A/N: Alright I know, its been much too long. I do apologize. This last production I was on was just...awful. Worst one I have been on so far. So glad its over but I think the film will turn out pretty good despite the chaotic production. But enough about that, here's the next chapter that you all have been so patiently waiting for. Wahoo! Things are being revealed! Enjoy!


For the first time in what felt like a fortnight, he was at peace. No worries. No pain. Not even a single thought passed through his mind. There was nothing, calm and silent like the peace that surrounded one when under still waters.

Then it shattered as stones, loud and sharp were thrown into the water, forcing Merlin into the waking world. He gasped, eyes flying open, one word breaking the silence of his thoughts.

Arthur.

Memories came rushing back, fast and ferocious, as though a dam had broke, releasing them to the forefront of his mind. The events of the past few days—or had it been weeks? Truly, there was no way for him to know having spent most of them either delusional or unconscious—played out in bits and pieces and Merlin winced with each one. Worry, fear, guilt, all of it invaded every nook and cranny of his being as though it had never been chased away by Gaius' potion.

Before he registered what he was doing, Merlin was up, determination driving him forth. He fell back upon the bed almost immediately. His body, still weak and tired from his ordeal, was unprepared for the sudden movement. He growled in frustration. Arthur didn't have time for him to recover!

Merlin took a few steadying breaths, not deep but filling, wanting to gather his wits and strength before attempting to rise again. There was no way any threatening illness was going to keep him down. Not again. He wouldn't make that mistake ever again. From now on, it was fight back or die trying. Arthur's life, their destiny, they were much too important.

Beyond Merlin's room, the wooden door of the main chambers creaked open on unoiled hinges.

"Sir Leon?" Gaius' muffled voice sounded from the front chambers, greeting the caller in the hall.

Leon's answered, formal as always. "Her majesty requires your presence in the council chambers as a matter of urgency."

"I was just about to see to my patients—"

"Gaius," Leon interrupted, dropping all illusions of formality, his voice low, words slow and sure, "it concerns Arthur."

Merlin blanched, his whole body tensing, threatening to send him into a panic. Noise faded until all he could hear was a dull ringing in his ears. Arthur. There was news of Arthur. But, if Gaius was being summoned, the news would not be good. Either Arthur had been found and returned in a less-than-healthy state, or new information about his whereabouts had surfaced and the news was grave at best. Any way he imagined it, the reason for Gaius' summons didn't bode well for the king.

And whatever it was, Merlin knew he was at fault.

The snick of the front door closing as Gaius and Leon left snapped Merlin back to the present. Arthur, he needed to find out about Arthur. He needed to know what was being discussed at that meeting. Without a second thought, he pulled on his boots and arose once more, finding his footing weak and unstable but manageable. A bout of dizziness threatened to send him back onto the mattress but he ignored it, his determination pushing him forward, disregarding the pains and aches of his still recovering body. It didn't matter. None of it mattered. Arthur could be hurt, dying, imprisoned somewhere with not a day left of his life. Merlin did not have the luxury to lay around. He may very well be Arthur's only chance. Oh, who was he kidding, the king couldn't last without him.

He traced his hands along the corridor feeling the stone walls, cold and rough under his fingers but solid, offering stability as he staggered. Sunlight streamed through the windows, colors dancing merrily on the grey stone, lighting his way. For midday, the hallways were surprisingly vacant. Those Merlin did pass were but servants and maids going about their duties and only able to spare him several concerned looks and surprised glances as he passed. He paid them no mind, having to focus most of his attention on putting one foot in front of the other. It was a challenge. More than once he felt one of his legs threaten to buckle and it took all his effort and the wall's support to keep him going. But surprisingly enough, he reached the fork in the corridor faster than should have been possible for someone in his state. His lungs, however, were sure to make their displeasure known, seeming to shrink in on themselves. The sound of his panting and gasping echoed off the stone walls as he continued toward the council chambers, the stuttering of his stumbling footsteps accompanying them.

On a whim, he stole into a servants' passage. The council chambers were sure to be guarded by the usual foot soldiers and Merlin had no desire to explain his being there—especially as he was supposed to be laid up in bed, ill and recovering—and have to argue his way in.

Voices reached his ears, faint at first, but growing in volume as he approached where the servants' corridor opened into the council chambers. He immediately recognized Gwen's feminine but authoritative voice and hastened forward, not wanting to miss what information she had to relay.

Quietly, Merlin stole along the wall beside the entrance, still in the corridor, hiding himself away.

"—received a ransom note just a bit ago," Gwen stated.

His heart sank. He had guessed such a thing would occur and frankly, was pleased it was ransom rather than the other more dark possibilities he had been imagining. At least this outcome ensured Arthur still lived and would be kept relatively unharmed in order to get full price for his return. That is, if the kidnapper played the game fairly.

Curiosity drove Merlin to peer around the corner. He needed to read just how dire the situation was upon the faces of those seated within the chamber. Gwen stood before the knights and Gaius, her stature regal, commanding the room with just her presence. Oh, how she had transformed since her days as a maidservant. But Merlin noticed how, despite her outward demeanor, there was a worry, a fear emanating from the queen. It spiked Merlin's own worry just that much more.

The knights looked curious. Worried, yes, but not overly so. Not like waves that were coming off Gwen.

Gaius spoke then, "Dare I ask what it says, my lady?"

Gwen nodded and began to read off the parchment in her hands.

"It is my great pleasure to inform you that I have your king in my company. As of now, he lives and shall remain so only if you come alone, in person, to negotiate the terms to claim him. Fail to do so, and further harm shall come to him, resulting in a drawn out and most unpleasant death. The choice is ultimately yours. You have one week."

The room was eerily quiet as she folded up the letter, trying to hide the shaking of her hands. But Merlin saw it anyway, the cold in his veins spreading even further.

"The seal is that of the Kingdom of Deorham," Gwen continued, her tone low and angry with but a small wobble in her voice that betrayed her distress. "Alined's lands."

Gwaine spoke up, "But what would Alined want—"

"There is more," Gwen said, her voice breaking finally, harsh and wet as though she was struggling to hold back tears.

Gaius frowned in unease, "Your majesty?"

"It also came with this." She reached for a small bundle on the table, wrapped carefully in a silk handkerchief. Merlin frowned. Why would such a small thing warrant this sort of reaction from Gwen? Arthur didn't carry a handkerchief so it couldn't possibly be his.

He saw it not a moment later. Merlin's eyes widened, disbelieving. A cold iron fist closed around his lungs, stealing his breath at the sight. He was sure his heart had stopped beating.

The handkerchief was stained with blood.

Slowly, Gwen unwrapped it. Merlin almost closed his eyes, but he forced himself to watch. He was its cause after all. He was the reason this package had been sent. He was the reason that Arthur wasn't here. He was the reason this ransom was able to take place at all. He had failed to protect the king. Whatever horrors it brought, he deserved them.

The last of the handkerchief fell away revealing, sitting innocently in its folds, a finger with a very familiar looking ring still adorning it. Arthur's ring. The ring he wore at all times on his left forefinger. Merlin saw that ring every day, glinting in the sun as Arthur gestured about. Felt in dig into his skin when Arthur manhandled him down the hallways. Covered it with a glove before training or a hard ride. Arthur always wore it, and always on the same hand, the same finger.

A finger that had been savagely cut off and delivered to the queen.

Merlin barely heard the gasps that sounded through the room. His eyes were glued to the dismembered finger. Arthur's finger. The cold in his veins turned to ice. He retreated into the small corridor, his back hitting the rough stone wall, the only thing keeping him on his feet as his stomach threatened to rebel. His pulse was pounding. His heart breaking. This was his doing. His fault. He had done this to Arthur. He was the reason his king was sitting in some cell in Deorham. Hurt. Crippled. Irreparably damaged. Arthur would now forever carry around the disfigurement. There for all to see. Merlin's failure. If only he hadn't run his mouth, hadn't fallen ill, had paid more attention, tried harder, fought better, anything! It was all his fault.

"There is one more thing," Gwen said, her voice breaking through Merlin's whirling thoughts, forcing him to focus on the present once more. "Gaius, the letter, it-it wasn't addressed to me."

"Who was it addressed to?" Gaius asked, his tone agitated as though he already knew for whom this letter was meant.

"Someone called Emrys."


A/N: Hahaha hope that was good for you all. Now I hate to break it to you but I have another production that starts filming beginning of March. I'll try to get another chapter out before then but if not, it may be another wait. Hopefully I'll get some down time to write either on set or on days off. Just, bear with me, I won't abandon this fic. Thanks for being great guys and as usual, have fun, be safe, and don't die. Stay magical, my friends :)