It was like being a baby, helpless and afraid. Try as he could Merlin couldn't hear anything, the potion had not worn of yet either meaning he still couldn't do any magic. He had no magic, no sword on no hearing. He couldn't do anything, he was going to die in a cell like a coward!

It was then Merlin realized he was shaking and that Arthur was staring at him, speaking slowly in an effort to help Merlin read his lips.

Merlin...ok...

Merlin it's ok?

That sounded like something Arthur would say, he hated having to guess. He wished he had something to write with. Frustrated he leaned back against the wall. Strangely enough he wished Gaius was there, even his father but at least he had Arthur.

What was really bothering him was why he was deaf. He could hear perfectly before, why not now. He let his hand creep up to the bloody bump just above his left ear where he had been knocked out, maybe that was it? Suddenly he felt himself being yanked up, ofcourse he hadn't heard the bandits swing the door open behind him to come and collect them. He saw one of the bandits holding Arthur back and saying something to him, what ever it was that was said it made Arthur VERY angry.

Merlin was about to ask what was going on when something whacked him across the back, stringing horrible, Merlin gave a yelp of pain that he couldn't hear. The pain returned several times after that, these times however Merlin was not taken by surprise and bit his lip instead of yelling, he closed his eyes but quickly opened them again, without his hearing, having his eyes closed was like loosing all the sense he had. Except for pain that is.

-BREAK-

Arthur was beyond furious. How darethey whip Merlin to punish him for trying to escape. Arthur felt guilt well up in his chest when Merlin yelled in shock and pain the first time, he hadn't heard it coming, who knew he relied on his hearing so much? After a few good lashing they threw Merlin onto the floor and exited the cell, talking of all the gold they were going to get when Cendred's pay came through, they didn't let Arthur go until the very last second before they swung to heavy door closed and locked it.

Arthur was at his brothers side in a second, the whip was of good quality, probably the only thing that was in this hell hole. Merlin was left with several red stripes across his back, luckily there was no bone showing, gently Arthur helped him sit up.

"Cant you try magic again?" Arthur asked slowly, Merlin only seemed to understand a handful of words, Arthur tried again, "Ma-gic"

"Magic?" Merlin repeated like a dumbstruck parrot. Arthur nodded. Merlin focused, narrowing his eyes which gained the slightest of gold tinges, only for a second before Merlin breathed out in defeat and shook his head.

"I trie to heal my back" He winced "I think maybe I stopped the bleeding?"

Arthur nodded again, happy to see that the red stains on Merlin's shirt had stopped growing and was even half dry now. He would still need bandages though. Arthur hoped they could find a way out of this place soon.

-BREAK-

Uther was beyond furious when his guards came back, towing a ragged looking man with beefy hands behind them. He had confessed to being one of the bandits who attacked his sons but refused to say where they were. At first he had been happy, this man would ask for the ransom, Uther would pay it and all would be well but now he had discovered his sons were being sold to Cendred!

That was it, he was going to take all the knights he could and kill every single one of those bandits for doing this! They would regret the day they crossed the king.

-BREAK-

ANother hour past and Merlin could feel his magic slowly returning to him, it was just so weak! He tried several times to heal his back and it was working but only just, the marks looked maybe a day old now, he hoped the healing would stave off infection as well seeing as he had no bandages.

I'll kill them

Merlin's head whipped up, that had been Arthur's voice! He had heard Arthur's voice! He focused more, just barely he could hear water dripping down the side of the rooms stone walls. He could hear! Only barely, like he was listening to something happening in another room through a door, but it was bette than nothing!

"Arthur I can hear a little bit!" Merlin exclaimed happily

"Really?" Arthur smiled hopefully

"Yeah but you sound like your on the other side of a wall or something, far away" Merlin sighed feeling frustrated.

"How's your back?"

"Sore, it doesn't help that my magic is prickling under my skin, it's like being full of energy and forced to sit perfectly still for hours on end! I can't stand it"

"Can you try healing it some more?"

"I've never been great with healing magic if I'm honest..."

"Wait so you've been gauging how much magic you have returned by doing spells you're terrible at?" Arthur laughed "I knew you were an idiot Merlin but seriously!"

Merlin was about to give Arthur an earful when his brother turned to the door, obviously he could hear something Merlin wasn't able to yet.

"What is it?"

"Fighting...maybe there was a little too much alcohol shared round"

That idea was dashed when something slammed into the door so hard even Merlin managed to hear it, opening seconds later to reveal a grinning Sir Leon. Merlin have never felt so relieved. Leon quickly whispered something to both the princes so the bandits couldn't hear, probably their plan to escape. Merlin strained his ears but Leon's words were just a muffled mess. Arthur stood and indicated to Merlin to follow.

"I've got to get him out of here" Arthur insisted "Something's wrong with him, he can barely hear"

Leon looked confused but didn't get a chance to hear anymore as both boys went sprinting down the corridor in search of an exit, instead they found the main hall once again. Inside the bandits were being fought by a number of knights and guards sporting red and gold Camelot colours. What shocked both Merlin and Arthur the most as that the king was with them, their father had come ti rescue them. PERSONALLY.

"Move it idiot!" Arthur hissed giving Merlin a shove just in time as a sword swiped through the air that he had been standing in a few seconds earlier. Merlin made a mad dash for the center of the room where his father and several guards were, Arthur on the other hand grabbed a sword and began fighting. Uther smiled at the sight of Merlin, Merlin actually felt happy to see him.

"Don't let him fight father!" Arthur yelled "Something is wrong with his ears, he can barely hear"

"You can't hear?" Uther boomed, leaving the fighting to the ever shrinking number of knigts surrounding them.

"Maybe it was the hit to the head, everything muffled but it's getting a bit clearer" Merlin insisted truthfully, "I can fight, if I could find a sword..."

His speech was cut off when Arthur gave a yelp and jumped back into the small group of now just three guards and three royals after being disarmed. It wasn't that he was out skilled, just outnumbered. Most of the knights were fighting in the corridors leaving them to be picked off by the 2 dozen bandits no making a circle around them.

Merlin averted his gaze as the three guards were cut down, the circle of bandits advanced, grinning. Only Uther had a sword and he couldn't protect all of them.

Merlin glanced around hopelessly, he could feel the blood pumping in his ears and his magic prickling just under his skin, wanting to rush out to his aid but being squashed down. It reminded him of when he was a child and frightened of wild animals, his magic would just react without him wanting it to. Merlin bit his lip in frustration, his head gave another throb and he squeezed his eyes shut. He could vaguely hear Uther, or maybe it was Arthur, asking if he was alright but the blood pumping in his head was too loud. He couldn't take all this pressure building up.

He yelled at the top of his lungs, at the split second he felt the yell leave his lips he felt his magic release. It rushed out in a wave that passed harmlessly through Uther and Arthur but sent the bandits flying into the walls. They hit the stone with such force that most of them were killed instantly, the other gave a painful moan before slipping into unconsciousness. At first Merlin felt thrilled, his hearing returned to him in full strength and his magic was settled once more, it was then he opened his eyes and realized what he had just done.

I based Merlin's last attack off what Mourdred did in one of the episodes, I can't remember which one.

I guess its pretty obvious it wasn't the blow to his head that made his hearing go isn't it? Oh well As long as people keep the reviews coming I'll know Im doing well.

See Death Knight! I finally got the whipping in, more on that later