Chapter 4

Merlin and Arthur had been riding for five hours. Merlin was tired and sore. And if Arthur was, well...he wasn't showing it.

"Can we stop now?" Merlin asked complaining.

Arthur was just about to argue with Merlin when the two spotted a castle in the distance.

Merlin sighed. It was run down, and looked very terrifying.

As they got closer, they saw that there were two guards in front of the castle. Two torches stood burning behind them.

"We will have to climb the wall." Arthur said stating the obvious.

"Do we have to?" Merlin complained halfheartedly.

"Well why don't you knock on the door and have them to hand in Gwen? Maybe if you ask nice they'll hand her over." Arthur replied in a sarcastic whisper.

Merlin sighed and followed Arthur reluctantly.

Inside the castle Morgause smiled as she watched Arthur and Merlin climb the wall into her castle through her crystals. Turning to her guard she gave them the command,

"Prepare the Wildren!(the creatures from the episode "Lancelot and Guinevere." I'm not sure that is how to spell it so this is my version of how there names were spelled. :) ) And when Arthur and Merlin enter the castle, make sure they will never leave."

The guard bowed and left the room.

Gwen awoke to the sound of her prison cell's doors being opened. As Morgause walked in Gwen was no longer afraid. She stood up and kept one eye on Morgause. Her eyes were glistened with tears, but she stood proud and tall, showing she wasn't afraid. Morgause mentioned to the guards and they grabbed Gwen by the arms and led her away.

"You'd think they'd have more guards!" Merlin whispered as he and Arthur crept through the castle walking straight into Morgause's trap.

Arthur rolled his eyes.

"You think I haven't noticed! Its like they know we are here."

Merlin shrugged.

"Well Morgause is a very powerful sorceress. She could have looked through her crystals and seen us enter."

Arthur was about to reply when his head perked up. Not far away he could hear a women cry out. He knew it as Gwen's voice. Merlin heard it too.

The two raced down the hall towards the voice.

Turning the corner they saw a sight that even Merlin was not expecting.

Morgause stood facing them with a satisfied smile on her face. They were in a huge room that looked more like an underground arena.

Gwen was struggling with two guards. As she saw Arthur and Merlin enter the room, she paled.

Arthur and Merlin were confused with her expression. She looked more frightened to see them than happy or relieved.

As the guards led her away into a tunnel, with Morgause Arthur and Merlin started to follow. As Gwen saw what they were about to do she screamed,

"Don't follow us! Go! Its a trap!" but she was led away before she could say anything else.

As iron doors closed behind her, Arthur and Merlin saw that they were trapped in the room. Morgause turned to face them on the other side of the bars,

"Arthur Pendragon, you have come into my trap quite nicely. I thought that it would be harder than this but you have fallen for my scheme more quickly than planned."

Arthur drew his sword. Morgause laughed.

"Do you really think you can do anything to me in there? You will have bigger problems to deal with than saving you dear Gwen. Release the Wildren!" and with these words Morgause left.

Merlin groaned. This was all his fault. He should have known that this was a trap! Morgana had sent Arthur to save Gwen. How had she found out about there relationship? Now they were about to die and it was all his fault.

Two door opened. And two Wildren came out.

Arthur got ready with his sword. Merlin backed away out from under the gaze of Arthur. Just in case he needed to use magic.

As the one of the Wildren pounced Arthur swung his sword around and started to ward it off. Slashing with all of his might he was able to kill the Wildren who was attacking him.

Meanwhile Merlin was backing away from the Wildren who was going to pounce him.

"Arthur!" Merlin yelled as the Wildren got closer to him.

"I'm a little busy!" Arthur replied as he swung his sword at the Wildren who was attacking him.

Merlin was getting desperate, when he looked up at the ceiling. Muttering a spell, it came down and fell on the unsuspecting Wildren, killing it.

Arthur and Merlin stood up; both breathing hard. Arthur turned to Merlin who stood in front of the dead Wildren. Arthur frowned.

"Wonders never cease."

Merlin looked frightened. "A fools luck?" he said hoping Arthur would buy it and not inquire.

Morgause frowned as she saw Arthur and Merlin still alive. Signaling to her guards they entered the arena. Arthur tried to fend them off but he was tired and there were too many of them. Soon both Merlin and Arthur lay unconscious on the floor.

Gwen was led away once more and shoved back into her cell. Running to her mat she burst into tears. Arthur and Merlin were going to die. And it was her fault! Shuddering, she whispered a silent prayer to whoever was listening, hoping against hope she would not lose her best friend and the man she loved.

A few minutes later, six guards walked into Gwen's cell carrying an unconscious Merlin and Arthur. When the guards left, Gwen ran to Arthur. He groaned and started to gain consciousness. As he looked up he caught Gwen's gaze. Sitting up they smiled at each other.

"Is it just me, or does anyone hear a clanging noise?"

Arthur and Gwen turned to see Merlin sitting up shaking his head.

They were interrupted, when Morgause and Cedric walked in. The three prisoners stood up Merlin looking ready to do anything, and Gwen was clinging to Arthur who was tense, and looked ready to tear anyone apart who would come near to Gwen.

Morgause spoke up.

"Arthur Pendragon. You are the single heir to the throne of Camelot, and one day to be king. Too bad you will not live to see that day. Fortunately I know someone who will take your place when you die. Your sister."

Arthur scoffed.

"I do not have a sister."

Morgause smiled.

"So your father never told you. I happen to know you have a sister. She is your father's child, but she has a different mother than you do. She was the traitor who nearly destroyed Camelot with the skeleton army. She was born with magic, and she is waiting for her revenge. You would never guess it was her."

Merlin looked down. He wondered if Morgause was planning to tell Arthur about Morgana.

Morgause looked at Merlin.

"You remember don't you Merlin. I will have you pay for destroying my plans."

Merlin looked Morgause straight in the eye.

Arthur looked confused.

"What? Merlin knows who she is? What has he got to do with anything?"

Morgause smirked.

"You are very good at keeping secrets Merlin. Why haven't you told anyone? Right, because it is her word against yours. I do not know how she managed to keep you quiet, but you have foiled out plans for the last time."

Turning to Cedric she nodded.

Cedric turned to the three prisoners.

"This cell is locked by magic. The only way to open it is magic. I will be back soon to collect you all and I can assure you that your death with be slow and painful."

Laughing he left the cell closing it shut.

Gwen started to cry softly and hid herself in Arthur embrace. Merlin hid in the corner.

He knew he had come to the day when he would have to show Arthur and Gwen his gifts. He knew it was his destiny to keep Arthur safe, but he couldn't think of another way. He knew there was no other way. Taking a deep breath he stood up.

Only Gwen turned her head up towards Merlin. She and Arthur were sitting down together and she was leaning against his chest, while he had his arms wrapped around her.

"Arthur."

Arthur looked up towards Merlin.

"Get up Arthur. I know how to get out of here."

Arthur stood up with Gwen holding her hand.

"How? The only way to get out is magic. Cedric said so himself."

Merlin took a deep breath.

"Arthur remember when I said I trusted you with my life?"

Arthur looked confused,

"No..."

"Well I do. Remember that when you have me killed."

Arthur looked exasperated.

Merlin turned to Gwen.

"Gwen. You are my friend." Gwen smiled and nodded.

"Nothing could ever change that right?"

Gwen shook her head.

"Nothing could."

Turning around Merlin looked at the cell doors. Muttering in a spell, his eyes turned gold, and the cell doors swung open.

Arthur looked as more shocked than when Morgause had told him he had a sister.

"Merlin what did you just do?"

Merlin rolled his eyes.

"No time to explain! Come on!"

The three ran out of the cell and out into the night air.

Please review! :) Will update soon! Thanks for reading!