Mordred POV:
Emrys, please, where are you? I project into Emrys's mind. I hear no response so I try again, Morgana and King Arthur are worried about you. Gwaine is worried sick. Let me locate you.
I don't want to be found!
Emrys, please, we want to help you.
No one can help me. Take care of Arthur and Morgana. Then I am shut out, and I feel like I was punched in the gut. I close my eyes and sigh. I turn to Arthur, "He shut me out."
"Why does he have to be so stubborn?"
"Arthur, he is scared. He would never admit it, but it's true. Sire, he is determined that you and Morgana are kept safe."
"Why does Merlin care so much about my safety, when he throws his out the window?" Arthur screams, trying not to be frustrated but failing.
"You have no clue, do you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The prophecy about Emrys and the Once and Future King. Emrys and the King are to unite the land of Albion. Merlin knows that it will not come to pass if you are not alive, Arthur, for you are the Once and Future King. Merlin is Emrys, and he will protect you until his dying breath. But, he doesn't do it only because of the prophecy. Emrys does it because he is your friend and he is loyal. Whoever has Emrys's loyalty is the most powerful person in the world. But, now Emrys is unpredictable. He is worried and watching out for anything. He thinks that you are afraid of him and that you hate him. He still wants to protect you, but also thinks that he is going to hurt you."
"Merlin told me," Gwaine says, "He's afraid that he is going to hurt someone. I should have gotten the hint. I'm so stupid!"
Gwaine, you aren't stupid. Merlin projects into the room. Everyone can hear it. I am practicing my magic. I can look into water and see what you are doing and saying. I don't want you to worry about me. Just take care of yourselves. Arthur, stay safe same to you Morgana. Wait for me, Gana. You are never alone. I'm sorry, I'm just a danger to all of you. Just like one once told me. One, I thought I could never live without, and I had to. I can't talk about her, I'm sorry. Some things are better as a secret, I'm so sorry. I am going to miss you guys, especially you, Dollophead. I guess this is it. Goodbye.
With that, Merlin just stops. "I'm going to try to reach him again," I say, trying not to lose hope.
"No, let him be. Clearly, he wants to be left alone."
Morgana starts, and she is really loud, "Arthur Pendagon! How dare you! I refuse to give up on Merlin! Now, anyone who wants to help Merlin will think of anything that might give away where he is going."
That was way shorter than Queen Guinevere's rants.
~A week later~
Mordred. Mordred, please answer me. I can almost hear the desperation in Merlin's voice. "Guys! It's Merlin!"
What is it, Emrys?
C-can't breathe. Don't kn-now where I am. H-help. P-pl He doesn't finish the sentence. "Merlin is in trouble! He is panicking and doesn't know where he is."
Emrys! Emrys! Wake up! Merlin! Please! What is happening? I can't get an answer. His thoughts are like static. Merlin! Please! What is going on? Concentrate!
It takes a while for Merlin to answer, and even when he does, the words are slurred and quiet, C-caged. I-I'm an a-animal. Sorry. I-I'm so sorry.
You have nothing to be sorry for. Merlin, you must concentrate, what are your surroundings? No one deserves this much pain.
Blur. They are coming. Back away. Back. Stay away. Sorry.
Merlin, it is fine. Just, try to stay safe. I am not getting anywhere. "Okay, Merlin is in trouble. I don't have much information to go on. I think the traders took him. It's bad. He thinks he is an animal. Well, not literally, but he believes that he is a monster. They must not realize that Merlin is using magic or else they would have put the collar back on him. They possibly already have."
"No. Merlin was so weak after the restraints were put on him," Morgana sobs, "I should have gone after him! I am going to find him and those worthless, little-" Then she continues to say an abundance offensive words, leaving the other knights speechless. I try to stifle a laugh, but fail miserably, as does Arthur.
"I might be able to have a location on Merlin, but I need Morgana's help. Morgana, I realize that you are very upset, but, I can't do it alone. The only person who could is Merlin, and sadly, that is who we are looking for."
Morgana nods and we say the words together, "Voi̱thí̱ste mas na entopísete Merlin," a golden light appears in front of us.
Merlin POV:
Stay back. Stay away. I'm a monster. I'm a monster and there is nothing that anyone can do about it. A monster caged like an animal. No escape. Mordred will tell Arthur, right? They will come. Please don't hate me. Mordred is good, he won't hurt me. Arthur will. Arthur hates magic, so he must hate me.
This is worse than before. My magic is wasting away, as is my life. It didn't happen as quickly last time. My friends will not make it here in time. I should have let them come. I should have told them where I was going. I need to get to the Crystal Cave. I can't die, now. I need to protect Arthur.
"Oh, look, it's the king's servant. It's not fair. The boy has magic. Come on, boy, give us a little show!" I back away slowly. One of the men come into the cage and walk toward me. He strokes my cheek in a way that Morgana or Hunith would. I try to jerk away from him, but I can't struggle. Then he slaps my face. "Aw, that probably hurt. What about this, serving boy?" The man continues to punch me in the face and stomach. Then he kicks me in the side and I hear a sickening crunch. Then, I try to shield my broken rib, but I am unable to do so, and my master kicks me again. Another crack, another agonizing scream. "We'll leave you alone, boy. It's not like your king is coming." Then the men gawfaw, and walk back to their warm fire. If only I could scare them a little by making it move.
Blood runs from my nose. The rest of the time, whenever the come into the cage, they will stroke my arm, face, neck, or sometimes even my back –that is, if they can get to it without me slamming their fingers in the cage- then, they beat me. I can't even protect myself anymore.
Who am I kidding? Arthur and the rest of them aren't coming. It's been two weeks since I sent the message to Mordred, and three since I have been captured. They aren't going to find me. Another man comes into the cage, stroking my cheek and neck again. "I'm sorry that your king isn't coming. He doesn't deserve your loyalty." I close my eyes. Don't resist. The beating will be over quicker that way. "You know that he will only kill you. You should consider yourself lucky. We saved you from certain death." The man is now running his fingers up and down my back, sending chills up my spine. I let out a shaky breath. "Well, aren't you going to say 'thank you'?"
I will never do that. These men can beat me all they like, I will never thank them. "Never," I say in a feeble attempt to continue fighting. I didn't think that this was the last time I ever would talk back to these people. Then, he starts to beat me.
He takes a knife and begins carving my arm. He lifts off my shirt. I close my eyes so he can't see the fear in them and I can't see the joy in his. The man carves into my chest. I don't know what exactly he is writing, and I can't help but flinch everytime the cool blade touches my skin. Then, he does something that I didn't expect, he took a hot poker and branded my right arm with the letter 'W'. "It stands for worthless. You have no value! You are just a worthless sorcerer that is going to be sold! YOu are completely weak and useless! If you had any type of value, your king would have came for you by now. You are a worthless imbicile that can't learn to keep his mouth shut! You have no right to even live." I can't stop the tears that fall down my face. But, after the man leaves, I realize that he is right.
I am a monster. I shouldn't have ever been born. I am a discusting person that should be wiped off the face of the Earth. I sit up and see what the man cut into my skin. He wrote, "Slave and worthless," on my arm. On my chest, only slashes were made, but, also over my heart, was a 'W'. No one ever thought I would snap, but only one word stuck in my mind worthless. That one, two-syllable word, is the one that broke me.
So, this was a little more angst than I anticipated. I am sorry for the wait. So, please review! Pretty please with cherries and magic on top? Really, they do make my day! Well, I guess I'll see you next chapter.
Quote: "You will remember me," -Kilgharrah to Merlin.
XOXO,
~Lunatis262~