Birds chirping, that was the sound that woke Arthur up- strange because normally it was to Merlin's chirping. Pushing himself upwards he saw that no one else was awake, despite the time of day. It was, judging by Arthur's calculations, just before midday. The fire had died out completely, but a small ember smouldered there, reminding Arthur of the conversation he had shared with Merlin last night. The wisdom from him had astonished Arthur, but he had soaked in every word. That was another strange thing- Merlin didn't appear to be in his bedroll; lazy idiot couldn't even be bothered to start a fire… Maybe he was checking on the horses?

Arthur got up quietly and strode over to the trees with the attached horses- apart from being slightly on edge they were as normal- however, still no Merlin. The strange feeling Arthur had felt yesterday was sinking back into his system but Arthur wouldn't panic yet- for all he knew the boy could be down at the stream. Yes, he thought, that's where he must be. He strode- with a quicker pace this time- round the corner getting closer to the sounds of running water.

"Merlin?" He called out, but there was no one there. Taking a deep breath, Arthur was about to turn around and go back to camp, hoping that by some chance Merlin would be there. It was then that he saw something that made his stomach drop.

A small tatter of Merlin's neckerchief had been stuck on a branch- pulling it off Arthur noticed the small note strapped to the fabric- "You want him? Come get him." It took a moment of Arthur re-reading the same sentence over before scrunching it in his hand and running back to camp.

Dark. Darkness that wouldn't allow Merlin to see whether he actually had his eyes open or whether they were closed. He couldn't feel anything around him, giving the impression that he was just floating- not even in water, just floating between the sky and the ground. This feeling went on for a while and yet when it came to an end it closed off to feel like merely seconds. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was completely disorientated.

"That one, that'll do- not too dark not too light it'll be juuust right." The creepy singsong voice made Merlin shiver before he finally felt the ground again. Opening his eyes he was met with the deathly pale face of a distorted man; hollow as a lifeless tree, with crease lines at every corner that ran deep into his features. However, the thing that burnt into Merlin's mind was the cat-shaped silvery black eyes that pierced his very soul.

"Sorry to be rude" The man said, licking his charred lips "But I want you to sleep for a little longer" Merlin's body slumped to the ground of the cell, his eyes desperate to stay open "Sleep now, sleep I say!" Merlin knew no more.

Arthur could not remember a time when he felt so helpless- not even in the recent events of the dragon's attack had he felt like this. Of course, it would have to all revolve around his manservant. After finding the note he had stormed back, woken all the knights and with their help they had packed away camp in record time and set off towards the last place Arthur knew Merlin had been- the river.

"Damn them" Gwaine swore again "What did Merlin ever do?" He hadn't calmed down since Arthur had woken him up and it didn't look likely that his rage was about to end. Then again, the Irish man had a point- Merlin hadn't done anything to deserve what was happening. That only enraged Arthur further; in fact it was Leon who was most calm at the moment, if it wasn't for him then they would be all over the place.

"Look" He pointed as he led the group, there on another branch was the second torn piece of the neckerchief "It looks like they're leaving us a trail" and with a grim face they continued forward.

His eyelids fluttering open, Merlin's pupils adjusted to the light. His vision fell upon a dingy looking cell. There was a chair in the corner and a small window filtering in dingy light. It wasn't the most threatening place in Albion, but it did give Merlin the chills.

"So sorry about your…accommodation." A voice crept into Merlin's ear.

"Don't worry, I've seen worse" Merlin bit back.

"Now now, I don't want to hurt you unless I have to…"

"Who are you? What do you want with me?"

The pale face from earlier appeared at the chair in the corner. Nothing had changed, except now Merlin could see the whole image- he was a very distorted creature with a hunched back and arms that didn't seem to stay straight. Instead, they bent off into different directions. He could see the man had green tinge to his flesh, yet this contrasted to such a pale face. Odd bumps and lumps were present all over him with no apparent pattern. Merlin had never seen anyone like this.

"One for introductions are we? Well then seeing as we're being polite- I am Eernseth, nice to meet you. You would be…?"
"Merlin- but I presume you already knew that one."

"Yes I'm afraid I have the superior knowledge here- although you're braver then I assumed."

"Well, don't judge too quickly- I'm sure there's lots of things you don't know." Merlin bravely said thinking of his magic

"Isn't that funny?!" The man exclaimed leaping from the chair and seemingly almost doing a jig before he suddenly froze and his voice deepened " You are right- there I may not know a lot about you, but I know how to use you and how to keep certain things from being used" he finished with an air about him suggesting he knew more.

"I don't understand."

"Pft" The man impatiently huffed "Of course you don't silly people like you wouldn't… which is why if you will just co-operate with me then nothing bad has to happen."

"I would never co-operate with the likes of you" Merlin glared in defiance.

"Fine, whatever" The man almost stomped out but he froze again and swiftly came right back at Merlin, grabbing his jawline and angling it towards his mottled face " I know you're brave, boy, but bravery won't earn you anything around here." With that he pushed Merlin's head away and slammed the door shut, cackling as he went.

Seeing him go down the hall Merlin knew this was it- he had to get out now to protect Arthur and that meant using his magic. Calling forth the power of the Old Religion, Merlin recited the spell he knew that would bend the bars that held him- pushing his hands forward he felt a moment of utter force before- nothing? Staring down at his hand in utter shock Merlin started to panic, he couldn't use his magic. How was that possible?