Part 7 Waking The Prat

(Authors Note: In case everyone was wondering what the spell actually meant here's the translation Release Arthur from love unwanted. I made it up. I own nothing. PLEASE REVIEW!)

~ Back in the present~

Vivian giggled, holding up the miraculously intact bottle to the light. She had sliced into my skin a few more times and I watched her carefully.

"Who did you trick into helping you put that curse on Arthur?" I asked and she giggled again.

"Oh! You're smarter than he gives you credit for." Then she turned as the door opened and a figure, partially obscured by the darkness, entered.

"Oh my love! I'm glad you're here!" He stepped into the light and I saw with a pang that it was Arthur. Eyes glowing and he stared at me as he wrapped his arms around Vivian. Then he spoke but his voice was slightly wrong.

"He's awake. Do you want me to knock him out again my love?" He asked, creepy red eyes turning to Vivian. She shook her head.

"No it's more fun when he's awake." Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. I made gagging sounds.

"I'd appreciate you knocking me out actually. Just so I don't have to watch." The atheme flashed out and drew another slash down my side. I gasped in pain again but went on.

"Seriously, what's your obsession with him?" Another cut, another gasp more blood dripping down my side. Arthur twitched and I saw something in his eyes change. So on instinct, not using any magic, I continued.

"He's a prat." More pain, more blood, and another twitch from Arthur. Vivian didn't notice.

"A dollop head." More blood, more intense pain, yet another twitch from Arthur. Almost a shudder.

"A clot-"Pain.

"Pole!" I screamed it as the blade bit deeper than ever before, the dark magic on the blade tainting the wound. Arthur blinked. Was it my pain soaked mind or did his eyes look less red? I was panting in pain as Vivian turned fully from Arthur.

"You need to be taught a lesson. Dogs like you can only be trained through pain." She grinned wickedly and lifted the blade again. Then she spoke in a language that slithered through the air like a snake. I recognized the words but would never speak this language. The words translated themselves in my mind as the fear built in me.

"Bind his flesh like sculpted stone,

Cut with pain down to the bone.

As his blood drips off this blade,

Let him feel himself unmade."

On the last word her blade sliced across my chest slowly. A scream sliced through my lips as blood dripped down my chest, staining my already ruined shirt.

"Arthur!" I shrieked desperate for help as the pain extended beyond the cut, deeper than it, it contracted around my lungs and I gasped and choked. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I gasped again, fighting to stay awake as the pain spread, reaching out for my heart. I didn't have the breath to scream again as Vivian spoke.

"Did you expect your potion would do anything to change what I've done? I have magic and you don't. Arthur is mine now." I gasped again and managed to draw in enough breath to speak, as the magic I 'didn't have' fought her curse stopping it from reaching my heart.

"Wake up you clot-pole." The blade bit into my arm and the intense pain blossomed there as well, but I kept going. Arthur's eyes were definitely shifting. I knew what button I had to push, for it was the only one I hadn't pushed yet.

"Gwen's gonna kill you when she gets back." That visibly shook him. That was also the last straw for Vivian.

"Arthur is mine! No little maid can have him! He deserves better. We were made for each other." She drew the atheme across my forehead and down my un-punched cheek. The pain grabbed hold of my mind and I screamed louder than ever before. I was sure, under my haze of pain, that the entire citadel could hear me. The world around me seemed shrouded in a layer of red.

A second scream joined mine and I fought the red haze that threatened to engulf me. Arthur was clutching his head. Vivian dropped the atheme and rushed to his side. The pain lessened slightly with her broken concentration and I saw Arthurs eyes shift from red to blue and back again. I gasped and spoke, brokenly.

"Arthur… the potion… should… break the spell." I was choking on my words as blood dripped down my face. Quicker than lightning he snatched it from a stunned Vivian and downed it. She blinked as his eyes turned blue and stayed that way. He swayed and she whirled on me, hissing.

"You bastard!" Summoning the atheme to her she lunged. I struggled in my bonds trying to get away from that twice cursed blade. Arthur, finally reacting, knocked the blade out of her had with one expert unarmed blow and then knocked her out with another. He didn't like hitting girls but this was necessary.

I went limp in my bonds as the pain receded, it didn't die down completely but it did die down. Snatching the key from Vivian's belt Arthur unlocked my bonds and caught me as I stumbled.

"Merlin! What happened? You're covered in blood! Why was Vivian attacking you!? I knew she was crazy but this? Merlin? Merlin! Can you hear me?" I was drifting off, blood loss and absolutely no sleep that night finally taking their toll. The last thing I heard was Arthur calling for the guards.