Merlin and Gwen's house

Night

Merlin and Gwen watched the news, nervously seeing a news report they knew would impact their lives heavily.

"Breaking: there's been an altercation with Luke Cage on the edge of Hell's Kitchen. Several SWAT team agents attempted to apprehend Cage but were attacked by an unknown assailant, who helped Cage escape. The agents have described the unknown assailant as a man in his mid to late twenties with blond hair and blue eyes who wielded a sword. He is to be considered armed and dangerous."

In frustration, Merlin turned off the TV, running a hand over his face.

"Damn it Arthur," Merlin swore.

"We knew he'd do something like this sooner or later," Gwen said tiredly.

"I just hoped we could put it off for a few weeks," Merlin said although part of him knew he'd been fooling himself.

Suddenly, the front door opened, startling the pair. Merlin and Gwen jumped to their feet as Arthur walked through the door, supporting Luke Cage of all people.

"He needs help," Arthur said simply.

Washington DC

Same time

"I don't care what you have to do, find him," Ross snapped into his phone before hanging up, frustrated.

"Problems?"

Startled, Ross turned to see a woman, her back to him, sitting at his desk.

"Luke Cage made his escape," Ross said gruffly.

"Disappointing," she said although she sounded surprisingly calm. "Although it's not a total loss. We still have one more card to play."

Merlin and Gwen's house

Later that night

Luke lay on Merlin's bed, sleeping as Merlin gently closed the door behind him. Taking a deep breath, Merlin walked down the stairs and entered the kitchen. Arthur and Gwen were sitting at the table, obvious tension between them when Merlin entered.

"He'll be alright," Merlin said after a moment. "I'm not sure what the weapon you described did to him, but I did a spell, he should be right by morning."

"Good," Arthur muttered and it was silent again.

"What were you thinking Arthur?" Merlin finally said once gathering is thoughts. "You realize you've painted a target on your back, right?"

"I know. And I'd do the same thing given the same choice, without hesitation," Arthur said firmly.

"Arthur, we understand how you feel, we do. But with the Accords, you can't just go rushing off and getting into fights, even to help someone like Luke Cage," Gwen said gently.

"And so I should leave people to the mercy of the Accords? Of men like this Secretary Ross? No, I will not," Arthur said passionately. "I stood by as innocent people were persecuted once. I will not do so again."

"Arthur, I understand, but you're not king anymore. Your actions have consequences. You can't just make a stand and expect people to listen," Merlin tried to reason.

"You think I haven't thought of that? That I haven't realized that I can't make the people in power listen simply because I shout? It's all I've thought about," Arthur snapped as Merlin and Gwen stopped, to listen. "And, for the first time, I realized I was in Morgana's shoes."

"Tell me you are not trying to justify Morgana's actions," Gwen said incredulously.

"No, never. But now that I see her side of things, I can see what drove her to such lengths, to madness," Arthur said as he thought of his sister sadly. "I won't allow people like Morgana, who live in fear that their abilities will be discovered, to suffer at the hands of a tyrant as I once did. I won't tolerate it."

Arthur then rose to his feet and walked out of the room, leaving Merlin and Gwen after him, still processing all that he had said.

New York, next day

Morning

A street was being roped off, 'do not cross' tape covering the area. Jessica approached the scene, looking around at the cops going about their business. Honestly, she didn't know why she was here. It's not like she thought Luke would be here or anything.

"Ms. Jones."

Startled out of her thoughts, Jessica looked over to see one of the men who had asked her about Luke earlier in the week approaching her.

"Curious to see you here," he said casually.

"Was out for a walk," Jessica said evenly.

"Pretty far place to walk to," he noted.

"You know us vigilantes, we go the extra mile," Jessica said, amused when she saw he was annoyed.

"Jessica? Jessica that you?"

At the sound of the voice, Jessica turned her head, surprised to see Matt making his way towards her, using the walking stick to keep up appearances.

"Murdock?"

"This guy a friend of yours?" the man in the suit asked.

"Friend and lawyer. Is Ms. Jones a person of interest in the search for Luke Cage?" Matt demanded as he reached the pair.

"No," the man looking like he'd swallowed something sour.

"Then this is over," Matt said firmly. "You're actions are starting to border on harassment. Even people who work for Secretary Ross aren't above the law."

"Fine. Then keep your client away from an active crime scene," the man sneered.

Not bothering to dignify the man with a response, Matt began walking away, Jessica following him.

"What are you doing here Murdock?" Jessica asked once they were far enough away.

"Keeping a promise to a friend. I promised Luke I'd try to make sure that you didn't get yourself into trouble with the Accords," Matt said and she whipped her head towards him.

"You've seen Luke?" Jessica asked, fighting to keep her voice at a soft volume.

"I helped him make sure that he got a ride out of town. Although that obviously went wrong," Matt said grimly.

Jessica opened her mouth to speak when an automated voice went off.

"Foggy. Foggy. Foggy."

"What is that?" Jessica asked as she looked around in annoyance for the source.

"It's my phone," Matt explained as he pulled it out of his pocket and answered. "Foggy, I'm on my way to work now."

"Forget work, meet me down at the precinct," Foggy said and Matt could hear the urgency in his voice.

"Foggy, what's going on?"

"Theo was just arrested, they know he helped get Luke the ride out of town," Foggy said and Matt paled.

"I'll be right there," Matt promised before hanging up. "Jessica, get to work and try to stay off Ross's radar. I already have one fire to put out, I can't deal with another."

At Merlin and Gwen's house, Luke was starting to come around. Groaning, his muscles were stiff, likely from whatever he was shot with. As he sat up, he saw Arthur in a chair near the bed, sleeping. Luke stared at him for a moment, processing the night before when Arthur spoke up.

"How are you feeling?" Luke nearly started in surprise when Arthur opened his eyes.

"A little stiff but nothing I can't handle. This your place?" Luke asked as he looked around.

"It belongs to a friend," not really a lie.

"What happened last night? My memories are a little jumbled after you showed up," Luke asked.

"We fought our way out of there but you were incoherent, barely conscious. I managed to get you here, my friend is a…physician," Arthur half lied. "He treated you for what happened, although you should rest for a few days."

"Don't think I'll have the chance, half of New York is probably looking for me by now," Luke mused, wincing mentally as he thought of all the trouble Matt and his friends were in right now. "Was I hallucinating last night or did your sword turn their rifles to dust?"

"No, what you saw was real," Arthur confirmed.

"Just tell me that you didn't get that sword from a dragon," Luke said as he remembered Danny's story about how he got his powers.

"Not exactly. It was forged in a dragon's breath," Arthur said honestly and Luke stared at him for a moment.

"Not the craziest thing I've ever heard," Luke finally said, throwing the covers off and starting to stand up.

"You really should rest," Arthur pointed out.

"I'd rather not put you or your friends at any more risk than I have to. I know how to disappear, trust me," Luke said, throwing his legs over the side of the bed and standing up, although more slowly than he normally would have. "I still have contacts, I'll be fine. Although I appreciate the help."

Arthur stared at him silently for a moment. While he'd like to make Luke stay for a few days to get his strength back, he knew he couldn't force Luke to obey his commands. He wasn't Luke's king.

"Piece of advice kid, wear a mask," Luke said, breaking Arthur out of his musings.

"What?"

"If you're gonna go out there, you need a mask or something to hide your identity," Luke told him.

"You don't wear a mask," Arthur pointed out.

"And now I'm a fugitive who had to send his girlfriend away, put his friends in the crossfire of a psychopath and has to rely on contacts from his shady past to get out of here," Luke said bluntly and Arthur had no argument to that. "The mask isn't to protect you; it's to protect the people you care about. If you're gonna go out and fight against The Accords, you need to hide your identity or the people you care about will never be safe. Someone like Ross will always come after them as long as you refuse to bend to him."

As Luke grabbed his jacket, Arthur frowned, considering his words. Was this how Merlin had felt all those centuries ago? That whatever decision he made would hurt those he loved?

Either way, he had a lot to think about.

Hell's Kitchen

Afternoon

"I'm sorry Foggy, my hands are tied," Blake Tower said as he met Matt, Foggy and Karen in his office. "Your brother aided and abetted a fugitive. He's in a lot of trouble."

"Come on, he gave a guy a ride in the back of a truck!" Foggy snapped.

"Foggy, I get it, he's your brother, but you're a lawyer. You know he violated the Accords," Tower reasoned. "And either way, it's out of my hands, Ross and his men are breathing down my neck. They want a sacrificial lamb and unfortunately, your brother made himself into one."

"What evidence do you have against Theo?" Matt inquired, trying to get a sense of how made it was.

"An anonymous source called in a tip that Theo was planning on giving Luke Cage passage out of New York. The driver of the truck corroborated that it was Theo who convinced him to do it," Tower explained. "I'm sorry Foggy, but there's nothing you can do to protect him."

"Yes there is," Foggy said as an idea struck him.

It wasn't a good idea admittedly. In fact, Foggy himself hated it. But it was the only option where he could protect his brother without throwing Matt or Luke to the wolves.

"I'd like to make a deal Mr. Tower. One where Theo goes free and the real guilty party gets punished…"

New York

Same time

At the café, Morgana had just arrived for her shift and was putting on her apron when she looked over at the TV they had out in the restaurant. It was a news report on the attack on Luke Cage yesterday.

As they showed the police sketch of his accomplice, two things happened at once.

First, Morgana realized the sketch looked almost exactly like the blond man from her dreams some nights ago.

Second, her mind was assaulted with two different images.

The blond man, more of a teenager at this point, walking with Morgana arm in arm, the two playfully bickering.

The second image featured the same blond man, although he was noticeably older. He was dressed in armor, standing a few feet from Morgana in some kind of stone room. The two stood in the center of it, the blond man staring at her sadly. And, despite the hatred she felt that she couldn't explain; Morgana also felt an unexplained sadness as she stared at him.

The images faded almost as soon as they appeared in her mind. Morgana shook her head, bewildered by what had just happened.

Hell's Kitchen

Late afternoon

"I still can't believe you did this," Karen told Foggy as they and Matt stood in the Precinct, waiting on Tower.

"There were no good options Karen, this way Theo doesn't go to jail, you know he's never last two days in there," Foggy reasoned.

"I'm sorry Foggy, this is all my fault. I never should have come to you," Matt said guilty.

"No Matt, you were right. The Accords fly in the face of everything we stand for, everything we've ever fought for. If I had to make the same choice, I'd still choose to help Luke," Foggy said, glancing around to make sure no one was listening before continuing. "And I realized what we were up against the moment Tower said an anonymous source called in the tip."

"What do you mean?" Karen asked confused but Matt had caught on.

"The Nelson family butcher shop is like a family, every relationship has been built on trust for years. No one would ever willingly betray Theo, no matter their view on the Accords," Matt explained.

"And since only someone who works at the shop could have called that tip in, either someone was coerced into doing it or there's something else going on," Foggy explained before turning to Matt. "Matt, you need to find out what's going on."

"I will. You have my word," Matt promised.

At that moment, Tower came out of a room, leading Theo out.

"Foggy," Theo said in relief.

"Theo, you alright?" Foggy asked in concern.

"I've been better. Like I said, you are one Hell of a lawyer," Theo said in relief as he walked up, hugging his brother.

"Theo, listen, Karen's gonna take you home," Foggy said as he pulled back.

"Karen? What about you?" Theo asked in confusion and Foggy smiled tightly.

"It's all gonna be okay Theo," Foggy said, hoping that was true.

"Foggy," Tower called out as two officers approached.

Foggy sighed before, with a look at Matt and Karen, he separated himself from Theo. He then walked over to the officer's and, to the shock of Theo, turned about with his hands behind his back.

"Foggy, what is this?!" Theo exclaimed as the officers began to cuff Foggy.

"Your brother made a deal. He told us he was the one to convince you to help Cage. He'll be transferred into protective custody while he awaits trail. In return, you won't face any charges," Tower said, looking like he was as displeased with this turn of events as the rest of them.

As Foggy was led away, from the corner, Merlin watched the scene sadly. Things were getting worse and worse. Maybe Arthur was right, maybe it was time to take a stand against the Accords.

Merlin and Gwen's house

Night

Merlin entered his house, closing the door with a sigh. He knew they couldn't go on like this. As he walked further into the house, he paused as he heard a sound. It sounded like someone was crying. Hearing it again, Merlin followed the sound.

Entering the kitchen, he saw Gwen sitting at the kitchen table, tears running down her face as she stared down at a piece of paper.

"Gwen? Gwen what's wrong?" Merlin asked urgently as he rushed over to her side, scanning her for any injuries.

"I um, I got home from work about ten minutes ago," Gwen said with a shaky breath. "I went upstairs to check on Luke, he left already. I searched the house for Arthur and I found this."

Gwen handed him the piece of paper. Some teardrops had fallen on it, but it was still clear what it was. It was a note, drawn in familiar handwriting; one Merlin had seen almost every day for several years.

Dear Merlin and Gwen,

I feel like a coward writing this letter to you instead of waiting to face you. But I know if I do, you'll try to stop me from doing what I'm about to do. And I can't let you.

I cannot standby as innocent people are punished by a tyrant. I did once and it haunts me. I never told you this, but even before I knew about Merlin, I would have nightmares of the people my father put to death. The men, woman and children who were burned, many of them innocent. I will not allow history to repeat itself, I will not.

I know you two don't agree, that you think I'm being reckless. Maybe I am. But this is something I have to do, for me. I also know that if I stay here, I'll be putting you both in danger. If I do this, this Ross will come after me. And if I stay here, I will paint a target on the two of you. I won't allow that.

I'm leaving because if I don't, you two will be taken down with me. And I care about the two of you too much to let that happen. I have to do this, but I also have to protect the two of you.

I'm sorry that it happened this way. Please try to understand. This is something I have to do.

Arthur

Merlin read and reread the letter a few times but it was no trick. Arthur was gone.

Yes, Ross is working with someone and I guarantee that none of you will guess who it is.

Things are obviously getting pretty bad with Foggy getting arrested and it's not going to get much better.

Arthur sort of disappearing on Merlin and Gwen, while I don't like doing it, is needed. Arthur obviously has very different ideas than Merlin and Gwen on how to handle The Accords. And doing this will allow Arthur to experience the modern world and connect with people in ways he wouldn't with Merlin and Gwen holding his hand so to speak.