Here's the next chapter for everyone. Thanks for the reviews. Have a nice day.

"I am Emrys." The words echoed around the room. As soon as they had left Ulric's mouth, the room went quiet. Everyone's breathing had stopped. The noises outside had stopped. Even Lancelot's groans had stopped. The words bounced around the room for a bit, each time reverberating into Arthur's very being. Finally, the final syllable died and the words were no more. But in their place a stifling silence continued to lay over the knights. Arthur could hear a high-pitched buzz in place of words, in place of breath, in place of life. Slowly, the words made a connection in Arthur's mind: Ulric believed he was Emrys.

Arthur heard the clang of a sword. He was distantly aware that one of his knights had dropped their swords in shock. Arthur was rather surprised that his didn't fly out of his hand as well. He wouldn't have blamed his muscles from loosing all coordination since his brain didn't seem to be working at the moment. Arthur opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to find the right words. But what response can you have for a mad man? What can you say to a person who lives in a fantasy? Finally, the words came.

"What did you say?" he asked. His words didn't echo around the chamber as Ulric's had. They were spoken, barely above a whisper. The words were almost stuck on Arthur's tongue as he spit them out. There was no way Ulric could believe he was the most powerful sorcerer to walk the earth. There was no way. And yet, here they were.

"You heard me. I am Emrys. I know how much you distrust magic. But trust me, young Pendragon. Together, we can lead Albion into a new age, into a new light! Just think about the possibilities. With your leadership and my power, we can crush our enemies and make the world bow at our feet!" Ulric said. He started laughing, a dark and cold laughter that sent shivers up Arthur's spine. This wasn't right. Ulrich wasn't right. Merlin was Emrys, the dragon had said so. While he didn't trust the dragon completely, there was no doubt that the kid had power, he had potential. But, if Ulric really succeeded in killing Merlin, then was it possible that he assumed the roll. Could it be that Merlin was never Emrys to begin with? But Emrys was supposed to be good. The embodiment of magic, yes, but good nonetheless. Ulric was not a good person. He couldn't be Emrys. He couldn't be the one to lead Albion out of the dark and into the light. This man would only cause the world more pain and suffering.

"Oh, my king, believe me when I say changes will be made. After all, Albion will not wait forever. Let's get started." Ulric grinned.

oOoOoOo

The earth had stopped shaking for a while now. However here, in the dark, Merlin was still having problems doing something as simple as moving. At first he was afraid to move to far. What if he got stuck in a hole and never got back out? This place was dark and scary and Merlin didn't like being trapped in here. That's why he finally had to start moving. He wanted to get out of here. The red crystal he had touched was still hurting him. The hand that had held it was probably burned. It felt like it had been burned. And, to make matter worse, Merlin was bruised and sore from fighting and having his strength drained. Merlin managed to get up to his hands and knees, crawling blindly around until he felt a large wall of rocks.

He put his hand to the rocks and immediately some began to fall on him. They weren't very large, but they still hurt at they rained on his head. Merlin felt tears running down his face. His nose was runny too. He didn't like the dark. And he didn't like being alone.

"a-æbære," Merlin whispered softly, trying to get the rocks to move. He felt his magic surge up, but nothing came to help him. "æbære!" he said more forcefully this time. His head felt as though someone had stuffed a load of cotton swabs, it was all fuzzy and hard to think. This time, though, the rocks shifted just a tab, not enough to let Merlin out. Merlin leaned against a wall and continued to cry. He didn't want to die here. He didn't want to be in here. He wanted to be out with Arthur, learning how to ride horses with Morgana and Gwen. He wanted to be playing knights with Lancelot and Gwaine. He wanted to be reading stories with Leon and Percival. He wanted to help Gaius crush herbs and Elyan repair armor. He wanted to be anywhere but here. Then, Merlin thought he heard rocks being scraped out of the way. He scrambled forward to the wall of rocks once more.

"Arthur?" Merlin called out, hoping that the prince was just on the other side of the wall, digging him out. He placed a hand on the rocks and tried to push them out of the way, helping the others dig him out. "Gwaine?" No one answered. Merlin pushed harder. "Percival, Leon, Elyan? Lancelot?" No one was there. Merlin let his hands slide from the stones and sank back onto the floor. There was no one there. There was no one to save him. And he couldn't save himself. He wasn't strong enough. Wasn't he supposed to be the greatest sorcerer ever? Well, he didn't feel great at the moment. Merlin raised his hands and tried to think of another spell that could take away the rocks. Even just a small opening that he could squeeze through would be enough. But nothing came. His head was starting to feel less fuzzy, though. Perhaps the spell Ulric had used was finally starting to wear off.

"Young warlock?" a familiar voice called. Merlin crawled forward and put his ear on the ground.

"Kilgharrah?" he asked uncertainly. It would be nice if it really was Kilgharrah down there. He wanted a friend right now.

"What is going up there?" the dragon asked. Merlin shook his head, fresh tears springing to his eyes.

"I don't know. I was trapped here by the bad man that's here," Merlin whimpered. Kilgharrah sighed.

"Have you tried getting out using magic?" he asked. Merlin glared at the ground.

"Of course I did. It won't listen. Nothing's happening!" Merlin cried. He was frustrated, tired, scared, and he just wanted to go back to his room.

"There, there, youngling," Kilgharrah said in a soothing voice. Merlin didn't expect him to sound so soothing. Kilgharrah always sounded really old, like someone who had lived a thousand years. People who lived for thousands of years wouldn't be very soothing in Merlin's opinion.

"You first need to calm down. The young prince is still alive, as are all the knights," Kilgharrah said. Merlin felt his heart soar with the news. He hadn't been a complete failure yet. Though, he was still stuck in this cave with no way to get out.

"Are you sure?" Merlin sniffed.

"Yes, I am sure. But, if you do not get out, then there may not be any way for Albion to be created," Kilgharrah said.

"I don't care about Albion. I just want to be with my friends. It's scary here and I don't like it." Merlin wailed. Right now, he could care less Albion. He didn't really understand what Albion was anyways. He just knew that he and Arthur were going to do it together. However, Kilgharrah seemed to forget that Merlin couldn't build Albion if Arthur wasn't there. So, following that logic, Arthur should be more important than some stupid thing that hadn't even happened yet. Kilgharrah sighed again.

"Young warlock, I am sorry for upsetting you. However, I do think that the sooner we get you out of there, the more chance you have of stopping Ulric from hurting Arthur or any of your friends," Kilgharrah said calmly. That was great and all, but Merlin still didn't have a strong enough spell to move all these rocks.

"Do you know how to get out?" Merlin asked. Maybe Kilgharrah could roar and shake the castle. That would knock some of the rocks loose and Merlin would be able to move them the rest of the way.

"I can give you a spell, but you have to be the one to activate it. I can not give you any more power or help," Kilgharrah answered. Merlin had hoped Kilgharrah would be able to give him more power. Still, a spell that could move rocks was pretty cool. Maybe he could use it to blow up the sides of castles! That would be awesome!

"I'll try my best," Merlin said, feeling braver than before. He didn't want Arthur to know that he cried here in the cave. Arthur said he was brave, so Merlin had to be brave. He wasn't going to let a scary man hurt his friends.

"Close your eyes and open your mind." Merlin nodded and let his little light go out. He felt a tingling sensation in the back of his brain, it was like something was trying to work it's way in. Merlin smiled and allowed himself to be coaxed by the small tendril of Kilgharrah's magic that was currently working into his brain. He felt a rush of knowledge enter his mind. Merlin opened his eyes and shouted

"geopenian!" not even waiting for his magic to die down. A large explosion happened and the rocks were blasted from their place. Merlin smiled and let out a whoop of joy upon seeing the cavern that he had originally came through.

"I am proud of you, young warlock. You did well," Kilgharrah said. Merlin smiled.

"Thanks Kilgharrah, I'll be sure to help defeat Ulric. Don't you worry," Merlin said before turning and running off down the hall. He wasn't entirely sure where Ulric would be at. Maybe he should check the throne room. He heard that Uther and Arthur were in there a lot, doing royal things. He was never allowed in the meetings though. But maybe he might after he helped save Camelot! Maybe he would become Court Sorcerer sooner! He heard a familiar howling in the distance.

"Rowena can help!" Merlin said before taking off towards the woods. This time, Rowena was sitting gin the middle of the courtyard; no one was paying her any attention. They were all running around, trying to repair some damage that had happened to the castle.

"My youngling?" she asked uncertainly, walking up closer and looking at the numerous bruises and scrapes that Merlin had acquired. "Who did this to you?" she growled. Merlin hugged Rowena's neck. He was happy to see her again.

"Can you do something for me, Rowena?" Merlin said.

"Anything, pup," she said softly.

"I need you to find Gwaine. I need his help," Merlin said. Rowena pulled back and nuzzled Merlin's cheek.

"I will return with him swiftly. Then, I will hurt the one who hurt you," Rowena growled before setting off to find Gwaine. Merlin wanted to call after Rowena and tell her that he was already helping defeat Ulric, but decided better of it. He had a job to do. Merlin turned and ran back into the palace. He found the throne room where his magic was pulling on him. He stopped dead in his tracks upon seeing the bodies piled up on the floor. Merlin stumbled back, slipping on the pool of blood that had collected. Merlin's eyes wouldn't leave the sight of the bodies, piled on the floor. It was like it had cast a spell on him. All at once, Merlin turned to the side and threw up, the stench getting too much for him. Merlin turned back and saw that the door was just behind the bodies. He stood up shakily, closed his eyes and ran to the doors, trying to ignore the dead that lay at his feet. He pushed open the doors and rushed in.

"Arthur!" he cried.

"No, Merlin," Arthur shouted. Merlin wondered what had happened before he felt himself being flung to the side. Merlin hit the ground with a crack and looked to see Elyan being thrown into a wall, an ugly burn decorated his chest. Merlin's eyes widened and he turned to see Ulric standing there, his eyes alight with fury.

"What an annoying little boy," he growled. He drew his hand back to throw another fireball at Merlin when Arthur leapt in front of him, gathering him in his arms and shielding him from Ulric's flames.

"You will not harm anyone else, Emrys," Arthur growled. Merlin was confused. Wasn't he Emrys? That was what everyone always said. Ulric smiled and lowered his hand.

"As you wish, my king."

oOoOoOo

Gwaine continued to hum a merry tune as he continued down the road. If he kept this pace, he would be there by nightfall. Then, he could sneak into the castle and keep tabs on Ulric. He saw the white towers in the distance. There didn't appear to be any damage to them, so Gwaine assumed things were going all right. He wondered if Merlin missed him. He pulled out that ugly pendant and smiled. No one had ever put so much thought into a gift for him before. Well, maybe his younger brother, but that was old news, something that Gwaine didn't want to think about anymore. It was bad enough that Ulrich was there, dragging up horrible memories. He heard a rustling in the bushes and turned, sword at the ready.

"Who's there?" he asked. Then, a white animal leapt from the bushes and grabbed Gwaine's arm. Gwaine was about to raise his arm when the beast looked into his eyes. Those silver eyes were recognizable anywhere. It was Rowena.

"We don't have much time. Hang on tight," She said.

"You can talk!" Gwaine gasped.

"Only when I am in contact with your body and only for a short amount of time," she explained.

"What happened?"

"I do not know. What I do know is that the more time we waste here, the more damage will be done to Camelot," she said. Gwaine nodded and Rowena let go of his arm. He grasped the beast's hair and closed his eyes. The ground left from underneath his feet and Gwaine was carried off to the castle.

Gwaine is coming back and Merlin is not dead. Elyan might be though and Lancelot's still bleeding out. But let's not dwell on that. Instead, have a wonderful day and a wonderful week.