Wow so apparently people actually like my story! Thank you so much for the support. This pleases me greatly (I honestly expected to get a lot of slack since this is my first fanfic.)
Quote Prompt from Method in Madness: "An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may would your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind." –Buddha
Disclaimer I do not own Merlin or any of the characters, storylines, or anything.
"The loneliest people are the kindest. The saddest people smile the brightest. The most damaged people are the wisest. All because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way they do." – Anonymous
Chapter Three: Trust
What Arthur saw was something he couldn't believe. Or perhaps it was that he just didn't understand. Merlin seemed fit to burst from the explosion of magic.
Confusion and bewilderment caused him to stumble forward. Quickly, however, he remembered himself and tried his best to remove concern from his face.
Lancelot hadn't hesitated, instead he had rushed forward to try and help Merlin.
Arthur felt as if his whole world was upside down. Whatever had been wrong with Merlin was not a fever, and whatever it was, it was killing him.
Arthur could sense the other knight's eyes flicker between him and Merlin they were waiting for orders. No one seemed certain of what was going on. Many of them had their swords out and pointed at Merlin but they waited for orders.
Was this Merlin or was this part of the sorcery that had hurt Merlin before? Arthur hesitated. But Merlin's agonizing screams rang out throughout the hall and Arthur felt as though he could feel it inside of his head. He made his decision.
"Arrest him." Commanded the King, and the knights obeyed, as wary as any of them may have been of what the magic would do to them, they obeyed.
Although the magic lashed out it didn't harm anyone. The knights arrested him with little trouble once they were able to pin him down and stop his body from jerking violently.
In less than an hour Merlin was bound in chains in the dungeon. His body still thrashed about and the shouts that came from his lips were more like the roar of a lion.
It wasn't until Gaius offered to give Merlin a potion to put him to sleep that he was silenced. Even so, the pain on Merlin's face was apparent.
"What is going on Gaius? He told me you said it was just a fever, but this has to do with what happened in the woods isn't it?" Arthur demanded pacing in the halls of the dungeon his arms crossed over his chest.
"All that magic. That sorcerer attacked him didn't they? What happened to him?" Arthur continued trying to understand what was happening.
Gaius raised a quizzical brow before he slowly started, "No, it's not to do with that sorcerer. It's something that Merlin has to deal with on his own."
"Just tell me what's going on!" Arthur demanded,
"Hey, calm down princess. We're all worried about Merlin here." Gwain stepped between the two of them,
"I'm sure if we're all calm we can figure this out." Lancelot nodded, "Obviously whatever happened in there wasn't Merlin's doing." He said looking purposefully at Gaius. "Arthur's right, something must have happened in the woods, soon as we figure out what, we can untangle this mess."
"Gaius, certainly you must know something?" Leon ventured, "He's been acting odd ever since he got back."
The knights and Arthur stared expectantly at Gaius, waiting to hear what he might have to say.
"There is nothing I can do. Merlin is struggling with a creature inside of him." Gaius repeated what he had told Merlin.
"A creature inside of him? Gross." Elyan shivered.
"What does that mean, though? What is it exactly? What does it want with Merlin?" Lancelot asked his brows knitted together in confusion.
Gaius sighed and tried his best to repeat it the same way he had told Merlin. "It's a creature the Druids fear above all others, and it's the last of its kind. It lives inside a person and take power from them."
"What like a dragon that get inside people or something?" Gwain asked frowning, trying to understand the concept.
"The creature is considered a relative of the dragon, yes. Much like a dog is like a wolf." Gaius nodded, "or a cat is to a panther"
"So is this creature the cat or the panther?" Percival asked.
"Panther, obviously." Elyan rolled his eyes, and received a sharp punch from Percival in his side causing him to double over.
"And what's it called, this creature?" Leon asked.
"There is great power to be said in a name." Gaius ventured, "The Druids feared it greatly, and only called it the Inner Beast."
"That sounds pretty serious." Arthur said softly and many of the knights jumped, they had almost forgotten Arthur was there he had stayed so quiet.
"Indeed, sire. Most certainly." Gaius said sorrowfully.
"So…Why Merlin?" Lancelot asked again, "Arthur was there too, right? And this creature, it must be invisible to both of them. It chose Merlin for a reason. Why?"
"Because he was weaker?" Percival suggested, but Lancelot shook his head,
"No way. Merlin might be physically weaker, but what does physical strength have to do with a person's insides? Anyway the creature was invisible it could have attack anyone with a clear advantage." Lancelot pointed out.
Gaius nodded in agreement, "You're correct in your reasoning." He sighed, "The beast feeds off pain and negative energy. I imagine the luxurious life of Prince was not as tantalizing to the creature as Merlin's…history was."
"…Oh." This seemed enough to satisfy Lancelot but only raised curiosity in others.
"What history?" Arthur frowned.
"It's not my place to say." Gaius said quickly and glanced over at Lancelot who nodded.
"Oh come on, what sort of history could he possibly have that could be so bad to attract a creature like that?" Arthur demanded.
"Yes, he always so happy and goofy. Merlin, of all people, does not have negative energy." Leon asserted, "He's the happiest person we know."
"The loneliest people are the kindest." Elyan started softly, "The saddest people smile the brightest. The most damaged people are the wisest." He paused looking up at the other knights before finally finishing, "all because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way they do."
All the knights looked over at Elyan surprised. "Wow that's deep" Percival mused nodding slowly.
"What can we do?" Gwain asked ignoring the others, "How can we help him with this? You said it feeds off negative energy, is there a way to stop that? Or to… Oh I don't know, replace it with more positive energy?"
Gaius shrugged, "I cannot say for sure. It is an internal battle he fights and he keeps to himself so much it will be a challenge for him to open up to anyone. Merlin does not entrust his heart to others easily."
It was then that they heard a soft groan from the corner of the cell where Merlin was chained.
"We'll it's certainly worth a try." Percival said, and the others agreed.
"It's best if there aren't so many here to speak with him." Gaius said stepping back, "We don't want to overwhelm him any more than he already is."
"Right like waking up in chain will help." Leon murmured but exited the dungeon followed by Gaius, Elyan, Percival, and Gwain.
Arthur and Lancelot stared at each other, silently arguing over whom would speak to Merlin first.
"Sire, I know you're worried about him but please. Let me speak to him first." Lancelot finally begged, "I know him, I know what he needs to hear first." Lancelot said firmly and finally Arthur sighed and stepped back,
"I'll be waiting right outside the doors then." Arthur said.
When Merlin woke he first noticed that he felt himself in control once more, the second thing he noticed was that he was chained, and it was dark, damp, and cold where he lay.
Slowly he sat up knowing exactly where he was.
Arthur knew. He knew and he had imprisoned Merlin. This was it; death was on its way. Merlin groaned, but couldn't help feeling slightly relieved.
He wasn't sure if it was because Arthur knew his secret, or if he knew that the beast would die with him. Either way, Merlin couldn't help but chuckle.
"Sounds like a bit of Gallows humor." A voice called from the shadows and Merlin jumped. Opening his eyes he saw Lancelot step into his cell.
"Are you allowed to do that?" Merlin asked jerking his head to the iron bar door. Lancelot smiled.
"You're not going to die Merlin." He shook his head, "and Arthur doesn't know about your magic." He reassured with a soft smile.
"But." Merlin looked down at the chains, "The magic…the sorcerer…" Merlin gestured as best as he could with his bound wrists.
"They think it's that thing inside of you. Arthur said he knew something was wrong when you woke up in the woods…something about unbalanced." Lancelot shrugged. "Thankfully I was able to convince him I need to talk to you first before he did, but you still need to tell him."
"I can't." Merlin blinked,
"You have to. This beast is eating you alive because of it and you know it."
Merlin looked away and instead stared intently into an empty corner of the cell.
"Merlin, I know it's killing you inside, even without that monster, for him not to know." Lancelot leaned down so he was eye to eye with Merlin.
"Tell him." Lancelot place a hand on Merlin's shoulder, "everything." With that Merlin slumped forward, he was quiet for a moment, before a familiar growl grew in his throat.
"I hate you." Merlin said through gritted teeth, "You abandoned me. You knew my secret and you left me alone in this nightmare. I thought you were my friend."
"Merlin-" Lancelot was taken aback, "Merlin, this is just the Beast talking. You know I'm your friend. You know I had no choice. Uther had me banished. I had to leave."
Merlin turned away as best as he could, "You were supposed to be here." Merlin buried his head in his arms.
"Merlin, I wasn't there, I know, and I'm sorry. But I'm here now." Lancelot said calmly, "I'm here now, and I'm not going to leave ever again. I promise. You're like a brother to me, and we'll stick together all the way to the very end."
Merlin glanced up again taking deep breaths, he shook his head, "I'm sorry. I'm fine." He smiled gingerly, " It's this thing inside me." He said softly, "Makes me say all sorts of crazy things. I'm fine." He shrugged and nodded as he calmed down.
Lancelot sighed, "Alright Merlin." He smiled, "but know" he said with purpose, "that everything I just said. I meant it." He stared directly at Merlin, without blinking until Merlin smiled and laughed sheepishly.
"Alright." Merlin said.
"We only kept the chains on just in case that little monster gets out of control but maybe I can convince Arthur that it's okay to take them off for awhile." Lancelot said as he stood back up.
"That would be great." Merlin smiled, but paused looking around, "but maybe it's safer it I stay down here."
"If you think that's best," Lancelot agreed, "but the chains aren't much use are they? You'd be able to take them off on your own anyway. The only thing they are is a bit uncomfortable. Yeah?" He laughed and Merlin joined in.
"I suppose our noble King is getting a bit impatient." Lancelot sighed, "I should let him in. Remember what I said about telling him." He said on his way out of the cell.
"But-" Merlin started,
"No buts Merlin." Lancelot said without turning around, "You're the bravest of us all, you just gotta believe it yourself." He stopped as he opened the door, turned around and added, "good luck."
Lancelot walked out then and moments later Arthur walked in. He coughed awkwardly.
"Hullo Arthur." Merlin said and grinned at him, "Sorry about the party."
"Yeah, well it took a lot of work to stop the guests from panicking, and the whole gift surprise was completely ruined. Once this whole ordeal is over with you can plan on polishing ever surface of this castle." Arthur said with a curt nod before smiling.
"But how are you doing?" He asked more seriously. Merlin shrugged and felt the fear curl up inside of him as sharp claws dug into his stomach.
"I'd feel better if I wasn't so tied up. D'ya mind?" Merlin asked. Arthur hesitated before reaching forward and unlocking the chains. Merlin stretched out like a cat and yawned.
"So I s'ppose you wanna talk to me about what happened." Merlin muttered.
"Oh well, you know, Gaius told us about that Beast thing." Arthur nodded, "He mentioned something about a negative past or something?"
Merlin nodded glumly.
"Listen, Merlin." Arthur sighed and leaned against the wall, "I don't know what the hell you've gone through to warrant an attack from some creature as awful as this one, but you should let us help."
"Why so you all can laugh at me? Call me an idiot some more?" Merlin spat and his voice roared and Merlin felt tears prickle at the corner of his eyes.
"You're no idiot Merlin." Arthur pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer to Merlin. "You know I don't mean that. I'm just joking. We always joke like that." Arthur said looking for the right words to say.
"You know, you call me a clot-pole and a prat, and, oh and a dollophead. I call you an idiot we laugh, it's not…I mean…you don't mean those things do you?"
"No." Merlin shook his head, "Course not." He rubbed the back of his hand against his eyes removing the tears.
"I trust you Merlin, you know that, I've shared things with you that I haven't shared with anyone else. I wish you would trust me."
It was quiet in the cells for a few minutes before Merlin slowly began to stand up.
"I'd give my life for you Arthur." He said as he dusted himself off, "You know I'm loyal to you."
"Yes-" Arthur started but Merlin held up a hand to silence him.
"I'd want to tell you a story." Merlin said, he looked almost pained as he said it, "But you have to promise me that you won't interrupt." At this Arthur nodded slowly but Merlin continued.
"It's a painful story, and a long one. If I'm stopped, the creature might…it might take its chance, but Lancelot thinks it's the only way I can be free of it. If you trust me-"
"I do Merlin." Arthur put his hand on Merlin's shoulder, "if it's going to be a long story then we best go someplace to sit down."
"No." Merlin said quickly, looking a little frightened, "I need to stay…what if I loose control. I mean…"
"Merlin. I trust you. Now come on." Arthur led him out of the dungeons.