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Chapter 4: The Citadel

It had been a few hours since the two boys and a group of Camelot's finest Knights had set out on their journey to the Citadel.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and Arthur was smiling.

What could possibly go wrong? Merlin asked himself. And then he remembered why they were actually on this trip.

The Citadel was home to evil, history darker than any other and its haunted echoes wanted nothing but revenge upon the Pendragon's.

A voice inside Merlin was screaming at him to stop.

Make up an excuse. Force Arthur to turn around. Stall them, damn it, pretend to faint if you have to!

But the boy didn't listen to his inner, much wiser voice. Instead he carried on, glancing briefly at his Prince until Arthur met his gaze, and he felt that all too familiar pain of guilt eat away at him as he returned his eyes to the path in front.

Arthur could sense Merlin's unease and craved to reach out and touch him. Comfort the boy with a – manly – hug and tell him everything was going to be fine, and that he meant it when he said he would never allow any harm to come to him, but feeling the Knights gaze burning into his back the Prince decided against it. Instead he simply said in a casual princely tone "It's OK to be scared Merlin, but you don't need to be."

The Knights watched on as the Prince's manservant looked up at his master and smiled knowingly, and shock crossed each of their faces as they saw what appeared to be a wink form in Arthur's lids.

None of them would ever say anything of course, it wasn't their place to question the Prince's affairs, plus an accusation like that could lose the men their knighthoods, or worse, their heads.

It wasn't long until the men had reached the Citadel and Arthur was giving orders to the Knights, instructing them on what to do, where to go, and when to do it.

Being Prince often meant that he was the one in charge. His demands were the people's actions and where it scared Arthur; it also made him strong and wise.

He had been through many battles, seen many deaths and witnessed torture and pain unlike any other in his short life, making him yearn for victory and justice. And although it pained Arthur when on the oddity one of his Knights, his friends, were murdered in battle, he took great pride and honour in fighting for justice and leading an army into a brighter future.

On this occasion however, Arthur saw no need in planning for such great priorities. This was after all a 'ridiculous' quest, set out by his father to free his mind of doubt...and fear.

"We'll stick together" Arthur announced. "The Citadel is small; if we split up we'll only bump into each other." His mind was made up and everyone knew including Merlin that once Arthur had made a decision he wouldn't go back on it.

Merlin and Arthur edged closer to the ruins within the fortress; the Knights close behind them swords unsheathed, ready to attack whatever may jump out at them from beyond the shadows.

The citadel was once a friendly popular place where villagers would work, laugh, and find comfort and entertainment in one another. Camelot's flag once flew high and proud above its ancient rocks marking King Uther's reign, letting other Kingdoms know that this was his territory.

It was once filled with the laughter of children and the gossip of women passing in the streets.

Men would gather and talk about their families, pride showing on their friendly faces. And the sun would always beam down on its people, marking their presence with a warm glow.

But now the Citadel – that of which remained – was filled with silence, an unnerving silence that felt like it could swallow them whole into its pit of nothingness.

It's once filled streets now empty, nothing walked its cobbles. Not even curious animals that had lost track of the forest had dared to enter its boundaries. And the sun had vanished, as though it was hiding, scared to share its warmth with the emptiness.

The Citadel was as lifeless and as terrifying as Gaius had explained it to be, and Merlin could feel his heart beating viciously through his chest as the men entered one of the old chambers that had surprisingly managed to escape ruin.

"Arthur" Merlin broke the concentration that was apparent on all of the noblemen's faces.

"What is it Merlin?" he hadn't intended on sounding as blunt as he did, but truth-be-told, he was starting to see, if not feel why his father had indeed sent him to investigate the alleged sighting of smoke.

Merlin ignored the tone in Arthur's voice; he knew the Prince better than anyone and could tell he was now as nervous as he was himself. "Something's not right"

"Shh" Arthur bit back placing his free hand on Merlin's chest to stop him in his tracks, his other hand holding his sword outright in the direction of some black iron gates that stood tall at the end of the chamber. The Prince was sure he had heard a noise coming from behind the dark metal ribs.

Arthur's Knights also froze in place and listened intently for any sign of life.

Nothing.

"Arthur" Merlin tried again, but his whisper still managed to echo around the stone walls.

"Shh" Arthur replied louder this time taking his hand away from Merlin's beating heart. "Just shut up!"

Deep down he felt bad for being so harsh with him, but he would worry about that later when they were safe behind the castle walls.

And Arthur had every intention in making sure that they would be.

Merlin felt his stomach flutter and his throat knot as his eyes caught sight of something black and sinister.

As he turned around to get a better look, what he saw he wished he could erase from his memory forever.