A/N: Hi everyone, the next chapter for this chapter. A somewhat shorter chapter then the last, but I wanted to just give you all some for this story. My personal life is going rather hectic and I hope (with the decision I have made) that I will be able to have the change to write more in the future.
This chapter will be far lighter than the previous one.
Besides that I want to thank everyone for their great reactions to my story. It really gives me the energy to go on. And I hope that everyone will enjoy this chapter.
xxx
Merlin woke up while he felt the warmth of a campfire upon his skin, but as his mind started to clear he also realised a heavy weighed was lifted of his heart. His eyes shot open and he stared at his wrist, the bracelet was gone.
He just sat frozen for a few seconds as he looked amazed at his arm, before someone noticed that he was awake. The queen quickly ran to him and kneeled down besides him, while throwing her arms around him. 'Merlin! I was so worried.' She sobbed into his shoulder.
The warlock looked startled at her for a moment before he also embraced her. 'I'm fine now.'
'Y-yeah, all thanks to Kilgharrah.'
Merlin froze as he heard her say that name, she wasn't supposed to know that name. It was when he saw the dragon move above his head that he remembered what had happened to all of them. Kilgharrah had saved them from the sheriff.
'How are you feeling?' The low dragon's voice asked.
The raven grinned at him. 'I'm fine... thank you. What have you done with the bracelet?'
'I destroyed it.'
Merlin gave him a nod, it was enough for him to hear that it was destroyed, no one should ever be bound by something that evil. A shiver ran through his body as he remembered the feeling. He then looked around and saw that they where in a small clearing, it wasn't surprising as Kilgharrah wasn't able to land in the woods.
He turned back to the queen and asked. 'Where are the others?'
'They're looking if it's safe. You have been asleep for two whole days.' His eyes widened themselves at hearing that and Gwen laughed. 'Our own sleeping beauty.' She said with a grin, while Merlin blushed and the dragon let out a deep loud laugh.
'Fine, fine. I understand it.' The warlock murmured and he stood up while letting out a groan. Gwen followed his example by standing up, but she stared worriedly up and down his body, scanning him to see if he was really alright. 'So what have I missed?'
She sighed and looked away from him. 'It's Sir Robert, we don't know where he's. We fear that he was killed when Kilgharrah came down.' She glanced at the creature.
He may not have known the knight very well, but the man didn't deserve such a fate. He was a really loyal friend to the queen and gave his life to save them. 'I'm sorry to hear that.'
The three of them stood silent for a moment before they heard the sound of footsteps coming towards them. Merlin turned his head around and smiled when he recognized his friends coming towards them. Gwaine almost threw the logs in his arms on the ground and ran to his friend, embracing the warlock with his two strong arms. 'Merlin!'
'Uhh... It's good to see you too.' The warlock added as he patted the man on the back.
Gwaine, who was now realising that he wasn't acting as manly as he should be, released his friend from his grip. There was a slight blush on Gwaine's cheeks as he lay his hand, in a manly way, on the raven's shoulder. 'It's good to see you awake again, we were rather concerned.'
Percival snickered behind the other knight. 'You should have seen him.' Gwaine glared at the larger knight and the others just laughed.
Robin rolled with his eyes as he faced Merlin. 'You have been out for two days, you probably are rather hungry.'
'Starving!'
xxx
A few hours later Merlin walked into the clearing and frowned as he saw Gwaine and the great dragon glaring at each other. The others just stared at the two of them while a deathly silence was spread in the air. He quickly walked towards his queen and whispered to her. 'What's happening here?'
Gwen faced him and let out a nervous laugh. 'We aren't really sure... They just started to stare at each other like this a couple of minutes ago.
Both of them turned back to Gwaine and Kilgharrah and at the same moment the knight started to speak again as he placed his hands in his sides. 'I knew that we have met before!'
Panic spread through his mind, they have met before? Gwaine and Kilgharrah have met before! He gapped at the two of them while the great dragon started to grin.
'We indeed have, young knight.' The dragon said in a roaring voice.
Gwen gasped. 'Gwaine, why haven't you ever said that you met a dragon.'
The brunette glanced at her before rubbing the back of his head with a guilty grin on his face. 'I always had blamed it on being drunk.' They fell silent for a moment before Gwaine's mouth formed 'O' and he started to glare at the dragon. His next words he screamed. '...I now remember, you burned me!'
'You tried to climb on my back!'
Gwaine pouted. 'I just wanted to take a little ride...'
'Only my dragonlord is allowed to ride on my back.'
'But you helped us escape on your back.'
The dragon rolled with his eyes. 'That was a special occasion.'
Gwaine and Kilgharrah were glaring at each other again in death silence, while the others just watched the scene in front of them. It was an shout that turned all of them around, facing Will who was running towards them.
'Robin!' He shouted as he stopped in front of the brunette and the others quickly gathered around them. Merlin looked worriedly at the boy who was shaking.
'Calm down and tell me.' Robin said calmly.
Will glanced at the queen as he started to speak. 'The-there are rumors that the guy that was with you is still alive!'
Gwen gasped as a single tear rolled over her cheek. Merlin quickly grabbed her hand and squeezed in it, trying to comfort the woman. His eyes shifted back to his young friend, if Sir Robert was indeed still alive then they had to save him as he had tried to rescue him and Gwen.
xxx
Merlin slowly walked through the darkness of the night forward as he let his magic spread over him and Robin. It only had been a day since they heard that Sir Robert was probably still alive and after that they quickly started to plan the man's rescue. They ended up deciding that both Merlin and Robin would go into the castle under a magical barrier that protected them from being seen.
The warlock let out a soft grin. Percival had to almost jump on Gwaine as Robin suggested the plan to the others. He knew how the knight hated the thought of letting the warlock go out of his sight again. He had been terribly protective ever since he and the others had rescued him.
But eventually, while ignoring Gwaine, they decided to follow that plan. Merlin for his magic and Robin as he knew the castle.
He looked at Robin as the man started to speak. 'We have to go right here.' The raven gave him a nod and they turned to the right hallway. Soon they walked down the stairs towards the dungeons, as their friend was probably there.
But as they walked deeper through the dungeons Merlin felt his heart drop. Every one of the cells was empty and as they reached the end they just stopped and looked at each other. The smaller man let his eyes sink to the ground as he knew it was too good to be true.
'He can still be somewhere in the castle.' Robin said to cheer him up.
But Merlin shook his head. 'It was just a rumor.'
'Still there's hope.' The archer grabbed Merlin's hand. 'We will find him, he's probably somewhere in this castle.'
The warlock starred in Robin's deep brown eyes and gave him a soft smile. 'Fine, we will search further.' The brunette grinned back and they walked out of the dungeons. As they walked up the stairs again and into the hallway they heard the sound of guards running towards them
At the sound Robin pushed Merlin against the wall and both prayed the raven's magic was strong enough to hide them.
The guards then ran past them, not noticing them at all, until... the last guard, a young man not older then Merlin stopped and narrowed his eyes as he stared at the spot where both Merlin and Robin stood.
Merlin stared in fear as he saw the man reach for them, he could see the confusion in the man's eyes, but the man jumped backwards as his leader yelled. 'Don't fall back!' The guard, as he probably feared his captain, turned on his heels and ran after the others.
Both Merlin and Robin stood frozen next to each other, knowing that they almost where discovered. The warlock let out a deep breath he had been holding for a long time, before grinning at the other.
They quickly ran into the opposite way as the guards had gone to. Not long after they reached a large staircase and with a small conversation they decided to go up towards the next floor.
But as they reached the top of the stairs they stared at a pair of large wooden doors. The warlock turned nervously to the archer as he asked with a slightly scared look on his face. 'Should we go in?'
'Yeah, we're already here now.'
'Okay.' Merlin agreed and together they pushed the large doors open, starring shocked as they looked inside the room.
