The sun was setting. Magnificent hues lit the sky as the sun descended. Gwen sighed watching, they were running out of time. Caddoc was sat watching her from his high tree perch, waiting. He was also eating some kind of berry -which Merlin hated-
"Blegh! W...What on... Earth is... That?"
Caddoc rolled his eyes and replied, "If you don't like it then be gone, you pesky spirit!"
"Y..You... Must... B..Be... Joking." Came the weak reply.
Gwen had no doubt that the sorcerer was arguing with Merlin. It made her smile, she felt reassured that he was still there.
~~~
Arthur pushed through the dense plantation, he had found himself following some tracks; he desperately hoped they would lead to Caddoc. Arthur's eyes widened as they fell upon Gwen.
"Guinevere!" He cried in surprise and raced over embracing her gently.
"Awww... That's so sweet. Two people locked in a forbidden love..." Sighed Caddoc from his perch.
"It's enough to warm the heart and bring a tear to the eye..." He added his voice smooth and humoured. Arthur took a step away from Gwen. He faced Caddoc and drew his sword.
Caddoc jumped down from the tree and gasped mockingly,
"Oh dear... I'm surprised, that you would be prepared to kill your best friend!"
Arthur gritted his teeth and began slowly approaching Caddoc,
"Well thanks to you, my SERVANT no longer exists."
Caddoc's eyes narrowed,
"I find it hard to believe that this is all he means to you. I mean, if you knew how much you meant to him..."
Arthur stopped considering this for a moment. But he kept his sword ready for a fatal blow if needed.
Caddoc smiled. It stunned Gwen and Arthur, how much Caddoc could twist Merlin's innocent face into something so cold and evil.
"Looking deep into the boy's hidden thoughts. It's actually repulsively sweet and heart warming his concerns for you. Blegh"
Arthur closed his eyes and took a deep breath,
"What has to be done, has to be done. Merlin would understand that." He replied confidently.
Caddoc raised an eyebrow, "Even if it was your fault he has to die?"
~~~
Merlin had just about had enough of this by now, he tried to gain back control and push Caddoc out. But his attempt failed, although it was big enough for Arthur to notice that Merlin was trying to fight back. Caddoc used their combined magic to throw Arthur backwards. Caddoc then ran towards Guinevere, grabbing her and backing up against a tree, holding his ebony dagger to her throat.
"One wrong move from EITHER of you and she gets it. Threatened Caddoc menacingly. Arthur slowly got to his feet, the world was spinning, he held his head trying to regain his balance. Merlin reluctantly waited in the background of his reality, not wanting to endanger Gwen anymore than she was now.
"Let her go!" Cried Arthur. Caddoc smiled he knew he found the Prince's biggest weak spot. But Gwen had other ideas, "Sorry Merlin" she thought sympathetically as she sank her teeth into his hand. Caddoc yelled in anger and pain as Gwen raced back over to Arthur, where they briefly embraced. Arthur charged at Caddoc with his sword, Caddoc dodged Arthur's swing, leaving Arthur's sword stuck in the tree. Caddoc drew his favourite weapon, he had created it from the blood of the knights he had killed, as well as the horse, he had forged it into a blood blade with his magic. In the light the blade was red in the darkness and gloom the sword was jet black, unless Caddoc powered it with pure magic, then it would glow ruby red.
Caddoc held the blade to Arthur's throat, a smile played on his lips.
Arthur sighed, this was his last chance, the Sun had almost set.
"Merlin please, I know your still in there. I need you to fight back. I know I'm always teasing you about being weak and a coward, but really your none of those things. I know you won't give up without a fight." Arthur's cheeks flushed brightly, suddenly embarrassed as he realised that he had just let his heart do the talking and not his head.
"How cute, but your out of time!" Cackled Caddoc as he lifted his blade ready to strike the fatal blow. The blade sliced through the air, but stopped inches away from Arthur's throat. Caddoc's hands trembled as he tried to fight the resistance.
"LEAVE YOU INTERFERING RUNT!" Screamed Caddoc in frustration.
"I won't let you hurt Arthur!" Growled Merlin taking back control momentarily.
"Your running out time you little cretin! Your efforts are in vain!" Snarled Caddoc. Merlin managed to drop the blade, giving Arthur those vital seconds to act. He pulled the pendant from around Merlin's neck, Caddoc was wrenched from Merlin's body back to his tiny prison. Merlin screamed in pain as Caddoc was ripped from his soul. Arthur sighed with relief, it was over; although Merlin's scream would probably haunt his nightmares for many days to come.
~~~
It came to Arthur's attention that his friend was swaying, he reached out silently to steady the boy. Merlin's uneasy legs gave beneath him, Arthur leant Merlin against him and eased him gently to the floor. Gwen walked over and knelt down beside Arthur studying Merlin's shaky figure.
"I think he's confused." Stated Gwen after a few moments. Arthur nodded in agreement, if Arthur had been through what Merlin had, he would have been shaky and confused as well. After a while Merlin stopped shaking, instead he became tensed and it became apparent the boy was crying.
"Merlin are you alright?" Asked Gwen gently, placing her hand softly on the boy's rigid shoulder. Merlin just shook his head.
"Come on he's gone now, and he won't be coming back anytime soon." Reassured Arthur.
"I...I'm...Sorry!" Blurted out Merlin, who couldn't control his emotions; they seemed to have come back all at once, overwhelming Merlin completely.
"It's okay Merlin, none of this was your fault." Soothed Gwen.
"It was my fault." Stated Arthur solemnly. Merlin shook his head in disagreement.
"I...Couldn't sstop him. He was too strong..." Murmured Merlin in what seemed to be a mix of frustration and guilt.
"Get some rest Merlin. Everything will be alright now..." Comforted Arthur it came out awkwardly, but Merlin seemed to understand.
~~~
"Well. He'll make a full recovery, physically... But it could take some time before he recovers mentally, Sire." Gaius reported.
"What would I look out for?" Question Arthur with concern.
Gaius pause for a moment, before answering, "Well Sire, the main issue would probably be nightmares. But in the worst case we could be talking about break downs and possibly long term triggers. Such as seeing dead knights could cause Merlin to relive Caddoc's experimentation, with tortures and so on."
Arthur sighed and looked down at Merlin who was sleeping peacefully.
Arthur clenched his fists with a flash of anger, "If I hadn't of given him the pendant to look after then all of this could have been avoided. I was also a fool to believe that Sir Robert would have come back to Camelot with me as well. I've been such an idiot, I'll be a terrible King. I don't know why everyone believes in me so much."
Gaius sighed with deep sympathy. He knew Arthur was feeling great pressure with everyone depending on him. It didn't help that Sir Robert had disappeared into the forest when Arthur returned to get him.
Merlin turned over, looking up sleepily at the Prince,
"Would you stop beating yourself up? If I say your gonna be a great King some day then your going to be a great King some day!" Merlin scolded.
Arthur crouched down beside the bed.
"Oh will I?" He chuckled.
Merlin was falling back to sleep again but he managed to say before sleep grasped him once more,
"Yes, I'll be there to make sure you will, but right now... Your... yawn... A... Prat..."
Arthur stood up again and looked at Gaius, they both laughed at Merlin directness and Arthur said to Gaius confidently,
"I think he'll be fine."
END.
*Well there it is guys. If your confused with what happened with Sir Robert, he was ashamed with what he had become and couldn't face returning to Camelot, so when Arthur left him he had walked off into the forest, never to be seen again...There MAY be a sequel in the future, but it depends on the feedback I get from this story. Please comment your thoughts and if you enjoyed it or not and why. I'm sorry for any typos, I have checked through multiple times, but I always miss something! Thank you for reading!*