Hey guysssss. Been a minute since I posted for this fic. Sorry about that. I haven't given up on it, I swear. In fact, there should only be a few more chapters. The next chapter is written. I just have to add a few more touches to it. Thanks for your support!

The heart monitor beeped at regular intervals. If nothing else, that brought Rylee a measure of comfort. She curled her fingers around the material of the bedsheet and looked up at the professor. He was still alive, and she had to be grateful for that.

Claire Bennett had seized twice during the night. She'd overheard Doctor Ulrich informing her family about it this morning. Both times, she'd settled after a few moments, but the doctor was concerned about their growing intensity and was worried about possible brain damage. He was running further tests on her now, since the first round showed no explanation of what could have been causing them.

James hadn't shown any signs of degradation yet. His fiancé was here every morning before work and came back before work until visiting hours were over.

The girl had befriended Angela Fisher, as well as the Bennett family over the past few days. Their shared suffering had been a bonding agent of sorts. And now Emily Hasson had entered the equation. If any of these people were lost, all of them would feel the pain.

"Oh, Richard," she whispered. "What am I going to do with you? I need you, Professor. Tell me what to do."

Her chest ached. Confusion reigned within her. When she'd flown to London a few days before, she thought that the doctor would figure out what was wrong, cure her professor, and then they could find his nephew quickly before returning to the States perhaps a few days later. What she hadn't expected was for his coma to have no plausible explanation, or for his nephew to be an overly tall weirdo or his friends to be equally perplexing.

"And what's with these stupid names," she hissed. "Who even is Gaius?"

And then… there was the magic.

Like out of some stupid fairytale. Magic wasn't real. Surely. These people lived in a fantasy world. There was no way. The Professor had drilled science into her head for the past several years. And there was no scientific explanation for magic.

Magic was always known by primitives as something science simply couldn't explain… Yet.

Colin was also someone of science. He himself had been a doctor. They had thought she was sleeping while they so casually talked about magic like it was an everyday occurrence. They thought she hadn't heard a word of it. But she'd heard everything.

Back in Camelot, they'd said.

They'd talked about intentionally giving someone laxatives as a prank. They'd talked about gargoyles coming to life and others coming back. And someone named Kilgharrah.

She looked pleadingly up at her teacher, her eyes narrowed with frustration. "What's with these stupid names?"

And then there was the strange lullaby that Mrs. Bennett sang her daughter. The one in the language she'd never heard of. The one that she'd stopped singing when she had drawn closer. Or the strange book he'd caught Daniel reading. The strange symbols on it. Or the way the women talked in hushed voices in the corner of the room and quieted when they saw her. Like they knew some big secret she wasn't a part of.

There was also the book she'd found in Merlin's apartment when she'd been… investigating. Although, he didn't don't a very good job hiding it. It had just been sitting on his bookshelf. But it was in another language. And it had the same strange pattern that Daniel had on his necklace. The book showed strange creatures. Some she'd never heard of, but others, like Gorgons and Sirens, and even Dragons, she knew of only as myths and legends. She couldn't read the book, but it looked as though it had been an in depth study of the creatures. And it was still sitting in her bag beside the bed.

She hadn't gotten a wink of sleep last night, pouring over the book as she was. Rylee had spent hours searching the internet for the meaning of the strange symbols and the language, and all she had come up with was more questions.

Camelot and Druids and more myths and legends. Secrets, passed on generation after generation and an ancient warlock that never died. The conspiracy that he still walked the earth to this day, waiting for… something.

"Do you think the others might come back too?"

Merlin—Colin—had said that.

Her head hurt.

"How did you get mixed up with this bunch?"

There was no response.

"Mordred?" Arthur gasped.

The once-queen took a step closer to her husband, no doubt thinking the same thing he was. The last time, Mordred had taken the king's life. But Merlin was resolute that that wasn't going to happen again.

"I… I saw him downstairs. He was there, and then he disappeared."

"You weren't just seeing things?" Gwen suggested. There was hope in her eyes, that perhaps there was another reason. "You have been under a lot of stress lately."

"No, I know what I saw. This isn't…" the warlock fumbled for words. He ran a hand through his hair, breathing harshly. "I didn't imagine him. He was as real to me as you are now."

"He's right."

"Gwaine?"

All eyes were drawn to the young man. He was fixated on the floor, his hands balled into fists at his side. He looked up hesitantly, and it was strange to see Gwaine so unsure of himself. He was always so confident, but now there was a measure of fear in his eyes.

"I saw him. Yesterday. I-I thought I was seeing things." His voice was strained. "I'm sorry. I should have said something."

"Yes, you should have," Arthur snapped. He grabbed his coat off the back of his chair and brushed past them. "Let's get to the hospital."

His wife rushed after him, sending her friends an apologetic look. "Arthur!"

Gwaine looked thoroughly ashamed. His eyes were clenched shut and his jaw tense. "I'm sorry, Merlin. I really am. I didn't… I thought…"

The warlock let out a slow breath and set his hand on his friend's shoulder. He waited a moment until the once-knights apprehensive eyes met his. "It's okay, Gwaine. I don't want to believe it myself. Really, it's okay. I should have anticipated this."

Huffing, he shook his head. "Still."

"One step at a time, Gwaine." Merlin didn't know who he was trying to reassure more, him or his friend. "We'll handle it. And don't worry about Arthur. He'll be fine. He's just worried."

The detective nodded. "Do you think he could be behind everything?"

"Possibly. I don't know yet. It's… I don't know."

"One step at a time," Gwaine echoed.

Leon ran a hand down his face. "I'm going to have to get clearance to check the street's security cameras, but yeah… I'll get on it right away. We just got clearance for the security feeds of the parking garage where Gaius was attacked."

"Do it."

"Yes, sir."

"Thanks, Leon," Arthur said.

His voice was slightly cracked over the mobile phone, but he could hear the intensity of his friend's voice. "Of course. I'll keep you updated." He ended the call and turned back to the other two detectives. Perce and Elyan were looking at him questioningly. "Well, new update. Mordred's back."

"Just when things couldn't get any better," Elyan spat.

Percival shook his head, frowning. "Gwaine thought he saw him yesterday, but I was convinced he was just seeing things. I should have listened to him."

"Don't beat yourself up," Leon said. "I've got to talk to Uther about getting clearance to look at those street cameras. I'll try to make up some dumb excuse, but in the meantime, I want you and Elyan to try to find out who Mr. Hasson was supposed to meet. If we can find him, he might know more about what's going on."

"Got it."

Rylee unzipped her professor's suitcase. It had been brought here with him after he'd been attacked. The police had said it had been a miracle it hadn't been stolen. Right now, she was grateful. Maybe she could find some answers.

Questions burned within her, and though she felt a measure of guilt for going through her friend's things, the intensity of her curiosity ruled out.

The suitcase was filled with clothes. Lots of neutrals, blues, some reds. Bland clothing. Bits of paperwork in a folder. Toiletries in the zipper case. She began moving the clothes around. She shoved them all to one side and dug underneath, finding nothing. It was when she did the same to the other side did her fingers brush against something hard and rigid.

Rylee fumbled for the object and pulled the book out. It wasn't very large, only a little bigger than her own hand. Clearly aged. Leather bound. The pages were yellowed and torn with age. When she flipped through it, she gasped.

It… It was the same as Merlin's. It had those same symbols and the same creatures. It wasn't an exact replica, but it was…Her fingers caught on the front cover and she closed the book to examine it further. It was the same symbol that Daniel wore as a necklace around his neck. And something rushed over her, something like she'd never felt before. A warmth that spread through her body.

"Magic," she breathed.

"How's Claire doing?"

Daniel looked up at him. "She had another seizure. The doctor doesn't know what caused it."

It was hard to miss the fear in his eyes. The boy was still so young. He shouldn't have to face such uncertainty and fear at fourteen. He shouldn't have to lose his sister at such a young age. Merlin knew the boy was beyond his years already, since he had to keep his magic a secret from the world, but he didn't deserve to feel the loss of a loved one so early on in life.

"It'll be okay," Merlin said, setting his hands on his shoulders. "We'll figure this out."

"You don't know that."

The warlock's head whipped around to find Rylee standing several paces away, her one hand was clenched into a fist, while the other held a book. There were tears flooding her eyes and her whole body was shaking.

"Daniel, why don't you go find your parents?"

The boy gave Merlin an understanding look. He spared a glance for Rylee before he walked away, in the direction of the cafeteria. The warlock turned back to the young woman.

"Rylee…"

"Don't you dare say it'll all be okay," she hissed, stalking forward. There was fire in her eyes. "You don't know that. No one knows that. They're degrading, Mr. Jones. The doctors don't understand it. Apparently not even your… Your magic can help."

"My what?"

She huffed and threw her hands up. "Your magic or whatever is it. Whatever power you have—"

"—how do you know anything about it?"

"You think I'm so naïve! I heard you and Gwen talking! I found a book in your house! I found this—" She shoved the book into him. "—in Richard's belongings!"

Merlin gently took the book from her hands. It was a magical text, that much was sure. Written in Old English and with a Druidic symbol in the top right corner. The warlock briefly thought he should be more upset about her going through their things, but he found he cared little. She knew. And that was that.

"Listen, Rylee, you don't understand—"

"You're right! I don't." Tears burst forth and ran down her cheeks. "Nothing makes sense anymore. My professor—my friend—is in a coma, and now I've found out that… that… he's part of some… cult, or something. You all believe you're from Camelot or something and you've made Richard believe the same! You're all crazy!"

"Rylee, it's not—"

"No. No, I don't…" She took two steps backward. "I don't want to hear it."

With that, she turned and walked down the corridor, leaving Merlin standing alone in the middle of the hallway with no idea of what to do next. He sighed and collapsed down into one of the chairs next to him, feeling a sudden exhaustion sweep through him. His body felt so heavy. His head was beginning to hurt again. He really should go after her, try to explain. What if she were to tell someone? No one would probably believe her anyway. And with how volatile she seemed, it would probably be most wise to give her her space for now.

Merlin began leafing through the book and a small smile was brought to his face as he read Gaius' notes penned in some of the margin's books. Ever the student.

He closed the book and brought it to his chest, feeling warmth press behind his eyes.

"Please, Gaius. I need your help."

Gwaine ducked behind the adjacent corridor as the fiery young girl chewed out his best friend. He fought the urge to jump in and defend him, defend everything, but it wasn't his fight. It wasn't his place. Merlin had to fight this battle on his own, and it was painful to watch his friend crumble beneath lashing.

He did feel for the young woman. A week ago, her friend was perfectly healthy, there was no such thing as magic, and everything was looking up. Her life had been turned inside out in a matter of days, so her reactions to everything weren't overly surprising.

Rylee stormed away, tears rolling down her cheeks. The warlock collapsed into a chair and started flipping through the book. Gwaine let out a long breath from his hiding spot, running his hands down his sides. He waited another moment before coming round the corner.

Gwaine approached slowly. "Merlin? You okay?"

His friend inhaled deeply, his eyes closed, before it let it out slowly. "Yeah, fine." Gwaine glared at his friend until he amended his answer. "I'll… be fine. Once this is all over."

"Anything I can do?"

Merlin pressed his lips together in thought before responding. "Can you give me a ride back to my place?"

"Sure," the detective said. He dug his keys out of his pocket and threw them in the air before expertly snatching them back up. It brought a small smile to Merlin's face, something which Gwaine took great pride in, even if it was small. "Let's go."

He led the way down the hall, glancing back to make sure that his friend was following him. Gwaine slowed to allow Merlin to walk beside him. He was good at hiding it, centuries of practice had helped him perfect his mask, but Gwaine knew his friend well enough to see the insecurities he was trying to hide.

"I'm sorry, Merlin."

The warlock nodded in acknowledgment but said nothing.

"You know, I told you once that you were the only friend I'd ever had. In a lot of ways, that's still true. You're my closest friend, Merlin," he said seriously. He pressed the button to take them to the lower floors. "You're the greatest person I know, and I have full faith in you. I know sometimes everyone still sees me as a goof, and I don't have even a sliver of magic in my body, but if you need anything, I'm still here for you."

Merlin sighed, his eyes softening. "Thank you, Gwaine. I really appreciate that. Really."

They climbed into the vehicle and Gwaine started the engine. He started babbling about this topic and the next, keeping the mood light and encouraging. It was the least he could do to try to lift Merlin's spirit.

They stopped at a red light and Merlin released a laugh at a joke he'd said. When the light changed, the detective stepped on the gas… And then everything was pain.

The sound of crunching and bending metal filled Gwaine's ears. Glass shattered and shards scratched his face. The world spun. It faded in and out. There were spots on the edges of Gwaine's vision, and he cried out as the vehicle spun.

The world suddenly screeched to a halt. There was an intense, pulsing pain in his arm. His breath came in harsh gasps and he blinked rapidly in a vain effort to clear his vision. So much pain.

"Mer… Merlin?" he groaned.

There was no response.

His head pulsed; his stomach rolled.. It was too much. "Merlin, please." His friend was slumped in his seat, held upright only by his seatbelt. "Please. Merlin," he begged. There was blood draining down the side of the warlock's face. Shattered glass lay in his lap and was scattered about all over his clothing. "Wake up. Wake up."

The car jerked as someone attempted to force open the passenger side door. The car moved once more and the metal screamed as it was forced open. A man with black hair and intense eyes reached across Merlin and unbelted him.

Panic rushed through him as he recognized the Druid. "Mordred," he gasped. He struggled to comprehend everything. The pain in his arm intensified as he reached for his friend. He nearly blacked out because of it. But he had to protect him. He had to keep him safe. It was his job, his duty. He had to… "Merlin, wake up! Le-Leave him a-alone!"

But he could feel his mind fading. His vision blacked out several times and his head lolled forward uncontrollably. Helpless tears pressed against the backs of his eyes. "Please! Leave… leave… him alone. Please…"

Merlin was silent as the Druid carefully extracted him from the car. Glass clattered to the cement. Mordred grunted as he took on the warlock's weight.

"I'm sorry," the druid offered. There was something in his eyes. Something that the once-knights aching head couldn't identify, but it looked an awful lot like sorrow.

And then they were gone.

Gwaine's eyes slipped shut again. The pain overwhelmed him. His mind slipped into darkness.