Elyan startled awake. There was a quiet noise, just by the fire. Lifting his head slowly, his eyes were drawn to a shivering form close to the crackling fire. Merlin. Standing up, he carefully trod around the knights until he reached the servant. The boy was even hotter now but with the heat came the shivers. Every part of Merlin was twitching violently and he occasionally let out a low moan accompanied by mumbled worlds. Suddenly, Merlin's back arched and he let out an animalistic scream, startling all the knights who were by his side in a second. Merlin's words grew clearer and the knights sat helpless as he pleaded to somebody. "Please sir, I..I..I..I didn't mean it! NO! Sssstop...FATHER!"
Arthur stilled. Father? They had all seen scars on Merlin's body but Arthur assumed they were from the torture Merlin had endured but now it seemed like they were the fault of something or someone else. Looking around, Arthur could see tears in his friends eyes as they listened to Merlin scream and plead with his father. It must have been a stepdad or something for Merlin had told Arthur he didn't know who is real dad was. Another part of Arthur's heart broke with Merlin's next exclamation: "I'm a bastard! A stupid, useless bastard! My father didn't want me! PLEASE! Stop..." His voice trailed off into pained moans and his body shook harder. Tears spilled from his eyes, no doubt stinging the cuts on his face. A large hand gently moved him out the way and he looked up to see Percival crouching down beside the boy and gently putting a cold, wet cloth on his forehead and Arthur watched as Merlin sighed and leaned into the cloth, savouring the coolness. "How could he say that about himself?" The heartbroken voice of Gwaine interrupted the silence but his question made them think.
"I think somebody made him say that." Arthur reasoned, making them all snap their heads to him. "Well, think about it. The boy was begging his father not to do something and I know for a fact that Merlin didn't know his biological father so I'm guessing his stepdad or something hurt him and made him say that. It would explain the scars." He continued, watching the knights faces morph into ones of disgust, hatred and anger.
"How could anybody hurt him?" Everybody was surprised by the anger and confusion in Percival's voice. Nobody answered. They were alerted back to Merlin when the boy let out a small groan and his eyes fluttered open. As one they leant back, knowing that Merlin might panic if he felt trapped.
Merlin came back into consciousness with a bang. The pain hit him all at once, making him groan involuntarily. He had been having a dream (more like a nightmare really) about his stepdad when he felt presences above him. His eyes opened slowly but slammed shut again, an orange light making them hurt. After another moment he tried again, his eyes now adjusted. Slowly (for he had a headache) he looked around and saw, to his great joy, his friends. "Welcome ba-" Gwiane's loud voice cut off when Merlin winced in pain. "Welcome back Merlin" came Arthur's quiet, comforting voice.
"It's over?" Gods, he sounded pathetic! "It's really over?" Arthur smiled slightly and nodded his head and Merlin let out a soft, tinkling laugh that quickly turned into shuddering coughs that shook his frail frame violently. Somebody held a cup of water to his lips which he drank sparingly, knowing what would happen if he drank too much. Everyone was silent, gazing happily at their friend but the silence was cut when Leon's voice rang through the clearing. "Merlin, are you the Raven?"