Hello friends! I hope you enjoy the update! It's kind of a long one but I couldn't find a good place to split it.

~<>~

Arthur stood over the escape hole and waited as the men filed past him, dropping into the black abyss below. Not a single one of them made eye contact with him, but they also didn't argue. He would take it as a victory, but he could feel their fear. His livelihood and the safety of those he was responsible for had required him to be feared, but he didn't like seeing it on the faces of his friends and allies. He had known accepting the sword and its magic would change his life, he just hadn't expected it to happen quite so fast.

The Mage was the last to approach. She handed him the sheath to the sword. She was the only one out of the whole group who looked him square in the face after what happened.

Her eyes were as unreadable as ever, their color striking against her pale skin as she watched him. He wanted to ask what she thought now that he had done it, but she was moving gingerly as though she were trying to hide some injury from him. His jaw tightened. It was his fault, she never should have been there.

He slid the sword back into its sheath and swung it over his shoulder so it rested between his shoulder blades. Even sheathed, he could feel the magic, like it had a heartbeat of its own, resting against his back. He glanced around at the carnage at his feet. People had died for him here, people who shouldn't have. If he had accepted the magic sooner, they maybe wouldn't have died.

"We are going down as well?" The Mage asked, her accent thicker than usual. She cleared her throat and rubbed her hands down the side of her dress as she stared into the black hole at their feet.

"I'm not too keen on round two," he responded, forcing his voice to sound as casual as possible. The truth was, the power had been more than he expected. He could still feel the phantom tingles of it running through his limbs.

The Mage made a noncommittal noise in the back of her throat that he took for agreement, and looked down at the open hole at her feet. The only sign of her discomfort was the subtle shifting of her weight. She was always so still. Arthur doubted anyone but him would have noticed.

"It's a big drop," he warned her. "It would be better if you let me help you," he said, holding his hand out to her.

The Mage's eyes flashed with temper and her jaw set, and he knew she was going to argue. They didn't have time to argue. She was such a stubborn little thing.

But then she surprised him. She took a deep breath and gently rested her hand in his. Arthur closed his hand around her wrist and reached for her other one. Carefully, he lowered her down as far as he could, supporting her weight as he lowered himself into a crouch. She didn't weigh much, but it was still difficult.

"I'm going to let go now," he told her. "It's still a few feet to the bottom."

She nodded but didn't say anything.
He hated the feeling of letting her go, but he could hear movement behind him in the alley. He hadn't been lying. He didn't fancy a round two with the sword. He was already feeling hollow and achy as though he hadn't eaten in days. He hadn't passed out from the magic this time, but it had taken a toll.

Below, he heard The Mage splash in the shallow water and she sucked in a surprised breath.

"Okay?" Arthur called down to her.

"I am," she responded curtly after a moment, but her voice sounded strange.

"I'm coming down," he told her and he lowered himself into the black hole, landing in an easy crouch. He blinked a few times and after a few seconds he was able to make out the shape of the Mage standing near the wall of the tunnel, waiting for him. The other men had already set off down the tunnel, but he could hear their movements echoing off the damp surfaces as they moved away.
He glanced towards her and was surprised when she didn't move to follow. Arthur took a step towards her and in the dim light could just make out the shape of her. Her hand was resting against the damp rock wall and she seemed to be frozen.

The Mage couldn't draw in a deep breath. The rock walls were too close. She could hear the clanking of weapons around her and the damp smell of earth filled her nostrils. The soldiers were coming.

"Mage."

Somewhere off she could hear a soldier calling for the Mages. They had already killed so many of their village. Her friends and family were all lying dead, their blood feeding the earth.

"Mage," the voice rumbled again, closer now and she flinched back in blind terror. They had fled to the caves, but even the darkness couldn't hide them. The soldiers were going to find her.

Hands grabbed her and she tried to wrench herself away. A whimper built in her throat and the hands closed over her shoulders. They had found her.

"Mage!" the voice was more firm. She was too far gone to recognize the hands were not trapping her, but holding her gently. "Please."

It was the please and the gentleness that broke through the trap of her memories when nothing else could. She double blinked in confusion to see not Blackleg soldiers, but Arthur standing before her.

"Arthur," she said his name to him for maybe the first time and when she did something shifted in him. Names had power, she had told him that and she felt it between them. The significance of it.

He breathed out a sigh of relief when her eyes cleared and his large, warm hands came up to gently cradle her cheeks. "You're safe," he promised, repeating the words she had spoken to him when he escaped the terror of the Darklands.

It wasn't until that moment that she realized she was shaking. Her body remembered the terror that came out of the darkness and she couldn't stop it. The harder she tried to force herself the tighter her chest became.

"I-" she tried to form the words but they wouldn't come. Fear still closed her throat and muddled her thoughts. She didn't know how to explain to him what had happened. Shame burned through her.

Arthur stared down at her with such intensity and understanding it made tears spring into her eyes. "M-" he started to say and stopped with a low growl of frustration in the back of his throat. She was more than just a mage to him. "Tell me your name," it was a rough command this time and not a question.

The last time he had asked, and she had denied him. Explaining the significance of a mage sharing their name. A mage could be bound by the power of their name, and to share it would be the ultimate sign of trust. She had denied him that trust last time, but now she looked up into his shadowed face where concern was etched in every line. She wondered if Merlin had seen this moment when he sent her. She found it didn't matter, not really. She drew in a breath and trusted, not Merlin, but Arthur.

"Nimue," she whispered the name into the darkness.
She had not named herself to another since she was a child. With the death of her mother, only Merlin had known her true name. Now, the name filled the air around them and something shifted, like a great lock clicking into place. Her hands came up to grip his wrists and she could feel the tingle of magic from the bracelet she had given him. It filled her chest and she felt like she couldn't catch her breath. It was like every cell of her body was in tune with his.

"Nimue," he said the name tenderly, as though he understood the significance. "We have to go now. It's going to be very dark," he warned her. "It will take maybe ten minutes to reach the other side of the city...understone" he purposefully used the word she had used to describe her problem with the caves.

The Mage's breathing kicked up, but she nodded in understanding. She could do this. She clenched her hands into fists as she fought to take control of her rebelling body.

He leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. "I am going to get you out of this," he promised. "You're safe with me," his voice was a rasp in the dark but she believed him. She nodded against his skin and he pulled back letting go of her for just a moment, but it left her feeling cut adrift. He reached down and tangled his fingers with hers. "Do you trust me?"

She remembered the look on Arthur's face when he saw the soldier put a blade to her neck. She wasn't sure she would ever forget it. She remembered how only then had he wrapped both hands around the hilt of Excalibur and embraced his power and the destiny that came with it. It had been for her. Maybe not completely, maybe it had been all of his friends in danger that had driven him to finally act, but his anger on her behalf and his drive to protect had taken her breath away.

Nimue laced her fingers with his. "I do."

He closed his strong fingers around hers and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Come on then, love," he said and he led the way through the darkness.

~<>~

After, Nimue wouldn't remember much about the journey through the underground tunnels. For her, it all blended together in a series of flashes of fear and memory that only the warm strength of Arthur's hand firmly clasping hers seemed to chase away.

Arthur, however, would never forget it. It would haunt his nightmares for years to come. Time seemed to drag on and in the darkness, he could feel only the cold clamminess of Nimue's small, shaking hand. He could hear her ragged breaths behind him as she fought against the panic. There was nothing he could do but keep moving and get her out of this as quickly as possible.

It was all his fault. He never should have taken her down here. There were other ways across the city if it weren't for the black legs searching for him. None of them knew her, she could have slipped away through the city alone and unnoticed, but she was here for him. He tightened his hand one more notch around hers. She felt so much smaller than him, the bones in her hand felt almost delicate.

The tunnels weren't complete darkness, there were other access points that he and his friends had discovered and explored over the years, but most people didn't pay attention to what was right under their feet, ignoring the old Roman infrastructure. The old grates and access points allowed just enough light for him to navigate all the way across to the other side of the city.

He talked the whole way, thinking back he wasn't sure he could have repeated anything that he had said. But it felt important to fill the silence with something. He whispered stories and observations just loud enough for her to hear him. He could feel her panic like a bow stretched tight, and the weight of the trust that she placed in him rested heavy on his shoulders. She didn't trust easy, his mage, and he would do everything he could to live up to that trust.

As they neared the end of the tunnel, he could start to hear the sounds of low voices and movement again. He felt her flinch, her fear palpable, and it made him more angry than he could ever remember. Arthur had never struggled with his temper. In fact, he had always found temper to be an easily exploitable weakness in others. But he found Nimue's fear to be equal parts infuriating and devastating. He never wanted her to be that scared again, and he vowed to himself he would do everything in his power to ensure it.

~<>~

They turned a corner and Nimue squinted against the sudden light at the end of the tunnel. It was as bright as staring into the sun after so much time in the black. Arthur stepped to the edge first and leaned out, craning his neck to see the others already on top of the bridge.

"Art man, thought we lost you," Wet Stick said in relief.

"Not likely," Arthur responded with an easy grin.

Arthur pulled her up beside him. There was still a slight tremble to her, but it was fading. She was strong his mage. He caught her eye and nodded to her. She nodded back, drawing in a steadying breath. She craned her neck and could see where Wet Stick was crouched at the edge of the pier, reaching down to help her up. She stretched up but wasn't quite tall enough. Arthur's hands closed around her waist and lifted her easily.

It was not the most graceful, but she managed to scramble up on the pier, cursing her skirt that got in the way more than anything. Most of the others from the bathhouse had already fled, leaving just their small group once again. Bedivere steadied her with a hand on the shoulder as Wet Stick turned back to help Arthur.

Arthur jumped, caught the edge and pulled himself up in a pull up.

"Show off" Wet Stick laughed, but there was concern in his eyes as he looked over the two of them. "Al'right?" he asked.

The others looked at him expectantly, but he didn't bother with an explanation. He wasn't going to betray Nimue's weakness in front of the others. Her legend kept her safer than even her power did and he wasn't about to risk that, even with his most trusted friends.

Arthur nodded once sharply, putting an end of the discussion. "We'll head to the riverhouse, wait until dark before we leave." No one argued with him.

Arthur led them the rest of the way to a safehouse. It was a ramshackle old house, with an assortment of mismatched furniture and a stuffiness that told Nimue it was not used often. The men all seemed relieved to hear they had time to rest, and found space on the main floor. They would wait until nightfall before they moved again.

Nimue slipped away to the back room to be by herself. The sun was setting when Arthur appeared in the doorway to check on her. He stood in the shadows watching her as she used a white linen rag to dab at the remnants of blood on her neck.

"It seems as though you found a way to use the sword," she said. She didn't look at him. She couldn't. Not after what happened in the tunnels. She had been vulnerable and had to depend entirely on him. He already had so many people depending on him, she didn't want to be just one more on a long list. It was important to her that he didn't view her as liability.

He strode into the room almost silently. "I wasn't controlling it," he said and he shook his head. "Here," he said, stepping up next to her.
His warm fingers covered hers as he took the rag from her hand. He used his free hand to brush her hair back over her opposite shoulder. The silky strands slid across his skin as he looked down at her. His fingers moved the edge of her dress aside, exposing more of her back to the air and she shivered.

Arthur stilled as Nimue shivered under his hands. He hadn't noticed the cold in the safehouse, but she was only wearing her thin dress. It would be cold out on the river tonight.

He rested his free hand on her shoulder, and was as gentle as possible as he cleaned the cut on her neck. He leaned down to get a better look at it in the flickering candle light.

"It was controlling me," he said, his voice more raw than he intended. "I saw you and..." he stopped and shook his head. "I don't even remember what happened."

Nimue closed her hand around his wrist and he went still beneath her firm grip. She lifted her chin so she was looking straight up at him. "I can," she promised him, her dark eyes blazing up at him. "Thank you," she said sincerely.

Arthur held her gaze, unable to fathom what she could possibly be thanking him for. It was his fault she had ended up in that situation in the first place. His fault she was injured by the Blacklegs, his fault she had faced the tunnels. It had been a stupid plan, and even more stupid of him to let her come along. He heaved out a sigh. They weren't out of the woods yet, and there were over a dozen people in the next room for him to protect. He lowered the rag and Nimue released his wrist. He lowered himself to sit beside her, resting his thigh against hers. It was dangerous to indulge himself in the need for contact, but he didn't think she would pull away from him.

"About what happened in the-" he began and he stopped, his hands on his thighs clenched into fists as he fought to sort out the words. He was normally so good with words.

"I'm sor-" Nimue started to apologize as shame burned through her, but he beat her to it.

"I'm sorry," he said. "You were panicking and I didn't know what to do. I never should have pushed when you didn't offer and-" he said looking down at his hands.

Nimue frowned in confusion. "Are you apologizing for asking my name?" she asked, cocking her head to the side so she could try and catch his eye.

Arthur was never unsure, never hesitated, but he did now. For her. He was trying to repair something he thought was broken between them.

Nimue slid her hand over his clenched fist and he watched her through wary eyes. She swallowed. This was new territory for her and she hated the feeling of uncertainty. It would be so much easier to run and hide from this. To look away. But she didn't have it in her, not after all they had been through.

"You guided me through one of my worst nightmares," she confessed to him. She swallowed and drew in a deep breath, lifting her chin as though steeling herself against the words she was about to share. "When Vortigern's men came we fled to the nearby sacred caves, convinced we would be safe...we weren't," she said, her voice hoarse. "The soldiers came in the darkness and murdered everyone. I only survived by hiding under a small outcropping. I was too scared to move. I lay in the dark, surrounded by their dead bodies convinced the soldiers would come back for me. I don't know how long I was there before Merlin found me, days most likely."

"Jesus," Arthur said half under his breath as he realized the true horror of her past and what she had been facing in the tunnels.

"My family, my village, my entire people...all but a handful of us are gone now. They were taken in the dark."

Arthur shook his head. "I never should have taken you down there. I didn't understand. I didn't know. I never should-" he dragged off but she interrupted him.

"You saved our lives," she said resolutely, and she closed her hand over the top of his, stilling him with nothing but a gentle touch.

He held her gaze letting her see the truth in his next words. "I'll die before I tell anyone your true name," he vowed.

The Mage closed her hand tighter around his. "I trust you." She whispered into the dark.

There was a commotion outside and she felt his muscles coil in anticipation of the flight to come. She rose to peer out the slats of the boarded up window. It was too dark to see much beyond the movement of torches. "Something is happening, you know."

"Certainly sounds like it," he agreed.

"People saw what you can do in that courtyard. You wield the power as Uther once did. You are no longer a myth. You are starting to mean something."

He shook his head. "That wasn't the intention."

She turned back to him and pinned him down with an unblinking stare. "They are fighting in your name."

"I don't want to hear that," he confessed, meeting her gaze solemnly.

She fought to contain her disappointment. He still wasn't ready to see himself as a King. She didn't know what it would take and she didn't know how to help him.

"Why did Merlin send you?" he asked, changing the subject.

She snorted and shook her head. If only she knew. "Ask me again sometime," she told him, but at this point it was habit. After what happened in the tunnels it was clear there was a reason. Whether because of her feelings or as a way to test her. The latter seemed more likely, more like the mysterious old Mage who had taught her all she knew.

A door opened and Arthur turned towards the door. "Is that you Blue?" he called.

"Yeah Boss," Blue responded.

Nimue stepped back into the shadows of the room, putting some space between them as Arthur turned his attention to the boy.

"Have you found your father?" Arthur asked, he was doing a good job of concealing his concern for the boy and his long time friend. The city was imploding around them and the thought of them both out on the streets made Arthur feel helpless.

"He's found him," Back Lack called.
Arthur exhaled in relief and Nimue saw his body sag. He hung his head for a moment before composing himself. He rose to his feet and strode into the room looking every bit the composed leader. Only Nimue had seen the moment of vulnerability. She recognized he had laid himself bare before her in that moment just as surely as she had done in the tunnels beneath the city.

Back Lack was badly hurt. Arthur could see it even before he stepped into the room. He narrowed his eyes and turned to look over his shoulder. Nimue was still watching him from the shadows. He met her gaze and she seemed to be able to read his mind. She stepped silently into the room behind him. He knelt beside Back Lack and she slid up beside him. She lifted Back Lack's jacket to get a better look at the wound.

Arthur knew it was bad, but he hadn't realized how bad until Nimue went very still beside him. She pressed her lips together and looked closer at the wound. "We will need to stitch it," she said after a moment. She turned and met Arthur's eyes. "There's nothing I can do for it here," she told him.

Arthur read between the lines. He understood she was telling him there was nothing she could do to save his friend. Back Lack was deathly pale and it was obvious he had been losing blood for several hours. Arthur wanted to curse his stubborn friend. Had he stayed with them they might have been able to help him right away.

"All right mate," Arthur said running a hand through his hair. "We need to get you out of here."

Wet Stick came from the stairwell. He pulled up as he saw Arthur and the Mage crouched over their friend. He knew it had to be bad for the Mage to stay so close. "Let's get your ass on that boat Lack," Wet Stick said with forced enthusiasm. "There's a good fog to cover our tracks," he reported to Arthur.

Arthur pushed himself to his feet. "Come on then," he said.

"I need...a little breather," Back Lack said, gasping. "Load everyone else up and come back for me."

Blue refused to move, his jaw set defiantly. "I'll stay with you."

"No you won't. Give 'em a hand," Back Lack ordered.

Blue looked like he wanted to argue. Even though he was a boy, he knew something was wrong and he didn't want to leave his dad's side.

"I'll be all right mate," Back Lack promised him. "You help Art get the lady down to the boat. It's important to keep a lady like her safe. I just need a minute," he told his son.

Blue looked like he wanted to argue. But Arthur stepped up, resting a hand on Blue's shoulder. "Come on Blue," Arthur said, guiding Blue towards the back stairs. "I'm trusting you to get her down there and look out for her while I bring your father. Here, you carry this in case you need it," Arthur said, holding out the sword to the kid.

Back Lack held Arthur's gaze as he spoke to the boy. Arthur knew his friend was dying. They both did, but Arthur had to get Blue out of here. Arthur rested his hand on Blue's shoulder and nodded to Back Lack who nodded back. Without ever having to say a word Arthur had promised to take care of his friend's son.

Blue looked up at The Mage, unshed tears shining in his eyes, but he didn't cry. He lifted his chin and gripped Excalibur. "This way my lady," he said, gesturing for her to go ahead of him, part courtly gentleman and part backalley bodyguard.

Nimue glanced at Arthur. He straightened and nodded to her. She followed behind Blue, who opened a hidden door at the back of the stairwell and guided her out to the boat. Arthur followed behind them, holding the door open to make sure everyone else made it to the boat in one piece.

The river was quiet and dead calm with a thick fog. It was an eerie juxtaposition to the city erupting behind them. The people were ready to fight for Arthur, they had had enough of Vortigern's oppression. They just needed a reason. The Mage could feel it like a storm rising. She felt badly about Arthur's friend. Back Lack had seemed like a loyal friend and had fought for the rebels. He didn't deserve to meet his end like this. She could see the pain in Arthur's eyes even if he didn't say it.

Arthur held out a hand and helped her step down into the boat.
She settled on the far side and turned as Arthur moved to help Blue climb in.

Blue hesitated, pressing his lips together determinedly. "I can't," he said after a moment.

Arthur put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Get in the boat Blue, I'll get your dad."

Blue shook his head and tears sprung in his eyes. He turned and tossed the sword into the boat where it landed with a clatter. "I can't leave him!" he shouted and turned and ran back for the safe house.

Arthur swore and took off after him. "Be ready," he called back over his shoulder. There was nothing Nimue could do to help. She picked up Excalibur and hung it across her body where it would be safe. There were long, agonizing minutes of silence before the screaming started.

~<>~

Arthur ran up the stairs after Blue but slowed as he heard voices inside the room. They were low and too soft for him to make out exactly what was said. Mischief John was the closest to him, but he had his back to the stairs.

"You bastard!" Blue screamed so loudly it made Arthur flinch. He surged forward just in time to hear his uncle speak.

"I'll ask again, where is your friend?" His uncle was holding something bloody in one hand and a dagger in the other.

Arthur crept closer to Mischief John and pulled his own dagger from his waist. He covered the last few feet and laid it against the soldier's throat. But Mischief John didn't release Blue even as Arthur bent him over almost backwards.

As soon as he appeared Vortigern switched the blade to Back Lack's throat.

"Let him go," Arthur snarled dangerously as he pressed the dagger closer to John's throat. With Mercia dead Mischief John was the Kings most loyal General.

Vortigern tilted his head as he watched Arthur an almost bemused expression on his face. And why not. He was surrounded by six guards. Arthur was alone. He pressed the blade tighter against Back Lack's neck and Lack flinched, his face white with pain as he clutched a hand to the side of his head. His fingers were covered in blood.

They were at a stand off and there was no way for Arthur to win. Back Lack met Arthur's gaze and Arthur knew what he was about to do. He frowed, fighting back emotions as he looked over the room. There was no way out of this. No way to save the three of them and kill his uncle. All he could do was get Blue.

Back Lack nodded to his old friend once, trusting him to take care of his son. "Take the boy and g-" and Vortigern slit Lack's throat.

"NO!" Blue screamed. Arthur shoved Mischief John into the other guards before they could attack. He grabbed Blue under his arm and ran.

Arthur burst out of the door, sealing it behind him, and carrying a screaming Blue in his arms. He ran for the boat and jumped in, his landing rocking it dangerously.

"Go!" he shouted as the boy's screams turned to sobs.

They shoved off and Nimue leaned forward, taking the young boy from Arthur. Blue's skinny arms wrapped around her neck and sobbed into her dress. She rocked him, trying to soothe him even though she knew it was useless. There was no fixing this.

Arthur turned back and the safehouse erupted into flames. Nimue held Blue to her chest and looked up at Arthur. She could see the shine of emotion in his eyes in the light of the fire reflecting on the water. She reached out and closed her hand over his forearm. He turned back and met her eyes. He he pulled his arm free and tangled his fingers with hers with one hand and laid the other against Blue's back.

They floated silently away from the screams and the burning city and disappeared into the fog.

~<>~