Here's chapter 2. I actually think I've finished writing the entire Fic but I'll re-read it to make sure it's ok. So then I can get on with uploading the rest. :)

Thank you to the wonderful reviews from: That-is-illogical, 1983Sarah, Hiphuggers2, BriaMercedes, lozzabluebell, and XxMerlingirlxx. They were very kind, and so this chapter is for you.

I just want to put this out there, that I tend to start strong with a story but- I feel- I begin to slow down/not do as well, as I go further. So I hope I haven't done this with this Fic.

There are quite a few more chapters to come yet so hold on. I also have an A03 account now in case some of you prefer to use that- same username. :)

Thank you again, hope you enjoy, please review and spread the word. ;)

His sleep was plagued with fits of screams and cries for help. He'd wanted relief from passing out so badly yet when it came, it wasn't a relief at all, his body was still on fire and pain coursed through him with every heartbeat. Nightmares of Morgana, dying in his arms and yelling at him, begging him not to kill her and demanding 'why he did'. Merlin didn't know how long he was unconscious for, but during the time, he felt many presences from people keeping an eye on him. One was there constantly, and he could tell exactly who it was; the only woman in Camelot who knew him well enough, and cared for him enough, to make sure he was ok. Gwen. 'Morgana'. Everything was going around his head but he could not escape the horror he felt towards what he'd just done, the words kept escaping his mouth and when they did, he felt a new cold compress dabbed onto his head and a soothing 'ssshh' from Gwen. Throughout the night, he could feel what must have been poultice or some other herbal remedy placed onto the worst of his burns, his head was bandaged as well as his arm, which must have been bruised from the fall. He tried hard not to make any noises, not knowing who was around, but the wounds were too much and he let out numerous cries of pain.

When he awoke, he could barely open his eyes from exhaustion. He looked around and found everyone asleep, even Gwen and Gauis who were supposedly looking after him. He didn't mind though, he wasn't sure he was ready to face anyone yet and he wanted them all to get rest. It also gave him time to rest, now that most of his pain was gently going away, thanks to something vile Gauis had thrown down his throat. After all these years, he'd never forgiven the old man for the concoctions he'd made Merlin suffer through. He laid quietly, staring around the room, wondering what had been said about him, about what he could do. The look on Arthur's face when he found out painted a picture of a thousand words, a mixture of anger, horror, loathing and even fear. The sword tip was pointed at Merlin's throat before he'd had time to say 'I can explain', and he'd fallen to the floor, completely at Arthur's mercy. Merlin had explained everything there and then, saying how he was born with the magic and he never used it for evil. He noted how his destiny was to protect Arthur and help create Albion, and that he had saved so many lives, including Arthur's, more times than he could remember. The following days were hard and Arthur rarely called for his servant's help, even with important council decisions which Merlin was usually present for. He lost his place at the round table and was forced to ignore jokes from knights and questions from Gwen. It had only been the morning Morgana attacked that Arthur realised he needed Merlin's help; after begging Arthur for hours to let him in, the young king gave in and realised that magic was the only way out of this war. Reluctantly, he advised Merlin on the positions and brought him up to speed with everything that was going on. No-one asked questions when the two entered the tent to discuss tactics, they only saw the looks shared between the two, secretly telling them 'it wasn't their business'. And now everybody knew. Thoughts raveled round in his mind, making his head hurt more and causing his stomach to retch. He threw up what little he had in his stomach and was greeted by a cup of water tainted with something bitter.

'Ginger, Gauis said it would calm your stomach.' He looked up to see Gwen, smiling.

'You're not scared of me?' He'd expected her to shout at him, or back away, until he realised, she must have trusted him enough to take care of him throughout the night.

'No Merlin. I've always known you to be there when we needed you, if you wanted to hurt us or use your ability for evil, you'd have done it long ago.' She was beautiful, her smile, full of kindness, peaceful not forced, lit up her face and allowed Merlin to relax- at least he'd have one person on his side.

It had only been a short while before Gwen fell asleep again, leaving him to his own thoughts once more. The walls of the tent had begun to close in on him and panic set in, so he forced himself out of bed and into the cool night. He knew that Gauis would kill him for getting up when he should be resting, but he needed the air. It was cool, but not cold, and he welcomed the relief of the night air, looking up at the stars, which were partially clouded from the smoke of the fires that had raged around Camelot just hours before.

It was just before dawn when he heard rustling behind him, but he was too stiff and weak to turn around- it could have been Morgana coming to kill him, but he didn't care. A breeze ruffled his hair as a cloak caught in the wind; they sat beside him, and Merlin could just make out the sandy blonde hair of his king.

'I'm sorry.' Merlin's voice caught in his throat.

'What for? You saved us all.' Much to Merlin's belief, Arthur placed a soft hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly; Merlin winced. 'Sorry, is that your bad side?'

'Everywhere is my bad side.' Merlin began to laugh as he said this but chose against it when his lungs cried out. He was hunched over, not allowing much breath into his body, and his intakes were becoming much more shorter and quicker.

'Hey, hey...' Arthur pulled Merlin back, so he was just leaning on his shoulder, making sure his body wasn't scrunched up. 'You need to stretch out and relax.' With this, Merlin closed his eyes and took 3 deep breaths in and out, feeling surprisingly better.

He smiled, 'Thanks Arthur.' Again, Arthur pressed a hand onto the back of Merlin's shoulder and squeezed, although more gently this time, knowing how sore his sorcerer was. Merlin began feeling queasy and hauled himself up, expecting to empty his stomach once again. He overshot and fell straight forward onto his side, crying out. He couldn't hold the tears anymore, they tore away from his eyes, down his face and onto the grass. They were uncontrollable, everything coming back to him and forcing their way to the front of his mind. It was all too much and his head cried out in pain. He held his hands up and clutched his head, almost pulling at his hair. Hands clamped around Merlin's wrists, pulling them away. It was Arthur, he could hear him calling him. Images flashed in front of his eyes and as he forced them open, he knew they were glowing; glowing bright gold, the same gold he knew they shone when he used his magic. He was reaching out for air, his lungs were closing in. Hands lifted up his head and placed it onto what felt like a lap, he could feel more than just Arthur's presence around him but, although his eyes were open, he couldn't see anything. Just as quickly as it started, everything went black and he could breath again. He opened his eyes after a few seconds and looked up to find his head was in Gwaine's lap and both Arthur and Leon had one of his hands held firmly in their own. He panicked, he didn't know what was happening, and as he forced himself up onto his feet, ignoring as much as he could the fact his body was screaming at him not to, he could see that the brave knights of Camelot were scared. They looked up into his eyes with fear, but also sympathy. They wanted to help him. Merlin's mind was a blur, fear ripped through him and he backed away, further and further away from his friends. 'They're going to kill you, they hate you.' Morgana. 'Why would they trust you now, they'll only use you to get to me then they'll burn you right beside me.' Wherever she was, Morgana was awake, and she knew what was happening, she was trying to scare him; and as much as he tried to ignore her, it was working.

He ran.

It was the only thing he could do. He turned on his heel and ran straight towards the forest. He could feel the knights following swiftly behind him and knew any second now they would catch him up. 'I'M SORRY!' he yelled and created a fire wall between him and them. He turned to see Arthur crying. Crying!?

'Merlin, we don't want to hurt you, whatever you think, we won't.' He meant it, but Merlin knew Arthur was a good liar.

'She said you're using me. She said you're going to kill me. That you hate me.' He was crying more than ever before. Pain showed in his friends eyes.

'Morgana telling you that Merlin?' Gwaine wasn't as idiotic as people thought. Merlin nodded his head slightly and looked down, trying to decide if he should believe his long time friends or the wickedness that he knew could destroy Camelot and everything he'd worked for. 'Run! Now!' It was Morgana once again, whatever she was doing it was working; her voice was commanding and Merlin found himself doing what she told him. He looked up once again into Arthur's eyes. And ran.

XXX

Silence. No-One knew what to say, what to do. Merlin was gone.

'He was so scared.' Arthur tried so hard not to show his emotions; as a king, showing weakness, even to his closest friends, wasn't a good idea. 'I wanted to help him. Gauis you should have seen his eyes. They...' Tears escaped him and he massaged his head with his hand, trying to hide them as best he could.

'Arthur's right, we could see fear in his eyes. He wasn't scared, he was petrified!' Leon also shed a tear for his friend and looked up to Gauis, re-telling the events when Arthur couldn't. 'I don't know how she knew what was happening but Morgana had something to do with it.'

'Yeah, she was getting into his head. I think whatever made him run had something to do with her.' Gwaine looked like a happy child who had got a hard question right, proud and strong. Yet his shoulders slumped when he thought of his friend. 'I've known Merlin a long time, and through everything, he has never been like this.'

Gwen had her arm around Gauis' shoulder, comforting him. He'd almost collapsed when Leon woke everyone and said that Merlin had ran. Sitting around the fire, he, Arthur and Gwaine had told them of how their friend's agony turned to fear and forced him to run.

'Has anyone checked to see if Morgana's still chained up? She may be out there in the forest waiting for him.' Gwen looked to Arthur, torn between comforting him and Gauis.

'It was the first thing we did. She's still there. Those chains Gauis spoke of are doing their trick.' Upon getting Merlin to the tent, Gauis had mentioned a type of metal that weakened sorcerers should they have the right etchings grooved into them. He'd advised the knights what they should look like and within half an hour, the witch was chained up, her power's drained.

'I'll send out a search. We'll split up, taking the forest one area at a time. Don't worry Gauis. We'll find him.' Arthur knew he wasn't just reassuring the old man, he was also trying to reassure himself. He felt that if he pictured Merlin's face one more time he would not be able to keep the grief in. His servant was scared out of his mind, and alone, injured, in the forest. Not his servant- but his best friend.

The knights set out, along with Gwen and even Gauis. Only a small group remained at the camp sight. Keeping an eye out in case Merlin wandered back, as well as having orders to kill Morgana any movement she made to run.