Alright folks, 4th chapter coming in already! This time I will try to put some more emphasis on the development on how things came down after Merlin revealed himself.

Have fun reading, and as per usual:

I own nothing


Nimueh had left the room for an extended amount of time, having decided that Merlin had quite something to explain himself for, so that would serve as a great way to get guilt on his shoulders. She knew that his revelation was not well-received, to say the least. It was so wonderful. Once she was out far enough, but still within the Castle, she whispered something in the old language and loosened Merlin's chains just enough for him to be able to fall to his knees.

Merlin himself meanwhile was in a worse shape than before. His breathing was broken, blood spilled with every movement he did. His chest was torn beyond what anyone should suffer, Nimueh's magic being the only thing that prevents him from bleeding out, and probably spilling his guts...Literally.

Arthur was the first to break the silence, a heavy tone in his voice to show that this was really difficult for him. "So...you...you are a sorcerer, Merlin?" He asked, mostly for himself. He still could not believe it. His best friend. His clumsy, idiotic, widemouthed, audacious best friend was a Sorcerer, the kind of people Arthur grew up believing to be evil. Everytime he lost faith in sorcerers, Merlin nodded it off, supported his opinion. The level of selflessness to do that, to accept that your best friend thinks of you as a villain and must die yet still remain loyally at your side, risking his life again and again and again, never taking credit for it. Arthur started to feel ashamed that he feels betrayed. The longer he thought about it, the more he understood why Merlin kept it a secret. It was just who he is. It was within his nature to always be the guy in the background no one thinks of.

Merlin chuckled out as he leaned his head back, hoping to make eye contact with the Prince. "You know me, Arthur." He started while chuckling out again before coughing up some more blood, breathing out as relaxed as he could then smiled brighter. "Always a disappointment."

Arthur only chuckled in response, flailing his head around a bit before looking back at Merlin, his eyes showing deep regret. "At least you are still the worst servant I ever had."

Merlin and Arthur both had to laugh to each others, followed by Gwaine and Lancelot joining in on the brotherly atmosphere. Gwaine was the first of the two to add a comment. "Merlin may be an Idiot, but he is still our Idiot. Reliable and loyal, and still the lightest weight in the tavern!" Gwaine laughed loud once he finished his little comment and Lancelot also decided to say something to him. "You know Merlin. We both knew it would be revealed sooner or later. At least your secret went down the way it was born. In Camelot's protection. We have lost a valuable defender. But maybe we gained one too."

All eyes fell to Uther, who was trying to shift in the lack of comfort for the situation. He knew just too well what Lancelot meant and shook his head. "Never. I may pardon him and allow him to leave safely, but a sorcerer will not be in Camelot's service!"

Merlin could only let out another pained chuckle and tried to turn to the King of Camelot. "But then who will teach the royal Prat how to dress?"

Uther fumed at the remark and shook against his chains. "DO NOT SPE-" But was silenced when he saw Arthur smile widely before turning to Uther. "Leave it be, Father. Merlin is my friend, he can speak his mind. Besides, his attitude is a welcome exchange compared to what I usually receive. Merlin doesn't give me special treatment. He sees in me a man and a friend. Nothing more. I respect him for that."

Uther was utterly speechless. He opened his mouth several times, but closed it again as he was missing any words to speak. After a while, he just gave it up altogether and turned away. "If Merlin is a sorcerer how come he cannot get us out? Surely he is not one of such weakness that these chains prove challenging?"

Gaius was next to snap at the King, turning his head to Uther quickly and mouthing "Uther, please-" But was cut short by footsteps approaching from the Hallway. Nimueh was returning, and from the noise following said footsteps, she was bringing along her cart again. It meant more torture for Merlin. However, to everyone's surpise, Nimueh just walked past the great hall while smirking into it, giving everyone the chills. She was up to something, and it was not good. Nowhere near good.

Once she was gone, the elderly, meaning Hunith, Gaius and Uther, let out a breath nearly at the same time. Lancelot tried to shift a little, hoping he could adjust himself. Truth be told, they sat like that for days without a break. It was a literal pain in the behind being like this for so long. And that was very likely intentional by Nimueh. At least she gave them food and water, but even that was kept to an essential minimum.

"What now, Merlin? There has to be some reason you cannot break these chains." Arthur started with a very neutral tone, leaning his head back a little. He was trying to think of something, but even after days of formulating plans, he came up with nothing. Trying to fool Nimueh would only work on someone who can pretend to be truly committed, truly treacherous. It had to be someone who was really angry at Merlin. His head quickly turned to Morgana, who noticed it and gave him one look, eye to eye, before shaking her head, as if telepathically knowing what he is up to and rejecting the idea.

"No. No Arthur, I will not-"

"Come on Morgana. It is our only way."

"No Arthur, I will not"

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Screamed everyone, except Merlin, in unison at the two, who turned their heads to the crowd and looked at each person until Arthur opened his mouth to explain.

"Well, Morgana is clearly very angry at Merlin. She could pretend to join Nimueh's side, get herself released, play along until she finds out how to break the chains. It is our only way as things are right now."

Morgana was quick to protest, she did not like this at all and would definetly not try something like that. "No Arthur. Just because I am angry at him does NOT mean I will partake in torturing him for her personal enjoyment! That is too far and a evil I will not shoulder!"

Gwen sighed out in relief because that was a terrible idea and something no one in there should have to do. Not even Uther, who would deserve the mental torture of guilt. But, Arthur was not wrong. Right now, their only chance at getting someone out is to act out a switch of sides. A treachery. More and more did everyone glance to Morgana, who slowly started to get nervous, her already distressed expression growing into one of anger, her eyebrows furrowing down to express her anger.

"I said NO. I will not do it!"


Nimueh didn't comeback long after the conversation had taken place and was surprised at the thick atmosphere inside the room once she stepped foot into it. Something was off and it was something greatly in her favor. She could feel it. She glanced over at Merlin, who was barely conscious now. His eyes were so empty, almost dead. Anyone else could of sworn that to be the case. No one should be alive in this state. Nimueh smirked sadistically then turned to Arthur, then to Uther, then to Morgana. Her eyes however stayed glued to the female, who lifted her head slowly in response and gave a sinister smirk back.

"Let me out. I will help you." Were the words she spoke, and all hell broke loose, or so it would seem.

"MORGANA, YOU CANNOT!" Arthur roared and shook violently against his chains.

"Oh you think I can't? Watch me" She replied dryly, her voice containing very heavy emphasis on the bitterness in it. She turned back to Nimueh with a devious glare, her eyebrows furrowed down in anger while her lips curved upwards. "He betrayed me. Hurt me in ways no one had ever even attempted to. He beat Uther to it big time. I owe it to repay to him. Would you mind?" The question had a very soft tone in it, sounding outright mental, given her expression and intent behind it.

Nimueh's eyes flashed golden for a moment and her own smirk widened. Her eyes flashed golden again and Morgana's chains disappeared into thin air, allowing her to stand up. She slowly lifted herself from her confining seat, bowing her head gratefully before turning to Merlin with the most bitter look in her eyes she could muster. "Hand me the whip, please. I think his back needs some reminding."

"Good idea. I was just about to go there myself. But you can have the honors."

Morgana gave her another smirk and nodded, slowly making her way to the cart. She carried herself like a queen. Back straight, head high, eyes looking down at the others. Her hands were inside one another, laid against her belly. Nimueh started to really believe that Morgana meant it. Such a demeanor could only be born from hate. She knew better than anyone else in that room.

Morgana returned towards Merlin's position with a large, spiked whip in her hands and positioned herself behind him. She gave him one more look before she lifted the whip. However, she hesitated, and Nimueh caught on.

"What's the matter. Not enough hate?"

Morgana scoffed at Nimueh and glared at her intensively. "No, I do. But I never tortured someone in my life before. This is new for me, so give me a moment to accomadate. I want to enjoy this more than I fear it" She replied with an evil glee in her tone upon the last sentence, earning her an outright proud look from Nimueh.

W

H

I

P

Merlin roared out in agonizing pain as Morgana struck his back and tore it's flesh like a butcher with a dull knife. Once the strike was dealt, she gasped out and bowed her head down, panting heavily. This experience released all kinds of emotions. Guilt. Shame. But also Euphoria. The freedom of venting it out. Letting out all this pent-up anger and sorrow. This was the one thing Morgana was terrified of inwardly. That it felt good. Truly good.

Nimueh chuckled out, growing into a full on laughter at the sight and leaned closer to Morgana to pat her head gently. "You did well. But you are not done. Hit him 9 more times and you should be fine for now. I will be back shortly afterwards. I need to attend to something."

Morgana only gave an obedient nod followed by her, by now very repetitive and silent Smirk before she whipped down against Merlin's back again. He screamed again, trying hard to bite his lip to prevent his voice from coming out, but his face was in too much pain for him to move his jaw at all. He was just there, helpless, doomed to endure it.

Once Nimueh was out of the room, Morgana slowly reached her hand out for the wound she herself inflicted, her eyes close to releasing tears. This was never how she wanted Merlin to suffer for hurting her. She wanted him to apologize. To break down. She wanted to look in his eyes and see it in him. That he still trusted her. That he still cared for her. That she could forgive him for keeping his magic a secret. That she could forgive him for poisoning her. That she could once more feel the longing eyes of a crush on her. She wanted him to earn back the affection she shared up until the poisoning.

"Merlin..I" She started out but could say nothing. She just looked at the wound as she traced a finger across it as gently as she could. Merlin grunted painfully, but endured it for her. He knew how terrible she felt. He knew what toll this took on her, but she must continue. Nimueh could not find out about her cover.

"Continue, Morgana. Nimueh will be back shortly, and if you don't finish your 10 whips, she will do far worse to me."

Morgana only nodded while gulping heavily and lifted the whip again, sorrow weighting deep in her eyes as she struck down onto his defenceless body again and again. She needed to make the best impression of her sadism, so she created only 2 wounds, but struck the same 5 times individually until 10 whipstrikes were done.

What definetly did not help the situation at all was the look on Gwen that Morgana noticed. She looked over at her friend and servant at least once for each whipstrike. Gwen was always her moral compass, the one who knew what to do when all else seemed lost. But this time not even Gwen had an answer, a different option to consider. That was when Morgana knew that this was the only way, that she was doomed to do this to Merlin.

"it is alright, Morgana." Merlin assured her, cracking a faint smile even in his current state which lasted for maybe a single second before he coughed again. His condition was getting worse every second.

Morgana had to look away for a moment, gulping hard at the horrible sight. She only now paid closer attention to his wounds. Almost every one of them was either burned close so it can be reopened again. Morgana knew that Nimueh was cauterizing his wounds, but something like this was beyond horrible. She purposely missed the wounds, causing large collateral damage in form of 2nd and 1st degree burns around the wounds. Morgana wanted to pray to the Triple Goddess that Merlin would recover from this even if only a little.

Gaius coughed weakly, mainly to gain the attention to him, which succeeded. "Nimueh will be back soon. You need to keep your cover, milady. You must continue torturing Merlin on your own. It pains me to say so, but you must be as cruel as you can think of."

Gwaine, way too tempted by it with his otherworldly audacity, which just barely rivals Merlin's, instantly looked to the King and scoffed before giving his comment. "Be like Uther. Shouldn't be so hard, he pulled it off for 20 years without feeling guilty"

Uther scoffed back at the knight and looked away. That one did hit deeper than he was ever willing to reveal. King's pride forbid him to reveal any weakness, physical or emotional. Gwaine was right. Uther would have to think about a lot once this crisis was behind them. But for now, focus must be driven to Morgana pulling off her Mule's work. She was their key to freedom and safety.

"Gwaine is right." he then said with a slightly heavy voice. "Imagine Merlin is the person who made me what I am today. You must let go of what you know and feel for him and focus on the task at hand."

With a heavy sigh, Morgana nodded and turned to the cart and walked over to it, looking at what else Nimueh had in store. And god she had a lot. Morgana was outright terrified at first sight. What caught her eye the most was a pair of large Tongs. Morgana quickly decyphered what Nimueh wanted to do with it. Tear off Merlin's finger- and toenails. A known method of torture used for Interrogations.

Morgana slowly reached for the tongs, her hands shaking profusedly as she lifted it up. Just looking at it send her down a set of images of Merlin screaming and crying, being in so much pain. Just the Imagination alone. But she had to go on. She turned to Merlin with the tool and moved slowly towards him, kneeling down and adjusting the tongs against his left foot's big toe, intent on starting there, if already.

It did not take her long to figure out how to tear off the nail and send Merlin down a spiraling course of a painful hell. Because of her nervosity and guilt, Morgana was slow with the pulls, which only made it worse for Merlin because he felt the pain being extended over time like that.

"Gwaine?" Lancelot and Leon both suddenly asked out as they saw his head tilted back, motionless. He was like that since a while now. They knew, when he did not respond to the namecall that something was wrong. "Morgana, something isn't right with Gwaine!"

Morgana immediately hurried to the knight and pulled his face back up, checking for his pulse. (She paid attention every time Gaius treated someone while she was there, she quickly picked up basic knowledge) And turned to Gaius before quivering with her lips. "Below a beat every 2 seconds. He is passed out."

As if on cue, Nimueh entered the room again, dragging along a chain on the ground like a whip, raising both the chain and her eyebrows at the display. "What is happening? Got cold feet, Morgana?"

"No. He is passed out. His pulse is gradually dropping."

Nimueh lifted her chin a little and exhaled a "yeah" in a very taunting and condescending manner, making clear that she doesn't care at all, that was until Gaius opened his mouth.

"It is because we have been in the same position for too long. The Human Body is not made to take the same stance for even hours, let alone days like we have. His Blood vessels are clumping. He needs to be repositioned, and frankly, so do all of us too. If each and everyone here dies, how will you be able to torture Merlin? What hurts him most is us having to watch this, and if we cannot watch, you will lose your greatest weapon of torture against him."

Nimueh accepted his logic as sound. He was a very experienced physician after all. She flashed her eyes golden and the chains keeping everyone prisoner moved like snakes on their body, creating 5 shackles. one for each ankle, one for each wrist and a large one around their necks. The captives could now change between standing, sitting and laying down, but the shackles prevented them from turning away from watching Merlin.

"I will accept your explanation. But if his condition keeps worsening then I just might release him from his misery myself." She scolded the old man and turned to Morgana, then to Merlin, then back to Morgana.

"You tore out his toenails? My my, I am proud of you!" She exaggeratedly stated and moved over to put an arm around her. "You, my dear, are going to be an excellent compliant. Speaking of which, you have full freedom to hurt Uther too. I know you want to."

She couldn't lie. She was so tempted, now that it was mentioned. She gave Nimueh a simple nod and returned her worried expression to a mean smirk before turning to the King.

"He is not Merlin. You can leave to do whatever it is you are doing around the Citadel. Just let me know later what it is. I sure would not want to miss that fun." She replied to with her best fake evil voice before reaching for the Chain Nimueh lifted again as to hand it to her.

"Use this. It will certainly hurt more than a regular whip." Was all she said before she turned around and left again, leaving Morgana by herself once more. She turned to Uther with an angry look and rattled the chain threateningly while stepping closer slowly. Each footstep echoed through the great hall, adding a sense of ominousity to her.

"She made a very tempting offer. You hurt innocent people for 20 years, justifying it as a greater good. There was no good in your mass-murdering, Uther Pendragon."

Uther started to show signs of panic. His eyes were wide and he stepped back as far as he could until he reached the maximum length of the chains. To his surprise, however, Morgana dropped the chain and looked to the ground.

"I will not hurt you with this."

She turned to Merlin, who only gave her a weak smile, dirtied with his blood, then followed with a simple nod. She nodded back at him before turning back to Uther with a forgiving smile, deceptive to her next response.

"Instead, once this is over, you will resign your royal status and live amongst the commoners in the lower city."

Yep, Uther did not even try to argue. That was definetly worse than the chain. FAR worse. His ego was the one thing he would forbid from being hurt at any costs.

"YOU MUST BE MAD IF YOU THINK I WILL OBEY THAT CONDITION!"

"Your denial only serves to prove that your time as King has expired." Arthur shot in, turning with a glare to his father. "You cannot claim to care for the people when you refuse to understand their pain and hardship. Camelot is a stranger to you, and you to it."

Uther was fuming to the poing where he grew nearly red, glaring deadly at Arthur. "Son, do not dare question your King."

"You are father first, then a King." Arthur shot back instantly then turned to Morgana again, taking on the very same smug expression he found himself carrying every time he and Merlin were having their funny little rants.

"Why don't you whip him until he is unable to serve his duties. Force him to retire from lack of proper condition."

Uther started to pale and looked around purely shocked, his face contorted in fear now. It lasted until both Arthur and Morgana laughed out loudly at his looks that he figured out what had happened.

"You crafty devils. You tricked me."

"We scared you, alright." Arthur commented while resuming his laughter afterwards. Soon, the others joined in on the laughter until Uther was the only one not doing so.

"STOP IT!" He commanded and slowly the laughter died off. It truly went mute when Merlin suddenly started coughing violently, more blood spilling from his mouth, enough to spatter and create a pool. Soon afterwards he collapsed. Thanks to Nimueh loosening the chains a little, he managed to fall on the ground, his head landing right on Morgana's foot, which mostly out of luck prevented him to suffer a head injury.

Morgana quickly knelt down and inspected him. Checked pulse, observed the bleeding.

"Gaius, he is fading! His eyes are yellow around the irises. Something is wrong!"

Gaius immediately knew what it was. "Morgana. Check his right side under the lowest Rib. Does it feel mush and soft if you press against it?"

Morgana quickly pressed at the described area with her fingers and was almost surprised at how deep she could push into his chest with them.

"How did you know?"

"His skin has recovered too much in too quick a time. The scar tissue added too much Skin, he is like an obese man who became skinny overnight. And ontop of that, his Liver is failing. He needs emergency treatment immediately!"

Morgana nodded and glanced over at the entrance of the Great Hall where Nimueh stood. She overheard the conversation and quickly raced herself inside, flashing her eyes golden to release Gaius from the chains. The Elderly man nodded at her and went over to Merlin's collapsed body and gave another check up himself.

"Merlin!" Gaius screamed in panic. "MERLIN!"


Hope you liked the read as usual. If you have any wishes or just wanna say something, be free to review. I always welcome criticism.

Cheers!