Author's Note:

Hi everyone!
Sry for the delay, and now you don't even get a long or really good chapter... but I wanted to get something out for you :). This and the next one are dealing with the hunt from Arthur's POV, the end of the next including what happened after Merlin lost control :D. Please review (though there's nothing really new and exciting so far), and I'll try to update soon ;D.
As always, a huge thank you to everyone who alerted, favourited and especially to those who reviewed- you're great :D!
And now, enjoy and please R&R :).

Disclaimer: No, don't own... big surprise... boring -.-.

... and yes, I like the word 'Madman' xD.

Chapter 6: Madman's Hope

Arthur hadn't expected to find the thief.
Hell, he hadn't believed Emrys to be alive at all.

The Prince stopped at another crossroad in the maze of dark alleys, before he sighed and chose the broad one. No need to take care of their way, it was already too late for that anyway.

He should be happy.

The thought sounded absurd, wandering through the lower town in the middle of the night with no direction whatsoever, but that didn't change the fact. If the thief really was Camelot's only hope, Arthur had just found a way to maybe- only maybe- save them all from the nearing danger. Camelot wasn't doomed after all.
Still, right now it only made everything more complicated.

To think Camelot was lost and there was no way to change that was a hard and painful, but easy thought. That the thief, his enemy who he had sworn to kill, was their only hope and he, Arthur Pendragon, had to convince the man to save those who were trying to murder him for a year, not so much.
The Prince sighed again and rubbed his hurting forehead. He felt like a parched given some water, only to find it poisoned.

Arthur hadn't even set out to search the thief, strange as this might sound, for the first time in a year.

You find what you seek only when you've stopped searching.

And really, this night the patrols only was a way out, to forget and be free, rejoicing in the night's dark and still beauty after spending the whole afternoon and evening in Gaius' small sticky rooms.

They hadn't cared Emrys was surely dead and Camelot doomed to fall.

They hadn't paused for Arthur's training.

They hadn't had supper or a break, pondering and riddling, turning every word of the prophecy in search of a second meaning.

Some would call it desperate, a helpless frustration after all his lost, a madman's hope. They called it wise foresight.

Finally, when the sun set and night broke in, a knight had appeared to ask the Prince about their patrols, now that the thief was dead. Arthur had left with him, glad to escape the pressing feeling of helplessness and vulnerability. He had only felt slightly guilty when he took one last look back at the old physician, wrapped up in yet another fat old book.

It's not like I've been any big help, Arthur told himself. Gaius will do easier without me lingering around.

Truly, the only thing they had discovered- or rather thought- was that 'Wisdom' most likely meant Gaius. The physician had protested instantly, but when Arthur had hold against him that he knew no wiser man in Camelot, Gaius had gone quiet and blushed slightly, which made the Prince grin. After that both read in silence (though Arthur had the strange feeling of having nicked off several times, due to the exhaustion of not sleeping properly in a week- thanks again, Emrys). Yes, Gaius definitely wouldn't miss his company. He had never been good at reading intently anyway.

The Prince had told his knights to accompany him on the patrol, simply out of the same pressing feeling and because he didn't have anything better to do- unlike the (quietly) groaning knights. But, strolling through Camelot's streets, Arthur almost regretted not having taken the chance to sleep for once. Even more so as he had to listen to Blondie&Blackie, who had been rewarded with a place in the patrol, bickering and arguing all along.
Arthur had nearly snapped and yelled at them to just shut their stupid mouths, when suddenly a loud and frightened call got his attention.

"There!"

One of the younger knights, a promising newcomer, pointed at a roof, his hand shaking and face white like he had just seen a ghost. Arthur followed the wide-eyed gaze and all at once knew exactly what the younger man felt, almost crying out in shock. In the silver moonlight stood, tall and proud, a hooded figure.

Emrys.

For a moment they simply stared at each other.

The thief appeared like someone had dumped him a bucket of icy water over his head, and Arthur was pretty sure he looked much the same as all kinds of different emotions passed him.

At first, shock. Why wasn't Emrys dead?

Disbelieve. But this wasn't possible. No one could survive poison, an arrow and that fall. Hell, he had seen the thief's corpse down there, crushed on the ground.

Fear. Emrys couldn't be immortal, could he? Maybe all those superhuman-stories were true after all...

Hope. But then, Camelot wasn't doomed. There might still be a chance.

Then Arthur noticed the thief's slightly crouched stance, one hand on the chimney for support and the other lingering protectively before his chest, and everything vanished to a nagging guilt, nearly covered completely by immense relief.

So Emrys was affected by the wound and poison, however he had survived the height.

Now that Arthur knew the signs were clear.
There, a slight swaying. The visible hand clenched until the knuckles went withe in an attempt to suppress what must be unimaginable pain. The Prince had seen men, trained knights, with such wounds that lay sobbing on the floor, calling for their mother. It was really a miracle that the thief still lived, let alone stood relatively straight.

Arthur pushed the upwalling guilt and shame aside. This was his chance, the moment he had awaited in such a long time. Emrys couldn't flee. This time, they would get him.
Uther would be proud of his son.

"Seize him!"
Arthur's voice sounded strangely hoarse and he cleared his throat before trying again. "What are you waiting for? Seize him!"

Emrys stood frozen like a deer in spotlight as Arthur and his knights ran for a ladder that was leaned against the wall and started climbing. An eery, unearthly howl cut through the night, but Arthur only willed himself to go faster, reaching the top of the building in next to no time. Light steps announced the thief's last attempt to flee, and Arthur quietened his panting to listen closely for an instant before he pulled himself up. A wave of triumph swept over him as the Prince saw Emrys on the other side of the roof, staring back at him.

There's nowhere to go now.

The exact moment this thought crossed his mind, Arthur knew something was wrong with it. A shadow seemed to move at the thief's feet and, taking a step backwards, Emrys suddenly vanished into thin air.

Arthur flinched as he heard the suppressed moan that accompanied the impact, but when quiet footsteps moved off he quickly shook the feeling away and ran at the other edge, the knights always in his lead.

The Prince hadn't even thought of the possibility that the thief might quit the roof, but gazing down at the maze of dark alleys he scolded himself for not having ordered his knights to surround the house. Of course they would still catch Emrys- he couldn't go far in this weakened stage, after all- but now it would take a lot more time.

Emrys was like a wild animal. Arthur would have to treat him more careful. A grim smile played across his face.

"When you are hunting a deer, startle it and beat it until it is tiring. Then you'll have an easy job of catching it."
-"Yes, Father."

The Prince had startled his prey. Now, beat it.
The hunt was only beginning.

Yeah, I know, big cliffie when you already know what's gonna happen... please review, though. After all, next chapter you will learn what Merlin did with his magic... *drums and trumpets* ;D.

Review Responses:

Clairepenndragon: xD I know, I can be evil... ;D. Well, I'll do my best to get the next chapter out soon, then you will know at least a bit more.
And guess you could call it a bit whump... not too much though, somehow doesn't fit into the story right now. I'm glad you can wait for it ;).
Hope you liked Arthur's feelings so far :). Thanks for yet another wonderful review :D!

Now... please review? *puppy-dog eyes* ^^