So I had writers block. I could have gone in two directions. And it took forever for me to decide. I'm still not happy with the decision I made with the story. But I hope y'all enjoy it. Sorry it took so long to write.

"Where on earth did he get those?" the prince asked.

"I can only imagine from Cenred's kingdom."

"But that journey is long, even on horseback."

Gaius shrugged, "As I have told Morgana the boy is a Druid, the move and often quite fast to avoid being overtaken."

Arthur looked down slightly guilty. He understood exactly what Gaius was implying. "But how did he get them."

Gaius looked at Arthur, "If I had to Gaius, the boy has magic, I could never tell you how much, but that seems to be the only plausible explanation."

"Magic, but," the prince paused, as he looked at the keys and flipped them over in his hands.

"You saved him." Gaius looked at him, "It is not my place to speak on the matter, but I think that when you showed kindness to the boy, he felt a need to return that favor. He like many children want to help, and he would have been told no if he asked."

"But if he has magic," Arthur looked at the key. First his talk with Morgana, then this. The person he really needed to talk to was slowly dying. The person he needed to talk about what to feel was lying on a cot looking like death.

Arthur had his own opinions sure, but he needed to gather the opinions of those important to him. He needed something collective. He needed guidance, and the one person who could give him that was in this room hopefully fighting for his life.

Walking over, he reached with the key, and went to unlock the cuff, when he heard Mordred grunt. The boy stirred, and when he saw what Arthur was doing, "Stop!"

Arthur's hand froze, "Why, he needs these off."

Mordred looked up at him, and bit his lip. He looked to Gaius, who gave him a nod. For all that had happened, there were times when Mordred was still just too afraid to speak. "You can't not here."

"What do you mean?" Arthur asked, his voice accusatory. He hadn't meant it, but Mordred was now doing the exact opposite.

"His magic, its—to strong. Its been stopped for a long time. And you release it now, it won't end well."

Arthur's face turned into a frown, and he was trying not to yell at the boy. "Well then what do you suggest we do?"

"The woods, take him to the woods. Instead of being contained to a little room, it will go to everything around him."

"Are you saying there will be some sort of explosion?"

The boy nodded, and Arthur made a move that made him cower. Strangling a kid who was just trying to be truthful was not the answer. "And will Merlin be safe." Mordred nodded. "How can I trust you?"

The boy gulped, he didn't want to talk anymore. He looked to Gaius for help. "Sire, Mordred has grown up learning stories of a powerful warlock, I believe Mordred things that Merlin is him." Gaius looked to Mordred, and the boy nodded. "Go on," Gaius encouraged.

"The stories say that Em… Merlin is magic."

Arthur still wore a frown, but he nodded, "I don't think my father will approve." His hand went to the bridge of his nose.

Three hours later, and they had a plan. And Morgana was to work over Uther so he wouldn't suspect that public enemy number one was being taken out of the castle. Gaius was to stay behind. But Mordred was to go with Arthur. The decision for that was a long argument between everyone except Mordred.

Morgana argued that Mordred knew more than he let on, and so would be more knowledgeable of what to do if something happened. Arthur didn't want the child getting hurt. Gaius though on Morgana's side argued for a different reason. He wanted Mordred to help Merlin. That was all he said, but he knew the reasoning was deeper than that, from what the boy had told him. Gwen was on Arthur's side.

At dusk Arthur and Mordred were walking down a familiar path in the dungeons of the castle with Merlin, in the prince's arms.

The bars had been repaired and replaced since the last escape. Mordred looked at Arthur. They were in a similar situation. With a thick swallow, and hoping that this would not doom him, Mordred closed his eyes. There was a pop, and sparks, and the bars were gone.

Arthur took a few steps away from the boy, and Mordred dare not look at the prince. They made their way to the woods. They reached a clearing and Mordred shook his head. They went further, and came to another clearing. Mordred nodded.

Mordred stopped and let Arthur continue forward. The prince put his friend on the ground. They had gone over this. Arthur was to run the second the key turned.

First the wrists, those caused the least damage, as far as Gaius could tell. One went, and the wind picked up. Arthur looked back to the boy, who was looking at the site like it was the greatest thing ever. But Arthur didn't have Mordred's eyes.

The second cuff, and it sounded like thunder was rumbling. Arthur then moved towards the neck. It was hard to even find the hole where the key would fit. He placed the key in the whole, and turned it. When the lock clicked, Arthur ran. The earth shook.

The prince reached Mordred, and put an arm around the boy, who was watching the site before him with wonder and amazement. His eyes were bright and shining. It was as if the world was wakening to aid the ailing warlock. Mordred was so caught up in the sight that he didn't understand why Arthur dove over him, until he felt it. The shock wave, the aftermath that he was worried about in the castle.

Arthur stood back up, and helped the boy, and looked at the clearing, it looked as if all spring just decided to show up. Arthur ran, and looked, Merlin still looked terrible, but he was alive. He didn't seem to be on the verge of death any more.