Morgana's room was almost lost in darkness, the only light being the soft orange glow of the burning candles. Kara and gwen move around the room blowing out the candles, shrouding it in further darkness before leaving the room, gwen with a yawn.

'Good night gwen' Kara waves when they reach her house in the town.

'Good night kara' gwen nods making her way down the streets a bit more before walking inside her own home. She takes off her purple clock and throws it down on the bed only to turn around a gasp seeing a large man at the back of house.

She steps backwards as he steps forward 'What do you want?' She whispers before grabbing a poker from the fireplace as a weapon but another man grabs her from behind and places a drugged cloth over her face, muffling her scream. Gwen passes out and the men drag her out of the house, unconscious.

Back in the castle, an awake Morgana watched as gwen was carried away on a horse by the two men. With a smirk she turns away.

Merlin pulls back the curtains of Arthur's chambers, letting the morning sunlight pour into it. Arthur jolted awake at the light 'Rise and shine!' Merlin calls with a grin.

'Can't you think of anything new to say?' Arthur wondered with an annoyed frown.

'What?' Merlin asked, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

'Every morning it is the same thing' Arthur informed.

'Oh, I'm sorry' he smiled 'How about: shake a leg? Up and at 'em? Let's have you lazy daisy...?' He trailed off seeing the glare Arthur was sending him 'No, you don't like any of them, do you?' Arthur shook his head, the glare still firm in his expression 'Okay, er...I'm just gonna go before, before you decide to do something which...' Arthur throws a goblet at Merlin and he nods at him before running away from the doorway before something else could be thrown at his head.

Kara attended to breakfast that morning with Merlin. Uther and Arthur had been lost in conversation when Morgana walked in with a distressed look on her face.

'The building works in the lower town have been delayed. I want you to ensure it doesn't happen again' Uther said to his son.

'I'll see to it' Arthur nodded.

'Good morning, Morgana' Uther greeted her. Merlin moves to pour Morgana's drink, but she places her hand over the cup.

'No, thank you'

'Anything the matter?' Uther wondered,

'It's Gwen. She didn't turn up for work this morning' Morgana said and Merlin, Kara and Arthur frowns in confusion.

'That's not like her' Arthur stated.

'I know, it's strange. I hope nothing's wrong' she said

'You needn't worry, Morgana' Uther assured reaching over and holding her hand 'After all, if your maid can no longer be relied upon, we can easily replace her' Kara gritted her teeth slightly at Uther's comment, glaring daggers into the king's head, resenting him for treating servants like they were disposable instead of actual human beings.

'I'm sure she'll turn up soon enough' Arthur assured her and Morgana smiled.

'I'm sure' she nodded before tucking into her breakfast. Kara still bit her lip worried and sent Arthur a look expressing her concern. Arthur gave a slight nod to show that he understood.

Out in the Phoenix corridor after breakfast, Arthur turned to Merlin

'Go to Gwen's house, find out what's wrong' he said and Merlin nodded 'And Merlin, as quick as you can'.

'Yes sire' he nodded before making his way down the corridor and out of the castle toward gwen's house.

'Gwen?' Merlin calls as he enters, though there appears to be no sign of her.

'Gwen?' He called again having entered the house and he frowns seeing her cloak on the bed. He spots a poker on the table and his frown deepens as he picks it up. He looks around, wondering what had happened when he sees a small dirty cloth on the floor. He picks it up and smells only to pull it away quickly with a cough before it clicks in his head, that gwen had been drugged and taken.

Merlin entered Arthur's chamber with the drugged cloth he found in Gwen's house in his hands. 'What's that?' Arthur asked with a furrowed brow, staring at the cloth.

'I found it at Gwen's' Melrin informed him.

'It's a scrap of cloth' Arthur pointed out

'I know' Merlin nodded

'She's a seamstress. How could that possibly be important?' Arthur said, looking at Merlin in disbelief.

Merlin rolled his eyes 'Smell it'

Arthur screwed up his face in disbelief 'No thanks'.

'Just smell it' Merlin groans and Arthur rolls his eyes before he takes the cloth, pressing it to his face and inhaling deeply before Merlin could warn him 'What are you...?' Arthur passes out and Merlin magically pulls out a chair to catch Arthur just in time.

Merlin sighs, picking uk the cloth and waits for Arthur to come around and when he does he stares at the cloth 'What is that?'

'It's a compound of hogswart and phylarian' Merlin

'Argh, what?' Arthur groaned holding his head,

'I'm just guessing' Merlin shrugged.

'You could knock a man out with that' Arthur states

'Yes. Or a woman?' Merlin says, raising his eyebrows and Arthur stares up at him the realisation coming to him.

Arthur stood in front of Uther in the council chambers with Morgana at his side. Kara stood beside Merlin, the worried frown for her friend had not left her face since breakfast, 'The guards saw her leave the palace at the usual time. After that, nothing.'

Uther frowned in confusion 'Why are you telling me this?'

'Sire, I have reason to believe that Gwen has been kidnapped' Arthur stated and Kara turned to look at Merlin in alarm and he nodded confirming it.

'Kidnapped?' Morgana gasped out in disbelief.

'I'd like to organise a search party' Arthur spoke and Uther scoffed.

'I hardly think that would be appropriate'

Arthur's eyebrows furrowed in confusion 'Father?'

'She's just a serving girl' Uther stated as if he was pointing out the obvious.

'She's the maid to the King's ward' Arthur argued, gesturing to Morgana for emphasis.

Uther sighed like the next words pained him 'Very well. Send a squad of guards to search the lower town'

'And the countryside?'

'They have until nightfall' Uther finished.

'Father, I'm not sure I can achieve...' Arthur began in protest but Uther interrupted him 'Arthur, I have a kingdom to protect. I cannot waste precious resources on a servant, whatever their circumstances'.

Arthur nodded and glanced a Morgana before walking out of the room, Merlin on his heels. Kara frowned and turned back around and Morgana smiled sadly at her. However Kara could have sworn she saw what looked like a smirk on her face.

The next ,opening, Morgana woke up only for a shadowy to cross her bed, she opened her eyes to see Gwen collecting the dirty laundry 'Gwen? Where have you been?" Morgana asked.

Gwen seemed to pause before answering her 'I'm sorry, My Lady, I was unwell'

'Are you better now?' Morgana asked.

Gwen nodded 'Much better, thank you'

'Well, don't tire yourself out. Whatever you need to do, I'm sure it can wait' Morgana assured her and Gwen nodded before leaving the room, not seeing the smirk on Morgana's face.

Out on the corridor Kara and Merlin had been walking together discussing on what they were going to do about Gwen's disappearance when they bumped into the woman herself. Morgan's laundry tumbled out of the baskets Gwen's hands and she quickly bent to pick them up while Merlin and Kara stared down at her in shock.

'Gwen! I've been searching the whole town for you' merlin said, crouching down to help her.

'We were all driven mad with worry Gwen what happened?' Kara wondered picking up a blue dress.

'I just had a cold, that's all' Gwen said but the two sorcery could immediately tell she was lying and glanced at each other before looking back at her.

'I went to your house, Gwen, you weren't there' Merlin said and Gwen looked up, alarm in her eyes as she began tripping over her words.

'Oh, no, er...I, er...was just...' Kara's eyes widened in shock when she saw the dark red brims uses on bwen's wrists and she. Quickly grabs her arm.

'Who did that to you?' Kara demanded, her protective side bursting out at the sight of her friend being hurt.

'No one, it was an accident' Gwen chocked out in a disbelieving voice.

'Gwen. Look at me' merlin said

'It's fine. I'm fine' Gwen whispered out but that was when she broke down solving. Kara immediately pulled her close and hugged her, sharing a worried glance with Merlin.

Merlin prepares Gwen some tea and sits with her at her kitchen table! Kara on the other side 'I just don't understand it' Gwen muttered, thinking out loud.

'What?' Kara wondered.

'Cenred, he see,ed to think I had a close connection with Arthur more than just a prince and servant. Why would he think that's? I have no feelings for Arthur and I'm certain he had none for me either. It just makes no sense' Kara sent Merlin a worried glance at Gwen's confession.

'Well, it's common knowledge Arthur would lay down his life for any of his subjects. Cenred could've taken anyone' merlin said

'Yeah' Gwen nodded 'I suppose your right'

'All that matters is that you're back home safe with your friends. You don't have to face this alone' Kara assured her

Gwen shook her head however 'Yes I do, Kara. This is my problem. I can't involve Arthur. I won't'

'Arthur's already involved' Merlin pointed it.

'Not if I don't tell him about it' Gwen protested.

'Gwen, this is Arthur. He would want to know. Your his friend, think about if Arthur were in trouble you would want to help him too right?' Kara said.

Gwen sighed but she nodded, 'Your right, I'll tell him'

'Arthur's at training but how about we all go see him in an hour and tell him' Merlin suggested and Gwen nodded.

Kara closed the door to Gwen's house and both her and Melrin began to walk back up to the castle. 'I don't understand why Cenred would take Gwen I mean if he would take anyone you would think he'd take you...' he backtracked quickly '...not like I'd want him to take you or anything' he said only to see Kara was not listening instead she was walking with a thoughtful expression.

'Kara?'

'It was morgana' Kara spoke softly as her thoughts clicked into place.

'What?' Merlin asked with a confused frown.

'When Arthur was going to have to marry Elena, Morgana confronted Gwen with the suspicion that her and Arthur were involved. She obviously still thinks that and that means ...' She trailed off before looking up at merlin 'she's still on league with Morgause isn't she?'

Merlin nodded solemnly and Kara sighed, all hopes that her friend was back to her old self dashed away completely. 'Ok so that means if she's in league with her than Morgause would have told Cenred and that's why they took Gwen' a horrible thought occurred to her and she stopped 'Merlin, it should of been me in Gwen's place, I should have been taken. It's my fault Gwen was there, it's my fault her brother's involved'

'Hey, hey it's not your fault' Merlin stopped her shaking his head 'if it's anyone fault it's Morgana's, Morgause's and Cenred's okay? Not yours' he assured and kara nodded slowly.

'We'll figure it all out and Gwen and her brother will be safe' he told her and Kara nodded, knowing he was right. Yet the information that Morgana was still a traitor cut her deeper than she could express.

'The Castle of Fyrien, I'm sure of it.' Arthur stated from. Where he was leaning on the back of a chair. Gwen had just finished telling him her story about what had happened the day previous.

'Never even heard of it.' Merlin shrugged from where he stood beside the table, both Kara and Gwen were seated at it side by side.

'Fyrien was a merchant' Arthur began to explain 'He built a castle on the Seas of Meredor as an outpost for trade routes to the east, but when war broke out with Caerleon, the trade dried up. The castle was abandoned.'

'And so it's ruined now?' Kara guessed but he shook his head.

'Well, no. It was built to withstand anything. For Cenred, it's the perfect hideout'.

'Doesn't sound like an easy place to get into.' Merlin commented off Handley and Arthur shook his head.

'It isn't. It will be well defended' Arthur replied.

'I'm sorry, I shouldn't've brought this to you' Gwen apologised, looking up at him.

'You did the right thing. Your brother will come to no harm, I promise.' Arthur swore.

'How can you be so sure?' She wondered, with a confused frown. Kara. Couldn't help but agree he wasskunding awfully confident especially since Elyan was still in cenred's clutches in a well defended castle.

Arthur smiled 'Because we're going to rescue him'

Merlin frowned, looking at him in confusion 'What do you mean "we"?'

'The four of us.' Arthur said, looking at each of them with a smile.

'Cenred wants you dead. That's why he's doing this' Kara points out, seeing the obvious danger in Arthurs plan.

'I know' he nodded 'Cenred's wanted Camelot's throne for as long as I can remember.' Arthur said, leaning on the back of his chair.

'Then we'll be walking into a trap.' Merlin points out but Arthur shook his head

'Not necessarily.' He smiled at them all with a knowing look in his eye while theirs all remained masked with confusion.

None of them knew that Morgana was standing right outside the chamber doors listening in to the whole conversation between the four of them with an intent look on her face.

Arthur entered the council chambers early the next day, Merlin at his side as he faced his father reading through documents at the end of a long table. Arthur had insisted to make up an excuse to his father on why he would be away for several days and that was what he going to discuss now.

'Father' Arthur began as soon as he entered.

'Hmm? What is it?' Uther wondered, not looking up from his papers.

'It's, er...it's slightly awkward' Arthur stated.

Uther's eyebrows rose 'Oh?'

'I was drawn into a wager...and I lost' Arthur told him and Uther sighed exasperated.

'Arthur, you know how I disapprove of gambling'

'I know. I'm sorry...' 'How much do you owe?' Uther asked, pausing Arthur's apology.

'Two silk dresses' Arthur stated after a moment's hesitance.

'Excuse me?' Uther asked for clarification with raised eyebrows aimed at his son.

'Well, at least enough silk to have them made, anyway' Arthur shrugged.

'What kind of wager was this, exactly?'

'It was Morgana's idea' Arthur told him and the King began to laugh.

'I should have guessed. Really, Arthur, you should know better than to bet against Morgana' he said, blowing at his parchment.

'I know. The thing is, the cloth cannot be obtained in Camelot. So, I'm going to have to leave the city for a couple days' Arthur told him, awaiting his reaction.

'I'd get going if I were you. Don't want to keep her waiting. She'll have your guts' Uther said and Arthur nodded.

'Thank you, Father' he sent a look to Merlin, a look saying "be ready for tomorrow" as they left the council chambers.

Kara was attaching bags to her horse's saddle, dressed in light armor thinking while it was well and good to be protected, to be light on her feet was also a smart choice.

'Aren't you forgetting something?' Morgana called out to Merlin and Kara turned around confused at why she was there and in armour no less.

'I don't think so.' Merlin said with a confused frown.

'But I'm coming with you. Didn't Arthur say?' Morgana asked, raising an eyebrow. Kara's eyes narrowed slightly at the smirk on Morgana's face before turning back to her horse. Knowing she was a traitor had set Kara on edge just like before and it was hard to be around her without letting her emotions get out of control.

'No, he didn't.' Merlin says, looking over to see Arthur hopping over the courtyard corridor ledge dressed in his own armour, sword sheathe clinking at his side.

'Don't just stand there, Merlin. We need another horse.' He called and Merlin walked up to him.

'Why didn't you tell me she was coming?' Merlin whispered angrily.

'Why should I?' Arthur frowned 'What difference does it make to you?'

'I think it's a bad idea'

'Who's going to watch my back if we get into trouble?' Arthur wondered

'I am'

Arthur scoffs a laugh 'Come on, she's a darn sight better with a sword than you'll ever be, and you know it. Besides, she insisted' he said clapping his servants shoulder before walking to his own horse, nodding to Kara whom had been walking up to Merlin.

'I bet she did' Merlin muttered angrily.

'This isn't good' Kara stated as she came to stand by Merlin watching as Morgana chatted with Gwen and Arthur.

'No this is anything but good' Merlin agreed.

'Come on you two we don't have all day!' Arthur called and they sighed, Kara heading back to make last minute preparations and Merlin went to fetch another horse.

Soon enough though five horses and five riders were galloping out of Camelot and into the countryside. Kara's and Merlin's eyes rarely leaving Morgana.

As they rode through a trail in the woods, Kara knew she was riding with an anxious expression, her nerves had been set on edge ever since they left Camelot. If Morgana was here then she surely would have told Morgause and that meant they all knew they were coming and once again they were walking into a trap.

Due to all her thoughts beings a wave of nerves, kara had been quiet all throughout the ride, looking around anxiously almost awaiting for an attack.

Arthur seemed to notice her on nerves were on edge and decided to speak up 'I used to be afraid of these woods'

'Really?' She spoke up surprise I thought the might Arthur pendragon was afraid of nothing? She teased.

'Past tense, Kara, past tense' he emphasised and she smiled 'anyway My father would bring me here when I was a boy, and it seemed every falling leaf was a bandit, every puff of wind was a ghost. You just get used to it in the end'

Kara nodded 'after all my years of travelling alone in woods like these, it almost becomes second nature the alert'

'Well your not alone anymore' Arthur stated softly and Kara smiled.

Arthur caught sight of merlins smile from behind and his own quickly dropped as he cleared his throat 'What I mean is, in the event of an attack we'll watch out for each other. Morgana, I think I can rely on your protection?'

Morgana snapped her head to look at him before smiling 'Of course'.

'And Gwen, you'll look after Merlin, won't you?' He calls and Gwen giggles while Merlin rolls his eyes with a smile that drops when Morgana scowls at him.

Setting up camping the wood, Kara was removing her bags from her horses saddle. Arthur looked at Kara before seeing Merlin unpack bags as well, Morgana was collecting firewood and Gwen was getting water from a stream nearby.

'Go get some more firewood, would you Merlin?' Arthur spoke up

Merlin frowned in confusion, removing one of the bags 'I thought Morgana was doing that?'

'Well, go and see if she's alright' Arthur said

'Why wouldn't she be?'

'I don't know, maybe there are wolves in these woods'

Merlin shook his head with a smile 'No...I don't think so'

'Merlin...' Arthur grits out before he mouths "you" and jerks his head away from the campsite. Merlin frowns before he glances over at Kara in realisation and stir nods, glaring at his servant.

'Oh, yeah' Merlin nods 'Yeah, of course. The wolves' he calls before walking away. Kara frowns after him confused before shrugging and contain tot pull a bag away from the saddle but one of the straps was caught on something and wasn't pulling away.

'You need some help with that?' Arthur says walking over.

'Yeah, thanks' she nods as he pulls the bag off the saddle. She quickly takes it from him and begins to unpack. Arthur goes back over to start the fire and watches her as she moved back and forth from the horses.

'Sit for a moment. You're wearing me out just watching you'

'It's good to keep busy' Kara told him

'There's such a thing as relaxing' Arthur pointed out and Kara huffed a laugh.

'Relaxing is a concept I'm not familiar with' she said, dumping a pile of blankets besides the logs.

Arthur watched her for a while before he spoke up 'does this whole thing make you worry about gwaine?' He wondered and Kara sighed.

'I'm always worried about gwaine. He gets into bar fights on a regular basis and I don't even want to imagine what he gets up to in between' she sighed, taking a seat on the logs 'I never have any idea on where he is or what he's doing. Just worries me sometimes'

'I'm sure he's fine. From what I've seen, gwaine can take care of himself, Kara nods agreeing before sitting back watching as he tries to light fire with the flints

'What's wrong with these things?' Arthur groans as he can't seem to light it with the flints.

Kara smiles 'Here, let me' she says, taking the flints from Arthur and lighting the fire on her second try.

She leans back and grins at Arthur, whom rolls his eyes. 'Yeah, yeah' he says, poking at the fire. Kara laughs and he smiles looking at her.

At some point the two begin to lean in subconsciously, gazes dropping to each other's lip as they leaned in closer only to pull back abruptly when they heard the sounds of twigs snapping from behind them.

They turn to see a very confused looking Morgana and a smiling Gwen and Merlin. Morgana frowns staring between them before realisation hits her and she heads over to her horse to unpack. Gwen smiles at Kara before walking to rub down the horses.

Kara sighs, putting her head on her hands. Knowing that Morgana knew the truth no she had no idea what was going to happen and it absolutely terrified her.

'I think I may have missed a twig back there' Merlin spoke up and Kara lifted her head to look at him 'Erm..would you like me to go and get it?' He asks but Arthur glares at Merlin.

'I could go' Merlin mouths but Arthur sighs and Kara smiled at Merlin before getting up and continuing unpacking.

Kara kneels down by the nearby stream, collecting more water when she heard a twig snap from behind her. She snaps her head around to see Morgana standing there smiling at her.

'So you and arthur?' she begins sitting down on a nearby rock.

'I don't know what your talking about, Kara defends.

'Kara' Morgana stops her and Kara sighs, knowing that she couldn't deny it as much as she wanted to 'why didn't you tell me? You had me believing that Gwen was in love with Arthur'

'Sorry' Kara shrugged 'it's called a secret for a reason,

'Right, secret. Don't worry Kara your secrets safe with me' she assured.

'Thanks' Kara nodded and turned back to her task in hand, Morgana heading back to the campsite. As she filled up a water skin, Kara couldn't ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach that something was going to go horribly wrong.

Later that day, just before nightfall, the five travellers were finishing off their dinner while Arthur explained the plan, 'cenred's chosen his hideout well. Now, the Castle of Fyrien backs onto the sea, we will be vastly outnumbered, and his lookouts will spot us well before we've reached the gates. So, we can't go that way'

'But there's no other way, surely?' Morgana frowned

Arthur nodded 'Yes, there is'

'Erm, more beans?' Merlin spoke up, looking at them all 'Anyone?'

'No thanks' Arthur shook his head and Merlin offered it to the girls who each shook their heads 'When Caerleon was defeated by my father at the Battle of Danaria, he retreated to the Castle of Fyrien and it seemed a victory would be denied us, but my father knew of a secret labyrinth beneath the castle'

'A labyrinth?' Morgana questioned in surprise while the per three looked at her at the interruption before turning their attention back to Arthur.

'Fyrien was greedy. So, to avoid Camelot's levies, he dug tunnels from the castle to the sea. That way he could smuggle goods into the kingdom without anyone knowing'

'And you ambushed Caerleon using these old tunnels' Morgana finished with a smile.

'He never saw us coming. And neither will Cenred' Arthur said, twirling a stick in his hands. Kara and Merlin glanced at each other, knowing that Arthur was wrong, Cenred would see them coming because he had Morgause on his side and Morgause had Morgana on hers.

The five of them ride through the woods on their way to the castle thenext morning when Merlin spots a snake slithering through some bushes nearby. He quickly mutters a spell under his breath and the snake refers up spooking Morgana's horse and she fell with a scream.

The other four stop and dismount hurrying over to her. 'Are you alright?' Merlin calls reaching her and grabbing her arm to help her up, Gwen hurried to the other side.

'Ow, my leg' Morgana winces as they try and help her up.

'Can you walk?' Arthur questions and Morgana nods, trying to stand up but Merlin holds her down

'No, it's your ankle. You need to rest it' Merlin tells her and Kara,s eyes flicker between the two in curiosity, slowing putting the pieces together that merlin meant to prevent Morgana from going and ultimately revealing their presence in the tunnels.

'We don't have that kind of time' Arthur muttered

'We can't go on without her' Gwen protested.

'But if she continues to walk on it she can do serious damage' Kara speaks up, taking on the role of being a concerned friend.

'What other choice do we have?' Merlin added but Morgana quickly shook her head

'No, no, it's alright. I can go on'

'No, you can't!' Merlin protested as she stood up, griping hold of her arm, 'You'll only make it worse'

Morgana glared at him, ripping her arm out of his hold 'I said I'm fine'

Arthur looked at her and she smiled reassuringly 'You were lucky. It could've been serious' she nodded understandingly 'Come on, Merlin, don't just stand there' Merlin glared at him and Morgana stepped forward only to stumble but Arthur caught her 'You alright?'

Morgana nodded with a smile 'Yeah'

The five riders set off again soon exiting the woods and following a trail down a shoreline, seeing the castle up ahead.

Merlin and Arthur dash across the rocky shoreline of the castle, swords in hands. They come to a stop, hiding between two large rocks looking in the direction of the tunnel entrance. 'Are you sure we shouldn't try to sneak into the castle itself. It might be easier' Merlin spoke up, trying to deter Arthur from a sure trap.

'No, the tunnels are a better bet' Arthur argued 'That way the element of surprise is guaranteed'

Arthur went to stand up but Merlin gripped his arm, keeping him down 'No, no, no'

'Are you questioning my judgement?' Arthur assumed and Merlin shook his head

'No, no. Its, it's just, er...an instinct, that's all' he said and Arthur rolled his eyes exasperated.

'Oh, well, if you got an instinct, we should ignore my lifetime of military experience' he said looking back over the rocks at the shoreline.

'What if it's a trap? What if Cenred knows about the tunnels?' Merlin questioned and Arthur turned back around to look at him.

'I'm willing to bet my life he doesn't'

The girls joined the men soon enough and they were all walking close to the cliff face across the rocks. They jump down one by one and walk towards the cave entrance 'Here we are. Stay close' Arthur called to the other four as they entered the darkness of the cave.

They walk through tunnels coming face to face with a bunch of cobwebs blocking the way. Arthur, Gwen and Kara dodged underneath some but Merlin pushed his sword out at the wrong times and walked straight into one.

'Blech, augh!' He cried out in disgust

Stop worrying about your hair, Merlin.' Arthur teases.

'Very funny' Merlin mutters glaring at the back of his head.

'It's a good sign. It means that no one's been down here.' Kara points out whilst Gwen separates a group of was so she could make her way through only to have skeleton pops out at her. Gwen screams loudly in startled shock, clutching at her pounding heart in her chest.

Arthur quickly lights his and Merlin 's torches, revealing multiple armoured skeletons on the ground. Kara quickly moves to he left when she realized she had almost stepped on a skull.

'Caerleon's last stand.' Arthur mutters looking around.

'Where's Morgana?' Merlin asks and they all look around only to have Morgana appear a second later from behind them.

'I'm here.' She assures.

'Stick together, everyone. We need to keep moving.' Arthur calls but as they move forward, footsteps approaching echo in front of them 'quiet. Quick, this way.' Arthur whispers and he tries to lead them into another tunnel, but footsteps approach from that direction as well 'We're trapped.' He sighs.

'How did they know we were here?' Merlin ask as Arthur gives Gwen his torch so he can withdraw his sword. Kara and Morgana withdraw their own, glancing around as they are surrounded by cenred's men.

'It was probably my scream. I'm sorry.' Gwen apologises, guilt laced in her tone. They were soon surrounded by Cenred's men and attempted to fend them off but soon one of the grabbed Gwen and the others froze.

Realising there was nothing they could do they all let shelves be taken by cenred's men and pushed out if the tunnels.

The group were dragged into the throne room where Cenred sat on his throne, wearing a tight, black, leather suit, his shoulder length! matted, parted through the middle. He smirked victoriously as the five of them were forced to bow before him on their knees.

'Well, well, Arthur Pendragon. How kind of you to pay me a visit' he speaks looking down at Arthur 'And look, you brought some friends with you.' Cenred grins, moving past Gwen, Kara and Merlin before stopping in front of Morgana in surprise 'Oh, the Lady Morgana, no less.' He said and tried to grab her face but she pulled away glaring at him.

'Don't so much as breathe on me, you pig.' She spat at him and he smiled he eye darting to the ceiling before standing back up. Morgana glanced I the direction seeing Morgause behind a grate watching.

'Well, the more the merrier, I say' Cenred calls cheerfully.

'I'm the one you want, Cenred. Let them go' Arthur spoke up.

'You're right, that would only be fair' he stated pausing but then he shrugged 'But fair's for fools. Take them away!'

'I won't let you harm them! They're innocent!' Arthur shouted, struggling with the men holding him as the other four were grabbed by Cenred's men and lead out of the room.

'Innocent?' Cenred questioned in disbelief getting up n Arthur's face 'No friend of Camelot is innocent!'

Kara found herself being shoved inside with Arthur and Merlin while Gwen and Morgana were taken away to join Elyan in the other cell. They had been sitting in the cold darkness of the cell for at least ten minutes before Merlin finally broke the silence 'I don't understand why we're not dead already.'

'Because Cenred will want to torture me first. Find out what I know.' Arthur explained in a casual tone, looking around the cell almost curiously.

'Aren't you afraid?' Kara wondered confused at how nonchalant he seemed about the whole thing.

'No' Arthur shook his head 'Not in the slightest.'

'Sorry, I don't understand. How, how can you not be afraid of pain?' Merlin asked, looking at him with his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

'I am afraid of pain, there's just not going to be any.' Kara looked at him before the realisation that he had a plan to escape hit her and she smiled.

Merlin however did not understand what Arthur was getting at 'Right. So, you go into some sort of trance?' He said and Arthur turned to look down at him in confusion.

'What are you talking about?' He wondered 'There's not going to be any because we are going to escape from this filthy cell and rescue the others.'

'You got a plan.' Merlin nodded, finally catching on.

'Not as such.' Arthur stated and the other two sighed leaning back against the cold wall, watching and waiting Arthur to figure out his plan fully.

'Help! Quick!' Merlin shouted, pounding on the cell door in alarm. A guard opens the peek hole in the door and looks through at him questioningly

'The Prince has escaped.' He stated and the door opened guards rushing in past Merlin and Kara, whom sod back against the wall as they all nursed inside looking around wildly 'I'm so sorry. I- I wish I knew where he was, but I...' Merlin looks up at the ceiling 'Oh, there he is.'

The guards look up and sure enough there was a smiling Arthur. He was holding onto the metal bars on the roof before he drops down on the guards. Arthur knocks one out and Merlin takes out the other, surprising Arthur with his actions.

'Wonders never cease.' Arthur muttered and Merlin smiled shrugging.

'Oh come you two!' Kara called back for them, already out there'll door and waiting in the corridor.

The three peek around the corner at the guard sitting outside Gwen and Elyan's prison cell 'Any ideas?' Arthur wonders as he sizes up the guard.

'Just this one.' Merlin says, before going behind him. Arthur and Kara share a confused look just as he pushes Arthur out into the corridor right in front of the guard, who jumps up at his presence.

'Ha. Hello again.' Arthur grins and waves, recovering from his shock quickly. The guard begins to fight Arthur and he manages to pin him up against the wall.

'I'm going to enjoy this.' Merlin whispers before a spell passes his lips and the guard's belt breaks causing his trousers to fall down. Kara smiled only just managing to cover her mouth to stop her laugh.

As Arthur uses the distraction to his advantage 'Know what your problem is?' He says kneeing him 'All mouth and no trousers!' He shoves the guard through the door of Gwen and Elian's cell.

'You alright?' Arthur asks, peering into the cell to look at both of them. The siblings had crowded together at the sudden bang.

Gwen sighed in relief, seeing the three of them 'Yes'.

'Where's Morgana?' Kara questioned, looking inside to see no trace of her.

'I thought she was with you.' Gwen says confused. Kara glance dat Merlin as they both thought the same thing, Morgana wasn't in a cell but with Cenred and Morgause.

'They must be holding her somewhere else. Let's go.' Arthur calls and the five of them hurry down on the corridors only Arthur comes to a stop halfway down.

'Take Gwen, Kara and Elyan with you. Guard them with your life.' Arthur says to Merlin who frowns in confusion.

'What about you?' He questions.

'I'm going to get Morgana.' He replies and begins to walk back down the corridor

'No, you can't! It's too dangerous.' Merlin protests, calling out to him.

'Sorry, Merlin, I'm not leaving without her.' Arthur checks around a corner before he jogs back to Kara 'When you get to the horses, ride straight for Camelot. Do not wait for me. Promise.'

'But I...' 'Promise.' Arthur asks again cutting off her protests.

She nods reluctantl, 'I promise.' Arthur leaves heading down the corridor whilst Kara, Gwen and Elyan begining to run in the opposite direction.

'Kara! Look after them.' Merlin calls and she glances back to look at him in curiosity on why he wasn't following 'I'm going after him.'

She nods understandingly 'Good luck'

'You too.' He wishes before disappearing and Kara hurries in the direction Elyan and Gwen disappeared in.

The warning bells sound and Cenred, Morgana and morgause's head snap around at the noise from where they stood in the throne room. 'Arthur' Cenred mutters in realisation and Morgana turns a fierce glare on him.

'You should've killed him when you had the chance!' she spits out at him.

'He won't get far. My men will deal with him easily enough' Cenred assures.

'Cenred, if he escapes...' Morgana begins but Morgause puts her hand on her arm in a calming matter.

'Do not fret, Sister. You are like family to our brave Prince. He will not leave this place without you. And when he comes, we'll be waiting' she tells her sister and Cenred nods.

'And then, My Lady Morgana, you must play your part well' he tells her.

The familiar smile appears on Morgana's face 'When have I not?'

Out in corridor outside the throne room, Arthur peeks around the corner at the guards, then casually saunters around the corner 'Evening!' He calls with a smile before he quickly takes them out using their surprise of his sudden appearance to his advantage.

Arthur bursts into the throne room only to find Cenred with a sword raids against Morgana's neck, 'That's close enough' Cenred warns him.

'Please don't hurt me.' Morgana whimpers as the sword digs into her skin.

'One more step and she dies' Cenred threatens with a sinister grin

'You're a coward, Cenred' Arthur states 'You always were'.

'Ha-ha-ha' Cenred laughs 'It's cowards that survive, Arthur. Now put down your sword'

Morgause comes out from behind a pillar 'Do as he says' she speaks and Arthur stares at her in mild shock 'You seem surprised'

His face hardens, his grip on his sword tightening 'Hardly. I know what you're capable of'

'Oh, you have no idea' she grins.

Unknowingly to those inside merlin peeks around the corner and stares into the throne room and watches as Morgause summons a pillar of fire and pushes it towards Arthur. He whispers a spell, his eyes shining gold.

The fire pillar explodes and blows everyone backwards in a loud boom. The ceiling collapses on top of Cenred and Morgause. Arthur goes to Morgana as she gets up 'You alright? Come on' he says, helping her to her feet.

Merlin makes his appearance then entering the throne room and Arthur turns on him 'Merlin?! What the hell are you doing here?!'

'I thought you might need some help!' Merlin shrugs. Morgana's eyes are solely focused on her fallen sister, looking at the still figure worriedly.

"Get out of here now!' Arthur orders and Merlin grabs Morgana's arm, yanking her out of the room.

Running through the tunnels, Morgana pulls back trying to pull her arm out of Merlin's grip 'I can't go on!' She tells him.

'What's the matter? Worried about your friends?' Merlin snaps, pulling her through the tunnels.

'No!' She shouts, yanking her arm back 'My ankle!'

'I'm not a fool, Morgana! I know what you're trying to do!' Merlin tells her and she glares at him.

'You know nothing!' She yells.

'Come on!' Merlin says trying to get her to move but she glares, the two continue to glare at each other until Arthur appears beside Morgana.

'What's wrong?' He wonders, looking between the two.

'My ankle' Morgana tells him only to have Arthur picking her up in a fireman's carry. 'What are you doing?!' Morgana shrieks

'Trust me, I don't like it any more than you do!' Arthur yells as he begins to run down the tunnel 'Come on, Merlin!' He shouts and Merlin smiles before hurrying after them.

They run out of the tunnels only to see Kara, Gwen and Elyan waiting for the, by the horses. Arthur looks at them all in disbelief putting Morgana down.

'I thought I told you to ride for Camelot.' He says, eyes on Kara who shrugs.

'You might be a prince, but we don't always have to do what you tell us to.' Kara tells him.

Suddenly there were two loud shouts and Cenred's men run at them from behind, Arthur takes one out and turns to get the other but Elyan was already handling it quite well, killing the guard easily.

'Not bad.' Arthur remarks impressed.

'Well, practice makes perfect, I guess.' Elyan shrugs.

'I like him already' Kara grins 'now let's get out of here before more come'

The rescue party rides along a trail in the woods, with Elyan sharing a horse with Merlin. 'What did Cenred want with you?' Arthur asks Morgana.

'He was trying to extract information. I told him nothing.' Morgana assures.

'See, that's what men like Cenred will never understand. Camelot was built on trust and loyalty. We will never be defeated as long as we stay true to those ideals' they all smile and nod except Kara and Merlin share a wary glance in Morgana's direction, knowing the woman in front of me no longer shared those ideals.