Chapter 25: The Pain of Loss

Gorat had just carried Morgana to where Gaius was waiting at Merlin's request, when he saw the two he let out a visible sigh of relief as he hurried over to Morgana.

"Thank goodness your safe, are you injured?" he asked worriedly.

"I'm fine, other than the guards being rough with me from the trip back to Camelot." Regardless of her words Gaius did a medical examination of Morgana's body treating what minor wounds she had. As he cleaned the shallow wounds with a poultice they heard the approaching sound of wing beats from above. The two looked up and saw Aithusa flying from above, the spell making her look like the Great Dragon had worn off as she landed on the ground beside Gorat. At seeing Morgana she bounded happily over to the witch and nuzzled her gently as Morgana rubbed her head.

"I'm glad to see you to Aithusa, but where's Merlin?" Aithusa looked around the area confused not understanding the question until she noticed that Merlin was nowhere to be seen. Morgana turned to Gaius in hopes for clarification but the old man shook his head unknowingly.

"He didn't tell me the extent of his plan, only that he wanted me to wait here for you. That was the last I saw of him." Suddenly Morgana remembered the letter Merlin had given her along with her healing bracelet and the dark pendant; reaching into the folds of her dress she pulled out the letter and unfolded it revealing Merlin's un neat handwriting scrawled on the paper.

Dear Morgana,

If you are reading this then Gorat has managed to safely carry you out of Camelot

and at the rendezvous point where Gaius is waiting for you. In Gaius's possession is a chest

containing all of the magical artifacts I've been able to collect and grab from the vaults

of Camelot over my few months as the Court Magician along with all of my Gold.

Take the chest, Gorat and Aithusa and run from Camelot. While I had no problem storming

the citadel to break you out I do not plan on fighting out of Camelot, it would result simply in my

destroying the castle to try and escape. Please, I know you don't like to listen to me but if I am to be

imprisoned and not killed I do NOT in any way want you to come and try to rescue me, just take the

others and run. I will easily be able to withstand any punishment they give to me knowing that you are

safe.

You are forever in my thoughts,

Love Merlin.

As Morgana read the note she felt a series of emotions coursing through her mind and body: anger, sadness, confusion and annoyance at the letter. Merlin should know that there would be no way she wouldn't storm the castle during the calm to free him before he was executed. Before Morgana handed the letter off to Gaius she noticed that Aithusa was now suddenly on the ground shaking strangely as if she was injured. Frowning in worry Morgana approached the white Dragon and tried to find what was hurting her.

"Aithusa what's wrong? Are you hurt? Gaius come here and check on her." As Gaius was approaching Aithusa and was about to bend down to tend to her the young Dragon's eyes shot open, her normally calm blue eyes dilated, as she thrashed out in pain from an unknown source. Before Morgana or Gaius could react or do anything Aithusa let out an ear splitting wail as she roared out in pain followed by uttering out a single word in a cracked labored tone.

"FATHER!" Not waiting for Morgana or Gaius to do anything the Dragon leapt into the air and flew back towards Camelot in the dead of the night. As Morgana and Gaius watched in worry and fear as the young Dragon flew towards the castle. As they watched Aithusa disappear in the night two thoughts went through her mind.

That somehow Aithusa overcame the dramatization she had experienced being trapped by Sarrum for two years

And 2. Fear that there was something terribly wrong with Merlin.

In the cave

Merlin lay slumped against the wall in the agonizing pain being sent through his body via the chains restricting him all over his body. Out of the several chains he was connected to the one connected to his chest hurt the most. Although Merlin tried to resist screaming out from the pain it was too much to bear for even the Warlock as his screams sent out echoes throughout the seemingly borderless caverns. He had tried several times in his brief time in restraints to remove the chains from his body but the minute Merlin felt the flow of magic flow through him the pain from the chains increased tenfold causing him to scream even louder than before. He had been imprisoned for barely an hour and already Merlin was wishing for death.

How could Kilgharrah bear this for decades? It's maddening!

As Merlin was knocked unconscious from the pain on his next bout of awakening he noticed a light illuminating the dark cave in front of him, as he slowly moved his head he saw that it was Gwen who was coming down the stairs of the cavern alone with a torch in her hand. As she approached Merlin tried to compose himself, to not let her know that the pain was killing him in only a mere few hours. As she approached he had composed himself what little he could as she looked down at him as she loomed over him.

"I trust the chains are doing their job, Merlin?" Gwen asked morbidly as she looked down at the once great Warlock. Merlin looked up haggardly and gave her the best rebellious smile he could muster.

"It isn't the most comfortable seat I've been in that's for sure," he said curtly as he struggled not to let the pain get the best of him. As Gwen looked down at him Merlin could tell that the Queen was conflicted in something, as she bent down Merlin could tell that she had been crying earlier.

"Damn it Merlin! Why did you have to release Morgana? If it had been any other crime I'd have pardoned you, but you betray me twice by helping her escape."

"If your here only to reprimand me Gwen you needn't bother, these chains make your scolding voice seem like a cool bath in the river," Merlin said idly.

"Merlin those chains were made to restrain creatures of great power, Dragons and Griffins and their sorts, if you remain restrained like this and you'll be dead within days. A day if you're lucky."

"Get to the point Gwen, what do you want?" Merlin demanded not wanting to hear Gwen's voice any longer than necessary now. Gwen looked Merlin in the eyes and she could only imagine what pain he was experiencing right now.

"I'll extend my offer to you one more time Merlin, tell me where Morgana is and I will release you from your bindings and reinstate your position in court. It'll be like-"

"You're a fool if you think I care about that damned position Gwen," Merlin blurted out as he struggled to speak. Using the last of his strength he picked his body up slightly and managed to turn his body around putting his back to Gwen, his message being broadcasted obviously. Gwen losing her temper through the torch on the ground as she shot up from the ground.

"Fine Merlin I gave you a chance, and know that I'll be the last face you see before your eminent death. Goodbye Merlin." As Gwen retreated back towards the stairs and as he heard her footsteps disappear he couldn't help but laugh at the situation, which was craziness in itself. Merlin lied there for what seemed like an infinite life time as the pain relentlessly went through his body, as he lied there accepting the pain he felt as if his skin was boiling under his chest and at his wrists. When Merlin finally went to sleep, or passed out from the pain he wasn't sure which, he was bothered by an annoying clatter from deeper in the cave. He tried to ignore it, trying to allow the cold numbing feeling of the ground to overcome him so the pain would fade away. As he slipped farther and farther into the void of pain he heard the sound again, this time it sounded like claws on stone. Merlin was to exhausted t care and didn't react to the scratching, if he was lucky it was an animal large enough to kill him.

Suddenly Merlin felt a split instance without pain, surprised by the feeling his eyes shot opened. When he looked around the light from the torch had died off some time after he passed out, but he could tell that there was a large presence nearby, a familiar presence. As Merlin tried to move he felt the presence without pain again and he was able to sit up and turn to the direction it came from. Merlin was about to ask when the torch sprang back to life revealing Aithusa to be standing before him.

"Aithusa," Merlin managed to croak wearily at the sight of the young Dragon.

"Father," Aithusa croaked in a haggard voice. Merlin realized that Aithusa had spoken, the first time in two years, but the pain made it to unbearable for him to point it out. It was already too much for him to sit up and look at her.

"You shouldn't be here," Merlin finally managed to say to the Dragon.

"You're in pain," Aithusa said pointedly, ignoring Merlin's statement. The pained Warlock forced a smile as he tried to assure Aithusa that he was ok, she wasn't as gullible as she used to be unfortunately.

"We can get you out of here, there's a cavern Kilgharrah told me about. Its how he escaped, Morgana and Gorat can help me get you."

"No," Merlin said crushing the young Dragon. She didn't understand why Merlin wasn't being more cooperative.

"Why not?" Aithusa demanded hoarsely. Merlin gestured to the chains that were restraining him.

"These were used to keep Kilgharrah here for a long time Aithusa, he was much stronger than I am now and he was weakened from surviving that long. I'm not going to last nearly as long as he did."

"NO!" Aithusa nearly shouted angrily. Turning to part of the links of the chain Aithusa slashed at it with her claws, doing no damage to the chain. Aithusa then began gnawing at the chains in hopes that that would undo its binding. Merlin protested, claiming that Aithusa's efforts were only hurting her but the young Dragon wasn't listening to him. When her fire proved to be equally useless against the chain Aithusa roared angrily at it as she turned her head back to Merlin.

"I'll bring Morgana and Gorat, they might be able to break it-"

"Aithusa stop!" Merlin finally managed weakly. "The only thing that bringing Gorat and Morgana here will do is have them captured. There's nothing you can do."

"But there has to be," Aithusa wailed tears forming at the young Dragon's eyes. "You freed Kilgharrah somehow can't we-"

"No," Merlin said weakly, now struggling to speak to overcome the pain. "I insured it would be impossible. Even a sword you enchanted would be useless on these chains Aithusa. There's nothing we can do." Aithusa was beginning to whine as Merlin finished speaking. The news her father had given her was too much to bear. Aithusa prepared to curl herself around Merlin when he snapped at her.

"No," Merlin said sternly.

"But Father-"

"Do you not think they'll find it strange if a Dragon got in here somehow? Or how they'd punish you?"

"I don't care, I won't leave you alone here! No one should be trapped by themselves!" Aithusa wailed.

"Aithusa I'm not going to ask you again," Merlin said feigning anger. Thankfully Aithusa couldn't tell that he was faking it. "Leave now!"

"No!" Aithusa refused.

"O drakon, e male so ftengometta cene hole tesd'hup'anankes!" Merlin shouted at Aithusa. (Dragon leave now and do not return lest I lose my temper!) With a roar filled with remorse and regret Aithusa flapped into the air and flew upwards in the cavern. She circled Merlin for a few moments before finally flying towards what Merlin hoped was the way out of the cavern. He felt tears flow from his eyes, and for a moment they hurt more than the chains restraining Merlin. As Merlin cried in the silence he felt as if a part of him inside was swelling, when he suddenly heard Kilgharrah's voice. Unlike before however, when the voice gave him only knowledge, this time he spoke to Merlin.

"You did the right thing Merlin, keeping Aithusa here would have killed her."

"Are you really there? Or am I losing my mind." The voice of Kilgharrah laughed in Merlin's mind.

"A little of both is safe to say I'd wager."

"How long do you think I have?" Merlin asked struggling to wipe a tear from his eye and not bothering to question Kilgharrah's presence.

"Given your power combined with the pain tolerance of a human: no more than two days, if you remain strong. I can say from experience however that death would seem kinder though."

"Any of advice on what I can do?" Merlin asked as he struggled not to pass out. The answer he heard Kilgharrah say was the last thing he would have expected as he passed out into darkness from the pain.

"You can give up,"

AN: Hey guys thanks for reading, please give me your reviews and any other criticisms. Remember I live for reviews and there not too hard to do, I'll have the next chapter out ASAP so until then.