Chapter 7

Freya took one good look at Merlin and knew that the situation was not good. Her first problem though was getting Merlin to admit that he had any problems. She knew that would be a challenge in itself. As she took in his sunken eyes, and exhausted expression, it was all she could do not to cry. But she knew she must be strong, and build up his confidence that she could see was badly lacking.

"You look exhausted." she began, "Have you had any sleep lately?"

"I catch a bit when I can." Merlin replied, rubbing his eyes trying to smile.

"You look as though you've not slept for a week." Freya said, sympathetically.

Merlin grinned, "I challenge you to sleep when you have Gwaine snoring in your ears!"

Freya giggled, "I was so worried about you Merlin. I'm just glad you are in one piece."

"Yes well." Merlin murmured, hesitantly.

"What?" Freya questioned him, hoping he would open up to her without too much hard work.

There was a pause before Merlin seemed to change his mind. "Oh nothing, now you are here I feel so much better."

Freya sighed inwardly wondering how to broach the subject of his magic. She could tell just by looking at him, that he was keeping things from her. A life time of keeping secrets was a hard habit to break, it seemed. She liked to think that she was starting to encourage him, to unburden himself on occasions, but he was still someone who preferred to hide his true feelings.

"What is the situation here Merlin? I need you to be honest with me. How is your magic?" Freya asked, deciding just to take the plunge.

"What do you mean?" Merlin asked, slightly defensively. "It's fine."

Freya looked at him sadly for a second. "Why do I get the impression you are not telling me everything Merlin?"

"It's nothing to worry about Freya." Merlin assured her, taking her hand through the bars.

"Why then does your voice tell me one thing, but your face say something completely different?" Freya asked, softly.

There was a pause between them for a moment. Just as Freya was beginning to lose hope, Merlin shut his eyes for a second before opening them and looking at her sadly.

"Freya, my magic isn't working." Merlin admitted, despondently. "I have it I can feel it inside me, but I can't control it. I can't use it normally it's like it's blocked off somehow. I don't know what to do. Everyone is relying on me and I'm letting them down."

"Merlin, you are not letting anyone down. Listen I have found something out, something that might be able to help you. It will mean us working together." Freya whispered.

"What do you mean?" Merlin asked a tiny speck of hope appearing in his tired eyes.

"The wood you went through." Freya began to explain, "It was enchanted. Demonia has put a spell on it. The spell can prevent the person's magic from flowing freely."

"So that's how she's done it." Merlin whispered. "I knew there was something strange about that place."

"I met a woman in the village she has told me that if we channel our magic together, we can beat her." Freya looked about her and then reached for her bag. Checking again that no one was watching she brought out an object which was wrapped up in paper.

"What is that?" Merlin asked, already he could feel a magical force buzzing around him.

"We have to use this stone to channel our magic through. This will give us extra power." Freya explained.

"Freya I have seen things like this before, they take a lot out of you. Let me try it first." Merlin said, taking the stone from her enjoying the warm feeling it gave him, as he studied it with interest.

"No Merlin." Freya said, "You have to trust me, it is only by using our magic together that we will be able to do this. You must stop doing everything yourself. Together we'll do this just trust me. Please."

After a couple of seconds Merlin reluctantly gave in. "Okay Freya, but if it proves too much for you, I'm taking over."

"Okay." Freya agreed, "But it won't!"

Merlin laughed. "I'm so glad that you are here."

"We need to tell Arthur." Freya suggested.

"Leave that to me. We will come up with something. There is a girl here her name is Anna. Demonia is using her. I knew Anna years ago she had said that she will help us escape."

"Merlin are you sure you can trust her?" Freya asked, nervously.

"I was hoping that she'd have come to see us by now. I hope she has not been caught." Merlin said, worriedly.

A shadow passed over them, making them both jump. For an awful moment both Freya and Merlin thought their time was up. But to their relief it was only Arthur, standing over them and looking pointedly at the stone in Merlin's hand.

"What is that?" Arthur asked.

"For god's sake Arthur, I thought Demonia was here!" Merlin snapped.

"Oh yes I mean I really do like that witch." he said, rolling his eyes.

"If Demonia finds this, we will all be done for." Merlin grimaced, "Hopefully this will be our salvation."

"Why what does it do?" Arthur asked, curiously.

"It has extra magical power in it. Freya and I need to channel our magic through it." Merlin explained, "Then maybe we can get out of here."

Arthur looked from one to the other, trying to understand the theory. "Are you confident it can be done?" he asked, checking both their responses.

"All we have to do is work as a team." Freya confirmed, her voice sounding confident.

"What about you Merlin?" Arthur checked, still not convinced. It all seemed strange to him, all these magical instruments, he wondered if he would ever understand completely.

"As Freya said, we will try and work together there is certainly some power in the stone." Merlin admitted, brightening up.

"We need to think up a plan then, so that you two can just concentrate on what you need to do." Arthur said, feeling slightly happier. Merlin was a mystery and Arthur doubted that he would ever understand him entirely. But for now he was happy with his reaction, all they needed now was a diversion.

"What do you think about this Anna? I would have expected that she'd have been back by now." Arthur said, noticing a frown on Merlin's face suddenly.

"I am a bit worried, she may have been misleading us, but we can also not rule out that she has been caught by Demonia. Until we see her again it is hard to make a judgment one way or another." Merlin said, his eyes half closed.

"Why are you so sure you can trust her?" Freya asked, curiously.

"We go back a long way." Merlin explained, "She was always a spirited person, but she'd been brought up very well, she always had compassion inside her. Even now I cannot think that she would have turned evil." Merlin explained.

"People do change Merlin." Freya pointed out gently, "But if you are still sure we should maybe give her a chance."

"That depends on her turning up at all." Arthur pointed out, "But in the meantime let us think ahead. If you are successful with the stone and we manage to get out of here, we need to decide what we do next."

"True" Merlin nodded, "A bit of brute force as well will come in handy as our numbers are strengthened."

"Leave that bit to me." Arthur smiled, "I will go and talk to the Knights, how soon before you and Freya can prepare?"

"It shouldn't take long we just need space to ourselves while we do it." Merlin said. "It will hopefully break the cell door then we will need a coordinated plan. The stone can still be used on anyone who tries to stop us though once we get out."

Arthur thought about it for a second. "So it will be like having an extra sorcerer then." He mused.

"I suppose so, but it needs Freya and I to direct the power." Merlin explained.

"It is essential that you two are guarded at all times then." Arthur concluded, satisfied that at last he was beginning to understand.

"We need to go at the front I'm sure the Knights and the women can handle everything else." Merlin grinned.

"Let me tell everyone then and I suggest you and Freya make yourselves ready." Arthur suggested, motioning Gwaine and Percival over to him.

Merlin joined Freya who had been sitting down, deep down he was worried about how much it would take out of her. But he knew there was no going back, they needed to work as a team if they were to get out.

"Are you all right?" he asked, taking her hand.

"I'm fine stop underestimating me Merlin." She smiled, squeezing his hand back.

"I wouldn't dare." Merlin smiled. "We need to be ready, once Arthur has spoken to the Knights."

"Just tell me what to do."

To be Contiued

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