Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, but I do own Diedre and Endrich.

Chapter 2

Merlin wasn't sure what woke him up first: the pounding in his head or the pain in his arms. Groaning, his eyes blinked open, revealing a semi-fuzzy dark room. Merlin blinked once more and went to rub his eyes with his hand, but something held his hand back. His hands, he realized, were chained above him, his arms stretched painfully.

The room had cleared and Merlin now saw that it was small room, with the only light coming from a small crack under the door. Other then that one small light, the room was dark, leaving Merlin unable to see any further then a foot. He moved slightly, straightning himself so that he wasn't putting any undo pressure on his bound arms.

Merlin jumped slightly as something moved behind him. Chains clinked together as the person behind him moved, as if trying to make himself comfortable.

"Are you awake yet Merlin?" Arthur's voice rang out and Merlin sighed in relief.

"If I say I'm not will you quit all that moving around?" Merlin replied.

Arthur stopped moving.

"About time." Arthur grunted. "Where do you think we are?"

"A cell." Merlin answered, only to be rewarded by Arthur kicking him in the back of the leg. "Ow! What was that for?"

"For being an idiot." Arthur replied, grinning in the darkness.

Merlin started to make a retort, but was cut off by the opening of the door, letting light flood into the room. Both men had to close their eyes, the sudden light to bright for them. Four pairs of footsteps came into the room, bringing torches with them. After a few moments, they were able to open their eyes without being blinded and saw that the black-eyed woman had entered, flanked by three large bodyguards.

"Ah good," the woman, Deidre, said with a smirk. "You're awake. Now we may begin."

"Begin what?" Arthur asked, straining his head to look around at the woman over his and Merlin's shoulders.

The woman didn't answer. She motioned lazily with her hand and the three guards moved instantly. Two grasped Arthur's arms tightly while the third reached up with a key and unlocked the chains holding the prince. As soon as he was free, the two holding his arms dragged a struggling Arthur over toward the woman, leaving Merlin hanging alone.

The two holding Arthur threw him to the ground before Diedre. The prince started to stand, but two rough hands on his shoulders kept him kneeling before his captor. She looked down at him, her black eyes studying him. Arthur glared up at her, wishing looks could kill.

"Tell me, little prince," Deidre began, her face void of all emotions. "What is the chance of you telling me all I wish to know without a fight?"

"None." Arthur growled.

"I thought as much." She shrugged. "I am glad you are stubborn, Arthur Pendragon. If you were not, I might not be able to have my pleasure."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Arthur asked, ceasing his struggles temporarily.

"Endrich." The woman said, ignoring Arthur. "Show the prince here what will happen should he not give us the answers we seek."

"With pleasure, my lady." Endrich, the biggest of the three bodyguards, replied, a grin crossing his face and revealing yellowed and missing teeth.

Arthur straightened as much as he could, expecting a blow. To his surprise, Endrich didn't come for him. Instead, the big man turned toward Merlin, who's eyes had widened as he caught onto what was happening.

The two men holding Arthur picked him up and turned him around. Arthur felt his breath catch in his throat as Endrich rolled his sleeves up and stretched his arms in front of him, slowly, as if he had all the time in the world. Then, his fist shot out, catching Merlin in the stomach and doubling him over. Three more blows followed after, each to the same spot. Merlin bit his lip, trying not to let a sound escape, but he groaned in pain regardless.

"Stop!" Arthur exclaimed, eyes wide as Merlin recieved two more blows, these further to the side.

"This is just a simple exampe, little prince." Diedre stated calmly. "Should you not give us what we want, your friend will suffer."

An involuntary yelp came from Merlin as Endrich hit him on the ribs, a resounding "crack" hurting Arthur's ears. Merlin's eyes were clenched shut and he bit his lip, stubbornly keeping all the pain inside. Endrich glanced back at Deidre, who gave a small nod. Endrich nodded back and turned back toward Merlin. He sent one last punch, this time to Merlin's face. Merlin's head snapped to the side, blood trickling from a newly split lip.

Endrich walked back, rolling his sleeves down with a satisfied look on his face. Merlin hung there, weight on his arms, with his head bowed low and his eyes closed against the pain. Diedre turned to Arthur and met his furious gaze with ease.

"Now, little prince," she said, stepping toward him. "It is your turn. Every castle must have a weakness. Tell me, what is Camelot's?"

Arthur shook his head, glaring daggers.

"There are none. Camelot is inpenatrable."

"No castle is inpenatrable." Diedre snapped, grabbing Arthur's chin tightly. Her black eyes narrowed and Arthur felt a chill go down him, her hands cold as ice. "Now tell me! Where is Camelot vunerable?"

Arthur jerked his head out of her grasp and held it high, meeting her gaze coldly. He said nothing, refusing to betray Camelot. Deidre sneered, her pretty face twisting into ugliness.

"Very well then." A small, cruel grin spread across her face as she backed away from Arthur. She looked at her three guards. "Hold him. Remember, not to many bruises. We wouldn't want dear old Uther not to pay us the ransom simply because his son is a little bruised, now would we?"

Merlin had finally looked back up, a pained expression in his eyes. He watched Deiddre walk toward him warily. Something in him was telling him this was not going to be bad-even worse then the beating-but he couldn't see what he could do. Had Arthur not been in teh room, he could have used his magic to escape, but he couldn't run the risk of exposing his magic. He swallowed nervously, watching her closely, ucnertainly.

She walked up to him, grin still on her face. In her black eyes, Merlin could see something, a sort of mad glee, and his fear suddenly doubled. He straightened up, meeting her gaze, refusing to back down despite the fear she caused him. She stood just inches in front of him, an eager grin on her face. Her hand raised and she pressed it gently against his chest. He could feel the icy cold of her hands through his shirt.

"Arteithiol gwewyr!" She chanted, her eyes blazing crimson.

Red light fromed at her hand, before fading into Merlin. The pain hit immediatly. It started in his chest, a dull pounding, and then it grew in strength until it was as if someone was taking a hammer to his chest. His breath became faster and he gasped, trying to collect enough air. His lungs felt as if they were closing in on themselves, refusing to hold air.

Then the pain spread. His shoulders and arms suddenly felt as if they were on fire. The burning sensation was worse then any he had ever felt before and he straightened up, trying to release the strain on his arms. But then it felt as if his knees had been kicked as they gave out from under him. His arms caught him, his weight pulling hard and the shackles cutting into his wrists causing blood to flow down his arm. The shackles seemed to tighten around his wrists until they pushed against bone, threatning to break his wrists in half.

A sudden pain in his stomach caused him to let out an involuntary cry. He had been poisioned before, but that pain was nothing compared to this. It was as if a knife was at his stomach, carving slowly, carefully. Then another and another was added until it felt as if a whole army was carving into him. He couldn't hold back the shout of pain as the knives moved to his back, carving into him, creating unbearable pain.

That one shout broke his barriers and was soon followed by more as the pain intensified. The cutting sensation dissappeared, only to be replaced by that of fire. His whole body felt as if it was on fire, burning from the inside out. His eyes clenched shut tightly, tears of agony threatning to spill, and his hands balled into fists, his nails digging into his flesh until drops of blood appeared. Cuts, small but endlessly painful, began to appear along his body. Blood ran, staining his clothes. He struggled to escape. His body was shaking violently, his knees refusing to hold his weight.

And through it all, the icy cold hand of Deidre remained on his chest. Finally the pain became to much and, with one last scream, Merlin fell into blessed darkness.

Spell Translation

Arteithiol gwewyr- Excruciating pain