Chapter 15–Deals and Duties

Hey guys! Happy New Year! I wish you all a great year and all your wishes to come true. I'm sorry it took me so long to write this chapter but I've been busy with exams for the last week. It has been manic, but it's over now . Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter. Remember people there is a poll running, so vote, vote vote! I don't own Merlin, but Elizabeth, Laudine and Kay are mine.

Just as I felt my hand slipping from Arthur a bright light filled up the cave. More spiders were moving towards us now, more slowly than before, they seem intelligent enough to realise that I had a sword. The light was different to anything I had ever seen before, it shone from a beautiful blue sphere, "Come on, then! What are you waiting for?! Finish us off!" Arthur screamed.

The light just floated above Arthur's head, "I don't think it wants to hurt us," I said in wonder, "Swing me up I think there is something I can hold," Arthur nodded down at me before spending me flying up into the air. I slowed down time enough to get into the right potion before landing onto the ledge. I stabbed one of the spiders that was a bit too close to us as Arthur pulled himself up onto the ledge.

The light moved higher up going towards the exit, but Arthur seemed distracted by the Mortaeus flower on the wall, it was then I heard Merlin's voice echoing in my head, "Leave them, Arthur," I smiled as I realised exactly who had sent the light to guide us, it was amazing. He was back in Camelot on his death bed and still managed to help us. The spider's screeching began to get louder as the crawled closer towards us, "Go. Save yourself. Follow the light."

Arthur seemed unable to hear Merlin's voice or was just choosing not to listen like he usually did as he climbed to grab the flower and placed it in a pouch on his belt. I climbed up after him moving quickly as I felt the spider's gaining on us, "Faster. Go faster. Follow the light! Move. Climb," Merlin voice whispered through the air as we moved. The exit was getting closer and closer I could see it. Arthur climbed over first and I felt something tug at my leg. I screamed loudly as I was being pulled back down into the darkness.

Then Arthur's hand appeared above me. I grabbed onto it like a life-line and was lifted out of harm way. I landed next to Arthur laying on the dirt and began laughing. The pure relief in me needed an outlet. Arthur stared at me in shock for a moment before joining in, we laid their laughing for what seemed like hours, before we managed to calm down.

I turned to face him to find he was already staring at me. It seemed to happen in slow motion, Arthur leant towards me staring at my lips. Just as his lips were about to touch mine a loud growl sounded before behind us. I flipped up, coming face to face to another cockatrice I reached for my sword which was laying next to me. The cockatrice charged towards me and stop speed. I threw my sword forward and it landed straight into the cockatrice head causing it to collapse back onto the floor.

"How can you look so beautiful when you're destroying things?" Arthur questioned behind me.

I smiled back over my shoulder at him before walking over and pulling out my sword, "I'm not beautiful that's Morgana's job."

Arthur got up off the ground and walked slowly as if he was scared I was going to run away, "You are the most beautiful girl I have ever met."

I felt myself blushing without meaning to, "Are we really talking about this over a dead cockatrice?"

"When else are we gonna talk about it?" Arthur asked his voice becoming cold.

"See this is my problem," I said getting a bit annoyed, "One minute you are kind the next you are snapping. How can we have a future if you have two different personality?"

Arthur didn't bother replying instead turned and walked away.

The rest of the journey back into Camelot was in complete awkward silence. As we moved closer to Camelot drawbridge the guards blocked our way, "What are you doing? Let us pass," Arthur ordered immediately.

The Guard shook his head, "I'm sorry, Sire. You're under arrest, by order of the King."

The guards walked towards us holding out their swords, "Okay we're not going to resist so can you please not make us look like criminals," I snapped at them before they got in too close.

The Guards paused a minute looking at them and then each other in confusion, "We are a prince and princess. Treat us as such," Arthur said looking at me before we rode passed the gate with our heads high and through the crowds.

It didn't take long for Uther to come down to the dungeon to see us, "You disobeyed me," were the first words he spoke to us.

"Of course we did, a man's life was at stake. Do not let Merlin die because of something I did," Arthur argued back immediately.

"Why do you care so much? The boy is just a servant," Uther dismissed.

It was my turn to speak up this time, "He knew the danger he was putting himself in, and he knew what would happen if he drank from that goblet, but he did it anyway. He saved your son's life."

"There's more. There was a woman at the mountain. She knew we were there for the flower. I don't think it was Bayard who tried to poison me," Arthur explained.

"Of course it was," Uther countered angry.

Arthur pulled out the flower from where he had stored it, "Gaius knows what to do with it," Uther took the flower from his hand, "Put me in the stocks for a week, a month even, I don't care. Just make sure it gets to him. I'm begging you," Uther crushed the flower in his fist, "NO!"

"You have to learn there is a right and a wrong way of doing things. I'll see you're let out in a week. Then you can find yourself another servant," Uther said before turning away and beginning to walk out of the dungeons.

I did the only thing I could do, "Please, just let Merlin have the flower! Consider it our wedding gift!"

Uther froze before turning around slowly, "Does that mean when Arthur proposes to you, you will accept?"

I could see Arthur staring at me in amazement, "Release us both from this jail cell so I can deliver the flower and I will be the Queen of Camelot that you want me to be," Uther paused for a moment thinking about my offer before nodding at the guards. They opened the door for us, Uther dropped the flower into my hand, "Thank you," I said quickly to Uther before taking off in a run towards Gaius's chambers.

Arthur easily caught up with me grabbing my arm to stop me, "Why would you do that?"

"Your duty is to behave honourably. My duty is to my friends, Merlin doesn't deserve to die, and I will do everything I can to save him," I vowed before taking off once again ignoring the looks I was getting from everyone.

I burst into the chambers closely followed by Arthur, "How is he?"

"Have you got the Mortaeus?" Gaius questioned instead of answering.

"Here. Uther squashed it, I'm sorry," I said handing over the flower.

"His breathing's much worse. We have to hurry," Laudine said from her place next to him.

I moved so I was sitting down next to her at Merlin's sickbed as Gaius begun crushing up the flower, "Come on Merlin. Just a little bit longer," Arthur stood by my side, I leant into Laudine, "Do we need magic?"

"Yes my lady," She muttered back to me trying to be unnoticed.

"Arthur we'll need some fresh water," I said turned my head towards him and handing him a bowl I picked up. He nodded at me before going over to talk to the guards. I reached over and took the bowl from Gaius.

"Gwen come and help me with this," Gaius ordered giving me the privacy I needed.

I closed my eyes and felt for the magic inside me looking for the words I needed to say, "Sythan arrest wearth feasceaft funden. Denum æfter dome. Dreamleas gebad he gewinnes longsum," the potion begun to sizzle and foam for a moment before settling back down.

Arthur came running back in with the water leaving it next to me as I handed the potion back to Gaius, "Thank you," Gaius poured the potion into a small cup before coming to stand on the other side of Merlin, "Hold his nose," he ordered. Arthur pinched Merlin's nose as Gaius poured the potion into his mouth, "Swallow, Merlin. Swallow it."

I reached out and rested my hand against his heart trying to see if I could feel the beating, "He's stopped breathing. What's happening? Gaius?"

Gaius lowered his head to where my hand had been a second ago, "His heart has stopped."

"He's dead?" I asked in disbelief.

"He can't be. He can't be. It was his destiny," Gaius said standing up and stepping away from the body.

I walked over to him, "It's my fault. If I'd have got here sooner. If I'd have been quicker."

Gaius circled his arms around me as I began to cry, "No, no. It was me. I should've looked after him better. It's my fault."

We stayed there for a moment before a quiet voice broke the silence, "That's disgusting. You should be ashamed of yourself. You're old enough to be her grandfather."

We pulled back to see a very pale looking Merlin staring at us, "Merlin. You're alive."

"No. I'm the ghost come back to haunt you," Merlin smiled back.

I laughed grabbing his face and resting my forehead against his, I heard Arthur cough from behind me, and pulled away quickly, "Sorry, I'm just...I thought you were dead."

"It's fine, erm...what happened? The last thing I remember is drinking the wine," Merlin questioned looking confused.

I looked at Merlin and couldn't help but laugh, "Just a few things."

We stood quietly on the battlements as Bayard and his men rode away from Camelot. Lucky with a little help from Gaius we had managed to save the treaty and stopped another war breaking out in the name of Camelot. All in all it seemed to be a good day.

"Okay. Let the bragging begin. How'd you manage it?" Morgana turned around to face Arthur.

Arthur shrugged not looking my way, "I'm not sure. All I do know is I had help. Someone knew I was in trouble and sent a light to guide the way."

"Who?" Morgana questioned.

"I don't know. But whoever it was, I'm only here because of them," Arthur replied honestly.

Morgana looked like she wanted to ask more but she looked closely at Arthur's face and decided it wasn't worth it, "I'm glad you're back," She says touching Arthur lightly on the shoulder before turning to me, "Thank you for bringing him back," She smiled at me before pulling me into a hug.

"Arthur? The woman you met in the forest, what did she tell you?" Uther asked once Morgana had got out of sight.

Arthur thought back to it, "Not much. She was too busy trying to get me killed. It was strange, though."

"In what way?" Uther looked worried.

"I was at her mercy. She could have finished me off, but she chose not to. She said it wasn't my destiny to die at her hand," Arthur said slowly remembering.

"You must've been scared," Uther said slowly.

Arthur looked up at him, "Had its moments," he replied flatly.

"Those who practice magic know only evil. They despise and seek to destroy goodness wherever they find it. Which is why she wanted you dead. She is evil," Uther began to the speech that he had said a million times before, however this time it sounded more personal.

"Sounds as if you know her," Arthur observed.

"I do," Uther said looking down I looked up in interest, "To know the heart of one sorcerer is to know them all. You did the right thing. Even though you were disobeying me. I'm proud of you, Arthur. Never forget that."

Arthur nodded back at him as Uther walked off, leaving the two of us alone. We stood in silence for a time before Arthur spoke, "What you did today, for Merlin was very honourable."

"He is my friend," I replied simply as if that explained everything to him.

"And you would sacrifice a chance at love for a friend," Arthur observed.

I shook my head at him, "No, I would gave myself a chance to fall in love with a man who would be brave enough to disobey his father for a servant. I just hope that is the man you truly are," I whispered looking at Arthur carefully before turning away and walking back into the castle.

I hope you like it. Please review and let me know what you think.

Until next time

Artistic-Blue-Eyes

Xxx