Title: Nightmares
Description: Merlin looks like he's been through hell and back. His face is pale, he has huge eye bags, and he almost never genuinely smiles anymore. Not that Arthur has said anything about it (yet). But, he's worried. Something is wrong. And he's going to find out what. Oh yeah, and they also get kidnapped.
Word Count: 2,449
Part: 3/3

Mordred looked around. He was in a dark and damp cell. He was cold, and couldn't remember how he had gotten here. The last thing he remembered was walking back to his chambers and then... Nothing. He obviously wasn't in his chambers.

"Oh, good. You're awake," a voice said.

Mordred wasn't able to see who said that, as they were hidden in a dark corner of the room, where the torchlight didn't quite reach. He knew it was a she, as the voice was feminine. It was also very familiar, but he couldn't put a face or name to her voice.

"Who are you?" he asked.

The woman stepped out into the light.

"Morgana," he stated, slightly surprised, "I had heard that you had betrayed your family and friends to dark magic, but I couldn't quite bring myself to believe them until now."

"I'm not the betrayer here," she said, "Emrys is. And you know where he is."

Mordred stayed silent, so she continued.

"I want to be your friend, Mordred. We're kin. Just tell me where Emrys is, and everything you've done will be forgotten. I'll let you out and you'll have a place by my side."

"Everything I've done? I'm not the one who has done things that need forgiving, Morgana."

She scowled, "You've betrayed your kin by becoming a knight of Camelot, the very kingdom that would have you killed for how you were born. You follow Emrys, the betrayer and you stabbed me!"

Morgana reeled in her anger before she continued, much calmer and friendlier, "But, as I've promised, I will let you out and you will have a place by my side when I take over Camelot and make magic legal again. If only you'll change your loyalties and tell me where Emrys is."

"You were so kind and compassionate when I was a child. You wouldn't have done the things you have. What changed? Why are you like this?"

"Uther made me like this," she spat out, "Him, and his stupid laws against magic. He would have killed me if he found out the truth!"

"You're no better than him!" Mordred yelled, "In fact, you're just like him!"

If the two of them weren't separated by the cell bars, Morgana would have slapped him.

"Last chance Mordred. Tell me where Emrys is, and I'll let you go. Or, I'll torture it out of you and kill you once I capture him and show him who revealed him."

"You won't get anything from me," Mordred said, determined not to let Merlin down. He could be strong. He would. He has to be.

Merlin woke up feeling worse than he ever has before.

"Merlin!" Elyan shouted, the first to notice that their friend had awaken.

Merlin sat up slowly, and gave a weak smile.

"I- What happened?" he asked.

"We were kidnapped," Percival explained.

Merlin groaned, leaning up against a part of the cage that there were no knights tied to.

"What do they want this time?" he sighed, leaning his head back and closing his eyes, "To ransom Arthur, or kill him?"

"Neither," Arthur said, "This time, they want you."

Merlin snapped his eyes open, looked at him, and then looked down at his shackles.

"Oh gods," he groaned, pulling at his cuffs, which were starting to hurt.

"Do you know why they want you? We couldn't figure out what they could possible want you for," Leon said, "No offence."

"None taken," Merlin mumbled, "And no, there are literally a dozen reasons they could want me. Which one it is I have no idea."

Normally, Merlin wouldn't have said something like that, but the magic blocking cuffs on top of his exhaustion from lack of sleep made him not quite as focused on what he's saying and who he's talking to.

"Wait, what? There's actually reasons?" Leon asked.

"Oh yeah. Definitely," Merlin replied, mostly focused on the extreme pain, exhaustion, and emptiness he's feeling, not fully comprehending what he's saying.

"I- Don't get what you mean."

"Well, obviously someone told them about me cause they-" Merlin paused, "Wait. I take it back I don't know what you're talking about."

Too late now mate, Gwaine thought.

Everyone went silent for a while, wanting to know what's going on, but not wanting to ask Merlin. He looked so tired. And the cuffs were obviously bothering him. More than they should. He's constantly scratching his wrists and trying to pry the cuffs off, too no avail. However, he seems to be more aware than he was when he first woke up, as he's adjusting to the cuffs. He isn't scratching as frequently, although he still does. His eyes seem more focused and he sits up, just a little straighter. He's also more tense, which means he starting to completely comprehend the gravity of the situation.

The six of them were all exhausted from lack of sleep the night before (in Merlin's case, many nights before) and soon they all fell asleep. Usually, Merlin would've had a nightmare, but from both the cuffs and the months with little sleep, he fell into a sleep deep enough that his nightmares couldn't follow him. They all slept soundly through the night, even Merlin (for once), and didn't wake until the next morning.

"Wake up!" one of the mercenaries yelled, hitting the bars of their cage with the end of her sword (the non blade end).

The knights, and Merlin, woke almost immediately.

"We're here," she said, before going to unlock their cage, "Out."

They came out, one by one, and she made sure they each had a couple people escorting them to the dungeons of the abandoned castle they arrived at. Well, ex-abandoned. It wasn't anymore.

The group was led into the dungeons of the castle. It was too dark inside the cell to see, but they could see Morgana, who was standing in the torchlight just outside of the cell.

"Morgana," Arthur said.

"Arthur," she said, and turned to Merlin, slight fear in her eyes, "Emrys."

While the knights were confused at the name, Merlin looks momentarily petrified. He quickly composes himself.

"So, you finally figured it out, huh?"

"I had some help," she said, gesturing to the cell.

As if in response, a pained groan came from the darkness. Merlin's eyes widened and he felt responsible for the pain of the man in the cell.

"Who's in there?" he asked darkly.

Morgana smirked.

"Why don't you go in and find out for yourself?"

She gestured to one of the guards and they went to unlock the cell, before leading everyone into it. It was large, and they still couldn't see anything. Finally, someone lit one of the torches closer to them, so they were able to see where they were.

Inside the cell, where they were now locked in, was a bloody and burnt Mordred.

"Mordred!" Merlin yelled, kneeling by the boy he'd grown to care for.

He groaned, looking at Merlin, "I'm sorry, Merlin. I- Morgana she-"

"It's okay," Merlin assured him, "It'll be okay. You'll be fine."

Morgana laughed, but Merlin ignored her and started assessing his wounds and treating them the best he could with a torn shirt and his own two hands. The knights just stood there, confused and speechless.

"What could you have possibly wanted to torture out of Mordred, about Merlin?" Arthur questioned Morgana.

She ignored him, and instead spoke to Merlin.

"You still haven't told him? And you believe him to be the Once and Future King!" she laughed loudly.

Merlin stood up, facing Morgana again, having done what he could for Mordred.

"I don't understand why you fight us. Why you fight me," Merlin said, "We both want the same thing. Why can't we work together?"

"You want to keep Arthur on the throne. He won't do what we need him to do. It isn't his destiny as you call it. I will make magic legal again. Not Arthur. Me. And with you two out of the way, who's left to stop me?"

"Guinevere is an amazing queen. She will stop you."

"Without your help? Face it Emrys," she spat, "I've beaten you. Your chance is gone. It's my turn now."

She turned to walk away, but Merlin called after her.

"The gods don't favor those who meddle with destiny."

She paused.

"I don't need the favor of the gods. But when I make magic legal again, they will give it to me anyways.

She walked out of the dungeons, and everyone was silent well after the last clicks of her shoes died out.

Merlin sighed, sitting down. All of the knights looked at him expectantly.

"I know, I know. You want an explanation. I'll give it to you just... give me a moment to figure out how I'm supposed to even start."

Everyone waited in silence as Merlin contemplated what he was about to do, and how he was going to do it.

"Well, I guess I could start at the beginning."

He waited a little longer, gathering the courage to continue. For a moment, the knights thought he wasn't going to continue, but then he spoke.

"My whole life, I was... different. My mother, she feared for me. She told me that if anyone ever found out, they'd kill me. And she was right. But, I couldn't stop. It was as natural as breathing to me. And... it hurt anytime I ignored it. If I went long enough without using it, I'd get sick. Really sick. Before long, it would overflow and become uncontrollable."

Throughout Merlin's entire speech, he never once mentioned what "it" was, leaving the knights confused, but too afraid to ask him. However, Merlin stayed silent and didn't continue.

"What exactly is "it"?"

Merlin squeezed his eyes shut, unsure if he'd be able to continue.

"My-" he stopped.

He took a couple deep breaths.

"My... magic," he stuttered.

All eyes widened and stared at Merlin.

"Impossible," Arthur said, "No one's born with magic. It has to be learned."

Merlin shook his head.

"That's what Uther told you to bury his guilt. Because if people were born with magic, he'd be executing thousands, just for being born."

Nobody could speak. The implications... If people, children, could be born with magic... If it didn't corrupt then Great Purge, was a slaughter.

"I'm sorry," Arthur said, looking at Merlin.

Merlin looked up at him, shocked.

"Thank you."

There was another short pause.

"So," Gwaine said, "Magic, huh?"

"Yeah,"

"Why was Morgana calling you Emrys?" Elyan asked.

"It's a name in a prophecy," Merlin said.

"The prophecies of the Once and Future King," Percival stated, wide eyed.

"You know about the prophecies?" Merlin asked, started.

"I spent some time with druids before Camelot. They spoke of it often."

"But why would she call you Emrys?"

"Apparently I'm Emrys."

"Wait," Percival said, "If you're Emrys... that means the Once and Future King is Arthur."

Merlin nodded, and Percival laughed.

"But- Oh my god. Uther is probably rolling in his grave!"

"Why?" Arthur asked.

"Because," Merlin said, "With the help of Emrys, the Once and Future King is destined to return magic to the land and unite all of Albion."

Arthur looked shocked, "Me?"

"Yeah."

"I- Oh," Arthur wasn't really sure what else to say. He wasn't opposed to the idea. In fact, he's had his moments before, where he questioned the evilness of magic, and he's certainly all for peace and being united.

"Right," Leon said, "I hate to break up the party, but when Morgana comes back, she's going to kill us, so I think we need to figure out how to get out of here."

"Right," Merlin said, "I got this, just give me a moment."

"Can't you just..." Arthur waves his hand at the cell door.

"Usually, but these," Merlin holds up his cuffed wrists, "Are preventing me from using magic. Since I'm Emrys however, in theory, I should be able to get them off."

No one spoke as Merlin tried various spells to try and get rid of the cuffs. After a great deal of time (and pain) he finally got the cuffs to release. Percival looked at him, impressed.

"That should not have been possible."

"What can I say? Technically I'm not possible either."

Merlin melted the lock on the door (the keys being nowhere in sight) and pushed it open. Merlin led the knights out of the cell, Percival carrying Mordred.

"Can you do anything for him?" Percival asked.

Merlin nodded, gesturing at Percival to bring him closer. Merlin uttered a spell and the majority of Mordred's wounds faded into nothing but scars.

"Get out of here. I'm going to deal with Morgana."

The knights nodded, and turned to leave, but Merlin stopped Arthur.

"I need your sword."

"My sword?" Arthur asked.

"It was forged in a dragon's breath. It alone will kill Morgana."

Arthur shouldn't have been surprised to hear that he planned to kill Morgana. In fact, the thought had crossed his mind. But for it to be spoken aloud was something totally different.

"Here," he said, handing Merlin his sword.

"Thanks."

Merlin turned to go find Morgana (hopefully before she found the knights), and Arthur ran to catch up to the others.

"Morgana," Merlin called, causing the witch to turn around.

"Emrys!" she said fearfully, "How did you escape?"

"That doesn't matter."

"So, what, you've come to kill me?"

"Not if I can help it. Surrender your magic. I won't take it unwillingly. There's no need for murder."

"Never," she hissed.

Merlin looked sad.

"I'm sorry Morgana. I blame myself for what you've become. I wish things didn't have to end this way."

His eyes flash gold and Morgana falls mercifully unconscious. Merlin walks over to her and runs her through with Arthur's sword. The whole ordeal felt as if it were over in the blink of an eye.

"Where's Merlin?" Gwaine asked.

"He'll be here," Arthur assured him.

They waited a few more minutes before the man in question came running towards them, Arthurs sword in hand.

"Here," he said, handing it back to Arthur.

"Is she- Did you..."

"I'm sorry Arthur. She wouldn't surrender. I did what I had to do."

Arthur swallowed, his throat suddenly going dry.

"Of course."

The journey back to Camelot was solemn and tense. Rarely were they without silence. Still, some good came out of this. Merlin no longer had to fear the pyre and while his nightmares didn't completely go away (you can thank a lifetime of fear for that) they were rare and not nearly as severe. In the end, everyone was safe and everything was going to be okay.

The End