Now, we are getting closer and closer to the whump I blabber about... :)
To Break The King.
Gwen had been scared multiple times in her life, but this was a whole new level.
She was scared for Amhar, for Elyan, for Arthur…but right now fear for Merlin surpassed all the others.
Merlin was sick, there was no denying it. Besides looking fairly commanding and full of power when needed, he was coughing weakly and his breathing came out in harsh wheezes. Gwen was rubbing her hand on his friend's back, trying to make him feel better…Even though Merlin kept insisting he was fine.
"No, you're not Merlin." Gwen said softly. Merlin had been always like this, unselfish, even to the point of stupidity.
And Gwen loved him for it.
"You're not a rough, save the world kind of fellow are you?" she smiled weakly, and Merlin smiled too, thankful for the distraction and the joyful memory but her hand went quickly towards his forehead, staying there when she felt the warmth emanating from Merlin's too-pale skin. "Oh...You are shivering, Merlin…"
"Am not."
Gwen didn't argue because the door of the cell opened and Pelinor stepped in with a sly smile.
"Good day, my Queen."
Gwen didn't answer and Merlin got up, never once looking away from the man. Once again he took he stood up to his full height, putting Gwen behind him, much as Arthur had done with him a few days ago.
"What now, Pelinor?" he growled.
"I thought you wanted to know news from your great King. He was almost brought down on this battle, Emrys, one of my men managed to wound him."
Behind him, Gwen let out a startled cry. "No!"
Merlin had to calm down to not burst the cell open but the threat that came from him held inside all of The Emrys' pent up rage.
"I swear to you, Pelinor. If you lay a finger on Arthur I will kill you."
Pelinor laughed at him.
"Well, I guess you will have to."
And smiling at Emrys's enraged expression he went out of the cell leaving behind a sorcerer and a Queen that were now pale with worry.
"Merlin!" Gwen said, her voice shaking with concern "what now? If Pelinor has some sort of plan…"
"…I'll have to sort it out" Merlin said softly, turning towards her and hugging her briefly. "Don't worry Gwen; I'm sure Arthur is fine. He is a great warrior after all, even if he is a complete prat." he grinned slightly and, to his amusement, Gwen grinned weakly too.
"I know." said she, "But please be careful, Merlin…you don't look very well."
Merlin was about to answer when the door went open again and two guards dragged him away from Gwen. She cried out for him and ever tried to knock one of the burly men out with her shoe but a guard grabbed her throat and Merlin stopped fighting immediately, looking at the guard wearily.
"Come, Emrys" the other two said "Someone is expecting you."
Merlin was guided into a darkened room and his wrists were brutally encircled by manacles. He could have resisted easily but a soft whisper from one of the guards about the Queen's safety stopped him. He couldn't risk Gwen at any cost.
"Now, Emrys" Pelinor's voice said from somewhere in the shadows. "Let's start the fun, shall we?"
He motioned towards another figure and Merlin felt his heart take pace when Hilda stepped in.
...
There was a rather tall, imposing figure walking rapidly through the white- covered forest. His face was hidden by a darkened hood although a mass of tousled gray hair could be envisioned. The figure looked around and then continued walking.
He walked until he reached a small camp. Children were playing in the snow, some casting spells to make it change and bend, some just laughing as they made snowballs and snow angels. The man smiled briefly at them before he stepped into one of the tents, looking intently at another druid in front of him.
"Well, well, Iseldir" the other druid said "what brings you here at this early hour?"
"Emrys" Iseldir breathed out. The other man's face turned into one of complete attention and seriousness.
"What's going on?"
"That's the thing. I don't know. Gaius mentioned something of Emrys going to the borders after he paid us visit…but the question is why?"
The other druid furrowed his white eyebrows "Why does that concern you?"
"Because Emrys is not alright. He looked worried…preoccupied"
The man besides Iseldir sighed. "His destiny is a great burden, Iseldir"
"It is" Iseldir agreed. "and I am worried that this will somehow upset the balance between the Once and Future King and Emrys"
"Their destinies are linked together, Iseldir. Nothing can disrupt that."
Iseldir narrowed his eyes and got up "That's why I said balance, not destiny."
"Very well" the other druid said with a slight grin "what will you do?"
Without answering, Iseldir went out of the tent and into the white snow.
...
A knight of Camelot rode through the forest in his horse, faster than lighting. He had followed the trail of clear footsteps and was now getting closer to what seemed like an abandoned building. Lancelot sighed heavily. Why did Merlin always got himself into these situations?
Still, he had to admit he was worried sick about his friend. The trail didn't only look like a brutal place to walk, but also like if Merlin or someone had been running…
What if he had been chased?
Please, Merlin, be alright. then he added, almost imagining Merlin's snicker were he there, Arthur will kill me if you aren't.
With another heavy sigh, Lancelot guided the horse towards the doors of the abandoned castle.
...
"RETREAT!"
King Arthur was shouting mightily at his knights, going back as fast as he could. He didn't understand it…the battle had turned the tide suddenly but why?
He did know the answer. It was Merlin…the idiot wasn't there and Arthur was completely worried.
You idiot. You're not even here and you manage to ruin everything…
As he rode back to his knights he let the feelings engulf him and he squeezed his eyes tightly.
Merlin…don't you dare be hurt…don't you dare…
"Arthur!"
Arthur opened his eyes and saw Gwaine looking at him, worry clear on the rough knight's face "Nothing?"
Arthur shook his head. "Nothing, Gwaine."
Gwaine nodded, as if he was expecting it and then said calmly. "Well, I am not sitting here waiting for news, princess, you might as well say goodbye because I am looking for my best mate."
Arthur sighed. He made his horse go faster, besides Gwaine's. The knight just kept looking ahead with determination. "Gwaine, please. I already sent Lancelot to look for him. I can't lose two of my best knights just before another battle, can I?"
Gwaine turned to him with incredulity on his dark eyes. "This is Merlin we're talking about, Princess!"
"You know I wanted to go looking for him. But I didn't because I have a duty for my Kingdom first…and you Gwaine…you've got one too."
Gwaine's eyes threw blazes at him.
"Fine." he all but growled. "But this doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."
Later, after everything was done, Arthur shook his head as he entered his tent. He slumped down on his chair and buried his face in his hands.
No. it doesn't mean that I've got to be happy about it either.
...
Merlin looked at Hilda.
Hilda looked back.
There was so much sadness, so much deep hurt in those blue eyes that Hilda found herself backing away slightly. She still didn't know what Pelinor wanted her to do and she was slightly suspicious that it would be something really bad.
"You see this here, Emrys?" Pelinor said, bringing forth a think that looked like a pendant "It was used in the times of the old religion to show other people's minds the thoughts on your own."
He smiled at Hilda as he put the pendant around her neck "Now, Hilda" Pelinor said softly "I want you to think of you son's killer"
The reaction was instantaneous. Emrys tensed and his eyes shone with power while Hilda swallowed in grief. She was clearly remembering everything by the look on her face, which went from sadness to total loathing.
Emrys was shivering, Pelinor noted. He was shivering like an autumn leave.
.
All that Merlin could think in those moments was that he would be forced to watch how Freya got cursed. His heart would break from the pain, no doubt. But something that he didn't understand was…how did Pelinor even knew?
Pelinor, thankfully, seemed ready for his villain speech and he strode through the room, eyeing Merlin.
"I'm sure you wonder how I know, don't you, Merlin?"
Merlin flinched when Pelinor used his real name.
"You see, Halig was my brother…"
Halig? Oh, the bounty hunter. The bounty hunter that had hurt Freya…
"…He was my brother. And one day he came home to tell me an interesting story. Want to know what it was, hmm? That a serving boy was hiding a cursed girl under the royal nose of the prince. And you know what else? That serving boy, as it turned out, was made court sorcerer years after" he smiled "I saw the potential. I chased down this witch and offered her a place by my side, as an ally. But she refused. She was still mourning her dear son…"
"What do you have against Camelot?" Merlin interrupted him. He needed to distract Pelinor.
Pelinor didn't even blink "Changing the subject, aren't we, Merlin? But if you want to know, I'll tell you. That boy, Arthur Pendragon, is nothing but a pretty face. He had less brains than a bird and is too damn good, too soft for everybody's liking-"
Merlin's eyes shone dangerously "Do not speak of Arthur like that in my presence, Pelinor"
"Ah, Emrys, what will you do? Remember that I have the Queen in my power"
Merlin bowed his head.
"Now, Merlin. We will see…"
Merlin flinched away when Pelinor approached him, the pendant in his hands…but the manacles didn't let him move at all since they were hurting his now tender wrists. He growled a warning and his eyes flashed gold dangerously but Pelinor still advanced.
"I will see you broken, Merlin. To break the King"
A critical level of whump picks up from the next chapter. But guess what? So does the bromance! *angel chorus.*