An update on time? What does this mean?!

Thank you for all your amazing reviews! I'm so glad you all liked it, and, although I haven't had the time to reply to them, I will try to later. Just a little message for carmoc about HP Studio Tour: It's basically going round all the sets and looking at the props and finding out how things work. It's in London, and it's amazing, and mind-blowing, but very expensive!

Also, for the first time since I started writing, when I've posed a mystery... I don't think anyone's figured out who really killed Malum! But all shall be revealed... now.

Enjoy!

XxX

Awakening

Consciousness returned to him slowly, and with it came the pain.

His head was throbbing, and he clenched his eyes shut, sucking in a deep breath.

'Merlin?'

Merlin's eyes blinked open, and he groaned at the bright light. His eyes slammed closed, and he heard someone hurrying around to his right, before the light vanished and he could pry his eyes open again.

'How are you feeling?'

Merlin frowned at Gaius, who was leaning over him with a concerned look on his face. 'Gaius...'

The physician reached for something out of the Warlock's reach, and a cup appeared at his lips. He took a long, grateful draught, before looking at the physician once again.

'Iyla? Where is she, Gaius? Is she alright?'

'She's fine,' Gaius smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed. 'She's with Guinevere now, looking after the other slaves.'

'Where..?' Merlin attempted to sit up, but grunted in pain, slumping back into the mattress. 'I don't understand. What happened? Where am I?'

Gaius reached out, slipping his hand under his ward's back, helping him to sit up, with pillows propping him up. 'You're home, Merlin.'

He looked around, and felt his breath catch. Tears welled up in his eyes as he looked around the familiar chambers, taking in the cluttered worktops and the old books littering the floor.

Currently, he was lying in the patients' bed, the door hidden by Gaius' screen, obscuring him from anyone who entered the chambers. The familiar scent of herbs and other concoctions wafted through the air, and a small amount of light filtered past a curtain that hung in the window, blocking the worst of the beams.

This wasn't his imagination; he was home.

Merlin let out a relieved laugh, burying his face in his hands. His mentor was by his side in an instant, wrapping his arm around his shoulder, and pulling him into a comforting embrace. He rubbed Merlin's shoulder as his laughs quickly turned to sobs, before he managed to get control wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

It took several moments for Merlin to steady himself properly, taking slow breaths as he leant against Gaius for support, but eventually he was able to lean back against the pillows by himself. 'What happened?'

Gaius began to unwrap the bandages around Merlin's chest, examining the many lacerations that crossed his chest.

'Malum kidnapped Iyla, and you went after him with the Knights. As far as I know, you faced him, and you nearly beat him. Iyla hasn't said much, but the Knights were knocked out, and when they came too, you were unconscious, Iyla was by your side, and Malum was dead on the ground with a bolt in his chest. Can you fill in any blanks?'

Merlin shook his head. 'No. No, Malum was still alive when he attacked and I was knocked out. I don't know what happened.'

'Could Iyla...'

The Warlock frowned at him. 'You think Iyla killed him?'

'It's a possibility.'

He bit his lip, placing a hand on his head. His mind was still foggy with sleep; he couldn't think straight.

Gaius simply nodded. 'We'll talk this through when you're feeling better.' He handed Merlin another cup, this time of a slightly greenish substance.

Merlin's eyes shot up. 'A sleeping draft?'

'It'll help,' the Physician shrugged, moving away to one of his shelves. The Warlock sighed, before downing the disgusting liquid and slumping down on the blankets.

It didn't take long for the draft to begin to work, and Merlin's eyes drifted closed, as he sunk into a deep sleep.

XxX

Iyla sighed as she finished writing the letter, folding up the parchment, and putting it to the side, ready to be delivered tomorrow morning.

Her hands were trembling, and she let out a shaky sob, burying her face in her arms.

She'd killed a man.

The moment Iyla had seen Merlin fall to the ground, unable to rise to protect her this time, fear had taken over her. She couldn't lose Merlin; he'd become her whole world in the last few months. Him and Hayley.

And Malum had been about to take that away from her.

Iyla had rushed to Merlin's side, pressing her hand to his chest in an attempt to find his heartbeat and she couldn't help but let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding when she felt it beneath his tunic.

She'd then looked up at the advancing sorcerer, whose dark, cruel eyes were focused on her and Merlin, the black already beginning to tint with gold.

There had been no time to think it through.

One of the Knight's crossbows', discarded when the vines had grabbed at their legs, was lying only a few feet away. She'd reached over, seized it, and aimed it at the source of months of fear, anger and pain.

Malum had laughed. He'd taunted her, telling her that there was no way that she was going to kill him. She was a little girl; she didn't have it in her.

And Iyla had responded by pressing the trigger.

The recoil had hurt, the wood smashing into her chest, and she'd watched in horror as Malum's eyes widened with shock, as he crashed into the earth, the bolt still protruding from his body.

She'd thrown the crossbow away then, flinging it across the clearing, before returning to Merlin's side. His eyes were closed now, and his breathing was erratic. She needed to get him back to the Physician, but there was no way she could carry him on her own.

And then the Knights had started to rouse, and come to her aid. They'd carried Merlin back to the camp, where he'd be loaded onto one of the carriages, and they'd begun the day long trek back to Camelot.

It had been the longest day of her life.

But now, Merlin was home. He was in his old chambers, with his mentor and father watching over him, and well on the way to recovery, the physician assured her. They'd only been back a day, but there was already a vast improvement in his condition, and Gaius had said there was a chance of him waking up soon. Malum's spell had rendered him unconscious, and they'd been forced to act quickly in order to save the Warlock, but it had worked.

Merlin was safe. And that's what mattered most.

But she'd still killed a man.

'How are you holding up?'

Iyla jumped, before turning in her seat. 'My Lady! I'm sorry; I didn't hear you come in.'

Gwen smiled. 'Don't worry about it. You must have a lot on your mind at the moment. Have you been to see him recently?'

She shook her head. 'I have a lot I need to do here; the families of the slaves need to be notified, and we need to arrange transport and escorts to get them all home. Hayley needs to be taken home, and Felicia, and...'

'Iyla,' Gwen placed a comforting hand on the young woman's shoulder. 'I understand. When Arthur and Merlin used to run off on their stupid quests, I knew that there was a chance they wouldn't come back. Keeping busy is the best thing to do. But let me tell you something about Merlin,' she leant forward, smiling. 'Merlin always bounces back.' She sighed, sitting down next to her friend. 'I... wasn't as worried about Merlin as I should have been. I tried to discourage Arthur from looking for him, because he was neglecting his duties as a King in an attempt to find him. I knew he would send Gwaine... that way, we were still looking for him, and the Kingdom was taken care of. But I should have been more worried, especially now I know what happened to him.'

Iyla smiled at her. 'You know he used to tell me stories about Camelot?' Gwen shook her head. 'We'd sit in a group, nearly every night, after all the wounded had been treated, and all the food evenly distributed, and we'd tell stories of our lives before we were taken. Merlin's were always the best.'

'What did he tell you?'

'He told us about the time you were captured by the outlaw, Hengist, and he and Arthur travelled day and night to rescue you.'

Gwen laughed. 'I don't think I've ever heard the full story. Arthur and I were... complicated back then. And Merlin was very supportive of our relationship; he set us up time and again to try and get us to admit our feelings.'

'I guess it worked,' Iyla grinned, and Gwen nodded. 'You're a great Queen,' she whispered. Gwen looked at her in surprise.

'I'm sorry?'

'You're a great Queen,' Iyla repeated. 'Not many would be able to put aside their own feelings for the sake of their Kingdom, especially if it was going to hurt those around them. And fewer would have sat and admitted that to a total stranger afterwards.'

Gwen stared at her for a moment, before letting her lips transform into a gentle smile. 'You know you and Merlin are perfect for each other, don't you?'

She looked down at her hands, before glancing back up at the Queen.

'Thank you, Milady.'

'Please,' she smiled. 'Call me Gwen.'

XxX

The next time he woke, he was wrenched from unconsciousness by his magic roaring through his veins.

Merlin's eyes flashed open, and he just had time to register the knife poised above him, before his hands were out in front of him, and his assailant was flung backwards, crashing into a table beside the bed.

He was bolt upright, staggering to his feet and using the screen for support, as Mordred shoved the splintered wood away from his body, rising from the ground.

'You!' Merlin snarled.

Mordred smirked, twirling the dagger in his hand. 'Nice to see you again, Emrys.'

'You set me up,' Merlin spat. 'You're the reason all this happened in the first place. This is your fault!'

'Of course,' Mordred nodded. 'We needed you out of the way.'

'Then why have you done nothing the past few months. You know that I've been... tied up, so why do nothing?'

'It was fun to watch King Arthur chase his tail,' Mordred smiled. 'He drove himself mad trying to find you, you know. Stopped running his kingdom altogether at one point. We could have taken the citadel at any time, but it was just... so much fun, to see him drown in his own guilt, who were we to interfere?'

The pain in his body was increasing, but his magic was numbing it, as Merlin lunged for the druid. The space was so tight, Mordred couldn't get away, and the Warlock crashed into him, knocking the dagger from his hand.

Behind him, Merlin was only half aware of the door being flung open, as he desperately tried to draw his magic forward to defend himself against Mordred, but he was still weak from his battle with Malum. His magic may have warned him about the impending attack, but it wasn't strong enough to defend him.

And suddenly, Mordred was again, yanked away by the third party that had come barrelling through the door.

Arthur had the druid pinned against the wall, and landed a solid punch to his chin, rendering the man unconscious.

'Guards!'

Two armed men appeared in the door way, and Arthur indicated to the traitor on the floor.

'Take this man to the dungeons. Do not leave him unaccompanied; two men are to be with him at all times.'

They nodded, dragging the man to his feet and pulling him from the chambers.

That's when the King turned to the Warlock, extending his hand. 'Are you alright?'

Merlin gulped, then nodded, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. He winced in pain as he was lowered, gently, back to his bed.

'I'll get Gaius.'

'Arthur...' Merlin's hand shot out, grabbing the King's wrist. Arthur turned, looking at the Warlock with his clear, blue eyes. 'Thank you.'

Arthur nodded, before pulling his wrist away. 'We'll talk later, when you're feeling better. Get some rest.'

He left the room, leaving Merlin confused, and tired, as he settled back in his pillows, allowing the exhaustion to wash over him once again.

XxX

And... that's a wrap!

Not really. Next chapter, fingers crossed, at the weekend but I'm not promising!

Everything should be wrapped up in the next two or three chapters now... So leave a review if you think I've missed anything! Or even if I haven't... I love reviews! We've passed 375! Most likely going to hit 400 before this story is finished. So thank you!

Until next time...

TTFN
Valkyriexx