So how I figured this is going to work is I'll upload a chapter as I finish one. Like when I finish chapter 4 I'll upload chapter 3 so on and so forth. I haven't quite finished chapter 3 but it's close enough. I hope you like it! and sorry about the wait :(

And I just figured I should start doing previously's (my previously's will just be the last few lines of the chapter before it) so they will be in italic then I will do the line and the chapter will begin.


Previously on Protect Him

"I'm sorry," whispers Merlin. The dagger presses harder at his voice, causing red droplets to bead at his skin.

Arthur's eyes see only a color redder than the blood but does not can not do anything, it will only result in Merlin's pain. He could never succeed and keep Merlin alive at the same time. Arthur hangs his head.

"NO!" Merlin looks horrified as Arthur collapses from a blow to his head. He glares at the man, if looks could only kill... Before those crystal clear eyes could blaze gold sharp pain fills them and they roll up into his head.


Merlin woke to a sharp throb in his head. He tries to move his hands to clutch at it but finds he can't. He moves them again and hears a rattle, like chains. Merlin is fully awake and notices his arms are above his head. Merlin suddenly remembers they had been captured, he and... Arthur.

Arthur!

Merlin whips his head up and opens his eyes, groaning in regret. Merlin can see nothing, it is so dark. With a fleeting streak of dark gold his sight increased. He was very worried, he didn't hear the familiar rhythm of Arthur's breath. The warlock looks around with his new sight warily. He must be ready for everything, he has to protect Arthur. He can't do that if he's dead.

As he suspected he's alone. No Arthur.

There's a mold high on the walls and it covers the ceiling. In the corner there is a slow drip that caused a deep narrow hole, not even his pinky would fit. Merlin drags if focus from it, it can't help him. His eyes try to roll as he moves them with an effort.

His attention wonders.

Merlin's eyes half close, he came to the conclusion that he had been drugged. His mind barely forms that thought when he hangs limp from the chains. The small amount of magic he used had been holding back the drug, but its affects wore off, leaving it to run through his veins with every beat of his heart.

~(o)~

Cold, that all Arthur felt when he jolts awake gasping from a bucket of water thrown in his face.

"There he is!" Crows the man from the forest.

"You better not disappoint me Neilan," says a deeper cruel voice.

Arthur opens his eyes and glares at them both, from the corner of his eye he looks at his surroundings, or that's what he tells himself. He knew he was really looking for Merlin. Who was no where to be found, had they killed him? NO, they couldn't have. He will do nothing for them if they have. Nothing.

The new voice belongs to a short stocky man. He had golden blond hair and black barbaric eyes. Arthur could tell a lot about a person from how they hold themselves, how they present themselves. This man likes to see and give others pain, but he hates to get his hands dirty. The man smirks and lifts his chin arrogantly, "I am Laken." He looks at Arthur as if he should recognize the name.

"Who?" Snorts Arthur. Arthur knew that would get under his skin.

As expected Laken's face darkens with fury. He nods to Neilan.

The man steps forward and backhands Arthur, whipping his head to the side.

Blood drips from his split lip. Arthur spits the blood, he grins when it lands on Laken's boot. The man recoils in disgust.

"Throw him with the other one," growls Laken.

"Chained, Sire?" Neilan sneers, for sure he would get to chain Arthur.

Laken looks Arthur over and smirks, "no, he can't do anything." Laken knows his type, that is the worst insult he can give a warrior, or a knight.

Arthur thrashes as he knew he should. Arthur knows the insult he dealt his way, but it works in his favor and he must act the part to keep that leverage.

What he didn't know was that it was a punishment, not an advantage.

Neilan jerks and hauls a resisting Arthur away, when Laken half yells, "wait! What's your name, Knight of Camelot."

Arthur realizes he doesn't know he has the King of Camelot in his grasp. It must stay this way.

"Sir Gwaine." Arthur sneers. He chose the first thing that came to his, serves Gwaine right to not come to practice and make Arthur deal with his hangovers all the time. Arthur smirks in his mind, oh what he would do to have to help of Gwaine here with him. He would keep things light as well as help get them out and protect Merlin.

Laken smirks and jerks his head to Neilan.

He continues to drag Arthur.

~(o)~

Merlin wakes from light hitting his face. He squints and recoils, his eyes had gotten used to the dark under his lids and this new light was blinding.

Instead of someone coming in as he expected, a dark figure is shoved through the door. There's a scrape on the stone floor as they land on their hands and knees. They landed not to far from him but with the light messing with his eyes, he knew he would not be able to make out their shape for sometime.

He doesn't dare use magic again in fear this new person might see.

The door is slammed shut, plunging them back into the darkness.

Merlin can hear scuffs and scrambles ad the person moves to get their bearings.

Before Merlin can question them, a familiar voice rings out. "Who are you?"

Merlin is startled and happy beyond belief at this voice, "Arthur!?" Relief shows heavily in his voice.

"Merlin? Oh thank gods."

"I thought they had killed you," they both gush out. They chuckle.

"How long have you been in here?" Arthur hid his fear that they had done something to Merlin.

Merlin can hear skin on stone as Arthur searches for him, "I don't know. They drugged me, I woke up once for a few minutes before I went back under."

Merlin sticks out his foot as far as he can to aid Arthur. A warm hand grips his ankle.

Arthur pulls himself closer to Merlin with one arm, grunting. Merlin suddenly remembers Arthur's shoulder, he was injured. "Arthur, your shoulder."

"It's fine, they treated it. I just with I knew why." Arthur's voice shows his frustration.

Merlin has his suspicions but hopes dearly that he is wrong.

Arthur reaches out, trying to find the rest of Merlin.

When he hits Merlin's hip where it curves upward from Merlin sitting up Arthur moves his hand up. He hates having to do this but he can see nothing and Merlin is his brother, he must know if he is hurt. He lands in the middle of Merlin's chest and starts moving his hand over it.

Merlin wonders what he is doing before he realizes he's checking him for injury. Merlin smiles and rolls his eyes, Arthur had not believed him and thought he was hiding it.

Arthur's hand finds the curve of Merlin's ribcage and goes past it, only to come back and slightly smack Merlin's rib. Arthur freezes then moves farther out from Merlin again and again lightly hits the warlock.

"Yes Arthur, that's my side." Merlin says sarcastically and rolls his eyes even as he frowns. He wonders what is up with this strange behavior.

Arthur sounds aspirated, "yes Merlin I can see that, but where on Earth are your arms?"

Merlin sighs and hits his head on the wall behind him, "up."

Arthur frowns in confusion but does as directed and pushes his hand up. He finds Merlin's shoulder and frowns when he feels it going upward. Why does he have his hands above his head?

Merlin rolls his eyes, he could practically feel the confusion rolling off Arthur.

Arthur isn't thinking clearly. He frowns, that's really not good. He will need Arthur to escape, besides he will not leave Arthur.

Is there still drugs in his system? Probably.

Is his wound bleeding to much; is it from blood loss? Most likely.

Merlin decides he will try some magic when he knows Arthur's asleep.

Arthur's fingertips graze the cold metal shackled around Merlin's wrist. "You're chained." Arthur stutters in realization.

"Yup," Merlin pops the 'P' as he tries to will his eyes to adjust faster.

"Why would they shackle you and not me?" Arthur groans and moves to sit side be side with Merlin.

"I know why, the same reason they kept me alive. You care about me," Arthur snorts and Merlin smiles at the familiarity, "well at least enough to get captured over me. Though you would do that for anyone. I'm their leverage. I'm chained up and there's nothing you can do about it." Merlin looks to where he guesses Arthur would be, he could feel Arthur's knee lightly staying in contact with his and is glad for the comfort that he is not alone in this darkness.

Arthur scowls, knowing Merlin's right and definitely not liking it.

Silence falls between them and Merlin wishes he had his hand to check Arthur's shoulder. What is they didn't dress it right or put a poison in it? But Merlin knew there was no point stressing over it. They needed to get out of here... but first, "you should try to get some sleep Arthur. I have a feeling we're going to need it." He heard Arthur's blond hair brush the stone wall as he nods and tries to get as comfortable as he could.

Arthur feels his eyes slowly drift shut. He lets the drip from the water lull his to sleep as he desperately tries to forget the situation they are in. He tries to convince himself it was all a bad dream.

Merlin is relived when he finally hears Arthur's breath level out. He needs the rest, especially with what Merlin fears is to come. A whispered word fills the air and a gold pierces the black," gelácnian."*

Arthur lets out a sigh in relief as his wound knits its self back together on the inside, leaving just a shallow wound.

He could not heal it all the way as much as he wants to, but he did ebb away the pain so it is only a dull throb. Merlin was relieved when the spell worked, he isn't good with healing.

Another slight gold and he forces himself to sleep, he knows there's no chance of it naturally.

~(o)~

A few hours later that felt like only a few moments to Arthur, the door opens. Arthur shields his eyes from the burning light, but maintains contact with Merlin. A reassurance he didn't realize they both had made. A dark shape fills that door way. A chuckle tells Arthur it's Neilan. "It's time, Gwaine," he snickers.

Arthur looks over, Merlin is somehow still asleep. He jostles him as he gets up.

Merlin jolts awake and looks up gratefully. He couldn't think of anything worse than waking up to a cell without Arthur when he had been there when he fell asleep. A stab of fear courses through Merlin, he pulls at his chains as hard as he could. He desperately wishes he could go with Arthur, he needs to, he has to.

Neilan smirks at the struggling Merlin. Arthur looks back at him and communes silently. Merlin stops and locks eyes with Arthur, Arthur is staggered at how much pain is in those clear blue eyes. He can see Merlin's need to be with him but Arthur sends him a message.

Merlin has known Arthur for many years and see's the message clearly, Arthur is telling him that he will be fine, that he will comeback. He just has to trust him.

He does, with his life. Arthur sees this and gives him a small smile, turning back.

With that Merlin watches him walk out the door, until Neilan grabs his arm to drag him. The door slams shut, and Merlin could see Arthur no more.


* To heal