The two weeks went far too quickly for Merlin to be happy with. After he had yelled at Gwaine for fetching him a third night running when Arthur was suffering a nightmare, he had eventually plucked up the courage to tell the Knights about Uther's threats. Gwaine had ranted, Lancelot had looked disappointed and Leon had stayed quiet, too much of a Knight to react against the royal family. He had, however, cast a sleeping Arthur a long, sad look.

But telling them was the best thing he could have done. When Arthur awoke screaming the next night, they refused to fetch his servant. When Merlin did turn up in the morning, it was to find the room in complete chaos and the Knights all looking completely exhausted. They had spent half the night battling to keep Arthur in his room, the prince wanting the escape. The men simply didn't have the same knack Merlin did for calming him down. But it was then, however, they knew that they were going to really have to work at this.

Leon upped Arthur's training, leaving the prince so exhausted at the end of the day that he fell into dreamless sleeps, and that in turn helped bring back some more of his strength. Gaius had admitted that he thought Arthur would get worse once they had returned to Camelot because he would be worried about people's reactions, and it killed Merlin that he was right. A week in, however, and there were slight changes in Arthur's behaviour. He seemed more confident and his appetite had returned properly – another added bonus of the increased training. More colour was back in his cheeks and it had been a good day indeed when he had laughed at something Merlin had said, even if he did cover it up by then cuffing his servant over the head.

The progress continued well into the second week, and yet Merlin had not told Arthur why they were all suddenly so determined to get him well again. He couldn't face the look on his prince's face when he told him that he had to break his promise and leave him. Arthur's temper was too explosive, and although Merlin knew waiting was just going to make it harder, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Even by the morning of the day he was to be assigned elsewhere, Merlin had not told his rightful master that he wouldn't be serving him for the next few weeks at least. Standing outside Arthur's door, Merlin didn't think he had ever felt so nervous. It was true that Arthur was coping better without him now, and it wasn't Merlin he automatically turned too when he wasn't feeling his best or had just experienced an unpleasant memory. But there was still the odd look from across the room, Arthur's piercing gaze seeking out Merlin's, and the servant's small smile of reassurance being the only thing that could make him relax. Merlin didn't want to lose that, but knew that he had no choice.

Pushing open the door, he took one step inside of Arthur's room, and froze. There were belongings strewn everywhere, and Arthur was sitting in the middle of it, clearly packing.

"What are you doing?" Merlin blurted out, subtle as always. Nothing had been said to him about Arthur going anywhere, and the servant couldn't help but experience a rush of sheer panic.

"This, Merlin, is called packing." Arthur's dry tone had Merlin smile despite himself, glad that Arthur was more back to his old self than he had been for a long time.

"I can see that, Sire. May I ask why?"

"Hunting." Merlin felt the roof of his mouth go dry. Why on earth did Arthur chose now for his venture outside of the castle since returning? Merlin knew he couldn't accompany him, Uther would notice immediately if the servant wasn't there for him to give away to some visiting noble. But how could he let Arthur go out there without him?

"And no, you are not coming." Arthur's blunt tone jerks Merlin out his panic with an unpleasant bump.

"What?"

"You hate hunting."

"Since when has that ever stopped you dragging me along just for the fun of it?" There would have been a time when Merlin would have made some comment about Arthur just wanting to torment him. But the time for careless words had gone. Despite Arthur being so much better, all it took was one word and he could be thrown back into the depths of his mind.

"True. Okay, it's Leon's idea. He wants to get away from the castle, wants me away from the castle. So he's planned a knightly hunt."

"So you'll need a servant..." Merlin couldn't help but sound hopeful. Uther had never specifically ordered him not to leave, only mentioned that he would be given to one of the nobles. So if Arthur was to order him to go with them, who was a mere servant to disobey his master?

"No."

"No?" Merlin's hopes fell again.

"Look, I know why you want to come, and we'll – I'll – be fine, I swear. You hate hunting, and you look like crap, Merlin. Stay and get some rest."

"But Arthur, I..."

"Merlin!" That was a tone Merlin was more used to, the sound of Arthur reaching the end of his patience with his servant. A sign that things had returned to normal, but right now, Merlin wished Arthur still listened to him. When the prince continued, however, his voice was quiet and soft, almost uncertain.

"I have to know I can do this. I'll be safe, nothing can get through the men. I've been relying on you too much, Merlin. I have to know that I can do this without you. You understand that, don't you?"

Merlin mutely nodded, dropping to his knees beside his prince, his king, and began helping Arthur pack the right equipment and clothing rather than the chaos the royal had been throwing in the bag. What could he say? He could hardly protest that Arthur was willing to do something he was unsure about to make sure that he had the courage to be able to lead his people again. Merlin couldn't help but be proud.

"How long are you going for?"

"Possibly up to a week, we'll see." Merlin knew what wasn't being said there. This time, it would be nothing to do with how easy prey was that determined when the party returned, but how Arthur was handling it.

"Does your father know?"

"Leon organised it, Merlin, what do you think?" Merlin snorted slightly in amusement, Arthur giving him a playful shove although he too had a small smile on his face. If anyone ever did anything by the book, it was Leon. No doubt Uther would have known about it long before Arthur did. Uther would have no doubt agreed – anyone who looked had been able to see how the king didn't know how to treat his son. Better to have Arthur away whilst the nobles arrived rather than explaining why Arthur had barricaded himself away.

Merlin helped Arthur pack in silence, shouldering the prince's bag and letting Arthur lead the way down to the stables. The rest of the group was there, and even though Gwaine was chattering away like normal and Elyan had a slightly amused look on his face, there was a tension between them that had never been present before. Merlin fixed Arthur's horse, but turned to find Arthur with a strange look on his face.

"I'll be back in a minute, prepare to leave." Merlin opened his mouth to protest, but Leon cut him off as Arthur backed out of the stables.

"Let him go, he needs a minute. Merlin, the king is coming out onto the steps, the nobles are arriving. Shouldn't you be over there? I'll tell him Gaius needed you."

Merlin shut his eyes with a groan for a moment, wishing that he could split himself in two. He desperately wanted to be riding out with Arthur, seeing for himself the progress that the prince was making, but knew that would undermine the whole reason of why they were going. He had also felt Uther's eyes on him the night before, and knew a warning was being given. He had to be there.

"Look after him." His voice came out as pleading, his sentence making him sound like he was begging more than anything. They had been through so much to get Arthur to this point, he didn't want to lose him now and not be there to help. Lancelot slipped from his horse and clapped his friend on the shoulder gently.

"You know we will. He's safe with us." He promised softly, before a noise in the courtyard made him turn his head. "You better be going."

Merlin too could hear what had distracted Lancelot and knew the first of the nobles were arriving. His time was up, he had to be out on the steps with Uther. Fighting back tears slightly; he nodded and ran swiftly from the stables, not seeing Arthur returning. The prince saw him run, and with a frown on his face, entered the stables. There was certainly something there that he wasn't being told about, but he knew Merlin. Knew the boy could take care of himself more than anyone.

Despite Arthur's faith in him, Merlin only just reached the steps in time. Greetings had been exchanged and judging by the glare Uther shot him, his lateness had been noted. Merlin lowered his eyes to the floor, anger burning brightly in him as he caught sight of the knights leaving out of the corner of his eye. He was trying not to watch them as two nobles stepped forward, bowing before Uther. One had a friendly face, prominent features, but eyes that looked like they were full of mirth. The other was just as defined, but had a permanent scowl lingering and a dark expression.

"I'll have this one if I may, my Liege?" Merlin's head shot upwards at hearing the dark man talk, his tone dripping venom. It was only then that he realised that he was being the one discussed, and as he caught the noble's eye, the man sneered, his eyes running hungrily over Merlin.

"Be my guest, my dear friend." Uther replied warmly, shooting Merlin a look that clearly told him to behave. Merlin swallowed hard, and spared the leaving knights one last glance.

He wasn't expecting Arthur to be staring back at them, his face pale and shocked. Merlin frowned, taking a step forward. Something was wrong... But before he could do so, a hand tightened around his upper arm painfully and he was jerked back.

"You belong to me now, boy." A hot breath tickled his ear and Merlin tried not to wince as he watched Leon carefully take Arthur's reigns and force the prince into moving. Arthur did so reluctantly, but still looked back more than once, clearly distressed.

Before Merlin could do anything about it, he found that the noble was walking off, dragging Merlin with him. The warlock stumbled over his own feet a couple of times and was forced to half jog to keep up with the man before they reached the guest quarters and he was thrown violently into the room. The man entered behind him, shutting and – to Merlin's discomfort – locking the door behind him.

"You need not know my name, boy, but simply address me as Sire or Master. Hard to make accusations when you have no name." Merlin felt his heart flop through his stomach, his mouth going dry as his eyes involuntarily flickered towards the door. Make accusations? Why would he want to make accusations? He could feel his magic humming under his skin, clearly ready to react to whatever could be a potential threat. With a great deal of effort, he forced it back, knowing that he couldn't get himself executed whilst Arthur wasn't here.

"Stand up straight." The man barked, and for the first time in his life, Merlin held his tongue. His mind was buzzing with comebacks, but was also thinking frantically about the look on Arthur's face. Was it this noble he had reacted too; did he know something that Merlin didn't?

No sooner had Merlin stood up, the man back handed him sharply across the face, making his head ring. Before he had recovered from the blow, a fist sunk into his stomach, causing him to double over, wheezing. As he tried to catch his breath, a heavy hand landed on his shoulder and before Merlin knew what was happening, he had been shoved down to his knees.

"Never look me in the eye, understood, whore?"

Merlin immediately looked up, anger spiralling brightly out of his eyes, causing them to turn ever so slightly gold as he struggled to keep the magic back.

"You can't call me that." He stated boldly, but the man crouched down in front of him, a mocking smile in place.

"I can call you whatever the hell I want, slut." His hand drifted down to Merlin's groin, and before the warlock could react, he grabbed hold, hard. Merlin immediately whimpered slightly, freezing to make sure he didn't move.

"You have no other master but me now, do you understand? I saw the way the prince looked back, maybe he is used to what services you have to offer. Oh he knows me of old, boy, and I'm going to take great pleasure in destroying him. But thanks to that look on his face, I might have just found a way to do so." He let go of Merlin, but fisted his hand in the boy's hair again. Dragging Merlin upright, the noble ignored the way Merlin was trying to prise his hands away and the gasps of pain he could hear coming from the boy as he dragged him over to the bed. Forced to his knees once more, Merlin didn't have time to react as he felt his hands tied behind the bed post, leaving him with no escape.

More than ever, he could feel his magic determined to come rushing to his defence. But it would be his word against a nobles, and he knew technically they did have the right to treat the servants however they wanted. This was not the first time this had happened to Merlin – being the Crown Prince's personal manservant seemed to make him something of a target – but last time Arthur had been around to show the man in question what he thought of that type of behaviour. This time, the prince was deep within the forest, determined that he could survive this without his servant.

Right now, however, Merlin wasn't so sure he could survive without Arthur. Another slap had his head ringing, and by the time he had opened his eyes again, the man had opened his breeches, his hard and rigid cock barely an inch from Merlin's face.

"Now how about we put that pretty mouth of yours to a better use, eh? Open up, boy. That's it, come on, service me like you do your prince..."

Merlin clenched his teeth together and glared in the opposite direction. He was not going to give the man the pleasure. He tugged at his bonds slightly, tears in his eyes. Maybe he would just have to use magic, he had to escape this. Letting the power build up, he heard the man growl above him before suddenly, his head was slammed back into the bed post. His hold on magic slipped, and try as he might, Merlin couldn't concentrate enough to bring it back. Panic began to overwhelm him as the man grabbed his chin, prising his jaw open. He knew he needed to calm down for the magic to work, but he was caught in a circle. Without the magic, he was defenceless, and that in turn was making him panic more and lose his grip on the magic further.

Something cold was suddenly placed against his throat, and through streaming eyes, Merlin managed to glance down to see the dagger against his neck.

"Open up." The man instructed, his tone low and dangerous. Merlin mutely shook his head, and the knife slipped, a small trickle of blood running down his neck. Merlin knew if he wanted to stay alive, he had no choice, and slowly let the tension out of his jaw slightly. The man noticed, grabbing his cock in one hand and forcing it between Merlin's lips as his other hand kept the knife in place.

As he choked and gagged, his mind fading out, Merlin had never wished for Arthur to be around more than he did right now. He may have been the one to save the prince from eight months of torture, but right now, he could really do with Arthur saving him from being a servant.

MMM

Little did Merlin know that deep within the forest, Arthur was restless. He knew that noble, he knew that it would mean his death. He couldn't get out of his mind's eye the two men standing there, one dark and menacing, the other fair and laughing. He knew in one glance which one was the threat, and Merlin had been standing helplessly between the two of them.

He had to get back to Camelot if he wanted this to ever be over.