I am so so so so sorry for not updating in so long! I had a major case of writer's block and I kept writing just a bit of a chapter per day. Sadly, it might be happening more often because of the homework I'm getting as well as my ringette practices so sometimes they could be a little bit late. Sorry again.

Wisegirl6

Chapter 18 ~Pathetic and worthless

Arthur watched the two walk away, the poor servant still attempting to staunch the flow of blood from his hand.

His servant walked up to stand beside him, standing stick - straight as always. "Sire? Will you be doing any more training?" he asked politely.

"No, George. I'm done for today."

Arthur began walking in the opposite direction, no specific place in mind. He needed to get his thoughts in order. Something he certainly wouldn't be able to do with George tagging along. "You are dismissed," he called back to his manservant.

"Are you positive that you won't need my help, sire? I could take your armor off if you wish?" George said as he tried to catch up to his master.

Arthur fixed him with a mild glare. "I said you are dismissed, George." The king turned and started walking, ignoring the disappointed look of George as he was left behind.

He tried not to think about it, instead casting his thoughts towards the familiar servant that he had never met before. Or at least Arthur assumed that they had never met those eyes were so painfully familiar! Like something he wanted to remember, but had tried to forget all the same.

Arthur cursed himself and his funny feelings, he was starting to act like Merlin.

The one thought halted both his physical and mental procession. Oh why couldn't he go at least one day without thinking of his annoying idiot manservant. Ah, former annoying idiot manservant.

Arthur really missed Merlin. He wished that his loyal friend was here, he would know exactly what to do about Jonah's servant.

Merlin was weird like that. Most of the time he was a complete idiot, tripping over his feet, saying stupid things, acting so Merlin-like. And then there were those times where he did something completely unexpected, showing wisdom and clarity, random yet important knowledge and being distinctly not like Merlin.

Arthur really missed Merlin.

The king sighed as he continued on his journey to nowhere in particular. His thoughts went briefly towards the other servant again; Arthur didn't even know his name and yet he felt so important to him. Whenever the king saw him the desire to protect him no matter what was almost overwhelming.

He didn't believe a word of what Jonah or his servant had said to him. It wasn't the way he looked when he told Arthur that his master was harmless, or the glances Jonah kept sending the servant, or the way he carelessly tore open his hand and then proceeded to blame it on him. No, it was the fact that in the entire time that Arthur had been around Jonah and the servant he had not once heard the lord's son call him by his real name.

"What the hell did you say to him?" Jonah growled out through clenched teeth. Merlin could feel Jonah's warm breath on his face. When he didn't receive an answer, Jonah pulled Merlin back from the wall and slammed him back into it, keeping a firm grip on his shoulders.

The warlock's head snapped back and Merlin saw stars. "I didn't say anything, I swear!"

Jonah snarled and tightened his grip on Merlin. "Don't lie to me, slave. I know you said something to him; you told him something! I don't know how you managed to bypass the Blood Oath, but I swear if you do anything like that again I will not hesitate to snap your weak little spine in half."

Merlin could feel his heart thumping wildly in his chest. "I- I didn't-" He was interrupted by a fist smashing into his face, knocking his head against the stone again. He felt something warm dribble down his neck. Blood.

"Don't lie!" Jonah screamed as he hit Merlin again. "Tell me!" Another fist to the face. And another.

Merlin tasted blood. He attempted to wiggle away, but Jonah's grip on his shoulder was firm. "I swear, I said nothing!" he cried as Jonah punched him again. Merlin swore he heard a rib crack. "Please." He begged him to stop. He couldn't breathe.

Jonah stepped away from him, moving his hand from Merlin's neck and letting him slump to the ground. "Already reduced to groveling, how pathetic. And I thought you would be easier to break. I suppose I was wrong." He slammed a large, black booted foot into Merlin's side. "You're just a weak, worthless, slave," he snarled, kicking him hard with each insult.

Tears ran down Merlin's cheeks. Blood streamed down the back of his head and from his hand. Jonah kicked him once more in the back and he howled.

Merlin blinked through the blood and tears to see Jonah standing over him, his lip curled in disgust.

"Pathetic," Jonah said, turning around. He walked back out into the courtyard, wiping the blood from the slave's wounds off on the inside of his sleeves.

The warlock lay on the dirty stone ground, bleeding out on the cobblestone. Merlin attempted to get his breathing under control and checked over his injuries.

He felt around his chest and determined that there were no broken ribs. Good. He had cracked his head on the stone and it was bleeding heavily. Not good. Merlin attempted to sit up, but fell back down with a small moan of agony. Afraid of what he was going to find, he reached back and felt at his still tender slash wounds. His hand came away red. "Oh, great," he muttered to himself. "More blood." His hand wasn't too bad; it was just a superficial cut.

Using his uninjured hand to stable himself, Merlin pushed his shoulder against the wall and tried to make his legs stand. Once he had successfully reached his goal Merlin took a shaky step forward, resulting in a gasp of pain. Gritting his teeth, Merlin took another step forwards, and another, and another.

By the time Merlin reached the mouth of the alley he was completely spent and in pain. His limbs protested at every movement he made. He squinted up at the sky, battling the blackness creeping up on him.

It was already evening. The sun was low in the sky and the stars had just begun to shine.

Merlin leaned against the wall, thinking over his options. Sage would surely be done serving Isobel by now. Waiting patiently in the servant's quarters for Merlin to get back so they could formulate an escape plan. She would patch him up, Merlin was sure of it. But he couldn't go to her, the other slaves and servants would ask questions. He had already raised enough suspicion with the royals of Camelot, he didn't want to make the same impression on the servants as well.

Merlin had been a servant in Camelot, he knew how fast rumours could spread among the seamstresses and serving girls and cooks. News of his injuries would be back to Jonah by daybreak tomorrow, and he couldn't take the risk of the scene in the alley replaying itself.

Merlin was weak as it was, but if he had to endure that again he had no clue if he would have the strength to continue on.

So going to Sage definitely wasn't an option.

He thought of who else he could go to, none of the other slaves particularly liked him, but after the blueberry incident he could tell that their hearts were softening towards him. No, none of them would have the appropriate medical knowledge or supplies to help him.

Merlin sighed, a small smile creeping onto his face. That left only one person he could go to. "Gaius," he whispered.

Annnnddd I'm finally bringing Gaius back into the story, yay. :P

Anyways, I might be posting a little something something in a week or so. It's a ficlet based on Taylor Swift's song 'Red'. I just finished the first chapter (There's three) and I have to say its coming along well! So expect something from me soon!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed!

Wisegirl6

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