This one came out longer then I expected.

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin, only my OCs and this storyline.

Hope you enjoy.

Stay With Me

Time passed slowly as they sat in their cell. They heard the execution from their cell. Jasper made the mistake of looking through the grate that looked out onto the courtyard where the execution was taking place. He didn't speak again for hours after that. Aida stayed by him, understanding how it felt. The same thing had happened to her when she first arrived. Jasper's eyes seemed empty as he stared at the ground, shocked into silence.

Aida ran her hand through her roughly cut hair. She had grown used to its shortness but still missed the time when it had been long, when Joone used to comb it for her. Aida still shook at night from dreams of fire. She found many a time that she would suddenly wake with Joone's name on the tip of her tongue, but she never called out. After the fire a part of Aida had died. She felt different, as if something inside was missing. Hope, maybe.

When she first arrived and was thrown in the cell after they cut her hair off and changed her clothes she looked around desperately for Jasper, believing that he would be there. But she didn't see him. Aida feared that she was too late and that he had already been executed, and then he was there. She was happy to see him but a part of her wished he had never come, that he could have escaped. She would have been happy to die believing that. But now he was here.

There was nothing that could be done now so Aida decided to cherish what time they did have together, but she had a feeling at the pit of her stomach that it wouldn't be long. If they had so little time then Aida was not going to let Jasper waste it by remaining in this state.

"Jasper." Aida spoke his name softly. Gently, she began to stroke the back of his neck. He didn't move and his eyes just kept staring. Aida had always loved Jasper's eyes. They were deep and she always seemed to get lost in them. It made her think back to when they danced together in Narayan's basement to Joone's violin music. It had been invigorating and Aida felt alive as she danced across the floor. Neither she nor Jasper had been very good dancers but it hadn't mattered.

Aida smiled as she remembered how Jasper had smiled and laughed but it also made her sad to think that he would never laugh and smile like that again. Her Jasper. She ran her fingers through his short hair, leaned in, and kissed him on the cheek. He blinked and his eyes softened. Jasper turned his head so he could look at her and their eyes locked together. He cupped her face with his left hand. Aida placed her hand over his.

They kissed and the world around them seemed to disappear. There was no cell or ban on magic. There was no impending sentence looming over their heads. It was just the two of them. When they finally broke apart their foreheads rested against each other's, their hands now entwined. They were content to stay that way. Aida closed her eyes, but Jasper stole another glance at her. He reached up and flicked a piece of dirt from her cheek.

They stayed there together as the sun set in the sky, not thinking of what would come the next morning. Their thoughts were only of each other.

Aida's shivering was what woke Jasper in the middle of the night. It was the coldest night so far and their thin clothes did little to protect them against the cold's bite. He pulled her in closer but it did not stop her shivering. Her trembling was more violent then the night before. Something was wrong. This couldn't just be from the chilly temperature. Something was magnifying its affects on her. She needed help, and soon. For now all Jasper could do was to stay close and give her as much warmth as he could.

The morning came without warning and the same sound of boots coming down to the cells could be heard. Everyone rustled around in their cells, knowing what was coming. They held their friends and family tighter, even though they knew it wouldn't do anything to stop the soldiers that came for them.

Jasper and Aida's cell was the first one in the line when they came stomping down the stairs. They didn't want to stay down here long so they threw open the first cell and grabbed the first person they could. It was the collar of the older man that they grabbed, dragging him out of the cell.

Jasper had never heard the man speak or even know his name. He regretted not asking now. The shouts of the other prisoners started up again like the day before. Did they cry this way everyday?

Before Jasper could stop her, Aida got to her feet and walked over to the old man. She looked so calm doing it. There was little to fear now when death was so certain. She reached down and took his wrinkled hand in hers. It was the last bit of kindness he was ever shown. He looked up at her and tried to smile. Both their smiles were small and sad.

"I'll miss you Emanuel." She almost whispered as one of the guards pulled her away and her hand was left still reaching out for the old man's.

"Goodbye Aida." His voice was rough and old. "See you in the next life." Then they took him away, leaving the cell with one less occupant.

"Emanuel!" The boy with them cried but Aida caught him before he could take another step. The old man was beyond their reach now. Aida held the boy and they watched the man go until they could no longer see him. The two women wept and came to put their arms around Aida and the boy. Aida extended her hand to Jasper and pulled him in. Their six had become five. The cell seemed so empty now.

They all stayed very close together after that. Aida held tight to Jaspers hand, placing her head on his shoulder. She had her other arm around the boy. He sat between her and one of the other women who wouldn't let go of her friend. The cells grew quiet as the sound of the drums rang out.

But Jasper couldn't take just sitting there. You'd think he had learnt his lesson the day before but it was different this time. It was Emanuel. He hadn't really known the old man at all but Jasper felt like he owed him this. Aida felt the same. They both stood in silence at the grate and watched what they could, right up until the ax fell. Aida turned away and Jasper closed his eyes.

"Emanuel." One of the women whispered his name.

"He's in a better place now Clary." Her friend told her, wrapping her arm further around her and the boy.

"Any place is better then here." The boy mumbled. Jasper turned from the grate and caught a glimpse of a middle-aged man walking by the cell with a medicine bag in his hand.

"Who's that?" He asked, pointing towards the bars. "He had a medicine bag."

"He did?" Aida moved as quick as she could to the bars and peered out. "I've never seen him before."

"That sounds like Gaius, doesn't it Aubrey?" Clary asked her friend.

Aubrey went to stand next to Aida and tried to see what she saw. "It is!" Her eyes brightened. "He's the court physician. What could he possibly be doing down here?"

"In all the time we've been here he hasn't come down once." Clary came up beside them. "What's changed?"

"You know this Gaius?" Jasper asked Clary.

"He treated my brother once. I'll tell you he knows what he's doing." Her eyes grew sad. "Though that didn't really help my brother in the end. They took him last week."

"Clary." Aida took her hand and Aubrey placed an arm around her shoulder, but Clary didn't have any more tears to cry.

"What's he doing?" The boy asked. "Can you tell?"

"I think he's treating them." Aida deciphered from what she could see.

"Why?" Jasper came up to see if he could make out the man.

"Gaius isn't like Uther." Clary explained. "His heart is kinder, and some say he used to practice magic himself." She whispered those last few words.

"Really?" Aida hadn't expected that. "Does the king know?"

"Yep, but Gaius vowed never to practice it again." Clary told them. "Bad news for the sick. Him and a friend used to be able to cure just about anything. Now their abilities are limited. More lives will be lost now rather then saved."

"There will be a day when no one remembers what the physician used to be like." Aubrey sighed.

After a while they all left the bars. Jasper peeked through the grate again but everyone had dispersed after the execution. They happened so quickly. He did see one woman still lingering around the platform. Maybe she had known Emanuel. At least she was there to remember him. There wasn't enough time between the executions to make the people memorable. The only point to them now was to strike fear and to clear space in the cells. It was despicable. How would they like to be on this side of the bars?

Gaius didn't leave the prisons once that day. There were too many people that needed his help. Jasper wondered about the man. There was just something about him that made Jasper curious, like he was important.

He felt Aida slip her hand into his. It was a nice feeling to have her close. He had never cared about anyone the way he cared about her. Jasper hadn't out right said it yet, but he loved her, enough to willingly die for her. But time was running out, they all knew it, and he wasn't going to be able to save her.

"Jasper." Aida drew his attention, giving a comforting squeeze to his hand. "You okay?"

"No." Jasper told the truth. There was no reason to lie, not here.

"You two been together long?" He heard Clary ask behind them.

"Not long enough." Aida said as they turned to face her.

"It never is." Aubrey commented. "Not when it comes to true love." They both blushed at that, not letting go of each other's hand.

"I never understood love." The boy said.

"Love is complicated Charlie." Aubrey placed a hand on his shoulder. "No one really understands it."

Suddenly Jasper felt Aida's hand slip from his. He looked over. Her eyes rolled back and her legs just seemed to give out on her. She was falling.

"Aida!" He just managed to catch her before she hit the ground. She was breathing hard and her eyes were closed. The others rushed over.

"She needs help." Charlie announced, rushing to the bars of the cell. "Help! Please!"

It wasn't long before the physician appeared on the other side. He spotted Aida's limp body in Jasper's arms right away. "Bring her here." He said urgently. As carefully as he could, Jasper lifted her and carried her to Gaius. He gulped at how light she was.

Gaius started his examination right away, feeling her forehead and checking her pulse. Aida's eyes fluttered open and she leaned against the bars, resting her head against them. Jasper didn't leave her side. Gaius worked quickly and Jasper could tell he was trying to stay calm.

"You aren't the first case I've seen." He told her.

"Can you save her?" Jasper didn't say help. He said save, but no one could save any of them. Not anymore.

"I know of a medicine that should work but I don't have it here with me." He explained. "I'll have to go up to my quarters and get it."

"Why are you doing this?" Aida asked weakly. Clary, Aubrey, and Charlie stood close by, listening intently.

"The king is feeling merciful, probably because of his son's return, so he finally let me come down." Gaius said.

"But why are you doing this?" She asked again. "You don't agree do you, with what he's doing?"

"Not fully, no." He said in hushed voice so the guards couldn't hear.

"Wouldn't it be more merciful to let us die this way then out there as examples?"

"Aida, don't say that." Jasper was shocked.

"We're all going to die anyway." She said a little louder but a fit of coughs came over her.

"Don't strain yourself." Gaius warned. "Rest."

"Its not like I'm going anywhere." Aida coughed. "I'm too weak to move."

"I think you're strong." Gaius smiled. "Your kindness is your strength my dear. Now I'll be back with the medicine as soon as I can. All you can do now is rest."

"I'll make sure she does." Jasper nodded. Gaius thanked him and quickly made his way towards the stairs. "Come on." Jasper lifted Aida and took her to the far side of the cell and laid her down. "You need to…" But Aida was already asleep. Jasper grasped her hand.

"You have to stay with me Aida." He kissed her hand. The others circled around her. "Stay with me."

Thanks for reading and please REVIEW!

The reviews have been beyond brilliant.

I estimate about five more chapters, give or take.

Hope you keep following because the next chapter won't be one to miss. Intended to leave you shocked.

See you all next time.