A/N: Here it is! The chapter everyone has been waiting for. Thanks again for the positive response, it really means a lot. I'm really itching to know people's thoughts for this chapter. Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Six.

Arthur brushed past the doctor and stormed out of the door. He did not glance back over his shoulder to see the reaction. He was the King goddamn it. He did not have to stay cooped up in this unfamiliar place if he did not want to. Besides, they were definitely keeping something from him and Arthur was beginning to wonder if the doctor and everyone else here were as friendly as they were making out.

A worrying thought struck Arthur. What if he was being kept here while whoever owned this land invaded Camelot? Perhaps that was why no one would give him any information on the whereabouts of his friends. He did not like the thought of being invaded by any army, but the thought of an army from this place sent chills down his spine. He had seen so many strange artefacts and contraptions over the past day. He hated to think what kind of weapons they would possess. He was more or less certain some sort of sorcery would be involved. His army would be clueless when it came to defending themselves.

Arthur hobbled along the corridor as fast as he could. He turned this way and that, realising that he had no idea how to get out of this maze of a building. He came to a stop and spun around, trying to assess the situation. He realised that even upon escaping this building he had not been told where he actually was. At almost the same time, he realised that he had left all of his personal items behind; his sword and his chain mail were all still placed neatly in a small cupboard next to his bed.

He looked down at himself. He was wearing a pale green gown of some kind. It was extremely thin and to Arthur's sudden embarrassment, a bit more transparent than he would have liked. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt, just to sneak back and get his clothes. But then what if the doctor was there waiting for his return. Surely they must be counting on him returning for his things? What if they restrained him this time to prevent any more attempted escapes?

"Arthur?" A voice called out from down the corridor. He knew he had heard it before but he did not know where from.

"What are you doing, wondering about by yourself?" a friendly looking man was approaching at a surprisingly fast pace.

Arthur fixed the man with a questioning stare "Why shouldn't I be by myself?"

"I thought after yesterday's shock you would need as much rest as you can get," the old man explained. "Shall we get you back to your room?"

"I'm sorry, but who are you?"

The old man smiled and let out a slight laugh. "How rude of me! The name's Martin Tucker. I'm the fella that dragged you out of that there lake,"

Arthur looked the man up and down. He looked far too old and unsteady to have been Arthur's rescuer. Arthur didn't comment. He had already realised that things in this place were much different to back home. Who was to say that this old man was not a hero? Martin clapped a hand on Arthur's shoulder in a friendly fashion.

"Let's get you back to your room," he suggested and started steering Arthur back in the direction he'd come.

Arthur wanted to protest, but couldn't form the right words. He nodded slightly. After all he needed to go back for his belongings. They arrived back at Arthur's room to find Dr Holden standing outside.

"Ah, Arthur, you came back," the doctor gave a cheery smile before walking off.

Arthur fixed him with a steely glare; a look that did not go unnoticed by his companion. "That man is hiding something from me," Arthur announced.

"Whatever do you mean?" Martin asked as he guided Arthur back to his bed.

"Why are they keeping me here if they say I am completely healthy?" Arthur asked, pulling at the bed sheets. Martin had sunk into a pale green chair at the side of the bed.

"Just to be on the safe side," Martin said, "You nearly died,"

Arthur didn't reply. He didn't know what to say. There wasn't much to add. He just wanted to go home. He wanted Merlin to draw him a nice hot bath followed by an evening meal with his darling Guinevere. He just wanted things to be normal. In this place he had no control. It was daunting. It was like people didn't even know who he was.

After a fairly lengthy silence Martin spoke, "I wanted to see how you're feeling today,"

"I feel fine," Arthur replied. He was quiet a moment or two longer. "Thank you for rescuing me,"

Martin looked at his feet. "Oh, it was nothing,"

They lapsed into silence again.

"You have any family?" Martin tried to break the tension again.

"I am married," Arthur replied, thoughts drifting back to his wife. He wondered if she was worried about him. Where she was, what she was doing? Why hadn't she been in touch? Perhaps word had yet to reach her. Camelot might be several days away from here. It could easily be another week or more before he heard from anyone that he knew.

"Any children?" Martin asked.

Arthur shook his head.

"Me neither," Martin replied. He was fidgeting slightly and twiddling his fingers. A silence passed over the two again though it was only slightly uncomfortable.

"I need to go home," Arthur said. He wasn't sure if he had meant to say it or not. It was as if he was thinking out loud.

"Where is home?" Martin asked. He was eager to find out more information about the boy.

Before Arthur could answer, the door swung open. In the door way stood a tall, scrawny looking man. There was a determination in his eyes that Arthur knew only too well. "Merlin!?" He was overjoyed at the sight of his friend.

"Arthur! We need to get you out of here!"

Martin watched the scene in front of him. A boy, perhaps a few years younger than Arthur burst into the room. His gaze fixed on Arthur, there was a passion in his eyes. Martin heard Arthur gasp "Merlin!?" as the intruder shouted "Arthur! We need to get you out of here!"

Martin did not know how to react. This was who Arthur had asked for by the lake. He didn't look very much like Merlin from Arthurian legend, of that he was sure. Perhaps the name was some in-joke between the two friends. Martin studied the new arrival. There was something about the intruder. There was something in those panic-stricken eyes. He seemed strangely familiar.

He obviously hadn't noticed Martin in the corner of the room. At that moment in time, he had eyes only for Arthur. Arthur jumped out of bed, pulling open a small cupboard. Out spilled the armour Arthur had worn the day before. In one movement, he scooped it up into his arms.

"No time to worry about that!" Merlin shouted, attempting to drag Arthur out of the room.

Time seemed to freeze. Martin could not move. Even if he could he did not know what he would do. Suddenly, there was a voice from the doorway.

"Where do you think you're going?"

Merlin had opted to travel via bus. It still took quite a while but was much quicker than walking to the hospital. He tried to distract himself from the butterflies dancing within his stomach. He watched a teenager in the seat in front of him, ear buds in and tapping away on their phone. While Merlin was not a fan of modern technology, he had still had time to adjust to it. He wondered what Arthur would make of this new world and how everything had changed. Merlin smiled briefly at the thought of Arthur's puzzled expression. How in the world was he going to explain the situation to his friend?

He was sure he would think of something. He always did when Arthur was involved. The bus pulled up outside of the hospital and Merlin disembarked with a sort of giddy nervousness. He could tell, somehow, that he was close to Arthur. He didn't quite feel as empty as he had grown accustomed to. He wondered if Arthur ever felt the same way. He was unsure if it was his magic or if it was the fact that their destinies were intertwined. They would never truly feel whole as long as they were apart.

There was a sign outside the main entrance that detailed the whereabouts of each ward and suite. He studied it until he had memorised the route to the psychiatric ward. He set off walking again. For the first time in a long time Merlin felt... Well, he wouldn't exactly describe it as happy. But there was some sort of positivity there.

It only took a few minutes to arrive at the psychiatric ward. He walked in through the double doors and looked around. There were several rooms. Some, he could see through large windows in the side were occupied by several beds. Others, however, seemed to house only one patient at a time. Merlin took a deep breath and started down the corridor. He glanced in each window as he passed in search of Arthur. The feeling of anticipation was growing and with each room Merlin passed his breathing and footsteps became quicker. Before he knew it, he was at the end of the corridor. This was the last room. If Arthur was not in here, Merlin was back at square one.

He held his breath and took a peek through the window. Merlin's insides gave a jump; there he was. There was that familiar mop of golden hair. Arthur lay in a single bed, looking positively peculiar in a modern hospital gown. The sight was quite jarring. Merlin placed his hand on the doorknob. He drew in another deep breath. It was now or never. He swung the door open.

"Arthur! We need to get out of here!" he cried. Arthur's head shot up, eyes opened wide. He mouthed something, but Merlin did not hear what. He needed to get Arthur out of this place and quickly. There was no telling what would happen if he was caught.

After a moment, Arthur seemed to come to his senses. He jumped out of bed and pulled open a small cupboard. Out spilled Arthur's chain mail and sword.

"No time to worry about that!" Merlin said. He reached out for Arthur's arm to try to drag him along. Of course Arthur wanted to waste time by getting dressed. He wouldn't have realised how strange it would be to see a fully grown man running about in full chain mail. Then again, what would be stranger once they got outside; Chain mail or a hospital gown? Merlin chose not to dwell on the dilemma, pulling Arthur along behind him. He turned to face the door and ended up face to face with a stern looking doctor.

"Where do you think you're going?"