A/N: I don't own Merlin. That was the luck of the BBC.
This chapter I swear to god…
It couldn't make its mind up how long it was or where to end, I just… *runs off screaming in frustration*
"What do you mean 'he doesn't deserve you'? That sorcerer has lied to me for years! Our whole friendship is built on a lie!" Arthur growled, the intense ache in his heart building once more.
"Friendship? So you admit it now? That he's more than just a servant to you?" There was only a resounding silence from the king. Gwaine shook his head, a low growl in his throat. "Why do you think he lied Arthur? Look at how you're reacting now. He must've been terrified. Let's be honest, if he'd told you off his own back, would you have accepted him with open arms?"
"Magic is magic." Arthur grimaced, clenching his jaw though his words seemed hollow, as if he couldn't quite bring himself to believe them.
"I'm confused. Is it the fact Merlin has magic that's pissing you off, or the fact that Merlin hid magic from you?" He was glaring at the king, full knowing that provoking Arthur might not achieve his goal, but right now he just needed to let off steam and, to Gwaine at least, the king seemed to have a bullseye on his forehead.
Arthur didn't have chance to answer, instead the gloomy dungeon echoed with the sound of multiple footsteps stomping towards them. Silently, they began to unlock each of the cells and roughly drag its occupants out, securing them immediately, sounds of protest filling the room often devoid of sound.
"What's going on?" Arthur grunted, attempting to shrug off the thug gripping his wrists behind his back unsuccessfully.
"Where the hell are you taking us?" Leon was also struggling against his oppressor, digging his heels into the ground in order to keep level with the king, unwilling to let him out of his eyesight. At this moment he wasn't quite sure who the threat was to Arthur, the guards, or Gwaine.
"Seems that boy won't co-operate. Need some leverage apparently." That foul grin appeared again, and suddenly Arthur felt icy cold.
"He won't join Drin?" Arthur was confused. It was a win-win situation for the sorcerer, his and Drin's combined forces of magic and manpower would best even Camelot's defences. Drin would take the throne presumably, Merlin would have the power he clearly sought and Arthur would be dead in the ground, the last Pendragon to rule.
"You idiot, of course he won't! He's going to remain loyal to you until he dies, which by the sounds of it is going to be pretty soon!" Gwaine spat, struggling against the guard holding him.
"Why? We know about him now, there's no point keeping the charade up." Arthur couldn't hide the hurt radiating off his voice.
"No point-? Sometimes your stupidity astounds me." The knight gaped at Arthur. How could the king still not see Merlin for who he was? Why couldn't he look past the hurt and see that Merlin was friend, not foe.
"Watch it. I could have your head for that." Arthur threatened in a low tone, though he'd quickly come to the realisation that threats were often idle where Gwaine was concerned.
"Take it. I dare you." He gave the king a sardonic grin as his eyes narrowed with a challenging fervour.
"Would both of you stop? There's a more pressing matter, like how we're getting out." Leon grumbled, not caring that they'd be overheard by the guards restraining them. What they had in muscle and stature, they very obviously lacked in brains. He'd only heard a few of them speak, and had been amazed that they'd had the capability to do so. Drin had clearly got a bargain when paying for this lot, Leon was sure.
"And how we're getting Merlin out." Gwaine prompted with a slight nod of his head, keeping his narrowed eyes straight ahead, his mind whirling with various plans, none of which were realistic and one actually involved a spoon and bag of apples, though he wasn't quite sure where he was going with that.
"Yes, Gwaine." Leon sighed, trying his best to appease the troublesome knight.
"No. We're not going back for him." Arthur shook his head defiantly, his tone firm but heavy, as if he was trying to still convince the part of him ruled by his father.
"You-! Fine." Gwaine shook his head, he was done pleading with a man who would not see reason. "Consider this my resignation. I'm going back for him no matter what. I hope the rest of you have fun with your consciences."
"I'll help you, I'm sorry Arthur, but sorcerer or not, Merlin is my friend." Percival uttered, his face dark. "He's never hurt me, therefore I have no reason to distrust him."
"Shut it you lot. Just move." The guard leading the pack whipped his head around and scowled at them. "Giving me bloody headache." He suddenly chuckled maliciously, and nodded to the figure hung limply ahead of them. "Bet his'll be worse though."
"Merlin!" Gwaine's roar was loud enough to be heard in Camelot when he laid eyes on his best friend, his brother in everything but blood.
His heart stilled in his chest momentarily before the worry and shock that had been building up over the last few days turned into pure unbridled rage. "Drin is going to fucking regret ever touching him when I get out." Gwaine cursed under his breath, but loud enough for Arthur and his fellow knights to hear. He could see the slight nods of Percival and Elyan out of the corner of his eye, and the corners of his mouth twitched into a slight smile.
"G-gwaine? What're you doing here?" Merlin's hoarse voice was somewhere between a slur and a stutter, his eyes were blinking slowly and squinting, as if to check if his friend was really there.
"Don't worry about me mate. You've certainly looked better." Gwaine gave him a comforting grin, though it didn't quite reach his eyes, which still burned with anger at the state of Merlin.
"Y'know me. Clumsy, I feel like the stairs have been fighting back." Gwaine's brow immediately furrowed with worry.
"Where do you think we are Merlin?" His eyes narrowed towards the limp figure and his heart was now pounding with worry.
"Are we not in Camelot?" Merlin looked confused as to why Gwaine would ask such a question, if they weren't in Camelot where else would they be?
"He's delirious." Gwaine sighed, screwing his eyes shut. His hands would have been knotted in his hair in frustration had they not been secured behind his back.
"Why?" Arthur spoke without thinking, before it became apparent to him what stupid question that was. Gwaine shot him a look of utter contempt before gritting his teeth.
"Oh I don't know, how about the stab wounds, cuts, bruises, that rib that looks wonky, you want me to carry on princess?" Gwaine raised his eyebrows at the king, each hideous description of Merlin burning a permanent memory into his mind.
"Ah good, you're all here. The fun can begin." Drin clasped his hands and smirked, striding towards a very hazy looking Merlin.
"You bastard!" Gwaine spat, pulling hard against the hands restraining him. "How could you hurt him like that?"
"He's powerful, and he's useful. I need him on my side." Drin's voice was chillingly detached as he nonchalantly shrugged.
"Why am I chained up?" Merlin pondered quietly to himself, the puzzlement evident in his voice as his eyes squinted, his mind trying to recall the events of the last couple of days.
"Wake him up." Drin rolled his eyes and commanded. One thug appeared seemingly out of nowhere, carrying a bucket, filled to the brim with the same murky water Merlin had been forced to drink earlier when he was allowed a few hours relief from his seemingly endless torture. In one swift movement, the water was no longer in the bucket but covering Merlin head to toe leaving the poor boy dripping and shuddering.
"Merlin!" Gwaine called out again, struggling against his bonds as Merlin had let out a yelp of surprise, becoming as alert as he could be in his current situation.
