Merlin was tired. It had been a long, busy day, but the last of the night's patrons had finally wandered out and allowed them to lock up. Arthur had been distracted all day, and he was sure it had something to do with a certain red-haired sparring partner.

Wiping the bar clean of last-minute spills, he leaned down to accept a kiss from Branwen as she edged past him, carrying a tray of dirty beer mugs to be washed. The swinging doors had barely stopped moving behind when there was a crash and he spun toward the kitchen.

His mind suddenly filled with images. He vaguely heard Arthur's voice call his name, but all he could do was watch – a decrepit building, a crumbling stairwell, a large, open room filled with bright light and modern equipment. And emotions – confusion, desperation.

Fear.

Then... nothing.

His magic howled in pain and rage as a part of itself, woven and tightened and strengthened through the centuries, was suddenly, utterly severed.

Merlin echoed it with his own shout of anguish, the agony of his magic overwhelming every sense. Branwen was gone and he floundered in the vast emptiness that she'd left behind.

He came back to himself slowly, finding himself trembling on the floor with Arthur's panicked face above him, his hand gently shaking Merlin's shoulder.

"Merlin?"

Merlin tried to speak, but the enormity of what had just happened washed over him again and all that came out was a broken, "Branwen."

Arthur glanced toward the kitchen, seeming at a loss for what to do. "Let's at least get you up off the floor, yeah?"

Merlin nodded and allowed Arthur to help him to his feet and support him as he staggered into the kitchen, around shards of glass, and into a chair, still shaking.

Arthur was debating the wisdom of leaving, just for a moment, to get a blanket from upstairs when the door burst open and Maudie rushed in, Gavin at her heels. She went immediately to Merlin and knelt in front of him, taking his face in her hands. "What happened?"

"Branwen. They took her."

Her face softened. "Well, that was something we expected, wasn't it?"

Merlin shook his head. "Not like this. She's gone, Maudie."

Maudie's eyebrows drew together and she stood, allowing Gavin to take her place and check Merlin for injuries. She grabbed a broom and started to sweep as she concentrated. When all of the pieces were in a neat little pile, she announced, "She's not dead."

"What?"

"Branwen's alive. I'm sure of it."

"How can that be? I can't sense her anywhere."

"I don't know exactly. It's as if she's… cut off from us. Hidden." She turned back to Merlin. "Was she able to communicate with you at all?"

Merlin thought back. "Yes. It was disjointed, though. Just images and emotions. Do you think her magic was being suppressed somehow?"

"It's possible. And it may be that the enchantment on the chain is what allowed her to bypass any shielding they'd put around her, at least a little."

"The chain! The spell should've left a trail!" He closed his eyes, his magic picking up the meandering line of Branwen's most recent movements, to the point where it cut off in the middle of the kitchen. He concentrated and cast his protesting magic out in an ever-widening circle, searching for where the line appeared again. Farther and farther out he searched, his magic spreading ever thinner and finally there was a glimmer at the edge of his senses. Distantly, he felt something drape over his shoulders and a warm mug was pushed into his hands. He took a sip without thinking – tea, hot and sweet and exactly what he needed.

He regrouped his magic and sent a stronger push in the direction of the glimmer. It resolved itself into a short trail that, again, ended abruptly. He checked this position against the ley lines and sent the data to his laptop. Then he worked his way back to himself.

He opened his eyes, slumped back in his chair, and downed the rest of the tea in one go, only then addressing the expectant faces. "She's in London." His eyes went a dim gold and his laptop clattered inelegantly onto the table. He brought up the information he'd sent, overlaid a map on it, and pointed at the screen. "There."

Arthur immediately went into strategist mode and Merlin was grateful to let him take charge while he nestled into the blanket. He listened absently to Arthur discuss plans with Gavin and Maudie until their voices faded into indistinct noises to his exhausted mind.

He came around somewhat when he felt strong, gentle hands lift him out of the chair and help him up the stairs. Arthur quietly got him ready for bed, a role reversal that Merlin would've teased him about had the circumstances behind it not been so dire.

The sheets were cold when Arthur tucked him in and he shivered, missing Branwen's familiar warmth. When Arthur left, Merlin gathered her pillow to him and wept before finally falling into exhausted sleep.

OoOoOoOoO

Merlin stumbled into the kitchen rubbing gritty eyes against the pounding in his head. Arthur, Gavin, and Maudie were already, or maybe still, there, and they'd been joined by the twins.

Maudie caught sight of him first, and he allowed her to cluck over him. Soon she had him ensconced at the table with tea and more food than he could possibly eat and Gavin hovering behind him, working his healing magic on his headache. He picked at his food as Arthur settled beside him.

"How're you holding up?"

Merlin shrugged.

"Yeah, that was a dumb question."

"I can't lose her."

"I know."

"Do you?" Somewhere a dam broke deep inside Merlin and words spilled out like floodwater. "Branwen has been my constant, my sanity for the last 1400 years, Arthur. My magic may have kept me alive, but she kept me living. Without her I would've… I don't know, turned myself into a… a… tree or something ages ago! I don't know how to be without her and I'm not entirely sure at this point that I'd be able to survive without her." His voice went quiet. "Or if I'd want to."

Arthur placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You're right. I can't begin to imagine what it must've been like. But you've lived, you've both survived for this long. I don't see that changing now."

"Arthur, you don't understand. My magic has kept us alive waiting for you. Now that you're here…"

Arthur's mouth fell open at the implication. "You're not sure you're immortal anymore."

Merlin nodded and turned his attention back to pushing the food around on his plate. Arthur squeezed his shoulder. "Then it sounds like it's time to cue the cavalry." He then addressed the kitchen at large. "Right. Does everyone have everything they need?" He received a chorus of affirmations. "Gavin, is your contact ready for us?"

Gavin's eye's lost focus for a moment before returning to Arthur. "He is."

"Excellent." He turned to his gaping warlock. "We're ready when you are."

Merlin gazed at them as if he'd never truly seen them before, then nodded and stood. His laptop was still on the table, so he clicked it closed and tucked it under his arm. He then held his free hand over his plate, which flattened and boxed itself around his unfinished breakfast., then shrunk to an accommodating size. He shoved it into a pocket and spun back around, eyes determined. "Where to?"