A/N- This is only the second fanfiction I've ever written, so sorry about any mistakes! I wrote it as if the last ever episode of Merlin "The Diamond of the Day Part 2" went a bit differently. Gwaine didn't go to find and kill Morgana, so he didn't die, and she didn't find out where Merlin and Arthur were heading. Arthur was healed but he and Merlin were caught on the way back to Camelot and Morgana's soldiers managed to take over the castle. The title is Old English for someone who lives apart from all others, or a solitary being, which is how Merlin feels for most of the story!


Red smeared across the stone floor like a sunset over grey clouds. Gwaine stumbled to his feet and swung the sword at his attacker. His hasty blow missed its target and the larger man easily hit him on his bare back with the flat of his sword. The hall was lit only by fire-light and the shadows of the two fighting men looked like bears on the walls. No-one saw, of course, as they were too engrossed in the "tournament" to notice.

Merlin bit back a shouted warning as Gwaine nearly tripped over an unconscious previous adversary. The last time Merlin had tried to help him, Morgana had thrown the servant's food to the dogs and forced him to watch, starving, as the dogs devoured his bread. While he wanted to help his friend, he would be of no use to him dead. He had been forced to kneel next to Morgana's – no, Arthur's – throne, to watch the fighting. It went on every day. The group of prisoners must nominate someone to fight for their food. Arthur was still wounded although Merlin knew he must be healing well, and he dreaded the day he would undoubtedly volunteer. Gwen and Gaius were never even considered, much to Gwen's disgust. The three remaining knights – Gwaine, Percival and Leon – would usually take turns. Morgana had done this when she had briefly held the castle before and it seemed to be one of her favourite games.

Suddenly a sharp voice rang out, echoes hitting the walls like knives.

"Emrys! Fetch our fighter some water. We can't have him dying now, can we?" Morgana's voice had a strange quality to it. She spoke how Merlin imagined a panther would speak – soft and honey-like, but with notes of danger behind it. He hated to hear her speak his true name.

He stood up and began to walk quickly across the room, avoiding the rowdy mob surrounding the knight who now had blood seeping from a cut above his eye and one on his ribs. Heavy, dull metal chains hung from Merlin's wrists and rattled when he moved. Arthur had once told him that they were the sort of chains that weren't designed to restrict movement, more to remind the wearer of what they were – a prisoner. For him, they had an entirely different use. After Gaius killed the creature Morgana used to steal his magic, she had no way of completely removing his magic without killing him - instead, she had to contain it. The cuffs had some sort of runes on from the time of the old magic. Gaius had once told Merlin of Druids who had lost people they loved to sickness or injury, and driven themselves mad trying to find ways of bringing them back. The only way to protect the poor souls from themselves was to restrain their magic until their mind returned.

Soft footsteps barely disturbed the silence in the lower levels of the castle, and the only sound was the heavy breathing of a guard as Merlin walked down the stairs to the kitchens. He knew the guard well – it was Tarrian, who he had been treating for a wheeze until Morgana attacked. He shook his head at the memory and paused to look out of a window across the dark fields surrounding the castle. The moon hung in the sky and reminded him of the shining orbs of light he used to create so that he could read from his treasured books, even when the sun had long set. Now, he could no longer read even if he could have made the light, for Morgana made him sleep outside the door of her chambers.

When she had taken the castle, and the knights, the king, his wife and Gaius stood before her in chains, Morgana had dragged Merlin in front of her.

"For you, the cells are too good. You have spoiled my plans for too long for me to allow you to see you friends. You will wear the chains for the rest of your life, and never again feel the warmth of magic in your heart. And... You will serve me, like you served your beloved king."

Merlin had spat at her, and sworn he would never serve the likes of her. Morgana had simply nodded at a guard, who struck Gwen with the flat of his sword.

"Will you serve me now?" She asked, as the echoes of Gwen's scream died down. "Or do I have to do it again?"

"No, no stop! I will, if you will not hurt Arth- the king. Or any of his subjects!" It pained Merlin to say it, but he knew that Morgana would kill without a second thought. He looked round to see Arthur staring at him with an expression in his eyes that Merlin could not quite interpret. He hardly dared hope it might be pride.

Since then, Merlin's life had been hell. He had not seen Arthur, Gwen or Gaius and had only seen the knights when they were fighting. In fact, he had not had a friendly word spoken to him in weeks.

Merlin placed the full cup back on the table and grunted in annoyance when the chain wouldn't stretch quite far enough for him to turn off the tap as he did it. Suddenly, an idea struck him. Merlin spun around, looking for a piece of parchment. He could put a note inside the cup, and Gwaine could keep it in his mouth... Of course, Gwaine was in dire need of water but this was more important. Grabbing the quill the cook used to write out recipes for the apprentices, he thought for a moment before beginning to write on the piece of paper.


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