Light Burns After Darkness Part 3
Arthur crept through the window of his apartment, quiet and stealthy as a cat. He had already removed his clothes a few miles back and was dressed in combat trousers and a collar-less shirt. He moved quietly to the kitchen, opened the fridge and poured himself some orange juice.
"Your late." Arthur did not yet turn around. He threw back his juice in one go and wiped his lips on his fist.
"I was trying not to wake you." At that he turned and grinned at Gwen. He looked all at once like a naughty school boy who had been caught stealing sweets. Gwen was in her lilac, silk pyjamas, with her pink dressing gown over the top. Leaning on the door frame with her head tilted, frown fixed on her face, she was going for severe. But she could feel her lips quirking, traitorously doing their best to smile. He looked at her from underneath his eye lashes, a gentle humour pulling the contours of his face into an insatiable softness. His hair was messy from the wind, sticking up like golden straw. In short, he looked irresistably cute.
Gwen stood up to her full height and marched over to him, hands reaching up to wrap around his neck, in more of a grasping hold than an embrace. She tugged him close. "Well, you failed miserably husband dear. A cold bed always keeps me awake." She looked about his face, searching for a sign of, she didn't know what. Holding his face so her eyes could look straight in his she asked, "Was it important?" Arthur nodded, running his fingers through her hair, as always catching them on her soft curls.
"Ow!" Gwen tossed her hair back and drew him even closer to her by his waist. "Arthur, I'm not going to make a fuss. I've had enough of being the nagging wife..." She held a finger to his lips to stop the protest that was forming there. "But, whatever your, um, extra curricular activities may be, you almost died today. You as Arthur almost died. And I needed to know you were okay. But you weren't here. You almost took a bullet to the heart today and your assailant has escaped and.." She dropped her head down, both hands up to cover her face, desparate not to show him further weakness with her tears. Arthur took her hands and held them.
"Gwen, the man that escaped saved my life, I am glad he is away. The Europan Guard would do terrible things to him. He was not the shooter."
"And you know that for sure?" Her question was not so much about Merlins innocence as it was about how Arthur seemed to always have this omniscient knowledge. "You helped him to escape?"
"Now how would I do that?" he murmured, brushing his lips tentatively to her neck. She was worried for him, that had to be a good sign.
Gwen ran her fingers up his back and drew him close to her, possessively, as if afraid if she didn't hold him tight he might disappear again. "But then that means your assassin is unknown, they could strike again."
"No, I know who it is. It will be alright." Gwen stopped her ministrations to his back and pushed him away from her, staring fiercely at him.
"You know? Then who?" At his closed expression, her voice rose a few decibels. "Tell me, who is it that wants you dead?" She felt a coldness grip around her heart for she felt she already knew the answer, yet she feared her own intuition.
Arthur sighed and rubbed his stubble tiredly. "I believe it was Morgana," he responded looking to Gwen for her reaction. He was not disappointed.
She drew in her breath and said firmly "Then you need to deal with her."
"Gwen, don't. She isn't a dog that you just put down when they're inconvenient."
"No, but she is a ruthless killer who wants you dead, me too probably. Though I know that you are her most important target, not me. But I think she still hates me by default. And I know you can do it, you've trained, your capable. I mean, what else were the Forces for? Not that I want you to remember those things you hate, but if it saves your life then..."
"Gwen!" he stopped her, running the backs of his fingers down her cheek again, wiping away the tears without mentioning them. "You're rambling darling." She relaxed into his hold.
"I haven't done that in a while," she said with a weak smile.
"No, and it's so sweet that it's over me."
"Stop being such a tosser," she muttered without heat. She let herself lean her head on his chest and he tucked her hair under his chin.
He laughed softly. "She isn't ruthless Gwen, she's confused and hurt. She thinks she's doing the right thing. I can't kill her," This time it was his turn to cover her lips to play down her protest. "It's okay. I won't let her kill me either."
"I can't bury you Arthur, I won't!" she uttered firmly, pressing her lips to his, tugging at his shirt in desperation to ensure that he really was alive and in front of her.
"You won't." he reassured. "Have more faith in me." He pushed her dressing gown down over her shoulders, kising the exposed flesh before him, as she worked on his shirt. As he pulled her lilac top over head, he made to move towards their bedroom. She stilled him with her hands attacking his fly.
"No, here. I, I want you here. I need to feel you now. Please?" she added desperately. At that, Arthur kicked off his jeans and threw her into his arms in almost a balletic move. Pulling of her pyjama bottems he laid her across the kitchen worktop, worshiping her body, his lips carressing the juncture of her neck.
Gwen was whimpering. "No, now! None of that, I want you now!" He stilled his hands, his eyes filled with heat. And he took her with strengtgh. She caught her breath and cried out. "Yes, like that. Keep going don't stop!" And as he thrust into her he reminded her that he was still alive, he was still hers. He brought her to an ecstasy that no other man had ever been capable of and she savoured it. Held these feelings in her heart, determined to make the most of these moments that she knew could not last.
........................................
Merlin sat flicking the channels on the television set. His manner was jittery, his limbs uncoordinated. Will appeared behind him, clapping him on the shoulder, making Merlin jump.
"Sorry mate," he grinned, looking anything other than sorry. "What are you looking for?" he asked as he flopped down besides Merlin, offering him a beer. Merlin took it, sipping gently whilst rapidly shaking his head, attempting to perfect his best look of innocence.
"Nothing, just you know," he pointed to the television with a mock remote control. "Channel flicking."
Will shook his head in pity. "Mate, firstly, that is not even the girls way to drink beer. That is the five year old girl who stole her Dads shandy." Merlin glared at him, offended. "Secondly, you are the most spectacularly crap liar I have ever known. So, if this is something you are trying to keep from Morgana, you would be better of enlisting my help."
Merlin groaned and flung his head back dramatically on the sofa. "Where is Morgana anyway?"
"Don't ask me. She's on one of her secret visits again. And don't change the subject."
Merlin flicked the off switch and stared at Will defiantly, a mode that quickly crumbled as Merlin had never been able to resist his best friend anything. "Look, Morgana will freak if she gets even an inkling."
"Hey," Will held up both hands in surrender. "Lips are sealed."
"Well," Merlin toyed with the sofa throw nervously. " Oh Will, you won't like it either. Just don't ask me."Will guffawed, shocking Merlin upright. "What?"
"My dear Merlin, my question was not so much what are you looking for, but who. I know that dopey look of yours by now. You fancy someone, so come on. Who is it? And why are you looking for them on the news?"
"What? No I don't. But don't you mind?"
Will rolled his eyes. "Merlin, we broke up two years ago. Believe it or not, I do not cry into my cornflakes each morning over you. You're not that irresistable." He patted his head in mock patronisation. " Now, tell me. I still have best friend rights. As in right to know all of your dirty secrets."
Merlin ran his finger around the edge of the bottle, distractedly. "It's nothing really. I was just. Well. I was worried about him and wanted to check he was okay." Will narrowed his eyes, fixing Merlin with a look. He caught the bottle in Merlins fingers and replaced it to the table.
"Please tell me we're not talking about what I think we're talking about?" Merlin suddenly made his eyes like those of a puppy, all wide, soft and pleading. "Urgh, God, no! Do not give me puppy eyes! When has that ever worked with me? You're chasing the channels looking for the Shadow aren't you? Are you insane?! You've seen him once in your life and probably made an enemy of him! He's completely untouchable. You cannot get a hard on for him! Morgana would kill you, or more likely try to kill him. And sice he's all bloody superman, we would all probably wind up dead. So no Merlin, seriously no!"
"It's not like that! I can't fancy him anyway. He's straight. And married. I just ,...like him. He's different, refreshing."
"Woah wind up," Will countered. "How the hell do you know he's married?"
"Well he told me," said Merlin, the unsaid "obviously" hanging in the air. Will raised his eyebrows, clearly not about to be fobbed off. "Okay!" Merlin cried, exasperated. "I've seen him since Parliamentary Square." Will was holding his arms out, an incredulous look on his face. "Not like that," clarified Merlin. "When Morgana decided to abandon me following her, frankly pants assassination attempt, it was the Shadow that broke me out of gaol."
"So you lied and said it was your magic?"
"Well, I could hardly tell Morgana the truth. And they had me chained with some metal that disrupted my magic. He came for me Will, when no one else did."
And now Will felt some sympathy, putting his hand on his knee. "We wouldn't have left you mate. But there was no point Morgana getting caught as well."
Merlin gave a weak smile. "Even if, by leaving me incarcerated, you advanced the cause?" he asked softly. Will looked upset. "I'm not complaining Will, I know it's logical, as logical as our Europan masters in fact. But," and here Merlin paused, trying to put into words what he felt. "He doesn't think that way. And I'm not an idiot. I know I can't have him. But he is so....so. Captivating. Yes, thats the word. And I just wanted to help him if I could. It's like he hurts and I wanted to help heal those hurts. But he's always in the news for something. But today, nothing." Merlins voice caught, his face strained. "I'm worried that he's wounded and alone somewhere. Or worse."
Bewildered, Will put an arm around him. "It's okay mate. He's a fucking superhero. What could happen? Besides, it's been what? twenty four hours? Thats a bit mother hen worrying, even by you standards."
Merlin knew he was being ridiculous, but he couldn't help but feel that something was wrong. The news was filled with events that cried out for a saviour. And, though he had only seen him twice, he had developed an intimacy with the ways of the Shadow. He knew he should be at these crisis', but there was no sign of him.
His thoughts were put paid to by the entrance of Morgana, who swept in, hair billowing long and dark over her shoulders, as always managing to appear regal. Only this time she had someone with her. Merlin and Will jumped apart at her arrival and Morgana snorted.
"Not on my account boys, although I don't want you teaching bad habits to my charge here." Merlin stared at said 'young charge'. He was just a boy, of about ten years old with dark hair and large blue eyes. There was something incredibly familiar about him, but Merlin could not put his finger on what. His first thought was that the boy resembled Morgana but on second appraisal, the only similarity was the dark hair. Merlin shivered, feeling the air move cold around him.
"Um, Morgana. You are aware that you can't say 'look what followed me home' about a child, are you?"
Morgana tutted and briskly swept the boyy infront of Merlin, keeping her arm protectively round his shoulder. "His name is Mordred and he's an orphan. I've been looking out for him for years haven't I dear? But his talents are becoming more noticeable and the state would endanger him because of them." Morgana had fire and brimstone in her voice, causing Merlin to feel no small amount of unease.
"Talents?" he questioned.
"Magic Merlin. He is like you. That is one of my main reasons to bring him here. You are powerful but I have seen in my dreams that your power grows exponentially when united with anothers." Will rolled his eyes. He had observed Merlins magic, but was naturally a sceptic and thus had little time for Morganas dreams. He often wondered which God hated him enough to make him the only normal person in this group. Merlin however had experience of Morganas dreaming and took it much more seriously.
"You saw me unite with Mordred?" he questioned.
"Well," she paused. " I never saw the face of who it was, it was always in shadows. But Mordred is the only other magical being I have ever heard of. He moved a cow blocking our route today with his mind didn't you?" Her gaze at the child was both fond and proud. "Together, you could bring Europa to it's knees. She placed her hands, one on Mordreds shoulder and one on Merlins. "You'd be free."
In spite of the fine words, Merlin could not escape the feeling that he was being groomed into a weapon and the cold chill had not left his bones. He noted, with some consternation, that there was no open door or window for the cold breeze to travel through.
"And later tonight.." sudden sound made Merlin start violently, then he realised that, in boredem, Will had turned the television on again. Morgana ushered young Mordred away, with talk of finding him something to eat. The two young men found themselves caught up in the news, specifically the story that a home for disabled children was to be closed and the children released. Merlin bit his lip as he watched footage of the children that was filmed for the grotesque. Downs syndrome children that were unable to care for themselves, a child with no bladder on bowel control that kept smearing the walls of the room. The manipulation of the mind, that not so much hinted but shouted, that these were unworthy lives that it was kinder to end, was loud and clear. Merlin had grown up with this ideology of natural selection in humanity but somehow the portrayal of these truly innocent children grated his nerves more than anything had for a long time.
"Will yawned and stretched out his body. "Well, no sign of your boyfriend Merlin. But I shouldn't worry. If they'd killed him they would definately show off his body. Maybe he needs to, I don't know, rejuvinate in the moonlight or something."
Merlin sat up. "I know where he'll be. He couldn't ignore those children and nor should we."
Will looked at him as if he felt sorry for him. "Mer, we can't risk our security for that. Our goal is to bring Europa crashing down and anything that stands in the way of that, no matter how noble, is counter productive. If we get caught, well..." he shrugged his shoulders, as if that explained his point. Merlin nodded, his eyes narrowed. He was convinced that whatever was silencing the shadow of late, he couldn't ignore this. And Merlin intended to be there, to help if he required it.
........................................
Arthur swung his legs out of bed and leant over, elbows on his knees, head in his hands. The rising sun glittered through the chiffon curtains, causing his body to glow with the appearance of gold. Gwen reached out her hand and ran it down the contours of his spine, with a gentleness he had missed.
"Arthur? Come back to bed. It's not yet morning." She grimaced as he turned and she saw what was writ on his countenence. He lowered his head and took her hands in his.
"Guinevere..."
"No!" she exclaimed vehemently. "Whatever you're planning, stop! I mean it."
He looked at her sorrowfully. "I can't. No just listen a moment please." Gwen pulled her hands from him and wrapped them around her own waist, neither sending him away or inviting him to continue. Arthur marvelled at the ability of walls to grow up so rapidly between them, but he knew he owed it to her to explain, so he carried on. "You know I do, 'things' to help the people, that I discuss with no one, not even you. But the new BST tech has endangered that and while I am working on bypassing it, until I do find a solution, I can't work as I normally do. I would ruin my 'operations' for good if I did." Gwen looked up at this, hopeful that maybe she had her husband back for the forseeable future. One look at his sad face and she knew she ought never to raise her hopes with this man. "Thing is," he faltered. "The thing is Gwen. They are going to put to death fifty children, and I can't just allow that to happen. My usual MO is out of action, so," and here he looked at her with worry. "I need to stop it myself."
"What do you mean 'yourself'?"
"As me. As Arthur. I will go and stop it."
She grasped at him, shaking his shoulders horrified. "Are you crazy? When they see you go against the state, you'll be dubbed a traitor. They'll kill you. For Gods sake you don't stand a chance alone against heavily armed guard. And all the good you do as minister will be lost. What's wrong with you? When will you ever develop a sense of proportion?"
He removed her hands from her shoulders and said firmly. "They will likely just think I am young and foolish, with misguided idealism. I'm they're young, rising star, I doubt they woulkd kill me." Even he didn't sound convinced. "Nevertheless, I will not let anyone else die."
"Those deaths were not your fault., what are you trying to prove? You can't save everyone!"
He stood, pulling on his trousers with his back to her, trying to block out the distraction. "I can try" he said simply. Gwen remained in their bed, no longer attempting to restrain him. Tears ran down her face, but they were tears of anger rather than misery.
"I can't do this anymore Arthur. I can't wait around for the guard to drag your corpse through the door any longer. It's too hard." Arthur stopped at the door to their room. He slowed his breathing to calm himself, without turning to face her.
"Well, that is up to you" he uttered and without any further ado, he left her, mind focused on the task at hand. Gwen allowed a few more tears to run down her cheeks before wiping them away and bathing her eyes and determining that this man would make her cry no more.
........................................
From his spot crouched in the toy cupboard, Merlin could hear everything. A skipping rope fell off the top shelf and wrapped its way around him. He jerked and shook it off. He could hear the dangerous tones of the men outside.
"This sounds treasonous to me Arthur. You are going against the first principles of state" Dr Kanen said, his eyes glinting.
"Not at all" said Arthur smoothly, playing down the nervousness that twisted his gut. "I merely think that at present, it would be counter productive to release these children. You need to do these things at the right time. The tide of public opinion could turn against us with this massacre of innocent children."
Kanen smirked as did the further two ministers with him, Valiant and Edwin, minister of law. "I believe your choice of words betrays your feelings young Pendragon" smiled Valiant. "'Massacre' and 'innocent'. You are merely showing a weakness that the public has not shown for many years. They are ninety five percent convinced that we should not allow the suffering of these 'innocents' as you put it. It seems the only complainer is you. And we are more than capable of dealing with subversives. Particularly a snake in the grass found in our own regional council."
Arthur concentrated to slow his heart rate and his breathing, controlling his sweat glands, determined that they should not see his fear. "I am merely looking after the security of the state minister."
"Is that so?" Kanen scratched his chin thoughtfully and then thrust a syringe in Arthurs direction. "If that is so, you will have no problem demonstrating your state loyalty. There is a baby next door that is quadraplegic, of no use to anyone. You will terminate they're suffering before us all. I think you would agree that is the ultimate proof of fealty."
Merlin gaped, unable to believe what he was hearing so casually under discussion. He had no idea how, but he knew that minister Pendragon couldn't kill a baby. Which meant that he would in a moment die and then the entire home of children. His black shrouded hero was not racing to save the day as he had hoped. Merlin had no idea where his actions stemmed from, but almost spontaneously he felt himself pull his gun from its holster, leap from the cupboard and grab Arhtur around the neck, brandishing his weapon at the twenty or so assembled ministers and guards.
"Nobody move! Not one movement or blondie here gets it! Oi, that includes you, stay still!" he yelled flailing at a guard who had been creeping around the side. Arthur was bowled over. Whatever he had expected, a lunatic leaping from the cupboard to hostage him hadn't been top of his list.
Valiant twinkled. "Arthur Pendragon dead. I think I could live with that."
"But his father and the Eminence couldn't you fool!" hissed Edwin. Merlin pressed the barrel to Arthurs temple, praying he wouldn't set it off by mistake.
"You should have listened to him! I told him to persuade you on pain of death, but you ignored him. Now I will take my vengeance! If anyone touches a child in this place, I pull this trigger. Now back off!" Arthur suppressed an eye roll asd Merlin pulled him into the next room and bolted the door.
"What the hell was that!" he asked, waving his hand towards the door.
"I was saving your life. The usual response is 'thank you' " said Merlin crossly. He turned and for the first time saw Arthur Pendragon up close. He understood now what Morgana meant about his beauty bewitching the masses. He glowed like a cherubim, not the kind depicted as babies but the ancient sort, showing the strongest angels of valour. His eyes were the first thing that you were drawn to, like blue cornflowers in the midst of a rapeseed meadow. Merlin suddenly caught on to the fact he was staring.
"Do I have dirt on my face or something?" asked Arthur. Merlin blushed. "I really didn't require saving, I had it all in hand. In fact you just interrupted me at a crucial point in my plan."
"Oh, so there was a plan then?" enquired Merlin sarcastically. "See, I was under the impression you were winging it in there."
"What? As oppposed to your quick thinking?" retorted Arthur. "You've gone and locked us in a room with only one exit and no windows. What were you planning on doing? Shooting your way out with a hand gun? Or perhaps make them laugh themselves to death with your poor excuse for acting. Was that little display really supposed to convince them that you were controlling me? 'I will take my vengeance?' " Arthur began to laugh. "Yeah, great master of subterfuge you are!"
Merlin wanted to respond, call him ungrateful, make some witty come back of all come backs. But he realised he had in fact shut them in a room with no conceiveable way out. "Bugger."
Arthur snorted. "Well, thanks for the attempt anyway. What were you doing in the cupboard? Are you one of the inmates here?"
"No!" said Merlin. "And do you think you could stop being a prat for five minutes so we could work out a way out of here." Arthur nodded.
"Well if we don't want one of us to end up dead, the door is not an option. And I really think an idiot like you ought to live to entertain us another day." Merlin glowered, but refrained from commenting further. Arthur sighed, resigned to fate. "What we really need is to blow ourselves out of here, but I don't have any arsenel with me this time." Merlin brightened up and looked around for something he could use. His eyes settled on the red stone hung as a pendant around Arthurs neck. It sat just right, in the centre drawing Merlins attention to his clavicles. He mentally berated himself that no one had any business being distacted by someones clavicles.
"What?" asked Arthur. "Do you have a shoulder bone fetish or something?"
"No!" groused Merlin. He wished said clavicles were attached to someone of a sweeter disposition. "Look, would you believe me if I told you I wasn't completely useless?" Arthur raised his eyebrows, grin plastered immoveable to his face. Merlin wondered how it was that they could be in such danger, yet still be at such ease in each others company. It was perplexing. "Look, this will sound crazy, but I can do magic."
"Great!" smirked Arthur. "So you can just blast us out of here."
"No" sighed Merlin. And really, he was getting very tired of this. "I said magic, not that I'm a God. I can blast us out of here given the right conditions. I need an object to project. Your pendant is ideal." He held out his hand, beckoning for the stone. Arthur complied.
"Well, thanks for clearing that up. I was in danger of mistaking you for a God."
"Shut up" said Merlin, as he held out the stone in his palm and called "Geonbraedee, hilderaes!" The red stone grew until it was the size of a large boulder then it flew at the wall, smashing through, rubble falling in its wake. The cool outside air blew into the ruined room.
"I'm impressed" smiled Arthur. "Not just a pair of large ears then." Merlinstuck his tongue out and then wondered at which point they had become so juvenile. Arthur was already on the move. "We need to act quickly while we still have the advantage. Can you lock all exits to where the ministers are?" Merlin nodded.
"Temporarily."
"Good enough. Then we need to take the children out through the sewer."
Merlin was unsure if he had heard correctly. "The sewer? Isn't that a bit gross?"
"Better than being dead. They will have Dna samples for all of the children and will doubtlessly have scanned you when you were imprisoned, so they will try to track us. I doubt however they will aim their trackers through the sewers."
"Oh. Well, I've locked the doors. That just leaves the children."
Fifteen minutes later, Merlin was helping to lead fifty disabled or mentally handicapped children through the sewers. Arthur, ahead of him, had one child clinging to his back and two children that were unable to walk in his arms. The children seemed quite taken with their blond rescuer and skipped after him.
One little boy pulled at Merlins sleeve. "You smell!" he announced solemnly. Merlin heard Arthur snicker up ahead. How he managed to leap down the manhole, landing sure footed as Merlin passed the children down to him, while Merlin tumbled down, landing in the sewage, was beyond unfair. At least the children had found it amusing.
"Not far now beautiful" said Arthur to a down syndrome girl that had caught hold of his shirt and was refusing to let go.
Arthur put the children down as he spied light at the end of the tunnel. He leapt out of the exit, into the awaiting ocean waves. Merlin edged to the opening and noted a tawler on the waves.
"You arranged this?" he asked.
"They can't stay in the Isles" said Athur. "They'll be found to quickly with the new technology and endangered again. "These people will take them to a new life in Africa."
"Will the boat hold?" questioned Merlin.
"These guys no what they're doing, and it's they're best chance." He was taking the children from Merlin and lifting them into the boat. A girl began to cry.
"I want to stay with you." Arthur kissed her forehead.
"As soon as it is safe darling, we'll bring you back okay?" The girl didn't seem reassured but allowed herself to be placed in the boat. As it sailed away, Arthur and Merlin waded through the waves to the shore. Merlin was beginning to feel self conscious as their shirts clung to them, his to his skinny frame. Arthurs to his muscular form. Merlins throat felt dry and he was glad the water was so cold to dampen down any reactions in him.
Once on dry land, Arthur threw himself on to the rocks and tossed back his head. "So I was thinking, I need to be convincing in my whole 'I was kidnapped by an idiot' story. So I could probably use some bruises."
Merlin was busy wringing out his shirt. He stopped, confused. "You want me to hit you?"
Arthur grinned, hands tucked behind his head. "Merely for evidence, to prove myself loyal to the state, blah, blah blah. It's not as if you could manage it in reality."
"Argh!" Merlin yelled and trew himself at him so that he landed on his lap, his thighs on either side of Arthurs hips. His fist raised in the air now held precariously in place. "Are you sure?" he whispered.
"Just do it" Arthur instructed. Merlin connected with Arthurs left eye. "For Gods sake, harder than that! Call that a right hook?" Merlin grimaced and struck him again, this time with more force. "Good" said Arthur, standing up, knocking Merlin off as he went. "Now if you could just hit my side with..." he looked around. "Maybe that piece of driftwood, I think I'll be convincing enough." Merlin reluctantly swung the branch with all his might into his side. Arthur doubled back. "Perfect. Now I need to head back to parliament to reenact my great escape. You need to stay here for now. They will track you."
Merlin shivered. Arthur rubbed his side. "You'll be alright. I'll make sure someone comes for you."
"I don't want to go to Africa" sighed Merlin. "And I really thought he'd come" he muttered under his breath.
"What?"
Merlin started. "Nothing."
"I'll make sure it isn't Africa Merlin. And I'm sure he'd be here if he could." Merlin looked up questioningly.
"No questions, I'll be back for you. And Merlin? Thank you."
Merlin crouched by the shore, wondering why he always ended up left alone in wildernesses while hot men walked away from him. And he wondered, what the hell just happened today.