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Sorry for my lack in updating. I have been to busy with my first week of university. It really is just straight into the work; I've barely had enough time to do all my readings, let along write more FanFiction. However... I do bring you the next chapter. :) Thank you very much to everyone who has reviewed so far - you guys always make my day. I'd also love to hear from all who have subscribed or favourited - I know you're out there and would love to read your opinions. :P
I am still under the impression that the characters in this are steadily getting more and more OOC. :S But I'm still enjoying writing it, which is what really counts, right? Anyway - I'll stop blabbing now so you can get on with the chapter. Please - Enjoy. :D
Sixteen
"What?" Rose exclaimed, as the Doctor continued to look somewhat guilty. "What do you mean 'well actually'?"
"You mean the angels...?" Merlin trailed off, glanced over his shoulder at the statues.
"Weeell, there is always the possibility that, if the light was to go out, the angels could break contact and be able to move again. But it's only a possibility and there are numerous opinions regarding the exact hue of light and how they were frozen in the first place. Of course I've never heard of telekinesis being used to.."
"Ok, hold the technobabble," Rose cut him off.
"That wasn't technobabble," the Doctor pointed out.
"My bad," Rose replied with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"It's easy to be mistaken," he shrugged, completely oblivious to Rose's cynicism.
"Uh... I can help," Merlin interrupted and they both turned to look at him. "With the light problem."
"Really?"
"What did you have in mind?" the Doctor questioned.
"I can move the angels and unfreeze them, so they are looking at each other. And then, I can generate a light field around the statues, so they can stay like that. Would that help?"
"Brilliant!" the Doctor exclaimed.
"In other words – yes that would help," Rose smiled at the young warlock.
"I gathered,' Merlin returned the smile.
"Hold on, what about Uther?"
"What about him, Rose?" the Doctor replied.
"Well, he doesn't like magic," Rose pointed out. "What if he sees these angels statues, bathed in a magical light?"
"I can move the statues out into the forest, leave them there to gather moss, no one would notice."
"Are you sure?"
"What if Uther or a patrol unit or someone came across the statues?" Rose asked. "They might... I dunno," she shrugged.
"The Doctor could tell Uther that it's some sort of... science thing and that they shouldn't be touched. I think the King would be fine with that," Merlin suggested.
"You sure?" and Merlin nodded.
"Ok," the Doctor bobbed his head in accord. "Can you move the angels so they are looking at each other now and then unfreeze them?"
"Now?"
The Time Lord nodded again and in a matter of seconds, Merlin's eyes were glowing golden and the angels were moved and unfrozen. The ring of four angels would have looked quite artistic if it weren't for their horrific snarling faces.
"And I can generate the light field now, too, if you want," Merlin offered.
"And the light will stay there forever?" the Doctor looked somewhat sceptical.
"Yes, of course."
"But, won't it like," Rose began and the other two turned to look at her. "Won't it... drain your power or something?"
"Drain my power?" Merlin questions in a tone which implied Rose was suggesting something incredulous.
"I dunno,' Rose shrugged, slightly embarrassed. "I thought perhaps..."
"Telekinetic power isn't physically connected to a certain being, Rose," the Doctor told her kindly. "The concept of magic draining someone of power is completely fictitious."
"Oh. Well, I did read it in a novel. Just thought it might have been real, seeing as most of the other fictitious stuff I know is turning out to be real."
"Not quite, But it was good thinking," and the two of them shared a smile before the Time Lord turned his attention back to Merlin. He then, like before, requestioned the sorcerer use his magic and moments later the angels were bathed in a golden light bubble.
"And you can move them into the forest, right?" Rose asked, receiving and nod in reply.
"I'll also create an invisibility shield so nobody else notices," Merlin told them.
"Fantastic!" the Doctor exclaimed and Rose was instantly reminded of a previous Doctor in a leather jacket.
Merlin smiled, "I won't be long. You can head back into the castle and tell the others, if you want."
Rose nodded in agreement and the young warlock didn't wait for a reply before both he muttered an incoherent phrase and both he and the angels disappeared.
"That is so Harry Potter!" Rose gushed to the Doctor and the Time Lord laughed.
"Oh and tell Arthur that I'm fine," Merlin's voice echoed softly around the small courtyard. The smile was evident in his voice.
* * *
The Doctor and Rose rounded the corner, holding hands, and were met with the sight of Arthur pacing while Morgana and Gwen sat on the stairs behind him. The Prince looked up as they approached and his eye widened. "Where's Merlin?" he demanded, looking past them down the corridor.
"Yes, the angels are defeated and yes, we're fine Arthur. Thanks for asking," Rose muttered darkly and the Doctor snorted before nudging her lightly.
"Merlin is fine," the Doctor answered Arthur with a slight smile. "He'll be here soon."
Arthur opened his mouth to reply to this, but Morgana cut him off. "And the angels?" the ward asked as she and Gwen stood to greet the two newcomers.
"They're gone," the Doctor replied solemnly and they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"They won't be bothering us again?" Arthur suddenly asked.
"No," Rose answered this time and the Prince nodded before going back to staring down the corridor for the first signs of Merlin.
Fifteen minutes passed, but it seemed like an age for Arthur. Beside him he could vaguely hear the other four discussing something, but his eyes remained glued to the other end of the passageway. He was actually surprising himself with how much he was worried for Merlin, even though the Doctor had told him he was safe. Besides, Merlin was just his manservant, he told himself. But the more time he spent with him, the less relevant that excuse was. Merlin was his friend, possibly even more than that. Not that the Prince would ever admit, let alone think about those feelings in great detail.
Arthur's thoughts were suddenly interrupted (thankfully, just in time) when there was movement from the end of the hallway. Merlin. And the Prince had never been so happy to see his manservant. It took all his will power to stop himself from running and enveloping Merlin up in a hug.
"Merlin!" he gasped.
And, as though he knew what Arthur was restraining himself from, Merlin walked slowly and calmly toward them. Stopping a foot in front of the Prince, he bowed slightly.
"Sire," and Arthur saw the cheeky glint in his servant's eyes and the small smile gracing his lips. The boy was doing it on purpose!
Merlin was about to turn to the Doctor and Rose to tell them that it was done, but Arthur was unable to hold back any longer. The Prince quickly closed the gap between them and threw his arms around the other's thinner form. He smiled gratefully into Merlin's shoulder as he felt Merlin's own arms loop around his waist.
"I thought I'd lost you," Arthur admitted, whispering into Merlin's ear.
"It takes more than a couple of statues to lose me," Merlin retorted, but his tone was caring and appreciative of Arthur's own emotions.
"Please don't ever scare me like that again," and Arthur leaned into his servant more and Merlin was surprised to hear his voice thick with feeling; he did care, after all.
"I'll try not to, Arthur," Merlin replied giving his Prince a light squeeze.
Arthur nodded into his shoulder and was about to let out a peaceful sigh when there was a cough from behind them. Instantly the two of them sprang apart and Rose pressed her lips together to stop herself from laughing.
Blushing deeply, Arthur cleared his throat, "We should...uh," he coughed again, deepening his voice to make himself sound more gruff and manly. "We should go and inform my father of what has happened."
"Of course," Morgana quickly replied, shooting a sly smile in the direction of Arthur and Merlin.
Arthur nodded brusquely and led the way back along the corridor.
"Ah, Sire," Gwen interrupted. "The King's throne room is this way," she pointed, "up the stairs."
"Right," Arthur turned and marched up the stairs, the others following behind him. None of them noticed as the Doctor and Rose shared a private smile.