Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters

This is a sequel to "The End?"

Gaius heard someone shouting his name, and then Gwen burst into his chambers followed by two guards. They carefully placed the unconscious young man on the bed in the main chamber while the physician rushed about collecting remedies and the maid ran to fetch water. The guards left and Gaius began cleaning up Merlin's wounds.

"Is he alright?" Gwen gasped, dashing in with a bucket of water.

"Most of the wounds look superficial and will heal by themselves. He has a broken arm though, and a mild concussion. He should be up and about by tomorrow, although that arm will be out of use for at least a month." Gaius replied, gently wiping blood from various cuts.

"I can't believe Arthur would do such a thing to him" Gwen said angrily, moving to Merlin's other side to help the physician.

"We don't know for sure it was Arthur. What happened will have to wait until Merlin wakes up."

"It was Arthur. He just attacked me and wouldn't stop. It was like something had possessed him." Merlin related his story as he sat at the table with his arm in a sling. Gwen had to prevent herself wincing whenever she looked at the myriad of cuts and bruises covering the warlock's body.

"Trust you to still be sticking up for Arthur, even after what he did to you." Morgana sat opposite him, watching him with concern.

Arthur sat up in his room, thinking through his plan. The warlock was now weak enough for there to be no chance for him winning a duel between them. However, today had proved that his friends were incredibly loyal and they would certainly not let Arthur near Merlin anytime soon. So the prince would have to figure out how to get the boy out of the castle and kill him, without anyone suspecting him. He raised his hand and the fire in front of him flared up as there was a knock on the door.

"Prince Arthur? The King wishes you to attend him in the great hall immediately." A voice called out.

"I'll be there momentarily" Arthur called back, smiling as an idea struck him.

"I hear that Sir James beat you in a fight today. And that you beat your manservant to unconsciousness directly afterwards." Uther sat in his big chair, watching his son, who stood in front of him.

"I am afraid I am having a bit of a bad day, father." Arthur said unrepentantly.

"Princes do not have bad days, and they do not take their anger out on their subjects" Uther growled.

"What? And you don't take your anger at losing my mother out by burning innocent people?" Arthur replied sarcastically.

"How dare you?! I am ridding this land of magic so the people may live in peace!" Uther stood up and marched up to his son.

"No. The people are living in fear. And you are creating more and more enemies!" Athur stood stock-still, refusing to give in. Uther brought his voice back down to a normal level and faced his son.

"You will go and congratulate Sir James and then apologise to your servant, or you will be staying in the stocks for the next week! Now get out of my sight!"

"As you wish, Sire." Arthur turned and stalked out of the room.

Merlin started as there was a loud knock on the door to the physician's chambers. Calling for them to come in, he carried on stirring one of Gaius's potions. The physician himself came out of one of his storage cupboards to see who the visitor was.

"How can I help you, Prince Arthur?" he asked, subtle hostility in his voice.

"I need to talk to Merlin."

"Let him in Gaius" the warlock called out before the physician could say a word. Gaius moved out of the prince's way silently, watching his every mood. Arthur sat down opposite his friend, looking shocked at the other man's appearance.

"I came to say that I'm so sorry for what I did to you. It's just that every time I see you, anger just fills me up. I can't believe what I did to you yesterday; I just couldn't stop myself." The words came pouring out at super-speed but Merlin got the gist. He looked Arthur in the eyes, deciding that he told the truth.

"Look, I don't really feel comfortable discussing this here" Arthur said, shooting a look at the still suspicious Gaius. "I'll be in the clearing in the forest for the next hour, if you want to talk. If you don't, I'll never bother you again." Arthur bowed, and walked out.

"Surely you don't believe him?" Gaius burst out, walking to stand beside Merlin.

"I don't, but something's not right with him. I need time to find out what." Merlin stood up, grabbed his jacket and limped out.

"Merlin! Don't go! She'll kill you! Merlin!" Arthur yelled and banged his fists on the walls, cursing his helplessness. He could only watch as his dearest friend walked into a trap.

Please read and review. Sorry I'm being mean to Merlin but it mostly gets better after this.