Wicked
Merlin had fallen. He must have... That shout... But Merlin couldn't fall, he never did. He'd get up now and all would be well.
Please.
They'd taken them by surprise, taken him by surprise. He'd suddenly heard a startled, pained shout where Merlin had been collecting firewood and scant moments later there they had been. The cowardly bandits had flooded the little clearing. He was surrounded and outnumbered in such degree, he didn't even fight. What was the point anyway? Merlin was dead and he would be captured or killed if he fought or not. Anyway, it would prove his incapability to be the King Camelot deserve. He just hoped his death would be swift.
Then the sound of a struggle come from the very same bushes Merlin's shout had come from. Arthur, who had been tied up and on his knees before the leader, surged up: 'Merlin!' Merlin was being dragged towards Arthur and thrown down next to him, but he wasn't bound. The obvious head wound and severe concussion might have something to do with that. But he was alive. He was alive and even conscious enough to look Arthur straight in the eye, thank the gods. Or not, as Arthur heard the filth surrounding them laugh and make rude comments about using Merlin. It showed how gone Merlin was that he didn't even seem worried about it, but just continued checking his king for wounds with pain-filled, hazy eyes. Arthur, however, became enraged and struggled against his bonds. That earned him a hard slap, but he didn't care about that. Arthur would rather give his life than let those thugs touch his Merlin like that. Oh, his Merlin. If only he knew he were.
'Can we have the boy, boss?' one of the more daring maggots asked and he shot Merlin a look Arthur would gladly run him trough for. 'No!' he shouted panicked, as he saw the boss give Merlin an appreciative look himself. There was no denying Merlin's handsomeness, Arthur himself had fallen for it after all. If Arthur, used as he was to beautiful things, admired Merlin, then surely he must look like an angel to these low-lives. Not that Merlin wasn't an angel, though to Arthur he was more than a body with good looks. He was his best friend, his love, his guardian angel- the one who held the key to his heart without suspecting it but also without ever letting go. Sweet, beautiful, oblivious Merlin. His, if Arthur had any say in it. But he hadn't. The kingdom did, however, and marrying a maid had been controversial enough. He'd taken her as his wife because her love was as unreachable as his, and they often shared their pain. She was a friend who would never plot against him and always stood by his side. She was the closest he could get to marrying Merlin. His jealousy of Gwen's betrayal wasn't because of Lancelot. It was because she'd gotten her true love and he hadn't. The jealousy had forced him to do irrational things. And still Merlin supported him, forgiving him for his foolishness. He was so good. No-one deserved what the leering bandits were planning, but least of all his Merlin. So Arthur begged.
'No, please. I'll do anything, just don't hurt him!'
'Very well' the leader said, now throwing speculative glances between the two of them, 'We will leave your manservant alone. You will not struggle, or fight, or bother us. You will receive your punishment without objecting. Swear it on your Knight's code of honour. Monsters you may be, but you never break your oaths. Even if you try to, you can't. We'll enhance your oath with magic- you'll be in pain should you break it. We of course, will promise you what you wish'. This little speech enlightened Arthur incredibly. First of all, they weren't just bandits. They were magical. Only magical people spoke of him like that. Secondly, they weren't worried he would get away. Which meant they were powerful. Thirdly, he would be tortured. No question about that. He would be tortured and eventually killed and the only thing he could do was choose between Merlin or his pride and life. Which was no choice at all, really.
Looking at his Merlin, he pledged immediately:
'I, Arthur Pendragon of Camelot, son of Uther, King of Camelot, swear on my Knight's honour that I will not struggle or do anything but be subservient to you during your torture of me, as long as you leave Merlin of Ealdor, son of Hunith, alone.' All of the bandits were so surprised he'd chosen a person over his pride ( probably going against their prejudices of him) their mouths hung open, and the leader had nearly forgotten to agree and return the oath with magic in his shock. Beside him, Merlin made a distressed and angry sound: 'Arthur' he groaned, 'you shouldn't-'
'Well, I did. What's my pride worth, anyway, compared to you? They'll kill me anyway. Merlin...' These were Arthur's last moments with his love, and he was barely conscious because of blood-loss and a concussion ( Arthur really hoped Merlin wouldn't get lost and collapse or something on his way back to Camelot. But he probably wouldn't, because it was Merlin, and Merlin just had incredibly good luck when the situations were dire). Still, he would make his confession. He leaned his bound body towards Merlin and Merlin reached out to him and cupped his jaw. Arthur couldn't stifle the onslaught of hope blossom in his chest. What if his love was reciprocated? If he knew it was, he could die at least a little bit less miserable. He turned his cheek into the warmth of Merlin's trembling hand. With a relatively clear voice, Merlin said: 'You shouldn't, because it's not going to happen' and with an amazing effort, he sat up and kissed his forehead. 'You'll hate me for it, but I'll save you, Arthur, I will. No-one hurts the ones I love. Just wait'.
Merlin laid back down, unable to support his body weight any longer. Arthur was very happy and very confused about Merlin's actions. Merlin hadn't exactly kissed him on the mouth, but he had said Arthur was someone he loved. And why did he sound so certain about Arthur's fate? 'I'll find you' Merlin said and his hand fell down too in exhaustion.
'Oh, I see! You boys are together!', the leader suddenly yelled, 'Well, I'm sorry to split up the lovely couple. Boras, Kashall, tie him to that tree there.' And he pointed from Merlin to a nearby tree. The two did as told. 'I'll take care of the king' he continued, and with a pull of magic, Arthur was up. Both Arthur and Merlin struggled ( Merlin somehow succeeding in throwing off the two dragging him multiple times, despite his wounds) and shouted each other's names. Furious, Arthur yelled at the leader: ' You promised you'd leave him alone!' 'We are', the leader said,' We're leaving him alone, wounded, in the woods.' 'Why?!' Arthur shouted, anguished at the idea of Merlin dying such a death. 'Because he loves you and he supports you. He is more to you than just a servant. Two birds with one stone: kill someone who deserves it because he supports your rule, and torture you mentally at the same time. He has given us a way to torture you even more.' The leader looked at Merlin and mock-bowed to him: 'Thank you'.
'I will make you pay.' Merlin was getting weaker by the second, but he said it with a voice and a glare filled with so much intimidating authority and such intense hatred, Arthur felt shivers creep down his spine. 'If you hurt him, I will make you pay when I find him. Because I will. I always do.' Arthur could tell the bandits were becoming uncomfortable. ' You,' said the tense leader and he pointed towards a third bandit, ' Do something to worsen his death. Keep him bleeding or starve him, but just-', he waved his hand, ' make it a bad one. No one messes with us!'
The bandit murmured something and Merlin nearly collapsed in the strong ropes holding him with a shout. Still, he was stubbornly hanging on to consciousness as he watched the group assemble to leave. 'Merlin, I-' Arthur shouted as the leader summoned an unearthly wind to make the band disappear. When they appeared again, they were in an abandoned fortress, but Arthur didn't care.
Because Merlin would die a horrible death because of him, because they would never see each other again, because Arthur was at the mercy of bloodthirsty sorcerers without Merlin there to give him strength. Because he would never know why Merlin had said and done what he had and because Merlin would never know the end of his sentence. '-love you.' Arthur whispered and sobbed, unashamedly. He was lost. So, so lost.