"AA…hhh..!"
"I know.. I know.. I'm sorry…" Leon said quickly once he pulled Merlin's arm around his neck to support him better and the young man yelped in pain. "But there are stairs to be climbed and you will need help."
Arthur was pretty sure the knight would have no trouble carrying the skinny boy on his own, but he didn't even give it a second thought as he quickly grabbed his manservant's other arm and put it around his own neck to support him.
Leon gave him a questioning look, but the prince just nodded and they headed out from the cell down below and up on the dark stairs with the court physician's chamber as destination.
They half carried, half dragged the servant on the seemingly endless stairs, yet no-one said anything. Leon kept his gaze on their path and a firm grip on the mangled bare body of the young man, trying his best to shake off the thought that the moisture under his palm isn't all sweat; it can very well be something else. In fact, he was sure of it.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally arrived to a long corridor, and the servant's moans lessened as there was less shaking of him, but by now he stopped trying to use his legs and just let himself be carried, keeping his head down, pants and moans escaping his lips and Arthur would glimpse at the boy worriedly while looking ahead. The blonde had a bad feeling the servant was too far off to even realize who were handling him.
Arthur felt the need to say something. Anything.
What Uther had done was unimaginable, but the prince tried to not to let his anger control him at that moment. Not now. He had to focus.
Merlin was still awake, aware that he was being taken from the dark cell. He gave up on the idea of trying to lift his head; he said nothing; motioned nothing. His pain was like nothing before; it invaded his every thought and every fiber and he was unable to think of anything else.
Arthur glanced at him from time to time, and when they passed a torch along the wall he saw a sweat drop roll off his nose and fall to the ground. It gripped his stomach when he thought crossed his mind that it might not be sweat. It could be a tear. It could be blood. Gods, how did it get to this..?
"You'll be alright, Merlin." The prince said eventually in a deep voice.
The warlock seemed to turn his head towards him and for a moment it seemed like he will say something, but all that came out was a muffed whimper; and then nothing.
"Finally.." Leon mumbled when the servant went limp in their grasp.
Arthur sighed, agreeing with the knight.
What the hell is a dragonlord anyway? He then thought.