Time Is Small pt.2
"Please leave him alone. He is very sick and he might vomit on you." Arthur warned. Then Arthur dropped his sword. The guy next to Merlin hit Merlin in the head with the end of his sword. Then Arthur was hit in the head. When he woke up he saw Merlin in front of him unconscious.
"Merlin, wake up. Merlin." Arthur yelled. Merlin moaned and woke up. Then Cenred and 4 other guys came in. Arthur saw 2 large marks on Merlin's face. One on the right and right side of his forehead.
"Well, well, Prince Arthur. Tell, me about Camelot." Cenred mocked. Arthur saw that Merlin and himself were chained to the ceiling.
"I will never betray Camelot. Hurt me if you wish." Arthur replied. The guards began to beat Arthur. They kicked him and punched him until he was unconscious. As Cenred was about to leave Merlin did something stupid.
"You know he will never betray Camelot even if you beat him you stupid creep." Merlin yelled angrily. Cenred heard what Merlin said and cuffed Merlin a few times.
"I will not be insulted by a servant." Cenred replied.
"Why not torture me. I will never tell you what you want to know but you can try and see if I'm bluffing. One thing will remand and that is that you are an arrogant old tyrant and a fat coward."
"That's enough."
Then Cenred punched Merlin in the gut. Merlin nearly vomited. Then Cenred began to leave.
"I'll be back to slowly kill you." Cenred warned. The guards unchained Merlin and Arthur. Merlin pulled his friend over to the far corner and check to see if Arthur was all right. A few hours later Arthur woke up to see a tired Merlin lying over him.
"Merlin, what happened to your face?" Arthur asked.
"Cenred hit me in the face a few times. I'm ok. I just want to sleep." Merlin groaned.
"Ok. Go to sleep. I'll watch over you."
"All right. Is it just me or does it feel really cold in here?"
"Oh, it is. I hadn't realized that. You can sleep in the corner and I'll be next to you keeping you warm."
"Thanks. Don't hurt me or check on my wounds from the last time I was tortured."
Then Merlin went to sleep in the corner with his head on Arthur's right shoulder. Arthur was ok with it and felt as if Merlin was his little brother who was tired and wanted to sleep next to his big brother. Several hours later Cenred and the same 4 guards came in. Both Arthur and Merlin were asleep. Cenred's guards grabbed Merlin who screamed when he was moved. Arthur woke hearing his little brother's scream. Both of them were chained up the same way as before. Gale took Merlin's shirt off and threw it in the corner.
"Torture the boy Gale with your knife." Cenred ordered.
"Why him?" Arthur yelled.
"He wanted it."
"Merlin, why?"
"To protect you. I can't let you die. You're like my big brother. Don't brothers sacrifice for another brother?" Merlin cried.
"I feel the same about you. Yes, a brother would sacrifice for another brother. I still don't want you die."
"May I start now sire?" Gale asked.
"Yes. Make them deep." Cenred replied. Gale made a cut from Merlin's right wrist to Merlin's shoulder. A lot of blood came from one long wound made Arthur begin to cry. Merlin bite his lip and did not scream. The same happened to the other arm. By the fourth cut blood was coming out of Merlin's mouth. Merlin was not crying or begging. Gale got mad and kept cutting. By the ninth cut Merlin screamed in pain. Arthur looked at Merlin and saw that he was cut on the chest. The tenth cut was driven right into Merlin's right shoulder. Merlin scream in pain and Arthur thought that people outside the place could hear him. Arthur saw the knife come out of Merlin's shoulder. Arthur winced as he saw it. Then Merlin passed out from blood lost.
"That's enough for today. Arthur if you want this boy to live then you have to tell me what I want to know." Cenred mocked.
"I will never tell you. You will pay for this." Arthur yelled. Then Merlin was released. He fell to the ground in a very bad position. Then Arthur was released and he ran over to a very sick Merlin. The guards left Merlin and Arthur in the cell alone. Arthur grabbed Merlin's shirt and went back over to Merlin. He saw that Merlin was bleeding in several areas. Arthur went to work stopping the bleeding from Merlin's wounds. When he was done he put Merlin's shirt on and carried Merlin around the room. As he did Merlin began to wake up. Arthur sang The Solid Rock to Merlin to calm him down.
"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and
Righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand.
All other ground is sinking sand."
Arthur sang He continued to sing the rest of the song to Merlin as he moaned and tried to regain conscious. A few hours later Merlin finally regained conscious.
"Hey, Merlin, calm down. Go to sleep. You are weak and losing blood. Just try to sleep." Arthur whispered to his dying brother who was in his arms coughing up blood that was in his mouth.
"I want lie down on the floor." Merlin coughed.
"Ok. You can lean on me. Here we go. Do you think you move?"
"Not really. We have to find a way out. I don't want to die but I don't want you to die."
"It's ok."
Arthur held a crying Merlin in his arms while sitting on the floor. Merlin's back was on Arthur's chest. Arthur protected Merlin's right arm because of the shoulder wound. They talked about how they were going to escape. Then the 2 went to sleep while waiting for Cenred and the guards to come in. A few hours later Merlin woke up in a lot of pain. He thought about how stupid their plan was but they knew that they had to escape. Merlin knew that he was going to die but they had to do it soon or Merlin would die. Merlin went back to sleep in a couple of minutes. Then Arthur woke up several minutes later. He knew the plan might go wrong because of how weak Merlin was. He knew that Merlin was too weak to fight but they had no choice. Arthur knew that it was almost time and he began to wake Merlin up.
"Hey, Merlin, wake up. Come on, I need you to wake up. Hey, it's almost time for the plan." Arthur whispered. Merlin moaned and opened his eyes and saw Arthur above him. He winced because of all the pain he was in.
"Arthur, I feel really sick. I can't move. It's…so…cold. I…I…can't…move." Merlin whispered.
"I'll help you stand up. We must be ready."
"Ok. I'm still feel like I'm about to vomit. I'm afraid to stand up because I might vomit because of the pain."
"I know but you have to stand up. Just hold it in till we escape. When we are out of here and find a place to hide then you can. If it burns too much then just get it out. Be quiet."
"Ok. Oh, I feel so sick but I think I can move. I still feel as if I'm going to pass out."
"Shh. be quiet. They're coming. Stand by the door."
Merlin stood by one side of the door and Arthur on the other. 2 guards came in and got knocked out by Merlin and other. They grabbed the unconscious men's' swords and began to fight the 4 other guards that came in. Arthur had killed 2 of them and was starting to fight the second one when he saw that it might not be so easy for Merlin. Merlin killed one but as he was fighting the other the guards grabbed Merlin's right arm and twisted it behind Merlin's back. Merlin tried not to scream in pain. When Arthur killed the second guard he heard cracking and popping. Arthur looked and saw Merlin panting. The guard twisted Merlin's arm to the point that it was broken. Merlin screamed in pain as the guard twist the arm to the dangerous area. A few minutes later Cenred came in and saw the 2 boys panting and staring at each other.
"Arthur, really, I thought you would be smarter than this." Cenred sighed. Then the guard released Merlin who fell on his injured arm unconscious. Then the guard and Cenred left. Arthur ran to Merlin and laid him on his back. He looked at Merlin's wounds and saw that they were not looking very good.
"Merlin, wake up for a minute. Come on." Arthur whispered. He saw that Merlin's shoulder was dislocated. Merlin woke up and saw Arthur putting his hand on Merlin's left shoulder.
"What is it? I want to sleep." Merlin moaned.
"Your arm is broken. Your shoulder is dislocated. We must fix it or you will be in more pain. Let me help you sit up. You have to be still."
"Ok. Hurry, I want to sleep as much as I can."
Arthur put one hand on Merlin's injured shoulder and the other on the arm where he hoped was not broken. As Arthur fixed Merlin's arm Merlin screamed in pain. When Arthur was done he held Merlin the way he did before. Merlin went to sleep very quickly and Arthur could feel Merlin's heart beat slowly and faint. Arthur was afraid to sleep because of how tired and ill his friend was and looked. A few hours before the guards came in Merlin began to scream.
"Shh. Merlin, wake up. I'm here. I'm here. Look at me. You are so cold, Merlin. You must breathe. Come on breath. Just breathe in deeply." Arthur whispered. Arthur began to help Merlin breath. A couple minutes later Merlin was much calmer than before. He looked up at Arthur and then passed out. Arthur began to panic.
"Merlin? Merlin, wake up. Don't die on me. Please don't." Arthur cried. He put his hand on Merlin's heart and felt a faint heartbeat. He sighed and changed Merlin's position. A few hours later the guards and Cenred came in. They did what they did before. They took off Merlin's red shirt. Gale pulled out his whip.
"When you're ready, sire." Gale wickedly laughed.
"Now. Arthur this will kill your servant if you don't stop." Cenred sighed evilly. Then the whip hit Merlin who tried to hold back a scream. After several hits Merlin began to scream. After more than 13 Merlin was unconscious.
"Stop!" Arthur pleaded.
Hit.
"Stop!"
2 hits.
"Please, he's near death."
10 hits.
"Stop. Let's go." Cenred ordered. They released Merlin who fell to the ground nearly dead. Arthur hoped that Merlin would live. Then Arthur was released. One of the guards saw this and took pity.
"I will bring food, water, bandages, a blanket, and a small cloth for his fever. Then I will talk to Suzanna to find a way to get you to Camelot. Don't worry I'm on your side. I hate this and will help. Suzanna helped Merlin the first time." Mason said with pity and compassion in his voice.
"Ok. Thanks. Hurry, I can barely feel his heart beat. He's freezing. Can you bring 2 blankets instead of 1? I think he's in shock." Arthur thanked and explained.
"I will see what I can do. I will be back in about 2 hours. I will also bring a sleeping draft for him. He will need it. I hope we can get you out on Friday. It's Tuesday so that gives us a few days. I must go."
Mason left. Arthur began to look at Merlin's wounds. He took Merlin's shirt and put it on an in shock Merlin. Arthur took his hunting jacket off and put it on Merlin. 2 Hours later Mason came back with the stuff.
"I know he can't eat any solid food so I brought some broth. Here's the other stuff. I talked to Suzanna and she said yes. It will have to be Friday but we will help you keep Merlin strong. How are his wounds?" Mason whispered gently.
"Worse than he was last time you were in here. He's still in shock. He won't wake up." Arthur sighed tearfully. Then Merlin began to moan and groan and whimper in pain.
"I will leave you 2 alone." Mason sighed. Then he left. Merlin tried to open his eyes but was too weak. Arthur put Merlin's head on his chest and held Merlin close. Then he took the bowl of water and put it to Merlin's lips.
"Drink it Merlin. Drink it." Arthur whispered. Merlin drank it willingly and opened his eyes. He's saw Arthur looking at him then Merlin began to feel the pain he was in. He tried to curl up in a ball but Arthur stopped him.
"I know you are in pain but you must eat. You haven't eaten for a week and a half. Please." Arthur cried.
"I will vomit anything I eat, Arthur. I'm so ill and near death that my system won't keep it in. Please keep yourself alive." Merlin whimpered.
"No, Merlin. Now, eat or I will force you. You will not be able to fight any infections if you don't eat. Come on eat the broth. You need your strength for Friday."
"Ok. Only a little. I feel sick to my stomach."
"Here. Swallow as much as you can. There's another bowl for me so eat it all."
Half an hour later Merlin finished the broth and drank some water Arthur gave him. Arthur put a sleeping draft in the water for Merlin. When Merlin was a sleep Arthur bandaged and used the rest of the water they had left and poured into the worst wounds to help clean them. Then when Arthur was done He held Merlin the way he usually held him. Then an hour later the guards came in with Suzanna. Arthur saw her eyes turn gold then Merlin began screaming and yelling in pain.
"Stop it. What are you doing?" Arthur yelled. Then Suzanna gave Arthur a note. Arthur read it and trusted her. Merlin stopped screaming and was now whimpering.
"Arthur, tell me what Cenred needs to know or he will die. This is only a fourth of what I can give him." Suzanna lied.
"No." Arthur angrily shouted as he pulled his friend away from the wall. Then Merlin started screaming again but much worse. Several minutes when it was over Merlin was weak and exhausted. Suzanna and the guards left Arthur to deal with a sick, weak, tired, scared, and dying Merlin. Merlin lied on the floor unconscious. Arthur held Merlin the way he held him before. A few hours later Merlin woke up freezing because Arthur forgot about the blankets. Arthur was sleeping and did not see that Merlin was awake. Merlin looked up and saw Arthur sleeping but not peacefully.
"Arthur, please Arthur. Wake up. Arthur, please." Merlin croaked painfully.
Then Mason came in with food, water, and 2 more blankets. He put it down near Merlin and Arthur and saw that Merlin was awake crying.
"Oh, my, Merlin you should be sleeping. Here let me get the blankets and cover you up. Then I have to leave but there is food and water here for both of you." Mason snapped nicely.
Mason grabbed the blankets and Arthur's hunting jacket and covered Merlin up. Then he left Merlin and Arthur to rest and eat. Merlin wanted to eat and drink but he wanted to wait till Arthur was awake to help him eat and drink without spilling anything. Several minutes later a barely alive Merlin went to sleep. Around midnight Arthur was woke up by a moaning and crying Merlin calling his name.
"Arthur, Arthur, please! Arthur, help me. Arthur! Arthur! Arthur, please, I need your help!" Merlin screamed in fear.
Arthur held Merlin very close trying to be careful because of Merlin's arms and legs moving around a lot. Arthur put his right hand on a semiconscious Merlin's right cheek and rubbed it trying to calm Merlin down like a big brother.
"Calm down, Merlin. Wake up. You need to eat. You're all right. You're weak. Come on, wake up." Arthur whispered in comfort. Merlin looked up, saw Arthur and tried to breathe again.
"I'm starving and thirsty." Merlin strained.
"I know. Let me put you down in the corner and then I'll get your food and help you eat. You have to eat all of what is in your bowl. If you don't you will get sick and die."
"Ok. Hurry, I feel tired and sick and in pain."
"I'll be quick."
Arthur put Merlin in the corner and wrapped him up in blankets. The wall Merlin was leaning on was dripping water from the outside. It was raining very hard outside and water was getting in to Merlin and Arthur's cell making Merlin feel sick. Arthur had Merlin wrapped up in the blankets so tight that Merlin was barely able to breath. Arthur came back to Merlin with the food and water.
"Here, Merlin. Swallow it. Swallow as much broth as you can. You'll need it." Arthur calmly commanded.
Merlin ate most of his broth and drank some water and when to sleep painfully. Arthur ate his broth and bread and drank half of his water. Then he held Merlin tightly. Merlin's left side on Arthur's chest. Arthur could hear Merlin's unsteady and uneven breathing. Merlin's head was very hot on Arthur's shoulder.
"Oh, Merlin you're so hot." Arthur sighed to an unconscious Merlin. Arthur put his cold left hand on Merlin's sweaty forehead and what he felt made his heart drop to his stomach. Merlin's head was burning up a lot. He was about to put a damp cloth on Merlin's head when Cenred and the guards came in. Like usual the guards grabbed Merlin and Arthur and chained them up. They took off Merlin's shirt as usual. Gale pulled out his knife, stood in front of a conscious Merlin and waited for his master's order.
"Gale, you may start. Like the last time, long and deep." Cenred snarled happily.
"Yes, sire." Gale mocked. Then the knife went into Merlin's thigh and went down to Merlin's knee. The same with the other. Arthur could hear Merlin whimpering quietly. Tears in Merlin's eyes as the pain became unbearable. Then 5 long cuts from the right ribs to the left ribs. Still Merlin did not plea or scream in pain. Gale was so mad that he dug dangerously deep from Merlin's right true ribs to Merlin's right hip. Then the same but from the right shoulder to the left hip. After the 7th cut Arthur heard a loud cry escape from Merlin's lips. Then Merlin's head was down on his bare chest and Arthur knew Merlin was unconscious. Gale cut Merlin 5 more times and Arthur feared that Merlin was dead because of his still form.
"All right Gale that's enough. Let's go." Cenred declared.
The guards and Cenred left. Mason stayed to help Arthur and Merlin.
"Ill release you first and then well get Merlin down. He's alive but barely. We must hurry. If we do not then he will die." Mason sputtered.
"Ok. Hurry." Arthur panted. Mason released Arthur and they ran over to an almost dead Merlin.
"Hurry. He's worse."
"Yeah. He's getting worse by the second. I'm ready."
"When I release him he will fall very quickly. Let's hope he wakes up."
"Just do it."
Mason released Merlin who fell into Arthur's arms.
"I got him. Put a blanket on the floor. Ill lay him on it then you can go. We don't need anyone getting suspicious. Quickly." Arthur demanded.
"Ok." Mason replied.
He put a blanket on the cold, wet floor and helped Arthur put Merlin on one side of the blanket. Then Mason left to get bandages, water, blankets, and food. Arthur began to treat his servant. It took nearly an hour and a half to stop the bleeding. When Mason came back Arthur had finished trying to stop the bleeding and was now helping a convulsing Merlin. Mason bent down next to help Arthur. He heard Arthur speaking calming to Merlin who was beginning to vomit.
TBC