So there is a light at the end of the tunnel (for quarantine at least, cannot say that for our heroic duo however). I hope everyone stays safe as things start to get back to normal. To Chapter 12!
P.S. This Chapter, I experimented with changing POVs a lot. Hopefully its not too confusing.
Previously...
Merlin took it and unfolded his hand to reveal Arthur's ring.
"Is that…?" Gaius asked.
"Yes. Arthur gave it to me when we split up" He threaded the ring onto the leather cord, "It was his promise that he would come get me." He put the cord over his head and let the ring hang, hidden within his shirt.
"If Morgana ever finds out you have that…." Gaius started.
"She won't."
"But if she does."
...
Arthur was startled out of his musings by a single cry. "LONG LIVE THE KING!"
Arthur looked around to find who shouted but suddenly every throat was chanting LONG LIVE THE KING! LONG LIVE THE KING!
Arthur did not stay asleep that night. His friends watched over him in shifts because Arthur was constantly having nightmares and needed help getting back to sleep. As the sun heralded the new day, Arthur was standing with Gwaine on the edge of camp, looking towards Camelot.
"I hope he's doing ok." Arthur finally said
"He'll be just fine Arthur. He's a lot stronger then he looks."
"That's because of his magic, something Morgana knows how to exploit."
"He's going to be ok Arthur."
"How can you say that?"
"Because look where we are. We found your people, Arthur. Look how relieved they were to see you yesterday."
That brought a smile to Arthur's face.
"You brought them hope and hope is the most powerful weapon we can have."
"What wise person did you learn that from?"
"Merlin."
They both looked out towards Camelot again.
"That is why I know that he will be ok. Because Merlin is your hope and as long as you believe in that, nothing will go wrong."
"Thanks Gwaine."
"You're welcome Arthur."
Morgana was at least kind enough to let Merlin sleep on the ground after Gaius healed him. It was cold and hard, but so much better than sleeping hanging by your wrists. The door opened slowly and Merlin turned around fully expecting Morgana, but was met by a friendly face framed with black curls.
"Gwen?"
"Merlin!" Gwen exclaimed, pulling him in for a hug.
Merlin returned it and pulled away asking what she was doing there.
"Oh here." she said, pulling out some bread and cheese. "I brought you some food."
"Does Morgana know you are here? Are you allowed to give me food?"
"Yes."
Merlin relaxed and started to eat breakfast.
"And no."
Merlin choked and whirled on her.
"Morgana knows I'm here. She told me last night that you were in her custody and that she had sent Gaius down to help you. She was complaining that she might have to check on you in the morning while she had something else to do and I volunteered to make sure that Gaius did no magic on you. The breakfast is all my doing."
"I can't eat it then. It will get you in trouble."
"As long as Morgana doesn't know, you'll be fine. Please Merlin, you must be starving. I know she hasn't fed you almost anything since you've been here. Please eat. For me."
Merlin started to eat again and then asked Gwen another question. "How are you supposed to know if Gaius did any magic on me?"
"Morgana gave me this jewel." She held out a white jewel. "It's supposed to change color if you tell a lie. The deeper the color, the more untruthful the lie is. So, did Gaius heal you with magic?
"No." Merlin said, and the jewel turned pink.
"So he did." Gwen commented.
"No, he didn't. Because if he did, Morgana will hurt him so no, he did not heal me with magic."
"No, Gwen is right." Morgana said, slinking out of the shadows. "Gaius did heal you with magic." She walked into the cell. "I can feel a flicker right here." pointing to his bound foot.
Gwen was startled enough but instead of running like Merlin thought she would do, she took a protective stance in front of Merlin. "My lady, I wasn't expecting you."
"I know fully well you were not expecting me Gwen, and I find you disobeying my orders, along with Gaius. Helping traitors is a serious offense, Gwen."
Gwen stood up. "Then punish me. Leave Merlin alone."
"As you wish." Morgana waved her hand and Merlin found himself strung up again. Then, Gwen curled up and groaned as pain enveloped her.
"No." Merlin said, a stinging feeling in the back of his eyes.
Morgana simply waved her hand again and this time Gwen screamed.
"STOP STOP PLEASE!" Merlin yelled, chains rattling as he moved. "PLEASE!"
"Make me." Morgana said, accompanied by another scream from Gwen.
"Punish me." Merlin whispered
Morgana stopped the attack on Gwen and walked over to Merlin. "What did you say?"
"Punish me for Gwen and Gaius. Please don't hurt them."
"Oh but Merlin," Morgana said sweetly caressing his cheek "hurting them hurts you all the more."
"Please Morgana."
"Ok, I'll let you take Gwen's. Her mistake was not as bad. 5 lashes."
"No!" Gwen cried, running to Morgana. "Please."
"I wouldn't be so fast to remind me of your existence, Gwen. Why don't you visit your brother? Take him some breakfast?"
Gwen looked like she was about to protest but Merlin stopped her. "Please Gwen. Go. Thank you for the food."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine."
And with that Gwen rushed out of the cell.
"Now about Gaius."
"Don't you dare hurt him!" Merlin growled.
"Oooh, hit a bit of a touchy subject there. But he still needs to be punished, Merlin. He disobeyed a direct order from me."
"I told you. I'll take his punishment."
"I haven't told you what it is."
"I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
"Anything."
Morgana smirked. "10 lashes and I want your neckerchief."
"My what?"
Morgana grabbed his neckerchief and pulled it off. "Oh, this isn't your normal one is it? This has a dragon crest on it. It's from a knight's cloak. Arthur's?"
"I don't have to tell you that."
"True."
"Why do you want it?"
"Research." She started to walk away. "I'll be back to administer your punishment later. For now, just stay there."
Morgana laughed as she shut the door and Merlin settled in for a long day.
Arthur looked at the sunset one more time before casting his eyes around the camp. He had spent all day helping around the camp (he knew that that is what Merlin would do in this situation) and now that the day was drawing to a close, he felt tired but hopeful. It felt kind of weird to him, being happy and hopeful with all that was going on, but being able to see his people happy and content, to see how relieved they were that he was among them, that they all still supported him even after technically having his right taken away, was more than enough to relax his troubled mind. After dinner with his knights, he retired to his and Leon's tent in high spirits. Leon had graciously offered his tent to sleep in and Gwaine was staying with Percival. Arthur laid down on the cot and tried to fall asleep. As he did, his thoughts went to his poor servant, stuck in Morgana's clutches. He wished he could talk to him, but he hadn't felt him since they split up. Arthur had tried to communicate but eventually gave up, distance being the excuse.
Morgana waltzed into Merlin's chamber holding a whip as the sun was setting over Camelot.
"Did you do anything to Gaius?" he spat out as Morgana closed the door.
"No, why ever would I hurt Gaius? You agreed to take his punishment. SO I left him alone."
Merlin sighed with relief.
"I did inform him that we might need his services again after your noble sacrifice tonight. He didn't seem to like what I was insinuating, especially when he found it it was because of him you are suffering."
Merlin's heart ached for his mentor. He wished he could comfort him.
While still thinking of Gaius, Merlin was brought back to his present predicament by his shirt being torn off. Merlin shivered as the cold of the cell permeated through his skin.
"I think it's much better without clothing. It hurts more..."
"Just get on with it, Morgana."
"As you wish."
Merlin closed his eyes and waited for the first strike. He wondered what Arthur would do in this situation. He tried to channel the pompous attitude and kept his mouth shut through the lashings. That worked for the first 5.
"Because these next ones have to deal with a magic crime," Morgana chimed in, "I will use a little magic on these last lashings."
What? Merlin thought. And then PAIN.
SO. MUCH. PAIN.
Merlin let out a grunt after the 3rd one, and Morgana smiled with satisfaction.
Merlin sucked in his breath after the 7th. That particular one had hurt.
Merlin screamed as the 10th one made contact. It seemed to whip his magic and his trapped life force fought back. Merlin thrashed in his chains, trying to ease the pain but no relief came. Then he felt a tug on his neck.
Suddenly, Arthur felt the most intense wave of something, he wasn't quite sure. It felt protective but also hopeful, but mostly it felt like...
"Merlin?" Arthur whispered, hoping beyond hope that Merlin was indeed reaching out to him.
As Arthur was basking in the feeling of Merlin's magic, it seemed to ebb away. Arthur tried again. "Merlin?"
As he focused, he thought he could feel a flicker of something, but this wasn't a good feeling anymore. This was... fear? Merlin was afraid of something. Arthur tried to comfort his friend, but it seemed the communication was only one sided. Merlin's fear only seemed to grow and was stopped abruptly by the most intense feeling of "NO!" that Arthur sat straight up on his cot. He might have even said the word aloud because Leon and Gwaine both poked their heads in. Arthur waved them away as he tried to focus on Merlin. Arthur clutched at his chest with the feeling of despair that came over him then. He then froze as Merlin's magic suddenly cut off.
"What's this?" Morgana asked, pulling an object away from Merlin's chest.
Merlin tiredly looked down and his eyes widened with horror as he recognized the object in Morgana's hand.
"I don't remember you having anything like this before."
Merlin jerked in his chains, trying to pull away to get the familiar weight of Arthur's ring back where it belonged.
Morgana laughed as she recognized the insignia on the ring. "This is the royal seal of the Pendragons." Her smile grew into an evil smirk as she asked her next question. "A token of Arthur's affection perhaps?"
"Don't touch it." Merlin grunted, still trying to pull away.
"I knew Arthur was strangely fond of you, but I didn't think he was this fond." She lifted the ring from Merlin's neck.
"Give. It. Back." Merlin growled.
"Oh, I seem to have struck a nerve. No Merlin, this is going to help me with the experiment I wanted to do with you today. I thought I could use your neckerchief but this" holding the ring in Merlin's face " will make everything so much more fun."
"Morgana, please."
"Well, because you asked so nicely." She let it fall onto Merlin's chest. "I can see that it is very valuable to you. Valuable enough that this just might work." She grabbed the ring again, pulling Merlin close to her with the action. She started to chant and Merlin's fear rose as her eyes turned golden.
Then Morgana released him and the ring.
"You won't need those anymore." He felt his arms come down next to him.
"Now, lets see what that did." Her evil smirk sent a shiver through Merlin.
"Raise your right arm," Morgana commanded.
Merlin looked in horror at his arm that seemed to be lifting of its own accord.
Morgana smiled. "Now the other one."
Merlin's left arm joined his right in the air.
"What did…...?"
"No talking." Morgana interrupted and Merlin's jaw snapped shut.
"Now the real test." Morgan said, rubbing her hands together in excitement. "Extinguish the flames."
Merlin felt his magic rise to the command and he tried to keep it down. He let out a pained grunt with the effort.
"Come on, Merlin. Let it out. It will hurt worse if you don't follow orders."
Merlin still fought his magic, but it was a losing battle. With a cry, his eyes turned golden and the prison cell was thrust into darkness.
"Perfect."
Merlin shuddered as Morgana whispered her latest threat, echoing throughout the cell..
"Now, you're MINE."