Hi there readers. This is my VERY FIRST Arthur story! So for those who read, please be gentle with the critics. I came up with this story idea, and although it's darker and meant for a mature audience, I still wanted to give it a-go. Please let me know what you think of it because I'm not really sure myself of what I think LOL.

If you like Merlin/OC stories, also take a look at my story Twisted, the more readers the better!

Above all, I hope you like this! I'm still in the works but I am working hard on it, so hopefully it shows and you like this story! More will be on the way eventually.

WARNING: Story is meant for mature audiences.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own anything related to BBC's Merlin series

What Lies Beneath

Chapter One: Her Cage

It had been like any other day for the prince and his manservant.

Arthur was greeted by Merlin in his usual manner, the sun suddenly gleaming into his eyes and burning his corneas. Then after reprimanding his idiotic servant, Arthur got ready for the day, ate his breakfast and met his father in the great hall where they began council meetings. After all of that had been said and done, the prince was given the rest of the day to do what he pleased.

Which was why the prince was out in the field, Merlin holding a tiny hoop just above his head.

"Sire, is this really necessary?" Merlin called out hesitantly as he glanced up at the ring in his hands. He glanced back at his master, the blond merely smirking back at him as he adjusted the joisting stick in his hand.

"Of course! I wouldn't ask for you to do this if it wasn't," the prince retorted back innocently, though his manservant could see right through it.

"Now, are you ready?"

"Would it matter if I said no?"

Without hesitation, Arthur dug his heels into his brown steed's stomach, causing the horse to rise on to its hind legs and charge towards Merlin. The manservant stared like prey staring into its hunter's eyes. He stood like a stone—motionless and stiff. It wasn't until the tip of Arthur's joisting stick began to zero-in towards his head that he squeezed his eyes shut, releasing a yelp as he released the ring after he felt the tug from Arthur.

Stumbling backwards, Merlin turned and looked back, watching as Arthur grabbed the hoop from his prop, smirking proudly at his friend. "Don't be such a girl, Merlin." Said servant rolled his eyes in response before shaking his head with a smile; he could never stay angry with his friend for too long.

"Where are the other knights?" Merlin finally inquired after realizing how bare the training field was looking. As he glanced around, his gaze fell upon Arthur, the prince riding up to him as he too began searching the area.

"Not sure. Perhaps they trained earlier this afternoon," he pointed out, though he himself was unsure of his own explanation. Shrugging the thought off, the prince sighed as he stepped down from his horse, handing the reigns to his servant.

"Instead of worrying about the knights, you should be worrying about the list of things I gave you that you still have yet to do!" Arthur snapped, Merlin immediately rolling his eyes. The servant winced as he received a solid smack on the back of his head, his master shaking his head. "Get to it!"

"Right, sire," Merlin said with a flippant smile, Arthur unable to fight back his own smile; his friend was such an idiot sometimes.

Watching his manservant walk back towards the citadel, Arthur stood in the training field for a moment. He stared at the few knights training amongst themselves before he shook his head, deciding to make his way back to his chambers.

~O~

As Arthur strolled through the corridor towards his bed room, he couldn't help but feel unsettled. There was something in the air that day that was just amiss. He couldn't quite place why, but whatever was causing this feeling only grew worse when the prince saw one of his knights inconspicuously make his way down the staircase that led towards the dungeon. His brows furrowed inward as he frowned, glancing around the empty hallway. Deciding to follow the voice of his intuition, the prince quickly made his way towards the staircase.

Making his way down each step, the blond made sure to keep silent; he was one with the shadows by the time he reached the bottom of the staircase. Peeking around the corner, Arthur watched as Sir Melville walked past the cells of the dungeon before turning left towards. Confusion consumed the prince, for the left corridor only led towards a dead end. Where was Melville going?

Not wasting time, Arthur quickly followed after Melville, ignoring the very few drunkards locked behind the cell bars bellowing at him. He quickly leered around the corner but blinked, completely shocked; Melville had disappeared.

"I—I don't understand," Arthur said to himself as he quickly glanced around the empty room. He looked from wall-to-wall, nothing in the room disturbed or moved.

Except—there was something.

The prince glanced down at the small pile of hay in the corner of the room. He raised a brow as he noticed something poking out from the floor board. His curiosity only grew as he slowly walked towards the object. Kneeling down, the prince dusted a few strands of straw from the floor before he raised a brow.

It seemed he had found a latch.

He hesitated for a moment. Arthur wasn't sure what he was going to find. And what was Melville beyond this floorboard? What was beneath this castle he had called home?

Ignoring the questions in his head, Arthur tugged the latch open, coughing as dust arose. He waved the specks away as he cleared his throat, sitting on one knee in order to get a better look. He narrowed his eyes, another set of stairs leading into the darkness below. He frowned as he stood to his feet, quietly following each step. His footsteps echoed through the silence before he finally reached the bottom of the rather spacious crawlspace. He took a moment to gather his bearings—

And what he found had shocked him to his core.