Another huge thank you once again.
Warning: Just got a new job with shifts that I'm trying to get used to, updates may be a bit slower at the moment. Don't worry, they will still be coming though!
"Just a little bit? Just for me?" Gaius' voice had taken on a tone he hadn't used in many years as he crouched in front of Arthur, desperately trying to tempt the prince into drinking once again. He meant what he had said to Merlin, if they could get Arthur to regain some of his strength, the physician truly believed the power of the burn would subside.
But Arthur wasn't even looking at him. His expression had closed down as soon as Merlin had left, something in him seeming to realise the servant wouldn't be returning for some time. Gaius had tried, he really had. But although the prince had permitted him to check the dressings over his back, he hadn't reacted to anything else. Percival was standing at one edge of the clearing, his sword in his hand as he gazed into the forest surrounding them, an unmoving pillar of strength. Even if it didn't reassure Arthur, Gaius was feeling far more comfortable having the man protecting them. Leon was mirroring his position on the other side, gazing down the path the missing members of their party had disappeared down. Gaius could sense the man sending concerned gazes over his shoulder every few minutes.
The physician couldn't blame him though. Merlin aside, Leon knew Arthur the most out of everyone here. He had seen Arthur at both his strongest moments, and his weakest. And the Knight had been there for the young man every step of the way. Seeing him this destroyed with nothing there to physically hit in order to drive Arthur's demons away was killing the man.
Sighing, Gaius made to move away. It was clear Arthur was not going to attempt anything without Merlin there. Whilst he was glad that his ward managed to get some reaction from the man, Gaius was worried. The King certainly wasn't going to take it well that his once proud heir was only reacting to a servant. But still, Gaius knew they would just have to cross that bridge when they came to it. The first thing they had to worry about was getting Arthur fit to travel. But before he could back away, Arthur flinched.
Immediately, Gaius was crouching back down by him.
"Arthur? What is it?" He knew he wouldn't get a verbal reaction, for still not a sound had crossed Arthur's lips. But in the hours he had spent over the last few days monitoring Arthur for the slightest reaction, he knew he would be able to read enough in Arthur's eyes to be able to take at least a guess at what had him reacting. Arthur almost seemed to be shaking, his hand clutching around Merlin's neckerchief with desperation, his eyes locked on something behind the physician.
Glancing over his shoulder, Gaius frowned.
"It's just Rand, Arthur. You know, he helped save you. There is nothing to fear, you are safe. Relax for me, my prince. You must relax. You are safe."
"How wrong you are, old man." Gaius' head jerked up just in time to see Leon suddenly fly across the clearing, hitting a tree on the opposite side and sliding down, motionless.
"Gaius!" Percival's shout was mirrored by his thundering footsteps as he tore across the clearing. Within only seconds, he was standing over Arthur, his posture showing that he was ready to die to protect Arthur.
"How noble." The voice sounded again, only this time from the other end of the clearing, causing the two alert men to frantically gaze in that direction instead. Gaius flinched as he felt the rush of dark magic spreading throughout the area. Percival didn't seem to notice in the same way, before he too suddenly collapsed, narrowly missing falling on Arthur. Gaius immediately reacted, his hands flying as he sought out the pulse of the man. He was still alive, but his heartbeat was far too shallow and erratic for Gaius to be happy with. Leaving one hand resting against Percival's neck, Gaius glanced around him.
He didn't have to search long before a tall, wiry man stepped out from the shadows, his face twisted in an evil leer that sent shudders down the physician's spine. His eyes were sunken deep into their sockets, leaving him with a haunted appearance even though it was obvious he was glancing between Percival and Leon in satisfaction.
"They don't do their reputation much good, do they?" He asked conversationally. Gaius wasn't paying any attention to the man however. Instead, he was focused purely on Arthur. To say the prince had reacted to the man would have been an understatement, but it left Gaius with a clear view on just how the royal had been dealing with this for eight months. Everything in him went rigid to the point Gaius could see his knuckles turning white as his fingers dug through Merlin's scarf and into his palm on the other side. He was refusing to look anywhere in the vague direction of the stranger, but tremors were running up and down his body. Gaius knew this was one of the prince's tormenters, and an anger he had not felt for years sparked into life as he drew himself to his feet.
"I don't know who you are, but I suggest you leave. More Knights are on their way as we speak." He just hoped Merlin would know something was wrong.
"Oh how rude of me. I'm Dunran. Old friend of the prince's there, didn't he tell you? Oh wait, I forgot, he wouldn't have..." As Dunran's voice trailed off, Gaius found himself taking a step forward, pure hatred leaking out of him to such an extent that if he had stopped to think about it, the physician would have scared himself with how powerful the emotion was. Dunran, however, did not seem to be impressed.
"Rand? Deal with them." Gaius stopped, shock crashing over him as the young man he had taken into his care got slowly to his feet, looking uncomfortable but nodding all the same. Gaius stepped protectively in front of Arthur, shielding Percival at the same time.
"Don't be so gallant, old man, there is no reason for you to die as well." Gaius ignored Dunran though as Rand stepped forward slightly hesitantly.
"Rand, what are you doing? You've been helping look after Arthur, you've been helping him for months?"
"You actually bought that?" Dunran's cold laugh made Gaius shut his eyes in resignation. "I'd contemplate giving you your freedom for spinning that yarn, Randolph."
"You're a slave?"
"He's my slave," Dunran beckoned Rand over with a jerk of his finger, and the young man scurried over and threw himself at the sorcerer's feet. Dunran's hand stroked his hair gently. "And he has done well."
"What have you done?"
"Got my prize back. Well done, Rand." He continued to stroke Rand's hair, and Gaius felt sickened by the way the young man leaned into the touch, a satisfied smile on his face.
"Everything you told Merlin was a lie." He spat, anger pounding through him. They had tried to leave Rand alone with Arthur, believing that the man would be able to help get through to him. No wonder Arthur was still having trouble adjusting to their presence.
"No, it was all true." Dunran responded silkily, handing Rand something that was obscured in his hand. Gaius didn't know what it was, and at this moment in time, he didn't care. "Rand was imprisoned with the brat there. Until we broke him, not long after the prince arrived. Arthur did tell those stories, did try to protect Rand. For a week. Ever since then, you have been my loyal slave, haven't you?"
Rand pressed himself closer to Dunran, glancing up at his master. It was clear he was asking some sort of question, for Dunran suddenly nodded and Rand jumped to his feet. Before Gaius could comprehend what was happening, he found that he had been pulled fiercely away from Arthur and pushed against one of the nearby trees. Rand forced him into a sitting position before tying the old man's hands.
"What are you going to do?" Gaius was reasonably proud of how steady his voice was, but inside, he was terrified. It had taken the group days to get Arthur to begin to respond to them, this could so easily set them back again. But with both Percival and Leon out cold and the others nowhere near, the physician had no idea how they were going to get out of this one.
Dunran didn't verbally answer, but instead strode over to the prince. Gaius wasn't sure if he was relieved or not to see Arthur had pushed himself away. It was a sign that he was regaining enough of his strength in order to be able to fight back, but judging by the leer on Dunran's face, Gaius wasn't sure that was a good thing.
Arthur had barely been able to move more than a pace or so before Dunran was upon him. In one movement, the sorcerer had pulled his belt away, bending down and tying Arthur's hands in front of him with it as he forced the neckerchief Arthur was still clutching out of the prince's hand. Whilst the action itself caused Gaius to growl angrily, that wasn't what had the sheer horror pulsing through him. It was Arthur's reaction to Dunran removing his belt, and in that one look of utter helplessness that crossed the prince's face, Gaius knew who was responsible for just how torn up the once confident prince was.
Dunran used his foot to roll Arthur, trapping the prince's hands underneath him before grabbing onto his shoulder and pulling him to his feet.
"Rand, guard the old man. If those two should stir, or the boy turns up, you know what to do."
"Yes, Master!" Rand exclaimed, almost excitedly as he sat down in front of Gaius. The boy's eyes were gleaming, and Gaius felt sickened when he realised just how much of a hold Dunran had over him.
"Leave him alone!" Gaius cried as Dunran strode to the edge of the clearing, pulling Arthur with him. "Please! Just leave him alone!"
His desperate plea only caused Dunran to pause, grabbing hold of Arthur's chin and forcing the prince to look towards the physician as the sorcerer whispered something in his ear. Gaius had no idea what was said, but he knew Arthur didn't believe it as the man refused to look away. His expression broke the physician's heart, pleading for the old man to do something to help him. Gaius tried to get to his feet, but Rand quickly and swiftly forced him back down again. The physician could only watch in desperation as Arthur was dragged out of sight.
"Come back, Merlin." He whispered under his breath, sending a silent prayer that his ward would somehow be on his way back.
Gaius wasn't the only one wanting Merlin. Arthur struggled weakly against the bruising grip on his upper arm, but he was no match for Dunran's strength. The man didn't walk very far before unceremoniously throwing Arthur to the floor in front of him. The prince immediately tried to rise. The few days away from being tormented every day had certainly done him wonders, even if the others had yet to see it in him. He was not going to simply take this.
But Dunran merely placed his foot on Arthur's stomach, leaving the young man completely pinned to the floor, blinking back tears as his back flared into life. Unlike before, although it hurt, the burn wasn't needed. The wounds had finally begun to heal enough in order for Arthur to stay focused. Instead, he concentrated on getting his breathing back under control as he watched Dunran pull a length of rope out of a deep pocket.
As the man swung it with ease up into the tree, Arthur swallowed hard. He knew this was not going to end well as Dunran caught the falling end with ease. He created a loop, holding onto both ends of the rope as he approached Arthur. In one swift movement, he had jerked the belt away from the royal's hands and dropped the loop over them, tugging on the rope to pull them tight. Satisfied Arthur couldn't get away, he slowly but surely began pulling on the other end of the rope. It almost worked as a pulley, and within seconds, Arthur was forced onto his knees as the rope continued to move.
Dunran didn't stop there though, instead beginning to walk slowly backwards, drawing the prince up further. He didn't even stop when Arthur was standing, taking it back that little bit more. By the time he tied the rope off against another tree, Arthur was on tip-toes, his wrists burning as the rope took nearly all of his weight. He tried pulling against the bonds, his hands twisting desperately as he tried to slip them from the ropes.
If Dunran noticed, he didn't say anything, instead opting to watch Arthur struggle. After a few moments, he walked back over to the prince, drawing out a knife as he did so. Arthur froze, but the twisted man simply cut the bandages swaddling his back away.
"Someone's healing nicely. Tut tut, we can't have that. But that will just have to wait, we have more pressing matters to deal with. Did you know you had been sold, you royal brat? But you denied your new master his first night with you. Now that's just not allowed. He's coming here, soon. Nice reward for delivering the prince."
Arthur tried not to shudder as Dunran ran his hands over the prince's shoulders, fingers digging in tightly in something that almost resembled a cruel caress.
"And you know what he told me?" Dunran's breath was hot in Arthur's ear, and the prince tried to turn away, only to have the sorcerer grab his hair, holding his head still. "He told me I could have you any way I wanted as long as you were alive when he arrived at sundown. And oh look, we have an hour or so."
Drawing back, Dunran kept his hand fisted in Arthur's hair before slamming him against the tree. Immediately, hot blood trickled down from his forehead and Arthur felt his arms take even more of his weight as his legs gave way slightly at the dizziness. Once again though, not a sound escaped him, barriers being thrown back into place to allow him to avoid the torment he was sure Dunran was about to throw at him.
Sure enough, the man's hands left Arthur's shoulders, instead tugging at the breeches someone had put on the royal. Despite the fact Arthur was struggling more violently, the man simply lifted Arthur's legs, causing the prince to suck in a sharp breath as he found himself literally hanging from the tree, the trousers being torn off completely. Dunran pressed himself against Arthur's back, and the prince squeezing his eyes shut as he felt the man's hard length pressing against him even through his own clothes.
"And you know what we can do in an hour?" Dunran's voice was soft and Arthur jerked away in horror when the man's hand closed around his own member. Twisting his shoulders, he tried to pull himself away, but Dunran rested his hand against the back of Arthur's neck, holding him still. Thankfully, the man's hand let go, but Arthur felt a sob rising inside of him when he felt the sorcerer's hand fiddling with his own breeches.
Dunran was forced to hold Arthur tighter as the prince fought back harder. When a flying foot jerked the man's knees from under him, Dunran snarled. In one movement, he slammed his whole weight into the prince, pinning him completely against the tree. He was breathing heavily as his hand fondled his cock, lining himself up against the frantically squirming prince.
"You are going to regret that, blondie." Arthur was trembling violently as he felt rough hands parting his arse cheeks, something hard probing them. He didn't stop struggling, losing self control as tears slid hot and fast down his cheeks from under closed eyelids. He truly thought he had been safe.
Although something was nudging against his torn and abused entrance, nothing else happened. After what felt like a lifetime, the pressure disappeared and Arthur finally plucked up the courage to open his eyes, turning his head.
He was not expecting the sight that greeted him. Gwaine had his sword at Dunran's throat, fury pounding out of him in a way Arthur had never witnessed from the man. Even as he watched, Lancelot swung his sword at the taut rope binding Arthur, and the prince's legs gave way as the tension holding him up was suddenly released. Lancelot made to move over to free him completely, but found his attention was drawn by Dunran.
Gwaine had backed him into a tree, his hand clearly resisting running the man through there and then. It was almost as if he was waiting for something. But Dunran didn't look the slightest bit concerned, and that was what had Lancelot hurrying over.
"He's a tight little whore, isn't he?" Dunran grinned manically as he suddenly found himself with two swords at his throat.
"He is your prince and future King." Lancelot snarled, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Arthur's trembling form. Worry coursed through him about what the latest attack could have done to the man.
"If he lives that long." Dunran responded smoothly. Only Arthur saw his hand making strange jerking movements at his side, and even as the prince moved to try and warn the two, both Lancelot and Gwaine were suddenly lifted into the air. Both men almost simultaneously dropped their swords, trading confused and fearful glances as they struggled to draw in a breath. For a moment, they fought against the spell furiously. Gwaine was the first to lose consciousness, although Lancelot was barely a second behind him.
Arthur found himself crawling across the clearing, his bound hands making it easier said than done. His push was weak in comparison to what he would have been otherwise able to achieve, and although he was immediately backhanded sharply, Dunran's concentration broke and both Knights fell to the ground with muffled thuds.
"You stupid brat," Dunran snarled, drawing his fist back and punching Arthur squarely on the chin, sending his head snapping to the side, his body following. Blows continued to rein down on the unprotected prince, before a quiet yet determined voice cut through the clearing.
"Get away from him. Now." His arms had wrapped around his stomach as he tried to protect himself, but Arthur found himself uncurling slightly at the voice. If he had thought Gwaine had seemed angry, it was nothing compared to what he was getting from the usually calm and soothing man the voice belonged to. He glanced around before his eyes finally rested on a figure standing slightly shakily against a tree at the far end of the clearing they were in. A deep gash ran across his arm, bleeding profusely. But his eyes were livid, and Arthur felt a rush of safety overwhelm him.
Merlin had arrived.