Merlin passed out a few times, slipping in and out of consciousness whilst being dragged by the collar. He did know where he was, as he'd missed so much of the journey. But they stopped soon (he thought) in a small dark room that Merlin had never been in before.

"This him then?" The gruff voice of the guard asked.

The second one, the one who had gone to fetch Gwen (God Merlin hoped he'd gotten her) stood in the centre of the room. "Merlin, right?" He asked.

Merlin didn't answer. He got a fairly gentle kick to the stomach but it caught the end of his knife wound and he doubled over.

"L-Looks like it, Dain," The first guard huffed. Merlin wasn't sure if the stutter was real or his hearing was fading.

The tall guard, Dain, was sweating now and gasping slightly. Merlin could have sworn he heard his heartbeat.

"You're the one with magic." He stated, pointing a worn finger at Merlin. "You can help me here, boy," It felt like he'd thrown the derogatory term on the end to win back his intimidation. It partly worked.

"Me and Bron here need you to turn some lead into gold for us," His voice was high, he was nervous. He was faltering, Merlin knew it.

Merlin coughed, "You and Bron want an alchemist."

Dain returned the statement with a cold look, Merlin raised an eyebrow. It was a stare off between the two that was promptly broken up by Bron.

"Enough Dain!" The heavier guard yelled from behind Merlin. He slammed a hand on the door and made Merlin jump.

Merlin eyes his footsteps carefully. Bron clambered over to the green curtain loosely strung on the ceiling.

Dain clamped his hand over Merlin's mouth. Even at his fittest Merlin was no match for this guard. He gave a small struggle then gave in, curious to what would happen next.

Bron yanked the curtain downwards and as it fell it revealed a woman held up by the shackles on her wrist. She was unconscious, maybe. Or perhaps she'd just been struggling for too long.

Bron roughly pulled the bag off from her head and pulled it up by her pony tail.

It was Hunith.

Merlin tried to stay calm. He'd been in situations like this before. And escaped. None of them involved his mother, though.

Maybe he should have began to struggle then, or scream. It would have been as useless as Merlin's actual reaction - a whisper. "Mother..."

She was teary eyed and tried to call out for her son but the gag in her mouth prevented her from making more than muffled noises. Merlin nodded to her in an attempt at reassure then turned to the guards.

"What do you want from me?" His voice was firm and strong, nothing like his body was, his threats were empty and everyone knew it.

A literal bag of lead was dumped at Merlin's knees. "Turn this to gold," Bron sneered, right in Merlin's face, "You both walk out of here."

He didn't need to explain what happened if Merlin didn't. Problem was, Merlin didn't know how.

His magic was instinctive in dire situations or learned from books, alchemy was never his interest. Anyhow he was weak, the web of magic within him was thin and damaged. Merlin doubted he'd be able to do it if he knew how.

"I'm not an alchemist." Merlin said flatly. He pushed himself up to his feet. "I don't just make things appear," He grunted as he felt some strength return to him.

Bron pulled a dagger from his cloak held it towards Hunith. She eyed it wearily but didn't speak or squeal or squirm away. God, Merlin marvelled at the strength and courage his mother had and yet still wished she didn't need to possess it.

"You wouldn't." Merlin said calmly whilst Dain yelled at his partner.

"Bron! Bron wait that wasn't part- Bron!" The tall man made towards Hunith and Bron but skidded in his tracks when the blade was inched closer to Hunith's throat.

"I've got three hungry children back home, try me." Bron's eyes had gone blank. He looked insane.

"Okay," Merlin breathed, "Okay, take it easy." He crouched over the lead and made himself try. And try. And try with all of his might to do as he was asked.

All he could do was make it golden for a few seconds before returning to its original state. His magic needed more repair time. He began to cry, what if he couldn't do this? What if he lost his mother today because of his own incompetence.

What if Dain didn't fetch Gwen? What if Arthur was dead too? A sob wracked through Merlin's body. He could hear the faint support from his mother, "'S 'kay," rather than "It's okay," The potent reminder of the gag and the mess they were in was the final straw for Merlin.

"I can't." He admitted shamefully, "But please, don't hurt her, please. I'll talk to Arthur, I'll..." But this measly gesture of talking to the King after coming out as a sorcerer wasn't enough.

Bron flinched for a moment. The blade twitched in his hands and for a second Merlin had hope. But then, Bron plunged it into Hunith's chest.

Merlin screamed.

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