If you all hate me after this I can't blame you, especially after the next chapter, I am so sorry...
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
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.
Arthur jerks out of Neilan's hold and walks on his own.
Arthur is surprised at how little his shoulder hurt, it is as if it had healed over night. It was just a throb now.
Arthur made sure to pay extra attention as he walks, they might need it to escape.
Neilan jerks Arthur down a dark corridor. The farther they walk the darker it gets, but they press on. Neilan had neglected to get a torch, likely just to torment Arthur. Arthur squints, he can see a bright light at the end. Not at bright as sunlight, but there must be a big fire or many torches.
Arthur stops, thinking. He is not given much time when Neilan shoves him, sending him stumbling. Arthur turns and gives him a glare that should have made him explode.
Arthur steps out of the dark hall and stops, turning in a circle. It is a large room, but what makes Arthur close his eyes and sigh is a big ring in the middle of the room. It's much like the tournament ring in Camelot.
As he steps farther into the ring, which the tunnel had led into, the crowd surrounding the ring went wild.
A loud shout echoes through the room, "quiet!" Arthur recognizes the voice to be Laken. He is seated on a platform, in a throne like chair. Arthur rolls his eyes, does everyone think they can be King?
"Well well well Gwaine, look at what situation we find our selves in. I expect a good fight from you."
Arthur spits on the ground, "I will never fight for you." How many times must he go through the same conversation?
Laken chuckles, "but you will, or we will make you feel unbearable pain."
Arthur smiles, he has been trained to withstand torture, besides who said he planed on being here that long? "You can hurt me all you like, I will not fight."
Laken smiles, he had expected this. He had planned on it. Neilan had told him the reaction of this knight when his servant was harmed, "who said anything about hurting you?" He laughs when the smile drops from Arthur's face. "Oh no, we will make you watch as we maim your servant. That is unbearable pain, for you."
Arthur's shoulders slump in defeat.
Laken smirks. "Bring in the Champion!" He yells at the top of his puny lungs. A gate opens at the other end of the arena. Stepping into the light comes a big burly man. He wields a large axe, it's laid across his shoulder as he strides confidently into the arena.
"Chose your weapon," calls Laken.
"Sword," Arthur states bluntly.
Someone grunts and Arthur turns, catching the flying sword by its hilt. He swings it experimentally with a flick of his wrist.
The champion yells and runs at Arthur, Arthur skillfully dodges the axe.
At an enrages roar that emerges from the throat of the champion the fight begins.
~(o)~
Merlin slumps as the door slams shut behind Arthur. He lets out a growl. How can he get them out if they are separated? Merlin tries to his the floor with his fist to let out the frustration and anger when his wrist is yanked to a stop harshly. The first step is to get out of these chains.
Merlin's frustration and worry fuels his magic, making the golden glow so bright you could momentarily see in the cell. The shackles open and fall back against the wall with a clash.
Merlin draws his hands down, his shoulders cry with relief. He rubs his wrists and closes his eyes sighing. The relief was great, he had to sit there for a moment to get his bearings.
Merlin stands, his jaw clenched in determination. With another golden blaze the heavy door creaks open a bit. Merlin stops it immediately and curses low under his breath.
He mutters a silencing spell and continues to push open the door.
He steps into the hallway and shields his eyes. Moments later when his pupils dilate and allow him to see, he realizes he is alone in the corridor. He thanks the triple-goddess, fear had clouded his mind and he had acted rashly. He hadn't even checked if there were guards.
Merlin takes a deep breath and sends out his magic, looking for Arthur's presence. He found it! Arthur! Merlin takes off to his left at a sprint. First he must find Arthur, then they get out of this hell hole.
Merlin comes to an intersection and freezes. Arthur stopped Moving. Now Merlin may know generally where Arthur is, but has no way of knowing how to get to him. Merlin could feel if he changed direction so he knows which way he went. But Arthur has stopped...
Merlin wants to yell. He bites his lip, and, on a gut feeling, goes right.
Merlin can feel the tug on Arthur's mind getting stronger, he is getting closer. Arthur can't be that far, Merlin makes himself go faster.
Merlin hears a yell behind him but he just presses faster, he has to get to Arthur.
Suddenly Merlin is slammed into from behind. Merlin's head hits the floor hard. If that's not enough, the guard balls his hand into a fist and punches Merlin. And all goes black in Merlin's eyes.
~(o)~
Arthur quickly wipes sweat off his brow, never taking his eyes off his opponent.
With a grunt he ducks as the axe swings wildly where his head had just been, he needs to end this quickly.
Arthur stands and knocks his blade against the wooden handle but the giant moves it out of the way as to keep it in hand. Arthur parries a blow and stumbles back at the force. He swings, the man steps back.
The champion raises his weapon over Arthur's head to get more momentum.
This is his chance. Ever so slightly Arthur's eyes widen, he mustn't miss. This might be his only chance. His shoulder won't let him go on much longer.
Arthur steps in close and swings as hard as he can.
Snap.
The battle axe breaks in two. The champion looks at it in shock.
Arthur backs up, then advances and slices his chest. It will unable him, but it is not a mortal blow.
The opponent falls to his knees. Arthur walks around to his back and strikes his hilt to the back of his neck, the base of his spine.
He crumbles to the ground.
Arthur lifts his sword to deliver the final blow.
He hesitates.
Arthur lowers his arm and throws his sword away.
Arthur turns and walks away.
"NO! Finish him!" Laken screeches.
Arthur ignores him.
"Fine! So be it, but remember whatever happens it is on your hands!"
Arthur stops and looks at him sharply, just in time to see him nod out of sight.
Arthur turns, ready for anything. But the nod wasn't for him, a man jumps over the rail and quickly kills the fallen champion.
Arthur closes his eyes and turns away.
Arthur feels Neilan's hands grip his arms and tows Arthur toward the tunnel he had come in with. Arthur kicks and squirms, he is not going to get away, he still has to go back to Merlin. But he's not going to make it easy on them.
Arthur is expecting to be taken back to the cell. That leaves Arthur confused when they go straight instead of turning to go to the dungeon.
Arthur is shoved into a room and the door is shut behind him, but Arthur pays that no mind. What has him breathless and frozen is the sight before him. Arthur's eyes are wide and he finds himself paralyzed.
Strapped to the table in front of him... is Merlin.
Arthur lunges, but is caught and held.
Cuffs are shackled to his wrists with a clank.
He is chained to the wall behind him, he is allowed within four feet of Merlin but no farther. Arthur doesn't care, he only has eyes for Merlin.
Merlin's eyes lock with his. Merlin tells him that it will be alright, to stay strong. He will be fine.
Arthur wants to scream, he wants to cry with pain from what it about to happen. He desperately wants to take his best friends place. Most of all he wants to kill whoever touches Merlin. Whoever made those bruises on his arms and eye that look fresh. Arthur realizes they had stripped Merlin of his shirt and his beloved neckerchief .
He wants to tear to pieces whoever is responsible for the cut beneath Merlin's eye.
There is a shift, a movement in the corner and Arthur's eyes snap to Laken.
Arthur almost collapses to his knees, "No! Please, Please I beg you don't do this. L-let me take his place please, do whatever you want but don't hurt him. He is fragile, he wont withstand it. PLEASE!..." Arthur's knees shake and he locks them, he's not much help on the ground.
"No... Ar-Sire." Merlin mutters to Arthur.
Laken says nothing but smirks and nods to Neilan, who walks out from behind Arthur.
Neilan pulls out a drawer in a desk next to Merlin and begins placing items on the desktop. Arthur's face adopts a look of horror.
Torture items.
"NO!" Arthur yells and begins to struggle to get to Merlin.
Merlin swallows but keeps his eyes on Arthur, his only strength, and keeps himself from looking at the tools on his other side.
Arthur is in no danger, Merlin tells himself, I can't use my magic. I will be fine, Arthur's here.
Neilan looks up at Arthur's scream and smiles at him.
Oh yes, he's going to enjoy this.
If Arthur seems out of character I'm sorry I just think he would be strong in everything but Merlin. I don't think he could stand to watch Merlin hurt and would do almost anything to keep it from happening.
