"Yeah. And maybe one day you'll magically transform into a handsome prince. But magic's outlawed so that'll probably never happen."

Here's the next chapter, sorry it's been a while. Just as a warning there is slight torture in this chapter, so if you don't like that feel free to skip those parts.

Disclaimer: IDOM

SPLASH!

Merlin shot up, cold water jolting him awake. Lifting his hand, he tried to rub his face, but it was jerked back, restrained by something. Awareness started to sneak back to him and he opened his eyes properly, taking in his surroundings. He was lying on the floor, his hands chained together behind his back. In front of him stood Morgana, bucket in hand.
His heart raced. Yesterday's events came flooding back, and he jolted upright. Don't panic. Arthur should still be safe. You can get out of this. Perhaps he could try to catch Morgana by surprise, by attempting to escape straight away. He tried to subtly use a spell, but the magic refused to work, burning under his skin.
"You didn't seriously think I would let a sorcerer stay down here without magical restraints did you?" Morgana taunted.
…A sorcerer? Did that mean she knew about his magic? And what kind of restraints did she mean? Merlin tried another spell but his magic stayed stubbornly dormant. He began to panic. This would be a lot harder than he first thought.
As if in answer to his questions, Morgana spoke again. "I took the precaution of placing magic restricting handcuffs on you. Normally, I wouldn't have. After all, you're nothing but a serving boy. But a bandit came to me with the strangest story the other day Merlin." She smirked, eyes glinting maliciously. "He claimed to have seen you using magic."
He froze. How could he have been so stupid? His greatest secret, Camelot's biggest advantage, delivered straight to the enemy. Merlin cursed his own carelessness.
"I have to admit Merlin, you hid it well. I never even suspected. But now your secret is gone, and I need some information from you. And, if we are lucky, Arthur won't be able to stay away from his manservant for too long."
Merlin's heart sank. Arthur couldn't come here, it would be too dangerous. But in his heart, Merlin knew he would, and almost, slightly selfishly prayed Arthur would come to rescue him. Without his magic, he was powerless.
Morgana wrenched him to his feet, shoving him out through the doorway. As he was bullied along hallways, away from the dungeon, Merlin thought apprehensively about what she was going to do to him. He didn't expect it to be at all pleasant, Morgana had transformed from a kind, caring woman to someone cold hearted and ruthless. And it was all his fault. He also wondered how much Morgana knew. Did she know he was Emrys?
They stopped in a large room. Morgana's eyes flashed, and Merlin felt himself lifted into air, and his handcuffs attached to a hook on the ceiling. His shoulders were wrenched into an awful position, and Merlin hung there, feet inches from the ground.
"Not very talkative today, are we? Not at all like your normal annoying self."
"Go to hell Morgana," Merlin swore.

"Feisty. But I think you will find I am the one with the power here, and you are the one with the information." Morgana laughed cruelly brandishing a sharp looking knife.

Arthur POV

Arthur was becoming frantic. Images of Merlin, bruised and beaten haunted him. He became reticent with his knights as they rode out north, ignoring their feeble attempts at conversation and preferring to ride with Gwaine, who had spent the whole time staring angrily ahead. Merlin had been in Morgana's clutches for a whole day already. She could be doing anything to him.
Merlin had suffered enough with Freya's death, he didn't deserve this. There had been so many things Arthur had wanted to say to Merlin, especially about Freya, but he had been too afraid.
He hadn't wanted to rest the night before, but Leon and the others, excluding Gwaine, had insisted on rest for themselves and the horses. Arthur had also refused food, thinking that Merlin would probably be going without, but Percival had quietly persuaded him by saying he needed to keep his strength up if he wanted to save Merlin.
It was strange, the lengths Arthur would go to for the young man. Even the knights noticed it. Arthur was usually a stoic person, and wouldn't dream of any public emotional outbursts, but when it came to Merlin, the knights had got used to this kind of behaviour from the King.
They were still over 3 days from Merlin. Arthur just hoped Merlin could last that long.

Merlin POV

Merlin bit his cheek sharply as Morgana carved into the skin on his abdomen. He refused to scream, refused to show any sign of weakness.
"A fascinating set of scars you have here, Merlin," Morgana murmured. "I wonder if Arthur knew about everything you have done for him, and found out about your magic, if he would still execute you. I believe he would. So why do all the things you have clearly done for him? TELL ME," she shrieked suddenly, dragging the knife sharply down Merlin's body. Blood spattered the cracked stone floor.
"Because he's a great king, and I am his friend," Merlin gasped. He wouldn't reveal Arthur as the Once and Future King.
"Friend," sneered Morgana. "Arthur wouldn't be friends with a lowly servant, not truly. And you, you just stab your friends in the back."
"You don't understand. I had to, I didn't want to poison you."
"I don't care anymore. I will become the rightful Queen of Camelot, and you will help me by telling me what you know, willingly or not."
"Never," Merlin growled.
"Oh I think you will," she laughed coldly. "Now, who is Emrys?" Morgana asked, cutting into him again.
Merlin stayed silent, even though he felt like he was being sliced into ribbons. He tasted iron in his mouth as he continued to bite the inside of his cheek.
"Well, it looks like we will have to resort to more painful methods," leered Morgana. She walked over to the table of torture instruments and plucked out a deadly looking whip.
"I think this will do nicely."
For the next half hour all that could be heard in the castle was Merlin's piercing screams. The pain overcame him, and he felt himself sinking into blackness, a welcome release. He hadn't let anything slip. Yet.

Arthur POV

The knights were thundering along, and in their haste did not notice for a minute that their king was no longer riding beside them. They slowed to a halt and doubled back, worried for their king. They found Arthur on his horse in the middle of the path, swaying dangerously, clutching his forehead.
Arthur saw blackness as screams reverberated within his head. Most were incoherent, but he could make out a few, which sounded like "Arthur". Was it Merlin? What was happening to him? How could Arthur hear him? He felt himself slipping off his horse, but could not stop himself, he was too stuck in his head. He only returned to full consciousness as he felt himself being laid on the ground, and as he heard worried voices calling his name.
He sat up slowly, until a particularly loud, pain filled scream rang through him, and he fell back to the ground in pain. Then, all went quiet. He had never realised how silent and peaceful his brain was until now. He opened his eyes slowly, seeing worried faces peering down at him. He stood up shakily, leaning heavily on Elyan's arm. He brushed off the questions fired at him for a few moments, before murmuring, "Merlin. I heard him screaming in my head." He glanced round, seeing the knights look at him in puzzlement. He could tell what they were thinking. 'Has the King gone mad?'
"I can't explain it, I don't really understand it myself, but it was definitely Merlin screaming." He shuddered, before realising his own words.
"We need to get to him. Now. The screams have stopped, something's happened." He tried to climb onto his horse, but fell back into Elyan's arms, exhausted by his ordeal.
"Let's rest. We can't travel with you in this state sire," suggested Leon.
"But we need to get to Merlin. He's suffering," Arthur protested frantically. He could see Gwaine fidgeting as well, wanting to get to Merlin.
"The screams have stopped. He is fine for now, let's just take 40 minutes to recuperate," said Gerrick, pleadingly.
"30 minutes. Then we go," compromised Arthur. Just hang in there Merlin.

Please review if you found this good, I'll get the next chapter out ASAP x