This chapter was very emotional to write.

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

Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Never Grow Old

But Gaius never returned and it soon became dark. Aubrey and Clary slept in the corner with Charlie between them. They had their arms around each other and almost looked peaceful. The cells were quiet. Aida and Jasper lay on their sides facing each other, their hands intertwined between them, but they were not asleep. Jasper stroked the cold skin of Aida's hands.

"He isn't coming back is he." Aida's voice was weak and she only had the strength to open her eyes half way.

"Its late. Maybe he'll be back in the morning." Jasper tried to keep her hopes up.

"I'm so tired Jasper." Her eyes flickered. "But I'm afraid if I close my eyes I won't be able to open them again."

"Don't close them." He said. "Just look at me and keep looking at me. Everything is going to be alright."

"You're too good to me Jasper." She squeezed his hands lightly. "I wish I could believe you."

"You're going to be okay." Jasper told her. "Believe me."

"I want to so much." Tears fell from her eyes. "But I just feel so tired. I'm tired of this world Jasper. I'm tired of being afraid."

"You don't need to be scared." Jasper pulled himself closer to her. "I'm right here."

"For how long?" Aida's eyes were sad.

"Forever." He tried to smile.

"What would have happened if we had grown up?" She asked.

"We would have moved out of that attic and to a home in the country." He imagined. "Joone would know of a good spot."

"We'd be happy there." Aida smiled. "We'd be at home."

"Joone and Magnus would come visit us with their child. Little Angela." Jasper went on. "Holt and Fionn would be married and are expecting. Olwen is the godmother. Narayan and Narendra would tell stories around the fire."

"Joone would play the violin for us." Aida added. "And we would all sing together as if the dark times had never happened. We'd all be safe. Our family would be safe."

"There would be nothing to fear." He whispered. "In the summer there would be flowers and everything would be alive."

"We'd all be alive." The thought made Aida smile. "We'd all be together."

"Always." Jasper smiled. "And I'd ask you to marry me."

"You'd what?" Aida was startled for a moment, her eyes opening all the way.

"I'd ask you to marry me." He said it slower.

"Would you?" Her smile widened.

"I'd never want a moment without you." He told her.

"I'd say yes." She whispered so Jasper almost didn't catch it, but he did and it made his heart jump.

They pulled themselves closer together until their noses were just touching. Jasper kissed her forehead and they stayed that way. In that moment everything was perfect and Jasper could almost believe that the future he had described was real, that they would all live. They'd all be happy together. He could forget where he was.

Everything was perfect…for the last time.

The sun soon rose and its beams streamed in though the grate. Jasper had dozed off for a moment. When he opened his eyes Aida was still there, still holding his hands. Her eyes were closed and she looked peaceful in her stillness, but she was too still. Jasper placed his hand on the side of her face and it was as cold as ice.

"Aida?" She wasn't breathing. "Aida!" His shouts awoke the others and they came over quickly. Clary felt for a pulse in Aida's neck but found nothing. Jasper was sitting up then, pulling Aida into his arms.

"She's gone." Clary cried.

"No!" Jasper refused to believe it. "She can't be."

"Jasper I'm so sorry." Aubrey placed her hand on his shaking shoulder. Charlie was silent, his eyes wide in shock.

"You can't die on me Aida." He shook her as if she was only sleeping and he could still wake her. His tears soaked into her short hair. "I said forever."

They were interrupted by the sound of a scuffle near the entrance to the cells. There were shouts but whoever was trying to get in finally got past. He got right to the cells before the guards caught him again. It was Gaius. The older man managed to see into their cell and saw the tears on everyone's faces.

"No." He breathed the word.

"You're too late Gaius." Aubrey sobbed.

"It can't be." Gaius started to struggle against the guards again.

"What is it?" The king strode in, another unexpected visit. No one said anything and they didn't need to. He spotted Aida's limp body in the cell with the others crowded around her. "Well, that is one less threat."

"She would never have done anything to harm Camelot!" Jasper yelled.

"Silence!" Uther boomed. "How dare you speak to me that way. I am your king."

"You are no king of mine. A king doesn't kill his people." Jasper spat. "She didn't deserve to die."

"Sire if you had let me come down before I could have prevented this." Gaius tried to act calm. "I could have saved her."

"I was in a merciful mood before, but I should never have let you down here." Uther turned to the physician. "They will all die anyway. Remove him from here." He ordered the guards that held Gaius.

"No!" Gaius fought. "I could have saved her!" His shouts disappeared as they took him away.

"As for you." He pointed a gloved finger at Jasper. "I have put up with you for long enough. Guards, seize him."

"Leave him!" Clary yelled, putting herself between them and Jasper when they came into the cell to take him.

"We won't let you take him." Aubrey stood with her friend but the guards pushed the two women aside.

"Out of the way." One barked at them. He grabbed Jasper roughly by the arm and started to pull him away from Aida.

"No!" Jasper protested, still holding onto Aida's cold hand.

"Jasper!" Charlie yelled, running at the guards. They hit him across the face.

"Don't hurt him!" Jasper shouted.

"Don't!" Clary grabbed for Jasper. "Please!"

"Aida!" Jasper called her name one last time before her hand slipped from his and fell limply to the ground.

Finally the guards managed to pull Jasper from the cell, shutting the door tight. Aubrey, Clary, and Charlie were at the bars shouting after them. The others had heard the commotion and had started up their yells as well. They shouted and roared louder that day then any other.

Tears were streaming down Jasper's face when they brought him out into the courtyard. Not because he was going to die, but because he had lost the one he loved so dearly. Aida was gone. There was no point anymore. His heart shattered as he realized they truly would never grow old together and he would never be able to properly ask her to marry him. It was over.

Jasper saw through blurred vision the platform and the stairs that the guards pulled him up. His tears were silent. People from the lower town surrounded the platform but he could not make out their faces. The guars lead him towards a block placed in the center. There was a tall man in black standing next to it and at his side he held a newly sharpened ax.

Jasper's breathing was hard. Uther came out onto the balcony overlooking the courtyard. At his side was a teary eyed Arthur. But Jasper couldn't see them and he didn't hear the speech that Uther made, telling the people how evil he was and how his execution was justified.

"Do you have any last words?" Uther's voice finally cut through the mist that surrounded Jasper. He was confident enough that Jasper could not perform any spell.

"How could you?" Jasper's voice was just audible enough for the king to hear. There were still tears in the young sorcerers eyes.

"You wish to save your kingdom but you have condemned it." He spat. "If you fear magic so much then let magic be your downfall. You wish it to be evil so badly so I will grant your wish Uther Pendragon." Jasper just felt the words come to him. "I curse you. You will loose your children to magic and no matter how much you wish to extinguish the fire it will keep burning. There will always be magic at the heart of Camelot."

"That's enough!" Uther silenced him. He gave the signal to his men and they forced Jasper to his knees in front of the block. One of them took a piece of cloth from beside the block and tied it around Jasper's head, covering his eyes.

Jasper found himself wondering if Emanuel had worn the same blindfold as they forced his head down onto the block. They hadn't had to cut his hair because it was short enough that the executioner could see his neck clearly. Silence fell throughout the crowd.

"Aida." He whispered.

He wouldn't see the ax fall.

Thanks for reading and please REVIEW!

The reviews so far have been outstanding and they always make my day.

Originally this was where the story was going to end but I couldn't just let it end like that. I'd say there is a maximum of about three more chapters if I've thought it out correctly, but things could change.

Hope you keep following because the battle has only just begun.

See you all next time.