"Why are we down here again?" asked Merlin, for the third time that hour.
"Because, Merlin, I haven't been down here since I was a child. I barely remember these parts of the castle. As king, I should know Camelot like the back of my hand."
"Well then, why am I down here then? Are you scared?" teased the manservant. For that, he received a slap on the head.
"Ow!" exclaimed Merlin, stopping to massage the back of head.
"Well, if you're not scared, you can make your way back. Without a torch," said Arthur, walking further into the passageway. Merlin peered over his shoulder at the way back. Well, the encroaching blackness that grew larger as Arthur moved away.
"So you've decided to join me? How nice." Merlin rolled his eyes at the king's sarcasm and looked around cautiously at the hallway. The place unsettled him for unknown reasons.
"So what's down here then?"
"I honestly don't know. Father sealed this part of the castle after The Great Purge. He said he had no use for it anymore, now that most of the sorcerers had been flushed out." Despite this unhelpful answer, Merlin became more unsettled at the mention of The Great Purge.
"Sire?"
"Huh?"
"You've been on edge since we started, and have been getting progressively worse."
"What? No. I'm fine," said Arthur, "Just a strange feeling about this place, that's all."
"Are you scared? I don't need the king of Camelot paralysed with fear at the sound of rat now do I?"
"I am NOT scared," spoke Arthur indignantly.
"Yeah, you are," retorted Merlin.
"I am n-" Arthur petered out, the last word caught his throat as they came to a stop in front of a large black door.
"Well, aren't you going to open it?" Arthur kept staring at the door, an uncontrollable shiver taking hold of his body.
"... I'll take that as a no." Shaking his head, Merlin opened the door, swinging it forward to connect with Arthur. Hard. The king jumped.
"Argh," grunted Arthur, composing himself , "You idiot. I'll have you polishing the silverware tonight."
"It's worth it, just to see your face," teased Merlin.
Arthur shot him a scathing look and shoved him into the room, following cautiously after.
"There, look, we went in. Now, let's go-there's plenty more down here. I think." Arthur turned around, heading out to leave.
"I said, let's go... Merlin?"
The manservant was clutching his ears and shaking his head, clearly agitated.
"What the hell Merlin?"
"Can't you hear it?"
"Hear what?"
"That noise."
"What noise? You could hear a pin drop in here. Seriously Merlin, get a grip."
But Merlin could indeed hear a noise. An agonising scream bore into ears. His attempts to shut it out, useless.
"You must be deaf, you clotpole."
As Merlin sunk to his knees in pain, Arthur received a vivid flashback to when he had last step foot in this room.
"Help," pleaded Merlin, "please."
"No," murmured Arthur, "no."
"... Arthur..." murmured Merlin, falling into unconsciousness.
Arthur backed away from Merlin, sliding down the nearest wall into a seated position, remembering everything about the room.