I do not own Merlin, all rights belong to the BBC.

Thank you for being so nice about the first chapter I only hope this one does not disappoint!

Chapter 2

Zabrack stood in the cold cell, observing the two unconscious bodies before him with bored disinterest.

'How hard did you hit them, Crone?' he asked disapprovingly, 'We need them awake if we want to make any progress. If I'd wanted them to be quiet I'd have had them killed.'

Crone shrunk back into the darkness. He feared his master; a cruel, impatient man.

'It was not I who hit them, master, it was Bekkron; he was the one who..'

'Do not blame that lumbering fool for your mistakes, Crone; it was you I put in charge, not he!'

Zabrack's shouts rang loud in the small room. One of the men on the floor began to stir. Without moving his eyes off of the prisoner Zabrack spoke again, 'Send word to the King that they are awake'

Crone nodded his head and made for the door.

'And Crone?'

The small man stopped, 'Yes, master?'

'Test my patience again and it is you who shall not be talking. Do you understand?'

Crone swallowed dryly and bowed his head, before shakily hurrying out of the room.

Zabrack smiled to himself as the other man left the room. He enjoyed the fear he stimulated in his men; that caused them to squirm under his gaze. His smiled faded as the man at his feet moaned and began to move. Treading slowly and quietly Zabrack stepped backwards into the shadow of a corner. He stopped and settled himself, waiting for his prey to wake; waiting to make his move.

Arthur opened his eyes blearily, the blood in his head thrumming loudly, an intense ache accompanying every beat. He groaned and pressed a hand against where he guessed a large bruise would be forming.

Where was he?

The last thing he remembered was being in the woods. He had been trying to get somewhere but he was stopped. They knocked Merlin to the ground and… Merlin!

Where was his manservant? Arthur opened his eyes wider, searching. He was facing a stone wall, lying on his side. Someone had removed his armour and his boots, the cold seeping through his clothes into his skin. Something pressing against his back was warm, however, and soft compared to the hard, icy floor.

'Merlin?' he called out again croakily, rolling over slowly only to be met by a head of familiar, messy, raven black hair.

Propping himself up on one elbow Arthur turned Merlin's face towards him. A dried line of blood ran down his cheek from his temple, but he seemed unharmed. He looked peaceful, and beautiful.

'Merlin?' Arthur said again, his hand on his cheek. No response. He shook him gently on the shoulder. 'Merlin!' he said, louder now. He needed to see him awake, to see those blue eyes open and alive. His manservant moaned quietly,

'Come on you idiot, wake up!'

All Merlin could focus on was the pain in his head. It throbbed and hurt behind his eyes. He was only aware of the pain… and of a noise- muffled at first but becoming clearer. It sounded familiar. Something behind him shifted and he felt a warm hand turn his head, the pain intensifying momentarily at the movement.

'Merlin?' something soft stroked across his cheekbone before resting there. He knew that voice; warm, comforting.

'Merlin!' the voice was getting louder, someone was shaking him gently. The fog in Merlin's head cleared a little and a small moan escaped his lips.

'Come on you idiot, wake up!'

That was Arthur's voice. He reached out to it, 'Arthur' he tried to say, but it came out as more of a mumble.

He heard someone let out a relieved sigh, before another hand came up to cradle his face and a soft kiss was pressed against his lips. 'I'm here' his king said gently.

Merlin opened his eyes slowly, letting his eyes adjust to the gloomy light. Things took a while to focus, but when they did he found two intense circles of blue watching him carefully. 'Arthur' he said again, more clearly this time, and smiled blearily up at the face of the man he loved that was hovering above him.

'Well isn't this touching' an icy voice spoke from the darkness behind them. Arthur's responding smile vanished as he looked up at a dark figure emerging from a shadowed corner of the cell.

'The king and his manservant- reunited'

'Who are you?' Arthur demanded coldly

A small hole in the wall illuminated the man as he stepped forward. He smiled mockingly as he spoke,

'My name is Zabrack. You are in the dungeons of the great castle of Engerd. Welcome, King of Camelot '

'Engerd?'

Arthur's voice came out in a snarl as he spoke, 'that's Cenred's kingdom'

'Indeed it is, Arthur' a smooth voice spoke from the doorway.

'Cenred' Arthur growled standing defensively as the king entered the tiny cell.

Cenred nodded his head at the king of Camelot in acknowledgement,

'I'm sorry for the manner in which you were brought here, Arthur, only I feared that if I had asked you in person, you would have said no… I see you have met my general' gesturing to Zabrack Cenred smiled playfully. Arthur glared at him in muted anger.

'What do you want with us, Cenred?'

'Only to ask you a question, Arthur'

'Yes?' Arthur replied, 'and what question is that?'

Cenred smiley wryly as he leaned in to Arthur

'Where is Emrys?'

Arthur was at breaking point. He had never felt so helpless as he watched Crone carve into the man he loved. Watched as the blood spilled onto the floor. Watched as dark bruises formed on his pale skin.

'Please' his voice broke as he begged, 'Please stop! You're going to kill him!'

'No, Arthur' came the reply, 'you are- unless you tell me what I want to know'

-Cenred had left what seemed like an age ago, when Arthur did not answer his questions. On his way out he had spoken to the general, Zabrack, who had smiled cruelly as his gaze had flickered to Merlin.

Arthur had tried to struggle as he was bound up in chains that tied him to the wall. He could do nothing but watch as they had strung merlin up by his arms, as the small man, Crone, had produced a collection of blood-stained instruments, as he had torn off his manservant's shirt, and begun to slice into his flesh.-

'I DON'T KNOW!' Arthur screamed back in desperation, 'PLEASE! I DON'T KNOW WHO EMRYS IS!'

A sickening crack sounded in Arthur's ears as Crone took a thick piece of metal to Merlin's ribs.

Merlin's screams felt like needles in Arthur's heart. He trembled as he called out to the man he loved, 'Merlin! Oh, Merlin I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry' the king watched in despair as an angry bruise spread across Merlin's small chest.

'I'm sorry' he murmured again, as a tear rolled down his cheek.

'Who is Emrys?' Zabrack demanded

Arthur looked up at the man before bowing his head in sorrow,

'I don't know' he whispered.

The tears continued to spill from Arthur Pendragon's eyes as Merlin's screams filled the room once more.