Arthur felt a strange sensation floating through his body. For a moment everything felt like it was just too much before a sense of tranquillity fell over him.
For a moment he just wanted to bask in it, before the last few weeks slammed back into his head like a galloping warhorse. He could feel his heart rate picking up speed.
It was a mistake to try and kill himself. The punishments forward are going to be worse.
Arthur tried to calm himself down, when he felt the coarse clothing around his arms, binding him down. A pluck motion trying to get his arms free.
No this isn't what he wanted. He didn't want this. It isn't fair. It was supposed to work. Why didn't it work?
"Arthur… Calm down…" Arthur wished he could clutch onto the voice. For a moment he wished he could turn back time, going back to when Morgana and he was just young children. Where they had played pranks on each other.
"Open your eyes." The man's voice was commanding, and a scared part of himself forced him to listen.
"There we go. Try and focus for me please. Can you tell me what you see?" Arthur's eyes darted across the room. Too much information. He wished he can just curl up and block everything out.
"Arthur, I need you to focus." Arthur forced himself to try and focus around the room.
"De.." His voice trailed slightly off.
"Desk." Arthur's voice was coarse and slightly sore.
"That's good. Can you tell me one more thing you see?" Merlin's voice went slightly softer. He could see the fear in Arthur's eyes and know he shouldn't put to much pressure on him.
Arthur's eyes fell onto the bed. "Blankets." His hands were fisted into the blankets. The materials were soft and warm.
"You are doing so good. If you can promise me you won't try and hurt yourself again, you can be untied." Merlin had easily seen how it was the one thing that truly bothered Arthur. He understands why Aceso had to do it.
Doesn't mean it wouldn't freak Arthur out.
Arthur's eyes shot up to the man. Why would he be untied? How can he be sure to trust him? Maybe this would all be a trick.
Merlin could feel the anger burning deep inside him. If he gets his hands on Robert, he was going to kill him in the slowest way he possibly could.
"Arthur. We want to help, but if you are going to hurt yourself again, we will need to keep your safety in mind first." Morgana suddenly spoke up. She sat herself down next to Arthur. Gently placing her hand over his.
Arthur's eyes snapped to his sister. His head was sore and he was pretty sure she wasn't in the room before.
"No! Y-you can't be real. It isn't tr-true." Too many nights where he had wished he was with his sister back in Camelot. Back with his family.
Seen her to many times silently in the background. When he tried to reach for her she would just disappear.
Morgana felt her breath hitch. This is a different young man she knew and grew up with. Her hands slowly went up to his face. "I am here Arthur. I went to get help, just like I promised you. And we are here. You are safe now." Morgana didn't even realise how sad her voice was.
Merlin silently watched the siblings interacted. His eyes wandered back to were he was tied to the bed. With a soft sigh, he started to undo the clothes. He hoped he was busy to make the right decision.
When Arthur could suddenly pull his one hand up, he turned his head with breakneck speed to Merlin.
"Why?" Arthur's voice was soft. But even a deaf man would be able to hear the fear in his voice.
"It is freaking you out, you are scared and begin tied down isn't helping. I know you haven't promised yet, but I have a feeling Morgana isn't going to leave your side anytime soon." Merlin made sure to keep his voice soft.
A silent thank you was whispered in Merlin's ear from Morgana. Arthur was just watching them quietly.
"Now I know Aceso said that you didn't want to eat or drink. When was the last time you have eaten Arthur?" Merlin knew he would need to get food and water into him, but he was truth be told unsure on how he would be able to do it.
For a moment there was silence in the room before Aceso broke it.
"He drank some water this morning, but he hadn't eaten anything since he got here." She was sitting quietly on the other side of the room. She would truly be surprised if he somehow gets Arthur to eat anything.
"N-not all-allowed to eat." Arthur was surprised that he could admit it aloud. Morgana eyes closed for a brief moment when she saw the way his body tensed up as if he is expecting someone to strick him for answering.
Merlin gently patted the bed. "Arthur would you eat something if I promise you Robert would not be allowed near you." Merlin kept his eyes on Arthur.
He could see the moment the fear started to kick in completely. "H-he would be mad." Arthur's eyes darted around the room.
"Arthur, look at me." Merlin's voice was slightly commanding. Sea-blue eyes met his. "He can't hurt you anymore. He will not come close to you. I promise you that." For a moment the silence that followed was overwhelming.
Merlin was unsure if Arthur truly understood that he was safe. Hopefully, when they get him out of here that would be something that would set in.
Merlin quickly walked over to where Aceso was sitting. "Will you please order broth from the kitchens for everyone?" His voice was low.
Aceso gave him an unsure look. "How are you going to get him to eat?"
"You will just have to wait and see." A slight smile was her only answer.
The silence in the room felt oppressive when Merlin made his way back to two siblings. He easily noted the stress line around his eyes and the fact that he was almost half asleep again.
"What is going to happen now?" Arthur's hand was still clutching the blankets from the inside.
"Right at this moment, or when everything is said and done?" Morgana was the first to ask the question.
"Wh-when everything is done." Arthur knows his sister would never hurt him, but the fact that he is talking to them both made him ready to curl up his body as soon as it looks like they are going to get mad.
"That would be your choice, Arthur. Merlin offered that you stay in Mercia until you are fully healed. If you don't want to you can always come back to Camelot, or well go anywhere really," Morgana hoped silently that her brother would stay in Mercia.
Arthur pulled his legs up to his chest. "U-Uther would be mad."
Merlin gave Morgana a quick look.
"Arthur, you are truly welcome at my home. Morgana would also stay for a while. After that, if you decide you want to leave then you would be able to walk away." Merlin's voice was soft.
"Why would you want to help someone you don't know?"Arthur could feel the nervous energy shifting in his body. He wished he could just hide.
Merlin wondered for a moment, how he should answer this question. To tell him now that he is his true bond mate might be on the too much side of things. But if he doesn't and he finds out later, he might be mad.
Without thinking about it too much, he pressed his sleeve up, a beautiful small dragon was on Merlin's arm.
Arthur's eyes widen slightly. And his hand went to his soul-mark.
"The choice will stay with you. Just know that you would be saved with me." Merlin made sure to keep his eyes on Arthur.
Hey everyone, I hope you all are still enjoying this story, as much as I am writing it. Thank you for everyone's support and love. I appreciated it. You can also find me on Tumblr lover-of-midnight