Torture

Merlin continued to follow Morgause, getting more and more worried with each step. He hadn't been to this side of the castle before and he had little idea about what was there. They passed empty room upon empty room. This part of the castle was obviously not used.

"It is part of the old castle." Morgause explained, like she read his thoughts. "It was deserted when the new part was added with bigger chambers. It was used for servants but Cenred believed that they were too elegant for them. I get what he means because this is where the privilege once lived."

Merlin nodded until he realised that she couldn't see him. "So why are we down here?"

"Oh you will find out soon enough."

He could feel his palms get clammier with every step. She had something planned and Merlin had no idea what it could be. This was when he wished that Gaius took more of an active role in his magical studies than just giving him a book and the odd word of advice. Morgause knew all the secrets of the old religion. He could only wish to know the knowledge she had, which when being Emrys and the greatest sorcerer to ever walk the earth, seemed very strange. He would have to go back to Isle if and when they made it out.

Morgause stopped and turned around. She nodded her head towards the door and the two guards, which were behind Merlin, pushed him into the open door.

"I hope you like your little surprise."

The last thing that Merlin saw was her smile before the door shut on him.

He took a few deep breaths before taking in the room. There was a large four poster bed in the middle of the room, with a desk just beside it, facing the window. A large fireplace was the main centre piece. The stone around it had been carved to bring two dragons to life. Merlin was sure that if the fire was lit, it would dance in the gems in their eyes.

He shivered as a draft came through. He waited for whatever was meant to happen to happen. Ever second that passed gave Merlin a false sense of security. He started to believe that everything would be okay.

"Merlin?"

He turned around to see Morgana stood there. The blue glow coming off her showed that she wasn't there. She couldn't have been there anyway. He had left her in that cell.

"You aren't real. You are an illusion."

Her face turned from a soft smile to a smirk. "My, my Merlin. You are clever for a servant aren't you? Because that is all you are and all you will be a servant."

Merlin could feel something trying to probe his mind but he tried to brush it away. "I don't mind being a servant. It is a simple life."

She walked up to him and pushed him to his knees. "If you are a servant, then act like one. You are worthless. You should worship me."

He leant forward to bow down to her, closing his eyes at the same time. He waited for her to say something else. He opened his eyes when nothing had been said and saw that the illusion had been broken.

He placed his hands on the floor to push himself up but quickly retracted at the cold slime that coated the floor. He turned his hand palm up and saw the black stuff they were covered in. he managed to get up without using his hands but couldn't understand how he hadn't noticed the floor. His trousers, from his knees, also had it on them. He tried wiping his hands on his thighs but it wouldn't come off.

Whatever this stuff was, it wasn't good.

The illusions came and went. They seemed to play on his biggest fears. Arthur had almost killed him after he had found out about Merlin's magic. Uther had accused him of enchanting the whole castle and he was going to be burnt to death. Gwen had also found out about his magic but was more worried that he didn't trust her enough to tell her. Morgana had even come back for a second go, telling him that she didn't love him and that it was all an act.

Every time there was a new illusion, the magic tried to get into his mind to mould it but something stopped it. Merlin had no idea that his magic was that powerful. This couldn't be an easy spell to cast or defeat but his magic seemed to keep it at bay.

If anything, he hoped that Morgause would come to get him soon. There was only so much that he could take from the illusions and he could feel his magic weaken as they wore him down.

He couldn't go under her spell.

Morgause smirked as she walked down the hall to get Merlin. He should be totally under her power now. She could leave him in there for longer just to make sure but she was sure that he had suffered enough.

She remembered when she was shown the power of the mandrake root. The man that had been put into the room came out a bubbling mess but then followed Llath, her mentor, around as if he was some dog. She had wanted to try it for a while now but never found the right opportunity. She was glad that Merlin took up her offer, it had fulfilled that dream.

"It's okay." She said softly, stroking Merlin's hair.

She was happy that his arms were over his head so that he couldn't see how wide her smile was. It was exactly how she remembered it and it felt good to have this sort of power over a man. They think they are the better sex but this should that it was the women.

"It is all over now." She continued.

Merlin whimpered. He knew that he wasn't under her spell but she couldn't know that. He would have to stick close to her. She may think that she had the upper hand but really he did. For once he was the one in charge.