Author's Note: I know I've been gone for ages. I am so very very sorry. I have been moving cross country twice in the course of a few months. But I still should have found time to write somewhere, and I did. I just haven't posted it yet. There's a bunch coming up soon. I promise. I own nothing.
2. A Light in the Dark
"Sire, pardon my impertinence but why are we following these tracks, they clearly aren't the bandits." Arthur sighed and turned to look at Sir Leon who was riding next to him.
"My manservant, as you know Sir Leon, has the worst luck of anyone I've ever met. Giaus sent him into the bandit's territory; trouble has a habit of finding him. I just hope we find him first." When they reached the base of the mountains they found Merlin's docile white and black mare tethered to a tree. She was agitated and Arthur knew immediately why. Even he could smell it.
"Blood." Leon confirmed and pointed up the cliff face. Arthur nodded and instructed the other two knights to keep watch as he and Leon shed their armor and began to scale the cliff. It took about ten minutes but when they reached the top Arthur swore.
"There was a fight." He said, carefully stepping around the scuffed up dirt and footprints that made up the scene that had unfolded here. Leon was leaning over the body on the ground.
"He's a brigand sire. He hasn't been dead for long." Arthur shook his head.
"What killed him? Not Merlin, there's no way." Leon looked up.
"Knife to the throat sire." Then Arthur spotted it not a foot from the corpse. He snatched it up and his breath caught in his throat.
"Recognize it Sir Leon?" Arthur asked praying the knight would disprove what Arthur knew to be true.
"Merlin's neckerchief. Most of it at least, I'm sure of it sire." Leon swept the clearing with his eyes and pointed. Arthur followed the gesture.
"Merlin's bag, it's been ransacked. He was definitely here." The light was starting to fade, Arthur sighed as worry coursed through his veins.
"It's getting too dark to continue. We'll need to retreat and plan for the night." Leon nodded and they scaled back down the cliff.
Merlin groaned and tried to move. But he soon discovered that his wrists were bound behind him and his ankles were tied together. His head throbbed as did his ribs. He struggled to a sitting position and moaned as his ribs screamed at him. Laughter brought him back to himself, fractured memories of what had happened racing through his mind.
"Finally awake?" A new voice, gruff and deep loaded with sarcasm echoed from the darkness. Merlin refused to panic. He knew his eyes were open but he couldn't see anything. Then he realized there was a familiar fabric covering his eyes, most of his neckerchief was now tied around his eyes.
"Maybe." Merlin growled, forcing annoyance above the pain. He received a sharp blow to the face then someone, presumably the man who had spoken before, grabbed his hair and yanked forcing him to struggle upright or lose the hair that the man was currently attacking. His ribs screamed some more as his legs wobbled. More laughter followed from the faceless bandit.
"Now, boy, you're going to answer a few questions. If you don't answer me, this is what will happen to you to start with." His legs were forced out from under him in one quick sweep and he fell hard. He gasped and curled in on himself slightly in a half thought out attempt to protect his ribs. He was once again yanked up by his hair.
"I don't think you want to know what happens if you stay quiet."The hand in his hair tightened and he nodded. It loosened slightly. After one last tug it released entirely. Still blindfolded Merlin waited, barely standing on trembling legs. He heard wood smack lightly on flesh, probably a club smacking against a hand.
"So then, you are Prince Arthur of Camelot's manservant, is that correct?"
"No, I'm his verbal punching bag." Merlin snarled sarcastically and received a back handed blow to his face.
"Let's try that again. Are you or are you not the prince's manservant?" The hand was back in his hair and yanked so hard he felt hairs being yanked out of his skull. He kept his mouth shut. After a moment his legs were knocked out from under him but the hand did not release, his ribs screamed and he gasped aloud.
"Yes. Yes alright I am, never wanted to be but I am." Another sharp tug at his hair then he was dropped to his knees. They would get no more than that out of him, he swore that to himself. He'd lie if he had to but they would get no more out of him.
"Very good." There was the sound of metal creaking and an exasperated sigh from his tormentor.
"What is it James?! Can't you see I'm talking to our guest?" There was a second voice now, younger than the first.
"Yeah Ellie but Marcus said the lookouts spotted a group of four knights searching the area. They found Keenan's body. He's preparing an ambush." Merlin's heart dropped.
'Damn it Arthur I don't need help.' Once he was he was sure he could escape, but as usual Arthur was going to dive headfirst into trouble.
"Alright then, that sounds fun." The man, Ellie, pulled a kick to Merlin's stomach making him double over and cough violently.
"I'll leave you here in the dark for a while then boy." Merlin could practically hear him smiling. Then the metallic noise sounded again. When silence persisted for a few minutes he flexed his hands experimentally, head questing blindly around. He froze as a chime sounded, then through the blindfold a golden light shone and Merlin held his breath.
"Bird, a bird!" The voice was female and sweet behind the chiming. The light came closer, joined moments later by a second but silver light.
"He is caged, we should…" The second voice, slightly older than the first trailed off as a third light bloomed in front of him, this one was the color of polished brass.
"We can't, you know that! We are just as caged as he is." The third light moved closer and Merlin desperately wished he could see them as a tiny gentle hand, no larger than his thumbnail was placed on his cheek.
"You must help us. You are our freedom." The lights retreated as Merlin heard a struggle nearby. They went out as the metal ground against stone once more and several people entered the room.
"Merlin!"
