(Merlin is my favorite *flutters eyes and sighs dreamily, then blinks hard* Poor child, I feel bad at what he is to go through, but alas there is no story with out it.) I might write more later, but lets ease dear Merlin into it shall we?
Previously on Protect Him
"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.
For Arthur time seems to slow down to an agonizing rate as he watches, helpless, a knife lower its self to make its first excruciating cut down Arthur's manservant's arm.
Arthur closes his eyes.
Arthur hears Merlin make a small, almost unheard, grunt. He opens his eyes to see Merlin's glaze over slightly, Arthur's eyes drift to the deep gash running down his arm.
Arthur closes his eyes again and turns his head away, he can't watch.
Laken looks at 'Gwaine' smugly, then does a double take. This just wont do, I wont tolerate it. "We were going to punish him anyway." Laken draws, silently beckoning him to open his eyes. He does, just in time to see another slice and another inaudible sound, "but," Laken lengthens the word for dramatics, "this way you will also learn a lesson." Laken's eyes harden and his lip curls, "you will learn to never hesitate from killing in my arena."
Arthur glares daggers sharper than the ones tormenting Merlin. His lips are more predominate, as Arthur is prone to do so.
Neilan looks disgusted, no one has ever been able to withstand him and certainly not this boy!
Neilan turns the knife for more pain and makes a long gash from his collarbone to the hipbone. He could see the muscles in the boy's abdomen clench at the strain of keeping in the sound. Neilan tilts his head, he could just cut through those muscles, then they could no tense to keep in the screams. Then he could hear what pleasure his amusement makes.
Said amusement clamps his eyes shut, suppressing a whimper. Merlin couldn't help muttering in his head, Arthur Arthur Arthur ArthurArthurArthurArthArthur. Arth'r.
Merlin's eyes snap open at a shallow stab in his midriff, the sapphire eyes roll when the knife twists.
A calloused hand slaps his cheek repeatedly before he could pass out.
Merlin looks at the ceiling but doesn't like the sight of it, especially when on closer inspection the decorative specks are old blood spatters. Merlin thinks he's going to be sick and lets his neck roll his head to the side, facing Arthur. His only salvation in this haze.
Neilan picked up the branding iron that had been set aside for heating. He presses it to the boy's pale shoulder with a smirk. Neilan watches with triumph as the skin bubbles.
Arthur chokes at the smell of burning flesh that fills his nose and mouth. He pulls uselessly at the chains holding him from his brother.
Merlin whimpers and locks eyes with Arthur, his nostrils flare as he resists screaming. The only thing screaming would do is hurt Arthur further.
Merlin gasps when Neilan lifts the brand. Just stay with me, his eyes whisper.
Arthur's eyes soften and whisper back, always.
This gives Merlin the strength to go on.
Neilan had placed the iron back onto the fire to regain it's heat and he now pulls it back, white hot. Merlin's breath increases and he forces his eyes from it back to Arthur.
Neilan sticks it onto Merlin's chest, in the middle of Nimueh's burn. Neilan lifts to his tipytoes and pushes his weight onto it, breaking the skin.
The boy arches and withers. The only things he was able to keep control of was his voice and eyes.
Merlin's eyes are pleading with Arthur to make it stop, but he resists, making no sounds.
Arthur on the other hand is screaming and yelling. Kicking and pulling and cussing, but his eyes never leave Merlin's. He will never leave him. Arthur gives his best friend the only comfort he can, his presence.
The torturer lifts the iron. The boy's chest drops back to the table, gasping.
Merlin swallows what little liquid his body has not sweat out as his body continues to wither from the leftover pain.
But again, his eyes never leave Arthur's.
I almost got through, Neilan thinks, just one more and he wont be able to keep it in any longer.
He jams it onto Merlin's hip without warning.
Merlin's eyes roll and his head is thrown back, his whole body strains against the bindings and convulses.
The only thing keeping his voice is sheer will power. Arthur always said he was a stubborn idiot, and he will not give this man satisfaction.
Neilan drags it over his cut before replacing it on the fire with a snarl. How had this pathetic boy manage to withstand his so long?
Fine, he thinks, you want to play? Lets play.
Neilan on coils a whip and glances up on nstinct. He smirks at the look of horror on Arthurs face.
Tears flood Merlin's eyes and he once again looks to his salvation, his anchor to sanity.
Crack
The whip tore through the flesh on his side. Neilan smiles.
Crack
Crack
Merlin finally yells as the whip slices across a burn and a cut.
Neilan laughs.
Arthur screams.
Crack
Neilan delivers lash after lash. Arthur begs him to stop. Merlin screams endlessly.
Crack
Scream
Crack
Arthur falls to his knees, keening to Merlin.
Neilan lifts the bloody whip over his head to add another crisscross to the web of lashes on the boys chest.
Laken's voice rings out, "that's enough."
Merlin's eyes fill with relief and he visibly relaxes and his body lessens in its squirming.
Arthur's eyes mimic Merlin's but his drift slowly to a close, its over. A few moments and he can touch Merlin, reassure himself he is still alive.
Laken continues, "we are done, for now..." Laken turns to Arthur, smirking, "now will you hesitate?"
Arthur shakes his head and his brows furrow in concern as he gazes at Merlin.
Laken shifts to looks at Merlin, "will you ever try to escape again?"
Merlin drags his eyes from Arthur to glare defiantly at Laken.
Laken sticks out this bottom lip in a mock pout, "pity." Laken looks to his assistant, "Neilan."
Arthur, fearing they will hurt Merlin again, yells, "NO!"
Laken only spares him a sideways glance as he hands Neilan a key.
Neilan comes round the table and unlocks Arthur's cuffs.
Arthur slams his good shoulder into the man as he rushes to Merlin and quickly undoes the restraints, picking up the fragile body.
Merlin, knowing he was in good hands, finally passes out into blissful unconsciousness.
Arthur was relieved that, thankfully, Neilan was under orders that he was to be allowed to take care of his servant unhindered. So the journey back was agonizing but uneventful.
Tears ran down Arthur's face with every drop of Merlin's blood that hit the floor. 3/4ths the way there Merlin wakes and demands for Arthur to let him walk.
Neilan agrees, smirking.
Arthur was left with little choice and gently set Merlin on his feet.
He staggered a bit at first and Arthur supported him as much as he could, always keeping a hand on him and almost hovering over him. Merlin, with all his stubbornness walked next to Arthur without so much as a wince.
Arthur smiles fondly, "idiot."
Merlin grins, but it doesn't reach his eyes and he is quickly loosing strength but wont allow Arthur any nearer, "prat."
When they get there they are shoved through their cell door.
Merlin stumbles and collapses. Arthur quickly catches him and lowers him slowly to the floor, Neilan slams the door shut. Encasing them in pitch black.
Arthur shuffles around, feeling for the wall. He is now glad for the dark as he could not see through the tears anyway. Besides he doesn't know if he could stand to look at Merlin's injuries.
Arthur gently drags his frail servant to the wall and rests Merlin's head on his lap, propping himself up.
Arthur tears the bottom of his shirt into strips, lightly prodding Merlin for his wounds and begins to bind them in the dark.
When Arthur finishes he wipes his hands on the stone visiouslu with what he knows to be blood on his hands.
Merlin whimpers in his sleep, and Arthur gulps. He hits his head on the stone behind him.
Arthur raises a hand and hesitates, then strokes Merlin's soft hair and runs his fingers through it in what he hopes to be soothing.
It seems to work so Arthur continues, closing his eyes.
Arthur barely hears Merlin hum and whisper, "I didn't try to escape, you know." Arthur hears Merlin swallow lightly, "I was looking for you."
"Shh, its alright. I know, sleep Merlin." Arthur says gently as he continues to brush Merlin's raven hair.
For once, Merlin does as he's told and his breath evens out.
Arthur follows suit, his hand coming to rest protectively on Merlin's forehead.
