Merlin awoke to see the morning light filtering through the green leaves of the trees above him. He did not have much time to dwell on the beauty of the scene however as he was yanked off his back on onto his knees, his arms reached out instinctually to support him but he found them tied to his side by silver chains.
"Well well, if it isn't the littlest prince" Morgause greeted with a sly grin, "Just out for a stroll I suppose"
Merlin grimaced but remained tight lipped.
"Time and again you've risked everything to keep your brother safe" Morgause mused aloud slowly walking around the warlock, "There is something more between you two, some secret nobody else knows"
Merlin let his eyes fall to the ground. He remembered last night while trying to run he had called out to Arthur using his magic in a moment of panic. Why hadn't he found him yet? In a way he was glad, Arthur wasn't at risk at least, his musings were interrupted by a sudden tightening on his bonds making him gasp as the air was squeezed out of him.
"You chose to poison one of my own" Morgause growled, "You may regret that"
She took her leave, bringing her two soldiers with her as she stormed off, leaving Merlin the empty clearing. He actually did not mind too much, now he was able to free himself or so he thought.
"Tospringe!" He chanted only to have the chains tighten further much to his discomfort. He tried several other spells however none were effective, they only made his bonds tighten. He was about to contact Arthur once more to ask him to help when some falling rocks off a ridge to his left caught his attention. He then became aware of several movements surrounding him. Glances of armored backs and long curling scorpion tails caught his eyes. Serkets.
"Merlin?" Came a far off call, Arthur!
No! Merlin screamed in his mind No Arthur don't look for me, it's not safe here! The serkets have found me, don't worry, I'll be alright, just get back to the castle.
The last thing he wanted was Arthur fighting these beasts. He wished that Arthur could reply with telepathy so he could at least know if he was being a prat or actually doing what Merlin told him for once. He gulped as the serkets closed in slowly. They were playing with their food.
"Awendap eft wansaeliga neatu!" He chanted, however the monsters only took a few steps back, he tried again, "Forlætan me a...!"
His spell was stopped halfway through a sharp, blinding pain filled his back, one of the serkets had gotten him. Gasping from the pain his brain began calculating the best spell in which to help him, however he was coming up empty, he had only one chance. Lifting his head to the sky he used the words he had not uttered in over a year.
"Ω δρακον, έάω μαλερός σοφόνους φθέγγομαι τείδε άναδικέω!"
The effort exhausted him completely as the magic drained his energy along with the powerful poison, he fell to his side gasping for breath. He had no choice but to wait, he regretted ordering Arthur away now...
His was vaguely aware of a great shadow falling over the glade and fire falling over it but he was barely conscious enough to recognize it. The last thing he remembered was being lifted into the air before blackness filled his vision.
Strangely the next thing he became aware of was that he was lying on hard stones, he blinked to clear his vision to reveal the calm face of the great dragon. He had come!
"I didn't think you'd answer my call" He whispered
"Merlin" The dragon replied affectionately, "I could not resist a dragonlord, even if I wanted to"
"I'm grateful thankyou" the prince sighed trying to stand but found his head protested with gusto, "Ow...my head..."
"Lie still" The dragon soothed "The serket's poison is powerful, I have given you an enchantment that will help you heal. But it will take time"
...
Sometimes Arthur hated his brother. Not only had he sent him into a small panic because he was no doubt in trouble, then he tells him not to come because he's surrounded by serkets! If anything that just made the elder prince worry more, sure Merlin was an all powerful warlock but...serkets!
He had found the area where Merlin must of been, the entire clearing was smoldering from old flames, the bodies of half a dozen serkets lay on the ground.
"Gods Merlin where are you?"
...
Merlin's eyes burst open, he felt healthy again, however he was horrified to see it was the middle of the night. Jumping to his feet and quickly finding his balance he stood to face his friend.
"You shouldn't of let me sleep!" He exclaimed
"I had no choice young warlock, the venom was too strong" The dragon replied "Even for your great powers"
"I don't have time" Merlin argued, "I need to get back to Arthur, warn him and Uther about Morgana"
"You thought Morgana was the same as you" The dragon surmised much to Merlin annoyance, he nodded, "Trust is a double edged sword Merlin, in some ways you are the same however, now, now there is no turning back for her"
"I need to get back to Camelot, Arthur" Merlin repeated
"You are not yet fully recovered and its more than three days walk!" The dragon exclaimed
"I have no intention of walking" Replied Merlin with a grin.
...
The flight back to Camelot had been exhilarating, he wished he could fly with the dragon every day. The wind in his hair had been amazing. He was sorrowful when the trip had to end in the field a few miles from the city.
"Be careful young one, the great battle for Camelot has begun" The dragon warned before taking to the skies once more. Merlin ran back to Camelot as fast as he could force his legs to go. Not at all surprised to see Arthur pacing up and down the bridge at the castles main gate waiting fro him, despite the late hour.
"Merlin!" He exclaimed "Where have you been! You have any idea how worried Gwen, Morgana and I were?"
Merlin felt a pang of pain go through his heart at the mention of Morgana's name, he had no choice.
"Arthur she's working with Morgause" He said sadly, "They captured and tied me up in the forest and left me for the serkets"
"No..." Arthur breathed, "She wouldn't..."
"She has Arthur, I don't know how yet but I'll bet she is responsible for fathers illness" Merlin explained, "Come on, is we go to his room I'll bet we find a poultice or something there!"
The princes wasted no time, Arthur was unusually quiet though due to the situation he didn't blame him. They were shocked to find Uther's room in complete darkness and disarray, his bed empty. Merlin rushed to check it over while Arthur, who had found their father curled up in the corner tried to get closer to him.
"Father...?"
Uther didn't reply, his eyes were fixed on the empty space on the other side of the room, frightened and sobbing Arthur could not calm him. Merlin searched the bed, there had no be something here! He ducked under the mattress and saw a horrible disfigured root, dripping ith mud, he cursed himself for not sensing the magic earlier. snatching it up in his hands he bolted over to the barely lit fire and threw the horrid object into the flames.
A horrible scream filled the air as the root burnt making Merlin block his ears in an attempt to keep out the wretched sound. Arthur paid no heed, only breathing a sigh of relief when his father stopped whimpering and sighed, falling unconscious in his eldest's arms. Carefully the princes placed their sleeping father back in his bed, sending a servant for Gaius.
"We have to tell him what Morgana has done" Merlin decided.
"He loves her, he dotes upon her every word" Arthur argued, "We will tell him, but not before we give Morgana a piece of our minds!"
Hey guys! Don't worry more original stuff is coming but I have to get the basics over and done with. I have two possible ways this could go as I still want Morgana evil. Sorry Morgana lovers!