Merlin felt his knees screech in pain as he was forced down onto the floor in the middle of a chamber and his arms were quickly tied at the wrists with chains, the manacles had not been taken off but the chain connecting them had been. Allowing both his arms to be tired in opposite directions with his back facing the bounty hunter.

"Alrighty, What's your name?" Layton sneered

"Merlin" Merlin replied simply, he wasn't going to give this man the satisfaction of him just reacting to a bloody number. Unfortunately seconds after Merlin had replied a sharp pain striking across his back, making his scream catch in his throat.

"No, try again" Layton ordered, Merlin didn't need to look at him to know the man was smiling. God he hated people like this!

"Merlin"

CRACK! "No, what is your name?"

"Merlin!"

CRACK!

"What is your name?"

"Merlin..."

CRACK!

Merlin wasn't sure how long this went on for but soon the pain was blinding, he wished with all his heart he could pass out. God he did. He lost track after a while, he barely responded at all, his name was barely a whisper. Part of him wanted to give him and just say the stupid number but a voice in his head, that sounded suspiciously like Arthur told him to persevere.

Layton stopped and walked around in front of Merlin, snarling.

"You have some guts, I'll give you that" He sneered "But I whip all you magical folk into shape, extra emphasis on the WHIP"

He learned forward and smashed a fist into Merlin's face.

As Merlin turned back he didn't have time to say a word, a first flew into his face knocking him tot he ground. He could feel a line of blood dripping down his face where the jewel in the ring had dug into his face.

Merlin gasped, who was that, in his memory? The one who had hit him. It must of been Layton but he didn't wear a ring now... Perhaps he was somewhere else before here? Perhaps that is where this cut came from. He didn't have much time to deliberate on this however and Layton and moved behind him once more.

"What's your name?"

Arthur and the knights rode hard through the day hoping to catch sight of the fortress that belonged to the bounty hunter. They were left disappointed. No buildings were in sight at all. Arthur prayed the barman had been telling the truth.

Merlin wasn't sure how much time had past. He spent most of his time in, what he had dubbed, the Whipping Room. Every now and then he was taken back to his first cell and allowed to rest. Once his back had become to badly damaged to whip they had wrapped it up in course bandages and whipped that, not hard enough to rip the material too much, but enough so that waves of agony were sent through his back with every hit.

Where are you Arthur? Merlin's thoughts pleaded, he was sure at least two days had past by now, surely Arthur was looking for him. He had to be.

"What's your name?"

"Mer..lin" Merlin breathed out between gasps, he felt another hit across his back. He allowed the tears that had been pricking his eyes to fall, silently, onto the stone floor. Why couldn't this man just let him go? He had long since stopped trying to use his magic to aid him, it only sent pain back at him due to those annoying manacles.

"What's your name?"

He couldn't take it. He stayed silent.

"I asked you what your name is!" Layton growled laying the whip down a little harder this time.

"646..."

Another day of riding past, where the hell was that fort? Arthur was becoming more and more angry with every passing second. Part of him wanted to turn back and and throttle that barman but the other part kept telling him to keep going, it could be just another hour away for all you know.

The other knights were becoming more and more restless, no doubt they were subject to the same conflict as he was.

"That bloody barman better not of lied to us!" Gwaine growled angrily giving his horse a rouch kick with his good legs in order to speed it up.

"You shouldn't hit your horse Gwaine" Arthur mummbled not really meeting his gaze.

"I don't think your the one who should be giving that lecture" Gwaine spat "And thats Sir Gwaine"

"Gwaine, that's the prince your talking to!" Leon scolded

"It's ok Leon" Arthur replied holind up a hand in defeat. I deserve it all anyway.

"Look!" Elyan exclaimed.

Arthur felt his heart skip a beat. A huge black stone fortress was visible on the hill, only an hours ride away.

"Please let this be it" Lancelot begged somebody, the air most likely. Arthur was praying the exact same thing and quickly his horse shot forward in a gallop.

Merlin decided he hated Layton, or as he was forced to say now 'Master'. He really did. Once he had gotten Merlin used to only responding to his number he soon 'taught' him to only speak when spoken to and only say "Yes master". Merlin hated it. He wanted to lash out with his magic but even if he could he was to weak to do any real damage.

Over the last few days he had gotten whipped, punched and kicked. He soon learnt it was easier just to go along with masters way rather then be pummeled into the ground.

He laid in his cell on the cold floor, shivering. He was sure his back was infected. He felt so weak and cold. Unfortunaly rest wasn't much of an option. Layton had announced gleefully that 646 was almost ready to be presented to buyers.

Merlin! Merlin you idiot, dont call yourself 646! Merlin slumped against the wall. He couldn't believe that after a few magicless days in this hell hole he was actually starting to call himself by that stupid number. At first he had tried talking to himself when he was alone, but after a while he gave up on it. He had nothing to talk about, so all he had said over the last few days was "yes master" "No master".

He fet his back ache as he leaned forward and rested his head on his knees. He was pathetic.

He laid on the stone floor of a cave, he felt so stupid, he had done something stupid. He ran, he knew he should go back but he didn't he-

Again with the flshes of memory. So far all he remembered was being in a cave. He went there, he was sure he was with Arthur and the knights before but he left and hid in a cave. For the life of him he couldn't remember why.

Let's hope Arthur can help Melrin soon, he is starting to crack!

Thankyou for your great reviews :)