I am sooo sorry this chapter has taken so long in getting up. I had a really busy few weeks and then when things started quieting down, my computer broke and I spent several days trying to fix it before having to take it back to let proffesionals fix it. Then learned the harddrive had quit working so I had to get a new computer. Then I got really into this series called "Ranger's Apprentice" and have been reading them for hte past two weeks. I finished the last one today so that should be the end of all the distractions.

I hope this chapter is good, it really gave me trouble because I couldn't figure out how exactly Gwaine would take it. I hope I did the characters justice and stayed in character (even if the only one who should be in character here is Gwaine.) Hope ya like it!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but little Amaya and the random sorcerer.

Chapter 12: Hopes Dashed

The three bandits suddenly flew backwards in the air, crashing to the ground where they laid still. Gwaine could only stare as Merlin slowly lowered his arm and ran toward the little girl.

Gwaine stood there a few moments, thoughts racing through his mind. Merlin had just used magic. A frown spread across his face as the realization hit him fully: his best and closest friend had magic and hadn't even told him. Gwaine had told Merlin about his nobel background-something only a few in the world knew-and Merlin hadn't even trusted him enough to tell him that.

'Magic is illegal.' A voice said. 'He was probably scared you would turn him in.'

'I would never do that!' Gwaine argued, not even caring that he was arguing with himself. 'He's my friend, I would never do anything to hurt him!'

'He doesn't know that.'

Gwaine frowned and didn't reply. He was hurt that Merlin hadn't trusted him with this secret, but he could understand, though he didn't have to like it. Afterall, Gwaine had tried to run that old sorcerer through and had told Merlin about it-convineantly leaving out that he had been made a fool by an old man. Now, Gwaine had no problem against magic. He figured it was like a sword and could be used for good or bad. Of course, he would never say that or else Arthur would have his head and lecture him for a good part of the day about the "evil's of magic."

Merlin having magic just prooved Gwaine's theory. Merlin didn't have an evil bone in his body. Even under a spell the man couldn't do anything evil. Gwaine had seen him send those men flying away from the little girl. A spark of hope lit inside Gwaine as he silently prayed that Merlin had overthrown the spell.

A sudden movement behind him cut his thoughts off. Gwaine spun around, bringing his sword up just in time to block a vicious swipe from a bandit that had attempted to catch him off guard. A shocked look spread across the bandit's face as he brought his sword back away; he had thought the knight had been unaware and would be an easy target. His hands were sweaty as he swallowed nervously, eyeing the grin that spread across the knight's face.

"I don't take kindly to backstabbers." Gwaine said, a small grin darkening his face.

He brought his sword around toward the bandit's left side. The bandit just barely managed to block, but the strength of the blow startled him, causing him to loosen his grip on his sword ever so slightly. Gwaine brought his sword back and went on the attack, blow after blow falling on the bandit. The fight lasted several minutes, but it felt like an eternity to the bandit before Gwaine's sword finally got inside and slid into the man's chest. The bandit's eyes widened as Gwaine pulled his sword out. The bandit collapsed to the ground and Gwaine turned away.

His eyes scanned the battleground for Merlin and he felt a flicker of fear when he saw his friend in the same spot holding hte little girl in one hand with his other clutching his head, obviously in pain. Gwaine didn't stop to think and ran toward his friend, placing a hand on his shoulder when he reached him. Merlin's eyes opened and he turned around, stumbling as he did. Merlin blinked and Gwaine looked at him worridely, not knowing what was going on.

"Are you ok, Merlin?" he asked, his hand still on his friend's shoulder.

"I...I'm fine." Merlin stammered. "What arey ou doing here Gwaine?"

"Looking for you." Gwaine replied. He let his hand fall from Merlin's shoulder and looked around warily, not wanting to be caught by surprise. "We have to get to the ciadel."

"I...I can't." Merlin replied, shaking his head as the pounding grew worse. "I'm...I'm supposed to be..."

"You're supposed to be coming with me." Gwaine replied, pulling on Merlin's arm to make the man follow him.

Gwaine wasn't sure what was going on with his friend. He had hoped that Merlin had managed to shake the spell off, but it was clear that it still had a hold over his friend. He pulled Merlin-who was still clutching the crying little girl to his chest-toward the gate that lead to the courtyard. Merlin stumbled slightly behind him, but he regained his footing easily enough and put up no fight to try and escape. They had only made a few yards, however, when a man in a midnight blue cloak stepped in their way.

Gwaine pushed Merlin back behind him and brought his sword up defensivly. The man was a stranger and, judging by the cloak, Gwaine guessed he was a sorcerer. But he made no move to attack the man. For all he knew, the stranger could be a harmless man simply asking for help. Though he highly doubted that from the man's calm and seemingly careless manner, Gwaine decided to wait and see what the man had to say.

"I don't want to hurt you," Gwaine said uneasily, shifting slightly. "Get out of our way."

The man didn't even look at the sword or Gwaine. Instead, he looked past him to where Merlin stood. Gwaine looked between the two, realizing that they were making eye contact and seemed to be carrying on a silent conversation.

"Wh..what?" Merlin stammered and Gwaine looked at him curiously, not understanding what he was asking. He saw that Merlin had stumbled sideways slightly, moving out from behind Gwaine.

Then, to Gwaine surprise, Merlin's eyes glowed a dark red, then gold, before fading back to blue. A look of determination and anger passed through his eyes as he glared daggers at the sorcerer as he yelled out "No!" and tightened his grip on the shaking girl in his arms. Gwaine breathed a sigh of relief as he realized that the spell had been broken. Then, remembering that he had thought that earlier as well, he looked back a bit nervously.

"Merlin?"

Though his head was turned away from the sorcerer, the man was still in the corner of his eyes. He saw the man's mouth move and heard the words in a language he didn't understand. He turned back around, suddenly wishing he had finished the man off the second he stood in front of them. A purple light lept from the sorcerer's hand and hurried through the space between him and the knight.

"No!" Gwaine shouted when he saw that the spell was moving straight toward Merlin.

He tried to jump in front of the spell, but he wasn't quick enough and the spell flew past him, hitting Merlin's foot as he attempted to dodge it. Gwaine could only stare at his friend as the purple light moved up his body and his eyes shut tightly. His breath caught in his throat as Merlin's eyes opened, revealing a glowing red.

Gwaine backed up slightly as Merlin got to his feet, the little girl still clenched to his chest. She had started crying again, obviously frightened by the sudden fall and the bright light that had glowed around her and Merlin. He looked back at the sorcerer and saw a grin spreading across the man's face. Merlin looked over at the sorcerer and again Gwaine thought that they were holding a silent conversation.

His first thought was to run, to escape while he had the chance, but he was loyal to his friend and wouldn't leave him alone. Gwaine brought his sword up and pointed it at the sorcerer, holding it underneath the man's chin.

"Release him." he ordered, his voice low and dangerous.

"I'm afraid I can't do that." the sorcerer spoke for the first time, seemingly unconcerned about the sword that was under his chin.

"Do it or I'll run you through!" Gwaine barked, anger and fear for his friend slipping into his voice.

"And what makes you think I will let you do that?" the sorcerer asked, a sly grin breaking across his face. The sorcerer looked away from Gwaine for a moment before looking back at the knight, the grin growing across his face.

"Gebind sceatt fæðmas." Gwaine heard the words and fear suddenly clutched at him as he recognized Merlin's voice.

He turned to look at his friend and saw to late the ball of red light that was flying from Merlin's hand. Gwaine's eyes widened-matching those of the little girl in Merlin's arms-as the spell hit him in the chest. Gwaine fell to the ground and felt his arms snapping to his side. What felt like rope seemed to tighten around him, but Gwaine could see no ropes.

He started to struggle, but the more he struggled the tighter the invisible bindings became. Gwaine finally stopped struggled and breathed hard, trying to catch his breath back. He saw Merlin walking over to him and, with one arm still holding the girl who was now frozen in fear, reached down and dragged him to his feet.

"Get walking." Merlin ordered, his voice full of power and what sounded like hate.

"Where to?" Gwaine asked, his shoulders drooping slightly as he saw his friend's eyes glow red once more.

"The courtyard." Merlin replied, then pushed Gwaine hard to get him started.

Gwaine stumbled, but managed to keep his balance. He could hear the sorcerer following behind, laughing quietly. Merlin made no sound except the sound of his boots hitting the stone ground. Gwaine took a deep breath and headed toward the courtyard, anger growing in him with every step.

'Whoever did this to you, Merlin,' he thought, 'I will make them pay.'

Spell Translation

Gebind sceatt fæðmas- Bind his arms.