Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, I've been like SWAMPED with homework ... but i dunno if that's really an excuse! any way, here is the next installement :)

p.s. THANKS to everyone who ALERTED/FAVOURITED/REVIEWED!

Save Me

Chapter Three

Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars

Khalil Gibran

Merlin lifted his shirt to glance down at his chest. He was relieved to find that the wound wasn't very deep; it appeared superficial. Already the blood was dried against his chest, staining the skin pink. Only a couple drops were still trailing down his chest. Though it hurt, he could deal with the pain until they reached wherever Nigel was taking them.

With a sigh he dropped his shirt and resumed looking around. They were now passing through a thinner forest, but with larger trees. The ground was soft with moss and a thick layer of brown leaves, for which Merlin was glad; the bumpy ride of the wagon had made his muscles stiff and his wrists raw from the rope.

Merlin shifted in the wagon for what seemed like the third time in two minutes. The rough blanket he was lying on irritated his skin and whatever was underneath the blanket was not soft. Shifting once more, a rusty nail rolled out. Merlin quickly grabbed it and hid it in his hand before anyone could see. It was perfect to use to cut through Arthur's ropes without having to worry about him seeing magic.

Merlin glanced around once more and an idea struck him. He made sure Arthur wasn't paying attention (Arthur was currently glaring at Nigel – Merlin was really tempted to inform him that he face would stay that way if he didn't change it) and then turned lowering his eyes.

A few muttered words in the language of the Old Religion, his eyes turned gold, and then a tree came crashing down. The horses started panicking; they were rearing up and trying to run away. Loud whinnies mingled with the shouts of surprise and fear.

Two more trees swiftly followed and crashed down along the path, immediately killing those who were not fast enough to move.

Merlin's smirk slid of his face and his eyes widened as a horse started bucking and kicked out towards Arthur, who couldn't react in time.

Time slowed and with a flash of gold in his eyes, Arthur was yanked towards Merlin, and the horse kicked empty air.

"Merlin!" Arthur gasped in surprise. "How did you-?"

Merlin shook his head and knew his face was as white as Arthur's. He could not believe his actions had almost killed, or at least severely injure, Arthur. He felt around for the rusty nail that he had lost when Arthur had been pulled into him.

"I guess my instincts are sharper than you think," Merlin grinned, trying to regain normalcy.

Arthur snorted. "Yeah, as sharp as a wooden training sword."

Merlin rolled his eyes in attempt to hide his panic when he could not find the nail. He had almost killed Arthur for nothing.

The distraction ended up costing them, because Dominic rode over on his surprisingly calm horse to check on the prisoners.

Nigel was riding in silence, preferring to be alone as the sun sank lower in the sky. He was enjoying himself immensely, thinking of his wife and son, when a creaking noise caught his attention. He cocked his head to the side, listening intently.

His horse reared suddenly and screamed in fright, and he was almost thrown from it when a tree came crashing down. Two more fell down simultaneously.

There was a silence, and then horse began screaming and his men shouted in confusion and disorientation.

"What happened?"

"What the hell?"

"Nigel, what do we do?"

Nigel shook his head in confusion, noticing that the trees seemed to have been sliced cleanly in half. But it didn't make sense; the trunks were huge.

He opened his mouth to call Dominic over when he finally noticed them.

"Emrys … Emrys … Emrys …"

Men, women, and children were slowly walking out from the trees and surrounding Nigel's men. They were dressed in long, ragged cloaks the colours of the forest. They appeared to be some kind of tribe, and Nigel was immediately wary.

They formed a loose barrier around the front of Nigel and his men, and kept murmuring a name.

"Emrys … Emrys …"

"Who the hell are you?" Nigel demanded. He could see that his men were uneasy by the way they feel silent. Even the horses were quiet. "Declare yourselves! Who's your leader?"

A man with shaggy, grey hair and a long blue robe stepped forward. "My name is Iseldir. It is I who wishes to speak to you."

Nigel sized him up. Iseldir wasn't big or tall, and he looked older; his eyes held wisdom. But Nigel was still on guard, especially because the damn tribe kept murmuring a name.

"Emrys … Emrys …"

"Can I help you?" Nigel asked in a tone that implied that he wasn't really offering.

"Not exactly," Iseldir stared at Nigel, who cursed as he looked away. A creepy old guy just stared me down. What the hell?

"Well then, will you let us go by?" Nigel attempted politeness, but it was cold.

"I have a message for you," Iseldir took another step forward, and Nigel resisted the urge to make his horse back up. "You have imprisoned Emrys."

What? Nigel looked at Iseldir blankly.

"Hey Dominic?" Nigel called back, still staring at Iseldir.

"Yes?"

"Do we have someone named Emrys?" Nigel questioned. He had never even heard that name.

"No," Dominic sounded confused. "We've never had an Emrys in the ten years I've been here."

Nigel nodded. "That's what I thought. See Iseldir? No Emrys. You got the wrong guys. Well, we'll just be on our way. Bye-bye now."

Iseldir and his tribe did not move.

"You have imprisoned Emrys, and it will be your downfall," Iseldir continued, ignoring Nigel.

Nigel clenched his fists. What the hell was this Iseldir on about?

"Emrys is more powerful than you can even begin to comprehend. He is your prisoner because he chooses to be, not because you have made him. At any moment he could destroy your people with a flick of his hand." Iseldir stared straight into Nigel's eyes, who felt like the man was looking into his very being.

"Then why doesn't he try? He too scared?" Nigel smirked.

"No," Iseldir shook his head. "Emrys chooses to be your prisoner to protect others. But when you try to break him … that will be your downfall. Because Emrys understands that he cannot leave until you attempt to break him. It will be a terrible thing for him to endure, but it must be done. He must learn suffering and pain to be able to do all he can in future to end it."

At this point Nigel decided he had enough. He drew his weapon. "Get the hell out of the way before I make you!"

Iseldir searched his face. "I hope you understand."

Nigel roared and kicked his horse into motion. But it seemed that the tribe had disappeared into think air.

Merlin watched as Iseldir and his fellow druids disappeared.

"I understand," he whispered.

I wish you luck, Emrys, Iseldir thought back.

It was evening when they finally arrived at Nigel's castle. It was old, with crumbling stone, and unkempt, with a general dirtiness and stench that surrounded the place. It was a smaller castle, but built strategically, with a defensive outer wall, and the inner castle pushed far back. Unlike Camelot, the courtyard was almost completely empty, except for some guards dressed in black who lingered around the doors.

Arthur looked around warily, making sure to note everything he could about the castle for his and Merlin's inevitable escape. He was going to make sure they got out of here.

The group of men moved over the drawbridge into the courtyard. The wind blew harshly, making dead leaves and dirt swirl around.

"Dad!"

Arthur turned sharply to see a young boy of about six running from the doors of the inner castle. He looked almost identical to Nigel, with coarse black haird and glittery black eyes. He even had the same stocky build. Nigel slid down from his horse and kneeled to greet the boy.

"Tommy!" Nigel hugged him tightly, petting his hair slightly, before standing up while still holding Thomas. A woman smiled warmly to greet Nigel, and Nigel opened his arms to her as well, so that the family was reunited.

Nigel set Thomas down gently, and then stepped closer to the woman. "Alice, it has been too long."

Alice smiled. "Well, I can forgive you if you have brought back some entertainment. I have grown bored."

Nigel laughed. "Of course I did, my love."

Arthur stared. From the moment he first saw her, he knew that she was just as crazy as Nigel. Her dark hair was twisted this way and that and her clothes were ripped and unkempt, like the rest of the castle. She had tanned skin and black eyes, like the rest of the people who lived in Andsaca.

Arthur noticed another woman, who seemed to be a couple years younger than Nigel, about Dominc's age with a young boy about Thomas's age walking slowly towards Nigel.

"Nigel, I hope you are well?" the woman contrasted the Andsaca people completely. The people of Andsaca were known for their dark features; black hair and eyes, and tanned skin. This woman, however, had blond hair the colour of the sun that fell in curls, and light, clear blue eyes.

Nigel didn't seem to be as happy to see this woman.

"Father," the other boy, who also appeared to be about six stood respectfully before Nigel. This boys had black hair like Nigel, but that was where the similarities ended. His skin was pale like his mother's and he had the same blue eyes. He was also taller than Thomas and leaner. Arthur gaped slightly at the similarities between Merlin's features and the young boy's.

Nigel did not hug this boy, instead narrowed his eyes in greeting.

"Sebastian, did you finish the list of tasks I gave you before I left?"

Sebastian noticeably swallowed, but steeled himself and opened his mouth to answer.

"No he didn't Dad!" Thomas laughed out loud and stepped up to his father's side, looking up at Nigel with adoring eyes. "I made sure to keep an eye on him like you told me, and he didn't finish! He's lazy and weak, just like you said!"

Sebastian gazed up at Nigel with obvious fear. "No, father, that's not what happened! I tried to get it all done! I really did! I couldn't finish because Thomas gave me more chores to do-"

"How dare you blame Thomas!" Nigel suddenly roared, looking quite deranged.

"No, Nigel, please, don't blame Sebastian! He really tried to finish!" The other woman intervened, and she pulled Sebastian to her.

Arthur knew what was going to happen before it did, and he flinched when a resounding smack! echoed across the courtyard.

Out of the corner of his eye, Arthur noticed how Dominic took a step forward and tightened his fists. He looked almost… furious. Strange.

"Don't tell me what to do Rose." Nigel was breathing a little heavily while his voice was suddenly deathly calm. "You may be my first wife, but all you will ever be to me is a servant. You are a disgrace to the people of Andsaca."

Rose did not move from her position in front of Sebastian, but instead looked Nigel straight on, despite her much shorter height. Her cheek turning red, she was still quite a sight, staring defiantly at Nigel.

"Sebastian will complete his tasks. You will hear no more complaints from us."

Merlin followed quickly behind Arthur as Dominic led the prisoners through the cells. From what he could see, each cell was actually larger than normal, with six wooden beds pressed side-by-side against the back wall. There were six small, barred windows near the ceiling above each bed, shedding light into the cell. The floors were mostly bare, but he could see straw and dirt littered the floor. The doors were made of thick metal; the bottom half was completely covered, whereas the top half had thick metal bars. Merlin assumed it was so the guards could quickly walk by and check on each cell.

Peter, from the wagon, was screaming at the guards to let him go; that he would say nothing about Nigel. The guards ignored him, and Dominic instructed them to put him in cell 5. Peter was fighting against them, crying, so one of the guards grinned before punching him across the face. Peter quieted and blinked blearily, before the guard hauled him up and threw him into cell 5.

Merlin winced at the violence and moved subtly closer to Arthur, though staying half hidden by Arthur's bigger frame. Arthur noticed Merlin's movements and shifted to cover more of Merlin from Dominic's view.

Dominic assessed the two of them almost appraisingly, and then continued on down the corridor. Arthur swiftly followed and Merlin hurried to catch up, subconsciously staying as close to Arthur as possible.

"Cell 9," Dominic stated, pulling open a door with a large 9 over the top.

Arthur stopped without warning, and Merlin walked into him. Arthur didn't look back at him, so Merlin glanced between Arthur and Dominic. It seemed as if the two of them were having a battle of wills.

"You must get some rest," Dominic said quietly. He pulled out a small bag. "Here are some bandages and water, and whatever else I could think of to help with Merlin's injury."

Arthur didn't move, so Merlin nudged him. This time Arthur noticed and glared slightly at Merlin for the almost order-like way Merlin made him fetch the bag.

Merlin grinned innocently.

Arthur took the bag from Dominic and then stepped into the room. Merlin immediately noticed three other men seated in the far corner.

"You tell Nigel," Merlin heard Arthur say, "You tell him that if it's a fight he wants, it's a fight he'll get."

A/N: please review! I really want to know what you think!