Title: Dark Magic

Authors: Cassy27
Words: 1163
Characters: Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, oc's
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of Merlin, sadly enough!
Spoilers: No spoilers in this post

Beta: Fantasyy-Freak, thanks!

This story takes place somewhere in season 1

Chapter 4

Not trusting anything or anyone in this situation, Arthur decided that he needed to check up on Merlin as he was starting to doubt that his servant was alright. Maybe that older man was right and if Arthur hadn't done anything to help him, he knew he would feel guilty for the rest of his life. It was his fault that Merlin had gotten shot with that arrow as Arthur had been the one that should have been hit.

He thought it stupid though that he was checking up on Merlin as it wasn't his task to do this. Merlin should be able to take care of himself and if he wasn't, there was still Gaius or Guinevere.

And then the words of that old man entered his mind again. Merlin needed saving. It appeared as if he was speaking the truth and Arthur sensed that this man also knew more. That was the only reason he hadn't arrested him yet or killed him.

"Arthur?"

Arthur, who had been deep in his thoughts, quickly turned around to see Guinevere standing behind him. Worry was written all over her face and Arthur immediately knew that she had probably heard the news from Morgana.

"Is everybody alright?" Gwen asked.

"Don't worry," Arthur said, "everything will be okay." He didn't know why he didn't tell Guinevere about Merlin. Maybe, somewhere in his mind, there was still doubt about the words of that older man. What if Merlin was alright and Arthur had worried everybody without a good reason?

"I need to go," Arthur then said, needing to know the truth as quickly as possible now, no longer wanting to doubt everything that was happening, "I need to speak to Merlin."

"Of course," Gwen smiled.

Arthur nodded his head as a goodbye and then walked towards Merlin's chambers, leaving Guinevere behind him, knowing that worry was still very visible in her eyes and possibly in his.

"Merlin?" Arthur called out when he entered the first chamber. He had been here a thousand times, but still, every time he entered this place, his curiosity was coming to life. Herbs and flowers covered the table and medicine in all sort of colours stood neatly in a row on a shelf, ready to be delivered to whoever needed them.

Books looking old lay all around the room, but Arthur fought the urge to go and take a look in them. He had more important things to do right now.

"Merlin?" he called out again.

Arthur crossed the first room in only a second and now stood in front of the door that would lead him into Merlin's room. After knocking on it, he didn't hesitate to enter. As he had expected, Merlin lay asleep on his bed, his arms crossed in front of his chest and his knees pulled up, making him appear small and fragile. His eyes were moving rapidly even though they were closed, telling Arthur that he was having a dream.

Being surrounded by darkness again, Merlin didn't feel scared. He tried to let his eyes adjust, but it was simply too dark. He knew he was dreaming he knew that none of this was real, but he still couldn't wake up as it felt like something or someone was pulling him down and keeping him here.

Taking in a deep breath, Merlin focused on the one thing that was certain in his life, on the one thing that would never abandon him, not even in his dreams. Magic would even help him through his darkest nightmares, Merlin was sure of it.

Murmuring a spell, a bright, silver light appeared in the palm of Merlin's hand, casting a faint glow throughout the whole room. But the word room didn't quiet apply here. There were no walls that became visible, no ceiling and no doors. Only a black stone floor and nothing more.

Slowly turning around to see if there was truly nothing around him, Merlin raised his hand with the silver ball of light to cast the light further away from him.

In the distance, a man appeared. Merlin's heart skipped beat. He lost his focus and all the light disappeared. He hadn't concentrated enough on holding on to his magic and now the silver ball had vanished.

Repeating the previous incantation, Merlin felt the magic well up in his chest again, resulting in a silver ball again. The man he had previously seen now stood closer by; close enough for Merlin to be able to recognise him as the one that had attacked them in the woods.

"You're him," Merlin said, not caring that the man could see him using magic, "you are the sorcerer from the forest."

"It appears that I am not the only sorcerer who was there," the man grinned, pointing to the ball of light in Merlin's hand currently. Merlin followed his gaze, but he didn't care that he betrayed himself. Surely he would never reveal his secret to another soul? Merlin couldn't help but swallow as he could never be sure of that. What he was sure about was that this, him talking to that man was real and not a dream somehow.

"You poisoned me," Merlin said, knowing that the nightmare he was now living was his fault.

"I did," the man said, seeming to be apologizing even, but it didn't last long as a twinkle appeared in the man's eyes, "but it wasn't meant for you, it was meant for a prince and not for a sorcerer."

"What's the difference?" Merlin asked, trying to find out as much as possible while the man seemed in a talking mood.

"The blood is different," the man answered, "it will have a different effect on you than it would have had on Prince Arthur."

Merlin watched a grin appear on the man's face and all he could think about was that it was about time that he would wake up. The more time he spent with this man, the more he knew for certain that this man had been consumed with grieve and hate and that he was now dangerous.

"For one," the man continued, "it won't kill you."

Merlin swallowed again as he knew this couldn't mean good news for him.

"What it will do is change you," the man now took a few steps closer towards Merlin who didn't dare moving, not knowing what the man was up to now, "and I won't have to kill Arthur anymore."

Merlin frowned. He didn't understand why the man would say this. Killing Arthur had been his main goal all this time so why would he now suddenly give up on that.

"You will kill him for me."

The man laughed loudly, a laugh that filled Merlin with fear as he now desperately wished for him to wake up.

AN: A little later than expected, but here it was, the next chapter. I hope you liked it and I will try and post the next chapter sooner than last time! In the mean time, let me know what you thought about it...