Another short one I'm afraid! It's just a gap filler really before I get onto 'The Rescue' so sorry about that. But we get to see a tiny bit of Merlin's insight on the situation. xxx
By the time night fell, Merlin felt certain there was nothing left beneath his skin except a broken man and one last shred of magic, which was slowly being gnawed at by the manacles as he panted.
The suppression of his magic left him exhausted, depressed and with a slight fever and he felt almost as if the world was going to crumble down around him. He'd had no visits from anyone and wasn't even sure if the guards were still gambling outside of his door. He doubted it. Why waste time guarding a useless boy with no way of escaping and possibly not even a night left in his life?
Merlin wished for home. He wished for normality. He wished it was all a horrid dream and that he'd wake up any second now in his little room behind Gaius' chambers. Then he would perform some magic, maybe make some birds fly around his room from the smoke of a nearby candle. Or make his clothes dance. Or summon beautiful butterflies. Or maybe he could even give Arthur back his beloved donkey ears (a spell which Merlin had perfected privately and was waiting for the correct moment to cast.) after that he'd set off to work, greeting Gaius and most likely Gwen on his travels. He'd hug both of them tightly and explain to them how he loved them so. Perhaps he'd even tell Arthur he appreciated his company, if only to witness the inevitable glorious reaction. Yes, he'd have a good day.
The tortured servant was so absorbed in his fantasy world that he didn't notice himself falling asleep, and soon, he was blessed with a deep slumber. And slowly, ever, ever so slowly, the magic within him finally began to win the war against the magic of the manacles.
Elsewhere in the castle...
"'E's broken, Nomed. 'E's too far gone to be any use to us now." Said the guard.
"I concur."
"What do you fink we should do wif 'im?"
"Just leave him to die. Simple and easy."
"What about 'is little friends? They're comin' to save 'im and you know it. They'll be 'ere within the night, I reckon."
"Let them rescue him. They'll be next to nothing for them to rescue anyway. Nothing left, but a broken shell of a man."
Merlin awoke with a start and with cold sweat dripping mercilessly dow his face. He ran his hand through his hair and sighed, not having the energy to even cry over the horrid nightmare he'd encountered. Arthur had been in it. Dying on his quest to save him.
The young warlock was not only the savior of Camelot but also a medical man, and he knew he was in serious trouble. But he also knew that there was absolutely nothing he could do about it.