Bonds sealed with blood

If Merlin were told that he and Arthur were to be attacked and captured, and said informant asked him to predict where aforementioned ambush would occur, Merlin would have immediately guessed, "While on patrol," or, "On one of Arthur's stupid hunting trips." He might have even ventured as far as to suggest the likelihood of such an event happening during one of Uther's tiresome banquets, or another useless tournament, or while some mysteriously ominous visitor lurked in the shadows of the citadel.

But he never would have pictured this happening.

"Only you, Arthur," Merlin grimaced, "could manage to get yourself kidnapped in bed. What happened to 'I've been trained to kill since birth,' huh?"

"Shut up, Merlin," Arthur grumbled, fumbling behind himself in the darkness for the ends of the icy iron chains strapping him to the wall. "I was simply… caught unawares." His face reddened, and he was momentarily glad for the obscurity offered by the gloom of the unlit cell.

"Yeah, well at least I was awake when they got me."

"What did you do, scare them with your non-existent combat skills?"

"No," Merlin scowled irritably. "I was walking across the courtyard after leaving your chambers and they hit me from behind."

"Well I suppose it wouldn't take much to knock you out, would it?" It was Arthur's turn to scowl as he realized that the spare file that he stored in his boot had been removed. He paused with a sudden realization. "Why would they want you too?" he murmured out loud.

Merlin shifted uncomfortably in the darkness. "I don't know." But he had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that grew with the suspicion that he did indeed know who was behind this, and he could only fervently pray that he was mistaken.

"Morgana!" Arthur growled, and Merlin woke with a start, heart pounding. No. It couldn't be.

"Dear brother, don't act so surprised. It's not as if I haven't already made my intentions towards you and your kingdom perfectly clear." She spat, gliding across the dungeon floor menacingly only to reach out and run her hand along Arthur's cheek mockingly. "And now look at you. Not so mighty now, are you?"

Arthur clenched his jaw, tilting his chin defiantly. "You can do whatever you wish with me, Morgana. But please, let Merlin go."

Merlin suppressed a slight gasp, but Morgana simply laughed in Arthur's face. "So noble of you…" she sighed dramatically. "Yet I'm afraid that just won't be possible." A faint, bitter smile traced itself across her anger-ravaged face. "You see, Merlin is a vital part of my plan, and I can't just let him go."

Merlin was surprised at how desperate Arthur seemed, a deep frown etched across his face in the flickering torchlight. "Please, Morgana. If you remember or care at all about the friendship we once shared, please let him go. I give you my word as King of Camelot that I will submit myself fully to whatever torture you have planned, but please."

Morgana's eyes darkened, glittering maniacally, and Arthur realized he had made a mistake in bringing up anything having to do with Camelot. He mourned the fact that his once compassionate, fair, childhood friend had come so far, had become all but unrecognizable for the woman she had once been. Magic. Magic corrupted her, he reminded himself, but it hurt, to see such anger and hatred in those once kind eyes, to sense how unstable that just, virtuous mind of hers had become.

"You could promise me anything, Arthur Pendragon, and I wouldn't give up this opportunity. You see, it is vengeance I seek. Vengeance against those who cast me away, those would kill me in an instant for who I am, and those who have taken what is rightfully mine. You, Arthur Pendragon, will pay dearly for what you have cost me. And Merlin will suffer with you."

Before he could say another word, Morgana had swept furiously from the dungeon with the clang of iron on stone, and left them at the mercy of the dank, cold cell.

Merlin tentatively reached out for his magic only to find, to his disgust and confusion that the deep, golden spring of magic that usually filled him had slowed to a trickle and was covered with an oily, stagnant layer that made it slip from his grasp whenever he tried to access it. He shivered, scanning the dungeon around him. Something horrible had once happened here, and whether Morgana knew it or not, the residue of the evil that had once taken root in this prison still lingered in the shadows, and remained strong enough to prevent escape with a simple spell.

Arthur sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, Merlin. That you have to be here."

Merlin shook himself from his reverie. "What?!"

"You heard me."

"Was that an apology I heard? From Arthur Pendragon? Are you feeling alright, sire?"

Arthur's lips twitched upwards. "I'm serious, you clotpole." He sighed again. "What I mean is… that I wish you didn't have to go through this, but if I had to choose someone to face death with, it would be you. You're probably the bravest man I've ever met, and the only real friend."

Merlin's eyes shone. "Don't let that go to your head," Arthur laughed.

Merlin grinned in response. "I hardly think you of all people should be worrying about other people's over-inflated egos."

Arthur snorted. "Idiot."

"Prat."

"Dollophead."

"Hey, for the last time, that's my word!" Merlin protested. But Arthur, satisfied that he had gotten the last word, had already shut his eyes and proceeded to ignore Merlin's objections. Merlin, seeing as they weren't going anywhere anytime soon, proceeded to follow his example, and soon they both were asleep.

A/N: Hello everyone, and happy belated Thanksgiving! I know I should really have posted another chapter for "Destinies Intertwined," but this idea just wouldn't leave me alone... so here it is! :)