Hello again! Bailieboro, thank you, I like writing dreams, they are a good excuse to be weird and creative. I always have weird ones (I dreamt I was pregnant with an alien last night … don't ask ;) ) Nonsuch and me, nothing is ever simple, but fluff will commence after this chapter, I think there will be two more of fluffiness after this whumpage! Mika271170, thank you, wow that is one of the best comments I have ever had! I am glad you liked the twist, I like putting Merlin through a lot of trials. Hehe, he is very brave in this chapter, don't you worry. Absentminds, teehee. I am glad you forgive me and still love the story :) There will be lots of angsty bromance in this chapter (LOTS and LOTS!) And yes, we should add Katie, Angel and the others, this relationship will get complicated ;) Greyember and TN Sarah, good job you don't have to wait any longer then ;) Guest, I know, I thought I would go for some dramatic irony! Sword, thanks for the lovely review, I hope you like this chapter too! AmeliaReddy, I guess I will forgive you ;) Ugh no internet…how did you survive? Um, yeah I was thinking sweaty and tangled bedding due to him tossing and turning, but I guess it could be read either way now that I look back on it. I will leave that choice up to your mind :) DeathGoddesses, don't threat, Arthur will always be there for Merlin in the end. So, I hope you all enjoy this!
Chapter 10
Merlin regained consciousness and found that he had been thrown over the shoulder of one of the knights. He stared around and realised that he must have only been unconscious for a few minutes, he was still within the walls of Camelot, heading towards the gates. He began to wriggle within the knights grasp, his legs and hands had been bound so he could not kick or hit the man. He saw flashes of swords all around him, a mixture of black and crimson littering the floor. For one moment Merlin was sure that he had seen Arthur's blonde locks and tried to scream his name, but he had been gagged and no one would have heard him over the uproar. Waves of fear crashed over him. Nobody knew that he was in trouble; the bad knight would take him away and kill him. Merlin re-doubled his efforts to escape and the knight, clearly fed-up of him wriggling, threw him to the ground and hit him hard across the head with the hilt of his sword, causing Merlin to immediately loose consciousness.
The next time that Merlin awoke he found himself in the middle of a forest. He blinked blearily, black spots impairing his vision. He attempted to get up but noticed that he had been bound to what he assumed was a tree. Merlin began to struggle again, his breathing constricted by the cloth in his mouth. One of the knights saw that he was awake and nudged the man who appeared to be dominant in the group, the one who had killed Merlin's mother. The knights walked up to the boy and pulled out his sword, bringing it down to wards the boy. Merlin screwed his eyes shut, this was it, he was going to die. A few moments later he re-opened his eyes confused, there had been no pain and he could move his arms. He saw that the man had not intended to kill him, but to release him from his bonds. Staring up at the man confused, Merlin realised that maybe it would have been better if the knight had just killed him. There was a menacing look in the knight's eyes and Merlin was sure that he would soon be back in a world of pain. The knight lent forward and removed Merlin's gag before speaking in a dangerous voice.
"Well, our sleeping beauty has awakened. Now, we can either do this the easy way, or the hard way. I suggest that you chose the first option." Merlin just scowled.
"I will not help you."
"Oh, fighting talk, this will be fun. I will delight in making you scream. I really think that you will help me, whether you want to or not. Let us start with an easy question. Where is Arthur Pendragon?"
"I already told you, I don't know." Merlin spoke loudly in a clear, confident voice, hoping that he was managing to hide his fear. The sword came crashing down and created a shallow gash on his chest. Merlin bit down on his lip hard but refused to make a sound, he would not give them the satisfaction.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know!" This time the gash was deeper and Merlin bit back a scream. He would not cry. He would not show weakness. The knight continued to ask the same question and when the seventh lash came Merlin finally let out a piteous whimper, sounding like a wounded animal. A single tear ran down his face but he refused to say anything, wiping it away brusquely.
"If you just tell me, I will make the pain stop. You don't want to carry on like this do you?" Merlin ignored the man and hissed when the blade cut deeper than ever. Oh god, he just wanted it to stop.
"I will not help you."
"Fine, how about a different question? What do you know about the prince's character? What are his weaknesses? How can we use his relationship with his father against him? How can we get under his skin?" Merlin ignored the questions, shaking his head stubbornly. He repeated his mantra.
"I will not help you." This time the blade travelled from his collar bone down to his hip and Merlin screamed in agony.
"I told you I would make you scream."
"Please stop. Please." Merlin hated himself for begging but the pain was just too much. The knight just laughed.
"I will stop; you just have to tell me what I want to know." Merlin groaned, he knew the answers to the questions, he had realised Arthur's weakness. Love. Arthur was a kind and gentle man, even if he would not show it. Merlin to had this weakness, he knew that it would lead them both to getting hurt but he also knew that life would not be worth living without it.
"I will not help you. Besides, even if I told you Arthur's weakness you could not possibly understand it. His greatest weakness is his greatest strength. You are a coward; you could never harm Arthur Pendragon. He is worth a thousand of you." Merlin plucked up the last of his courage and spat at the knight, gaining in return a deep gash on the cheek which caused his vision to blur. He tried to pull away, to escape the pain but he couldn't move. Merlin searched within himself for his magic, he could feel it simmering beneath his veins but it was unreachable, taunting him. He didn't know how to summon or control it. Merlin let out a howl of pain and frustration when the blade cut through his chest again, and when he looked down he saw that his chest was caked with blood. Nausea rolled over him and Merlin gagged at the sight of his own ripped flesh.
"Tell me!"
"I will not help you."
Merlin closed his eyes waiting for the final blow but instead heard two cries of pain. He didn't dare to open his eyes when he heard the clashing of metal on metal. He heard another thud and felt arms wrap around his waist. Merlin felt sick and peeled his eyes open, wondering what was going on. His own deep piercing blue eyes were met with Arthur's light blues. Merlin blinked confused and finally spoke.
"Arthur?" His voice was incredibly weak and feeble but a smile played across the child's lips.
"I knew you wouldn't leave me!" Merlin wrapped his arms around Arthur, who felt warm, viscous liquid soaking into his shirt. He placed Merlin back on the floor and pressed a hand to the boy's tattered shirt, when he drew back his hand was covered in crimson blood. He inhaled sharply and pulled off his cloak, wrapping it around the child to try and stem the flow. He also took off Merlin's neckerchief and began to wipe away the blood on his face. Merlin buried his face into Arthur's armor and tried to relax.
"Come on; let's get you out of here." Merlin didn't seem to have heard him, his head lolling to the side and his eyes unfocused. Regardless, Arthur picked him up, with one hand under Merlin's bent knees and one under his back, being careful not to knock his chest of face.
"Sire, is the child alright?" Gwaine stepped forwards nervously, holding a skein of water. Arthur just shook his head sadly and watched as Gwaine pressed the skein to Merlin's lips. He saw the child swallow greedily and felt slightly better; at least he wouldn't die of dehydration now.
"What happened at Camelot? Is everyone alright?" Merlin's voice sounded slightly stronger now.
"Everyone is fine; Gaius is at home waiting for you."
"What about Gwen and Morgana?"
"They are fine as well."
"Good, did we win the battle?"
"Yes, we won. Camelot is safe and Cenred has been killed." Merlin nodded and then groaned slightly.
"Sick…" That was all the warning Arthur needed, he quickly went over to a tree and placed Merlin on his feet, holding the boy up as he was sick.
"I don't feel very well. My tummy hurts." Arthur stroked the child's back and Gwaine gave him some more water.
"Gaius will make it all better, I promise." Merlin nodded and Arthur took this as permission to carry him again. He gently lifted Merlin onto his horse and then climbed up behind the boy, wrapping a protective arm around him and trying to ignore the blood seeping onto his hand.
"How did you find me?"
"I heard that you had been taken away after we checked my chambers for you and found them empty. We then followed the trail and heard you refusing to answer Cnered's men's questions. I am sorry you had to go through that Merlin. What did they want?"
"They kept asking me where you were and asked me what your weakness was, but I didn't answer, I promise!"
"You are very brave Merlin, not many grown men can stand up against that amount of pain. I am very proud of you, my little warrior." Merlin grinned at the praise and allowed himself to fall asleep in Arthur's arms.
Merlin was awoken from his slumber just minutes later when he heard angry yells and the sound of fighting again. He didn't understand what was happening, the two bad men were dead, and then Merlin remembered that there were three, he never saw what had happened to the third knight who had been beating him. When he turned he saw that the knight intent of ending his life was fiercely battling Arthur. Both Gwaine and Percival had been knocked to the ground and were too far away to help. Arthur lashed out and was fighting gallantly but the other knight was far larger and stronger than he was.
Merlin watched in horror as Arthur was knocked to the floor and before he knew what was happening he felt his magic surge out of his body. The knight was flung away from Arthur and flew halfway across the clearing, landing with a thud against a rock. Merlin saw the man begin to writhe and then fall still, blood seeping from a deep wound in his head. Merlin had killed him. Before in Arthur's chambers when he had said he would kill the knight in revenge for his mother he didn't believe his statement for one second. He stared down at his hands in a mixture of horror and awe and leant heavily against a nearby tree and almost collapsed. He had used up the last of his strength and his legs were no longer strong enough to hold him.
"You are a sorcerer. You have magic." Arthur's cold voice caught Merlin's attention and he looked up fearfully, realising the implications of what had just happened.
"Arthur-I-I can explain. I-"
"I don't want to hear it! Get out of my sight." Merlin flinched and felt tears burning in his eyes. He knew that he had killed someone, but he had done it to save Arthur. Surely that made his actions more acceptable?
"Arthur, please." Arthur turned away from the boy and began to mount his horse.
"Sire, I know it is not my place but-"
"Silence Gwaine, I do not want to hear it!" Gwaine closed his mouth and scowled, for a second he considered staying silent, but it took more than that to shut him up.
"Look princess, you can see that the child needs help. He did just save your life…"
"Gwaine I am warning you!" Gwaine sighed and took one last look at Merlin, who had hidden his face in his arms and was sobbing, his chest heaving as he struggled to breathe in enough oxygen. He then mounted his own horse, his heart heavy with regret.
"Don't leave him Arthur." Both knights whipped around in surprise. Percival rarely spoke, let alone out of term, he was known for his brawn, not his brains.
"He saved you... The least you can do is help him out... He is just a child… You are a good man, show it." Each sentence was spoken uncertainly and was punctuated by a long pause, but was said with a great deal of conviction, each being carefully chosen.
"He is a sorcerer. Magic is evil." Arthur spoke simply, the mantra that his father had enforced into him ever since he was a child. Percival bit his lip, he had said his piece, but Gwaine on the other hand decided to have a second attempt.
"No. Can't you see? This boy is of no danger to us. He saved your life, and this is how you repay him? If he wanted to kill us, he could have done so ages ago. He means us no harm. It is not magic that is evil; it is the perpetrator who is evil at times, but clearly not in all cases. Merlin is just a child; you can not tell me that he is evil. Look at him, he is bleeding to death. Do you want his blood on your conscience?"
Arthur battled with himself, Gwaine was speaking what was undeniably the truth, but what about everything he had been taught? Magic being prosecuted lay at the heart of Camelot, think of everything his father worked for, if he helped Merlin he would undermine all of his father's work. Arthur placed his blood-soaked hand to his head and began to rub his temple. For once he did not know what to do. He looked over at the child who had slumped down even further against the tree and who only just seemed to be clinging on to consciousness.
Arthur didn't know quite how he made up his mind, or whether he had made the right decision, but he found himself picking up Merlin and looking him in the eye.
"Merlin?" Merlin looked up at the prince his vision foggy. He flinched slightly, wondering whether the prince was going to run him through, but was taken by surprise when Arthur pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Don't prove me wrong. Show me that magic is not always evil. If I ever find you harming any of my people I will have you burnt." Merlin winced at the cruel words but hugged Arthur back.
"I wont. I, I don't think I am evil. I only wanted to help you."
"I know." Arthur didn't know what else to say, so he kissed the child gently on the forehead, damn his emotions, why was he feeling so guilty about being harsh with the child?
"It will be ok. You can trust me, I won't hurt you." Arthur hated showing weakness but felt better after trying to make amends. Merlin smiled up at him and squeezed Arthur tighter.
"I know you won't hurt me. You are a kind and good person. Can we still be friends?"
"Yes, yes we can." Merlin grinned, only for his expression to change rapidly to one of pain. He put his hand to his chest and felt himself loose consciousness and fall into a dead faint. Arthur lunged forward, just catching the boy and placed him back on the horse. Merlin had lost far too much blood and he had to get him back quickly. He sincerely hoped that everything would turn out well for them both. Gwaine and Percival exchanged looks but did not comment, glad that Arthur had finally seen sense.
Hope you enjoyed it! Please review, this chapter literally took hours!