Sorry for the late update. I was down with a severe case of flu and am still recovering.

Chapter title is taken from the song "Let it hurt" by Rascal Flatts. I never heard the song but I liked that particular line. It was in context with what I wrote. Hence, I used it.

Words: 3480

10. Let it hurt, let it bleed

The palm of his arm that was draped across his stomach fisted the tattered remains of his shirt unintentionally. His teeth chattered loudly as he waited for Morgause to do something to him. Given his condition, he supposed he couldn't retaliate physically unless he used magic. Wait, magic! That's right! Now that he's out of the Caves of Peril that hindered his magical capabilities, he could use it to defeat Morgause and escape to the safety of Camelot. He could reason with Arthur and explain to him that he never used magic for hurting the good men. Yes, he would do that.

Ignoring his physical pain for a few moments, Merlin concentrated on bringing his magic to the forefront so that he could blast Morgause into unconsciousness. But, nothing happened. He couldn't release his magic. It was as if Merlin's magic was caged with no key to let it out.

"Your magic is useless here, Merlin," Morgause chuckled.

How did she know that I'm a sorcerer?! Merlin's eyes widened in surprise as he watched her walk closer to him.

"What, did you think I'm unaware of your sorcery? You aren't just a manservant to Arthur, are you?" there was not more than a foot's gap between him and Morgause now. She fisted his hair, earning a pained groan from him as she bent his head back to look down at him in the eyes. "You are much more than just a servant, aren't you, Merlin?" she questioned again.

There was a pregnant pause. Odd enough, that moment, that line seemed very important to Merlin, though he wanted to hear it from someone who isn't Morgause, someone he loved and cared about and was willing to throw away his life for.

"I am much more than that," he whispered and he meant it.

He longed to say those words out loud, that he might be a manservant in the eyes of everyone but he isn't who he seemed to be. He isn't a clumsy fool who did chores for Arthur and took beatings from him. He is a sorcerer and a powerful one at that.

"Too bad that your sorcery cannot save you. If you're curious, Merlin, I will let you know that this place is protected by the same spell that is used on the Caves of Peril. So, do not try hard because your magic won't work here," she smiled evilly at him before releasing his head.

"What are you going to do to me? Why haven't you killed me yet?" he shouted at her back and erupted into another coughing fit, spitting some blood onto the stone floor.

"Kill you?" she turned around, genuine wonder flitting across her face.

"Yes," he replied, his expression matching Morgause's surprised look.

"Why would I want to kill you?" she asked, frowning.

"Why wouldn't you want to kill me? I supposed that was your agenda since you took me as your captive," he replied, frowning.

It looked like a battle of questions and surprises.

"No, Merlin! You see, my agenda, as you thought, isn't to kill you!" she couldn't help but giggle at Merlin's idiocy. "It is to kill Arthur Pendragon and reclaim the throne of Camelot to the rightful heir, Morgana Pendragon. And, to bring magic into the deepest veins of Camelot."

It wasn't any surprise to Merlin that Morgause's intentions were to kill Arthur. But, he couldn't explain why his stomach flipped at the thought of Arthur. Then again, maybe he could. Merlin wasn't back in Camelot now. He was here, wherever 'here' was and was left alone to die. He could clearly picture Arthur's eyes as he spat 'I will help no sorcerer like you'. They were lifeless and filled with anger alone. Yet he remembered seeing those blue eyes in despair as Arthur said goodbye to him. Suddenly, against his wishes and thoughts, anger flared up inside him, like a forest wildfire. It spread through his entire being and wouldn't stop no matter how much he tried to quell it down.

"You cannot," he heaved, his arm moving from his stomach to clutch his heart.

He might not have finished what he wanted to say but Morgause understood. And, she smiled.

"Actually, I can," she replied and her eyes glowed gold, her smile vanishing spontaneously.

Merlin screamed in pain that racked his insides. He pulled at his body, scratched his skin but the pain traveling under his skin didn't go away.

"Stop!" he cried but the pain only intensified. So did his screams.

The last thing he remembered before blacking out was Morgause's gold irises.

"Look at me, Arthur. Hear me call your name," Merlin beseeched in the faintest of tones.

"I do not know where you are!" Arthur yelled as he frantically searched for his manservant in the woods.

"I'm hurt and I'm bleeding all over," Merlin replied, followed by a pained grunt.

Arthur clucked his tongue in frustration. This search for his manservant wasn't leading him anywhere and it was dark. He couldn't see his surroundings because, of all nights, the clouds chose tonight to encase the moon in their shadows. He hadn't the mind to bring a torch and he couldn't light one now. If he so much as walked without tripping in the dark, it would be a miracle.

"It's dark and I have nothing but my sword. I cannot find you, Merlin," Arthur sighed and sat down on the forest floor with his head in his palms.

A few seconds later, Arthur could see the ground under him that was dusted beautifully with dried leaves, green grass, and twigs. He looked up to see the moon but found a ball of moonlight hovering above him.

"Come to me now," Merlin's voice sounded clearer than before. If he didn't want to be categorized as mad, Arthur would've admitted that the ball of moonlight spoke to him in Merlin's voice.

Without question, believing in the light Merlin sent for him, he followed where it took him. He looked around and found that he was still in Darkling Woods but the light ball was taking him deeper into the dangerous woods. After walking for a while, the light ball stopped and so did Arthur, only to find a Cave that he never knew existed until then. The Cave seemed darker than the night and Arthur would give anything to deny that it was a magical Cave.

And then, he heard a loud scream which sounded like his manservant and the light ball vanished.

"Merlin, no!" Arthur's eyes snapped open with an inaudible flick only to find himself in his bed.

His right fist gripped his blankets tight with an enormous force and he couldn't let go. His heart beat louder than the warning bells and he willed himself to calm down. Every second, he told himself that it was just a bad dream and that he was in his bedroom, sleeping peacefully and safely. Arthur didn't understand why he kept on repeating in his mind that his manservant was George and not Merlin, the evil sorcerer, who could've killed him anytime he wanted, just like he tried to kill Uther.

"Is everything alright, Sire?" a voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"George? What the hell are you doing in my room?" Arthur snapped as he sat up in his bed.

"I'm your manservant, Sire and it is my job to see that you are perfectly sound in health," George replied monotonously, his hands crossed behind his back in a posture of servitude and respect.

Arthur sighed. "I'm fine. You can go," he answered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, Sire. Do call for me if you need anything else, Sire," George bowed low and started walking out of the Prince's room.

"George, tell Guinevere that I called for her," Arthur's order, though it was more like a request, stopped him in his steps.

Besides, the Prince's request puzzled him to no end. It wasn't his place to question but George didn't know why Arthur would want Lady Morgana's maid at this late hour, in his chambers. He tried to keep his deviant thoughts at bay.

"But Sire, if you need anything, I will do my best to serve you," he replied and saw Arthur's face harden in anger.

"Just do what you're told to do," Arthur reprimanded.

"My apologies, Sire," he bowed again.

"And do not tell anyone," this was an order which didn't even have the subtlety to be a request.

"I won't, Sire," George meant what he said. He was but a servant, the lowest of all. It wasn't his place to defy the orders of the one he worked for. If the Prince wanted to meet with Lady Morgana's maid, he could. And if he wanted George to keep it a secret, then he would obey his master's commands. After all, that is all he could do for a decent living.

With these thoughts in his mind, he reached Lady Morgana's chambers and wished for her maid to be present in the quarters. She had a home and if she had already departed, he would have to walk in the cold to get her, which he did not want to do. He knocked and waited. After a while, he heard hushed footsteps and the door opened slightly, just enough for Guinevere to peek outside.

"George? What brings you here at this time?" she asked, yawning.

"Prince Arthur asked for you, Gwen," his voice had no emotion whatsoever.

He observed how her sleepy eyes immediately alerted themselves and filled with worry. Well, what happened between the Prince and this Lady doesn't concern him. Still, he mulled over this fact as he watched Gwen's back disappear into the darkness, towards the Prince's room.

o#*#o

"Arthur! What happened? Are you alright?" Gwen asked as she rushed towards Arthur, who was still sitting in his bed but with his face in his palms. Gwen sat down in front of him and took his palms into hers', away from his face.

"Oh, God! How long has it been since you slept, Arthur?" she asked, noticing Arthur's rather dark circles and sunken eyes.

"I couldn't sleep. If I tried, I dream about him and I cannot go back to sleep anymore," Arthur wasn't one to whine about his fears or feelings but tonight, he looked so small to Gwen. He looked haunted.

Two weeks then, Gwen thought.

"They are just bad dreams, Arthur. I will get a potion for you from Gaius and you can sleep," she said, cupping his face gently.

"No, don't. I can't face Gaius after everything," he averted his eyes and looked out of the window at the moon.

"Gaius doesn't blame you for what you did, Arthur," Gwen said.

"Because I'm the Prince of Camelot and he doesn't have a say in what I do and what I don't do," Arthur replied and Gwen felt tears roll down her palms from Arthur's cheeks.

"Oh, Arthur, you are torturing yourself! You saved your father from him and you saved Camelot and its people by making that deal with those sorcerers. You did what you thought was right," Gwen reasoned.

"But what if it was wrong, Guinevere? What if I was wrong?" he asked, turning his head to look at her.

"Believe me, you never are," she smiled and that was all the assurance he wanted.

His palm circled her lithe wrists as he pulled her close and kissed her softly. Her breath tasted sour, just like his' due to the late hour. Still, he didn't mind it and hoped Guinevere didn't too. By the looks of it, she was eager and wasn't pulling away. He ventured his hands over her body and placed them on her waist, squeezing it occasionally and feeling her moan into the kiss. Their tongues explored familiar caverns and Arthur felt calmness envelop him. He kissed her until he lost his last breath. Then, they broke apart, foreheads touching, panting heavily, hot stale breaths fanning each other's faces.

"Wow, that was, um," Guinevere spoke first.

"Intensely good," Arthur finished her sentence and pulled her into another soft kiss, which lasted for a few seconds.

"I love you so much, Guinevere," he confessed.

"I love you too, Arthur," Gwen replied with all her heart.

"Will you stay the night? I do not want to let you go," Arthur asked.

"If anyone will find us, it'll be troublesome, Arthur," she said.

"Please, Guinevere," he pleaded and she sighed. She wanted to stay too. But if anyone found them, there is no saying what Uther would do to them. Their relation was supposed to be a secret forever and when Arthur married another Princess of Uther's choice, Guinevere would leave his side willingly.

"Till the first light," she said.

"Till the first light," he agreed and they drifted off together, with Arthur spooning Guinevere under the sheets.

Tired as she was, Gwen was asleep soon enough while Arthur calmly lay awake. And, he decided what he must do to put an end to the remorse he was feeling. The nightmares he was dreaming weren't normal; he knew that somehow because he saw things and places in these dreams which he never saw in reality. He's never been to those places yet he could surely say that they existed. He supposed it was Merlin's magic that was calling out to him. Strange, but he believed it was so. He had a very strong feeling that Merlin was in the Cave his dream showed him. Tomorrow, at first light, he decided that he would ride out to the Caves of Peril again.

It would be him who would kill Merlin for what his once manservant did to Uther, the King of Camelot. Arthur would make sure Merlin suffered before he died.

o#*#o

Morgana was happy because her plan to kill Uther was sailing smoothly. Two days ago, Curare showed its first effects on Uther. He started complaining about pain in his legs and Morgana couldn't help but laugh at that thought. If only he knew that his legs would be paralyzed in a day or two, Uther wouldn't be taking medicines meant for old age pains. She laughed again and she turned on her bed to look at the ceiling.

Gaius, depressed as he was because he lost Merlin, wouldn't bother keeping an eye out for Uther's daily medicine. It wasn't a wonder that she picked Gaius for Uther's fall. He was the right choice and she could explain to Arthur; she could manipulate him into thinking why Gaius tried to poison Uther and that it wasn't his fault for housing a sorcerer and avenging his loss. Arthur is a fool and he wouldn't bother with explanations as long as there is proof that Gaius tampered with Uther's medicine. She would make sure to stow the vial of Curare in Gaius' chambers before Uther died.

"You will pay for everything, Uther Pendragon and then your son will follow you," Morgana spoke softly, her eyes still fixed on the dark ceiling.

All the excitement left her awake the whole night.

o#*#o

Uther tossed and turned in his sleep and it wasn't because of any nightmare. His legs were paining and he never felt pain with such intensity. It was as if someone was ripping them off from his upper body while he still breathed. Giving up on sleep, he sat up and punched his legs for a while and the pain subsided. From his nightstand, he clutched the blue potion bottle which Gaius gave to him earlier in the night. He told Uther to gulp it down if his legs bothered him during the night and Uther just did that. He let the potion sink in for a while and his pain lessened.

He heaved out a breath of relief.

I should have asked Gaius for a sleep-inducing potion too, he thought as he lay back down onto his plush pillows.

Tomorrow, I'll ask him. For now, I will try and get some rest. Yet, Uther couldn't sleep no matter how hard he tried. He recited the toughest parts of his Kingdom's Constitution, counted numbers, and tried humming even! Still, sleep seemed to be a far cry. Only when the first light of dawn graced his room did he fall into a pitiful slumber filled with dreams of his past.

Little did he know that his dreams were an effect of Curare trying to play with his mind.

"Why don't you just kill me and save your time?!" Merlin screamed in anger, pulling at his restraints.

This time, he wasn't magically tied to the ceiling but was shackled to the walls of the Cave. Heavy iron manacles circled his wrists like bracelets and strong interlocked chains pulled them up horizontally to either wall of the Cave. He could sit and kneel on the ground but could not stand without bending in half because of his wrist manacles. His legs weren't bound to any walls but his ankles were manacled together in similar chains not allowing him to pull them apart or take a few steps. If by any chance, he stood up to his full height, he supposed that his ankle restraints would only allow him to jump uncomfortably but not walk.

The skin on his wrists broke due to extreme chafing as Merlin constantly pulled at them, trying to break free and now they started to bleed too. Morgause squatted in front of him, looking at him with an unreadable expression. The smell of fresh bread and cheese flirted with his nose and his stomach growled at the prospect of food.

"I told you that I would not kill you, Merlin. Do not make me say it again and again," she warned.

"What is your point in keeping me shackled and feeding me then?" he queried.

"I need you to hurt for me. I need you to bleed for me, Merlin. And I will heal you. Then I will hurt you and make you bleed again. Till I find a way to fulfill my destiny, you will be my prisoner," she tore a piece of bread and held it to Merlin's mouth.

The bread felt so nice against his lips and Merlin couldn't ignore it anymore. So, he opened his mouth grudgingly and savored its taste. He didn't know what day it was or what time it was anymore. He had no idea if the food is supposed to be breakfast or lunch or dinner. Till he found a way to escape from Morgause, he would survive the pain and eat this food to gain his strength.

"What is your destiny?" he asked, after swallowing the bread.

He didn't expect her to answer so when she did, he stared at her, dumbfounded.

"You, Merlin, you are my destiny," she smirked and put another piece of bread into Merlin's mouth.

Merlin didn't want to know what her statement meant so he struggled to eat the tastiest bread and cheese he'd ever eaten in his entire life. After finishing the bowl, he was surprised to hear himself belch.

"Good, wasn't it?" she asked, making him sip some fresh water.

He nodded, albeit begrudgingly.

"Now, let's start, shall we?" she leered and pulled out a small but very sharp and glinting dagger.

As Morgause cut him up, and he couldn't remember how many times she did so, Merlin tried to hold in his screams. Unlike the other times, he was fully conscious now and was feeling the pain more than the other times. He just wanted it to stop but he wouldn't scream or beg. As long as his body and his mind kept him conscious, he would let her hurt him; he would bleed rivers for her, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of tearing his soul.

"I will break you, Merlin," her face was right in his face when she said it by holding the tip of her now bloodied dagger to Merlin's sunken left cheek. "But first, I will break your fingers," she chuckled like a mad but clever lady and proceeded to break his fingers.

Merlin yelped when Morgause twisted his left pinky finger for a while before snapping it. It dangled uselessly on his knuckle now. A few tears escaped his eyes without permission and he almost begged Morgause to stop this assault, but he kept his mouth in check.

She then loosened the chain's pull on his left hand so that it fell onto the floor but still remained shackled to the wall.

"You think your Prince, Arthur Pendragon will come and save you? You are a fool, Merlin," Morgause didn't warn as she brought down her boot-clad leg hard onto Merlin's left palm.

This time, Merlin howled like an animal in pain as he heard his finger bones crush under Morgause's footwork.

PLEASE DO REVIEW!

I'll be updating frequently now, just like before.

Until next time, bye!

~ Wheezy.