Sorry guys! I knew what needed to go in this chapter, but nothing I tried seemed to work at first, which is why I didn't manage to get it up yesterday :'( Fortunately, a good sleep managed to sort things out in my head, so it's much better now. Yay!

Thanks a bunch for all the (14) reviews for the last chapter. I hope you continue enjoying this story right through to the end XD

Now for a bit of bad news. I'm going to try my best, but I've really had to get cracking on revision (first exam a week from today...), so I can't guarantee that I'll be able to get a chapter out every day. *sigh* Stupid exams.

Anyway, that's enough of that :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Merlin

Chapter 16

Silence.

Five long, agonising seconds of silence.

Merlin sat, a hand against his forehead, still not quite believing what he had just done. He could feel everyone's eyes on him. Gwen emitted a strangled gasp, and this finally triggered Arthur to speak.

"What?" He breathed.

"How is that even possible?" Whispered Kennard.

Merlin dropped his hands in to his lap, and stared at them unseeingly.

"Transportation," he forced out, "is meant to be instantaneous. I mispronounced one of the words, and ended up delaying our arrival here."

"You mean to say," Kennard questioned, "that you made us time-travel by accident?" The younger man stared at him, equal measures of shock and awe in his eyes. "Just how much power do you have?"

"Evidently more than he knows what to do with."

Merlin stared up at the Prince, not sure whether or not to be shocked at the coldness in his voice. Friends or no, right now it looked like the older man was inches away from punching the young Warlock with all his might. In fact, were it not for the fact that the two had only just been reunited, Merlin was fairly certain he'd be lying on the floor, unconscious, by now.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" Hissed Arthur. "If we've missed a day, then today is the day Morgana will be named heir to the throne! What if we don't have enough time to stop her?"

Merlin sank his head back in to his hands, unable to bear it. The last time he'd felt this guilty was when the Dragon had attacked Camelot. But, even then, he hadn't really known for sure what was going to happen. This time, it was most definitely all his fault. If they failed now, it was all because of him. That single moment of arrogance may well have been the difference between whether he failed his destiny or not. If this enchantment was completed, he may never be able to break it. Then Arthur would never become King. And Albion would fall.

Gwen, meanwhile, was staring round at the three boys, with disbelief written in her features, and increasing levels of anger shining in her eyes. After watching for a few seconds, she had finally had enough.

"Will you all snap out of it?"

Three sets of eyes snapped towards her, each one widening.

"Arthur- you can stop behaving like that. And Merlin, raise your head. It was a mistake. Everybody makes them. Besides, there's no point in dwelling in the past. What matters now is that we focus on what to do next. If you'd all just stop staring off in to space, or glaring at each-other, we might still be able to figure a way out of this mess!"

There was silence for a moment, until Gwen suddenly realized just what it was she'd just said. She lowered her eyes, slightly ashamed to feel the beginnings of a blush working it's way on to her cheeks, and feeling uncomfortable having them all look at her like they were.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I don't know what I was thinking. I just-"

"Guinevere."

Gwen looked up to find Arthur smiling at her, both he and Merlin (and even Kennard) looking somewhat guilty. Arthur stepped over to her, laying a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"There's no need to apologize. You're right. This isn't the time, or the place. But, Merlin," he looked over at the man on the bed, his smile shifting to a teasing grin- one Gwen hadn't seen in over six months. "If, by some miracle, we do manage to get through this, I swear, I'm going to have you in the stocks for a year."

Merlin quirked his eyebrows. "I'd like to see you try."

"Oh, are you suggesting I couldn't?"

"I know you couldn't. Unless I let you."

"Idiot."

"Clotpole."

Gwen smiled, willing to allow the two a brief moment of reconciliation. Unfortunately, Kennard chose that precise moment to interrupt.

"Um, sire? May I suggest we move from here?"

The two boys broke off from their banter, both turning towards Arthur's subordinate.

"Why? Surely we should spend this time formulating a plan of action."

"Well, ordinarily I would agree. But those men earli- yesterday. They seemed to be able to sense Merlin's magic. Plus, the fact that they didn't appear to be under the spell suggests that they are working with Morgana. It may be possible that there are others- and that one of them may have detected the moment we appeared here."

Arthur snapped in to action immediately.

"Right- Kennard and Merlin, I want you to follow me. I know a room no-one's been in for at least ten years. Guinevere-"

He turned, placing a hand on Gwen's cheek.

"-I want you to go home. Stay inside, and lock your doors. Alright?"

Gwen could feel her frustration rising. Just because she was a woman, it didn't mean that she was weak. She thought she had proven enough times in the past that she was more than capable of taking care of herself. So why did he still have to insist on trying to protect her so much. It was sweet, true, but less than sensible in a situation such as this one.

With that in mind, she shook her head, and removed his hand.

"No. I'm coming with you."

"Guinevere-"

"I know. You're just trying to keep me safe. But I'm still coming."

"I don't want you getting hurt."

"I will be in the presence of two Knights and an amazingly powerful Warlock. Where else will I be more safe?"

She gave Arthur a look which clearly brooked no argument, and stayed that way until he relaxed his shoulders slightly. As he turned away, she allowed herself a fleeting grin of triumph. It wasn't every day a serving girl won an argument with the Prince of Camelot.

Arthur left the room first, and Gwen could have sworn she heard Kennard whisper something to him on his way out.

"I can see why you like her."

Arthur paused momentarily, then continued on his way as though nothing had happened. And Kennard wasn't the only one to see the slight redness on the back of the Blond's neck

Twenty corridors, two secret passageways, a close call with a bucket, and one very angry dog later, and the four of them finally arrived in what had previously been a locked room. Merlin glared at the Prince, who looked innocently back.

"What?"

"What!" Merlin exclaimed. "What do you mean 'what?' That dog was vicious."

Arthur simply shrugged. "We needed a distraction."

"Yes- but that was no reason to suddenly push me in front of the thing! I could have just put it to sleep!"

"Well yes, but this way just seemed so much more fun."

Merlin drew himself up to his full height, proud of the inches this gave him over his friend. "You know, I have worked out how to turn people in to rabbits."

Arthur backed up a step. "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, wouldn't I?"

They were interrupted by a small cough from somewhere behind Merlin. He turned his head to see Kennard looking slightly embarrassed, and Gwen with her eyes averted.

"What is it?"

"Umm..." The young Knight pointed towards the back of the Warlock's breeches. "I think you might want to sort that out before we continue. I'm sure you wouldn't want to save Camelot whilst looking so undignified."

Merlin looked down, muttering quietly about how he'd rescued the Kingdom hundreds of times whilst being undignified before. Then froze. Before the heat in his cheeks could rise to dangerous levels, he passed a hand over the seat of his breeches- where a hole the size of his fist had been torn.

"Gestrice."

When he removed his hand again, the hole had mended. But he found himself unable to meet Gwen's eyes. He decided to just ignore Arthur's sniggers.

He had a feeling he didn't want to see any dogs for a while.

Arthur clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"Right then. Not that we've got that hole," he glanced pointedly at Merlin, "mess behind us, maybe we should should try to work out how to fix our main problem."

Merlin rolled his eyes. "Prat."

Arthur simply sent a smug smirk his way, and gestured for everyone to follow him towards where four dusty old chairs stood around a table at the other end of the room. Just as the Prince was sitting down, Merlin whispered a few words. Suddenly all of the dust within a two metre radius created a cushion on The Blond's choice of chair. Arthur spent the next few moments engulfed in a cloud of dust (which magically managed not to land on any of the others).

Merlin whistled innocently, ignoring the Prince's glare. Gwen just sighed.

"Alright- that's enough games." She looked over at Merlin warningly, and he swiftly obliged, moving the aforementioned dust over to an empty corner. He'd seen Gwen in mothering mode before. And he didn't really want to be on the receiving end.

Arthur coughed again, settling comfortably down on to his chair. Serious now, he met Merlin's eyes.

"What have you managed to find out?"

"Give me a minute or two."

The young Warlock closed his eyes, steadying his breathing. He concentrated on picking up on the spark of magic he'd sent out yesterday. It had surrounded something- a person- but tendrils of power seemed to be running out of that person, spreading out in a web in every direction. Following one of the veins, he let his mind gather information. The web seemed to break off every which way, golden threads wrapping themselves around peoples' cores.

But that wasn't all. There were other colours in there too- different hues of magic, forming different networks. Each one with a specific purpose in mind. The problem here was just what those ones did.

Merlin blinked, opening his eyes. It took him a few seconds to get used to seeing the world with normal eyes, but when he had, he looked apprehensively around the table.

"Well?" Demanded Arthur. Although he quickly calmed down after a look from Gwen.

"I was right," started Merlin. "There are several spells. Breaking the enchantments is going to be even more difficult than we thought."

Kennard leaned forward. "Why?"

"Well each spell has a vessel. Largely people. But each one also seems to have secondary vessels- one on every person the spell is affecting. And, on top of that, each spell is aimed towards a different group of individuals."

"In what way?"

Merlin cast the silver-eyed man an appraising glance. He was definitely bright- he would make a great sorcerer with a bit of training.

"For example, there is a spell- the one I've managed to trace- covering the people of the lower town. This one seems to be the simplest. It began with unrest, and then gradually escalated. It takes less than you'd think for a Kingdom's people to turn against their ruler.

"And, from what I can make out, there are other, more complex, spells- ones I can't quite fully unravel yet- covering the Nobles, and other ones for the Knights. There even seems to be one used solely on one man- I'm guessing Uther."

Arthur leaned forward. "My father? Why does he need one just for him?"

"Well, I'm guessing that it was originally for both of you. There's an untethered string coming from that particular vessel- but I don't think the person has realized. None of the vessels are particularly strong magic-users." He paused sadly. "Probably for good reason too."

Kennard furrowed his brow. "Why?"

To the surprise of both Kennard and Gwen, it was Arthur who answered. He and Merlin shared a sorrowful look.

"Because one of the only ways to stop the effects of a spell with a living vessel... Is to kill the vessel itself."

Tch. Morgana and Morgause are such meanies!

So- things you liked? Things you disliked? Points I could improve on? All are welcome (and greatly appreciated). Especially as they should help cheer me up after hours of revision...

Oh, and 'gestrice' is one of the variations of 'mend.' Just in case you wanted to know :D