Merlin stared down at the broken glass around him. Elaine had come again that morning, but did nothing save for sit on a chair and weave. Just that. It was as if she was playing mind games with him. They both knew what she could be doing. She had the means to- and he had none with which to fight back. Not with his magic suppressed like that.

So why wasn't she? Was she simple trying to break his will? Show him that he was powerless; he was in her grasp. She would do things on her own time. What suited Merlin was nothing. He was nothing, not anymore. Not without Arthur.

He was simply a shell. A shell holding the most powerful magic in existence, and it was anyone's for the taking. Merlin let out a small cry. Why hadn't she cleaned up the glass? He saw his reflection inside the shards, and they distorted his image making him look jagged and broken. Was he?

No.

Not until he saw Arthur again. Not until his fears were either confirmed or denied. Not until then. To Merlin's surprise, he heard footsteps. And they weren't the soft, precise footsteps of Elaine. No; they were loud and boisterous, like there was a race to be the first to reach danger. They would no doubt be falling all over each other and drawing swords. To them this would be half game, half real life. Merlin knew those footsteps. The knights.

"Arthur!" He cried out, just as the group fell into the room. The first in was predictably a frazzled Gwaine, followed by Leon. Percival and Elyan stumbled in next, and then…. Merlin repeated Arthur's name, but this time it was a question. As he said it, he could not decide if the sorrow on the knight's faces were due to Merlin's sorry state, or Arthur's absence. Gwaine stepped forward, concern etched into his features. He was careful to step around the glass which littered the floor, as he made his way towards the servant. Once he reached the warlock, he put forward his hand to touch Merlin's shoulder. It was as if he was confirming to Merlin that they were really there, in case there was any doubt.

"We made it, mate." He said with a smile. "I gave up a tankard of beer with a pretty wench to come get you. Anything for my best friend." The meaning behind the knight's words was not lost on Merlin. Arthur was not there for a reason, so Gwaine was claiming Merlin's friendship instead. He would be by the warlock's side, even if no one else would. Merlin felt tears burn at his eyes, but they wouldn't fall. Was he relieved? Or did sadness still hang heavy in his heart?

"Gonna help me outta here?" He asked, softly. Gwaine nodded, his expression neutral. Percival stepped forward then, and with a swing of his sword the chains shattered. Merlin felt himself fall for a moment, before being caught in Percival's strong arms.

"We've got you mate." Gwaine whispered. Merlin looked down at his wrists, where the cuffs were still in place.

"What about these?" The need to have his magic back was desperate now, as he yearned to have the means to get his friends out of this place, if danger presented itself.

"Good luck with those." A female voice crowed. Merlin felt his blood run cold. A slight shiver ran down his spine. He turned to face Elaine. "Your friends aren't very stealthy, are they?" She asked.

"What of it?" Gwaine spat.

"I only mean that a getaway plan isn't very useful if you alert every enemy for miles around of your presence."

"We don't care if you know we're here." Leon said. "We'll take Merlin no matter what."

"And kill you in the process." Gwaine hissed under his breath. Leon shot him a silencing glare. Elaine gave a smile at this.

"Would you like to kill me? Alright. The mirror is over there. If you break it, I die. Help yourself."

"And I suppose you have some sort of enchantment over this mirror to prevent us from doing that, don't you?" Elyan asked. Elaine raised her eyebrows.

"He's clever. You should let him talk more."

"Leave her here." Merlin begged. "Let's just go." Elaine shrugged.

"You all can go, I'm not in the mood to kill anyone. Just leave me the boy."

"Like hell!" Gwaine cried. He rushed towards Elaine with a swing of his sword, but the woman didn't flinch. Right as his weapon was about to make contact with skin, he found himself blown backwards.

"I told you, I am born of reflections! You will not kill me in the flesh, try though you may." Gwaine shook his head.

"No, maybe not yet. But we can detain you." The knight nodded towards Leon who dove towards the one possession of Elaine's which they could break. Her precious loom.

Elaine let a cry as metal made contact with wood, and the instrument splintered. The tapestry which lay upon it tore and the threads fell towards the floor. Leon raised his sword again, and Elaine rushed towards him in an attempt to protect her treasure. As the sword stabbed again, Percival bundled up Merlin and ran for the door, followed by Gwaine and Elyan.

"Take him!" Elaine screamed. "But don't think I need him here to still hurt him! And don't think that your little king will be so accepting of the sorcerer's talents!" Her cries grew smaller and smaller as Merlin was ushered out of the building. The knights tumbled outside, and in a few minutes Leon joined them.

They ran for a while, until they were out of danger, but as soon as it was safe, they stopped. Everyone's attention was turned onto Merlin. There was no hatred on their faces, just concern. Merlin wondered for a moment if perhaps only Arthur had found out about hid magic, and if they had simply ignored Elaine's accusations. His deductions, however, were quickly proven to be wrong.

"I knew all along." Gwaine admitted. "Well, ever since we went with Arthur to get the trident. I may be stupid, but not as much as Arthur. I knew what that troll guy was getting at when he said magic." The other knights looked up in surprise.

"You didn't tell us that." Percival said, hurt detectable in his tone. Gwaine shrugged.

"I didn't know if you all would be accepting. Princess certainly was not." Merlin did not miss the venom in his tone when he mentioned the king. He swallowed.

"None of you mind then?" He asked. The knights all looked at each other, and for a single moment, Merlin doubted. And then Leon let out a laugh.

"We're here, aren't we?"

"But…." Merlin felt a swelling inside his chest. "Arthur. Why didn't he come?" The laughter was cut short. Leon looked towards the knights for guidance, but they gave him telling enough glances. He was the leader.

"That, my friend, is a different story."

Extended apologies for my extended absence…. Ahem. Disclaimer that comes after the chapter. You thought you could sue me because you didn't see the disclaimer up there? Nope! It's down here. I sadly don't own Merlin. *Cries in a corner*

So readers, you think this story is almost done now that Merlin is saved, yes? NOPE! I'M A TROLL. Elaine is angry and Arthur is not even close to finished when it comes to being a prat. Aherm…. Eh heh….. Heh…. Heh…. Please continue to read and review! I WILL keep updating! I promise! If any of my readers are actually still here…. Oh. And yeah. I know the loom thing was lame. I needed them out of there, and dumb Elaine is pretty invisible at the moment.