Chapter 12

"Why did you do it?" Adianna asks hours later, leaning against a wall with Merlin resting his head in her lap "I promised to protect you" Merlin shrugged, wincing at the pain in his shoulder, looking down at her friend Adianna noticed some cuts and marks on Merlins wrists "Merlin?" Merlin moved his head to see her better "has Uther put your wrists in chains?" she asked, Merlin opened his mouth to say something when the door slammed open, Merlin sank closer to Adianna as Uthers mutated laugh filled the room. "Ah I see your awake Adianna" Uther chuckled to himself "now for the fun to begin" Merlin grabbed Adianna's wrist "remember what I told you" he hissed. Adianna went into shock the only thing she could remember was Merlin and something about a spell, that meant "no, no not again", she begged in her mind "NO don't hurt him, please" she begged to late as Merlin was ripped from her arms, throwing Merlin aside Uther stalked towards Adianna "now I know that little spell won't let me touch your body in any pleasurable way but" he pulled her up by the neck and shoved her into the stone wall" that doesn't mean I can't make sure your precious Callum will never want you again" Uthers grip tightened around her neck as she trashed out at him "now now" Uther slammed her head back against the cold wall, screaming in pain Adianna felt blood drip down her neck, she didn't notice Merlin standing up behind Uther "wouldn't want to ruin your pretty little face now would we?"Uther laughed as he raised his fist and brought it down on her face. Adianna closed eyes but she could still feel the pain as Uther punched, hit and slapped her face and body, but then it was gone, she opened her eyes to see Uther on the ground and Merlin standing over him.

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"Gwen" Morgona called "yes my lady what is it?" Gwen appeared at the door "have you seen Uther, do you know where he is?" Arthur demanded "why?" Gwen looked confused "No reason" Callum glared at his brother, Gwen had no idea about their theory and if she found out now she'd most likely run off and warn Uther. "Gwen please it's very important that we speak to him right now" Morgona pleaded "I shouldn't tell you this but" Gwen paused and looked around the room making sure they were alone" in the banquet hall, behind a picture there is this secret door, Uther goes down there most days, no one really knows why, I'd look there, pleases don't say anything about me" "don't worry we won't" Arthur promised grabbing Callum's arm and pulling him from the room "thank you" Morgona called as she ran to catch up to the two princes who were already half way down the hall.

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Adianna's heart rose only to sink again. As quickly as Uther was down he was up again, grabbing hold of Merlin Uther shoved him into the closet wall, slipping his finger through Merlins hair Uther pulled his face back and slammed it back in the cold stone, he kicked, punched and cut Merlin until every inch of his body was either bruised or bleeding, all the time Merlin stood there taking it with a small smirk on his lips. "Uther. Please I beg you stop" Uther ignored her, still focussed entirely on Merlin "you ungrateful, unworthy, evil person, by the time I'm done with you you'll wish you were never born" Uther growled close the Merlins ear, Merlin looked up and laughed "I already wish I wasn't but don't worry not long now and I won't be alive much longer" he laughed at himself, Uther took a step backward as if Merlin burnt him. Adianna couldn't understand, she was beginning to think Merlin had finally snapped when Uther moved and she saw it, a small dagger lunged into her friends side, being held by Merlins own hand, Adianna looked up at Merlins smiling face and screamed.

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As they ran through crowds of people Callum swore he heard Adianna scream. Barging their way through the doors to the banquet room Arthur and Callum started ripping picture down from the walls. Throwing yet another painting on the ground he heard a snarling laugh and a desperate plea to stop "it's over here" he yelled. Kicking in the door Callum started to down the long and narrow hall. Morgona made to go through but Arthur stopped her "don't argue it's too dangerous, go get Gaius their going the need his help" Morgona knew he was right and even though she wanted more than anything to help stop Uther she ran from the room to help. Taking a deep breath Arthur ran into the dark to find his Merlin.

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Merlins smile was still glued to his face as he fell to the ground clutching his side as the pain set in, "sorry Adianna" he whispered closing his eyes "no Merlin" she screamed trying to get close to him, Uther bent down and pulled the dagger from Merlins side, "what a way to die you coward" he hissed, kicking at merlins side Uther turned to Adianna "It's just us now" "Merlin she moaned" stretching, trying to reach him "mine" Uther growled and bite down on her neck, Adianna yelp "get off of me" she shoved him away, Uther just laughed and pushed her onto the bed, tracing a hand along her thigh Uther licked up her arm "looks like the spells broken" he laughed as tears dripped down a trapped Adianna's face.

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Arthur and Callum ran through the dark until they found another door. Arthur kicked it in not wanting to see what was on the other side of it. Sweeping their eyes across the room, Arthur and Callum frozen in their place at the sight that met their eyes. Arthur's eye's stayed glued to an unconscious Merlin lay bleeding on the ground. Callum looked on in shock for 3 seconds as the man he had once tried to call father held his love down on the bed before he attacked. "Get off her now" Callum growled as he gripped Uther shoulder and heaved him off his love. Adianna looked up to see her prince standing protectively in front of her "she's not yours anymore" Uther hissed as Callum punched him in the face "you're disgusting" Callum spat at Uther.

With shaking hands Arthur touched the side of Merlins neck. His heart started bleeding when he felt a pulse, "at least his alive" he thought to himself, "Merlin please open your eyes" Arthur almost jumped when Adianna appeared beside him "what happened?" Arthur tried to stop Merlins bleeding "Arthur" Merlin coughed "I'm here" Arthur kissed the top of Merlins forehead "I'm sorry" was the last thing Merlin said before closing his eyes again. A loud crashing came from behind them as Callum was thrown into a table, "Keep him alive" Arthur hissed at Adianna. Taking a step forward Arthur grabbed Uthers arm before he could hurt Callum again, by now Callum lips was bleeding but he anger in his eyes could not be missed, "you're a liar" he hissed at his father, kicking his legs so he would fall to the ground "you're a monster" Arthur pulled him up and shoved him into a wall "you're disgusting, evil and you will never touch my Merlin again" Arthur drew a knife from his belt and held it against his father's throat "what's stopping me from killing you now?" Uther looked over at a half dead Merlin and laughed "kill me now and you'll loss any chance of saving him" Arthur pressed the knife harder against his skin, leaving a faint line of blood "Arthur he's right, we need to get him out of her now" Adianna yelled "forget Uther, we'll get him later but now we need to help Merlin" Callum stood behind him. Arthur took one look at Merlin and let Uther go, as he turned around Uther laughed so Arthur punched his face, breaking his nose. Leaving Uther sprawled out on the ground Arthur picked Merlin up, holding him close to his heart Arthur walked out of the door, leaving the dark room for the first and final time.

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Callum slammed the door shut behind him as he helped Adianna stand, Arthur placed Merlin on the long table in the centre of the room, tracing his finger threw dark locks of hair Arthur prayed to every god he'd ever heard of that Merlin would somehow survive this. Callum sat Adianna down in a chair next to the table. As the door opened Arthur looked up to see a distraught looking Uther, Morgona stood behind him. "Is...Is that really him?" Gaius asked not once letting his eyes leave Merlins pale body, taking a step forward Gaius touched too side of Merlins face "what happened to him?" "He. Uther. Bed. Locked away. Screamed but no one came" Adianna stuttered, Callum knelled down in front of her knees and sshhed her, taking hold of her hands Callum turned to his head to Arthur "I don't know what happened, I found him like this, please Gaius you have to help him" Arthur begged tears running down his face.

Arthur sat and watched as Gaius treated Merlin. Every so often Merlin would groan in pain as a new wound was discovered and Arthur would wince when he saw a scar that hadn't been there before on Merlins body. Morgona pulled a blanket around Adianna shoulders "I think I should take her back to my rooms so she can sleep" Morgona spoke to Callum "but" Adianna held on to Callum "It's ok I'm coming to and you do need sleep" Callum gently picked Adianna up. Taking a look down Callum sighed when he saw that Adianna was already asleep, taking one last look at Arthur Callum and Morgona left the room.

When Gaius stopped working Arthur held Merlins hand, to his surprise it was staring to warm up again "well" Gaius wiped some of the blood off his hands "It could have been worse, you were almost too late" Arthur's face turned pale "he lost a lot of blood, most of it in areas where I wish I didn't know what Uther did to him, his wrist is broken and some of his ribs are bruised" Gaius explained "will he be ok?" Arthur whispered "physically yes but there's no telling what's going on in his head" "what do you mean" "Arthur it looks like Uther has... forced Merlin to sleep with him...I've seen this happen before, for the person who was forced life will be hard, he'll need you there when he wakes up" Arthur nodded and for the second time in what seemed like a decade held Merlin close to his heart as he carried him back to their room. Laying Merlin down on the bed Arthur waited for Merlin to open his eyes, slowly planning how he would make Uther pay for this.

Thanks for reading. Hope you liked it, I just finished my Macbeth essay at school do this is my celebration. Also the 1st chapter of my new story will be up tomorrow- hopefully. Reviews make me happy. Ily xoxox