Hi! I'm back! Sorry for keeping you all waiting for so long... I've had a very bad and horrible year, my whole life was turned upside down and inside out, but I'm starting this New Year with high hopes!
And I just want to thank all the people who didn't give up on me and even now I still get alerts and reviews, they are part of what gave me the strength to get my old life back! So thank you!
Chapter 12 Friend or Foe?Arthur all but ran down the corridor as he made his way towards the great hall. He was fuming, that was clear for all that came across him. He had just got back from the search empty handed, and he had just learned that his father wasn't letting him go back to the search, they had just came back to exchange their exhausted horses, and pick up new supplies. They didn't have time to waste; Merlin had been missing for a week, no not a week, more than that, 8 days. Arthur shook his head and increased his speed; he was practically skipping now, though not the jolly kinds that he was used to seeing Merlin do. Up on his arrival at the huge doors, the two guards stationed either side of it, nearly crashed into each other trying to quickly get the door open for him. Arthur didn't notice his mind only on getting to his father and demand why he was not allowed to get to Merlin? Once the doors had opened, Arthur made his way to the end of the hall where his father stood, once he was close enough that he didn't need to shout for the king to hear him, he made his displeasure known by something other than a scowl.
"Father! What is the meaning of this? Why am I not allowed to get back to the search?" he demanded. His father regarded him with raised eyebrows and dismissed the council members that he had been talking with.
"Arthur, I need you to calm down first before we discuss anything." Was all that Uther said. This did not calm Arthur down, in fact it made him fume even more, but he knew his father, and he knew that it would get him nowhere if he did not comply, he could always run of on his own and continue the search, but he was only one man, he needed the extra power the knights and guards provided. He closed his eyes and took tow deep breaths, it did nothing to ease his burning anger, so kept on breathing deeply, counting each breath and matching them with his heartbeat that consumed his mind, in out, lub dub, 1 2. When he thought that he had somewhat calmed down he opened his eyes again and looked at his father, and at his nod he began again.
"Father, you can't stop the search! We have to find them!" he said still not able to keep the desperation out of his voice.
"I know Arthur, I want them as much as you do. But" he went on when Arthur opened his mouth again. "We have to be practical about this, I'm having a meeting tonight with some of the lords, they have been gathering information for me, I suggest you attend and tomorrow, once you have had a good night's sleep and a warm meal, then you can go back out there and search again."
"But father, we don't have time" Arthur began only to be cut off by the king again.
"They have been missing a week Arthur; I hardly doubt one more night will matter. And don't you think hearing what the reports are will help you in your search as well as proper food and rest?"
Arthur had to concede to that, he gave a nod of understanding and then left his father to his council. He had to agree that he could do with a bath.
MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA
Morgana walked down towards the dungeons, where she knew she could find her sister, it had become her favourite place in the past week. Morgana flinched as she heard another scream. This is not what she wanted, not at all, she expected Morgause to kill Merlin straight away, and instead she had opted to make him suffer. She used all sort of tools and magic to torture Merlin, and Morgana just wanted it to stop, she just wanted the screaming to stop. But Morgause wouldn't listen to her; she couldn't accept that a mere serving boy had managed to stop her plans so often! And Morgana couldn't even go back to Camelot to escape the sounds coming from the dungeons. She had gone back the same night they took Merlin, only to find the guards waiting for her to arrest her. Uther knew of her betrayal. She hadn't gone back to the dungeons though, she couldn't face him. But now she had to find Morgause. Before she got to the cell Merlin was kept in, she called out Morgaues' name, not wanting to get any nearer to the cell and see what was inside it.
"Yes Sister?" Morgause said coming out of the cell and looking at her wit curiosity and annoyance for interrupting her 'fun'.
"King Cenred is here" Morgana said. At once Morgause gave a smirk of delight, she was planning Camelot's downfall with him.
"Excellent" she said in response, making her way to the stairs that led out of the dungeons and to the upper parts of the abandoned Castle they had taken over. Before Morgause got on the stairs, she turned around and looked at Morgana. "And while I am occupied, why don't you keep our guest company?" And with that she left, not giving her sister a chance to respond.
Morgana stood rooted to the spot, not wanting to see into the cell, or go back up and see Cenred grovel to gain Morgause's affections. She stood for a while undecided, but the little voices of pain coming from the cell had her slowly getting to the cell. What she saw when she got there had her breath catch in her chest. Merlin looked awful; there was not a single space on his skin that wasn't bruised or bloody. The image was just wrong! Merlin was the one who always smiled, and cheered everyone up. He shouldn't be broken! Morgana got it now; she understood why so many people had come for Merlin's party. Because now that she saw that image broken, the image of who Merlin truly was, she realised what had been taken. Merlin was chained to the wall and all of his clothing, but his trousers, was missing. He hung from the chains not having the strength to hold himself up. Despite the broken image Morgana knew that Merlin hadn't broken yet, it was something that Morgause was not happy about. Morgana looked at the boy, for he was a boy, and all she saw was the naive young man who had come bumbling into their lives, he had brightened it. He had done that for her too, when he kept her secret and brought her flowers when she wasn't well, that was until he poisoned her. But looking at him now she couldn't be angry, she felt he had paid for what he had done to her.
"I… I'm sorry" was the tiny whisper that came from Merlin. "For what I did to you that now you cling to your hatred. I never wanted that"
Morgana stared at the boy in front of her, who had been tortured to the edge, and all he could think of was what he had done to her! This wasn't right! It wasn't supposed to go like this!
"Why did you?" Morgana couldn't help but ask.
"Arthur..." Was all Morgana needed to here, because of course Merlin would have done that for Arthur. There was nothing he would do for Arthur was there? This week was awful, now she saw what she had really done!
"I'm sorry..." She sobbed at Merlin willing him to understand, willing him to forgive her. "This...This wasn't meant to happen! I- What have I done?" She had to do something, she had to get Merlin out of here! She walked forwards to break the chain only to find them enchanted. Morgause hadn't taken any chances, these chains were used to lock up people with magic! "I'll get you out of here, I promise!" she said before leaving. She knew how to open those chains, there was key that was in Morgaues' room that would open them, and with her sister distracted with Cenred, getting the keys was the easy part. But soon she realised she couldn't get Merlin out of here on her own, she needed help.
MAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMAMA
Arthur sat at the table feeling anxious. None of these council men had anything useful to report, and Arthur hated sitting down and doing nothing! He was so close to getting up and leaving, just as he took a breath to tell his father so, there was commotion outside the doors. He was already on edge, so Arthur was up on his feet with his sward in hand before the others could so much as turn their heads to look at the doors. Soon the door opened and in walked... Morgana! Arthur was at her side before he knew what he was doing, sward inches away from Morgan's face.
"WHERE IS HE?" he bellowed at her. She looked at him with round, slightly fearful, eyes.
"I'll tell you" she said, "That's what I'm here for" Arthur still refused to remove his sward, till his father placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed saying his name with warning. He brought his sward down but didn't put it away.
"Morgana" Uther faced her. "You have some explaining to do!" Morgana gulped, she then dropped her head in what Arthur thought might be shame.
"Yes, I-" She paused voice trembling. "I'm sorry!" she then blurted, bursting in tears. Arthur stepped back, feeling awkward. He always hated it when Morgana cried, granted she hadn't really cried for years. Uther looking as awkward as Arthur felt himself, put his arms around Morgana and sent for Gaius and Gwen, who Morgana would feel more comfortable with. Soon everyone was gathered around her waiting as she calmed down some. Gwen and Gaius both had been stunned to find that Morgana had come to Camelot, but both had said nothing waiting to hear her story.
"Me and Merlin had some things between us, he helped me get through a tough time." She started. "But when Morgause came to Camelot to ask for my help I wanted to give it because I have magic and I was so tired of keeping it a secret!" she took a deep breath here looking at Uther, but the king said nothing. "Then Merlin stopped us, and I thought he had betrayed me, but I was wrong, I put you all in danger and he wanted to save you all, especially after Arthur went out to fight. I know now that when it comes to you" she said to Arthur "nothing will stop him."Arthur looked away from her, not sure what he was feeling. "He kept getting in the way for all our plans, so we decided to g-g-get rid of him. But everything went wrong. I saw who Morgause truly is! She's kept him in the dungeons, t-t-torturing him!" Arthur felt like fainting at her words, torture! "I never wanted this!"
"Where is he?!" Arthur asked her again "Morgana! Where is he?!"
"I'll show you! I'll take you to him." She said "Please you have to get him out of there!"Arthur looked at her, the possibility of this being a trap crossed his mind, but he disregarded it, he grow up with her, he knew when she was fake crying. Besides even if it was, he would still go because it was Merlin.
"We need a plan" Arthur took a hold of himself. Finally something to do! "You will tell us everything we need to know, then we'll leave at first light!"
End of chapter
Hope you liked it, this might not go where I originally had wanted, but I sort of don't remember where that was! But don't worry I have a very clear idea of where I want this to go now
