Chapter 1

After checking on the unconscious Arthur once more and looking over the knights, Merlin picked up Excalibur from where it had fallen from Arthur's hand. They had come to Cenred's abandoned castle to seek the queen after she disappeared from Camelot without a trace. It was only after Gwaine suggested they search the dilapidated place that Merlin had been able to sense dark magic. With a sinking feeling that it was Morgana, he tried to convince Arthur to move on.

The king was once again being a stubborn prat, however, and lead the way into the dark and forbidding castle with nary a glance behind him. As they made their way toward the throne room, they heard raised voices, and sped up, hurrying to see who could be here. It turned out to be Morgana and another sorcerer, and of course the Once-and-Future-King-Without-Tact went rushing in and declared that they were both under arrest. Hence the current unconscious state of all involved, minus one exasperated warlock.

A quick and pointless battle had followed, ending with Arthur and the others getting knocked out and Merlin casually using magic to knock out Morgana as the other sorcerer fled, making it appear that he had knocked out the witch when he left. Merlin just shook his head, wondering if all the common sense in the world had just magically evaporated.

Deciding it would be safer to confront the witch alone, he approached Morgana and woke her with a quiet spell. She woke up quickly and immediately attempted to use her magic, shouting a killing curse viciously. Fortunately, Merlin had placed a spell in advance to render her magic useless and she was left defenseless.

Lifting the dragon-forged sword, he demanded, "Where is Guinevere? Tell me now, Morgana!" She sneered at the warlock, and asked, "Are you really that stupid Merlin, or just mentally damaged? I am a priestess of the old religion and cannot be killed by any mortal blade."

Merlin, out of patience and time, just grinned with a dangerous look in his eye and gave Excalibur an experienced twirl. He may pretend to be hopeless at swordplay when 'training' with Arthur and the knights, but he really was quite skilled. "Probably a good thing that this is no mortal blade then, eh? It was forged in a dragon's breath, and will kill anything, living or dead."

For the first time real fear appeared in Morgana's eyes, and her confidence faltered for a moment. "You're bluffing. There is no way that my dear brother could possibly have a blade that was forged in a dragon's breath!" Holding the tip of the blade to her throat, he said in a low and dangerous voice, "Would you like to find out for yourself?"

Morgana tried to back up, but the enraged warlock doesn't let her. "Where. Is. Gwen?" Reluctantly, the witch finally answered. "Your precious Queen is in my dungeons, and have fun trying to reach her!" Merlin stalked forward even more. "What does that mean Morgana?" She glanced behind him, stalling for time, and Merlin heard movement.

Whirling around, he observed that the sounds were merely the king and knights beginning to stir. In this brief moment of distraction, Morgana saw her chance and decided to run, saving another confrontation for a day when her magic didn't cease to obey her.

Merlin, although he knew it unwise, was unwilling to kill her in front of Arthur, knowing that magic would be required and he had no wish to die for imagined crimes against Camelot. He could remove the threat Morgana posed another day. Merlin hastened to the king's side, and unobtrusively helped him to his feet.

"Arthur, after Morgana's spell knocked you out, the other sorcerer tried to kill her. It looks like they both ran." Arthur looked at his manservant with a 'no-duh' expression, and then went to check on his men. Merlin followed, and quietly informed him that Gwen would most likely be in the dungeons, if she was in the castle.

The knights were no worse for wear than a few bruises, although Sir Elyan sported a rather nasty black eye and a bloody lip. After ascertaining that there was no permanent damage, the men of Camelot hurried to the dungeons.

Guinevere was found unharmed in a cell directly across from the main dungeon door, and Arthur ran toward her, calling her name in relief. Their joy quickly turned to confusion, however, when the king could not reach the cell in which the queen is being held. No matter how far or fast he tried to run, he could get no closer to the door of the cell.

Merlin took just a moment to admire the ingenuity of this particular spell of Morgana's, and then took great joy in quietly murmuring a counter curse to shatter it under his breath. Compliments of the hidden warlock, Arthur was able to reach his queen, and the entire party swiftly departed the old castle.

The journey back to Camelot was uneventful, and Merlin allowed himself to relax as they finally reached their home safely. Unfortunately, that safety was merely an illusion, as the warlock would soon learn.