Don't Forget Me (A completed Merlin/Lab Rats crossover)

8

Merlin lay on his back in his bed, trying to fall asleep. After seeing Chase get put back in chains in the dank cell he had been rescued from, Arthur had chewed him out and more than doubled his chores, after giving him a solid beating during night training and he couldn't find the will to eat or sleep. He had spent some of the night crying, and the rest of it lying awake in worry. He had no idea how much time had passed, but he knew it had been a while. All of a sudden, the bells started tolling. The first thing that Merlin thought about was how Chase heard the bells from all the way in the forest, and then he remembered what the bells were for. He got up out of bed and ran out of the door of his room, heading to the main door.
"Merlin," Gaius said, making Merlin stop and look back at him. "You might want to get dressed." Merlin nodded and ran back into his room, hastily changing before running back out.
"I've got to save Chase," he said. "I can't let him die."
"You don't have a choice," Gaius said. "Arthur will discover you have magic and then it'll all be over."
"But what if I'm careful?" Merlin asked. "I can't just stand there and watch him!"
"You can stay in here and not watch him," Gaius suggested. "Bury your head in your pillow so you can't hear."
"I owe it to him to try," Merlin replied, starting to cry. "I couldn't save him before. I have to try and save him now." Gaius sighed, staring at him for a couple seconds before nodding. Merlin nodded his thanks back and ran out of the room, heading into the square to watch the execution. He could already smell the smoke, a phantom scent he'd smelt many times before. He could hear the screaming, the agony that Chase would go through. He blinked away tears, his whole head pounding. All of a sudden, Gwen was in the hallway, and he slammed into her. They both grunted and fell over, Gwen dropping her laundry.
"Merlin!" she snapped in annoyance, looking over at him and letting her face soften instantly. "What's wrong?"
"T-they're gonna kill Chase," Merlin stammered, getting to his feet and running towards the door. Gwen got up and watched him run, unsure of what to do. She gathered up her laundry and ran after him after a few seconds of debate.
"Merlin!" she yelled, trying to find him in the crowd. She eventually found him being wrestled away from Arthur, who was leading the procession bringing Chase to his doom. She ran over to him and grabbed his arm when the guards let him go, looking up at him in worry.
"They can't let him burn," Merlin mumbled, watching the procession with tears in his eyes. "They can't."
"Merlin, come on," Gwen said, pulling him out of the crowd and into a corner, sitting him down on the ground and kneeling in front of him. "What's wrong? Take a breath and explain." Merlin took in a shaky breath, composing himself somewhat before launching into a wild explanation of the last few days. Gwen listened with interest and pity.
"He's done nothing wrong, Gwen," Merlin said in anguish, rubbing his face. "He's just a boy. He can't burn for nothing."
"Well, sometimes we can't control things we wish we could," Gwen replied, rubbing his shoulder and trying to calm him down. "You don't have to watch. We could go inside."
"I'll still hear him," Merlin said. "I can't let this happen."
"You don't have a choice, Merlin," Gwen pleaded. "Come on. Let's just go inside." She helped Merlin to his feet and started walking him towards the doors to the castle. The fires had been lit and Chase tied to the stake in the center, and his screams of fear had already begun to echo around the courtyard. Merlin plugged his ears and hoped that it would stop. Suddenly, they did. Merlin stopped, looking back at the pyre. The fires were alit and still blazing, but Chase was not in them. A spark of hope flooded Merlin and his heart soared.
"Chase is gone!" he yelled, beaming.
"What?" Gwen said in surprise, looking over at him and then over at the pyre, her eyes widening when she realized Merlin was right. Chaos had broken out in the square, and guards were running over towards a girl dressed in men's clothes cradling Chase in her arms away from the crowds. Merlin noticed them and started running towards them, abandoning a confused Gwen on the steps of the castle. As the guards approached the girl with swords drawn, a tall, muscular boy ran out of the crowd and stood in front of Chase and the girl, malice in his eyes. He pulled his arms back and waves of blue energy gathered around them. The guards stopped in surprise, and someone yelled "sorcery." The boy shoved his arms forwards with a yell and the energy launched itself forwards in one large pulse, sending all the guards flying backwards and anyone else within the range of the wave. Merlin avoided the wave and ran over towards them.
"Get back!" the boy yelled, glaring at him.
"No, don't worry," Merlin said, stopping and holding his hands up in surrender. "I'm a friend of Chase's, I swear. I tried to help him escape the first time."
"Is that Merlin?" Chase mumbled from the girl's arms. "He's cool." The boy relaxed and nodded.
"Well, could you maybe help us?" he asked, punching a guard in the face and crushing his nose in.
"Uh, yeah," Merlin stammered, a little concerned at the show of strength. "Come on. Let's get some horses." He turned and ran off into the chaos, the girl and the boy following him to the stables. They each quickly mounted a horse, with the boy keeping Chase on his horse for support as they rode off towards the woods, the warning bells sounding behind them and guards not too far behind.
"Where are we going?" the girl asked, looking over at Merlin.
"Away from Camelot," Merlin replied. "Just away, somewhere they won't find us."
"That was specific," the girl replied sarcastically.
"Well, it's better than nothing if you ask me," the boy said with a shrug. "I mean, it's not like we're getting stabbed."
"He's got a point," Merlin said.
"Just shut up," the girl snapped, riding ahead.
"Sorry about her," the boy said. "She's really annoying."
"I've noticed," Merlin replied. "So, we should probably get to know each other. I'm Merlin."
"I'm Adam," the boy said. "Bree's my sister, and you know Chase."
"It's nice to meet you," Merlin said.
"You too," Adam replied with a smile. "Thanks for looking after my little brother."
"It was my pleasure," Merlin said, smiling back.
"Could you maybe not have let him get so pulverized?" Bree asked, pulling back to ride with them.
"Uh, no," Merlin replied. "I didn't even know he existed when that happened."
"Guys, leave Merlin alone," Chase mumbled drowsily.
"Shush," Adam snapped, nudging him. "The grown-ups are talking."
"So, how're you guys gonna get home?" Merlin asked.
"Um..." Bree replied, biting her bottom lip. "We sort of have absolutely no idea."