"Merlin!" a voice shouted. Gaius had woken up at his ward's cry. He walked up to the boy, placing a gentle hand on his back and murmuring into his ear.

"It's alright, Merlin. Let go." Merlin stayed still for a moment, the gold never fading from his eyes. Before the knight was in danger of passing out from lack of air, Merlin released his grip on him. As if a switch had been pressed, the strength that Merlin's magic had given him was suddenly taken away and he collapsed to the floor. Elyan caught him before he could injure himself and Gaius knelt next to him. Elyan, finally noticing Merlin's eyes, gasped in shock. Gaius ignored him, uttering an incantation to the further shock of the watching knights.

Gaius yelled and his magic recoiled. The dark magic in Merlin burnt through his senses and the physician shuddered at the realisation that it was running through Merlin's veins even now.

"Merlin, what did she use? Which enchantment?" Gaius asked him urgently. Merlin's eyes squeezed shut and his body trembled slightly. "Merlin you must listen to me," he pleaded. Merlin's pinched eyes found that of his guardian.

"Nathair," he bit out, his jaw tight. Gaius gasped. Well known for its torture in the wrong hands, a Nathair was not meant for use on a sorcerer. Executions using the creature had been forbidden centuries before the Purge. Gaius wondered how Merlin could possibly be alive, once again stunned by the power of the young warlock.

"Gaius," Merlin whispered hoarsely. Gwaine came closer, gingerly touching his sore throat and looking in concern as Merlin's face twisted in agony. "It hurts," Merlin choked. Gaius gazed down in sympathy.

"Concentrate, Merlin. You have to get rid of the dark magic in you. I don't have the power, you must concentrate." Merlin scrunched his eyes up and took a shaky breath, trying to compose himself, letting his breath out again in a sob.

"Alie-" Merlin stuttered. He gasped and writhed as the darkness tore through him, tearing with a vengeance now its victim was awake. Desperate, he tried again and gathered what strength he could. From somewhere deep inside him he felt something not unlike the power of the dragonlord enter his voice. It gave him the strength to utter the spell without wavering.

"Aliese gylden. Acwence tha baelblysse. Diegol searobend!"

The gathered knights and physician all watched in awe as golden light rippled across Merlin's skin. It started to fade from some places, growing brighter as it reached his right arm. Merlin's body shook with the effort, his breathing becoming ragged. Gaius warned the knights back, regaining his wits once he realised what Merlin was trying to do. The light had reached his hand now, becoming far too bright to look at. With a last surge of effort, Merlin forced himself up to a half sitting position and shot out his hand at the cell wall. A beam of light crashed into it and a terrible scream sounded from the black smoke that recoiled and snuffed out at the far end of the cell.

Elyan backed away from the wall in alarm, also furthering the distance between him and the warlock on the floor. Said warlock groaned as he let his hand fall to his side and his head rest on the floor.

"Much better," he mumbled, relieved.

"Merlin?" Gwaine called. Merlin's eyes rolled over to meet that of the worried knight and a flicker of a smile passed his weary face.

"Sorry about that," he apologised, barely concealed unease in his eyes.

Elyan looked once more at the serv- sorcerer. Merlin looked as harmless as he always did, but he couldn't shake the memory of his eyes shining gold. Having lived outside of Camelot he knew that not all magic was evil, but to know that his friend was not who he thought was hard to swallow.

Gwaine frowned, troubled as he realised that according to the laws and the man he now followed, Merlin was his sworn enemy. He gritted his teeth, angrily.

Screw the law

He looked again at his friend and with a sick feeling in his stomach, recognised the fear in them. Gwaine refused to think that his friend could possibly be afraid of him. Just in case, he grinned easily.

"Nothing to be sorry for, mate. I didn't like that wall anyway." Merlin's controlled features cracked into that smile he was known for but seemed to be far more genuine than any Gwaine had seen from the man before.

Merlin stirred, uncomfortable on the hard stone floor.

"You should rest, Merlin. That was dark magic," Gaius fretted. Merlin gently shrugged him off.

"I've been resting long enough," he replied, wearily.

"Well, that's good to hear," said a falsely sweet voice.

The group tensed, cruelly made aware of Morgana's mocking presence. She gazed at each of them in turn, gauging their reaction, their defiance. Though she loathed admitting it, she met Gaius' eyes for only a few scant seconds before moving on. To see a man who used to look at her with concern and respect and see only cold disappointment left her unsettled.

Watching Gwaine and Elyan made her feel better. The anger, the contempt was something she could thrive on, something she understood. It was only right that she had her brother's men captured like the pathetic, loyal scum they were. By serving Arthur so blindly they condemned more people than they could imagine to a life of fear.

Merlin's gaze pierced her just as it always had. He seemed to expect nothing from her, but everything at the same time. Of course she could see the fear. That itch when you see someone who has caused you unimaginable agony. She'd given him that look many a time after he'd poisoned her. Now he seemed to be waiting, and she got the feeling that whatever she threw at him, he'd be ready for it. Half lying on the stone floor in a dank dungeon, hardly able to stand, he looked untouchable.

Morgana's eyes darkened in seething rage.

"Bring the servant and a knight. We have our entertainment for tonight."

BriefShiningMoment

I haven't got much more written for this. And I'm afraid I won't be able to upload for two weeks, as I'm out of the country. I shall try to write while I'm there so there's an update as soon as I get back. Same goes for Getting the job done properly. Thanks for reviews! Really cheered me up, just got rubbish exam results so it's good to see I'm doing something right.

Spells:

Release the golden. Extinguish this fire. Bind the darkness.