Update galore! Think it's really about time for it as well. I apologize for my long silences, things have been hectic and interesting in RL.. I have an announcement to make: I'm moving to the UK! =O Big step there.. So for the upcoming two-three months(hopefully) I might be silent again, until I settle in and sort my stuff. Will answer PMs as best as I can, no promises on the updating field , surprises might happen though.. :) You know how it goes with me..

Alas! Update-galore consists of: ch.33 for Resemblance, ch.5 for Magic in the Mud, and.. surprise ;)

On with the fic! Hope you enjoy~!

EDIT(09/24/2013): Warning! Torture, gore in this one.. brushing at the limits of that T rating. Just so you know..

.*.

Arthur watched some renegade herbs float around in his cup and took in the calming scent of the steaming liquid. It felt sweet, warm and refreshing; it was nice, however it did nothing for the storm of emotions inside him.

He could feel the old man's expectant eyes on him to tell more. And he battled the turmoil in his mind to be sure something reasonable comes out of his mouth, next time he opens it.

For now, they sat in baffled silence.

Arthur on his part was worried. He knew the old man to be a friend of his father, even if their friendship was tried and rusty at best - even more so in the light of recent events - he also knew the physician looked upon Merlin like a son. But he was worried. Should the man be forced to choose between loyalty and a loved one, what his decision would be? – After all he was battling the same feeling; rather a gnawing feeling of uncertainty.

He had no doubt about Merlin's loyalty towards him. After what they've been through it was unquestionable in the prince's eyes. However he also had a duty towards his king; and upon seeing how Uther had reacted on some vague resemblance between his manservant and an old enemy, he doubted he could walk up to him and discuss his dilemma. He feared for the young man's life. By the Gods, he feared his own father even thinking about asking his opinion on the matter. So there had to be another way.

And that other way presented itself by none other than the man in question himself.

It tore at his heart to hear Merlin wanting to go back to Ealdor, but he came to favor the idea the more he thought about it. Least until he gets his proof, or sorts this mess, the young man will be out of Camelot; out of the reach of the law that could claim his life, should – and Gods forbid – the prince's hunches prove to be true.

Not that he believed it. He couldn't. Could he?..

Gaius looked at the prince. He had to get the conversation started somehow, and he decided to skip the gentle prodding and evasive questions this time. He's had enough of those in the passed days time and his nerves and patience was wearing thin because of it; and this was too important of a matter to prance around. Merlin's life was at stake..

Hunith had asked him to take care of her son, and look at where that got to. He felt ashamed of how he had served that promise; he felt embarrassed over failing, even if he knew some of the things that have happened since the boy arrived to Camelot were clearly out of his guardian's hands; the lad just had a knack for getting himself into trouble. But this was different now, this was just that one step too far; and he felt determined to do his best to nurture the boy back to health. Let him decide then what to do; and if Merlin really wants to leave Camelot behind, then so be it. Destiny be damned.

However what he'd just heard from Arthur, might put everything in a different light, and the elderly man felt his old heart might not take more of this for long. He couldn't know what the prince had witnessed, but he had to find out before he could decide what answers to give if there will be questions asked – and no doubt there will be questions, if the young man's expression was anything to go by.

He let out a breath and glanced at his ward again. Merlin was sound asleep; breathing deep and steady, head slightly turned to the side, - oblivious to the tangible tension in the room. How much did he reveal? Did he tell the prince himself? Or was it all an accident? Had he been cornered to a point he had no other way out, but to act, and he revealed himself?

Gaius was very much in thought and it took him a while to find his voice after hearing Arthur's statement. What he heard was unbelievable and as much as he tried to scale the prince's behavior - his concerns and fears for Merlin - against that knowledge, he didn't want to jump the horse and make false assumptions; so he schooled his expression with great effort as well as his voice and decided to suggest the prince tell him what had happened, before he would draw conclusions and make his own confessions.

"That's a heavy accusation, Sire.." His voice felt just as heavy and the echoes died quick in the silence. Arthur still seemed to struggle to find his words. He opened his mouth, but then just closed it and shook his head; eyes still glued onto the surface of his tea.

"What happened, Arthur?" Gaius coaxed. He had a terrible feeling there was more to the imprisonment then a cold cell and little food, there had to be something else there than a beating and passed the unfortunate events that happened when they arrived back to Camelot; no, that merely was a trigger, a rousing of things that would have stayed hidden if not for the king's reckless inquisition; and judging from what Arthur told Leon, and how Merlin reacted so confused, - wary of an unknown woman of all things, - it all couldn't be just Uther's mindless paranoia. This was something else. This was something bigger. And for a moment he wondered if his ward would have spoken of it at all if things hadn't turned out the way they have.

Arthur took a deep breath.

"I'm.. not sure." He said and the old man was about to tell him, to take his time, but share whatever he has to share, whatever he can recall, but the prince continued before he could say anything. "It wasn't the beatings. Or the cold, or the hunger.. Or the sh-shame. We could.. we could live through that. I knew help was on the way, and.. Merlin was so strong.. it was… There was.. a w.. a woman there. A sorceress.. Someone I've never seen before.."

Gaius held his breath to hear more.

"She.. she would come to our cell. And she had this stone. A crystal of some sorts, never seen anything like it. It was red like blood and it glowed when she spoke, and she would use that.. on us.. in turns. It burnt. It hurt. She was taking notes then walk out. Then guards would come to question us.. Sometimes even the landlord. We'd say nothing, no matter what they d-did."

Arthur needed a sip of tea all of a sudden and Gaius waited patiently.

"The woman would come again.." The prince continued. "Again, she would use that stone, and take notes.. And as time passed it got more and more intense. Wounds would appear when she spoke, then they would heal on their own, and she was taking notes. Just.. taking notes. never asking anything.." The blonde shook his head, his eyes lost in the memory. "But it got m-more .." He struggled to find the word. "It got more bloody.."

Arthur shivered at the memory of their cell and turned his head as if he could turn away from the images plaguing his mind.

"She cut me up. Cut my arms; my legs.. Then healed me again and I was whole but the pain was.. so much. I didn't know if I was screaming or if I just wanted to.. then Merlin opposed her at one time. Threatened her, told her to leave me alone.. She laughed and broke his legs with a spell."

Gaius stared at him with mouth agape, but Arthur didn't notice. He furiously rubbed his eyes at the recollection, his servant's screams still ringing painfully in his ears; not caring about the wetness he brushed away.

"So.. you want to keep your precious prince safe. What a loyal servant indeed. Let's see how far you can take it.. I'll make you scream for it. And do let me know when you change your mind.." Her voice so clear and vivid in his mind it made his stomach rumble and his skin raise in goose bumps. Arthur swallowed and pushing words passed the lump in his throat he kept speaking.

"And then she used magic on me and my body would move on its own, and she made me hold him down.. While she cut him.. And Merlin would whisper to me.. it's not my fault.. B-before he started screaming again.. 's not your fault, Arthur.. 's not your fault.. over and over again. Until he screamed.. or until he passed out."

Arthur didn't know when he got to his feet. He was pacing nervously up and down the chamber, talking more to himself then to anyone around and he was either gesticulating wildly or pulling his own hair; and the elderly physician followed him with his glance in silence. The blonde was trembling; but still he pressed on talking.

"She was furious one day" the prince continued. "Saying the landlord forbid her to experiment on me, saying I was being held for ransom and he couldn't have me get damaged.. then she turned to Merlin and we.. we knew.." he took a deep breath looking around as if looking for something, too scared to actually look at the man he spoke of.

"She would only cut him from that day on.. or sometimes it was just the agony and no wounds on him.. Merlin.. it made him flounce and scream.. Gods, he would scream .. until he couldn't scream anymore.. She would use that stone and cut him.. she.. she cut him open and let him bleed… I could.. see his ribs.. his ..his.. ins..ds.." Arthur slapped his hand over his mouth, feeling his meal will come right back at the mere memory of it. He swallowed hard, breathing heavily through his nose, then furiously wiped the few loose tears that escaped from his eyes as he squeezed them tight. But the images were there, the memories were fresh and alive. He took a deep wavering breath and forced himself to continue; thinking, hoping the burden would be easier to carry if he shares it; convinced that he has to say it all now, or he will never be able to speak about it ever again.

"When he stopped moving she used the stone again and .. healed him. I don't know.. the wound were clear and vanished, there were no scars either and he was breathing again.. and .. and she would leave Merlin.. Sometimes she made sure he was still alive, other times she just walked out. Taking notes in her bloody tome.."

"Sometimes I could tend to him… comfort him.. Sometimes she forgot to let me go and I had to watch him.. He would mutter and sob and stare into nothing just drooling and shivering.. Sometimes it .. it took hours for him to pass out.. It was.. h-horrible.."

Arthur again flopped down on the bench, this time looking at his manservant's sleeping form with wide eyes; feeling spent and his mouth too dry.

Gaius stared at him flabbergasted. He knew what he was about to hear won't be a child's tale, but it was a lot worse then he expected. The gruesome truth sinking in, he felt torn for his ward, yet unsure how this had anything to do with Merlin having magic. He didn't even think to voice it though, he wouldn't have known what to say after all he'd just learnt of, but the prince spoke again.

"I was.. holding him down at one time. He was mumbling something incoherent and he was clearly losing consciousness. Then.. his eyes glowed gold before he passed out.."

Gaius closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. - So it was an accident. Merlin probably didn't even know Arthur was looking at him.

"I didn't know what to think.." Arthur said in a weak voice and he didn't mind the tears on his face flowing freely now. "Who knows what she did.. what that had caused.." He could recall that moment with precision; he could remember clearly as he leaned over Merlin, kneeling at his head, holding down his upper arms on the ground, knowing it could be him lying there, and instead it was his servant.. and Prince Arthur was glad; and it made him feel incredibly ashamed, but he felt glad, it wasn't him lying there. Suffering at the hand of a magic wielder; having magic invade him and cause him pain..

"I.. I couldn't do anything.. Gaius.. I'm.. so.. so sorry I couldn't do anything to help him…"

By this time he didn't mind his voice coming out in sobs, he didn't mind his face being wet from tears; he sniffed loudly and felt he wouldn't care if his father saw him now. Just what kind of prince is he? What kind of a king will he become, if he would sink so low as to be glad it wasn't him on the receiving end of the torture, while his friend suffered in his place right in front of him.

"She must have done something to him, cast something on him, had her magic invade him.. or.. or I don't know.. She cursed him.. She cursed him, Gaius.. and I couldn't do anything.." The prince sobbed.

And with all the guilt and shame, he still heard Merlin's whispers echoing in his mind..

.. 's not your fault.. 's not your fault..

.*.

There you have it folks~ The much awaited 'what has happened in their captive days' finally revealed.. Surprised? Disappointed? Anxcious? Curious?.. Let me know what you think ;)

I'd also like to thank all the Guest Reviewers! The more recent ones (on other fics as well) from passed few days felt like a much needed kick in the arse :P Thank you all..

Irene: Oh yes, doing things a bit different. Poor Arthur has to worry about Gaius's reaction.
Gasp! Talked to the lovely lads... Omg that's fantastic! I bet your friend recovered in that instant, with Bradley wishing her speedy recovery.. :)) wow.. it must have been awesome..

Makinganaccountanytimesoon?.. Just curious..

yay: Thanks very much! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter.. hope this one earned your liking as well :) Tension ahead! Dundundundun...!

Oswin Jae is 500th reviewer! *feed her cookies* And we celebrate 300 Followers (omg) and 77k!

Thanks all~ :) Love you~