AN: The hurt/comfort part will come later. Right now is the angst and conflict. Shit will be going down.
Cold. That's all Merlin could think as he stared into the eyes of the man he had spent years serving. The man at one very long point in his life he would have easily laid down his life for, who he might still lay down his life for, no matter how fucked up that sounded.
Cold was all he got from Arthur as he stood in front of Merlin with a scowl that seemed to be his permanent mask- the only face Merlin recognized now.
Something was off about Arthur this time. He did not have any new toys with him, or people with any 'special' strengths. He came empty handed today, and that made Merlin feel uneasy. He knew it either meant his immediate demise, which would probably be at the pyre, or something like the King getting his dollop head out of his arse and apologizing for the torment he had put Merlin though.
The only noise being made in the cell was Merlin's wheezing, and the longer he waited the angrier he got.
"Well," Merlin huffed-which was a big accomplishment for him in his current state, "What new adventure are we going on today Arthur?" he questioned, sarcasm and fear audible in his tone.
"When will you learn, you useless...no good...piece of filth!" Arther nearly spat out, each phrase punctuated with an agonizing punch to Merlin's already beaten abdomen. All Merlin could do was hang there and take it, spitting up what tasted like blood after the assault was finished. "It is for anyone without status, especially not sorcerers, to call their King by their name, like they mean enough to be close to royalty." he finished with a glare.
"Alright, Your Highness" Merlin hissed, "What do you have in store for me today? More knife play, hmm? or has that gotten old? More magic leeching? or has me no longer screaming taken all the fun away?" he was practically screaming now, even though it took incredible effort on his part.
He thought he saw the briefest of emotions cross Arthur's face as he said all of this, but knew it was probably just a trick of his mind. The truth was not his face was even harder as he squared his shoulders and reached into his tunic, while circling Merlin and ending behind him where he could not see what was about to be done to him.
When he heard Arthur's movement he automatically squinted his eyes and bit his tongue so as not to scream, but was surprised when the only thing that happened was he fell to the floor in a way that would have been comical at one point in the boys' relationship with the King. Now though, it was painful and infuriating. All Merlin could do was stay slumped over on the floor and try to regain his strength as he also tried to figure what this could possibly mean.
"You, Sorcerer," Arthur said the word like it the dirties, foul thing he could ever say "are due for your trial where you will be sentenced to...something" Arthur said, like he did not really know what was to happen to Merlin, like he had not fully decided how he wanted Merlin to pay further for something he had no control over, for something that had saved his life, his father's life, his kingdoms future countless times.
"Guards!" Arthur yelled as he walked past Merlin as he still stay slumped over on the floor, gaping and clenching his fists.
AN: so this isn't as long as I had hoped and it definitely came a lot later than I expected, but I hope you all like and review. Hope to update soon.
He would not die today, not by the hands of Arthur or anyone else who tried.