As they rode even Gwaine was uncharacteristically quiet as he led the spare horse, intended to bring Merlin back on. Elyan led the pack horse with their supplies. Not one of them countenanced the thought of failure. They rode a fast pace, but rested the horses regularly, not knowing if and when they would need to ride hard and fast. They ate basic rations given to them by Audrey, not lighting a fire so if anyone was watching out for them there was less likely they would be seen. They camped that night once more not lighting a fire. With the thermal sleeping bags it wasn't needed. They had brought one of the kettle flasks with them so they at least had a hot drink.

After three days they started to take careful note of their surroundings, knowing that they might well need to come back this way fast and maybe take shelter or fight off followers. It was a tense group that continued on their journey. They had made several plans but nothing concrete yet.

…

As Merlin regained consciousness he had no idea what was happening. His head hurt as did his belly. He had been slung over a saddle and ties over the horses flanks with his head one side and his feet the other. The pressure was what was making his belly hurt as the horse cantered along. Then he noticed the pain in his wrists and ankles as the ropes chafed. He also felt empty and as he reached for his magic realised that he couldn't feel it. It reminded him of all those years ago and it made him scared. Trying to work out what was happening he groaned and was heard by his captors

The horse was brought to a halt and he heard someone dismount, then his head was lifted by a fist in his hair. He winched at the added pain, as he opened his eyes a sense of dread made him shake. The face he looked at was that of Agravaine.

"So your awake at long last" the man sneered "Don't try to escape your magic has been cut off, from now on you will only use it when we want you to"

Merlin couldn't see anyone else, but he knew there were at least eight others present. He could see the legs of several horses and could hear talking. His head was dropped and his captor remounted and they went off once more. As it started to get dark they stopped and Merlin was untied, he was so stiff he was unable to stop himself failing as he was dragged from the horse and tied to a tree round his chest his ankles were still tied together. He could bend his legs and move his lower arms as the rope had been tied above his elbows and around his chest. He closed his eyes as his head swam, his head had been hanging down for so long he felt dizzy, added to that his head still hurt from where he had been hit.

When his head settled he opened his eyes and tried to look around. His vision was blurred and he could only see a short distance clearly. As he did a figure approached. As it got closer he realised it was Sophia she had a tin mug in her hands and gave it to him "Don't spill it you won't get anything else" she spat out.

A voice from behind her said sarcastically "Why are we feeding the mutant anyway?" It was Vivian.

"Because he is valuable and Cenred has use for him" an unknown male voice added as he approached "So don't damage him"

As the man got closer he bent down and looked Merlin in the face. He was a hard looking man with short cropped hair and was about the same age as Arthur, but from his expression, it was clear to the boy that he was not concerned about Merlin's condition. "Personally I wouldn't care what you do to the runt, but the boss said keep him in one piece." Looking at Merlin he continued "So boy play up and I will make your life hell".

Agravaine came closer "He will be worth it Valliant, I have seen what he can do and so have the girls"

With that they left Merlin alone with his mug of watery broth, clearly the dregs of the others supper. He didn't want to drink it, but he was thirsty, so with difficulty bent his head down and raised his arms as high as he could and drank. As he did so tears started to run down his face as the shock of his situation hit him and fear hot him as to what his mother and brother was going through and whether everyone else was still alive. As he shook he dropped the mug, but at least he had managed to drink most of the contents.

Although he could just make out a group of several people the other side of the fire no one approached him, until just before full darkness when Agravaine came and untied him. "This is your only chance to relieve yourself before morning"

Merlin couldn't stand he was to stiff so he crawled to one side and with difficulty opened his trousers and pissed into a bush before he was dragged back to the tree and tried back up, even tighter. Agravaine sneered at Merlin "You should have been nicer to me freak, because now you are going to pay for what happened to me, turning my family against me. Well now you will regret it. Don't try to escape because we have your mother and your young brother as well."

Merlin's heart clenched at the thought. "Can I see them?" he pleaded.

"No! But behave or they will suffer" the man snarled back "Don't forget your adoptive mother also owes me." With that he walked away leaving a terrified boy behind him. Merlin cried himself into an exhausted sleep. He was ashamed of crying but couldn't stop.

He was woken the next morning by a kick in the ribs as Vivian handed him another mug "Drink this we are leaving soon"

"Can I see my mum and brother?" he pleaded.

This got him a strange look from the woman, she didn't answer but walked away. Valliant soon arrived and untied Merlin dragging him to the bushes "Piss if you need to" he growled "We won't stop for hours"

Soon Merlin was tied back over the horse, his sore and bruised ribs protesting. Once tied on the horse all he could see was the horses flank as they moved off once more. He felt so weak and wasn't sure if it was because his head still hurt or because he had lost his magic. Every so often as they moved through trees and bushes he was scratched as branches hit him. He gradually lost consciousness as the horse's movement became more regular and it settled into a rhythmic pace.

The Cardiff gang camped for one more night then they met up with another group heading the same way. After three more hours they reached Cardiff and started to ride through the buildings of the old city. Cenred wanted just certain buildings left in the vicinity of the castle but the city was too large to get rid of. He had thought of locating to another castle but Cardiff castle was well preserved and fitted his idea of grandeur, so instead he used slaves to clear the dead from the buildings, for as far a radius as he could and then had a ring of buildings demolished as a break for disease. One day he had visions of actually ruling over a repopulated Cardiff. This was his grand plan and for that he needed to make it impossible for the many small communities to exist. Other than local farms for food. No one other than his own men were allowed to enter the castle grounds, other than to attend the 'court' sessions he held.

Once at the gate to the caste grounds most of the men peeled of and only the selected few entered the grounds and up to the castle itself. There Merlin was untied and pulled roughly from the horse, with a sack still over his head he was dragged to the main medieval hall where he was thrown to his feet and his hood taken off. As Merlin looked up and allowed his eyes to adjust to the light he saw a man sat in what could only be described as a throne. He was about Arthur's age and dressed all in leather with shoulder length hair.

"So this is the warlock?" the man turned and looked at Agravaine who was standing at Merlin's side.

"It is my Lord" Agravaine said looking down at Merlin with a smirk "He looks like nothing but he has hidden powers. That is why he wears cold iron, with that one he can do nothing."

The man stood up and walked up to Merlin and looked down at him "Such a small boy for such power, yet he will help me to fulfil my destiny and unite this ravaged county under my rule." He put his hand under Merlin's chin and made Merlin look him in the eye "Do you know who I am boy?"

Merlin shook his head unable to speak.

"I am Cenred King, the man who will be King in truth before long and you are going to help me" Cenred clearly believed what he was saying. "I have your mother and one of your siblings and if you want them to live you do as you are told, do you understand?"

Again Merlin nodded fear in his heart. "Are you mute boy!" snarled the leather clad man "If not answer me if you know what is good for you!"

"I understand, can I see them?" Merlin said trying to hold his courage.

"No, not yet" then he turned to Agravaine "Take of the iron"

Agravaine looked at Cenred in horror "He is dangerous Sir"

Cenred smirked and raised an eyebrow "We have his family, how do I know if you are telling the truth if I can't test him? Take …it …off"

Agravaine blanched and did as he was told. As he did Merlin gasped as his magic started to flow freely once more, his eyes going gold briefly. But he knew he couldn't use it not if he wanted Mithian and whichever twin it was to be safe.

Cenred saw the colour change in Merlin's eyes and started to believe that maybe what he had heard was true he pulled Merlin to his feet and shouted to the men at the door "Bring the prisoner in" then as a man was dragged into the room Cenred looked at Merlin "I want you to use your magic and stop his heart"

Merlin was horrified, he couldn't or wouldn't kill in cold blood. Thinking quickly he said "I don't know how, my magic doesn't work like that!"

Cenred pulled Merlin so they were face to face. "You have a choice, kill him or I will kill your mother" then noticing just how young Merlin was added "don't worry about that scum he will die anyway, he broke my laws. So if you don't kill him my men will, you are doing him a favour your way will be quicker."