The dry air was the first thing he noticed. The second was the heat beneath him and the third was the dull ache in his head. Staring blearily up at the ceiling, Arthur couldn't place where he was. Had he fallen asleep without realizing?
Shifting his head, his gaze settled on the blurry shapes across from him. A table and a chair, both broken and shoved off to the side. There was a fireplace too, and as the world around him came more into focus he could make out shattered fragments of glass littering the floor. He was in the physician's chambers, but why was everything in shambles?
The ache in his head spread towards his eyes, the King wincing as he swallowed and felt the dryness of his throat. Had he come for help? Why couldn't he remember? It felt like a dream. A strange dream that did not belong to him.
Jolting upright, Arthur turned to look beside him, his body lying on the floor instead of a cot, and found the dark haired servant nowhere to be seen. Pushing himself off the ground Arthur took another look around, eyeing the ruined chambers warily.
Drapes had been torn and left on the floor while the shelves Gaius always kept so meticulous had been broken, the vials of potions and remedies smashed against the floor and thrown into the hearth. A wave of nausea struck the King as Arthur lurched forwards, sweat gathering along his brow as he swayed unsteadily.
They're coming.
Run!
Find him!
Get away!
Listen.
Placing a hand on the wall to steady himself, the King shook his head in an attempt to rid the feeling of dread rising within him. Why did he feel so much fear? Terror clawed at his chest and twisted tightly in his stomach, yet he couldn't figure out why. It wasn't his worry over Merlin, no, he'd felt that for days and it was nothing like this. This feeling was something different, something that crept up from the depths of his mind and latched onto him with all its might.
Visions of blood and death filled his head, flashes of his father and Morgana making the man dizzy as Arthur staggered, his body seeming to weigh heavier by the second as he sagged weakly against the wall.
Curling his fingers against the stone, Arthur's eyes closed and panic wound around his heart, his breaths coming out harder and faster. What was happening? Why couldn't he breathe? There was too much fear, too much panic, too much pan.
Merlin.
Blue eyes flew open as the wave pulled away, the flashes of thoughts and the aches of misery fading away as the King shuddered, sucking in a shallow breath. Was that what Merlin felt? All the fear and the terror, reliving his greatest regrets and worst moments in unending succession? He could hardly bear the thought as he pushed away from the wall and ran a hand through his hair.
They're coming!
The faintest whisper drifted over the King, though it wasn't out loud around him. It was as if the voice had slipped into his mind and curled around him, urging him to listen. This time though he didn't have to wonder where it came from because he already knew what it was. All around him, pouring out of every surface he could sense it, the feeling of magic. It was heavy, the air practically tasting of the old power as Arthur took another breath and made his way out through the partially opened door.
The halls were cracked and broken, pieces of stone and debris scattered along the ground as the King walked, his eyes looking around at the ruined citadel around him. Pillars had been smashed and glass shattered, everywhere the man stepped he found his home in ruins. When Merlin spoke of his dreams he never mentioned the citadel itself, only the pyre that towered outside. Was this how it always looked? Or was this new?
Making his way outside and down the cracked steps, Arthur nearly froze at the sight of smoke heavy in the sky. His steps slowed as moisture gathered in his eyes and the scent of something burning swept over him. A single scream pierced through the air, loud and long and sending a chill down the blonde's spine as he ventured further, spotting the mountainous pyre that Merlin had told him of.
He'd never doubted what Merlin said, but he was vastly unprepared for the actual image of it before him. It was the biggest he'd ever seen with large piles of wood stacked along the edges as the flames ate away at the fuel greedily. Thick clouds of smoke traveled through the air, making it even more dry and acrid as the man moved to cover his face.
A shadow shifted within the flames, a trembling hand reaching out to him desperately as his stomach turned. Stumbling away, another scream broke out, followed by two others as Arthur ducked his head at the noise.
Looking to the right where the first shriek had originated, he caught sight of a lumbering form staggering towards him. As it grew closer, Arthur was able to see more defining features, features he wished he could erase from his mind the moment he saw them.
Fingers that had been crushed and mangled reached towards the pyre while burned flesh that hung off the bones of the body's arms brushed against a caved in side, the chest of the body half exposed and bleeding down its legs as Arthur's eyes grew wide.
The face of the body was somehow more horrific, due to the fact that there wasn't a face at all. Instead of eyes there were only two gaping holes, blood pooling from the sockets and down over where the nose and mouth should have been, but instead only had mutilated flesh that looked as if it had been carved away with a rusted blade.
Another wail sounded, coming directly from the creature he couldn't look away from, and it sounded angry. Arthur's heart pounded while guilt and horror washed over him as the King ducked behind a wall and struggled to draw in a decent breath.
All this time, is this what was plaguing Merlin? Those creatures and their screams? They were people once, weren't they? Were they the sorcerers that his father had condemned? That he had condemned?
Arthur's eyes closed tightly before wrenching back open, an image of the gore burned into the back of his eyelids. He had to get Merlin out of this place. But first that required actually finding the boy.
Glancing up at the citadel, his eyes scanned over the outside which looked just as worn and broken as the inside had. Large chunks of the walls had been wrenched free, the remains scattered in smaller pieces on the grounds. Further off, one far side of the citadel had crumbled all together, debris collecting into a large pile beside what had once been sturdy walls.
There were so many places to look, how was he supposed to find him in time? Before he got worse, before his breathing stopped again? Before they both were condemned to the same fate he'd forced on the sorcerers.
Another scream rose up, one that sounded disturbingly triumphant. Arthur pulled closer to the wall, leaning his head around as he watched two deformed bodies pulling themselves up from the ground as one wailed and stretched out a broken limb. Following the direction of the arm he spotted another blood covered body running towards the stables, though it seemed more intact than the other's he'd seen.
Save him!
The words hit him like a punch, his body lurching forwards as he watched the form duck down, a mop of black hair sticking up over a half wall for the briefest moment before it disappeared.
"Merlin." Arthur murmured, starting towards him as one of the faceless creatures turned, a head barely connected to its neck facing directly towards the King. "Damn." He muttered, backing away slowly before he turned and ran.
The wailing that echoed behind him was inhuman, heavy footsteps chasing after him as sweat poured down the King's face. The heat was agonizing just by itself, stripping the oxygen from the air and making each breath harder to force out. He had a suspicion though that if he dared to try and stop at one of the pumps he'd only find them dry.
Was this what Alard had planned? To force them into this hell? Or was this because it had struck Merlin instead? But then why had it manifested into such a horrific nightmare? He had too many questions and absolutely no answers.
Leaping over a mound of debris and rounding the corner, Arthur caught sight of the ruined stables to his right, the only place Merlin could've possibly been headed. Why had he not gone to the citadel, gone in one of the rooms and barricaded himself in?
"He's not fighting against it." That was what the sorcerer had said. So he was just running, but when would that prove to not be enough?
Ducking behind a half standing pillar and dropping to the ground, Arthur peered behind him and spotted three of the faceless bodies working their way towards him. He was faster than them, there was no doubt about that. But what good would running do? At some point they'd need to stop and those things appeared to be everywhere.
Creeping slowly away from the pillar and hiding himself behind the larger pieces of debris, Arthur bolted towards the torn apart stables, glancing over his shoulder as he ducked behind a splintered rafter to be sure he hadn't been seen. Letting out a slow breath, Arthur waited an extra moment before crouching and carefully moving around the outer edge of the building.
It had been stripped haphazardly, leaving wide open gaps in some areas while leaving fully fleshed walls in others. Making it near the back half, Arthur came to a halt as he spotted that same head of hair huddled in the shadows in the corner of a stall through a torn out opening where it looked as if someone had ripped it apart with their bare hands. He'd drawn himself close as he'd done in the tower, making himself appear as small as possible as he sagged against one of the few posts still standing.
Looking behind him a final time, Arthur crept beneath a fallen beam and inched his way inside, placing his boots carefully on the debris so as not to make noise and draw attention from anything lurking outside. Merlin's head had begun to fall, his chin resting against his chest as Arthur neared him, looking him over with a worried gaze.
Stepping over the last broken post and kneeling near the boy, Arthur reached out and grabbed his shoulders, hoping to keep him as quiet as possible without frightening him more. Merlin's head jerked up at the contact and the boy shoved himself away, wincing in pain as wide blue eyes stared up at him. Starting to lift a hand in assurance he watched as fear crept across the boy's face as he blinked a couple of times.
"Merlin?" Arthur asked softly, though the words didn't seem to affect him as he reached out again. As he tried Merlin shoved himself further away, his back hitting one of the fallen pieces of wood as he barely shook his head.
"Not you, please." He murmured, his voice cracking as his head fell and he pushed harder against the wood that kept him from running. "Anyone but you."
Arthur frowned as Merlin's fingers curled into the dirt, a small tremor running through him as the blonde swallowed down the hurt that struck him. What had he been through already? Merlin didn't cower like this, he'd never acted in such a manner before, so why now? Why did he seem so afraid of him?
Inching closer, Arthur's hands took hold of the boy's arms carefully, hoping to urge the servant to look at him. If he would just look at him he could try to explain that he wasn't going to hurt him, that he was there to help. Instead, a weak and broken voice uttered out six words that felt like a sword had been driven through Arthur's chest. "Please, I don't want to burn."
Looking over the boy slowly, Arthur's eyes drifted over the cuts littering his skin and the bright discolored patches beneath torn and singed clothing as his stomach churned. Just how many times had he been forced into the fire already?
Keeping one hand on his arm, the other reached out and shifted to the side of Merlin's neck, turning his head and urging him to look up as he tried to gauge how bad his injuries were. There was blood mixed with sweat and dirt on almost every inch of his body, either smeared or pooled or openly bleeding. A newfound hate for the sorcerer rose within the King as Merlin's head finally lifted, eyes watered down with unshed tears looking at him warily.
"Merlin?" He asked slowly, forming the words carefully as a hint of recognition flitted across his face. That was more than enough for him as Arthur breathed a little easier. "Are you alright? Gods, you look like hell. Can you walk?" He knew he was talking too fast, he hadn't given the boy time to catch any of the words. He was just staring at him, his mouth parted in shock as Arthur's fingers curled around his neck and pulled him closer as he leaned his own head in until their foreheads nearly touched. "Merlin?"
And suddenly he was laughing. It was weak, and short lived, but it was a sound Arthur hadn't heard in ages. "Arthur, it's actually you." He breathed out with relief, the fear disappearing entirely. He was about to speak, to ask why he'd been so afraid when Merlin's body moved forwards. The boy's arms were around him before he could utter a word, eyes widening at the hug as another softer laugh left the boy.
"Of course it's me." He muttered, drawing his arms up to return the hug as he rolled his eyes. "You're such a girl." He huffed out as a sense of relief and normality struck him, undeniable joy nearly bringing a smile to his lips.
"Wait," Merlin mumbled, pulling away after a moment though his hands remained on Arthur's shoulders. "How are you here? I-I don't understand."
"It's-" Arthur started, trying to find a way to explain it to him simply as a shrill scream pierced through the air nearby and both men flinched. "We've got to go, they're coming."
Pushing himself up, Arthur grabbed ahold of the boy's elbow and eased him up with him. As he did the boy groaned, stumbling forwards and crashing into his friend as Arthur held him steady. "Merlin?" The up and down worry was going to kill him, Arthur just knew it. He was foolish to have believed the boy was alright, not with the way he looked, not with what he'd had to have been through before he got there.
"I'm fine.. My leg just gave out.. I'm fine." He hissed, bracing himself against Arthur's shoulder as he turned his leg and looked down at it. Stretched along his calf was a burn that covered the majority of the limb, the trousers he wore torn away to reveal the blistered skin that had been ripped open in a couple of places and leaked blood into his boot.
"What did they do to you?" The King asked uselessly as Merlin grimaced, his eyes unable to see his words.
"I'm fine." He repeated as Arthur wrapped an arm around the boy's waist to help guide him out. "Arthur, I'm fine, I can walk."
Pulling away, he flashed the blonde a small smile that faded the moment another wail drifted through the air. "Okay, let's go."
Climbing carefully over the debris, the two made their way back through the hole Arthur had come inside from. Slipping out first and turning back, Arthur offered the boy his hand as Merlin grabbed ahold and was pulled through, stumbling with all of his usual grace onto the ground outside. "Clumsy even in your dreams, Merlin. Now that's talent."
"Maybe if you hadn't tried to yank my shoulder out of place." He shot back, his eyes on his arm as he stood and brushed away the dirt from one of his wounds with a grimace.
"Maybe if you were faster and-" The King's words cut off abruptly, mouth falling open as the servant looked up and gave him a curious glance.
"What? Don't tell me you've thought better of your remark."
"You heard me." Arthur sputtered, disbelief raging through him as Merlin's lips curved into the smallest smile.
"Apparently you're so loud even the deaf can't ignore you. Congratulations, Sire."
"Shut up, Merlin." He retorted, though the smile on his own face was inarguably the widest he'd had since everything began.
"They're coming." The boy's smile fell again as he looked behind the King, grabbing at Arthur's arm as the two took off back towards the citadel.
"Have you just been running from them?"
"What else is there to do?" Merlin panted, his pace far slower than Arthur's as the boy fought to keep up with him.
"Fight back?" He offered, slowing his pace to match Merlin's as the servant shook his head quickly.
"No." He murmured, a flash of fear darting over his features. "We can't fight them."
"Why not?"
"We just can't!" His sudden outburst startled Arthur, narrowing his eyes at the boy who looked away guiltily. "All I can do is hide, but they always find me. Always."
Sighing, Arthur caught the boy's arm and yanked him to the left, tugging him behind a cracked wall as a faceless form staggered past. "Well where do we go then?" He whispered, Merlin's shoulder pressed into his chest as the boy practically wheezed beside him.
"There's not many places I haven't been. They're slow, but they never stop. I've only managed to hide for a few minutes at a time before one of them finds me." He grumbled out, sweat running down both of their faces as Arthur pressed his head back against the stone. Maybe if they found somewhere to hide they could work out a plan from there. Besides, Merlin couldn't run around for much longer, he looked ready to collapse as it was. "Arthur you never said, how are you here?"
"You're asking this now?" The blonde hissed, glaring at him as Merlin stared back with a pained expression. "I found the sorcerer." He stated simply, looking around them as Merlin caught his breath.
"Did you.." He hesitated, and his eyes were full of that same terror as before.
"I didn't kill him." He found himself assuring the boy, pleased yet confused at the relief that flooded onto his face. "He cast a spell, a second one, to put me here in your dream." He felt a flush of embarrassment at the admission, glancing away as his servant gaped at him.
"You let a sorcerer cast a spell? On you? Willingly?"
"Well what other option was there?" He replied, still refusing to look at him. "You were dying."
"Wait, what spell did he cast?" Merlin asked, suddenly staring intently at the King.
"Why does it matter?"
"Arthur, what spell."
"Some sleeping enchantment, how should I know?" He waved his hand around, already knowing what the boy was getting at. But he couldn't know what the risk was, could he? "I took a sleeping draught, nothing more."
"If you just took a sleeping draught you wouldn't be here."
"Why do you care?"
"Arthur." Why was he so intent on knowing? What did it matter how?
"He connected our subconsciouses so that I could enter your dream." He forced out, meeting the other's eyes as Merlin's face contorted into one of shock and then irritation.
"How could you do that?" He hissed as a scream had them huddling closer to the wall.
"What do you mean how could I do that? I came to save your life." He muttered back, frustration at his response welling up inside him.
"Arthur, I know how bad it is." He scoffed, anger lighting up his eyes as his shoulder shifted against him. "I know how sick I am. What you've done, if something happens to me, you'll die."
"And if I didn't you would've." Arthur shot back. How did Merlin even know about a spell like that? Had Gaius mentioned it at some point?
"You're the King, Arthur. The life of a servant is nothing compared to the King."
"You would have rather I let you die?" He asked, his voice falling quiet as Merlin's mouth opened to respond though no words came out. "You'd have rather I left you here, condemn you to this same fate?" When the boy failed to speak Arthur scoffed, turning away again. "That's what I thought."
"My life is nothing compared to yours, Arthur. Camelot needs you."
"Aren't you a piece of Camelot?" His voice rose, glaring at the idiot who couldn't seem to get it. "I wasn't going to leave you here to die, Merlin, so shut up about it." Silence lingered over them as the servant stared at the ground, his fingers probing gently at a cut on his forearm as Arthur looked around them. "We need to find a place to go until we figure out a plan. We're too out in the open here."
"The tower." Merlin spoke quietly.
"What?"
"The tower." He repeated, pulling away and starting towards the pavilion. "It's one of the places I haven't gone yet and it will take them longer to go up the stairs."
Following after him, the two made their way around carefully, keeping distance between them and the hordes when Merlin slowed. His eyes were trained on the fire and Arthur could sense the fear settling over him.
"Quit dragging your feet." He spoke, jarring the other as he ducked his head.
"I'm not." Merlin retorted quietly, his pace picking up again as they climbed the stairs and worked their way through the halls.
Giving up caution for speed, the two began to run as they dodged around the debris and over the cracked floors that had jagged pieces of stone jutting out in certain places. Heat and sweat clung to the two, each breath heavier than the last as the blonde swallowed thickly and moved faster. A horrifying screech rose up behind them as Arthur ducked around a corner and kept running, spotting the last staircase ahead of them.
"Arthur!" Skidding to a stop the King looked behind him, cursing at the lack of an annoying servant by his side.
"Merlin!"
"Let go, let go of me!"
Turning back around the corner Arthur found Merlin and one of the faceless horde struggling. The boy's arm was clasped tightly between bloodied fingers while its second hand reached towards his throat as another piercing screech had Arthur shying away. Merlin was struggling to fight back, a hand already slick with its blood shoving at its arm as he stumbled unevenly over the rubble on the ground.
Reaching down and picking up a piece of cracked stone, Arthur strode forwards as Merlin tugged at his own arm in an attempt to free it. Slamming the stone down hard against the body's arm, a sickening snap sounded and it screeched louder, the King flinching away as its fingers retracted from his servant and Merlin staggered towards him.
"Go!" He yelled, shoving at the boy's shoulder as he rounded the corner once more and they made their way towards the next stairwell.
"They'll never stop." The boy mumbled beside him, his pace falling slower as the blonde continued to push him forwards. "They blame me for what's happened to them, they want me to burn, to burn like they did. They'll never stop." He was rambling faster now, the words almost incoherent as he stopped and caused Arthur to nearly trip over him.
"Merlin, we don't have time for this." He sighed, pushing at him to move though the boy remained stubbornly in place.
"They're not going to stop until I burn." His voice was a haunted whisper as Arthur felt a pang in his chest, his hands grabbing Merlin's shoulders as he turned the boy to look at him.
"That's not going to happen." He spoke sharply, staring into the broken blue eyes that didn't belong on his friend. "I won't let it, do you hear me? Now we have to go." Keeping a hand against his arm he ushered him up the rest of the stairs as Merlin's gaze fell to the floor and his ramblings turned to disconcerting silence.
Reaching the top and walking through the hall Arthur had frequented with the boy in their normal life, he felt a sense of hope. "Come on, we're almost there." He encouraged, keeping a firm hand on him as they stepped inside a room at the end of the hall.
It was around the size of the physician's chambers, though it had obviously been untouched for a long time given the amount of dust that floated through the air the second they stepped inside. Pushing the door closed behind him and catching his breath, he spotted Merlin staring at him strangely.
"What?"
"The door, it closed."
"That's what doors are intended for, Merlin. I thought you'd at least be aware of that much." The shifting of his expression was some relief to the blonde as he walked over and caught sight of the boy's arm cradled against his body. "What did that thing do?" He asked, reaching out and pushing away his hand as his mouth fell open. "How the hell did that thing manage that?" He gaped, staring at the large cuts that dug into the boy's arm. Four deep holes that had been driven through his skin bled thin streams of crimson as Merlin barely shook his head.
"The doors never closed for me before." The servant stated, referring to the question before as Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Or perhaps you didn't have the strength. You've got hardly any actual muscle on you at all. Maybe if you'd listen to me for once and try to get in better shape you wouldn't have such trouble with a single door." He scoffed, reaching out and ripping the sleeve of Merlin's tunic more until he'd obtained a strip of the fabric.
"You have to wake up." Merlin shook his head, barely reacting as the King tied the fabric around the fresh wound and secured it in place.
"I will, when we figure out how to wake you up as well."
"They'll never stop. They'll keep coming. You'll be hurt, or killed."
"This isn't up for discussion Merlin, we'll figure out a way."
"The sorcerer didn't tell you?" The question had the King glancing up, watching as the boy stood stiffly in the center of the room. "When he cast the spell, did he not tell you what you needed to do?"
"He said to listen." Arthur said slowly, a muffled scream sounding out in the hall as Arthur moved towards the door and pressed his back against the panels.
"That's it? Nothing else?" Merlin asked, moving suddenly and bracing his back against the door beside his friend.
"No, he mentioned you weren't fighting though. That you couldn't, or didn't know you could."
"He said that?" Merlin turned his head to study him as a heavy weight slammed against the door, jarring the both of them.
"Do you know what he meant?" Arthur questioned, another slam jerking him as he dug his feet against the floor. "Because if you do, now would be the time to say it!"
"He can't have meant that, it won't work." Merlin muttered, his eyes staring across the room though he appeared to be somewhere else entirely.
"What won't?" Arthur asked as an angry screech startled the two, followed closely by two more manic screams as the door shuddered again.
"He couldn't have meant that. It didn't work before so why would it now?"
"Merlin, what are you talking about?"
"Unless somethings changed, something he knew would change." The boy was rambling to himself again, barely seeming to notice as the door shook behind them. "He wouldn't, would he? Oh, he would."
"Merlin, answer me!" Arthur shouted, startling the boy back to reality as he looked up at him, an unreadable expression crossing his face as he locked eyes with the blonde.
"Move."
"What?"
"Move out of the way, we have to let them in." He spoke slowly, pushing himself away from the door and walking towards the center of the room again.
"Have you been struck in the head? If we let them in they'll kill you!"
Merlin shook his head slowly, his hands clasping together as his fingers picked at one of his nailbeds in a nervous manner. "No they won't."
"Yes they will, you said it yourself!" What was wrong with him? Why was he acting like that?
"Do you trust me?" The question came out of nowhere, Arthur's hands pressing flat against the door as the next crash sent his feet sliding as the growing horde fought to get inside.
"What are you talking about?"
"Arthur, do you trust me?"
It was asked so intently, his eyes staring hard at him as Arthur swallowed once. "Yes."
"Then move."
"Are you planning to throw yourself at them? Because if this is you trying to be noble keep in mind that if you die I will as well." He warned, a feeling of dread beginning to surface as Merlin's eyes closed for a moment and the ghost of a smile lit up his face. But then it was gone, and blue eyes that carried the weight of the world stared back at him.
"Move, let them in."
He tried to think of another way to argue, of a way to get whatever his plan was out of him, but instead Arthur found himself pulling away and walking towards him. Maybe he'd decided to fight back after all?
"I'm sorry." Merlin said quietly, taking a step to his right and creating distance between the two of them as Arthur froze. The door shuddered again, a splintering noise erupting from the frame though the King's eyes were stuck on his friend. Something wasn't right. Something really wasn't right.
"I'm really sorry, this isn't.. I-I didn't want this.." He trailed off, the door crashing again as a piece of wood broke free and the door swung open.
"Merlin?"
"This wasn't the way I wanted you to find out." Backing further away from the door, blue hues met the King's before they turned, moving onto the horde of beaten and burned bodies that began to crowd towards him.
"What are you talking about?" He asked, feeling the dread crash over him in wave after wave. What was he planning? What was he hoping to gain from letting them in? And why did he look at him like he was about to lose everything?
"I'm sorry." He uttered a final time, shifting back one more step as he lifted his hand out towards the horde.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" Arthur demanded, panic rising in his throat as he took a step forwards.
"Ic þé wiþdrífe." The spell rolled off Merlin's tongue with ease as several of the bodies went flying back, crashing into others and knocking them to the floor in motionless heaps. Not that Arthur cared, or could even focus on them. All he could see were eyes that had once been blue that now flashed gold.
Merlin. Idiotic, bumbling, lying Merlin. His best friend, the person he'd trusted with everything, the one who had never failed him or let him down. The man that he'd risked his life to save, the man that he'd considered to be one of the most important people in his life, had just used magic. Which meant that Merlin was a sorcerer; and he'd betrayed him.
A/N
And with that, Arthur knows. *mic drop* I'm so giddy about these chapters guys it's crazy. And this one turned out SUPER long but I think it turned out perfect. At least my biased self thinks so. I am so glad I turned this into a reveal fic cause man I am loving this. Three chapters left!
Shout out though to Arthur and his desperate need to protect Merlin at all costs! You know, until the whole magic thing. Bummer..
Thanks for all your amazing comments, I'm loving each and every one! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and don't hate me too much for the cliffhanger I've left you with!