A/N: Hello to all!
I'm sorry … why might you ask? Because I haven't updated in a while... I've been 'uber busy.
I'm also sorry because you will probably only get the next update of this story a bit less than a month from now. I'll be going somewhere, where there is no internet. But there is a thing called a note pad and pen. Therefore, I will be writing more chapters and will be able to update very fast when I get back. :)
Now, thank you to all my ever so faithful reviewers, alerters and favouriters. Since I have got so many reviews, alerts and favourites, I'll only thank the reviewers today.
Thank you to the following reviewers for reviewing in chapter two…
Kratos-god-slayer-101, zammierox, hazelbunny, Jellyhair, ruby890, ArodieltheElfofRohan, Maddiethevampire, fortheloveofcamelot, sofia, Ichigo'sDragon, Kitty O, happy-rea and Blue.
You're awesome ^^
Now please read and tell me what you think. :)
Chapter Three: Rigorous Ryrren
Previously, on The Repercussions of Being Ransomed…
"Liga hominess et tantum mea magicae potest frangere eos!" shouted Ryrren as his eyes flashed gold. Rough ropes suddenly came out of nowhere and began tying themselves around Merlin and Arthur.
"What do you think you're doing?" shouted Arthur.
"Did you really believe I just came here to help you?" Ryrren paused, "Nunc, fac eos dormi dreamlessly."
And as soon as Ryrren said those words, all went black for Merlin and Arthur.
-(I~I)-
Presently...
There was a pounding ache in his head and it was very painful. It felt like knifes were carving into the inside of his cranium. It also felt like he was missing something, something important. It was still there, but weak. Very weak, what was it?
Merlin's eyes fluttered open slowly and he suddenly began to remember everything once again.
Ryrren… he growled mentally.
As Merlin looked around, he saw that where he was, was very dim. The dark, rough walls seemed to arch up and meet each other 16 feet off the ground. Merlin was in a large cave.
When the warlock tried to stand up, he groaned in pain and quickly relaxed his back, back against the cave wall, settling into the position he was in moments ago. He tried to move his hands but then realised that he couldn't. They were bound with ropes tightly behind himself.
I wonder where Arthur is… thought Merlin. Arthur! Where is he? he was suddenly alarmed now. The warlock was doing a very bad job of protecting Arthur; in fact, it seemed the prince had been protecting him more.
"Arthur!" he called out which didn't do much good right now because his voice was hoarse and weak from not being used recently.
No reply.
"Arthur!" he tried shouting again anyway. It made him feel like he was doing something to help, even though it wasn't very productive.
When Merlin shouted that time there wasn't just silence in response to his calls but some quite footsteps that seemed to be slowly making their way towards him.
"Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to wake up," It was Ryrren. Who else would it be? It seemed he liked to appear in mysterious places just for the heck of it. "Have a good sleep?" he asked jeeringly.
"Where's Arthur?" asked Merlin ignoring Ryrren.
"You're not nearly as fun to talk to, like your dear prince is. He gets irritated so easily." Ryrren smirked.
"Where's Arthur?" repeated Merlin but a little more forcefully.
"Determined, aren't we? Arthur is … let's say he's just been questioned on a few things..." he replied enigmatically.
"Tell me where he is." said Merlin in a serious tone. He hissed each work slowly and sharply.
"You have no right to use that tone with me!" Ryrren replied harshly.
"So you're my mother now, are you pickle-eyes?" asked Merlin mockingly.
"Shut up!" Ryrren shouted fiercely. He then began to speak quickly and quietly underneath his breath. "No one ever speaks of my mother in vain."
It appeared that Ryrren was just projecting himself onto Arthur because he seemed to lose his temper faster than the prince without dinner. Merlin almost gave a smirk at his thoughts. Ryrren and Arthur were actually alike in many ways.
"Ryrren?" asked a familiar husky voice, which Merlin just couldn't seem to put his finger on. "What's going on down here?" the leader of the Areltorians, Althadrel came into focus as he spoke.
"Speaking with the prisoner, father." said Ryrren in his normal, calm voice.
Thoughts rushed into the young warlock's head. Father? This man is Ryrren's father? They look hardly anything alike… Merlin was bewildered. He must have mostly his mother in him – and Edmund too, except he does have a similar hair-colour to Althadrel... I wonder where their mother is…
"Are you sure? Why did I hear shouting in here, then?" questioned Althadrel.
"The prisoner and I had a disagreement…" he trailed off. Ryrren cringed a bit and spoke in a tone, which sounded like he dreaded uttering what he'd just said.
Merlin thought it was actually pretty funny to see the blond like this; usually no one overpowered Ryrren in this way. He looked scared; the face just didn't suit him.
"A disagreement with the prisoner?" Althadrel's calm face changed into an angered one. "What have I told you about showing weakness boy? You are always in command of the prisoner, you got that?" he raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, father." said Ryrren coldly as his body relaxed in defeat.
"Good." he said with his usual voice and then paused before speaking quietly, "Now, he still hasn't given us answers... It seems like nothing will make him talk." Althadrel spoke the last sentence unhappily and in an extremely low voice.
"Who's 'him'?" interjected Merlin who had been listening carefully to Althadrel and Ryrren's conversation even though the leader of the Areltorians was speaking in a muffled voice.
Merlin had a pretty good idea of who 'him' was and if the young warlock wanted to fulfil his destiny, then he would have to try and work out where and what was happening to Arthur.
"Quiet, boy!" shouted Althadrel suddenly and fiercely. That was one thing Ryrren and his father had in common – getting aggressive unpredictably. Althadrel then continued, "Only speak when you are asked questions, otherwise remain silent." his tone was still loud and forceful.
Merlin began talking in a firm voice again. "No. I want you to tell me where he is now –"
"Speak your mind once more and we'll hurt your prince." said Ryrren coming unexpectedly into the dispute between his father and the warlock.
Merlin didn't say anything after he heard those last few words, 'hurt your prince'. He wouldn't have anyone hurting Arthur if he could help it. And, after all, it is his destiny.
Ryrren smirked. Controlling Merlin and the Arthur could actually be a lot easier than he first thought. Hurt one warlock and you hurt one certain prince. Hurt one prince and you hurt one certain warlock. Their weaknesses were each other and it seemed that it wasn't ever going to change.
-(I~I)-
"I've already told you, I don't know." said a voice sounding strong and determined but was really actually very scared on the inside. He didn't look into his assailant's cold eyes as he spoke; he didn't want this man to see his fear that was circulating though him. Instead he held his turned head at the dark, rocky wall of the cave.
"Then be prepared to suffer the repercussions –" the young man tensed, closed his eyes and gripped onto his rough shackles, locked at his wrists, for some extra support. His feet were touching the ground but with all his injuries it was easier just to slump against the cave wall. The only time he ever stood up properly was when he was being tortured.
He now was once again ready for what this man, sent from hell, was going to do next. He was already bruised and had cuts all over his body. His blond hair was slick with sweat but his main injuries consisted of a long bloody gash running down his left side and a few large burns on his sweaty, shirtless torso – all created through the use of magic. The injured man kept his eyes shut; he was ready for what was going to come.
Just as the man who worked for the Areltorians was about to say his next spell, which would torture the young, muscled body immensely once more, someone strode into view. The one and only, Ryrren, who else?
"Has he given us any answers yet?" asked Ryrren authoritively not looking into the torturer's eyes but staring into the one's who was been tortured.
"No, none." the deep voice replied gruffly.
"Then I guess we will have to put another plan into action, hmm?" said Ryrren mysteriously. He gazed swiftly at the torturer.
"I would say so, but what is this plan?" asked the torturer confused.
"Oh, you'll find out soon enough…" Ryrren paused. "Leave us." he commanded.
The big, burly man who wore the same black robes as all, soon made his way out of the open cave entrance and into a dark area in which the young, tortured man couldn't see to.
"Now, Arthur… Tell me everything I want to know, or you will get hurt even worse than before." said the blond twin in a loud voice.
"Nothing you say or do can convince me to tell you why we always win our battles from magical threats and armies, because I don't know." said Arthur truthfully.
"So you still won't tell us…" Ryrren trailed off. "Even if your dear manservant was involved?" he asked with an evil grin shown on his face.
"You leave Merlin out of this." stated Arthur protectively.
"Only if you cooperate." negotiated Ryrren.
"Wait a minute, you're lying. Merlin probably isn't even here." said Arthur suspiciously.
"Are you willing to put that theory to test?" Ryrren paused. "Fac Merlin dolor." he said nonchalantly and his eyes flashed molten gold.
As the question of what Ryrren had just said crept into Arthur's thoughts, it was suddenly answered with a distant scream. A scream that came from a person in a lot of pain; a lot of agonising pain it seemed. The scream was definitely made by a male; the cry sounded familiar. It sounded like … Merlin's scream.
Realisation hit Arthur like a slap in the face. Merlin! he thought in panic, to shocked to speak.
"Merlin!" he shouted loudly, words coming back to him. When no response came, he glared hatefully into Ryrren's eyes. "What have, you done, to Merlin." he hissed each two words with a pause in between.
"Oh, I've done nothing prince," Ryrren paused. "This is all of your doing. All you have to do is tell us what we want to know and then yourself and Merlin will be freed."
"I've already told you. I don't know!" The last part of Arthur's words came out higher and more concerned than what was meant.
"Then Merlin will die a slow and painful death. It's your choice Arthur." the blond twin paused again. "Fac Merlin dolor." he hissed the spell loudly and his eyes flashed gold – it obviously inflicted even more pain on Merlin than before though because the scream went on for longer and was louder.
"Merlin!" Arthur paused. "MERLIN!"
A smirk twisted itself onto Ryrren's lips. "Oh, he can't hear you… My magic is channelling though him and it is what's keeping him alive, what's keeping his heart beating. But it is also causing, Merlin, pain upon my will."
"You are lying. You are making me hear a fake scream. It's your magic." accused Arthur.
"No, no and yes," Ryrren paused. "One out of three, not too bad…" The twin examined his nails, pouting in an effortlessness manner.
"Liar." Arthur said coldly.
"Your obstinacy amuses me." Ryrren continued smirking; when Arthur said nothing in response, he continued. "It's your choice. Let Merlin die or give me the answers I want."
"How can I hear Merlin if he can't hear me?" asked Arthur suspiciously whilst ignoring Ryrren.
"Because, I am choosing to let you hear him right now. With my magic, I can transfer Merlin's screams to us without him even being here," Ryrren smiled wickedly. "Thanks for letting me save Merlin's life, it lets my magic flow right through him, you know…" he remarked in a sarcastic tone but still meant every word. "Oh right, I already told you that… I just can't get over how well this worked out." he smiled.
"Shut up." said Arthur because he couldn't think of any better words to use.
Ryrren ignored him and continued speaking. "I can just click my fingers," the twin raised his left hand and Arthur looked at it with horror. What was Ryrren going to do to him? Or worse … Merlin.
The prince broke from his thoughts. "No." Arthur said stubbornly. He refused to believe this man.
Ryrren continued with his hand still suspended in the same spot. "And your manservant can be gone –" he paused, clicked his fingers and brought his arm next to his side, "Just like that."
-(I~I)-
After Ryrren had told Merlin that he couldn't speak anymore, the boy had shut up and soon after that, the 'evil twin' (as Merlin liked to call him) had suddenly turned on his heel and walked away.
Merlin being Merlin most likely would have questioned Ryrren on where he was going, even though it would do no good, but since the blond had threatened to hurt Arthur, Merlin had vowed to himself not to speak another word unless it was completely necessary.
I wonder where Arthur is… thought Merlin again. I have to get to him, but how…
Then it came to the not-so-mere serving boy. I am a warlock… So that means I have magic. Merlin would have slapped his forehead from forgetting he had magic but since his hands were bound, it seemed that wasn't going to happen.
Since he was so used to hiding and not using his magic, he'd almost failed to remember that he had the power to get out of his binds and reach Arthur… or did he?
"Solvam funes." whispered Merlin but when his eyes flashed a light gold, all he felt was an agonising pain take off in is head – no ropes being unbound. The warlock started twisting hysterically in his binds – no sound came from him, it was too painful to waste his breath on screams.
He also didn't want anyone to get satisfaction from what they'd done to him. The pain felt like when he'd woken up earlier – but less like knives carving into his cranium and more like a stampede or horses all trampling on his head as they galloped.
This pain only lasted for several seconds but for what Merlin felt, it could have lasted a lifetime.
"Solvam funes." he just managed to choke the words out in a normal tone because of his haggard breathing pattern and his eyes flashed a weak, coloured gold again.
Merlin still wasn't rewarded with the pleasure of losing his restraints but instead a pain much worse than before. The pain didn't only come for his head but for his entire body.
He felt sharp, painful throbs explode in his torso and limbs, like knives were stabbing him repeatedly. His skin felt as if it were lit alight. Merlin let out a harsh scream. It was too hard to control his voice, something bad was happening. The pain running through him then suddenly decreased and Merlin sighed in relief.
It was all his imagination, or so he thought… None of what he'd experienced had actually happened. It was all in his mind. Merlin didn't really care how it had happened; now all he wanted to do was rest.
But unfortunately for Merlin, that wasn't going to happen. Suddenly, the warlock felt the pain burn up through him again but much more violently – it felt as if the pain had been amplified a hundred times worse than before.
Merlin began screaming louder than ever, the pain was unbearably excruciating. There was no way to get out of it. He could feel someone's magic pulsing through him, but who was controlling the agony?
It felt as if someone was cutting through his feet with a knife, and then slicing through his arms and legs until finally the knife moved to his stomach and began stabbing him repeatedly.
The knives then turned to fire; it was like someone had tied him to the pyre and had then lit it with flames. There was no escape; the boy had to endure the agonising pain as it came. Merlin felt the hot flames licking harshly around him. They engulfed his entire body, choking him in a hot blanket of air, which someone was suffocating him with.
The most awful thing was that in a real situation, whoever was being set on fire would eventually go unconscious from all of the smoke, pain, or damage to the body. But this was different.
There was no bliss from unconsciousness coming Merlin's way. Only pure torture. Pure, agonising pain.
It was also atrocious because there was no way to break away from the torment. He was too dizzy and light-headed to create a spell, and his magic hadn't even worked earlier either. It wasn't worth the effort.
Merlin felt exhausted but something wasn't letting him give in to the anguish. Just when the warlock thought that he couldn't take any more of the suffering, or else he'd go mad, the pain stopped.
He tried to gulp down plenty of fresh air, but his lungs were not cooperating with his brain. Whenever he did manage to inhale, it felt as if the air had gone straight down his throat and into a pit of nothingness. Merlin couldn't feel the joy of been able to breathe.
As Merlin gasped for breath everything slowly began to grow dark. The cave wall in front of him began to swirl and twist around. Up felt like down, left felt like right and vice versa. Merlin felt like he'd float up and away any second now. Before he could think anymore, all the dizziness left him and twisted into darkness.
All had turned black for Merlin.
Sorry for the cliffhanger guys… I just love them so much!
Oooh, I'm sorry if I was a bit harsh on Merlin or a bit too descriptive this time. I wanted to be meaner but thought he'd suffered enough pain… Tell me what you think.
Translations (Latin to English… and yes, I know my Latin is wrong. You weren't meant to notice! It was supposed to make me look smart, not stupid! :P Let's just say that it's half Latin and half my own made up language. That is why the translations are necessary or you'd have no clue. So I'll call it Larrot. Half Latin, half CoolCarrot).
Therefore the translations are now known as, Larrot to English:
Fac Merlin dolor. = Make Merlin pain.
Solvam funes. = Untie the ropes.
Please review. I want feedback and awesomeness. If I hadn't gotten a review from someone about my descriptiveness, then my story would hardly have any interesting words… So review people!
