Title: Dark Magic

Authors: Cassy27
Words: 2172
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Gaius, Gwen, Morgana, oc
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Merlin, sadly enough!
Spoilers: No spoilers in this chapter

This story takes place somewhere in season 1

AN: First of all, thank you, those that all took the time to review, you guys are amazing!
Another chapter and I am glad I got to post it this soon (other might think it isn't a fast update, but for me it is as the chapter is longer than four pages! =) ). So it is quiet long and a lot happens, but what? Well, read on and find out!

Chapter 10

Arthur felt he was getting closer, he didn't know why, he could just sense it. He didn't make any sound and he had warned Gaius to do the same. Together, they walked as fast as they could, but it still felt like they were going so very slow. They were already walking for over two hours now and Arthur knew this meant that Merlin would certainly be awake by now.

He wondered what his servant would do. Would he immediately come after them or have a little fun in the castle first? Arthur could only swallow when thinking about the last option. Perhaps he should have stayed in the castle as well to make sure nothing bad would happen.

"There," Gaius suddenly whispered, "another footprint."

"Good," Arthur smiled, feeling relieved that they were still on the right path, "I believe we are closing in on the sorcerer."

Again, minutes were spent walking in silence when suddenly a laugh could be heard. It sounded so much like the way Merlin now laughed, but Arthur knew it wasn't him, this had to be that sorcerer. He looked Gaius in the eyes. This was it, the moment of truth and Arthur knew he couldn't fail as Merlin's fate depended on this, but that man was still a sorcerer and Arthur could only fight him with a sword so all he could hope for was that he would be good and strong enough.

"Let's go," Gaius whispered.

They soon saw the sorcerer sitting on the ground, very relaxed as he apparently considered himself to be absolutely safe. A smile appeared on Arthur's face. This wasn't going to be so difficult after all. He just needed to be careful and silent and then he would be able to take that man by surprise. Yes, that was the plan, Arthur thought to himself.

He turned to Gaius, placing one finger over his lips and Gaius nodded, having understood the message immediately.

Arthur started walking forward again, his sword firmly in his hand. Just when he was within striking distance and had lifted his sword, he felt a heavy weight fall on his chest, knocking out all the air from his lungs and Arthur couldn't help but gasp and cough while falling onto his knees.

"You really thought that I would be killed that easily?" the sorcerer asked, sounded deeply offended. He stood up and turned around to face the young prince who still wasn't getting any air.

Arthur tried to breath in, but his vision was turning dark and all he could think about was that he didn't want to go down without a fight. His sword, having fallen out of his hands, lay directly in front of his knees and yet he didn't even have the power to just reach for it.

"You underestimate me," the sorcerer continued, pacing up and down in front of Arthur now, "you think I would just sit here and let you kill me? What you don't realize is that I played you the whole time."

Arthur could breath more easily now though moving was still too much to ask for. He simply listened to the sorcerer's words, hoping he might say something useful like where Merlin was and how he was controlling him.

"The path you took," the sorcerer smiled, "was one that I laid out for you."

Arthur didn't answer him. It didn't matter. He was here now and soon, everything would be over.

"You must understand why I am doing this," the sorcerer sighed, serious again, sorrow in his voice.

"For your daughter," Arthur answered, having actually forgotten that she had been the reason for all of this.

"She was a sweet girl my Emily, an innocent girl."

Arthur felt compassion for the man, but he was still determined to do his job. The man was trying to kill him after all and was using his friend to do so.

"What are you waiting for then?" Arthur asked, his voice cold, "Why don't you kill me because apparently, it can't be that hard."

"Because I don't have the power anymore," the sorcerer answered before smiling, "but guess who has and trust me, he has power beyond anyone's comprehension."

Arthur knew what those words meant; Merlin was around, but he didn't let his focus shift, he kept looking at the sorcerer. That man needed to die for Merlin to be saved and all Arthur needed to do was wait for the right moment and then make his move because if he understood him correctly, he was weak right now, maybe even powerless.

Arthur focused. This was it; he grabbed his sword tightly, jumped up and ran forward. For a moment, he thought he was going to succeed. For a moment, he thought he would make it and strike the sorcerer down, but just before he reached him, pain struck him. He hadn't felt anything like this before. It was as if the skin was being peeled right off from his back. He fell down, a cry of agony escaping his lips.

Behind the sorcerer, Merlin appeared and what Arthur saw scared him more than anything. Merlin's face was completely blank of emotion while his eyes were so dark that they almost appeared to be black as his kind blue eyes had completely vanished. All Arthur could hope for was that Gaius would be able to finish the job because he couldn't move without feeling that agony again, that pain that made him feel almost paralyzed.

"Kill him," the sorcerer ordered Merlin, "let my daughter be revenged."

Merlin didn't move, he simply raised his hand and Arthur couldn't breath anymore, he couldn't even call out for help. The sorcerer turned around and started walking away, sure that the young Prince would soon be dead, but a high voice crying out startled him.

"Merlin, stop this madness!" Gwen had suddenly appeared and Arthur tried to understand how come she was here as well. For a moment, he collected all his strength to warn her not to get closer to Merlin, but his voice was still nowhere to be found.

"Merlin,"Gwen's voice was now sad as she realized that Merlin didn't recognized her or listened to her, "Arthur is your friend and you are killing him!" She wasn't prepared to give up yet.

"Please, stop," she now shouted when seeing Arthur's lips turn blue, but nothing helped, Merlin stayed focused on the prince, intent on killing him.

"I'm so sorry, Merlin," Morgana yelled when she appeared as well before launching forward and planting a dagger in Merlin's side. Shock filled her face as she watched Merlin fall down, a gaze filled with pain appearing on his face while he simply didn't understand what was happening to him.

Morgana couldn't believe that she had just stabbed him and she quickly locked gazes with Arthur who immediately felt the pain subside. He took in a deep breathe and couldn't believe that being able to breathe could feel this satisfying.

"No," the sorcerer yelled. He was furious, but Arthur knew that it wasn't because he cared for Merlin, it was simply because his plan had failed.

Morgana dropped the knife, disgusted by her actions and kneeled down besides Merlin, not sure what to do with the heavily bleeding wound. Gwen pressed her hand against the wound to try and stop the bleeding while with her free hand, she felt Merlin's forehead, already detecting a fever. She too gazed quickly at Arthur for a moment before attending back to Merlin.

Arthur focused again, he would soon enough find out about Merlin's exact condition, right now, he needed to focus on the sorcerer again. He grabbed his sword with new found energy and ran as fast as he could towards him. Last time Merlin had stopped him, but now it was just them without anyone to intervene. Arthur never liked killing a defenseless man, but this time was different and he didn't mind making an exception. Arthur reached him and after only one well aimed strike, the sorcerer fell down, not making any sound while a smile covered his face.

"My Emily," he whispered and then all life disappeared out of him.

Arthur stared at him for a short moment, wondering if he had truly seen his daughter or whether he was simply hoping he would see her again. A cry for help called his attention back.

Turning around, he saw that Gaius had now joined Morgana and Gwen and fear and panic was written all over their faces. Arthur rushed towards them and let himself fall down onto his knees.

"I'm so sorry," Morgana whispered, tears in her eyes.

"You had no choice," Arthur reassured her. He was surprised by the weakness of his own voice. "Will he be alright?" He now turned to Gaius for an answer.

"I need to get him to my chambers," Gaius answered, "there I have everything I need to look after him."

Arthur could hear the worry in the physician's voice, but he knew Gaius would never just give up. They all stared at Merlin who lay still beneath them, too still for their liking.

"You have to help him, Gaius," Morgana nearly begged.

"Trust me," Gaius said, "I will do everything I can."

Arthur, with Gwen's help, pulled Merlin up from the floor and lay him over his shoulder. He might appear thin, he certainly weighed enough. Arthur only hoped he would be able to carry him all the way back to the castle.

Once he started walking, he needed to find his balance for a second and pain erupted in his back again, but Arthur knew that he had to do this. He walked fast and without hesitation while Morgana and Gwen led the way as they knew the short cut Merlin had taken earlier and soon, they reached the edge of the forest, the castle only a few miles away.

Arthur felt tired and the pain was starting to fill every muscle now, but he was headstrong and kept on walking as now wasn't the time to be weak. He had to reach the castle, he needed to get Merlin there or everything they had just been gone through had been for nothing.

"We're almost there," Gaius encouraged him.

Not much later, they entered the castle, turned a few corridors, walked through a long hall and after ascending some stairs which Arthur thought he would never make to the top as dizziness was clouding his vision, they finally reached Gaius' chambers.

"Put him on that bed," Gaius said and Arthur did so, relieved when feeling the loss of weight on his shoulder. His own vision was starting to turn dark, but he focused as he knew he would be able to rest later. There were more urgent things to do.

Merlin was still unconscious, his face having become even more pale and his breathing appeared to be very shallow.

"Gwen, I need some fresh water," Gaius said.

Gwen nodded and left the room.

"Is there something I can do?" Morgana asked, not feeling comfortable with just standing there and doing nothing.

Gaius looked up to her and shook his head. "But if there is," he added, "I'll know where to find you." Morgana nodded, produced a faint smile as she didn't know how to act in this situation and then left the room.

"I should inform my father, he will have without doubt seen me carrying Merlin and he will demand an explanation," Arthur said, "don't worry," he added when seeing Gaius' worried face, "I'll tell him a lie, say that we were hunting and a sorcerer attacked and stabbed Merlin. If my father knew that Merlin once possessed magic, he will have him executed immediately."

"Thank you," Gaius smiled faintly, still feeling very relieved that his own lie was still believed. Everyone thought Merlin only possessed magic because that sorcerer gave it to him. Gaius didn't even want to think about the possibility of Merlin's secret being discovered.

"Don't worry about it, I'll inform Morgana and Gwen of this story as well," Arthur said. He turned around and was about to walk out of the door when he hesitated.

"I'll take care of him," Gaius reassured him, knowing that it was this that was on his mind and then he left. Gaius now completely focused on Merlin and started cleaning out his wound when Gwen entered again. Together, they took care of the young servant and hoped that he would be alright. As Gaius had just finished closing the wound, a moan escaped Merlin's lips.

With fear, Gwen glanced at Gaius.

"Gaius?" she asked, not knowing what this meant.

"I believe...this is a good sign," Gaius smiled.

AN: That was it for today...was it any good? Catindahat, you asked what Morgana and Gwen would be able to do, it turns out quiet a lot! =) But there are still a few unanswered questions, aren't there? Does this mean Merlin is truly safe now because he did get stabbed? What about Arthur because the pain in his back was pretty bad... Well, I promise to answer these questions as soon as possible!

In the meantime, let me know what you think about this chapter as that always makes my day! =)