Merlin and crying into his chest, feeling defeated as the beast didn't answer.

"Break the chain." Suddenly his voice rang throughout the walls, startling them all.

"What-" she started.

"Break the chain and set me free!" He yelled impatiently. "Before they get here and kill you all."

Merlin rushed forward with a watery smile on his face and she did the same.

"I'll hold them off for as long as I can!" Arthur yelled, grabbing his sword out of his belt.

Gwen grabbed a large rock off the ground and positioned herself as well. "Me too."

She smiled at the both of them, and then at Merlin. "Ready?" They held out their hands and with a swift motion, the chains around the beast's legs shattered, turning to dust.

He roared, stretching his wings and laughing. He swooped down to their level, clearly happy to be free despite the fact that it wasn't at his desired timing. "Hurry and climb on!"

The king's men had barely made it down the stairs as Merlin and she ascended the scaly beast's back, both of them yelling for Arthur and Gwen to follow their example. The couple abandoned their stance and ran forward, never having to fight the knights, but also not realizing who was heading the line of men.

She and Merlin reached out their arms to their friends and hoisted them onto the great dragon, but just as they were about to pull her up, a harpoon grazed the side of Gwen's leg, causing her to cry out in pain. All five of them, including the dragon, turned to look at the attacker.

Uther Pendragon stood at the front of a line of men, a harpoon gun being lowered in his hand. Her heart thumped in her chest. How dare he! He's a monster…

He glared at Arthur as he hurriedly helped Gwen get on the beast. When they were situated Arthur scowled at his father. The king's men waited for a command from their ruler as the creature spread its wings to fly.

And with a contorted glower on his face, the king spoke.

"Kill the dragon."

...we're dead.