Chapter 14

The newly equipped breakaways snuck into the abandoned corridors, Merlin being carried by Gwaine, whose usually upbeat face was tense and nervous. All 5 of them knew the consequences of escaping would be severe, however to stay was to submit to being Morgause's toy soldiers. As they turned around another corner, Percival made some frantic hand signals, causing the others to stop suddenly.

"What is it?" Merlin asked nervously.

"I can sense there are people headed this way. We either need to find a new route or hide, but quickly!"

The 3 men pushed Freya into an empty room, Gwaine lowering Merlin next to her. They then each stood behind a pillar, and waited. Sure enough, the sound of footsteps clattering along cobblestones echoed along the corridor, and with it came the sound of a voice Merlin had hoped not to hear anytime soon.

"My Lady, the warlock is locked in his cell with magic inhibiting cuffs on. Are you sure he has escaped?"

Merlin's breath hitched in his throat. How did Cenred and Morgause know he had escaped? He felt Freya rub comforting circles around his back, and he immediately leant back into the older child, shivering in her arms. He could see Gwaine looking both sympathetically at him but there was also something else in the rogue's eyes, something that hinted of mischief.

As the footsteps grew closer, Lancelot sent one last hand gesture towards the other men, and all 3 of them held their weapons (or in Percival's case his hands) aloft. The voice of a woman, calm but cruel, answered Cenred's question.

"Why Cenred, you insult me with your doubts! I saw him escaping with some more of those other magical brats, plus one of them freed him from the magic inhibitors, which suggests we need to find new ways of restraining him." Morgause was now stood directly in the centre of the corridor, causing Merlin to hold his breath in anxiety. "However," she continued, "Before we restrain him we gave to take care of those other meddling brats."

Merlin could see Gwaine and the others preparing to attack, slowly creeping up behind their captors as Morgause continued to speak. "Yes, it won't be to hard to find them, not when they are sneaking up right behind me!" And with that Morgause span around, eyes blazing, sending Lancelot, Percival and Gwaine straight towards a wall, where they sank to the floor, unconscious.

"No!" Freya yelled, and she ran from her hiding place to check on the three men, before spinning around to face Morgause.

"Ah, I remember you my dear. Careful with that temper, we wouldn't want to get your whiskers in a twist!" Morgause tittered.

Merlin was confused, why would Freya have whiskers? Whatever the reason, that spiteful remark made Freya even madder, and she flew at Morgause, who used the same trick on her as she had on the others. As the young woman slumped down next to her companions, Morgause called out to Merlin.

"I know you can hear me little warlock! If you do not come out I will be forced to kill your little friends!"

Merlin didn't move to begin with, fear gripping him like a vice. "One." Merlin made himself stand. "Two." He began to walk towards the doorway as a ball of fire formed in Morgause's palm. "Three." Morgause took aim, causing Merlin to hasten in pace.

"Wait, I'm here! Leave them alone!"

"Well well, at last we meet face to face Emrys. It's strange, you're so small for someone of such great power."

Merlin's face crinkled in confusion. "Why do people here keep calling me Emrys?" he asked Morgause. "My name is Merlin!"

"Ah, but you see Merlin, it has been prophesied by the Druids that a young warlock with powers unprecedented would be born when magic needed him most. He would be able to shift time and levitate objects with merely a flicker of his eyes. And it seems you are he. You are Emrys. And now, you are mine to control."

And with that, Cenred, who had been creeping up behind the boy, hit him over the head with a large rock, causing Merlin to crumple to the floor, unconscious.

"Take those 4 to the cells, I'll deal with them later," Morgause ordered. She stroked the cheek of the unconscious warlock, then called for a guard further down the corridor.

"You, take this one to the examination chambers. I'm going to have fun breaking this one."

Back in Camelot, Arthur had changed into his armor and was mounting his horse when a familiar face strolled over.

"Running away again are we Arthur? Do you want your father to kill you?"

"Actually, Leon, he gave me permission this time. Why, scared for me?"

The pair of them laughed. Although Leon was a few years in Arthur's senior, the pair had bonded during their knighthood training.

"So, what is the mighty prince of Camelot up to this time? Rescuing a damsel in distress?" Leon joked.

"Something along those lines, yes. I'm rescuing a friend."

"Are you sure? I thought you didn't have any?"

Leon laughed as Arthur swung a dust in his direction. "Shut up Leon," Arthur muttered.

"Of course, your Highness," Leon said, finishing it with a lavished mock bow. "I'm coming with you then."

"No," Arthur yelled. Usually he would have loved Leon's company, however he did not know what Leon would think of him rescuing a sorcerer. Although he had never seen Leon hurting anyone with magic, he needed people who would be comfortable with Merlin.

"But why!" Arthur could see Leon wouldn't drop it, and so decided to tell him the truth.

"Because the person I'm rescuing has magic."

"I don't care," Leon declared. "You are my friend and if he is any friend of yours then he is worth saving."

Arthur felt a smile grace his face. "Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up!"

Yay Leon is now in the story :) yes he's a little OOC but I think the young Leon would have had less stress :) hope you enjoyed the update and that you all had a fab Christmas and new year :)

Now 3 notices. I need ideas for Elyan guys so please will you help me! Also I've decided instead of setting it in the future I am slightly editing it so it is in an AU Camelot :) don't worry, you won't have to re-read the story, I'll just be changing words like car to horse and electricity to candles. Although if you want to re-read it I'm certainly not going to stop you! Finally, if anyone else needs a merlin season finale related rant, I'm all ears.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter (and the story so far), you rock!