I know, I know, long time since last update (has it really been a fortnight?) but what with illnesses, writers block, fieldtrips and exams I simply haven't had the chance to update. I'm afraid that it's going to be like this until exams are over and all *curses exams*. Anyways, thanks for the continued reviews and I hope you enjoy….

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Arthur caught her before she even touched the ground. Alethea felt light in his arms and her skin was ever so pale, the only colour in them being the purples and reds of bruises and cuts. It was only now that the Prince realised that he had no idea as to what she had been through since she'd left him. He didn't know just what she had suffered under Nimueh but he knew that Alethea would survive. She was a fighter and had gotten over worse. She'd live. Nothing as simple as this could fell her although a number of simple things… Let's not think that way, Arthur thought, think positive. She'll pull through. She always does. She had done before now but he couldn't help but be reminded of that terrible day where he had thought that she was actually dead and had come to the forest to bury her. She felt a lot lighter now then she had done then. Perhaps it was just Arthur's memory that was playing up, but he was certain of it.

Worried nonetheless, Arthur wondered if this could be Nimueh's handiwork. Was it the price for Alethea's betrayal? For not doing as promised and letting him live? Or was it simply that she was too weak and had done too much in such a short space of time? Would she recover soon? Would she be well enough to join in with the retaking of Camelot even if she did? Gently placing her body on the ground, the Prince turned to Merlin and his father, wondering if there was anything they could do to help her and if so, what. Suddenly Merlin was by Alethea's side, checking her over and wondering what exactly Gaius would do and/or suggest if he was there. Keeping her warm would be just one thing but there were some herbs that he needed to help her recover more quickly. Telling Arthur this, the Prince just smiled. He knew just exactly where he could get these things although he knew it would be dangerous. He didn't care about this. He'd have ridden through the very pits of Hell for Alethea if it meant she would be fine again. Meanwhile Uther simply watched on, wondering if Nimueh had been lying to them about Merlin. After all, surely if he was a magician he would use his powers to heal the girl?

"So, anything else we need other than these herbs?" the Prince asked, going to free one of the horses that had pulled the cart.

"Food, water and possibly some blankets. It looks like it's going to snow." the former King told him.

"That all?" Snow. That would certainly put a spanner in the works and increase the risk of Alethea not recovering. In fact, Arthur knew that if he didn't set off now then she would probably die.

"Yes." Merlin nodded.

"Right then. I won't be too long." The blonde Prince said as he kissed Alethea gently on the forehead before mounting his horse. Taking one last look at his father, his servant and his love-interest, he spurred his horse on, riding as quickly as he could towards the town of Camelot, smiling as his father told him to be careful. When was he not careful? Best not answer that, Arthur thought.

A bitter chill filled the air and Arthur shivered slightly, but he didn't know if it was because of the cold or because of something else. A few solitary flakes of snow began to fall as he rode through the forest, the branches stripped bare by the harsh winter. So much time had passed by that the Prince now had no idea as to what time of year it was. So much had happened in the space of less than a year that he couldn't keep track of the months. Was it the same for Alethea? And if so then how much time had passed by for her? If she returned then would she have been missing for a few months or just a few minutes? Arthur knew that he would never find out the answer for that question, regardless of whether Alethea stayed or not. Then again, now that the real Alethea had finally returned would she want to go home? After all, everything that he had said to her in the past week had actually been said to Nimueh who had been disguised as her. He'd have to find out when she recovered, and she would only recover if he succeeded in getting everything that Merlin needed. Spurring his horse on, Arthur smiled a little as he saw the familiar shadow of Camelot castle, the home of the Pendragon's.

What remained of the town seemed eerily quiet with no noise and very little movement. It was strange for Arthur. Camelot had always been busy no matter what time of day or night it was. Someone was usually pacing the streets crying out noisily. Then Arthur noticed that not even the birds were flying in the sky, but all too soon would he discover their whereabouts. Riding through the backstreets to where the apothecary's house was, Arthur couldn't shake the feeling of being watched but he knew that there could be no one around, except perhaps for Nimueh. As the streets became narrower, he was forced to dismount and, leading his horse down them, he soon found out where the birds had disappeared to.

Now Arthur was a trained warrior, taught in the ways of battle, but never had he seen something as horrible as this, nor would he again. The stench was unbearable, like that of which he had never experienced. Crows and ravens and other scavengers were gathering around something and pecking at it. Obviously it was their food source, but just what was it that could cause such a frenzy? Running up to the birds to scare them away, Arthur instantly regretted it. The unmistakable figures of human bodies were lay with pieces of flesh torn out of them. Now he knew just why all the creatures were gathered and what the stench was, but it turned his stomach. Even the strongest and bravest of soldiers would have gagged at the sight. Turning back, Arthur went to the apothecary's as quickly as he could, trying to put as much distance between the rotting corpses and himself as possible.

The shop entrance was shut, but Arthur soon had it open. Going inside and breathing in the slightly familiar stench of herbs, he couldn't help but allow himself a small smile. The snow was still falling outside but it was not yet a blizzard but he knew that he couldn't take too long. Looking around, he grabbed the herbs that Merlin had told him to pick up, plus a few others, some bandages and some old blankets. If the apothecary still lived after everything that had happened, Arthur would repay him for the items he'd taken. Stuffing these things into a bag he'd found lying around, he then searched for some food and some water. Finding a stale loaf of bread, he decided that it was better than nothing before he then found a few skins filled with water. His mission almost complete, the Prince went back outside but he still couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.

Walking back through the streets with the horse, he couldn't avoid the bodies left in the streets. The earth was stained with the blood of so many men and the Prince then realised that he had been naïve. He had actually thought that more men had survived, but it was now obvious to him that they hadn't. No wonder Camelot had fallen to Nimueh. Closing his eyes, he walked a bit further until he was forced to open them. He realised then that if they were going to attack Camelot he would need a sword. His had been lost in the battle before he had been sent to Alethea by Nimueh. He headed towards the blacksmith's cottage in the hope that some weapons were still in the forge, he went inside to discover that the cottage had been stripped bare. All of the weapons had been used to kit out the men for the battle. Sighing with frustration, he went back outside and had an idea, although he really didn't want to have to use it. Reluctant to do so, but knowing that there was no other way, he went over to one of the bodies that were lying in the streets and found a sword nearby. Picking it up, the Prince swore when he found that the blade had been broken in half. Looking around, he saw another and then bit his lip. Should he or shouldn't he? But needs must. Walking over to it, Arthur grasped the hilt and pulled it from the dead man's flesh, hating himself for what he was doing. Turning back to his horse, he found his way blocked off.

"What do you want?" The Prince spat. He was tired and hungry and fed up and this was the last thing he needed.

"She lied to me, it would seem. You are not dead young Pendragon, unless my eyes deceive me."

"She wasn't to know that I lived." The Prince answered, hoping that she would believe him. Besides, it was true. Alethea hadn't known that he still lived when she'd come back to Camelot, nor had anyone else.

"And yet now she pays the price. Shame, she was a smart girl. I'm surprised she didn't notice that you lived."

"What are you here for Nimueh? To kill me?" He asked after a few moments silence. The sorceress just laughed at the idea, her cackling echoing around the deserted town.

"No…I came to strike a bargain. You care for your dear Alethea, do you not?" Arthur did not answer because he knew that it was obvious that he loved Alethea with all his heart. "Well I can help her. I shall give you Gaius and in return you shall take his place."

The Prince paused for a moment, considering Nimueh's offer. Gaius certainly knew more about healing than Merlin did and would be the best hope for Alethea's quick recovery. And Arthur knew that he would never forgive himself if he let Alethea die without help. He loved her so much so that he would willingly give himself for her. If only it was just for her alone... Arthur knew that by giving himself up and saving Alethea, Camelot would lose all hope of rescue. He had to choose if one life was worth so many others, and he didn't want to have to do that. He simply didn't know what to do. Save the love of his life and ruin Camelot's chances or save Camelot and lose Alethea? Love or a kingdom? Each option had a heavy cost but which would be the lesser evil?

"No." He eventually said, refusing the offer, instantly regretting his words.

"She will die without his help. Are you sure that you will turn down my offer?" She would die? Then Arthur would have Alethea's death on his conscience if he didn't do something. Alethea was worth more to him than anything else in the known world, but was the cost simply too much? And then Arthur realsied that he only had Nimueh's word that Alethea was dying and she had lied before now. He also knew that the sorceress was not to be trusted. If he gave himself up then Gaius may not actually be given his freedom and Alethea would die anyway. The one thing that clinched his decision was the amount of people being held captive by Nimueh. He couldn't hold Alethea above his people. He had a duty to them to protect them, and he couldn't do that by being a prisoner himself. No, he had to stay free in order to give them a chance, and so long as Alethea held on long enough for them to win the fight then she would surely live anyway.

"Absolutely certain."

"A stupid decision Arthur. Mind, you know where i am if you change your mind." She smiled. "Oh, and you can forget trying to take over the castle for yourselves. If I see you with anyone else in Camelot then my prisoners will no longer be suffering… And I don't mean they'll be going free." Before the Prince could say anything, Nimueh had gone. Running to the horse, Arthur looked in the bag to find that he still had everything there. He was surprised that Nimueh hadn't actually tried anything, unless she believed that she had already won. Well, let her think that, Arthur thought, she'll get comfy and then they'll pull the chair from beneath her.

Walking back through the town as quickly as he could, he still felt like he was being followed. Leading his horse down the narrow backstreets of Camelot, Arthur found that there was always something lurking just out of eyesight but every time he looked around there was nothing but shadows. Blaming it on a trick of the light and knowing that Alethea needed him, Arthur sped up his pace until he found himself reach a dead end. The snow was still falling but Arthur could tell that he couldn't climb over the blockage and the street was too narrow for him to be able to turn the horse around. He was forced to reverse but as he squeezed past the creature he found that he wasn't alone. Sword ready in hand, Arthur got ready to fight the group of men that were blocking his only escape route. The men did not hesitate to rise to Arthur's challenge and soon the familiar clanging of steel blades rang out through the air. It was difficult to attack and defend properly, even more so when Arthur was up against two of them at the same time, but he seemed to have the advantage. His attackers were slow and already wounded whilst Arthur was determined to get the supplies back to his father and Alethea. Soon one of his attackers lay at his feet unconscious whilst the other was disarmed and had Arthur's sword at his throat. The men seemed familiar to the Prince and couldn't help but smile when he saw who it was. It seemed that not all of the men of Camelot had been slaughtered. Some of them had survived.

"Sire?" one of them asked with a quizzical brow. The Prince just smiled.

"Are there many more of you?" Arthur asked the pair.

"There's about ten of us in total. But we thought you were dead?" One of the onlookers asked as the person lying at the Prince's feet was helped to stand.

"So did I. But how did you survive?"

"Nimueh didn't see us escape the battlefield. Many of us are wounded, but not so badly that we cannot fight. We're going to retake the castle." Arthur just smiled at that. It seemed he'd just found some more people to help them in the fight.

"Not today you're not. Where are the rest of you staying?"

"The forest. You?"

"same. Now, I tell you what, I'll meet you at the crossroads at sunrise tomorrow morning. Make sure you will all be there."

"Of course sire."

"Very well then. Now I'd best be going." Arthur said, mounting and spurring his horse on.

The snow was beginning to fall thick and fast as he reached the forest, blurring Arthur's vision but he soon found his father again. Dropping the supplies to Merlin and tethering his horse, he sat by the fire that they'd built to warm himself up, asking about the girl. Apparently she hadn't improved since he'd left but Merlin now set to doing his work. Praying that he had made the right decision by not accepting Nimueh's offer, Arthur wrapped Alethea up with the blankets he'd got hold of before throwing one around his own shoulders. Taking the bread he'd acquired, he tore it into equal pieces and shared it out between them, keeping some back for Alethea before filling them in as to what had happened. He just happened to keep out the bit about Nimueh but told them of the survivors who he'd found and that they were meeting at sunrise.

Time passed by but as the sun began to set and the air became colder, the three males made up their own beds before deciding who should take watch. Arthur took the first one, sitting by Alethea whilst his father and Merlin closed their eyes. Taking the student's hand in his, the Prince wondered if he had made the right decision. Would she die because of it though? That was the question. He hoped that she wouldn't. Not after everything that had happened. They deserved to be together for once. As his watch continued, he seriously began to doubt that he had made the right decision and was sorely tempted to go back and accept Nimueh's offer. He was ever so worried about Alethea. She hadn't stirred since she'd collapsed and the blue eyed Prince began to wonder if she would ever wake. Had Nimueh been right? Would she die without Gaius' help? Did he go back to Camelot and give himself up in order to get Gaius and save her, therefore making Camelot's downnfall permanent? Or did he wait until morning and then see how she was? Mind, it might already be too late by then. Bugger! Arthur couldn't make his mind up as to whether he should stay or go, but as he turned to leave, he felt someone hold on tightly to his hand. As the moon shone down and the stars twinkled brightly, Alethea opened her eyes. Arthur smiled back at her as she sat up, wondering what had happened. Filling her in on what she had missed, she just laughed, keeping the blankets close.

"What a pair we are Arthur." she whispered so as to not wake the King and the magician. "If one of us isn't in some kind of trouble then the other is."

"And don't you just love it?" he asked her with a smirk on his lips.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." she smiled, resting her head on his shoulder before he handed her some water and bread. Taking it, she ate and drank slowly, trying not to make herself sick. "Have I ever told you I love you?" she asked, semi jokingly.

"I don't believe you have." he smiled. He had been right not to take Nimueh's deal. It seemed that the sorceress had been wrong.

"Then, Arthur Pendragon, I love you." she smirked.

"Then I suppose I love you too." he smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulder before they gazed together at the night sky. Fate may have kept them separated and thrown many things at them, but it was worth all of the trials and tribulations for just these small moments together. As Uther took over the next watch, Arthur bedded down next to Alethea, who then snuggled up to him, and fell asleep with his arms around her, holding her close and never wanting to let her go.