Time for an update! Woohoo! And a lengthy one at that too :) Just to make up for my long silence.. We celebrate 64k for this fic and I am in awe~ Thank you so much everyone! Hope you like this new chapter as well.. I know I did slave at the editing, so I'm just going to put it out there for you all and run away~!

I also have a little recommendation.. Pallorsomnium's "Why we fight" over on livejournal is simply brilliant.. A captivating AU, Arthur/Merlin fic.. Have a search for it!

Anyways.. on with the fic! Enjoy~

.*.

The puzzled look on the physician's face went plain unnoticed as Merlin impatiently backed off with the bag in his clutches and turned to towards his room, each step signaled with a huff or a muffed moan as he pulled at wounds and stitches; yet he was too determined to get done what he set out to do; ignoring his guardian and looking around the main chamber.

He wanted to pack. Honest to Gods, he had all intention to pack; but he had no idea where to start and what to stuff in the worn knapsack.

It felt like most of his life was here now; his mentor, his destiny, his sole purpose, his magic.. - and now he needed to leave. He had to get out. He had to.

He just had a problem deciding on what to take with him. Where to start..

Supplies; food and clothes; he knew as much, but everything seemed confusing and swaying in front of him, sometimes making his stomach and whatever that was in it uncomfortably somersault along with his vision going in and out of focus and his head felt like he was holding it underwater, not to mention every movement sharply reminded him of the various wounds he didn't want to waste time to think about; and whatever he glanced at, a second later just didn't seem important enough to grab and take with him; then of course it meant he would have to lean towards it and actually pick it up, and his body felt very uncomfortable of a shell to live in at the moment, protesting to the mere idea of it.

Every inch of him was screaming of pain and distress as he limped up and down with a mewl and a moan in the physician's chamber, followed by a very concerned look of the elderly man that was yet to snap out of the daze, the heart clenching sight of his damaged ward got him in. Parts of him still doubting; unable to accept the notion that the warlock just might have been pushed as far, to want to leave and by now Gaius wasn't sure it was only the fever and the pain in him talking, or were his intentions stern. And just who could the woman be that he mentioned with such fear..? But first thing's first, he needed to get the young man to calm down..

The bag slipped out of Merlin's grasp the next moment, but he merely held his hand out and it jumped back into his hold. Then lifted a shaky arm and his quiet chant called forth some clothes from his chamber along with his book and they all obediently came flying across the room, landing in a heap in front of him as he stopped to catch his breath. Since when did magic take so much out of him? He shivered. And didn't he have a blanket? He felt cold.. Merlin touched his chest, and his fingers met bandages he didn't want to look at. Oh, right.. he was naked. Blanket fell off.

"Merlin!" His name being called in such sharp tone certainly got him out of his musings and he turned towards Gaius again. No matter how shocked and speechless the old man was, the flying garments got the physician to come out of the amazement and it was by sheer reflex when he snapped at the careless and open display of use of magic.

The warlock looked frightened at the old man, as if he'd forgotten the physician was in the room, but after a moment's glare he turned to face him:

"Wh-what are you doing? You are wasting time! P-pack! We can't stay here!" He strutted to the elderly man with as much zest he was capable of.

"No, Merlin, listen to me! You are safe here! No one needs to leave." Gaius approached his ward with caution, uneasily holding out his hands as if not sure how to reach him, where to grab him. All he knew, he had to stop him somehow. If the warlock was willing to use magic in broad daylight it was too dangerous; when anyone could walk into the physician's chamber, may it be a maid from the kitchens with a cut finger or a knight from the training field, it made no difference; they could be unwanted witnesses and the king's mind was already too open to hearsay about sorcery; and any hint of magic just fueled those flames of hatred further, - flames that have just burnt his young ward mere two days ago..

"What? ..No." He couldn't believe his ears, why of all times did Gaius pick now to be so stubborn?!

"You are safe." The physician repeated taking another tentative step towards him.

"No.. we're not safe.. Anything but.. safe.." Merlin mumbled shaking his head, squeezing his lips together in a pale thin line, eyes getting teary in tension. Why won't the old goat just listen to him for once?! "Not here.. Not ever here.. No.. Pack.. please Gaius.." he begged, "Just listen to me.. pack..! We need to get out of here." The warlock pleaded in a choked voice that trailed off into a whimper.

The rucksack fell from his grip, as he grasped the old man's shoulders, with the intention to shake some sense into him and convince him to do what's best for them. "Pack.." he gasped "I beg of you, Gaius, don't stay here.. we h-have to l-leave. Now." He swallowed thickly.

The physician recognized the signs his ward was running out of strength as he held onto him more then just for a convincing grip, but to steady his stand. He was exhausting himself.

"You have to come with me.. Gaius please! Just.. just do as I say.." He begged, not caring that there were tears rolling down his cheek now. This man was so dear to him, he took him under his wings and taught him so much; about plants and people, how to heal, how to mend, how to be patient, how to be brave, how to do the right thing even if it hurt; this man was his protector, his guardian in every sense of the word, he couldn't bare to lose the man that was closest to a father he ever had.. yet for some reason this wise mentor wasn't seeing eye to eye with him.

"No Merlin.. You need to calm down.." the elderly man said and it just made Merlin twitch.

"Noh.. HOW CAN I CALM DOWN?!" He howled and didn't care of the spit flying from his cracked lips. "Can't you see what's happening around you?! We are not safe here!" he furrowed his brows at the physician, searching his face for answers, desperately trying to understand why his guardian opposes him.

"You… you.. don't want to come with me?.." he squeaked and glared at the man with all the fear that rose in his heart.. Gaius doesn't want to be safe?.. Gaius wants to stay here in such danger?

"No, my boy.. we… you don't have to leave…"

"No.. I will leave. I will, I'm not staying here.. I don't b-belong... here." suddenly gone was the rage and adrenaline and all that was left is the fear and despair he didn't seem to see the end of or way out of and his voice trailed off into a whisper and once again silent tears ran down his cheeks as he whispered again; "..don't belong here.." he panted as he hung his head in despair.

How painful is the feeling of not belonging anywhere, only Gaius had a notion of. The physician had to take a deep breath to school his own expression, holding onto the young man's elbows, fearful he might collapse there and then.

"You are ill, my boy.. You need to rest and get well.." Gaius said trying to lead the young man towards the cot as gently as he could, trying to hold back his own tears at the sight of devastation that mirrored off his ward. He understood what he felt. He understood it all too well, for it reminded him of the purge, when there were too many tears shed and too many lives taken; leaving dread in their wake and the ones that remained were filled with fear and hopelessness. Gaius understood that fear that shimmered in Merlin's eyes, but these were different times, and different circumstances. He had to keep believing that.

"You can't stop me." Merlin's voice was hoarse. Pulling back clumsily to free himself from his guardians' grip as he sniffed and wiped his tears away in fury and in rush, using the bandages on his wrist for not having anything better to soak up the salty liquid off his scratched cheek and dry lips. He was determined.

"I will Merlin.. I will if I have to." The old man said quietly. It wasn't something he wanted to say, the least of all do, but if words didn't work, he figured he will just have to use other methods to get the stubborn boy back on that cot. "Please don't make me.." He added with a hint of uncertainly, thinking a sleeping spell will surely work on Merlin, but catching him was another matter; and a few more bumps here and there might get lost in the myriad he already had, however if he could help it, he wanted to avoid that. Or perhaps calling for a guard.. Merlin was in a bad way already, using force against him would no doubt have results, but he just didn't want to resort to that. And Heavens forbid he lashes out against the guard with magic! He didn't even want to think of that.

"Look at yourself Merlin, you need rest, you wouldn't be able to go far in such condition.."

"Then you leave me no choice." His voice was low and raw. He pressed his lips together in a thin line and kept shaking his head in disbelief not even looking at his guardian, eyes fixed on the floor as tears once again started flowing down his cheek.

"No, Merlin.. you cannot leave this way..

"Let me pass.. Please."

"No.."

"I'm sorry, Gaius" The warlock mumbled then, reaching up again to wipe his face, and after a wet sniff, he looked at his mentor. "I'm sorry." He said again and before Gaius could ask what he could possibly be sorry for, he noticed determination show on his ward's features as he raised his hand towards the old physician, with the clear intention of using magic to clear his way and get out of Camelot.

That was when Gaius heard the door open behind him and Merlin's glance slid passed him, looking at the incoming person; then his eyes widened.

For a long moment the physician dreaded who it might be, but prince and servant just looked into each others eyes; both wide and blue and amazed, if not a little afraid, if what they are seeing is really true.

Then Merlin backed off. He let his arm fall and staggered back a few steps all of confusion coming over his face and he strutted to the back of the chamber "..alive.." he mumbled looking at the prince and Arthur slowly closed the door behind them, stepping closer to the physician. Gaius chanced a glance at the royal, who looked positively awake and preoccupied with what he saw, leaving the old man to wonder if the lifted arm raised any questions in him, but the prince was just baffled.

Arthur stared at the scrawny figure, what appeared to be a mere shadow of the young man he called his servant, and known as a friend, and he felt something clenching his insides; he felt he will be sick from the sight of his bare manservant, crouched and battered and in much distress.

Earlier he had felt relieved, knowing that the young man was in good hands now, however he hasn't expected to see him up so soon. He knew it can't be good.

"Didn't you give him something?" Arthur whispered leaning close to Gaius.

"I did. But he's in to much of a shock.." the old man replied. "I need to give him something stronger.." he said motioning to a small bottle on the table with blue liquid in it. Arthur recognized it. That will knock Merlin out for sure, but they had to get him to drink it first.

Merlin was pacing back and forth in the back of the chamber.

Using force against him would no doubt be efficient as the man could barley hold himself up, and Arthur could easily tackle the warlock himself or have guards manhandle him back to his cot, and Gaius was wary of what the prince will retort to, but then to his amazement the prince himself stepped forward, holding a hand out, as if trying to calm a startled animal, that was cornered, scared and ready to attack, as desperate as an attempt that would be.

"Merlin." He called out in a soft voice.

"Arthur.." the warlock picked his head up and Gaius noticed the difference immediately. It made a shiver run up his back. All of a sudden Merlin was focused at the voice of the prince, as the blonde man slowly leaned down to pick up the discarded blanket, keeping an eye on his servant; then approached him, stopping only a few feet away from the man.

"I want to leave Arthur… I want to go back to Ealdor…" he said in one breath stepping closer and gripping the prince's shirt in a sudden resolve and the prince felt his stomach tense at the mere desperate tone of those words.

Arthur swallowed and schooled his expression then nodded, all the while slowly easing the blanket around the warlock, who didn't even seem to notice that part, his eyes were too fixed on the prince's, waiting with great anticipation for his answer.

"We'll go to Ealdor.. I promise." He said slowly wrapping the cover around Merlin's shoulders. "I will.. personally take you home." He added in a struggled tone.

.*.

Well, that's it for now.. *gulp*

I'd also like to thank Guest reviewers..

Irene: Ack! Hope you had fun at Supernova Comic Con, dear~ Took photos? Got autographs?
Thanks again for the review, glad you liked it, but ap!ap!ap! no spoilers :P I'm mean, I know, but what can ye do? *snicker*

Guest I.: I don't know about the DVD being available in the states or not, but surely ordering online will be of help. Thanks!

Guest II.: ;) On the way~ Thanks!

Guest III.: Sorry, but I write as inspiration comes.. Thanks though! Glad you are enjoying this fic!

yay: Wow! Thanks for the many many reviews! :D Glad you enjoyed reading!