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"I can't."
Merlin shut his eyes as he spoke, knowing his words had sentenced Arthur to pain, if not death. But the king was right; they would be killed as soon as the spell was complete otherwise. This way, there was a chance for Arthur to escape. Merlin opened his eyes, lifted his chin and stared defiantly at Hybald. He glared the best he could while being chained against a wall. The man nodded slowly.
"Very well." Hybald gestured to the guards either side of Arthur. One reached for his belt, then frowned in confusion, glancing to the other side of his waist. The other rolled his eyes, pulled out his own dagger and sliced it up the back of Arthur's shirt, leaving the material hanging loosely from his arms. Merlin's heart skipped a beat as he glanced into Arthur's cell, seeing the stolen dagger half-buried in the straw. He had no way of reaching the blade and even if he did, everyone in Camelot knew their High Warlock was useless with any weapon that wasn't magical.
Hybald stalked closer to Arthur, taking a firmer grip on the handle of the whip. Merlin swallowed hard but kept his mouth shut. He knew what Arthur wanted from him and he was not going to be the reason that everything they had built was destroyed. He wasn't sure he had the strength to remain defiant though, not when Arthur was about to be hurt. The king was more than his master and Merlin mutely shook his head, wishing for a way out of this.
"Merlin," Arthur called. His voice was as commanding as ever despite his precarious position and Merlin instantly looked to him. Arthur tried to smile. "Look at me. It's going to be alright."
Merlin swallowed again, then nodded and locked eyes with his king. Arthur's fingers flexed as he tried to relax and Merlin willed himself to remain strong. He had to, for Arthur's sake. If this whipping took place, Merlin knew it was going to be up to him to get them out of here, with or without his magic. Arthur nodded encouragingly and Hybald growled.
"Gag him if he speaks again," he muttered. Arthur gave him a withering look.
"How much of a coward are you? You have me chained and weapon-less, yet you fear what will happen if I open my mouth? Are your men's loyalty so weak that a few words from me will turn them against you? Is your sorcerer so unruly you fear I can sway him with the promise of gold?"
Hybald snarled. He thrust the whip at one of the guards and snatched up a length of material, winding it tightly around Arthur's mouth. But Merlin saw the guards glance at each other and realised Arthur was right. The men were not as loyal as Hybald wished; this man ruled by force alone. Ragnor looked unconcerned though. Hybald snatched the whip back and Merlin knew Arthur had made things worse for himself. There was anger and hatred flashing in Hybald's eyes now.
"One last chance."
"Go to hell," Merlin said quietly, his words burning with conviction. Hybald sneered –as if he was hoping for that answer – drew his arm back and brought the whip slashing across Arthur's back. Merlin winced at the sound but didn't dare look away. Arthur's jaw had locked and he stared stonily ahead, no flicker of emotion crossing his expression as the whip was brought down again.
Five blows had fallen and Arthur was rigid, sweat beading his forehead when Merlin felt it. As the next blow fell, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach, as if something was being tugged. Unable to stop himself, he gasped, but no one heard him. Their attention was focused on the panting king and Hybald's arm drawing back again.
"S-stop," Merlin spluttered, but the pain took his breath away and only Ragnor glanced at him. The seventh blow fell and the tug happened again, causing Merlin to cry out and hang limply in the magic holding him to the wall. Everyone looked at him this time, but Merlin stared at the floor, trying to understand. Hybald sneered and turned back to Arthur. As his arm raised again, Merlin understood what he was feeling. Trickles of magic were sparking through his body.
Two more blows fell, and each time Arthur was harmed, Merlin's magic wrenched itself free. The drugs and the collar meant nothing compared to their destiny and his magic had been created to protect Arthur. No spell was going to hold him down when his king was in danger. As the tenth blow struck Arthur's back and the king's hands tightened instinctively in pain, Merlin looked up. He didn't need to see himself to know his eyes were burning gold. He felt his magic had returned properly.
"My Lord!" Ragnor cried. He didn't move, didn't make any effort to try and protect his master. Hybald paused and looked over.
"You said you had him secured!"
"Step away from the king," Merlin said. His voice was not the weak, pain-filled one from before. It radiated power and the two guards glanced at each other again before hurriedly backing off. Hybald only raised the whip again, a sneer on his face.
"There's nothing you can do, warlock," he spat. As he brought the weapon slashing down towards Arthur, Merlin's chin jerked out. The handle of the whip instantly erupted in a fiery heat and Hybald let go with a curse.
"Stop him!" The man screamed, backing up towards the exit as he did so. Merlin glanced at Arthur and saw the king's eyes were closed. Merlin didn't know if he was conscious or not, but could see the heaving of his chest and knew that, at least for now, Arthur was alive.
"Your power is gone," Ragnor growled, unlocking the door with a wave of his hand. Merlin smiled and felt his magic race through his body. He stepped away from the wall, the chains and bindings melting away as if they had never been there. Ragnor flinched and backed up a step, uncertain at seeing the ease with which Merlin had overcome his power.
"My power is destined to help this land," Merlin said quietly but strongly. "Yours will never overcome mine."
He stepped forward again and Ragnor continued to back off. Then he realised that Hybald had fled and he turned to face Merlin.
"You could rule the world."
"Do you know how many people have said that?" Merlin said, irritation flaring to life. "It is not my destiny. Now, surrender and run after your master. But if you continue to stand in my way…"
He trailed off, knowing that he wouldn't need to finish that threat. This was different to the man he had killed in the woods. He knew precisely what he was doing, he was in complete control. And this time, Ragnor was posing a direct threat to Arthur and Merlin was not going to stand by and let that happen.
"Never." Ragnor stepped forward. Merlin felt Ragnor drawing on his own power by the sickness in his stomach and he shivered. But he wasn't defenceless this time. Lifting his hand, he cried a single word so strong that the walls seem to vibrate with the force of his power.
The collar around his neck tore off, flying through the air. Ragnor saw it coming and screamed, attempting to dive out of the way. But it was no good; the metal caught and locked around his own neck. Instantly, the dark power receded and Ragnor swore and cursed. He glared up at Merlin from his knees, his eyes feeling the same horror that Merlin had experienced. But while it took both the collar and the drug to keep Merlin suppressed, the metal was enough to block Ragnor's power.
Knowing the man wasn't a threat anymore, Merlin turned to Arthur. Holding out his hand again, he directed his power on the shackles holding the king prisoner.
"Líesing," he commanded and the chains released Arthur. Then Merlin realised his mistake.
"Damn." Letting his instinctive power take over, Merlin slowed time enough for him to make it across the room and catch Arthur's falling figure. Time resumed and he bucked under the king's dead weight. Both of them hit the floor, but Merlin was quick to start looking at Arthur's back.
"Idiot."
The word was nothing more than a breath. A beaming smile split over Merlin's face when he realised Arthur was looking back at him.
"You're alive."
"Honestly, Merlin, your powers of observation…" Arthur trailed off as he tried to move and his face went deadly pale. Despite his unconcerned tone, Merlin knew the king was in a great deal of pain. Merlin carefully helped him sit up, acutely aware he had nothing here to treat Arthur with.
"Get me the knife," Arthur muttered, his eyes closing as he did so. Merlin frowned but retrieved the stolen dagger. Arthur clutched it and Merlin understood. He felt the same about his magic. For far too long, they had been defenceless. Now, they would take everything they could get.
"Where's Hybald?"
"Gone," Merlin murmured. "I've stopped Ragnor's power. We need to get out of here, Arthur."
"You don't say. Help me up, would you?"
"You can't walk." Merlin protested even as he took Arthur's outstretched arm. He knew trying to deny Arthur wouldn't get him anywhere. Arthur swayed once he was on his feet and Merlin sighed at the sight of the blood running down his back.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "This is my fault."
"Don't even go there, Merlin," Arthur said. "Save your breath for directing us out of this place."
Arthur staggered towards the dungeon steps. Merlin wanted to protest, to claim Arthur wasn't strong enough to move. The words died in his throat. At least once they were out of here, they could stop and rest in safety and the open air would be far better for Arthur than the damp cells. Determined to force his master to rest once they were somewhere safe, Merlin sighed and hurried after Arthur.
"You'll never get out of this place," a voice rasped. "We planned for too long and for too hard to let you walk away."
Merlin turned to see Ragnor had made it to his feet. His face was pale but the sword in his hand meant Merlin knew not to underestimate him. The collar around Ragnor's neck was visible and Merlin heard Arthur's intake of breath as the king also turned.
"You can walk away from this," Merlin said quietly. "Enough blood has been shed."
"I'll walk away when you're dead!" Ragnor lunged forward. Merlin's hand lifted, but his mind went completely blank for a spell that would save him. A hand grabbed the back of his shirt and Merlin stumbled as Arthur wrenched him back out of the way. Merlin tried to move back in front, determined he was going to protect the man properly this time. But Arthur let out a yell as he drew back his arm and threw the knife. Merlin could only imagine how much that had hurt, but his eyes followed the path of the blade instead. He glanced away as it struck with a soft thump and Ragnor fell to the floor. This time, Merlin knew the man wouldn't be coming after them.
Merlin turned to thank Arthur, only to see that the man was half-leaning against the wall, his eyes shut and his breathing fast. Before Merlin could say anything, Arthur doubled over and wretched weakly. Blood glistened on his back and Merlin felt himself overcome with weariness.
"Come on, Sire," he said gently. "Let's go home."
Merlin knew Arthur was badly hurt when the king allowed his servant to pull his arm across his shoulder to aid him. There was no comment about Merlin being too weak, no protests over Arthur believing that he could walk fine by himself. Merlin's concern increased ten-fold and he stayed quiet as he navigated them out of the dungeons. Arthur needed his strength to walk and Merlin knew his master well enough to know that Arthur would never let him have the last word, even if it was in jest.
Merlin wasn't sure if it was instinct or magic that led them out of the castle. It certainly wasn't a conscious decision on his behalf which way to turn at the end of each corridor. Arthur was heavy and Merlin had spent far too long in the cell with not enough to eat or drink. Now he could feel his magic again, he felt awful. The drug was still in his system and he could feel the internal fight going on within him.
Once they were out of the dungeon, Merlin found Arthur's armour and weapons with a quick flick of magic. He sent the armour back to Camelot – at least, he sent it somewhere and desperately hoped it was back home – and returned the man's weapons to his belt. He didn't realise Arthur noticed until the king's hand gently brushed along the hilt of his sword and some of the tension left him. They both knew Arthur would be more useless than Merlin in a fight right now, but it was clear the weight of the sword was reassuring to the man.
But Merlin couldn't focus on it now. He had to get Arthur to safety. The man was conscious, putting one foot in front of the other, but Merlin knew throwing the knife had caused more pain than Arthur would ever admit. Knowing the warlock had his magic back had no doubt driven away the last of Arthur's adrenaline and now he was struggling. The fresh air helped revive him a little and Arthur lifted his head.
"East," he said weakly. Merlin turned in that direction – knowing Arthur knew better than him – and continued to guide his monarch through the forest. Only an hour of walking went by before Merlin lowered Arthur to a log, making sure there was nothing behind him to catch on his back.
"We have to keep going," Arthur said. "We need to put more distance between us and them."
"I can't." It took a lot for Merlin to admit it. He had suffered for silence in years while hiding his magic, often not being able to reveal an injury due to the forbidden nature of the quest he had been on at the time of receiving it. But no physical pain came close to what it had felt like being cut off from his magic. That coupled with it being out of control beforehand was making Merlin's head spin and he carefully crouched down next to Arthur before he fell down.
"Merlin?"
"You're too heavy," Merlin said, trying to deflect the attention. "And your back needs treatment."
"I can still walk." Arthur shifted and then winced before fixing Merlin with a look the warlock couldn't hold. "What is it? You have your magic back, don't you? Are you still out of control?"
Merlin shook his head. "The effects seem to have cancelled each other out."
The warlock sighed, running his hand through his hair. For a moment, he just looked out through the trees and let himself be soothed by the calming nature surrounding them.
"I'm weak, Arthur. The collar, the drug, my magic…It's like it's taken a physical toll." He avoided Arthur's gaze. He was used to taking care of other people. But he knew if they pressed on and he lost consciousness, Arthur would be vulnerable. His destiny came above his pride and Merlin slumped against the log that Arthur was sitting on. There was no scathing comment though and when Merlin looked at Arthur, he saw his master was watching him with an expression that almost resembled sympathy if Merlin didn't know the man better than that.
"Get some sleep, Merlin."
That was not what Merlin had expected him to say and he stared. "But…"
He gestured around them, indicating that they were in the middle of nowhere and Arthur was hardly able to defend them like this. Arthur shrugged and agony shot over his expression too fast for him to cover it up. Merlin was halfway to his feet before Arthur held out a hand to stop him.
"I'm hardly going to be able to sleep," he said. Merlin knew that was the closest Arthur would get to admitting his own pain. "So I'll keep watch."
"And if someone comes?"
"Then I'll wake you."
Merlin opened his mouth to argue, then realised that he didn't have a good enough reason to protest. He had been the one to stop and if he didn't get some rest, they would be stuck here for even longer as Arthur didn't look capable of walking unaided. Merlin had been away from the castle for too long; it felt like an age since he had rested easily and without fear of either enemies or himself. He still wasn't sure which had posed the greatest threat, but he knew he was exhausted.
"Go on," Arthur said. His voice was soft and gentle. "Get some rest."
Merlin was sagging before he realised he had agreed. He knew Arthur, knew the man would take it as a personal challenge to make sure nothing disturbed Merlin's rest after what they had just been through. Arthur hadn't been able to escape and so he would try and make up for it now. Deep down, Merlin felt safe, knowing the king was on guard.
That was his last conscious thought before he fell into a deep sleep.
