Merlin's neck immediately elongated as he felt the sharp tang of a sword against his neck.

"Arthur!" Gwen exclaimed, putting her hand on his arm as she usually did to stop him. This time, however, Arthur remained unmoved.

"How long?" the king demanded, trying to quiet the voice that was telling him to push harder.

"A month," the warlock replied, staring at his friend's face.

"A month . . . Why haven't you returned until now?" he demanded.

"It took me a month to travel here," Merlin replied evenly. Selita grabbed Merlin's arm, trying to pull him away from the sword but the man wouldn't budge. She couldn't understand why Merlin would put his life in this man's hands, but she would have to respect the decision.

Arthur guaffed. "You are the most powerful magician on Earth. Were we not worthy of the effort it took for a traveling spell?"

Gaius stood cautiously. "Arthur, sire, please remove your sword. I'm sure this story would be better told without a blade restricting the motions of his throat."

Merlin laughed. "Oh no, Arthur. If it makes you feel comfortable, feel free to point your weapon!" When the weapon didn't move, Merlin sighed. "Well then. Selita told you what had happened. I couldn't transport myself here, sire. I swear, if I could have, I would have been here as soon as I could."

"The point still stands, Merlin," Leon interrupted. "Why couldn't you transport yourself?"

"I came back from the dead, and you're all questioning my travelling abilities?" Merlin laughed tightly. "You might want to get your priorities in order." He didn't want to talk about it. If he told them, it would be true. He couldn't let it be true.

"Merlin, what are you hiding?" Lancelot asked, standing to join Gwen.

"My lord-" at the glare she received, Selita quickly changed her approach. "Merlin, it is strange that you chose this way to travel."

Merlin turned away from them. He changed his mind, he didn't want to be here, he didn't want this.

"Merlin?" Gaius asked, grabbing the boys shoulder and turning him around. Merlin looked at the man and sighed, looking to an unlit candle and lighting it with a flash of gold.

"Oh no," Selita gasped, knowing exactly what had occured. Gaius squeezed the shoulder, not sure what had occured, but knowing it couldn't be good.

"Why didn't your eye flash?" Lancelot asked, having seen Merlin do magic before and knowing that both, not just one, eyes should light up.

"He's lost his magic," Selita gasped, wrapping her arms around the boy to comfort him.

"But I've seen him use his magic," Percival spoke up. "He couldn't have lost his power, he used them earlier."

"That's my instictual magic. For simple things, like displacing and disguising my voice, opening doors, implanting ideas into the minds of people I know." Merlin looked down at the top of the girls head, winding his arms around her gently. "I lost most of my magic though. I don't . . . I can't transport, I can't learn new spells, I can't . . . I can't do anything beyond the basics."

"You just lit a candle. Fire is simple magic?" Elyan asked. Merlin shrugged, deciding he didn't want to discuss the issue further.

"Different people can do different things," Selita replied, moving herself away from the warlock. "For example, if I lost my power I would keep only my visions, those being my instinctual magic. Merlin is more elemental, her deals with the four elements and the different senses."

"And time," he murmured. "That's how I got past the guards. I rewound their own personal time so they would forget about me."

"And that's simple?" Elyan clarified. At Merlin's nod he laughed.

"Can you get it back?" Gaius asked his ward. Merlin shrugged.

"It's unheard of," Selita replied for him. He shrunk in on himself and the words I'm nothing without my magic ran through Gaius' head. Gwen touched the swords that were still raised and lowered them gently.

"Merlin," she murmured, hugging the boy. "I am so sorry."

He shrugged helplessly, hugging his friend in return.

"But . . . Merlin is the first warlock in centuries!" Selita continued. "Long before these . . . evil, twisted binds had been discovered. If anyone can get his magic back, it's Merlin." Merlin looked to her gratefully, but disbelieving. "Truly, Merlin. If anyone could undo such evil magic, it is you."

"What makes you so certain?" he asked rhetorically. "Because of your favorite bedtime story?"

Her mouth twitched down at his harsh words, but she remained certain. "You know what colors mean my magic is silver for my eyes and white-"

"For purity," Merlin finished instinctively. She grinned at him, nodding. "So what? My magic is blue for my eyes and gold for magic. My magic is basic and poorly used, it isn't special to anyone but me and now it's gone."

"No!" Everyone seemed surprised by her exclamation and watched as she took a deep, calming breath. "You're magic is gold because it's magic. You're magic is the magic that courses through the world. There has never before been golden magic, Merlin. Your magic isn't just natural, it's nature."

There was a long pause as everyone processed this. "Selita," Gaius began, seeing as Merlin was either still in shock or had moved onto denial, "do you have any idea how he could have his magic returned to him?"

"A great number, unfortunately," she replied. "And no certainty of which is true. He may have to go to the place where magic was born, or to the place where he himself was born. He may need to find a way to strengthen his magic, or weaken it. He may . . ." She stopped here, positive she nor anyone else would want her to continue.

"Selita, we need to know how to help him," Gwen said, placing a careful hand on the girl's shoulder.

"You're the expert and the only one who can help him," Gwaine agreed.

"He . . ." She looked at Merlin helplessly. "I'm so sorry Merlin. You may have to watch as . . . as someone you loved died."

"Has he not done that enough!?" Lancelot exclaimed. "His father, the girl he loved, his childhood friend. Must he loose another?"

"So who will it be?" Arthur asked harshly to Merlin. "Who will you let die just so you can continue to use your magic? And when we've died for you, where will you go? Certainly not here."

Everyone gasped as a harsh wind blew through the room, extinguishing all flames and nocking the king into the wall. "How dare you!" Merlin hissed, finally coming out of his blank stare. "I love my magic. I am nothing without it. But I'd rather be nothing – I'd rather be dead! – then have to watch someone else I love die." He shook his head and the harsh wind died down. There was no light in the room, but Merlin seemed to be glowing. "I can live without my magic. It will be painful, but I can learn to do things on my own. I cannot live without any of you."

There was a long moment of pause as everyone attempted to process this. Merlin was willing to give up the only thing he had left so they would all stay safe. Even Leon, who had to this day died eight times and would likely come back from that as well.

"It could be something else," Selita added hopefully, touching Merlin's hand in an attempt to comfort him.

"No," he denied. "I have to . . . I have to watch someone I love die." He looked to her and smiled sadly. "Sorry I'm such a disappointing hero."

She again leaned in to hug him. "Most heroes I hear are disappointing. You my lord, most certainly are not."

Hi! I bet you guys don't remember me. I'm that one really sporadic author with the mildly addictive plot lines and cruel cliffhangers? Hey! Good to see you again . . . So . . . Should I ready all of my means of protections from the angry mob, or will the promise that the next chapter got to it's halfway point while I was having this edited save me?

So . . . Next chapter sooner then this one? Promise! (Not that that is a very difficult promise to keep. Have I even updated this year?) Also, question for everyone . . . Is anyone a fan of anything else? Examples being Doctor Who, Supernatural, PJO/HoO, Torchwood, things like that? Wondering if posting those stories might tide you lot over while I work on this one, which I consider my baby. Review maybe?