So, kinda awkward that I had not updated this story in a long time, but a random review prompted me to look back at this story and see where I was. I then realized that I basically had all of 10 lined up and had never posted it, so I decided to now. I would really like to finish this as this is my first big story but it might take me a while. It's fun to look back and see my writing get better with each chapter. Anyway, I hope you enjoy Chapter 10 and thank you for staying with me.

Previously...

"Arthur." Arthur was stopped in his next reply with how resigned Merlin sounded. "Leave Arthur."

"No, Merlin. They'll kill you."

...

Arthur made a decision. He tore off his signet ring and handed it to Merlin.

"I will come back for you, I promise."

...

"I'm going to kill her for what she did to him." Gwaine growled.

"You'll have to get in line." Arthur supplied.

"But we can't worry about that right now, we have to get your kingdom back. For Merlin."

Arthur smiled. "For Merlin."

Merlin was yanked forward for the millionth time it seemed as he followed behind Morgause's horse. She seemed to take pleasure every time he fell and he was yanked back up. He looked down at his feet to keep from tripping. His natural clumsiness that Arthur constantly complained about did not help him all throughout this journey. The thought of Arthur gave way to a small smile. Arthur had gotten away and Merlin could not have asked for more. He did wish he knew if he was safe or not, but he was too far away for the mind connection to work. He'd tried. There was more light coming through which means that they were finally leaving the forest. Merlin looked up and immediately wished he hadn't. Camelot's walls rose up to meet him. Those walls that for so long have meant home and safety are now everything a magic user sees them as, a prison. And now, Merlin's cage. He unconsciously drew back a little leading to another tug on the leash. He tripped and tried to get his feet under him again.

It was too fast that the caravan entered the courtyard of the castle. It looked completely different. The guards everywhere were wearing black uniforms, replacing the Camelot red, and a griffin to replace the dragon. The caravan stopped suddenly, Merlin swaying as he was no longer being pulled. His foot, injured in the escape, had not been healed and thankfully this last trek hadn't broken it yet. But it was VERY sore.

Morgause dismounted and handed Merlin's chains to Cenred as she walked up to embrace her sister.

"I am so glad to see you." Morgana said.

"As am I, sister. Has everything gone according to plan?"

"Yes, the castle has sworn its allegiance to me. Nobles are easy to sway, but the people still prove to be a challenge. They still swear loyalty to Arthur. I have heard of them amassing an army somewhere in the forest, but my scouts seem to be incompetent and can't find it"

"I think I may have a solution to that problem." Here, she motioned to Cenred to bring Merlin forward. He had been out of sight previously. Merlin fell to his knees in front of the sisters.

"Merlin?" Morgana asked surprised. "Where's Arthur?"

"We had a little trouble." Cenred spoke up. "One of my soldiers apparently helped them escape and Arthur slipped through. Little Merlin here hurt his foot and got captured again."

"We are assuming Arthur wants to get the throne back and for that he needs people, so he will probably head towards that army that you were telling me about."

Morgana smiled and leaned down towards Merlin. "And you can lead us straight to him."

Merlin just stared Morgana down.

"He seems to have lost his tongue. Ever since the Prince escaped, he hasn't said a word."

"Take him to the dungeon." Morgana ordered as some guards came to do her bidding. She smirked as Merlin was led away. "I think I know some ways to loosen his tongue a little."

Arthur and Gwaine trampled through the woods. Arthur grumbled as he tripped over a hidden tree root for what seemed to be the hundredth time.

Gwaine laughed at the sight of the prince flailing his arms to keep himself from falling on his face. "Less graceful out here in the woods? I thought you were the best hunter in all of Camelot. How do you catch anything?"

"I hunt just fine and I can be stealthy when I want to be. It's Merlin who…"

And when his thoughts turned to his clumsy servant, he stopped. Gwaine saw the demeanor in his friend change. "We'll get him back, Arthur."

"I know that but…"

"But what Arthur? He knew what he was doing."

"But it should have been me. I promised him when I found out about his magic that no harm would come to him."

"You tried your best Arthur…"

"It's not enough." Arthur yelled, rounding on Gwaine, frustration finally at its peak. He settled down as Gwaine backed away from him.

"I've lost everything." Arthur sighed. "and I don't know if I can lose anything more. I don't even want to think about what is happening to Merlin."

"Then don't." Gwaine interrupted "I know I'm not Merlin right now but I know that right now he would tell you to snap out of it. I'm not sure what he sees in you, but the Arthur he believes in does not wallow. He figures out a way." Gwaine seemed to straighten as he said the next words. "That is the Arthur I pledged my allegiance to now and forever." He accented the words by bowing with his fist over his heart. "Even if you are a complete dollapheaded prince sometimes."

Arthur smiled a sad smile and chuckled at the familiar insult. "That's Merlin's word."

"And it's soooooo good, so I had to use it."

Arthur's laughter was cut short as he thought he saw something move. Giving a signal to Gwaine, he motioned forwards to a group of trees. Someone could be hiding in them. Arthur moved forward while Gwaine tried to move around the tree to outflank the attacker.

Arthur looked around the tree trying to see the enemy he knew was around there. Suddenly, Gwaine gasped and Arthur brought his sword up in an instinctive defensive move against this unforeseen presence. He sword clanged against another seconds after he heard a clang of metal where Gwaine was. That was when Arthur looked up at his attacker.

"Leon?"

"Sire?"

Arthur dropped his sword as Leon did and looked over to where Gwaine was embracing Percival.

"I almost took your head off just now." Percival said.

"You were gonna try. You were aiming too high. You were giving me a haircut." Gwaine rebutted

"Sire, it is so good to see you. We have been trying to find you ever since Morgana took over."

"How are the people? Did some of them escape?"

"Yes, most of them are in our main camp and more trickle in." Leon reported

"Although, Morgana has really stepped up on deserters."

"It doesn't help that Cenred's camp moved into the citadel."

"They moved in? Why?"

"We don't know, Sire. We thought after the death of your father, Morgause would have moved in immediately." Percival said. "Instead, the army seemed to wait there."

"It did seem weird to me." Gwaine added. "The army was ready to move in but then we had orders to remain where we were. When I saw Arthur and Merlin brought into camp, I knew that Camelot was in worse shape than I thought. I helped them escape."

Percival slung his arm around Gwaine in a congratulatory gesture and received a nod from Leon.

"Sadly, without Merlin." Arthur sighed.

Gwaine slid out from Percival and grabbed Arthur's shoulders. "He's going to be ok, Arthur. I promised you that we will get him back and we will."

Arthur smiled at his friend and Gwaine smiled back at the determined look in Arthur's eyes.

"At least we know where he is." Arthur thought out loud, a plan already forming in his head. "It's easier to initiate a rescue in a place we already know."

"But won't Morgana know you are coming." Percival asked

"Oh almost certainly."

"What are you planning Sire?"

"To give Morgana exactly what she wants."

"And that would be?" Leon asked

"Me."

That's the end. If you enjoyed leave a review and thanks for staying with this story and me though a very long wait ;)