AN: Hello... Hello... Is anyone still there? Sorry about the huge break. But I has excuses! And they are actually kind of good for everyone involved.

1. The wonderful starwater13 has volunteered to be my betareader! Do you know what that means? This chapter was edited! HA! So we had a little bit of a time working out how to get in contact and make this work, but we eventually did, and now this fic will be so much better!

2. Somehow chapter fourteen got lost on the way to starwater13, so as they were busy editing chapter 15, I had no idea they didn't have the one that needed to be posted next... So things got confusing, but now I have an edited chapter 15 as well, so that one should go up in the next couple of days! And I will be sending starwater13 chapter sixteen either late tonight or early tomorrow, so then we will go back to being a few chapters ahead, and I will be able to update whenever I feel like it, which will mean quite often :)

Anyhoo, time for chapter fourteen! ALL THE ANGST! well, at least some of it. Apparently I've been crushing starwater13's heart into little pieces with this, maybe I can do the same to all of yours ;) Please don't sue.

Speaking of suing, I don't own Merlin. For which the characters will be forever grateful.

Chapter Fourteen: Left in the Darkness

Gwaine raced back to the camp, barely noticing the branches that whipped against his face as he made his way back to Percival and Lancelot. He hated leaving Merlin like that, but Merlin had probably been right in sending him away. It would have been a blood bath; a group of trained and armed knights against a bunch of peasants whose best weapons were frying pans and broomsticks could never end well. All he could do now was get back to the others, and hopefully come up with a plan to rescue Merlin before it was too late. He burst through the trees, arriving at the camp and meeting the blades of both Percival and Lancelot. When they realized it was him they lowered their swords, and Lancelot said, "Gods, Gwaine, with the amount of noise you were making we thought you were the bloody army of Camelot."

Gwaine caught his breath quickly and said, "We've got bigger problems than the armies of Camelot. Merlin's been captured."

"WHAT!" Percival and Lancelot exclaimed, Gwaine nodded and said, "He was surrounded by knights, they were taking him up to the palace."

"But, that's not possible." Lancelot said, "He was just here, he said he was going to meet-"

"Arthur." Percival growled, cutting Lancelot off. The large man then stomped over to a tree and slammed a fist into the bark as he shouted, "I knew we never should have trusted that blond bastard."

Gwaine watched Percival's anger with horror. Would Arthur really betray Merlin? And what would that mean for Merlin? He really seemed to love the prince, a betrayal like that would break him before Uther even got a chance to. Lancelot seemed less sure as he said, "You don't think Arthur had anything to do with this, right Percival?"

"I don't know if the prince had anything to do with this." Percival said, "All I know is that he isn't going to be quite as pretty after I get a hold of him. What other explanation is there?"

Lancelot seemed to be the only one who could still think straight as he asked Gwaine, "Did you see Prince Arthur while you were there?"

Gwaine thought about what had happened outside the pub. The prince hadn't made an appearance, just that creepy old man and a group of knights. If Arthur really had had a part in catching Merlin, wouldn't he have been showing off? He shook his head in confusion as he replied, "No, I didn't see Arthur anywhere. It was just this old man dressed all in black and about all of the knights over the age of thirty. Arthur may not have had anything to do with this."

"Then why didn't he protect him!" Percival shouted. "If he loved Merlin so much, how could he let his father get his murderous hands on him?"

Gwaine didn't have an answer to that question, but he couldn't help asking himself a different one. Why hadn't he protected Merlin? Someone should have gone with him, but they had left him alone and unprotected with the son of the enemy. Again, it was Lancelot who remained calm. "We don't need to argue about Arthur now, we need to figure out a way to rescue Merlin. He's going to be heavily guarded, and Uther will probably want the execution to be soon. All we can hope for is that he attempts to question him first, that will buy us some time, but this will still be more dangerous than anything we've attempted in the past."

"We can't let him die." Gwaine said with determination. "No matter what, we can't let him die. I don't care how dangerous it is, we are getting him out."

Lancelot and Percival nodded in agreement. Merlin was their friend, their leader, and their savior. Nothing could stop them from making sure he was safe, so they gathered around the fire to plan how they were going to get him back.

Arthur hadn't slept at all. After being dragged back to his chambers by the three knights, he had spent the entire night pacing and throwing objects against the wall. Unfortunately, neither of these actions had helped him come up with a plan to rescue Merlin or provided him with stress relief, all he had accomplished was make his room a giant mess. His door had been locked and guarded, so he had no idea about what was going on in the rest of the castle, which definitely wasn't helping with his nerves. All he could hope for was that his father hadn't murdered Merlin the moment he was brought back to the city and that there was still time to set things right.

Arthur was still pacing as the sun rose and light poured into his room. It wasn't long after that that the doors to his chambers burst open and Arthur was pulled from his miserable thoughts by his father, a group of guards, and George (who had somehow managed to remain his manservant even after his countless attempts to drive him away). Arthur froze, not sure how to act as his father stepped forward and said, "Good. You're already awake. Your manservant shall prepare you and then you will accompany me to supervise the punishment of the prisoner."

"Prisoner?" Arthur said, "you mean Emrys?"

Uther gave him a suspicious look before saying, "Yes. Aredian captured him last night. I want you to come with me so you can see what scum he is. Maybe then you will understand that I was right all along."

Arthur felt his stomach drop. At least Merlin was still alive, but for how much longer? "What is his punishment?" Arthur asked, trying to not sound incredibly worried.

"He will be publicly flogged this morning." Uther replied, still watching Arthur with suspicion.

"That's all?" Arthur asked, smiling a little. Merlin could survive a flogging. All Arthur would need to do was make sure he got back to one of his friends afterwards.

"For now. I want to learn where the Druid camp is before I kill him. Aredian has consented to use his skills to extract that and other information before his execution."

"No." Arthur said without thinking. "You can't kill him. I won't let you."

It seemed his father hadn't been expecting this reaction and wasn't prepared as Arthur charged forward, still not really think about the consequences of his actions. The guards were more prepared, charging forward to restrain him before he even got close to the king. "What has come over you, Arthur? Why do you feel the need to defend this criminal?"

"Because he's not what you think he is!" Arthur shouted. "He's not a criminal, why can't you see that?"

Uther just glared at him before saying, "You will accompany me today, and you will watch as he gets what he deserves. He is nothing more than a filthy sorcerer and a thief, his mere existence is a crime."

Arthur slumped in the guard's arms. There was nothing he could do now, and fighting wouldn't help anything unless it got him locked in a cell next to Merlin, although Uther probably wouldn't be that shortsighted. If he complied now his father might let down his guard, and he might be able to get out and see Merlin and try to figure out a way to get him out before it was too late. He let George dress him and tried to eat some of the food served to him before following his father out to the balcony above the town square where a whipping pole had been set up. Arthur felt rage and shame boil within him as he thought about what was about to happen. Merlin was the last person who deserved this, and it was his fault. If he hadn't been so stupid, if he hadn't lead Aredian straight to him, none of this would be happening. A large crowd had gathered below them, no doubt the news of Merlin's capture had spread like wildfire, how could it not have? The greatest thief of their time, the man who had been making a fool out of the king for months and saving the people from starvation was going to be flogged today, who could miss this? Arthur scanned the crowd, but couldn't find Lancelot, Percival, or Gwaine, which meant Merlin didn't have much of a chance of escaping before his flogging, unless there was some type of miracle.

Arthur's eyes were pulled from the crowd as the doors that lead down to the prison opened and Merlin was escorted out by a group of knights. Aredian walked in front of the group, with two knights separating him and Merlin who was walking with his head held high even though his arms were bound and the collar was still around his neck. He looked much paler than usual, which made Arthur nervous. There were two more knights behind him, completing the group from the dungeons. Merlin didn't show any signs of fear or anger as he was pushed up the stairs to the whipping post and one of the knights fixed his shackles to the top. It wasn't until Arthur saw Merlin's face that he noticed any emotions. Merlin glared at him, with a hate more intense than anything Arthur had ever experienced. He didn't know what to think, and was glad that Merlin was forced to turn away as the knights finished securing him. Aredian then cut Merlin's shirt off, leaving his chest and back exposed as Uther began to speak.

"People of Camelot," Uther cried out, "Emrys has terrorized our kingdom for far too long." This was met by a fair amount of booing from the crowds gather below, which only caused his father to grow angrier. Arthur wished they would stop, all they could achieve with their dissention was more pain for Merlin. Uther cleared his throat and shouted over the cries of the people. "He tricked many of you with his magic, making you believe he had a better way while he schemed and stole, destroying our homes from within. But, as your king, I have sworn to protect all of you from threats like him. Not even the strongest of sorcerer's could stand up to me. Remember that before you side with freaks like him, remember that I am the king, and that not even all the magic in the lands can stop me. Today, we mark the end of a great threat to our peace, and the dawn of a new day for Camelot."

Then a man dressed all in black stepped forward on the platform, a long leather whip in his hands, and, with the signal from Uther, he brought the cord up before swinging it down onto Merlin's back with a resounding crack. Merlin was silent through the first blow, but by the way his body twisted it was obvious that he was in pain. As the man raised the whip once more, Uther turned to Arthur and said, "Do you understand now, my son?"

Arthur turned to his father so as not to see the whip crash against Merlin's bare back once again, but he couldn't block out the sound it made as it hit flesh. There were tears falling from his eyes as he replied to his father saying, "What is there to understand? You're punishing a man for protecting the people, for doing your job for you. He doesn't deserve this."

"No." Uther growled, glaring at his son for a moment before turning his gaze back to Merlin. "He deserves so much worse."

"Do you know what's happening to the people?" Arthur asked, trying to block out the sound of the fifth swing of the whip, "They're dying. Mothers and fathers cannot pay for medicine and are forced to leave their children with nothing. The people are starving, and when someone stands up for them, when someone tries to stop your madness, this is what you do to him. He never hurt anyone, he only wanted to protect his people."

"He is nothing more than a thief." Uther said, smiling as Merlin let out a heart-wrenching scream on the eighth blow. "He is scum who was seduced by the powers of sorcery and used those powers to attempt to pull this kingdom apart. I am ashamed that even you would succumb to his powers. I thought I raised you better."

"Father," Arthur started before Uther cut him off, saying "I will hear no more on this matter. Emrys is nothing but a pathetic man who has fallen to my power. Soon he will be gone and you will see sense."

Arthur knew that would never happen. He couldn't allow that to happen. No matter what Merlin felt for him now, Arthur had to save him. Nothing was more important than that. And if saving him meant staying silent for once when he wanted to argue, then he would do just that. The only noises from the courtyard below were the sounds of Merlin's screams and the cracking of the whip. Everyone else had gone completely silent, simply watching with anger as their savior and hero was beaten. Arthur joined in their solemn vigil from his place on the balcony, wishing that there was something more he could do, some way to stop this atrocity, but of course there was nothing. He was stuck, separated completely from the man he loved. Soon, even Merlin had stopped making noises as he hung limply in his chains, blood dripping down his back.

As the man in black brought his whip down on the twentieth stroke, the ordeal was finally over. The knights standing at attention behind Merlin pulled him off the post and dragged him back down to the dungeons. Merlin didn't move at all this time, looking so different from the proud man who had walked out from the prison with his head held high. Arthur wouldn't allow this to continue, he couldn't. He had told Merlin he would fight with everything he had to keep Uther from hurting him, and now it was time time for him to uphold his promise.

Merlin woke to a strange stinging in his back. It was different from the fire that seemed to be burning all along his skin, and as it moved over all the lash wounds the fire seemed to recede, leaving only a dull throbbing in its place. As Merlin groaned the stinging stopped momentarily and a voice asked, "Emrys? Are you really Emrys?"

"Who are you?" Merlin asked, or tried to ask. His body didn't really seem to want to do as he told it, so his words were slurred together, but the voice seemed to understand as it replied, "I am Gaius, the court physician. Aredian wants me to make sure you don't die before he gets a chance to question you."

"Ugh." Merlin groaned and tried to readjust his limbs but stopped as the movement pulled on his wounds and almost sent him back into unconsciousness. The stinging resumed and Gaius asked, "So, can you tell me? Are you really the Emrys of legend?"

"Supposedly." Merlin replied, "Although for the sake of this kingdom, I sincerely hope not. I've lost."

"Don't give up yet." Gaius whispered, "The people still need you. They won't give up hope."

Merlin slowly twisted his head so he could see the man treating his wounds. He was old and had white hair that reached down to his shoulders. He looked wise but tired, Merlin wished he could share his hope, give him some assurance that he would keep fighting, but he couldn't. Not now that Arthur had betrayed him. He was stuck, and in less than ten days he would be dead. Gaius was silent for the remaining time he spent down in the dungeons cleaning Merlin's wounds, and soon he was gone as well, leaving Merlin alone in his prison.

Arthur had to see Merlin. He didn't know how, all he knew was that he couldn't leave him alone in the darkness. He had been escorted back to his chambers immediately after Merlin was taken back down to the dungeons, and he had been stuck there for the rest of the day. George had come to prepare him for a celebration in honor of Aredian's capture of Emrys, but he had refused, and apparently his father hadn't cared all that much, allowing him to stay in his chambers instead of ruining the party with arguments that would probably end with him being sent back to his room anyways. He had begun pacing again as the sun set, having to walk in a zigzag to avoid all the broken pieces of the objects he had thrown last night. Eventually he became too exhausted to move anymore, so he collapsed on his bed, sinking into an uneasy sleep. George returned in the morning, bringing his breakfast and news from the castle. There was nothing on Merlin though, just random gossip that George had felt was necessary to pass on along with his terrible jokes. When he left Arthur checked the door again, and found that it was still guarded and he was still stuck. He was considering attempting to make himself sick so he could at least be taken to Gaius and maybe have a better chance of escaping from there when the doors to his chambers burst open and Leon ran in shouting. "Sire! Are you alright?"

"Yes, Leon, I'm fine. But Merlin isn't. I need to see him."

Leon nodded, and glanced back towards the doors before saying, "I think I can arrange that. I can't get him out though, Arthur. He's not just guarded by our men, Aredian has barely taken his eyes off him for a moment."

"I know, but I need to talk to him. This is all my fault, Leon. I need to talk to him."

"Alright, Arthur. Let's go." Leon said before making his way back towards the door.

"Wait, right now? What about the guard?" Arthur asked, confused about how they could possibly make it down to the dungeons with the castle on such high alert.

"Who do you think sets the guards?" Leon said with a smile. "We'll be fine."

Arthur smiled and said, "Ah, I forgot. Then we should go, quickly, while most of the castle is still hung over from the party." He followed Leon out the door, where two younger knights were keeping watch. They each gave a small bow to Arthur before shutting the door and going back to their positions as if nothing had changed.

They raced down the stairs, through the less-traveled hallways, until they reached the passage down to the dungeons. Leon stopped suddenly, causing Arthur to slam into his back.

"Sorry Sire," Leon said, "it's just, I think you should go down alone. The guards posted should let you pass, and Aredian was still in his chambers last I checked."

"Thank you, Leon." Arthur said, "You should get away from here. If I get caught I don't want you to get in trouble as well."

Leon nodded and retreated back up the stairs as Arthur descended the steps that would take him to his imprisoned love.