Merlin opened his eyes slowly. The back of his head hurt, it wasn't anything serious. The thing that concerned him more was that his hands were bound around a tree. Still, these people had no idea that he had magic. He could find a way to escape without waiting for Arthur to come for him. He checked his surroundings and saw lots of Morgana's men as well as some Saxons. What did Arthur say about the danger of Saxons joining Morgana's troops?

It was too late for that now.

Then he saw Aithusa passing by. She didn't notice him at first. He whispered her name a then she suddenly looked at him. Aithusa came towards Merlin cautiously. As if she was afraid of getting hurt. The white dragon looked unhealthy and weak.

"What happened, who did this to you," Merlin whispered. The creature seemed bothered to see Merlin with his hands bonded so it tried to free him.

"No, not yet." Merlin made Aithusa stop. There were too many people watching not to mention the man who knocked him unconscious was coming towards him.

"I have never seen this creature getting close to anyone except Morgana."

"What did Sarrum do to it? Why it looks so…"

"Deformed?" The man took the words from his mouth. "It was in a small pit during its early years. As it grew the pit came too small. The pit affected his bone structure. The creature is in constant pain. I am Ruadan."

"Where did Morgana…" Merlin tried to ask but Ruadan interrupted his question.

"And who are you, boy?" Ruadan interrupted his question. "The king puts life on the line for you. Knights go to patrol with you, a High Priestess comes after you and now a dragon is attracted to you."

"I am Merlin. I am the manservant of the King." He tried to stay calm and not give away anything.

"I know that. If I were you, Merlin, I would comply or else you might face the rage of the last High Priestess."

Morgana slowly woke up, she was still shaking from the lightning that reflected on her. He had Arthur in her grasp and once again-somehow he managed to survive. She was at her tent, her troupes must have retreated after she fell unconscious. While she was trying to comprehend what happened, Ruadan entered.

"Morgana, you are awake."

"What happened? Is Arthur dead?" She had damn known the answer to her question.

"The lightning caused fire between our way and Arthur's. The other knights came and surrounded our troupes. We had no choice but to flee."

"Kill him was all you have to do," Morgana spat angrily. She hated Arthur's luck. Even though she had powers of heaven in her command, he always succeeded in making her look like a fool.

"I thought your objective was the serving boy, Morgana. You said, to give peace to spirits of Isle of the Blessed…"

"Yes, yes, yes. I know what I said. But I have no idea how we will manage to do that and what he has to do with it."

"He seems intelligent, he may use to us."

"Oh, he is shrewd I assure you. Keep an eye on him. Arthur is strangely fond of Merlin, he may even track us to Isle of the Blessed to rescue him," Morgana smiled at the thought.

"I tell the men that they pack for the journey. Anything else?"

"Yes, bring our guest here. I have some questions for him about Arthur's sword." As Ruadan left, Morgana brought out an old brown box and caressed the black snake inside it.

This was gonna be fun.

….

Ruadan lightly pushed Merlin into Morgana's tent. Merlin wasn't eager to see Morgana but was curious about what she was planning to do with him. She was sitting on a chair and doing some sort of paperwork, her posture reminded him of Arthur. But other than that, there wasn't much familiar thing about her. Her eyes were cold even colder than the last time he had seen her. Her skin was paler and her hair looked messy.

There was something that took Merlin's attention though. Morgana still had restrained marks from her wrist. She noticed he was looking at there but did not attempt to hide it.

"Are you going to stare all day Merlin?"

"What I am doing here, Morgana?"

Ruadan watched the exchange curiously. It wasn't normal that a servant address to a royalty (even that royalty was Morgana) with only her name.

"You are coming with me to a little trip to Isle of the Blessed."

"Why?"

"It is my turn to ask questions."

Morgana put out a little box and a small black snake came out from it. Merlin knew this wasn't good news according to Elyan's and Gaius' descriptions.

"Do you know what this is," Morgana held the snake gently with her hand?

"A nathair" Merlin tried to hide his fear. "Elyan and Gaius told me all about it. Why are taking me to the Isle of the Blessed?"

"My turn now, Merlin," said Morgana with the same predatorily gleam in her eyes. She was coming towards him with a nathair ready to strike. "Hold him, Ruadan."

Ruadan didn't go along with it as Morgana expected. "Morgana, using the nathair is extreme, our troupes are injured and we need to move fast, if you do that he won't be in any condition to walk."

"I want to know where and how my brother got a sword like that and he won't talk willingly."

"There are other ways."

"Like what?"

Ruadan took a pair of leaves looking like some kind of herbs. He approached Morgana's desk and took the chalice from her desk. He slowly dabbled the leaves, he whispered magic words and the water in it looked like it is boiling.

"Drink it."

Merlin gave a look of refusal.

"Drink it or you will face the charms of the nathair." Merlin remembered Elyan's state after they had taken back Camelot. Gwaine had told them he didn't even blink for hours. That was not a situation he would like to be in. Especially if he was going to get out of there.

Merlin drank it to the last drop. And gave the chalice back to Ruadan. Morgana gave Ruadan a questioning look.

"What now," she asked impatiently.

"Tell me where you come from"

"Ealdor".

Merlin answered reflexively. But there was no harm in the question, he wasn't sure the drink was making him tell the truth.

"He will answer whatever I ask," Morgana asked curiously.

"Without hesitation."

"Where did Arthur find a sword as that" Morgana asked.

"I don't know" Merlin tried to answer but instantly his throat went sore. The drink was practically choking him from the inside. His hand went to his throat.

"It is working" Morgana declared with a satisfied smirk. "Tell the truth, Merlin."

Finally, not to lose him all breath he answered. " We found in the forest, during your reign. He pulled from the stone."

Merlin inhaled as much as he can, even if it was a half-truth, it still allowed him to breathe. That was until before Morgana's next question came in.

"Do you know what makes it so special?"

"No," The pain in his throat got worse, as he lost his breath he lost his composure and fell.

"Say it, Merlin or you will die here," Ruadan warned him.

Merlin couldn't bear it any longer. If he were to die here, then there would be no one to protect Arthur or Gaius, Gwen, Camelot. The truth escaped from him.

"It is a sword forged in dragon's breath."

Morgana's eyes widened in revelation. Ruadan was also surprised by this unexpected answer.

The oxygen returned to Merlin's lungs. That didn't stop him from coughing. He felt ashamed, he was also relieved that he was breathing again.

As he exhaled, Morgana lifted his chin with her hand to make eye contact with him.

"Now you know what it feels like. Last question,…"

Merlin looked at Morgana trying to not show his fear of what the next question will be.

"Why are you so loyal to Arthur?"

"He is my friend," said Merlin determinately. There was no pain in his throats this time. His voice was filled with pure honesty. For whatever reason, that might be Morgana looked disappointed and hurt even.

"So it seems, take him away," she ordered Ruadan and her men.

Next: Ruadan gives Merlin a history lesson about The Great Purge while Arthur begins his journey to find his servant.