Thank you so much once again for all of those lovely reviews and to MerlinStar for being an awesome beta as usual!
Pausing outside his door, Arthur ignored the guard standing before him. He only hoped the man hadn't heard Merlin's pleading cry as Arthur had locked him in. Why he had done it, the prince had no idea; it wasn't as if it would stop Merlin anyway. Breathing in deeply through his nose, Arthur steeled himself, preparing himself for whatever his father wanted this time. He really couldn't be dealing with Uther now as well. The only dilemma he had was whether to tell the king or not Claton was still alive, in a manner of speaking.
Striding through the corridors regally, Arthur made his decision. He would not tell the king. For if he was to explain the manner in which Claton was still alive, he knew the king would have Merlin killed before he could say a word. Holding his head high and trying to hide the guilt he was feeling at leaving Merlin the way he had, Arthur Pendragon burst into the Great Hall with a sense of purpose.
"Father," Arthur stated, announcing his presence to Uther, who was standing at the end of the room, not even turning to acknowledge his son's presence. "I believe you sent for me?"
"Arthur, yes. How is the training of your knights coming along?" Curious as to the sudden interest in the training, Arthur frowned at what he could see of the back of his father's head.
"As well as I could hope for, Sire. Why?"
"Rumours have reached the kingdom. Possibility of a mass sorcerer attack building on the Northern border, but our informants have been unable to give specifics. They have been led to believe something big is about to happen, however. We must be prepared"
Swallowing nervously, Arthur only hoped his father couldn't hear how fast his heart was beating from the other side of the room. Typical. The only time Uther had any sort of idea about something magical, and it coincided with Arthur himself finding out his own manservant was a sorcerer, and by the sounds of it, being possessed too by one who wanted to kill them all.
"Rumours, Sire?" the prince said reluctantly, knowing his father was expecting him to say something. He only hoped his voice hadn't sounded as shaky to Uther as it had done to himself.
"Indeed. I want you to increase their training from tomorrow onwards. We will show these magic users that their tricks are no match for the steel of Camelot. If the rumours can be confirmed, or, for that matter, if they can't, you are to ride out at the end of the week and eliminate this threat once and for all. Dismissed."
"Sire." Bowing his head to the king, regardless of the fact he was facing the other way, Arthur quickly left, suddenly feeling anxious to get back to Merlin. He knew the boy was scared, not only of Claton, but of the prince as well. Of what Arthur was going to do now he had admitted he knew. In a way, Arthur wished he hadn't said anything and that Merlin wasn't going to have told him. Not yet, anyway. Not until Claton was dealt with once and for all. Merlin didn't need the threat of being executed hanging over him whilst trying to fight a sorcerer who wanted him more than dead. The only good thing was, Arthur mused, the corridors flying past as he quickly marched back to his chambers, was that as long as no one was around, Merlin would be able to use magic to fight the twisted man, without having to hide it from the prince as well. Considering Claton's attitude to the pair of them, Arthur couldn't help but think that that might be something that would be extremely helpful.
Pushing the door, Arthur frowned momentarily when the wood refused to move, before realising and pulling the key from the inside of his tunic. Taking a deep breath, the prince turned the key in the lock. Bracing himself, Arthur strode into his room, momentarily stunned when he caught sight of the warlock still sitting on his floor. If he was honest, he had expected Merlin to have fled. If the positions had been reversed, Arthur was not completely sure that he would have stuck around to find out the outcome, especially when it could have meant certain death.
"Sire?" Merlin whispered, his head snapping forward the second he heard the key in the door. The muscle in his cheek clenching, Arthur curtly nodded to his servant, not trusting his voice. He had just lied to his father, the king, for his servant. The servant who was the very thing he had been taught to hate, fear and, ultimately, destroy. Not at all comfortable with having the sorcerer restrained in his own room, Arthur quickly drew his dagger from his belt and crossed over to the bed.
Immediately flinching back as Arthur drew the weapon, Merlin felt himself shrink into the bedpost as the prince advanced on him. With the sudden threat of danger, Merlin felt another presence awaken once more within him, prepared to react to the threat. Somehow, being knocked out had weakened Claton considerably, but the danger advancing meant the sorcerer's self preservation had kick started him back into power.
"No," Merlin suddenly whispered, the fear in his voice causing Arthur to falter. Suddenly, the warlock's eyes flashed gold and the ropes slid off. The moment the restraints had disappeared and Arthur had paused, Claton seemed to fade again. He obviously hadn't regained his strength properly from Arthur's sword, nor Merlin's previous spell.
"Merlin?" Arthur questioned warily. He wasn't sure who he was addressing any more.
"It's fine," Merlin responded, rubbing his wrists as he pulled his legs around him, crossing them in front of him and leaning back once more on the bed post, only slightly more comfortable than before. . "He was trying to come back. I thought if there was no threat it may keep him away a bit longer."
Perching on the edge of the table, Arthur scrutinised the boy carefully. He looked dreadful.
"When was the last time you slept properly, Merlin?" the prince asked softly, not missing how ashamed Merlin suddenly looked. When the boy remained silent, Arthur pressed the matter.
"Not since before the cave."
"Hell, Merlin, why are you back at work?"
"Because I can't take it anymore!" Merlin suddenly yelled, climbing to his feet and crossing the room to glare out of the window, trying to hide the tears pooling in his eyes.
"I haven't escaped him for months! He was the first person I ever attacked using magic, and do you know how that feels? Knowing you possess something that can be used as a lethal weapon? Then came the dreams the first time, night after night of watching you die and knowing I could do nothing about it. And now this? Even before the forest, he was partially back; the nightmares were getting worse. Maybe I'm pathetic, maybe I'm weak, that's why I'm the only one suffering from this, but there comes a time, Arthur, when even I can't take it!"
"You think you are the only one suffering here, Merlin?" Arthur asked; his voice deadly quiet. Was his servant really that naïve not to notice what the prince had also been going through?
"You think you're the only one who has been having the dreams? You saw me leave Gaius' chambers, did he tell you why? Did he tell you how I've been sneaking in for the last few weeks for sleeping draughts so my father doesn't notice I haven't been sleeping due to nightmares?"
"Arthur, I-," Whatever Merlin was going to say, however, was lost as the prince suddenly exploded.
"You're lucky; you can blame it all on Claton. I've been stuck for weeks knowing someone I considered to be a friend is in fact a sorcerer! You've been lying to me ever since we met, Merlin! You say you are protecting me, but from what? Yourself? Having to decide between you and my father? Having to know every second of the day you are the very thing I've been taught to detest, to fear, even."
"I didn't choose this, Arthur!" Merlin suddenly yelled back, a wave of hurt crashing over him. He should have known this was coming; Arthur had been far too calm earlier for the servant to think he had truly accepted what he was. It was just a matter of how badly he reacted. Swallowing slightly, Merlin could not stop his eyes momentarily flickering towards the door.
"You chose not to tell me!" Arthur responded, just as heatedly as he glared at his servant.
"Because you might have killed me!"
"Do you really trust me that little, Merlin?" the prince asked, his voice suddenly dropping as he too turned away slightly from his servant. Never mind Merlin not knowing how he was going to react, Arthur himself didn't know how he was feeling.
"Does the fact that I disobeyed my father and risked my life to come and save you mean nothing?" As Merlin dropped his eyes to the floor, clearly uncertain of how to answer the prince, Arthur felt his torrent of emotions come pouring forth. He had kept this bottled up for weeks; telling himself Merlin was too weak to be able to deal with it, that he had to give the boy time to come to terms with what the pair of them had been put through thanks to Claton. But now, here they were, and judging by the defiant stance the servant was supporting, there was nothing weak about him. Arthur couldn't help but wonder just how much he had underestimated his servant.
When Merlin didn't answer, Arthur felt the hurt drive into him. It was more than clear now how Merlin truly felt, and trust was obviously not something working both ways in their friendship – if he could call it one any longer. Swinging his arm back, Arthur didn't give the warlock a chance to react before his fist went flying, connecting hard with Merlin's cheek and knocking the boy to the floor. Spread eagled at Arthur's feet, Merlin stared up at his master in shock, barely noticing the gloating feeling emanating from Claton as he witnessed the whole spectacle. Looking up at him, Merlin felt his own emotions come forth.
Did the prince honestly believe he had the choice in the matter? Did he not realise how long Merlin had wanted to tell him, only had been too afraid of losing Arthur's friendship? As Arthur bent down, although whether to help him up or hit him again, the warlock was not sure, Merlin felt his eyes flash unexpectedly as the prince went flying, hitting the wall hard. Climbing to his own feet, Merlin hurried forward to try and help him up, but as Arthur flinched away, the warlock suddenly realised what Arthur already knew. That hadn't been Claton; that had all been down to Merlin. A small cry of horror escaping from him, Merlin did the only thing he could think of. He ran.
Pelting at full speed down the corridor, Merlin barely noticed as Claton suddenly took back over, causing him to change direction abruptly and shoot off down a different passageway altogether.
"That went well," the sorcerer began conversationally as the pair burst into the cave yet again. His hands on his knees, Merlin bent over, gasping for breath. He couldn't believe he had used magic on Arthur for no other reason than to get him back for hitting him. As Claton made another mocking comment, Merlin came to a decision. If this was the way things were going to be with the prince from now on, he could at least rid him of the problem of Claton.
"You have three seconds to get out of my head, before I make you." The menacing tone in the warlock's voice made Claton pause and actually listen to what he was saying. As quick as Merlin tried to stop him from seeing the thought that flickered momentarily out of his control, he wasn't quick enough.
"Oh no you don't." Casting a quick spell, Merlin felt himself fall over. Landing with a thud, the warlock made to stand again, but found to his absolute horror he couldn't move.
"What have you done?"
"I didn't go through all of this so you could kill yourself. You may feel like you have nothing left to live for, boy, but I, on the other hand. Let's just say I need you a little longer. After that, feel free. Oh, and Merlin? Your magic only will work for me, so don't bother trying to counteract the spell either."
Ignoring what Claton said, Merlin frantically tried to summon his magic to help him, but soon realised Claton was telling the truth. For the first time since Claton had returned, the young warlock was truly terrified. And judging by the smugness he could feel spiralling up from his soul, Claton knew. He also seemed aware that Merlin's thoughts about ridding himself of Claton at the cost of his own life had not been serious, but that the warlock had been so caught up in desperation about what he could do to try and set things right; he was thinking anything and everything. No matter what happened, he knew he still had to protect his destiny, even if Arthur hated him. And for that to happen, he needed to be alive.
"Let me go," Merlin begged, desperately trying to feel his toes again. To his surprise, Claton gave him the answer he wanted.
"It's about time I made my proper come back. And as the prince won't be looking for you for a while considering your dear parting, I reckon now is as good a time as any."
Rising Merlin to his feet, Claton somehow managed to both keep the boy paralysed and control his movements at the same time.
"This is where you come into it, Merlin." Beginning to chant in a deep voice, Merlin shuddered as he felt his magic roar into life, completely out of his control. Mixing with Claton's own magic, the sorcerer continued to chant, seemingly not noticing the violent shivering coming from his host. As a trickle of blood crept out of Merlin's nose, Claton stopped. With a final command, he tore himself free.
With an agonising scream, Merlin felt the burn on his chest erupt in an inferno of pain as Claton separated the two of them. Falling to his knees, the warlock was only vaguely aware he had control of his body again before a dark shape began to materialise in front of him. Struggling to stay conscious, Merlin peered blearily up at the figure in front of him.
"No," he whispered hoarsely, trying to ignore the spinning of the cave. Raising his hand, the warlock muttered the first spell that came into his head. Ignoring the darkness beginning to take hold, Merlin could only watch as Claton casually deflected the spell with an ease Merlin knew was new for the man.
"Thanks for the power up." Claton smirked down at the weakened boy at his feet. He had not only taken himself out of Merlin, but captured some of the very essence that was the boy. Merlin's incredible raw talent, whilst still in the young warlock's possession, was now also Claton's own. Barking a short command, the sorcerer swirled his hand in the air and four identical blue bands appeared out of nothingness.
Realising in an instant what they were, Merlin tried to scramble backwards, knowing his magic wasn't strong enough to go against Claton, not considering the state the last spell had left him in. It was as if he could physically feel part of him disappearing into Claton. Leering down at the frantic boy, Claton merely uttered another command, and the bands momentarily disappeared. Instead of relaxing, Merlin immediately tensed, but was still not prepared when they suddenly re-emerged, wrapping themselves securely around his wrists and ankles.
"I'm sure you recognise them, don't you Merlin?" Claton began mockingly, sneering in a callous delight as Merlin tried to frantically pull the bands apart, but to no avail. "Anti-magic, dear oh dear. Now, it's far too dangerous for a warlock to simply go wondering around Camelot. We'd better make sure you don't go anywhere."
As Merlin watched on in fear, Claton let the magic pour from him, allowing the sorcerer to remember what it felt like to be truly alive. For just a second, a wall seemed to shimmer into existence over the opening of the cave before disappearing just as quickly. Merlin wasn't fooled though; he knew what the twisted man had done. A barrier to stop him from leaving the cave. Striding through the opening, Claton paused, smirking with satisfaction as he witnessed the look of pure hopelessness on Merlin's face.
"Not that anyone would find you here, but just in case…" Muttering something under his breath, Merlin unconsciously held his own as the rocks lining the top of the cave shuddered and glowed momentarily, but then fell still again. Without another word, the sorcerer strode confidently out of the cave, eager for the real action to begin. He had no need to kill Merlin; no one would find him down there and the boy couldn't use magic, nor leave. Far more satisfying to leave him there and know he had returned, than to end the boy's suffering by the quick escape of death.