A/N: Yay, another one! And guess what? 50 followers! Whoooooo, I still can't believe it. Thanks again to all of you who have stuck with me so far; your comments and interest in this makes it even more fun to write. :) So here's another nice, long chapter in celebration.

Merlin awoke slowly, strangely at peace with his dismal surroundings, yet he didn't understand why. He should be devastated, fearful, but instead he felt content and ready to face whatever Uther, Sandor Bane, and the rest of the world had to throw at him. Looking down at his hands in his lap as he sat up from his slumped position against the cell wall, Merlin found to his surprise that a swirling blue orb had materialized over his outstretched palm. He shrugged in confusion as it began to gradually fade away and the morning sunlight peeked its way through the barred window.

As the magic disappeared, so did his initial good mood, and Merlin realized in concern that not once had anyone tried to visit him. He didn't expect Arthur, as he was probably confined to his rooms at the moment, but Gwen hadn't come either, and even Gaius had been ominously absent. He would have given anything to see them one last time, to tell them, especially Arthur, that he was sorry for what he was going to have to do. Just as he instinctively had known how to defeat the wraith of Morgause on the plains, Merlin's thoughts were burdened by what he was going to have to sacrifice to end the threat to his destiny.

Deep in thought, Merlin didn't notice the footsteps echoing down the stairs to the dungeons and the murmured conversation with the guards as they allowed the visitor to continue down the hall.

"Hello, idiot," said a familiar voice, and Merlin glanced up in shock. Gaius stood with his medical bag on his arm and a small smile lighting up his face, but next to him stood a tall, blond figure, grinning teasingly.

"Arthur!"

Merlin stood and rushed to the cell door. Arthur seemed different somehow. He had bags under his eyes, and his eyes appeared haunted despite the mirth that currently filled them.

"Are you alright?"

Arthur's smile slipped for a second before he managed to cover it up with false cheer and bravado. But it hadn't slipped past Merlin's notice. "I think you are the one who should be answering that question," the prince replied pointedly, looking down at his manservant's disheveled appearance.

"I'm fine," Merlin mumbled.

Gaius took a large bronze key out of his pocket, shoving it roughly into the keyhole and rushing into the cell, quickly embracing Merlin before looking him over. He handed him a clean tunic and insisted that he remove the old one while the physician bustled around, checking his ward for any sign of hidden injury and pulling a loaf of bread out of his medicine bag.

Arthur stood in the doorway to the cell, cheerful façade gone and thunderous anger written across his face. Merlin stepped out of the reach of Gaius's ministrations and gripped his friend's forearm, forcing his lips upward into a wistful half-smile. Blood rushed through his veins in a now-familiar sensation of exultation at the spark that passed between them, but his joy was mixed with guilt and an overwhelming sense of misery at what he was going to have to put both of them through.

"Arthur-" he began, the prince staring at him intently. "I- I have to…" The words stuck in his throat, as if his silence could prevent the agonizing reality of what Bane had forced him to contemplate doing. No, not contemplate doing. He was going to do it, with absolute certainty. It was for the good of Camelot, after all. Merlin shook his head, and grinned deviously at Arthur, although the smile never reached his eyes. "I have to ask; how on earth did you wheedle your way into getting down here to visit me?"

The prince stared searchingly at his friend, but thankfully did not press the issue of the warlock's strange mood. He smirked, twirling his set of keys around his finger with a flourish. "Leon's on guard duty this morning, and Gwen helped smuggle me in here through the servants' quarters… it appears that I'm not the only one who doesn't want to see you executed." His smile faded.

"We need to get you out of here, or something… anything. I can't just sit around while Bane takes control over the castle from under my father's nose." Or afford to lose you, he added silently, but his pride wouldn't let him voice his fears. His frown deepened. "I had a dream last night… and Kilgarrah was there…"

Both Gaius and Merlin perked up at this, staring fixatedly at him. "What did he say?" Gaius urged, but Merlin said nothing, a strange expression on his face and an incomprehensible feeling of dread, hope, and guilt emanating off him in waves.

Arthur snorted in derision. "Nothing useful. A bunch of cryptic nonsense about the future being clouded and trusting Merlin..."

Any traces of hope fled from Merlin's face, and the dread intensified. His friend choked out a laugh. "Yeah, trusting me… sounds like a great plan…"

Arthur gazed at him in utter confusion, reaching out to place a comforting hand on Merlin's bony shoulder. "Merlin… Don't worry, alright? We've made it through worse things than this! Everything will be fine, and you'll be back to polishing my armor and cleaning out the stables in no time."

Merlin didn't look completely convinced, but smiled faintly anyway. "Once a prat, always a prat," he muttered, earning himself an affectionate elbow in the ribs. Gaius cleared his throat pointedly.

"The rotation of the guards is going to happen in less than fifteen minutes, Arthur. We have to get you back to your rooms before Leon is replaced with someone less understanding."

The prince nodded. "Go on ahead and return to your chambers, Gaius. I'll leave in a minute and lock the door behind me, and I'm sure Guinevere can lead me back safely enough." The physician nodded, sending Merlin one last concerned glance and hurrying from the cell. The prince gripped Merlin's forearm reassuringly.

"I will never let you burn, my friend. Never. I'll think of something to get you out of here or to end the enchantment on my father, or whatever, and we'll make Sandor Bane wish he never showed his sorry face in Camelot, alright?"

Merlin grinned weakly. "Yeah, we'll see if you're as good at saving me as I am at saving you, eh?"

Arthur nodded solemnly. "Yes… and thank you."

His friend stared at him as if he had sprouted a third head.

The prince continued. "For always being there for me. It's high time I returned the favor." He laughed quietly. "So you just relax here, tell your magic to stop moving things around my chambers, and we're set."

Raised voices echoed down the hallway, signaling the changing of the guard, and Arthur straightened hurriedly, squeezing Merlin's hand a final time before easing the cell door closed and jamming the key in the lock. He sped silently around the corner without a backwards glance, leaving Merlin feeling even worse than before. He hadn't even had a chance to say goodbye.

A/N: Some REAL action to come in the next chapter... I wonder what plan Merlin has up his sleeve, hmm? :) Until next time!