A/N I never know what to say in these notes I just feel like I am supposed to say something. So here it goes… I hope you enjoy and chapter 2 will be posted soon!
Merlin was hungry. It was late in the day and he hoped Arthur would call a halt soon. Three days ago news had reached Camelot that raiders had attacked one of the outlying villages. Arthur had led the knights himself, and when they had reached the village the raiders were quickly dealt with. There were not many of them and when they had seen the Knights of Camelot most of them fled.
The battle had been short, almost too easy, thought Merlin. He shook his head; he was being paranoid, expecting trouble at every turn. He should try and be more trusting. The raiders had simply not expected to see four knights and the King of Camelot running at them. Merlin grinned, the raiders really should have known better than to attack a village in Arthur's kingdom. Arthur would protect his people no matter how poor they were.
"What are you grinning at?" The king in question demanded.
"Nothing." Merlin answered. Arthur raised his eyebrows. Merlin decided it was time to change the subject. He pointed out how late it was getting and suggested they should make camp.
"Are you getting hungry?"
"Yes."
"We could always ride through the night." Arthur mused. Merlin's face fell.
"You can't be serious?"
Arthur laughed, and then raised his voice to address the knights. "If my memory serves there is a stream ahead. We'll camp there for the night."
"And how far ahead is this stream?"
"Don't worry, Merlin, we'll reach it before dark. You can cook supper for us." Arthur said and kicked his horse forwards. Gwaine drew up alongside Merlin and tossed him an apple.
"Always travel with food."
"Where did you get this?"
"The villagers were very grateful for our services." Gwaine said with a shrug. Percival nudged his horse closer to the two.
"Then why didn't I get any apples?"
"You don't need any you're already too big."
Percival began to answer but he did not have the time. Just as he opened his mouth an arrow embedded itself in the tree by Percival's head. "We're under attack." Yelled Leon, "Get to higher ground" Another arrow flew past and it was only Merlin's magic that stopped it from hitting Leon.
Men came rushing in from all sides. The once peaceful forest was filled with noise and confusion. Percival charged a group that were attacking Arthur and Elyan. Leon was unhorsed and fighting two men. A mace wielding man ran at Gwaine, yelling madly. Gwaine's horse reared in terror and the knight tumbled to the ground.
Merlin jumped down and ran to Gwaine's side; the knight was unconscious, knocked out by the fall. Crouched down by Gwaine, Merlin scanned the melee for Arthur and just as he caught sight of the king someone grabbed him from behind pinning his arms to his sides.
"Arthur!" He yelled, trying to twist out of the hands holding him, but his cry was muffled by a foul smelling bag being thrust over his head. The lights and sounds of battle disappeared.
xxx
"Great, just great," Merlin slid down the wall to sit on the straw covered floor.
"It's not that bad." Gwaine said cheerfully.
"Not that bad? We are locked in a cell surrounded by guards, Arthur doesn't know where we are, and I don't even know who attacked us. But whoever they are they probably want to kill Arthur and are going to use us to get to him. How is that 'not that bad'?" Gwaine shrugged, "We will find a way to escape. We always do." Merlin just stared at him. How could Gwaine be so nonchalant at a time like this? How were they going to escape and get back to Camelot without weapons or horses or any supplies?
Merlin's frantic thoughts were interrupted by the cell door being pulled open. Four brutish men entered and Merlin and Gwaine were roughly escorted out of the cell and into a larger room farther down the passage way. Chains hung from the low ceiling and the walls were hung with knives, whips and other instruments that Merlin did not recognize and did not want to. Merlin shivered. The guards shoved him into the middle of the room and yanked his arms up over his head. His wrists were secured to the chains on the ceiling. The servant looked over at Gwaine to see that his friend was in the same position.
"Well a knight of Camelot and his trusty serving boy, this is a pleasure."
A figure materialized from the darkest corner and walked towards Gwaine. "Please allow me to introduce myself; I am Lord Madoc. I do not believe we have met before. Tell me your name knight?"
"Why do you care?"
Gwaine glared at Madoc and the lord looked back impassively. "I see you are not willing to give information. Very well, I will start with the servant. I wish to know of Camelot's defenses, tell me all you know."
Merlin looked at Lord Madoc with defiance. "I won't tell you anything." Madoc nodded in understanding and gestured to the guards, three of whom left to stand outside while the fourth cracked his knuckles. "You will tell me soon enough. Bors here can be very persuasive."
With a quick step forward the fourth guard, Bors, punched Merlin in the stomach knocking the air out of his lungs. Gasping for breath Merlin instinctively curled in on himself but the chains pulled at his wrists keeping him upright. Bors did not stop there though. Another blow fell and another. Gwaine was shouting, calling Madoc a coward, but the lord did not seem to notice, he looked almost bored in the dim light of the cell.
Merlin gritted his teeth determined not to show pain. The blows kept coming, hitting his chest and stomach. Gwaine strained against the chains holding him. This wasn't fair. Merlin did not deserve this. "Stop it. Just stop it please!"
Madoc turned his gaze on the knight. "You can stop this anytime you want. All you have to do is tell me what I want to know." He paused, waiting for Gwaine to answer, "No? Then you leave me no choice. I will break this servant of yours and when I have what I need I will kill him."
Gwaine strained against his chains in anger but he could do nothing but watch as Madoc took a slim knife from the wall. Bors stepped aside as Madoc approached Merlin. The servant was hanging limply, unable to keep himself standing. Wordlessly Madoc raised Merlin's chin with the tip of the knife, he smiled, then quick as a snake the blade slashed across Merlin's cheek. Merlin gave a cry of pain but cut it short and glared at the lord. "You are stronger then you look, boy. I think a new tactic is in order. Fetch the whip Bors."
"No, please. Let him go, do whatever you want to me but let him go." Madoc turned in surprise to Gwaine and laughed. "You are too soft knight. There is only one way to spare your precious servant. Tell me of Camelot's weaknesses."
"Don't say anything Gwaine, please." Merlin begged. Gwaine looked into Merlin's eyes. He knew Merlin was right. Whatever happened he could not betray Arthur and Camelot. There must be another way but Gwaine did not have time to think of one now. Madoc was using the knife to rip Merlin's shirt open leaving only tatters. Bors uncoiled the whip and at a nod from Lord Madoc cracked it across Merlin's back.
Merlin arched away in a futile attempt to escape from the pain and fear. The warlock felt his magic rising up trying to protect him and he forced it back down. He heard someone scream. He did not realize it was himself. It felt like his back was on fire. The white hot pain spread and filled all his senses.
He was unaware of Gwaine cursing Madoc and then begging him to stop. He was unaware of Madoc's gleeful smile. He was unaware of how long the whipping went on, it could have been minutes. It could have been days. He floated in a sea of semi consciousness with not enough strength to swim to the surface but unable to sink into the depths.
The chains about his wrists were undone and someone was lifting him up, and he was moving. He opened his eyes not realizing they had been closed. Gwaine face looked down at him. Gwaine was saying something. Merlin tried to listen but it was too hard. He closed his eyes and sunk into blackness.