Sorry for the wait! I was lazy, it's summer, can you blame me? Anyway, moving on. All those who reviewed/faved/followed, Thank you, wonderful people! Now, to the story. Excuse the pathetic rhyme, I'm not much of a poet.

"Then I shall talk in rhyme" Mab hissed. She delighted in his confusion, and the nagging fear her words had sparked. Something had shifted in the fabric of time, however, and he would need her warnings. She was not evil, despite what people think, and she did not wish Emrys ill. However, she was a spirit of all places dark, and he would do well to fear the tower and what awaited him there. "Suffering will take it's toll, and lost in shadows is her soul. But hold hope, not all is done. Protect your king, but hold your love, or lose everyone."

Emrys stared at her, horror in his eyes, "what do you mean?" Mab just chuckled darkly.

"I mean what I say, however, I may not say what I mean." She chirped madly.

"What?" But Mab was gone in the time it took to blink, her dark laughter echoing around him.

The episode continues as planned. At the dark tower on the rigged flagstones.

"I have to do this!" Elyan drew his sword.

"No, Elyan, wait." Merlin cried. "You'll do no good for Gwen if you're dead." He winced even as the words left his mouth, very aware of how cruel they were. But Mab had told him that the tower was deadly, he needed to protect the others.

The knights and Arthur gaped at him. They could never have imagine Merlin, their Merlin, ever being so cold. But the words served their purpose, and Elyan froze. He nodded sharply, just once, and continued ahead. They all breathed a silent sigh of relief when Elyan paused in the doorway to wait for them.

They made it across the floor in one piece, thankfully, and proceeded single file up the narrow stairway. Elyan went first, Arthur behind him, and Merlin behind Arthur. Gwain insisted on going behind Merlin, Percival behind him, and Leon bringing up the rear.

Merlin sensed the enchantment before they entered the room. "Wait!"

Elyan and Arthur spun around, anger and desperation, as well as a healthy dose of guilt, in their eyes. Arthur opened his mouth to snap something, but Merlin beat him to it.

"We have no idea what traps Morgana may have set, we need to be ready. You have to slow down and be careful. I know you want to get to Gwen as fast as possible, believe me, I feel the same, but be logical. We can't help her if Morgana catches us first."

Elyan and Arthur nodded reluctantly and, much more cautiously than they would have been a moment ago, stepped through the door.

A dirty, weary looking Guinevere stood at the end if the room, a sword floating in the air before her. "Gwen!" Arthur and Elyan cried out, and the others let out audible sighs of relief.

Gwen looked both relieved and scared at the same time. Elyan started to step forward. "Don't! She's enchanted it to protect me." She called fearfully. "It will kill you."

Merlin was suddenly very glad that Elyan had listened to him and waited. If he hadn't the sword would have dueled him to the death, and since floating swords can't die...

Arthur and Elyan spun their swords expertly, and the others moved to back them. The sword mirrored their swing, and lunged. The sound of metal rang out as it clashed with Elyan's blade. It danced back, then aimed at Arthur. He met the enchanted sword mid swing, and a ringing screech sounded.

Excalibur flashed and the metal sparked where the blades met. Morgana's weapon chipped, a significant portion of steel falling to the ground, dissolving into ash before it hit. Merlin blinked, just as surprised as the knights and Gwen. Huh, maybe he wouldn't have to do anything after all.

They continued fighting with renewed energy. The enchanted weapon seemed to try and avoid Arthur, but he pressed forward. Slowly, slowly, the blade fell away to dust, until all the was left was the hilt. It gave one final, valiant attempt at killing Elyan, but only managed (judging by the painful crack and gasp of pain) a few broken ribs and a nasty cut.

Arthur ran forward and pulled Gwen into an embrace, kissing her passionately. Elyan looked slightly put off, and the others were torn between disgust and relief. The moment the couple came up to breath, Elyan cleared his throat from the ground. Gwen gasped and she and Merlin hurried to his side. Merlin paused long enough to give her a quick hug, before turning back to her brother.

Gwen clutched his hand and gave him a teary smile as Merlin set to work. "I'm glad we got you back." Elyan managed, smiling through the pain. No one noticed the dark look that flashed in Gwen's eyes.

Not my best work, but it'll do. It's very short, but not a lot needed to change. Elyan living will be important later, just by the way.