Chapter 14
Arthur fell asleep with his head resting on Merlins leg.
When Merlin woke up the next morning he had no idea where he was, it was far too light to be the stone room, then he felt someone moving near his legs, he immediately started kicking and thrashing at the air "Let me go. Arthur. Help me" he screamed in a strained voice. Arthur woke up to Merlin's desperate screams and kicking "Merlin stop" he tried to hold him still but Merlin just shoved him away, grabbing hold of Merlin's arms Arthur pinned him down "Merlin it's me Arthur" he tilted Merlin's head up to look at him. Through his panic Merlin thought he heard the voice he'd been dreaming about "Arthur?" his body shook as he cried "yes Merlin it's me your safe now" Arthur sat on the bed pulling Merlin into his chest, holding his tightly as he cried his heart out.
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It's ok to cry you know" Callum played with Adianna's hair "I know, but compared to Merlin I wasn't hurt at all" she looked up at Callum "you saved me before Uther could hurt me, thank you" Callum kissed her lips to silence her "I promised to protect you and I would rather die than break that promise" "I know" Adianna's lips turned into a sad smile "I just wish we'd gotten to Merlin sooner" "don't we all, he was down there for weeks and all time Uther was" Callum slammed his theist down unable to say it, "you can Arthur can't blame yourself, you saved us in the end that's what matters, me and Merlin were here alive with you both. Promise me you won't do this to yourself" Adianna held Callum's face in her hands "please" Callum took hold of her hands "I promise". Lying together on their bed Callum finally asked "what about Merlin, you've know him longer than anyone, there are probably things about him even Arthur doesn't know, will he get through this?" "I hope so" Adianna whispered wiping a tear away from her eye.
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When all his tears were gone Arthur gently laid Merlin down on his bed, Arthur lay down beside him, Arthur wrapped his arms around Merlin who clung to him. Shakings where he lay Merlin tired to speak "I'm sorry" "what" Arthur yelled "he...I shouldn't have...couldn't stop him... my fault" Merlin sobbed, Arthur heart sank when he realised that Merlin believed this was all his fault "Merlin look at me" Merlin did so "this was not and never will be your fault do you understand me. It was Uther, that stupid sick disgusting man" Arthur hissed "he said it was my fault. Told me it's what I get for prancing around with you and Adianna teasing him" Merlin said coldly "he was lying" "but" "but nothing Merlin you did not cause this, promise me you won't do this to yourself, promise me you won't blame yourself" Merlin managed a weak nod "I'll try".
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"It hurts, why does it hurt so much" Merlin mumbled "were did it go, when's it coming back? I don't feel the same without it" Merlin wrapped his arms around his knees hugging them close to his chest "what's gone Merlin?" Arthur placed his hands on Merlins shoulders "my magic, why don't I have it anymore? Arthur get it back please I need it" Merlin begged eyes in tears. Arthur didn't know what to do, he thought that once Merlin woke up again he'd have his magic back but now he didn't even have a glue how he lost it "it's ok Merlin I'll get your magic back" Arthur promised picking Merlin up. Craddeling Merlin in his arms Arthur walked into Callum room and placed Merlin down next to a sleeping Callum and Adianna "It's ok they won't hurt you they'll keep you safe" Merlin looked scared but nodded "when they wake up tell them where I've gone" Arthur whispered, he thought for a minute before bending down and placing a quick kiss on Merlins lips before leaving the room to find Uther again.
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Callum didn't remember falling asleep but somehow he had and now he had been woken up by a quite mumble. Sitting up Callum saw Adianna hugging Merlin "It'll be ok" she kept repeating "no, Uther, Arthur, magic gone" Merlin mumbled beside her "Merlin what are you doing here?" Callum asked before he realised the obvious "Where's Arthur?" he demanded, Merlin looked up with sad eyes "he went to go talk to Uther" Callum was out of the door before Merlin finished his sentence.
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Arthur walked into the throne room, it had been at least one day since he found Merlin again, it could have been more he couldn't remember. Of course Uther was sitting on his throne, the one thing he thought could protect him from Arthur "ha stupid old man" Arthur thought himself. Looking to the centre of the room Uther saw his son staring at him with hate and slight sigh of pity.
"Arthur" Uther welcomed him "Uther" "what do you require my son" Uther smiled kindly "don't call me that" Arthur growled "I may still be the prince and I will be king but I am no longer your son" Uther raised an eyebrow acting as if he was unaffected "very well prince what do you require, but would you mind telling the court your reasons for this outburst" Arthur smirked "very well" Arthur turned to the crowd "for a month your beloved king lead us all to believe that my love Merlin had killed himself" in the background of the crowd Gwen flinched "but in reality Uther kidnapped him , locked him in a secret room within this castle, abused him, whenever he felt like it raped him and left him scared. Not only is this happen to Merlin but 3 days ago he tried to do this to Adianna only Merlin stopped him before he could, by doing this he lost part of himself and there is nothing I won't do to make him hole again". Uthers face went red with anger; he had not expected Arthur to reveal this, turning back to Uther Arthur smirked at his anger "what do you want" Uther spat "give it back" Arthur ordered "give what back" "I know you drugged him now give Merlin his magic back" Arthur said in a threatening tone "you fool you've exposed him, I can have him killed at my will" Uther laughed "Is that so" Arthur drew his sword "you could try but I promise you'll fail" Arthur took a step forward waiting for Uthers reaction.
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"Why did Arthur go see Uther?" Adianna asked pushing some haircut off Merlins face, Merlin turned his head from where he sat curled up on the bed "he said he was going to get my magic back" "what? How?" questions feel out of Adianna's moth before she could stop them "it hurts Adianna, it's like I'm only half here" Merlin lowered his head "he'll get it back Merlin" she tried to smile "we have to go help them though" "why I don't, can't" Merlin stumbled "It's like you and your magic. Arthur's only half here when he's away from you" Adianna took hold of Merlin's hand leading him from the room.
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"Come on Uther what you will do now"Arthur laughed"don't temp me boy" Uther hissed hand moving to his own sword. At the moment the door to the room burst open and Arthur lunged towards Uther, pounding him into the wall, resting a blade on his throat Arthur raised an eyebrow "looks like you better not be tempting me" Arthur pressed lightly on the blade "now tell me oh great king how do I give Merlin his magic back" Uther's laughter died down as Arthur pressed hard enough the draw blood "tell me" he growled "it wears off" Uther coughed " it'll be back in a couple of days, he'll be as good as knew" Uther laughed "thank you" Arthur's voice was sarcastic "but who says I'll let you live for what you've done to him" he hissed at his king. Around the room the guards and people a like where to shocked to move to their kings defence.
"Arthur stop" Merlin pleaded, Arthurs head spun around but he never lifted his blade away from Uther neck "what? Why" he yelled instantly regretting it when he saw Merlin flinch beside Adianna "I...I don't want you to kill him over me" Merlin stuttered "he's your father, your family you can't kill him" "No Merlin your my family he's a monster. You are all I care about and he hurt you, he almost took you from me" Arthur's grip tightened on Uther's shoulders "but I'm still here" Arthur didn't move his blade "Arthur please I couldn't live with myself if you killed someone over me" Merlin begged "Merlin" "please" Arthur looked into Merlins pleading eyes and dropped his sword "you stupid boy" Uther slammed Arthur into the wall gripping his throat "you think I'd let you get away with this" Uther tightened his hold on Arthur's throat, Arthur gasped for breath. "Arthur" Merlin screamed fighting against Adianna who held him in place, "you're a fool" Uthers eyes widened in fear as he was flown across the room into yet another wall, grasping at his own throat Uther yelled for the guards to help him , but none did out of fear for what was doing this to the king. "Stop Merlin STOP" Adianna shook Merlin by the shoulders "It's...it's not me."
"CALLUM" Arthur screamed, the room turned to stare at the prince standing at the door, arm out stretched, hate filled eyes shining gold glued on Uther. Walking forward Callum lowered his hand dropping Uther to the ground 'you... your. A. A." Uther couldn't speak "a sorcerer, warlock, magic" Callum laughed "yeah I guess I am, have been for a while" "Callum you don't" Arthur began to argue "I know what I'm doing I'm sick of hiding this" Callum cut across him, Arthur nodded running to Merlin holding the shaking boy beside him "you ok?" he whispered in Merlins ear, he just nodded of all the things he had not seen this coming, "Callum... you said you had to hide, we had to keep it a secret while we were here, otherwise he'd... kill you" Adianna trembled "No...no it's ok Adianna no one is going to harm us" he took her hand pushing some fallen hair out of her hair, he looked at Arthur and Merlin "any of us" he smiled at Arthur's nod "How long have you known" Uther yelled at Arthur "have you ever wondered why Callum really left that day, all those years ago" Arthur smirked "why?" Uther screamed "be quite old man, have you not realised Arthur is a better man then you ever where" one of Arthurs knights called out standing behind Arthur followed by five more "you really want to know why I left" Uther scowled at Callum "Arthur found me one day, making a stone hover, told me to run, force me to promise not to come back until it was safe, turns out life is never safe around you" Callum turned away from Uther.
"What do we do now?" Adianna asked, the four had walked out of the throne room and had now hidden themselves away in Arthurs room, Callum looked over at Arthur from where he stood by the window "It's up to you, I am loyal to you not Uther, it's you I'll follow not him" "thank you" Arthur smiled looking down at a sleeping Merlin curled with his head resting in Arthur's lap "I'm going to take Merlin home to see his mother, maybe if he spends some time away from here he'll start to recover, or at least that's what I hope" he raised his head "your both welcome to come if you would like to" of course" "you couldn't stop me" Adianna warned "were leaving tomorrow morning". Adianna and Callum left a little while later, before letting himself fall asleep he lent down to kiss the side of Merlin's face "don't worry your magic will be back soon, I'll make you better again" he gently whispered to Merlin. In his sleep Merlin smiled for the first time since the day he went away.
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Well that took longer than I thought it would, it's defiantly longer. All well hope you like it, tell me what you think if you feel like it, nim1611, ily xoxoxo
