Nightmares In Camelot/Living Nightmares

Chapter 4: Fallen Prey

AN: Sorry, sorry sorry, this is late! I'm so sorry! But coursework is coming in heaps at the moment and I find it hard to write! But here! I actually wrote this watching Nightmare on Elm Street. I'm so sorry it's late. I'm trying to finish it. I really am. I hate leaving things undone.

MERLIN

"Y-You promised." Merlin's voice wavered when he woke up. Arthur winced, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm so sorry, Merlin. I-I'm sorry." The prince rambled over and over again as he begun to clean the new wounds. "I didn't know; I'm so sorry."

"I-I trusted you; I t-trusted your words." Merlin said, half conscious, fighting the losing battle.

"Merlin, stay awake please. Don't fall asleep, you can't." Arthur pleaded.

"Now you tell me." Merlin muttered.

"Yes, now I do. Just wait until Gaius comes back, alright?" The prince said. Merlin nodded, but only just.

ARTHUR

Gaius had seen Merlin not long ago. He had rewrapped the bandages of the wounds and tended to the new ones. Arthur was tired now, but he had promised Merlin that he would stay next to him, to make sure he didn't fall asleep. He couldn't break another promise. Not another.

So Arthur sat there, in a chair next to Merlin's bed. It had not been long since he had eaten; a plate of chicken surrounded in coloured vegetables. He didn't eat much; he was feeling too guilty to eat. A plate of food had been left for Merlin, and Arthur had to order the servant to leave it for the wounded man. Now, all Arthur wanted to do was sleep. But he wouldn't…not without breaking the…

"Arthur." An old, tired voice spoke out, making Arthur jump out of his skin. He looked up at Gaius, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"Gaius, I was…watching Merlin to make…" Arthur trailed off, looking up at Gaius.

"And you were about to fall asleep. Go to your room, sire. Get some sleep. I will tell Merlin the king had ordered you to sleep." Gaius smiled.

"No. I can't. I can't without breaking a promise. I promised Merlin I wouldn't leave him." Arthur said, but his speech was beginning to get slurred.

"You won't be leaving him. Go to bed. He'll understand. You can come back tomorrow." Gaius said, helping Arthur up. Arthur nodded and made his way out of the door.

ARTHUR

…One, two, Freddie's coming for you,
Three, four, better lock the door,
Five, six, grab a crucifix,
Seven, eight, better stay up late,
Nine, ten never sleep again…

It was all silent. Nothing moved, nothing breathed. The air was still, the wind didn't howl, the leaves didn't crunch. Arthur felt like he was floating. He felt light, and the ground looked ridiculously too far away, but he stood on the soft soil. Something was wrong. It was like waiting for the thunderstorm to roll in.

Then suddenly, the beautiful scene vanished, replacing it with a room. The room walls were dirty and damp, dripping with slime and water. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip.

Drop.

The sound of metal and steel clashed together, sounding as if the maker of the noise was far away. But with every clang of metal, after every drop of water, the clanging noise became closer.

Became louder.

His breath quickened. It sped up and his heart beat ached for a rest. Had he been running? His mind was full of terror, but nothing happened. No one was after him.

Then quite suddenly, the walls tore open, spitting out long, thin steel poles. They came straight towards him. Arthur yelled in fright, in shock and began to run, despite his heart's protests. He tried to run faster but there was nowhere to go. The room had no door. Then the steel poles grabbed him. They wrapped around his wrists and around his ankles, cutting off the circulation of his blood. They tightened, and Arthur was expecting his wrists and his ankles to break under the pressure, but they yanked him back like a yoyo, slamming him into the wall. The air was knocked out of him and the metal poles began to draw blood. Lots of blood.

Then a man appeared. His skin was burnt and he carried blades in his fingertips. He had to be a sorcerer. No man could ever do that.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Prince Arthur." His old, strange voice said plainly.

"Who are you?" Arthur stated, his vision turning red.

"I'm your worst nightmare." The man laughed. Then the prince's world was turned upside down.

MERLIN

Merlin writhed in his sheets on the bed. Something wasn't right. Arthur was gone and he could feel something wasn't right. Something wasn't right. That's why he needed to get to Arthur.

So very carefully Merlin got up, trying not to whimper as his body screamed in protest. He walked unsteadily out of the physicians chambers and up the route he would normally go to get to Arthur's chambers. He was just about there, and that's when he heard the faint scream.

Arthur's scream.

Merlin began to run. He couldn't let Arthur die because he wasn't there. He felt his wounds begin to reopen and he couldn't help the loud whimper that escaped him. Charging into the prince's chambers, he found Arthur writhing in his bed, his hands and legs limp and coating his arms and his legs. But that wasn't all. Arthur was struggling for breath. Merlin wasted no time, running over to Arthur and nearly falling over in white hot agony.

"Arthur!" Merlin said as he began to try and rouse the prince. "Wake up!" Merlin said, trying to find a way of wakening his friend up without hurting him.

"Arthur, please!" Merlin cried out, he couldn't keep his façade much longer. He was tired and he was in pain. The Arthur screamed. His eyes flew open and his breathing came in short, quick pants. At the same time, the doors flew open to find two guards, a worried physician and an outraged King. Merlin sighed and slid down so he was slouched against the bed, sitting on the floor in the most painful position.

"What on earth is happening?" The King asked into the all- to- silent room.

"F-F-Fred-die. F-Freddie Cruger…" Merlin whispered before passing out.