Yes this is slightly later than my last update, however it is longer! Also those of you who are reading saving magic I will hopefully be updating this weekend, if I am not dragged down my coursework! So here's to hoping you will enjoy and review! :)

Chapter 9

Gaius had finished work for the day and was beginning to worry as to the location of his nephew. Merlin had only been with them for a few days, and yet the old man couldn't imagine life without him. His charming personality and clumsy demeanor had stolen the physicians heart and now the boy was late home from what should have been a fairly quick and simple task Gaius wondered whether it was worth looking for him. Just before he could stand up Morgana came into the room with a slight frown on her face, Gwen at her heels.

"Merlin's been gone far too long and so we are going to go looking for him," Gwen explained. Gaius stood up and joined the duo.

"I have been thinking the same thing and was about to look for him myself," Gaius told the pair, secretly touched the two cared enough for his ward to check up on him.

The three of them turned out of the house and began retracing Merlin's route to the market, when suddenly Morgana's magic almost knocked her off her feet with anticipation.

"Wait," she cried, "There's something magical over there." She pointed in the direction of a small alleyway, to where her magic was sensing something. It felt as though someone or something was being hurt and so Morgana was determined to make sure it was ok before continuing in her search for Merlin.

As they walked down the alleyway, Morgana's magic began panicking, as though they were too late to save whatever it was that had been down there.

Meanwhile, Gaius' magic, though not as strong, was also pooling out to find the magical source that Morgana too had sensed. His wary eyes soon caught sight of a small cloth folded on the floor, which revealed a banner of a snake as he moved closer. Cenred and Morgause. A scent drifted into his nostrils that made him feel suddenly dizzy and ill. The physician side of him immediately identified the chemical as Valerium, a comatose inducing drug he often used in Morgana's sleeping drafts. His heart leapt into his throat as he realised the purpose of the cloth, but it then dropped into the pit of his stomach as he noticed another strand of material further along the narrow street.

"Oh my goodness," he cried, holding out the material in the direction of the two women who stood with curious and nervous expressions on their faces. It was Merlin's neckerchief, the only item he had kept from his old clothes, still unwilling to part with it. Immediately Gaius' blood ran cold. Morgause was reportedly building up a magic army and was said to be using whatever means necessary in order to get them to join her. He knew what she could do to someone as frail as Merlin, and as his uncle Gaius wouldn't let that happen.

The two wads of material still clenched firmly in his fist, Gaius and the two girls quickened as they all came to the same conclusion: Merlin is in terrible danger. They reached the end of the alley where they saw a tall dark man standing next to a large vehicle. And in his arms lay an unconcious and gagged Merlin. Gaius gasped as Gwen's usually upbeat face sank into a scowl. Morgana let out a loud and deliberate cough. The man turned around, nearly dashing Merlin's head on the carriage door as he did so.

"Who are you and what are you doing with Merlin!"

Cenred scowled at the three people that stood before him, the dead weight in his arms clearly their target. He placed the boy down against the carriage before turning back to face them.

"My name is Cenred and this boy is property of the Lady Morgause, " he answered heatedly. He was not ready to give up his prize without a fight.

"Actually, I think you'll find that Merlin belongs to no one and that if anyone is taking him it will be us!" Gwen shouted angrily. She may not have known Merlin for very long, however she knew already from the short time they had spent together that Merlin did not deserve whatever was happening.

Suddenly, Cenred pulled a knife out of his pockets and threw it at Gaius, who, as quick as it had been thrown, casually tossed it back at Cenred with a slight flicker of his eyes, only just missing Merlin whom Cenred had grabbed for protection.

Morgana was infuriated. How dare that man try and use Merlin as a shield whilst he was defenceless. Her eyes a molten good, she flung Cenred away from Merlin, who Gaius quickly grabbed.

"I am giving you a warning now Cenred, leave Merlin alone," Gaius said smoothly as he watched the battered man slowly rise to his feet.

Cenred scowled in return before getting back into his carriage and riding away. Morgause will be furious, he thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Gaius (with help from Gwen and Morgana) carried Merlin gently back after untying him, before laying him on the chair and waiting for him to wake up so they could find out what exactly had occurred. Poor Merlin had a very pale complexion with a pained look on his unconscious face, clearly attempting to fight whatever the drug from the fabric was doing to him. Nothing Gaius had tried would wake him up, clearly he had taken in a large amount.

Suddenly, as the door to Gaius' room slammed open revealing a very worried looking Arthur , Merlin's eyelids began to flutter.

"What on earth happened to Merlin!" Arthur practically bellowed.

"That's what I'd like to know!" a very frail and exhausted sounding voice added. Gaius breathed a sigh of relief and turned to face the source of the noise. Finally, Merlin was awake and safe.