The next morning they all headed out toward the direction the attackers had come from. Arthur knew in the back of his mind that they had been sent by Dessa's kidnappers. He knew exactly what castle lay on the other side of the hills they were riding towards. It was King Carlton's kingdom and he was a feared enemy of Camelot. Emilia and Merlin mad up the second row of riders and they both couldn't have been in better moods. The day was bright and there was absolutely no tension between the two of them. "I have so much faith that we are going to find Dessa" said Emilia cheerfully. "It just seems like that kind of day." Merlin sat there a chuckled.

"Are you sure you didn't sneak off to the tavern last night? You seem almost too happy."

"Oh shut up" laughed Emilia and with that she grabbed Merlin's blue scarf and threw it off into the bushes.

"Hey!" Merlin exclaimed and got off his horse to pick it up. After he re-tied his scarf he noticed an opening in the rocks. "Hey guys, there's a tunnel over here."

Everyone rushed over and Arthur looked inside. "It looks like it leads to the castle. Tye up the horses, we are going this way.

Deep inside the tunnel was the darkest place Emilia had ever been. She couldn't see a thing. She clung onto the back of Merlin's jacket and allowed him to lead the way. She assumed there was a spell that gave him the power to see in the dark. Once there was light they stopped. Of course there had to be more than one tunnel to choose. Why did it always have to be so hard? They decided not to split up and took the passage that was on the far left. This one was a little lighter, but still smelled damp and was dripping with water.

After what seemed like an eternity they finally reached what sort of resembled a castle corridor. This time they split up and made their way to the opposite hallways. Merlin and Arthur went one way, Percival and Leon went one way and Emilia and Gwaine went the other. Emilia wondered why Arthur has such bad partner judgment. Her and Gwaine eventually got to a door, but before they could reach the handle a few guards jumped them. Emilia grabbed one from behind and let Gwaine handle the rest. Emilia had foolishly left her sword with the horse. The entered the room and found a cob web ridden throne room and who better to have inside that room then Lady Morgana herself. Emilia obviously didn't know it was her and went straight at her.
"YOU TOOK MY FRIEND! NOW I DEMAND YOU LET HER GO!." she screamed and without thinking grabbed Gwaine's sword and started running with all her might. Morgana lifted her hand and with one tiny, swift movement she sent Emilia flying toward the wall. Emilia landed on the stone floor and didn't move for a few minutes. Actually no one did because a guard had brought Dessa into the room and was threatening her with a sword. Any movement could put this whole journey to waste. Emilia slowly, but surely stood and leaned against the wall. Conveniently, Arthur and Merlin joined them a second later.

"Morgana, let her go." pleaded Merlin with such a look of sorrow and understanding in his face, that Emilia feared he would do something irrational. "Take me instead."

There it was the moment Emilia feared. The moment Merlin would start being the hero. He wouldn't use magic because both Morgana and Arthur didn't know he had it.

"And why would I do that?" asked Morgana, her green eyes glinting. "You're just a servant. You mean nothing to me or your King."

Emilia knew that Merlin would take those words to heart. He looked at Arthur as a friend and to be told that Arthur didn't feel the same way always made him depressed.

"But if you insist." continued Morgana and she let Dessa go and a guard dragged Merlin over to her. Dessa clamored over to Emilia.

"Why weren't you here earlier?" she whispered. "I give you a place to stay and this is how you repay me?" Emilia's heart sank. She knew this would happen. Dessa didn't deserve her friendship and when this was all over she would not be returning to her former employer. Suddenly a blast came from spot where, and Emilia noticed, that Morgana and the guards were standing. They had disappeared and had left a pile of rubble behind. Emilia assumed that King Carlton hadn't been here in a long time because no king would have allowed their castle to be blown to pieces. Emilia suddenly realized though that Merlin had been standing there too. She quickly made her way over the scene and began digging through the wreckage. The knights joined her. When she picked up one of the pieces she saw what she had been dreading. There was the red shirt and the blue scarf. The knights worked harder and finally unearthed Merlin from the rubble. He was lying there, motionless. Arthur knelt by his side with Emilia on the other side.

"Gwaine take Dessa back to the horses and send word to Camelot. We will be there shortly." ordered Arthur. He looked over at Emilia and noticed tears running down her face. He would save Merlin no matter what. He knew what love felt like and he also knew what losing a love felt like. He lifted Merlin off the ground and made his way to the tunnel.

Nothing was going to stop him now. They couldn't have made it back to Camelot at a better time. Gaius was already ready to tend to Merlin and Arthur urged Emilia to get some rest, but before she went into the castle though Arthur spoke to her.

"I saw what happened with Dessa. You are welcome to stay in Camelot for as long as you like. Anyways, I think Merlin would like that very much."

"Thank you" she replied and started toward the steps. She turned towards Arthur one more time and said, "You are a great friend to Merlin, whether you think so or not."