A/N: I KNOW I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN LITERALLY FOREVER! I am SORRY! I'm back now and I solemnly swear I will finish this story. SORRY AGAIN!
He fled down the corridor, pain and the voices bombarding his mind. Why was this happening to him? "You're nothing but a weakling who couldn't defend yourself even if your life depended on it." That's not true. "You are the reason your father left us. Why did you have to be born a monster?" I am not a monster. "Hah! Not a monster? Have you seen yourself? You are nothing but a beast to be hunted and killed."
"STOP IT! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" He screamed, grabbing his head in agony.
"MERLIN!" Arthur yelled from behind him. Merlin whipped his head around and couldn't suppress the hiss that escaped his lips. The King was running towards him, his sword drawn. "Merlin," he said more calmly, slowing down. "You have to fight this. This isn't you. It's the poison from the snake. We have to get you to Gauis before it gets worse."
Merlin couldn't help but laugh at that. "Get worse? Have you seen me? How could it get any worse?" "You've been a monster since the day you were born! All that's different now is that it's plain for the world to see. Be grateful you don't have to hide anymore." "I said stop it!" he growled to himself, one again clutching his head.
Startled by his manservant's mood change, he shook his head and continued speaking. "You have to snap out of this! This isn't you."
"Don't let him control you," a sweet voice whispered in his head. It was the only voice not insulting him, and it momentarily drowned out the noises of his "friends". It was very enticing. "You have unimaginable power, untapped potential! You could do great things, Merlin. He can't fix what isn't broken. You've been in the shadows far too long. Take what you deserve."
The voice was right. Why shouldn't he be the one who was on top for once? After all he's done for Camelot, and no thanks whatsoever. He could demolish the entire kingdom with the wave of a hand. Why shouldn't he take what is rightfully his? Rage swelled within him. His eyes shone with madness.
"I AM BETTER THAN I WAS BEFORE! I can do things that you could only dream of! You never appreciated me. You always insulted and undermined me. Now you will pay for all the times you hurt me. YOU WILL ALL PAY!" He released a maniacal laugh, and the ground shook for a moment.
Arthur had to steady himself. He was glad Gwen was off getting the knights. He knew he'd need to backup if Merlin decided to fight, which was looking a lot more likely at this point. He reached out to his friend yet again.
"Stop it! Can't you see what's happening? This isn't you! Someone is controlling you. If you do this, you'll be no better than Morgana."
Merlin shook his head. That wasn't right. He would never hurt Arthur or Camelot. What was happening? Who was that voice? All he knew is that he needed to leave the city - immediately.
He backed up, fighting the voices screaming in his head. "YOU ARE WORTHLESS!" "YOU RUINED MY LIFE!" "Merlin, join me." "EVERYONE HATES YOU!" "WHY WERE YOU EVER BORN?" "Just give in! It will be much simpler this way. The voices will stop." "YOU FAILED YOUR DESTINY!" He grabbed the his head even harder, praying for the voices to just leave him alone.
"Arthur, you have to let me leave in peace. I don't want to hurt you. I don't think I can hold on much longer." He yelled painfully.
Arthur, being the stubborn prat he was, just shook his head. "I can't allow you to run around the kingdom like this, Merlin. You are a danger to yourself and others. Come with me and we can get you help."
Those words, so similar to those in his dream, snapped something inside of him. He was a monster. He was a threat to the kingdom. He knew Arthur couldn't help him. Only one person could. The source of that sweet voice is the one who sent the snake, he was sure of it. He had to get out of there before it was too late. If things continued the way they were, his dream would come true. Merlin would not let that happen.
Steeling himself, he looked at Arthur in the eye. "You cannot save me. I am sorry."
At that moment. a group of knights, including those of the round table, flooded the corridor. When they saw him, they gasped.
"Merlin?! What happened to you?" asked Gwaine. He snarled and flung them back with a flash of his eyes. With one last regretful look at his King, he muttered a transportation spell, imagining the clearing where he first met the snake.
If you think you can control me, think again. I will never listen to you. Meet me where this all began, if you have the nerve. He knew the witch was listening.
He manage to catch the shock and the hurt in the eyes of his friends before he was transported away in a flurry of wind.
~Merlin~
The sorceress screamed and flung her scrying pool all over the ground. "THAT LITTLE BRAT! HE DARES TO THINK HE CAN BEAT ME?!" She took a deep breath to calm herself. She straightened her tattered black dress and turned to her pet. "Come, let us meet our little friend and see what he can really do."
She laughed evilly and the snake hissed in agreement. Together, they exited the cave which they called home, determined that Emrys would finally succomb to the witches spell and help them fulfill their plans. If he did not, then he wouldn't live to see the next sunrise.