Title: The legend of a Warlock who Served the Once and Future King

Author: Lamiabellascrittore

Rating: T+

Warnings: Violence, sexual content, adult situations and more- deal with it. There is more to come.

Disclaimer: I do not own Merlin, or any of the characters. If I did there would be a season six, seven, eight, and so on, and a movie, of course.

Spoilers: Possibly.

Summary: Merlin and Arthur go on a mission that was supposed to be strictly reconnaissance. However, nothing ever goes as planned, and they get separated. Merlin is kidnapped by Morgana and Arthur must find a way to rescue his ever loyal servant. But, will Arthur still save Merlin after he learns Merlin has magic? This story is building up to the battle of Camlann. There most likely will be a sequel if you all want.

A/N: Okay, so this is my first Published Fan Fiction. Please read and review.

If you liked it I will continue. Please be kind. ;) The more you review the more likely it is that I will continue this story and more. Sorry for any errors, it becomes difficult after editing it so many times. It becomes a lot like a word repeated over and over again until it no longer makes any sense.

I hope you enjoy...

Chapter 18

Heartbreaking Ultimatum

Morgana fumed. She paced back and forth outside the dungeon cell Merlin was currently using as a bedroom. It was a small cell outside a larger cell. It was empty of all other prisoners. They were in another part of the dungeon.

Morgana found it hard to breath down here. The air was stale and smelled of decay. Why he would rather waste away down here instead of sharing a bed with her was a wonder, even if he absolutely despised her. Last night she had discussed the culling with Merlin. Only briefly but she told him what she wanted him to do. He flat out refused so Morgana gave him an ultimatum.

Do what she asked or she would pay a visit to Ealdor to see his mother, Hunith. Even after she threatened his mother Merlin wouldn't agree. The stubborn git. In all honesty Morgana had already taken the liberty of sending out a group of Saxon solders to lay waste to the small village. Morgana had no doubt that Arthur was searching for his lost manservant. He just didn't have a clue how lost his cause was.

Morgana gave a dagger to the lead Saxon, Argus, to leave for Arthur to find. It was the very one Arthur had given her for a birthday present. The same dagger she had used on Merlin to permanently mare his beautiful skin. His blood still stained the blade.

"Have you decided?" Morgana snapped.

"I'm not your executioner. If you want them dead kill them yourself." Merlin made a face. He refused to indulge her.

"Its not an execution, Merlin. Its a culling. To separate the weak from the powerful." Morgana said. "This will help the war in the long run."

Yeah, Merlin scoffed. By supporting the army and keeping food in their stomach's. Merlin shook his head. He will not help her any more than he already has. The goal was to stay alive so he could get free. He was free. Now he had to make the biggest choice. He was trying to fight what destiny has given him. He wondered if that was the problem.

Merlin couldn't fight against fate. It had a way of naturally rewriting things. Mordred was Arthur bane and Merlin was Morgana's destiny and doom. There was no way around it and all Merlin could do as fate rushed in at him from all angles was do what he could to stop the inevitable.

"No." Merlin said deliberately. Morgana's eyes hardened. She opened her mouth.

"My Lady." A voice interrupted. Morgana's spine snapped straight. She closed her mouth and glared at him.

"What?" She grunted never taking her eyes form Merlin sitting lazily leaning up against the far wall.

"We have what you asked for." The man shifted nervously. "She is being held in the isolation cells."

At the word she Merlin's head jerked in Morgana's direction. Oh, God no. Merlin unsteadily got to his feet. Morgana smirked as she turned to the man and nodded.

"I'll be back shortly." She turned to leave but glanced back at Merlin. "I suggest you rethink your refusal."

Morgana left Merlin standing in his cell with the door wide open. Only a single guard stood somewhere out in the hall. Not to keep him there but to make sure Merlin left the other cells alone. He was free to roam as he pleased. He was Emrys after all and he didn't have to be here if he didn't want to.

Merlin hated her with a passion he had never imagined a human could posses. He turned from the cell door. His rage screamed for an outlet and his magic writhed inside him desperate for escape. He threw a fist out and struck the stone wall with a mix of magic and physical force so strong he felt the stone buckle. He leaned his head against the wall.

He didn't know if it really was his mother. He could hold out hope and fool himself into thinking she was still safe if he tried hard enough. That was until the first scream sounded. It was so familiar and raw it brought tears to his eyes. Yes, it was who he feared it was. Merlin closed his eyes, pressed his forehead hard against the wall and slammed the side of his fist against it in fear and desperation.

"Damn it!" He hollered angrily. He shoved away from the wall and charged out of the cell towards the screams.

Only the moment he stepped out of the cell the cries stopped. He followed the echoes as best he could until those too died. The eerie silence cut at Merlin like little knives each time his heart beat and there was no more sound. The screams were confirmation his mother was still alive. The silence gave him nothing to hold on to.

Morgana walked towards the isolation cells just on the other side of the dungeon down a short narrow hall. She peeked inside the cell and saw a woman huddled in the corner her knees hugged to her chest. Morgana listened to the woman's ragged breathing. It was shallow and quick like taking to big of a breath was to painful.

The woman's head jerked up at the sound of her cell door screeching open. Morgana paused in the thresh hold. Merlin had her eyes, Morgana thought surprised. She shook herself from her musings and smiled wickedly at her. Hunith stood up on shaky legs.

"Hunith?" Morgana asked softly. "Merlin's mother?"

She nodded hesitantly. "I am Merlin's mother." She nodded. "Where- where is my son?" She looked around the cell as if expecting him to show up to her rescue.

"He is near." Morgana smiled wider. "Let's call him shall we?" Morgana walked easily towards her. "I'm going to need you to scream nice and loud for me."

Hunith shook her head. She knew that hungry look in her eye. Hunith saw it in the men who raided her village when Merlin was only eight. They wanted to hurt her to get to him then too. She'd rather die than be the reason for her sons' death. Morgana narrowed her eyes dangerously. Morgana growled in frustration her tolerance nearing its end. She twisted her hand and Hunith crumpled to the dirty cell floor her mouth open in a silent cry. "I said scream." Morgana hissed. It was like she had spoken the magic words because Hunith screamed so loud it stabbed into her ear drums like shards of glass.

Morgana knelt besides Hunith contorted form. Her shrieks dying on her lips. Morgana wanted Merlin to hear his mother's cries of pain and come running. To know he couldn't save her from the agony Morgana inflicted.

Hunith moaned and rolled onto her back. She tried to sit up to get away from Morgana but only managed to prop her back up against the wall. Morgana reached down and with a few muttered words scratched a small thin line across Hunith's collarbone with her thumb nail. Hunith's eyes widened. Hunith sluggishly slapped her hand away but it was to late. Her heart started to pound. Magic. She poisoned Hunith with magic.

Hunith looked down to try and see the mark but couldn't see anything. It was to close to her neck. The scratch on her collarbone started to burn. The fire spread with each heart beat paralyzing her. Hunith had seen this curse at work before once long ago.

A sorcerer came to her village when she was young and cursed her father. Her mother had to kill him to save him. The curse was known as Dethlok. It leaves a person paralyzed incapable of mobility or speech locked in an unending loop of horrible deaths unable to really die until the caster allows them release or another kills them. It was among the worst.

Merlin ran down the he narrow hall letting his magic guide him following the pull of Morgana's magic. She was just on the other side of the wall. He turned the corner once he was out of the hall and crashed to a halt.

There was one cell. Morgana knelt above a body propped against the wall. Merlin walked closer and his breath caught in his throat. Merlin muttered in the old religion and an orb of light appeared above and just behind his shoulder. He walked briskly into the cell.

"Morgana." Merlin snapped. "What did you do!" He roared. He looked at his mothers still form. She was pasty white and her lips were turning blue but she wasn't dead. Her wide blue eyes shined up at him with love, confusion, and fear. Her eyes flickered back and forth between Morgana and Merlin. Morgana stood up and faced him.

"What I said I'd do if you didn't cooperate." She said plainly. "You have a choice to make. A few actually." She smiled. Merlin looked at his mother for a long moment. She had never seen him look so lost. Morgana's heart twisted uncomfortably. She ignored it and went on.

"Your mother is going to die. There's no way out of that." She paused to let her words sink in. "She may not die now or in the next few minutes but when I let her." Morgana crossed her arms over her breast.

"What did you do to her."

"A curse."

"What kind?" Merlin demanded harshly. Maybe he could reverse it.

"I know what your thinking Merlin. There is no cure. Not even the great Emrys can stop this."

"Tell. Me." Merlin enunciated each word through grit teeth. He took a menacing step towards her. His had shot out grabbing her around the throat. He slammed her back into the call walls. "What. Kind."

"Dethlok." She choked.

Merlin released her as if he'd been burned. He stepped away from her and looked down to his mothers worried and frantic gaze. All the blood drained from Merlin's face making him look ill. He shook his head. His mouth opening and closing unable to form any words. He looked back up at Morgana with narrowed eyes.

"Now are you ready to listen to me." Morgana mocked. She straightened her hair and faced him.

"Why couldn't you have killed her." Merlin fumed. "It would have been a mercy."

Morgana stared at him. She shook her head slowly. "No, Merlin." She smiled viciously. "You are her son. Don't you think it right that you give her mercy."

Merlin blanched. He suddenly felt like he was eight years old again. Merlin looked down at his mother trying desperately to read what she was trying to convey in her blue eyes. He imagined her saying that it was alright, he could let her go. That Merlin was strong enough and that she was proud of who he is. But all he could see was her fear and right then he could only imagine it was fear of him not for him.

"Merlin." Morgana said. He ignored her. "Merlin!" Morgana snapped harsher. Merlin's head snapped in her direction. His eyes were filled with dark shadows and she could have sworn she saw a flash of her death in his eyes. She cleared her throat."At the culling you will do as instructed, or all will die instead of a select few. I'm sure you wouldn't want that kind of blood on your hands."

"If you decide to execute seven innocent sorcerers their blood is on your hands not mine, and know your making dangerous enemy's out of those who once loved you."

Merlin turned away from her and knelt by his mother's side. He smiled down at her sadly and brushed her raven black hair out of her face. "I'm so sorry," Merlin murmured voice breaking with his heart. "I never-" Merlin had to stop. He cleared his throat. "I never meant for you to get caught up in this." He shook his head in despair. "Please, I need-" He swallowed. "I need you to forgive me."

Hunith blinked slowly. Her chin dipped down slightly in a jerky nod. Merlin smiled. His tears streamed down his face and dripped off his chin. "Good Bye Mum." Merlin voice broke. He helped lie her flat. "I'll see you in my dreams." Merlin rested a hand over her forehead. "Níl aon pian i ddeath."

With breathy gasp Hunith's back arched. Merlin held her down with a hand on her forehead. She moaned and fell back to the floor lifeless. He sat back heavily on his haunches. Hunith's eyes stared glassily up at the ceiling as unmoving and unresponsive as the rest of her. His hand shook as he reached out to close them.

Merlin stood up feeling like he had aged a exponentially. He clenched his fists at his side and gave Morgana one dark look before he silently stalked form the cell. He never once looked back because there was no going back.

Morgana's gut plummeted. She did what she had to. Proven she wasn't bluffing and in turn she might have just sealed a fate she had been trying to avoid. Merlin, she swallowed thickly, will be the death of me.

"Níl aon pian i ddeath."-(There is no pain in death.)