A/N I think you might like this chapter ;)
Disclaimer: don't own

"Well then Michael. How was our little friend today?" Walden asked of his servant.

"Unresponsive like we wanted sir. You broke him yesterday and one does wonder how it was milord." Michael replied with a smirk. Walden grinned as if they were talking about a hunt gone well and not the abuse of a young man. "Very nice indeed." was the response. Michael just laughed. "Let us see him then." Walden said, already making his way to where Merlin was being held. Michael followed like a good puppy.

"Hello Merlin. How was your day? Good from what I've heard and from what I can see." Walden said in mock pleasantry. Merlin just stared, face blank but eyes burning with an ounce of defiance even after everything that's happened. "Not speaking still? What a shame. Oh well. We'll see if you'll speak tomorrow. I'm quite tired if I'm being honest which is very unfortunate. Isn't it Merlin? I'll see you bright and early tomorrow." Walden left Merlin but not after sending a sickly sweet smile at Merlin which is just as bad as a leer. Michael gave Merlin a smirk and followed his master out leaving Merlin alone in a dark cell with thoughts just as dark and foreboding. When will it all end? Will he die and be left to rot? Is this what the rest of his life is going to be like? Will someone be able to find him before time runs out? Merlin scoffed at the thought as he curled up in a protective position.

The group travelling from Camelot came to the edge of the forest where it opens out onto abandoned fields. Overgrown weeds and nettles are the only living thing in sight. In the middle of the group of fields was a small hut. "What are we doing here?" Arthur asked.

"The magic. Merlin's presence is strong here. He's somewhere around here. I know it." Morgana answered facing her brother. Arthur drew his eyebrows together in confusion and so did Leon, Gwaine and Percival. "Morgana. We," here he gestured to the three Knights named. "We'd checked this place out only last month. There's nothing in there. Not even any mice. It's been deserted for years. If Merlin had been there, we would have seen some indication." Arthur informed the witch even if his own words were a stab to his heart. He hated the fact that they turned up in the middle of nowhere but if Morgana's magic had led them here and Merlin was then Arthur had found Merlin but had left him to more torture. Arthur couldn't bare the thought that he'd sentenced Merlin to a month more in captivity. "Maybe someone covered their tracks. It's possible. Let's just check it out. See if you missed something." Morgana nudged Mino into moving towards the abandoned hut. The Knight's followed.

They stopped in what would've been a beautiful front garden but was just like the fields with it's overgrown weeds. They dismounted their horses and tied them up. Morgana then led them into the hut where it seemed exactly the same as when Arthur had searched it. He said as much. Morgana just ignored him. While the Knights stood around looking uncomfortable, Morgana looked around the hut, concentrating on her magic. It pulled her over to where there was a table and chairs in a corner. She knelt down and examined the floor. Nothing seemed out of place but for a hut that was supposedly abandoned, there was a detail that no-one would have thought important but at the same time, was a main piece of evidence that in fact, it has been used. "Arthur, come here. Look at the floor and the table then look at the objects on the other side of the room. What's different?" Arthur did as he was told. He looked at the floor and furniture then looked at the dusty objects on the walls. While he was by the walls, his boots made faint prints were dust had gathered on the floor. "I don't see anything unusual." Arthur said, making his way back over to his sister. "Really? Then why are their footprints over there but not over here?" Morgana hinted. Arthur just looked confused then realisation dawned on his face. "Dust?" he said. He took a closer look and realised that where they were, there was not a speck of dust. "Correct. Help me move this table." Morgana said. Arthur did help and by now the Knights had perked up with interest. When they had moved the furniture, they examined the floor underneath. It all seemed the same. Arthur ran his hand over it where it got a graze by a stone sticking up. "Ahh." he gasped. Taking a closer look at the rock, Arthur took the jagged edge in his hand and pulled. The floor lifted up to reveal a trap door with a staircase leading down. The group gasped as one. "He's down there." Morgana stated, so quiet yet so matter-of-fact and suddenly Arthur was full of nerves and guilt. Merlin had been here when he'd checked it a month ago but he was so stupid he hadn't checked every detail properly. Now he's getting Merlin back but what will he find down there? They all looked at Arthur and, inhaling deeply, he started climbing down the stairs with Morgana following behind and the Knights taking up the rear.

A/N :D Reviews otherwise I might change the next chapter ;)