Shinchan13 asked, so freaking long ago (I am sorry it took me a while to get to this), for a beaten and tortured Merlin. And, since I am an evil person and just love hurting Merlin psychologically (also physically... I need help), I decided 'why not do this storyline.' So, thank you for the idea, and I hope you guys/gals enjoy this.
So, sorry for the long wait. Seriously, I just haven't felt like writing (and, promise me, if I let it go this long again hound the hell out of me until I write a new chapter). Thanks for reading, leave me a comment if you can, and I don't own 'em.
Thanks to those who reviewed, alerted, and/or favorited last chapter.
See ya!
Merlin had gone down in a hail of magic, disappearing in a flash of pure white light. The force of the light had knocked Arthur, Gwaine, and Percival flat on their backs, the king and his knights awaking a week later in Gaius' chambers.
It had taken another week of recovery, a wasted week they could have been using to find Merlin, before Arthur, Gwaine, and Percival were able to aid in the search for Merlin. So far the remaining knights, led by Leon, had had very few leads, and the news had frustrated Arthur to no end. He also had to admit, Merlin had been taken by a powerful sorcerer, someone who had caught the younger warlock by surprise, and could be hiding him anywhere.
"Perhaps you should…" Gwen suggested softly, lingering in the doorway of their chambers.
"Should what?" Arthur asked without looking up from a map of Albion. "Should stop looking? Should give up?" He knew he was being an ass, acting like a real prathead, but it was Merlin. Even before he had Guinevere and his knights, his people, he had Merlin, and Arthur just couldn't give up on his friend.
"No," Gwen said calmly crossing the room, "don't give up, but perhaps you should get some rest." She didn't sound hurt by his tone, she understood because she also had Merlin before anyone else (with the exception of Morgana). They were both missing their best friend, and while she did have a point, Arthur really should be resting, he just couldn't take her advice. It became an overwhelming need, finding Merlin, and the only people who were truly on the same level as him were Percival and Gwaine.
The rest of the knights cared, Leon and Elyan amongst the first group to head out when Merlin had not been found with Arthur and his knights, but for Percival, Gwaine, and Arthur there was an unspoken guilt that settled between the trio. They couldn't stop Merlin from getting taken, someone who really should have been able to defend himself, had he not been distracted by showing Gwaine and Percival how to do a few, very simple spells, while Arthur playfully mocked the way Merlin waved his hands around, but mostly watched the way the spell worked, fascinated by the golden twists and shimmery turns.
They should have been more vigilant, if they had Merlin wouldn't be missing right now. He'd be safe, tinkering around with that old alchemy set he and Arthur had found down in the vaults, most likely leaving the lingering scent of rosemary and sage roaming the halls. Or hiding in the north tower, surrounded by spell books, nose deep in languages Arthur had never heard of, let alone understood. Merlin had offered to teach Arthur, but the king still couldn't bring himself to actively learn anything remotely magic related.
He made a promise to himself, that when they found Merlin, he'd make a more active effort in accepting some of his former servant's offers.
Merlin
After almost three weeks of searching, they found Merlin stashed in a cave, bound by anti-magic chains. His face was a mess of blood and bruises, clear signs of at least one (but most likely several) beatings. His clothes, torn and dirty, were also covered in blood, partially healed and new cuts splattered across his torso and legs, indicating some form of torture. Arthur wasn't sure whether to be upset of relieved that the younger man was unconscious.
There weren't any signs of who had grabbed Merlin, but Arthur caught sight of a few scorch marks outside. Arthur turned to Sir Lucian, the one who had first gotten the tip-off for Merlin's location, and asked, "Who exactly told you where to find Merlin?"
"I-It's hard to explain, sire," Lucian admitted slowly, ruffling his hair. "Honestly, it came to me in a dream. A," he looked a little embarrassed, but continued, "a dragon told me, sire."
"Thank you," Arthur said softly, glancing into the sky, ignoring the confused look Lucian gave him. The king then walked away, moving to check on Merlin. Percival and Gwaine had succeeded in getting the chains off his wrists, the former bundling the smaller, shivering man into his cloak.
"I've got him," Percival promised Arthur, the king hovering behind his knights.
"Okay." Arthur nodded, but he still laid a hand on Merlin's shoulder and whispered, "You're safe now, friend." It seemed Merlin heard him, the younger man sighing softly in his sleep, and Arthur took a step back, allowing Percival to carefully pick the smaller man up and carry him out of the cave. Gwaine shared a quick look with Arthur, the blond nodding, and the two hurried to catch up with the taller knight.