A/N: sorry about the slow updates. I'm trying to rectify it! XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin.

-)-(-

The creatures bounded in opposite directions, Merlin watching them with fervent, desperate eyes until they disappeared from his sight. Once he turned back to Amyas though, his frame was tight with barely concealed rage, face terrifyingly calm.

"This is one choice you should not have forced me to make."

There was no anger in his tone, no rage, no sorrow…nothing. It somehow made it even more frightening. The man it was directed at, who until then had been so confident in his attack, so proud of his ability to corner his weaker foe, suddenly began to wonder if perhaps a grave error of miscalculation had been made on his behalf. This Merlin that was before him now…this was not the bumbling idiot he had been led to believe existed.

In that next second when Merlin outstretched a hand towards him – the motive unknown – Amyas made for a hasty retreat. Before this servant could make a move of any sort, he disappeared, vanishing away in a whirlwind, strips of darkness circling him.

An empty hallway was all that Merlin was left with.

"No!"

The outrage that had, til then, been hidden and stowed away, becoming blindingly obvious. The walls behind him groaned, cracks forming in the stonework as they beared the brunt of Merlin's wrath. The floor shook and the pair of doors flanking him erupted from the inside, a shower of splinters and iron nails raining passed him. But even as the anger faded away and the trembling beneath his feet began to seek, Merlin could feel his legs begin to give.

Because of the choice that now lay before him; the choice he had to make.

The choice between his mentor…

And his destiny…

Really, there should not have even been a question. But there was. By the gods, there was. To choose to save one but not the other. How had that even become an option?

With another roar of rage that caused the torches bolted to the walls to burst into flames that scraped the ceiling, Merlin turned and ran, ran as fast as his legs could carry him…

To Arthur.

To the choice he always would have made.

-)-(-

The thundering noise of wood exploding could not be ignored, the sound forcing Gaius awake even as his senses were set on alert. He almost went to yell out 'Merlin!' but the padding of feet that met his ears belonged to no man. Nor did the unearthly growl that emanated from the doorway. He swept from his bed, making for the candle that rested on the table.

"Bærne," he whispered.

The wick lit, the tiniest glow of light filling the room. It was then that Gaius was able to see what it truly was that was standing in his doorway, feet poised, muscles bunched, ready to pounce.

"Oh."

-)-(-

A 'crash' and a 'bang!' resounded from down the hallway. Furious scraping noises were made as whoever it was undoubtedly scrambled to their feet. Rolling his eyes at the incompetence that was happening outside his door, Arthur's curiousity was piqued enough for him to make for the door. He ground his teeth as he reached for the handle. If it was Merlin one more time…

"Whoa!"

The shout was more one of surprise than anything else because whatever Arthur was expecting, this was not it. While true that he had been subjected to many strange and rather…unusual happenings in his life, a four-legged beast that looked like a lion but with a goat's head on its back was certainly not something he was prepared for. He barely had time to duck out of the way before the creature took a swipe at him.

"Arthur!"

"Merlin, don't!" the king ordered, hastily raising a hand in the direction of the doorway.

His manservant looked particularly dishevelled, eyes wide yet somehow hollow, sweat lining his brow. But as much as a fool as he was, Arthur had to desire to him die.

"I've got this Merlin!" he bellowed, rolling away from a ferocious bite and hastily back-peddling towards the wall where his sword was mounted.

"It looks it!" Merlin screamed back before running into the room.

"Merlin!"

Arthur never got to see what his servant's grand plan had been because his warning, which had meant as exactly that, a warning to stay away, unfortunately had a by-product. A by-product that came in the way of their enemy turning with a snarl towards Merlin, bounding forward and pinning him to the ground, the young man only somehow managing to shimmy into the space between the creatures front legs.

"How many times do I have to tell you-?" Arthur demanded as he cut between them, forcing the creature away with the blunt of his sword before taking a blind swing at it. "-Being a hero doesn't suit you!"

If there was a retort, he didn't hear it. But this was one time when there wasn't one. Condemned to sidelines as always, Merlin glared hatefully at the creature attacking them. If it had seen the glare being aimed at him, it may have cowered away. What was boiling inside him was bubbling up to burn in his eyes, the azure orbs full of loathing and an insane thirst for vengeance. This beast, this monster, had come to kill one of his friends. And that did not happen.

Not even caring if Arthur heard him, in fact, some mad part of him almost wished he did, Merlin muttered out a spell, words laced with a maliciousness that was not commonly his.

"Ic þe ácwele, strengþe ealde æwfæstnesse!"

The beast let out an unearthly howl before collapsing, its limbs crumpling under its heavy frame, breath panting heavily before finally ceasing. Arthur stared at it in confusion before shrugging noncommittally. It could hardly be classified as the strangest thing he'd ever seen. Spinning around, he had to admit that sight behind him was one he was quite often privileged with seeing as well.

"Are you alright down there Merlin?" he asked, wiping his sword on his tunic. "No, don't try and help and summon the guards, just sit there on your little bottom an-"

"Gaius is dead!"

The thundering yell took him completely off-guard, causing him to physically stumble back in shock. Merlin had never spoken to him in such a way before, his voice sound more like a roar than actual words. But as his servant fled from the chambers, the words he had yelled so vehemently replayed in his mind and Arthur's eyes widened impossibly before he too tore from the room. Hurriedly glancing both ways, he managed to glimpse the younger man sprinting away on his right.

"Merlin, I-"

"Sire!"

The yell came from Sir Leon, the knight coming from the exact direction Merlin was heading in. At the call, both men in the hallway stopped; one facing the knight, the other standing with his back to him, frame tightly strung. Arthur stopped because he was anxious to hear what news was to be handed to him, and Merlin because he knew, he knew, that Leon was here to confirm what he already suspected.

"Sire," Leon repeated, slightly breathless from the running he had just done. "A beast attacked the castle. It-"

"Two," Arthur corrected, a frown creasing his forehead. "There must have been two. One just attacked me in my chambers. Don't worry," he reassured, seeing Leon's eyes widen slightly. "I took care of it. But we must now act as though there are more."

"No."

The quiet voice came from down the hallway, voiced by Merlin even if he had yet to turn around. "No?" Arthur called back doubtfully. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." The statement gave no room for argument. "Sir Leon, didn't you have something to tell Arthur?"

Unnerved by the dullness in the usually jovially voice, the knight sent an odd, inquiring look to Arthur, waiting to receive a nod before speaking. "The bea-…One of the beasts broke into the western chambers. Sire…it destroyed Gaius' chambers."

Even as Arthur went to question how Merlin already knew this, the servant was tearing down the hallway, renewed fervour in his steps. Arthur took off after him, leaving Leon with no choice other than to follow. Slipping down several smaller, more winding passages that Arthur did not even know existed, they arrived at the physician's chambers in what the king was positive had to be record time. It was a route he would have to remember. As Merlin dashed ahead, he was barred from entering the chamber by Gwaine, the knight having thrown his arm across the doorway. He shook his head firmly.

"You don't want to go in there mate."

From where Arthur was standing, he could hear Merlin's teeth grinding together. "I have a right to see," his manservant hissed. "I need to."

"Merlin," Leon called softly. "Don't."

"It's not worth it," Gwaine said firmly. "Just let it go."

"No!" Merlin argued, trying to force his way passed but being pushed back. "Let me in!"

There was the sound of footsteps and then Elyan and Percival appeared, ducking under Gwaine's arm to join them in the corridor. Elyan shook his head as well, bowing his head as though trying to avoid Merlin's gaze. If anything, their attitude only served to infuriate Merlin further.

"I have to go and see."

"No, you don't," those three words were Percival's sole contribution.

"I don't-"

"Let him pass."

All those gathered whipped around to stare at other, incredulity scrawled across their features. Merlin spared him a broken 'thanks' before slipping under Gwaine's arm, an arm that was reluctantly raised. Arthur was right behind Merlin, knowing that while Merlin was right and he did need to see this, it would not be something easy to see. He respectfully stayed in the doorway, not wanting to intrude on what was guaranteed to be an emotional and rather private moment.

The moment Merlin stepped over the threshold, he had to withhold the desire to run as his body was bombarded with a sense of dark magic. It coiled around him and wrapped a constricting hand around his throat. Even as he took those first he steps in, he knew that some great wrong had been committed here. The magic inside of him was quivering at the injustice but more than that, he could feel his heart sinking lower and lower in his chest. He knew what he was about to find, and he knew what it would mean. Chaos surrounded him. Gaius' potions table was cracked in half, glass splinters strewn over the ground. Books were torn from their shelves, pages shredded from where claws had clearly sliced through them. Fear and horror raced through his veins, and he could feel a coldness descend upon him.

Rounding the fallen table where he had so often shared a meal with Gaius, Merlin suddenly found himself staring down at the sight he had been dreading, desperately praying to not find.

The sight caused his breath to catch in his throat, shoulders to shake but before he could even gasp out a sob, nausea overtook him and he hunched over, throwing up on the floor.

"Merlin…"

The call broke Merlin from the stupor he had fallen into. Wide, utterly distraught eyes turned to him and then, Merlin was gone. He flew out of the room with a speed Arthur did not even know he possessed.

"Merlin!" he yelled, tone both urgent and concerned.

There was no answer.

-)-(-

A/N: poor Merlin. Some hurt/comfort coming up soon I think. :)

~DG777