Hi! It's Lunatris262! Next chapter is up! Hope you like it!


Merlin POV:

Stay away. Don't let them want to hurt you. Keep your mouth shut. Don't speak. Stay silent.

I stare into one of the iron bars the are in front of me. One of my pastimes, other than trying not to think. Just staring. "Boy!" My eyes dart around the camp. "Dinner."

The magic restraint made me weak and sick, "Give it to someone else." I am going to regret that.

"Then, go get some firewood."

"I can't, too weak." What happened to staying quiet?

My master looks at me. He is big and wears a bounty hunter uniform. Balding with slightly gray stubble. He and sneers, "Do you really think I heard your whispering? Do you really think I haven't noticed that you've stopped? You are useless. Did you honestly think that your king would come for you? A servant? A sorcerer?" The words cut into me like a blade. "There is no king coming. He would never help a sorcerer."

I can't help but believe my master. It has been a month. And I am scared. I am going to be sold. And Arthur doesn't care. I am a sorcerer. A monster. I bury my face in my hands. He was my friend. Now, I am going to die. If this collar stays on me long enough, it will kill me. I will explode and it will probably feel good right about now. I am so scared. Not of death, but of how I will die. Arthur could kill me. I could die in this cage. I could kill myself. But, I never thought it would come to any of those. I thought that I would die by Arthur's side. I guess not. I never got to say goodbye to Gwen or Lancelot. Gwaine. Not even Gaius or my mother. Maybe my new owner will let me send a letter to them. Then, I can die. If I even make it until then.

"Your new mistress is coming soon." I have been sold. Back away. Into the corner. Don't let them see you cry. Don't cry. Back away. Stay there. They are going to kill you. Don't let them see you scared.

"I have been sold?" The man nods. "To who?"

"Hello, Merlin," an overly sweet voice says. Back away. My spine presses into the bars, opening so many cuts and wounds. Morgana comes up to the cage. Which is worse, Arthur or Morgana? Who is worse? "Don't be afraid. I am not going to hurt you." The man opens the door and Morgana steps in. Her green eyes have some hope in them, but kindness, too. I search them, for anything that would try to cause me harm. She puts a pale and slender hand toward my neck, I clench my eyes shut. All she does is unlock the collar. Then stands up. She extends a hand toward me, and I brace myself for the hit. When it doesn't happen, I open one eye, then the other. "Merlin, I told you, I am not going to hurt you. I promise."

Is it true? Is Morgana the one to trust? They unlock my shackles, too. "You aren't going to hurt me?" I ask her, sounding like a terrified child. Morgana shakes her head. "I am safe?" She nods and I hug my mistress, "Thank you," I sob into Morgana's shoulder.

"Come on, Merlin," Morgana says kindly, "Let's get you home." I snatch my whole body away, despite the pain it brings. She is taking me to Camelot. I am going to die. No. No. Her face is suddenly filled with concern, "Merlin, what's wrong?"

"I can't go back. I can't go to Camelot." Arthur is there. He might kill me. I want Arthur, but not for him to kill me.

Morgana giggles, "Oh, Merlin. I am not going to take you to Camelot. I am going to take you where I live. It is near Ealdor, you can see your mother. You can stay with me. I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise." I take Morgana's hand.

"Okay," I whisper. I am free. Morgana transports me to her house. She will protect me. I can be loyal again. This time, with no secrets.

Arthur POV:

"Oh, Merlin. It was all a lie, all an act. And I fell for it. I forgive everything. In fact, I'm not sure if there is anything to forgive. But, I am doing so anyway. I know why you lied. You didn't want to die. I was going to make magic legal. I know that it all isn't evil. It saved Gwen. You saved Gwen. You aren't evil. I am so sorry. For everything. Please, Merlin, I am desperate. Desperate enough to say please. Please still be alive. Please still be my Merlin. Come back. I promise, I will never hurt you again. If you don't want to come to Camelot again, or if you don't ever want to see me again, I understand. But you will always be welcome, and I hope you can forgive me.

Your Friend, Arthur." I wrote it all down, in case Merlin doesn't want to listen to me. I will give him the letter, and leave. I hope he knows that I never wanted to hurt him. I am so sorry. I hope he comes back.

I ride with Gwaine, Lancelot, and Mordred. Mordred has become very quiet since Merlin was kidnapped. All three of them have, actually. Gwaine was itching to leave, he wouldn't even have any liquor, and when Gwaine doesn't have liquor, he means business. Lance just looks worried. I feel like my face almost mirrors his.

"I knew," Lancelot suddenly says.

"It's okay," I tell him, trying to get over the fact that Merlin trusted him more than me.

"He didn't tell me. I saw him, when we defeated the gryphon. It wasn't me. It was Merlin. Arthur, Merlin is stronger than he seems."

Gwaine cuts in, angry, "If Merlin is hurt, I am going to kill the men that did it. And then probably you, and I would hate for Merlin to see that," he is all serious. No jokes, no princess. I just want to get Merlin home.

"I know, Gwaine. I will probably kill myself if Merlin isn't alive. I am praying to every deity I can think of. Merlin is worth more than any ordinary knight. He is my friend and I don't care if you won't let me live that down."

Gwaine continues, "I know that, but does Merlin? You put him through abuse day in and day out. Because of all that abuse, he might think that you aren't coming. Or worse, he may think that you are coming with a death sentence."

"I almost did."

"What are you talking about, Arthur?" Gwaine is enraged right now.

"We all almost did. He was Dragoon. He walked up to the pyre to save Gwen. I almost executed my best friend. That's why he would stare into the fire. He was trying to overcome fear. I can't believe I just realized that. He would almost never watch executions." Merlin was right to be afraid. He was right and I am so sorry. I see his captors a few paces below. Fear grips my stomach, where is Merlin? Please be alive. I won't hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you. I jump down right in front of the boss.

"Where is Merlin?" I say, sword pointed right at his chest.

"Oh, the boy. Red neckerchief?" I nod, remembering the ridiculous thing he would wear around his neck, "I sold him only hours ago. To the Lady Morgana. Oh, he was so broken." The man big, balding man seems to relish in the memory. I think it's revolting. "At first, he was so scared that she was going to hurt him. But then, after moments of coaxing, he came out. To see a familiar face and to have a chance to be free, he knew he couldn't pass that up. You may have lost him for good." I refrain from sobbing, I can't look weak in front of these monsters.

"What else?" Gwaine says, knowing that I can't keep it together much longer.

"He thought you would come. Any of you. I could hear him whispering. He begged for you to take him. Even though he realized that you would keep him in a cell or banish him. He pleaded that if he was to die, then for you to make it quick. Anything but fire. As time went on, he knew that you couldn't hear him. That you weren't coming. He became silent."

"Where did Morgana take Merlin?" I ask.

"How should I know? They transported." Oh, Merlin, I am so sorry.

I am so angry, "I should kill you. Merlin was innocent, and you took that from him."

The man chuckles, "You have no idea. He had so many scars. We only added to the bunch."

I would never hurt Merlin. There is not a kind soul that could, "If you find him, you are to bring him to Camelot, with no harm done to him. Got it?"

The man nods quickly as the knights have to almost drag me to my horse. We send a letter to the rest of the knights. I am going to find Merlin. Even if it's the last thing I do.

Merlin POV:

"Why are you helping me?" I ask Morgana.

"Because you are alone. I am the only one you can trust." Tears form in my eyes.

"Oh, come here, sweetie." I walk into Morgana's open arms, and sob into her shoulder. Why did I think she was evil? "I won't make you go back. You can stay here. I promise I won't hurt you. I won't let anyone hurt you. I can even take you to your mother. I forgive you for everything. You were blind to the truth. I am offering my friendship."

But, Arthur is my friend. No, was my friend. I am so confused. "I won't have to hurt anyone?"

"No, Merlin, not if you don't want to."

"Where is my cell?"

"Now, Merlin, why would you have to stay in a cell?"

"Because I am a servant and a monster."

"No, Merlin. You are my friend. I will bring you to your room and then you can rest. It is right across from mine. I will bring you some dinner. Okay?" I nod. Morgana leads me up some of the stairs. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Morgana is my friend and not Arthur. But, if that's true, why am I still afraid of both of them?


Okay. So, please tell me what you think. Is Morgana really good or is this just an act? I think I am going to change the POV way that I write, but don't worry, it will almost be the same. I should have the next chapter up in a day or two. Possibly three but it shouldn't take longer. Now, I have also heard that some people are planning on kidnapping Merlin and taking BBC's rights to it. Anyone who knows of this, PM me because I want a part in it. lol. Anyway, please review and I will try to update ASAP! Also, I plan on ending each Author's Note with a Merlin quote. Here we go,

"Sometimes you've got to do what you think is right, and damn the consequences." I think you all know who said this. Post in your review an answer and I will say who said it in the next chapter.

XOXO,

~Lunatris262~