( This is a really long chapter, so get comfortable. It started as two but I thought I'd thank you guys for the lovely reviews be merging them for more action)

Song: No Light, No Light: Florence + the Machine-regarding songs I try to bring in all genres, so hopefully you'll eventually find one you like

WARNING: Like the chapter title says, the adventure begins now. Which means you will be getting a teaser as to why this fic is M rated. So warnings for violence and adult language.

"Focus."

"I am focusing."

Merlin's eyes glowed a brilliant gold as he kept the other wizard in his line of sight. Edwin stood across him, and without warning, let fly a dozen daggers of all different sizes. Holding out his hand, the daggers stopped in mid air, Merlin freezing them without uttering one of the many spells he had become comfortable with. Eyebrows furrowed, his eyes glowing even brighter, the daggers turned around at his command and flew at Edwin, breaking the other sorcerer's shield and stopping right before they pierced his skin.

Edwin smiled, "you get stronger every day."

"If I'm getting stronger, then why won't you let me get out of here and put my skills to the test? You know I'm ready."

"You're not ready yet. Magic must be studied, mastered, and used for good. Not for silly things."

"What is there to master?! I could move objects like that since before I could talk."

"Then by now you should know how to control it."

"I do!"

"Not yet, Merlin. You have to show some restraint when you use magic. Only yesterday, you had that incident in the barn where you sent all the brooms in the castle to help you clean up."

"What if I don't want to show restraint? Magic is all I have! I should be at liberty to use it—"

"Enough!" Edwin snapped. "You're not ready and that's the end of it."

"No."

The older sorcerer narrowed his eyebrows. "Excuse me?"

"What are you so afraid of?" Merlin asked, squaring his shoulders. "I've been here a year, Edwin. Spells, potions, creatures—I've mastered it. I can't learn more being cooped up here in the castle. You claim that I need to use my magic for good, then let me use it for such."

"I've told you before, boy; the people aren't ready for magic. Uther's influence has grown even stronger; people aren't comfortable with it as a solution to their problems."

"You keep saying that, and you keep saying that I can change that perception. Why don't you give me the chance? Do you not trust me?"

"Don't ever think that," Edwin walked forward and put his hands on Merlin's shoulders. "I just don't want to see you getting hurt."

Merlin pulled away. "More like you don't want to see other people getting hurt."

Edwin shook his head. "Merlin—"

"No, Edwin. You can't keep me locked here forever." With that, the dark-haired boy walked out, leaving his professor at a loss of what to do.

"No."

"Surevres—"

"No, Edwin. He's not ready yet."

"He's been here a year. Merlin has a point. We can't keep him here, protected in the castle's walls. The moon eclipses in three years, and he needs to be ready—"

"And he will be—after being safely guided by us."

"He won't be ready if he can't use it in real situations."

Phillip, quiet as ever, finally interrupted. "I think Edwin's right, Surevres. I don't like it any more than you, but you've seen the boy. He's mastered almost all we know in only a year. But he can't reach his potential if we keep protecting him like this."

"And you think knowing the truth will make him wiser? Imagine knowing what you want him to know. To know that the destiny of the known world rests on his one decision is too much for one so naïve."

Edwin sighed. "I know. But the prophesy approaches, he needs to know—"

"-That he may be destined to destroy the world? I wonder how that conversation will go," Surevres snorted.

"I may have a solution," Phillip said quietly. "What if we get him to tell Merlin."

"NO," Edwin and Surevres said in unison.

"I wouldn't trust that lizard for as far as I could spit," Edwin continued.

"For once, I agree with Edwin."

"Well, we could have the boy meet him, and if it's time to tell him, the dragon will. No matter how much longer we wait, it won't make anything any better. He needs to know, and I, for one, would rather not be the one to break it to him," Phillip replied.

Edwin sighed. "What if he eats him?"

Surevres laughed. "Then all of our troubles will be over."

Phillip gave the dark-haired man a look before turning back to Edwin. "While you don't like him, Kilgarrah is wiser than that."

Edwin's face twisted in thought, and he turned slowly to Surevres.

"No, Edwin. Edwin, don't do this."

"It might not be such a bad idea…"

Surevres threw his arms in the air. "I'm done with you both. Do whatever you want, but I'm not chaperoning."

The dark-haired man stormed out, his black robe sweeping behind him.

The other two men were quiet, and it was Phillip who finally broke the silence. "He's always been one for dramatic exits."

Edwin looked at him and after a moment, the two sorcerers burst out laughing. "So we have a decision?" Phillip continued.

"Yes. Yes we do. "

When Merlin arrived for his lesson, he was playing with his hands. Upon catching sight of Edwin, he let out a string of swiftly spoken words. "I'm so sorry Edwin, I don't know what I was thinking, I was just frustrated and bored—"

"Don't worry about it, Merlin. I thought about what you said, and I think you're right."

"You do?"

"Yes, "Phillip replied. "We've decided to send you on a trip."

Merlin's eyes narrowed, looking at the three men in confusion. "A trip? Where?"

"Passed the Locksley Forests, and passed the white capped mountains, is the Valley of Darkness—it's a clearing that rests in the middle of the Dark Mountains. There you'll find the last remaining Dragon, a creature that will give you all the answers you seek, as well as more wisdom than we could ever teach you. " Phillip looked at the boy's face, watching as the brilliant blue eyes widened.

"A dragon," Merlin breathed, but then he stopped, looking at them in dawning realization. "You said I'll find, singular. You mean you're not coming with me?"

"Yes. This is a trip you'll have to make on your own. Anyways, last time we spoke with Kilgarrah—let's say that he doesn't like us very much."

Merlin nodded, still astounded. "When do I leave? What do I have to do?"

"You leave at dawn tomorrow," Surevres said. "We'll give you the maps. You've already mastered runes, and you know enough spells to keep you alive."

Taking a deep breath, Merlin turned to Edwin. "Do you think I'm ready?"

"Yes, Merlin," Edwin replied with a soft smile. "I was a fool thinking you weren't."

Merlin nodded. "So find the dragon, ask him about me, and come back. Sounds easy enough."

"Not quite." Phillip conjured a table and set on it a large worn map. "On the way, you'll meet terrible creatures, not to mention you'll be staying in the wilderness. The trip shouldn't take you more than two weeks, but you should know that no matter how long it takes you, no one will come to search for you. You'll have to do this on your own." The old man's eyes glowed gold, and suddenly a path darkened on the map. "Follow this, and you won't be led astray."

Taking the map, Merlin folded it gingerly, before turning to his three teachers again. "Thank you. I won't let you down."

"You'd better not boy, you've wasted enough of my time, " Surevres snapped before leaving the room, clearly uninterested in giving any kind of luck or farewell to his pupil.

"Good luck, my boy." Phillip clapped his hand on Merlin's shoulder, a gesture mirrored by Edwin.

"I'm sure you'll do wonderfully, " Edwin said. "Now you'd best go pack and ready your horse in the stables—and be sure to say goodbye to Gwen. She'll have your head faster than the dragon if you don't."

Merlin smiled. "Of course. Thank you, Edwin, for everything."

Edwin nodded and left the room with Phillip, and, finding himself alone, Merlin jumped up and down and did a little jig. "YES." Then straightening himself up, Merlin calmly left the room- an excited smile gracing his pale features.

"GAIUS!" Merlin shouted in uncontained excitement. "GUESS WHOSE LEAVING THE BLOODY CASTLE!"

"My dear boy, I may be old but I'm not stupid. I know it's you who is leaving, there's no reason to shout. However, might this thick old man ask to where you are going?"

"To see the last dragon and ask him why I'm like this. The professors gave me a map and I'm to leave tomorrow, "he replied, lowering his voice.

Gaius narrowed his eyes at the young man by the door. In the short year that he had been here, Merlin had almost become a new person. The boy was still slim and pale, but his shoulders were pulled back in confidence, and his features were already older. My, how they grow, leaving us, the old, to wither with their youth. "Tomorrow?"

"Yes, tomorrow… I need to pack!" Merlin jumped up to his room and grabbed the pack that he had brought to Glendale, but Gaius's wrinkled hand stopped him. "It's not fitting for you to carry that. Here, take mine." The old man handed him a worn leather backpack, embroidered delicately near the edges. "There, that is more fitting, and it'll fit your things much better."

"Thank you, Gaius, but it's too much. I couldn't possibly—"

"Don't be silly, boy, take it. I have no need for it."

"Thank you, "Merlin managed, running his hand over the soft dark leather.

Gaius nodded. "I'll prepare you some provisions. I should pack some useful herbs, and maybe jot down a few useful incantations."

Merlin quickly got to work, looking through his many volumes that lay scattered around his room, and was finished just as Gaius placed some food in his pack. "This will last you a week, but if you ever catch sight of any edible berries, then be sure to pick them. You never know what might happen."

The raven-haired boy placed a few changes of clothes in the sack, and a small notebook, which held some useful spells on top of everything. He studied his work, and slowly the nervousness began to catch up to him. Holy shit, I'm going to see a dragon.

"Gaius…"

"Yes, Merlin?"

"Do you think the dragon will eat me?"

Gaius laughed. "Kilgarrah is nothing more than an overgrown lizard, overly fond of riddles and turning men mad, but he's much too delicate to eat someone as bony as you."

"You know the dragon?"

"Oh yes, I met Kilgarrah once, when I was in Uther's kingdom. Camelot's King was on a rampage against the creatures and when Kilgarrah was captured under his castle, a dragon lord and I went to free him. We were successful, and I never saw the two again."

"I underestimated you, Gaius."

"That's because you're still a child."

"Thank you, "Merlin replied sarcastically.

The boy's guardian merely smiled. "Are you finished?"

"I guess. All that's left is to ready the horse tomorrow morning."

"Merlin?"

"Yes, Gaius?"

"Be careful."

Merlin looked up at the old man in surprise. "I will be."

"Promise me, Merlin." Gaius walked over to the boy and clapped a hand on his thin shoulder. "You have to promise me you won't go and be foolish."

"I promise." The two were quiet for a moment. "I don't know what to say, "Merlin said softly, looking back at Gaius.

"Nothing. Now you'd best go and say goodbye to Gwen. I'll have dinner ready for you when you return."

"Ok." Merlin paused for moment. Then left the room, unaware that Gaius watched the young man's frame until it disappeared round the corner.

The old man sighed.

Merlin found Gwen on the roof, her favorite part of the castle. She was seated, reading a thick novel, her curly hair framing her beautiful face.

"Gwen."

The princess jumped up, but seeing it was Merlin, she let out a breathy laugh. "You startled me."

"Sorry."

Gwen cocked her head, narrowing her brown eyes. "What's wrong?"

Merlin walked towards her, running his hand through his ink-black hair. "I'm leaving tomorrow to go see a dragon that's supposed to give me all my answers."

Gwen smiled widely. "Isn't that great? You've been moaning about being cooped up here since the day you arrived."

"I know…I'm just not sure whether I'm ready to know the answers yet. The moment is finally here, but I'm afraid the answers might not be all I ever dreamed of."

"Oh, Merlin." Gwen leaned over and put her arms around him, squeezing his thin frame. Merlin rested his head in her neck, hands loosely around her waist, taking comfort in his friend's familiar warmth.

"I don't know why I'm so scared. I'm not supposed to be. I wasn't before. But now that the time is nearing, I'm just…afraid."

"That means your human, "Gwen whispered back, pulling back and ruffling up his hair, making him smile. "I'm going to miss you, magical farm boy."

"I'm going to miss you, too, Princess."

Merlin woke up the next morning to Gaius's hand shaking him from his sleep. "Come on, Merlin, it's time to get up."

The butterflies swarmed the warlock's stomach, and he quickly got dressed and ate breakfast quietly, unable to finish it because of the nerves. He walked back to his room and retrieved his bags, straightening his jacket and stepping down the stairs to find Gaius waiting for him in front of the door. The old man looked him up and down, and didn't say anything when he reached over and pulled the un-expecting young man into an embrace. Merlin returned it hesitantly. Gaius let him go and looked him over one last time, reaching up and fixing the boy's black hair.

"Off you go."

Merlin nodded and walked out the door, only to turn back and say one last thing to his guardian. "Thank you, for everything, Gaius."

Gaius merely shooed him out the door, but the wrinkled face was turned upwards in a small smile, and he watched Merlin as he left. He turned back to find the large room far emptier.

As for the warlock, he had made his way quietly to the stables, where he readied his favorite horse, strapping on his old leather saddle over its dark brown coat. He attached the bag to the side and mounted, trotting the horse out the stable, turning back one last time to look back at the castle. Catching sight of Gwen watching him out of one of the windows, he waved to her and gave her a smile before gently pushing his horse forward, out of the palace grounds, out of the markets, homes, and out of the city's wooden gates.

He pulled out the map and headed towards Locksley Forest, breathing in the clear air. A small smile made its way to his face and Merlin began to enjoy himself as he galloped across the wide open fields, the wind rustling his clothes, the sun warming his skin. Finally, he was feeling the freedom he had so longed for.

The forest was dark and ominous when he approached it, and the sun was setting on the first day of his journey. He followed the path that was sketched in on the map into the dark canopy, and moved a slight ways away from it to make camp for the night.

"Forbearnen."

He smiled and leaned back, eating the first of his food. Keeping the fire lit to stay any interested predators, he wrapped himself in his thick blanket and was quickly asleep-having not noticed how tired he was until his body was stretched out on the soft forest foliage.

The first rays of the morning sun woke him up the next morning, and he was fast to repack his things and be on his way, following the large path into the forest. However, the map soon led him off the well-worn path into much thinner roads decorated with obstacles for which he had to dismount and guide his horse around. As the sun set on his second day, Merlin began to grow uneasy. He had seen no traveling through the forest, and the unnatural silence of Locksley wood was beginning to put him ill at ease. Even the horse was fidgeting when he settled down to sleep, and that night he was plagued with nightmares of burning castles, screaming children, and a beautiful dark-haired lady, whose eyes were a stunning jade.

When he woke the next morning, it wasn't because of the sun. It was because of a strong wind that sent his blanket flying away. Merlin was immediately awake, and just as he jumped to his feet, another strong gust of wind hit him against a tree. His horse whinnied and pranced in fear, struggling to pull itself free of the rope Merlin had tied tightly to a branch. Struggling against the powerful gusts, the warlock made his way to his horse, but just as he reached it, the wind disappeared. He looked around in surprise, preparing himself for another painful collision with a tree.

But it never came.

The peculiarities didn't end there. As he looked around, he blinked, unable to believe what he was seeing.

His blanket was where he had slept, undisturbed by any wind.

"What...?"

His horse nickered softly, and when he glanced at it, he realized that it was calm, peacefully eating some of the rich green grass peeking out from between the roots of the towering trees.

Merlin shook his head and attempted to sit back down. He was still exhausted. However, he was too shaken to rest, and so ate a quick breakfast of dried fruits and leapt back on his horse, on his way again.

Sadly, it didn't take long for Merlin's ill ease to return, and the hairs on the back of his pale neck stood on end as he felt the horrid feeling that he was being watched. But no matter how much he twisted and turned, he could see no one or nothing amid the endless branches. A small breeze picked up and ruffled his hair, and he stopped the horse and turned back as quick as he could, but there was no one there.

There shouldn't be wind so deep in a forest.

"Cume poden," he muttered under his breath, and watched as the breeze he conjured disappeared down the path.

Nothing.

Well, what were you expecting?He thought to himself, but just as he turned, a great gust of wind hit him square in the chest. The horse screamed and Merlin flew off its back. In a thunder of hooves, the beast charged off down the path and was swiftly consumed by the thick ranks of looming trees.

"WAIT! STOP!" the warlock yelled after it, struggling to get to his feet, but the horse had disappeared, and with it, all of his provisions. Looking down at the map in his hand, Merlin squared his shoulders and turned to look at where the wind had come from. But instead of feeling fear, his lips turned upwards in a small.

There's something out there, and next time it tries something like that, I'll be ready.

Merlin turned back to the map and continued his trip, though, very soon, his feet began to mourn the loss of the horse. When he had had enough—his level of exhaustion told him the time of day, because the forest was always dim, never dark, never light—Merlin climbed a tree and attempted to get comfortable in the fork of two thick branches.

"Leot, " hemurmured and let a small light loose, allowing it to act as a kind of guard while he slept. The light would go out when it encountered foreign magic, and so with that slight comfort, the boy fell into another fitful night's sleep.

"You don't have to do this."

"I do."

"Please, after everything we've been through together."

"It means nothing anymore. You made that quite clear."

"You betrayed me. You had me tortured and locked in a dungeon."

"If you hate me so much, then, why are you here?"

"Because I still love you. "

"But I don't love you."

"You're lying."

"ENOUGH. The time for useless words is over."

"What? You'd prefer me to try and kill you?"

"Oh no, you won't kill me, but that doesn't mean I won't kill you."

"Don't do this. Don't make me do this."

"Good bye."

"NO" Merlin shouted as he jolted upright, sweat running down his brow. It was a dream, just a dream. But it had felt so real. He ran his hand through his wet hair, slowing his breaths. Looking around, he caught sight of his little light floating around him, but other than that, the forest was a chilling quiet. Merlin groaned softly when he stretched, his back aching from the night/day in the tree. He jumped down and gripped the map tightly, well aware that he was not even half way through the journey and he had no food. Tightening his belt, Merlin set off again, nerves on end, eyes peeled.

The day passed without incident, and when he settled down to sleep again, his dreams were again plagued by great battlefields and cries of sorrow—that and the lady whose presence was beginning to frighten him. Who is she? Merlin thought when he woke. A figment of your imagination, he replied to himself, and he shook the image of her raven hair and ruby lips from his mind. Merlin looked down at the map, happy to find that this would probably be his last day in this god-forsaken forest. With that joyful thought, and a belly barely sated by a few berries he had found the day before, the warlock set out again.

His boots crunched against the leaves on the floor, and the occasional twig snapped under his feet as he ducked below branches to reach the edge of the wood. Merlin was just beginning to catch sight of a few rays of sunlight through the canopy when suddenly; he heard an echoing crack, the whip-lash of a rope snapping the air. He gasped as he was abruptly jerked into the air by his ankle, a trap that hoisted him frightfully high above the ground His map fluttered down to the earth uselessly.

"Damn, " he groaned softly, and struggled in his bonds. Spells, Spells, SPELLS.Closing his eyes, he shifted through all the incantations that could get him out of this mess.

"Your spells won't work on that rope, sorcerer. They'll only strengthen its hold on you. Clever thing, isn't it?"

Merlin's head ached as he turned his head to the sound of the voice .There stood a heavy-set man with graying and balding brown hair, a belt littered with daggers of all sizes, and a whip that was stained with what the warlock thought was blood.

"The name is Galic."

"Merlin, "the boy replied. "Sorry, you seem to know lots about this rope. Is this your trap?"

"Of course."

The warlock was quiet for a moment, waiting for the man to elaborate. Noticing that Galicwas planning on doing no such thing, Merlin continued with a raised eyebrow. "Might you get me out of it? I really must be on my way—"

"And where would a sorcerer like you be needing to go to?"

"I'm on an errand for the King."

"Ooooo. Think you're high and mighty, boy?"

"No, I just—"

"Because I don't like sorcerers who think they're all high and mighty. Means they're up to no good."

"I'm just—"

"Quiet boy," Galic snapped, pulling out a chain from his dark leather jacket. He walked towards the bound warlock, reaching towards Merlin's dangling hands.

"I really don't suggest you touch me," Merlin said as Galic approached him.

"Is that so?" The man narrowed his eyes at the boy, but his face split into a smile. "See, that's what they all say." With that, Galic lifted his hand and hit Merlin in the head with the chains, and everything went black.

Merlin woke to a bitter taste in his mouth and a throbbing head. He attempted to lift his hands, but all he did was tug on the chains that bound him tightly to the sides of a cage.

"Tospringe," he murmured, throat dry. No reaction. "Tospringe!" Still no good. Merlin groaned quietly and leaned his head back against the cold bars as he attempted to get an idea of where he was at. The warlock was seated inside a cage, arms pulled tightly to either end, restraining him completely. His ankles, too, were bound by rusting chains, to the bottom of his cage. A piece of rough fabric was tied tightly around his head. His skin itched where dried blood had caked it; his shirt was covered with it, as well.

Merlin closed his eyes for a moment, trying to piece together what had happened, but his head still swam. However, it didn't take long for his thoughts to be rudely awakened by a bucket of icy cold water.

"Good morning, Sunshine. How you feeling?" came the rough voice as Merlin spluttered, his head splitting in pain as his senses were wakened.

"Never better, "the warlock replied, his response making his keeper laugh.

"Got some spirit in you, eh? Won't last long here, " Galic said with a smile. Merlin looked around, his heart sinking in his chest when he saw his whereabouts.

Everything was gray or black, the only color being the red of the fires and crimson blood that seemed to cling to every surface. Workers in rags and chains were hitting the rocks about them with heavy pickaxes, cruel-eyed men and cold tall mountains their only audience. The sky was dark, and smoke curled up to the heavens, the thickness of it making it difficult to breathe.

"Welcome to The Mine, "Galic said with another laugh. "Time for the tour."

The man opened the cage door and unlocked Merlin's chains with an old worn key. But his freedom didn't last long, because soon Galic threw him out the door and chained the warlock's hands behind his back. Feet bound together, and Merlin stumbled forward, the chains heavy on his body.

"Walk, boy," Galic growled, and he half dragged, half shoved Merlin to a gargantuan cavern burrowing into a mountain face. Bonfires glowed in every corner, and seated at the end of the cave was a fat man with a long scar across his left eye and a vicious looking dagger in his pudgy hand.

"Ahh, Galic. I was wondering when you'd be coming. What do we have here?" He picked his filthy nails with the tip of the blade casually, regarding Merlin with a mild interest.

"A sorcerer, my Lord." Galic pushed Merlin to his knees in front of the fat man. "Found him at the edge of the wood. Said he was on an errand for the King, and he was carrying this." Merlin's heart plummeted as Galic handed his Lord Merlin's map. The fat man took it in his pudgy fingers, looking at its surface.

"What's this?" The fat man's eyes narrowed. "I don't see nothing."

Merlin looked questioningly at him, and as he craned his head to look at his map, he saw that there wasn't a mark on the yellowed sheet at all. In fact, it was completely blank.

The fat man looked down at the bound warlock, his dark eyes searching Merlin's pale face. "What is this, boy? An enchanted parchment?"

"No. It's just a blank sheet of paper I carry around for sketching new plants I come across. See, I'm part of the King's court. I was sent to Lancaster Wood to document any new plants I could find," Merlin lied, stuttering convincingly.

"Said you was on an errand for the King, so if so, where are your supplies, boy? And ain't you too young to be part of the King's court?"

"I'm an apprentice," Merlin replied. "As for my supplies—well, I lost them. Fell off my horse when I was riding and off it went with all my things. I'd been wandering around for days when I was caught in your man's trap."

"Is that so? Galic said he saw you use magic."

"I can do a bit; my mum taught me a few spells."

"Did she now?" The fat man smiled wickedly, reaching out his dirty hands to stroke Merlin's pale face, and when he reached the boy's head wound, he pressed on it, drawing a gasp of pain from the warlock. "Well, she ain't here now, boy."

He withdrew his hand and wiped it on his dirty leather shirt. "From here on out, you answer to me. You will call me my Lord. Don't try to run-your chains are bewitched so that you can't use magic on them. If you do somehow manage to get out of your chains, we'll kill you before you move two feet. Understood?"

"But the King will be expecting me—"

"No one sends search parties out here. Know where we are? We're in the Dark Mountains. No one will find you even if they tried." The fat man turned to Galic. "Take him down into the Mine, starve him of the sun a bit. Tell Olaf to get him to work."

"My lord." Galic leaned in, attempting to whisper, however failing miserably because Merlin could here every word that left his thin lips. "The boy, in the forest, he threatened me. Said I'd regret touching him, and he looked dangerous, my Lord. I don't believe he's just a herb hugger." (The lilly livered coward.)

"Look at him, Galic-barely a scrap of meat on him. He's a stuttering fool, and even if he is more powerful than he makes himself out to be, he'll lose that power after just a week of work. Now, man up. He's just a boy. See." The man stood up and kicked Merlin in the face. "Nothing to be afraid of. Now go do what you're told."

The warlock's head hung low as he recovered from the blow, his nose dripping blood. Galic, emboldened by his master's move, lifted Merlin by the scruff his neck and dragged him out of the cavern. The warlock struggled to catch his feet on the gray gravel, and just as he managed to walk, he was thrown down a flight of stairs into a dark cavern. Merlin coughed up blood at the bottom of the steps, the warm liquid filling his mouth from what he supposed was a broken tooth and a bitten tongue, his whole body on fire.

"On your feet, boy," Galic said happily, kicking the warlock in the abdomen. Blood dribbled from his lip as Merlin used the wall to help himself up. The heavy-set man shoved Merlin forward down the tunnel, past tens of workers slaving on at the sides. When finally Merlin felt like he was going to collapse, Galic kicked the back of his knees, and the warlock fell face first on the hard floor. He coughed up pebbles, dust, and blood, his head swimming.

"Olaf, here's a new worker for ya. He's a bitch, so work him hard."

"You know me, Galic, I don't know how to do it any other way."

The men above the warlock laughed, and Galic's retreating footsteps left Merlin alone with another hellish captor. He didn't have time to lift himself up off the ground before Olaf put a heavy boot on Merlin's neck. Groaning in pain as the man pressed hard on him, his sharp boot cutting the boy's pale skin. He then proceeded to lean down and whisper in the boy's ear, his breath warm and rancid on Merlin's face.

"There are 3 rules, boy. 1. Work. 2. Follow orders. 3. Don't try to get away. It's simple enough. Follow those rules, and we won't hurt you—too bad." The man lifted his boot off of Merlin's neck and lifted him roughly off the ground, taking a good look at him. Olaf was a big man, how much of it was muscle and how much of it was fat, Merlin couldn't tell. He was dressed in a long leather apron, just like a butcher, and like a butcher's, his apron was covered with—you guessed it my brilliant reader-blood. "There are 24 hours a day. You sleep 3 of them, you work 20 of them, you rest 1 of them. Clear?"

"As crystal," Merlin coughed, throat sore.

"Good. You start work tomorrow; you'll be working with five other men. They'll be your family. Where they go, you go. What they do, you do. For the five of you, there will be two guards. Since Galic doesn't like you, and one of my men died yesterday, you'll be joining my family." Olaf put his arm around Merlin's thin shoulders, guiding him down another flight of stairs and through another hallway to a large room. Taking a good look at it, Merlin realized it must be where they put the prisoners. The floor was covered in grates, walkways separating one from another. Olaf led the warlock to one such grate, pulled it open, and tossed the boy in without so much as a glance as to who might be below.

"Nighty night. See you bright and early tomorrow," the jailer said with mock sweetness, his wide face splitting to reveal a wide variety of yellowed and broken teeth. And with that wretched smile, Olaf pulled the grate closed and locked it with a loud and resonating, leaving Merlin broken and exhausted in the dark, with absolutely no strength to face what might be down there with him.

YAY FOR CLIfFIES! You haven't encountered them yet, but this is the first of many (sorry, need to keep you hooked somehow), and I think for a first this is pretty decent and kind. So, basically, if you hadn't realized -the whole 'setting up the story', it's over. Now to the action. Because the action has started, I have a few comments about violence, just so you are aware:

1. Whenever there is something like violence, or sexuality, in the chapter, I WILL WARN YOU. Just for triggering issues, etc. etc. So look for those at the beginning of each chapter.

2. If you are reading the chapter and you find the description to be too much, no problem. Just message me and I will send you an edited version of the chapter without the violence if you want to continue reading and find out what happens at the end.

3. The violence, depending on the plot point, can last several chapters. I do my best to give you a break with fluffy chapters and scenes, but the violence can get a bit much. If it become gratuitous, please, please, please, please, please, tell me. The violence shouldn't be overwhelming, so if my writing become vulgar than just say it and I'll edit.

Reviews. Thank you so so so very much. Honestly, they are for both me and you. It lets me know if people are interested, what are the high-points and what things you enjoy so I can continue incorporating things like that into later chapters. Writing a little something in that magical white box and pressing the pretty blue button is so so appreciated, you have no idea. If you have nothing to say about the chapter, DROP BY AND FANGIRL. Trust me, I will happily shriek along with you. Just be sure to type spoiler at the beginning for those of us who aren't caught up.

thanks again to Merlyn and her brilliant beta-ing ( gods, you guys would not want to SEE the first draft).

thANK YOU aGAIN SO SO SO VERY MuCH! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE CHAPTER AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

-ladywarlock