Nice Morgana here, cause I need that almost more than I need the end of the series to not have happened. More will be explained next chapter.

The cell was dark and cold, and Merlin was thanking his luck whatever there was left of it, that he did not bruise easily. He might have looked like he did, being so skinny and weak according to Arthur but he wasn't. If he had, he was certain he would have bruises from the guards. He sat there trying to figure out what to do about the whole situation, his magic was effectively cut off because of the cuffs, and using it hurt. He couldn't ask Gaius, because he probably wasn't going to be allowed any visitors. Thinking about Gaius just made Merlin upset because this is exactly what the mentor wanted to avoid.

"Oh my boy," Gaius said as he walked into view of Merlin's cell. Merlin looked up, his eyes wide, he had not been expecting any visitors.

"It's not my fault, Gaius." Merlin tried to explain. He noticed Gaius was looking him over, even though Gaius knew and treated most of the scars that were once wounds on his upper body. "I swear, I was picking herbs for you. I was in the woods, and he just came up sword pointed,"

"Merlin, I know." Gaius cut him off. "You weren't, were you?" he asked, in reference to Merlin's magic.

"No, I swear, I wasn't." Gaius nodded. Merlin just sighed, "I thought I wasn't allowed visitors."

"Arthur pulled a few strings since you were his manservant."

Merlin nodded. He wasn't really sure he was up for more visitors. He wasn't really sure he wanted pity. Gaius was different because it was Gaius. But the others, he did not want to know how those conversations were going to go down. "What are you going to tell my mother?"

Gaius looked at Merlin, "The truth I suppose, but my words will be gentle." Merlin nodded, not being able to say goodbye to his mother, was definitely painful. But he knew his mother was not one of revenge, she would just have to carry on without a son or a husband.

There was some noise from the hallway, "I'm afraid I must go, I need to have some words with the king."

"Gaius," Merlin began to whisper, "Don't tell him you knew. Arthur needs someone to keep him safe." Merlin was so certain he was going to die. Gaius didn't smile or frown, but he nodded none the less, and Merlin knew that gesture was sad all the same.

Merlin could feel himself get weaker. Without his magic he really was nothing. It wasn't like he felt that he was ordinary, he felt that he had no reason. It was an awful feeling and one that didn't suit Merlin at all. When he knew Gaius had left he was hitting himself mentally for not asking his mentor about the cuffs that were around his wrists.

"Merlin," it was a quiet voice, it was Morgana. Merlin was hesitant to look up, but he eventually did, "Oh, Merlin."

The pity had started he could see it in her eyes. "Please, no pity." He knew he had gotten some of those looks when he was in that cage in the castle courtyard. He was like the bounty of a bounty hunter.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Morgana said, and it sounded like she was. She looked down the hall at the guards, then leaned up to the bars, "I understand Merlin."

Merlin looked up at her, and dared not respond. He knew what Morgana was talking about. He knew but he didn't know if he should admit it. He knew because if he admitted he had magic, then his guise of saying he didn't held no ground. But technically it didn't anyways. Uther knew of what the cuffs did, and what they did to those with Magic.

"Uther is being despicable and I will not stand for it. You have saved Arthur, and Uther is too blind to see that magic is good." Morgana looked terrified; she knew that it could be her. She sighed, "I know why you kept it secret, Merlin, I wish you hadn't. But, I think I understand."

Merlin looked at her, "I should have,"

"No. You were trying to do what is right, and I have to respect that." Morgana looked at him. "I'll try and help you however I can."

Merlin decided that if she was accepting then she couldn't be as bad as the dragon said. He looked at his friend, "Thanks." She gave a sweet smile that was made sad just by her eyes, before walking away.

Merlin didn't get any more visitors, he had hoped to see Gwen, but he was glad he didn't. He guessed that the strings Arthur pulled weren't meant for servants. But he knew where Gwen's heart was, and he knew she was probably wishing she could be there. Plus Morgana would relay all the information she would need.

Arthur had come either. Merlin didn't know what time it was. But he knew he was tired, so he let his eyes rest. He wished Arthur had come. But Arthur was probably furious with him for being an idiot, or a sorcerer, or both. But then Merlin had to remember that because of Arthur he got to say goodbye to Gaius, and he could speak with Morgana openly about who he was.

But that didn't mean he didn't want to see Arthur. He wanted to explain himself. He wanted to say this was not how Arthur meant to find out. He then thought if he wanted to keep the lie up for Arthur. He could practically hear the dragon screaming, and laughing, and cursing the destiny that Merlin had flubbed up. He was surprised that the dragon hadn't tried calling him, though he wasn't sure what good it would do.

Merlin had been asleep, for what only felt like minutes then he felt the water. He didn't think water could get that cold. He was up though. He was up and when he looked around he only saw Aredian, "We are leaving sorcerer." He unhooked the chain from what looked like the ground, Merlin was still trying to fully wake up. He was then pulled forward, and again he crawled to the cage that he would be traveling in.

He knew he shouldn't like Aredian, but he had to at least be grateful that the man wasn't going to kill him in front of his friends. He half suspected though that the man wanted to use him for something. If he was really powerful and a witchfinder he probably knew of Merlin's power, or at least sensed it.

As the horses hooves clopped out of the courtyard, another horse passed. Aredian said nothing, and neither did she. If anyone asked her she was out for a moonlit ride, in the fields. Merlin looked at the castle he had once been so happy to be at. He wouldn't see it again. He felt the tug of the cuffs, and he felt the energy he had drain. He fell asleep again.

Morgana rushed towards the castle, and went to the dungeons where she found an upset Arthur who was kicking anything he could in the now vacant cell. "They took him, I'm sorry."

"I know that, Morganna. That, Aredian must have known." Arthur proceeded in kicking the straw.

"Who knows, but kicking straw to get your frustrations out isn't going to do anything."

"At least if he was here for his execution I would have an opportunity to stop him from being burned."

"But he's not. He'll be alright."

"I'm going to go after him."

"And what will Uther say?"

"I don't care what he will say." Their argument was escalating and they both looked at a guard who was watching them curiously.

"Well, lets finish this in my chambers." Morganna said, as the guard continued doing what he was supposed to be doing, which wasn't listening in on the prince and the king's ward.

Gwen met them in Morgana's chambers. "Where's Merlin?" she asked hoping for good news of her friend. She had been hoping that Arthur had gotten him out, just like Arthur had saved the Druid boy.

"Aredian took him," Morgana admitted, as she went to comfort Gwen who quickly got the idea of the picture.

"What are we going to do? Arthur you must go after him."

Arthur nodded, "I know, but my father will never allow it."

Morgana looked at both of them, as Gwen said, "Well we have to do something."

She replied, "And we will."