I do not own Merlin. All rights belong to the BBC.
Chapter 3
Merlin's world was pain. The pain of each cut as it sliced through his skin. The pain of each blow as they landed against his face, his ribs. The pain of the chains tearing into his wrists. The pain at hearing each of Arthur's agonised pleas, as he was asked over and over the question that he did not have the answer to.
But Merlin did.
It took all his reserve not to shout it out. To not make the pain stop. He knew that a greater pain was at risk of tearing him apart should he tell them who he was; the pain of losing Arthur forever. He knew how his king felt about magic, he had heard the bitterness creep into his voice whenever he spoke of it. After Uther died Merlin knew Arthur would never trust it lightly again; magic had destroyed his family- everyone he loved. To Arthur, magic was evil.
The idea of Arthur hating him was too much for him to bear. So, even though Merlin knew he could silence his captors with one word, he knew that he would not, for fear of losing the only thing that was truly important to him. He would not break.
'Who is Emrys?'
'I don't know' came the broken, whispered reply.
Merlin braced himself for the pain as Crone picked up a large hook and dug it into his arm. He screamed as the man then pulled roughly, dragging the hook out by force, along with a chunk of Merlin's flesh.
Liquid warmth spread down Merlin's raised arm and pooled in the crook of his neck, before dribbling down his chest. He could hear it dripping rapidly onto the stone floor as his vision began to swim and fade.
Merlin hung there, gasping through the pain, as the blood continued to flow.
Arthur had lost track of when Merlin had stopped screaming. Of when his head had slumped forwards, eyes closed, the drip of his blood hitting the cold floor the only sound filling the silence where his cries had once been.
Arthur almost wished he was screaming. At least that way he knew that Merlin was alive; knew that his ignorance had not killed the man that he loved. -'The man he could not be without', he thought desolately to himself as his mind wandered back to how they had been yesterday in the woods.
Merlin's sapphire eyes shining at him, staring into him longingly. The dappled sunlight playing on his face, dancing over his high cheekbones as he laughed.
Now, instead of sunlight, Merlin's face was mottled with angry dark bruises. His soft lips were cracked and bleeding. A steady stream of crimson was still trickling down his body from the wound in his arm. Arthur stared at his manservant intently, watching his chest. The laboured rise and fall of Merlin's breathing the most important thing in the world to him at this moment. Arthur knew that if this small movement stopped, then Merlin would be dead. And if Merlin died, he died.
Arthur jumped when the door to the cell suddenly swung open. Anger burned in his chest as Cenred walked in, eagerly followed by his cruel general. His hands shook as he tried to control his rage.
Arthur had never hated anyone as fiercely as he did Cenred at that moment. This man had almost killed the man he loved. The man that was hanging bloodied and bruised from chains, right in front of him, and he didn't even seem to notice.
Pouncing forward Arthur tried to lay his hands on the evil king before him, but his shackles snapped tight, keeping him at a safe distance. Never the less he still fought against them- so much so that his wrists had begun to bleed.
Cenred appraised the snarling man in front of him, before glancing at the unconscious boy strung up in the corner. He was surprised at how resilient the skinny servant had been. Judging by Crone's handiwork, he had endured more than some men twice his size could deal with.
Turning back to Arthur, Cenred spoke
'So, you were telling the truth' he stated more than asked, 'you do not know Emrys'
Arthur glowered at him in reply. Cenred continued to speak;
'I'm sorry for my methods but I had to be completely sure, you see. For all I knew you were lying, and I wasn't going to take your word lightly now was I?'
Arthur continued to glare at him, a deep growl rumbling in his chest.
Cenred sighed. He'd hoped the young king would have been able to tell him something of the sorcerer Emrys- his lady had assured him that they knew something. He turned to contemplate the servant again. They would have to question him tomorrow, and judging by his condition their efforts may be fruitless.
He did not enjoy the prospect of having to tell his lady to wait for the information she seeked. Morgana was not a patient woman.
Sighing again he looked to his general, 'take the boy down and untie the king's hands. Make sure they are given water and nourishment. I still need them alive'
Zabrack nodded and moved past him towards the manservant. As Cenred walked away through the tunnels he heard the boy's cries echo after him as he was un-hooked from his chains and left to drop heavily to the floor.
Pain shot through Merlin's entire body as he collided sharply with the cold floor, agony tearing through his side as the force rippled through his shattered ribs. He cried out.
He felt someone untie his arms and they ached with relief as he finally lowered them below head level. A pain that made his breath catch stopped his movements short however. Merlin sucked in air quickly before releasing an agonised groan, clutching his bleeding arm and curling onto his side. His whole arm felt like it was on fire, the intense burning radiating out into his shoulder and down the side of his back.
He heard the door slam before someone shuffled towards him and placed a soothing hand on his side.
'Merlin?'
Arthur's voice was thick with concern.
Another hand reached down to turn his head towards the king's face. Merlin's vision blurred as he looked up at Arthur, whose face was etched with worry. And fear.
The blue eyes that usually sparkled stared up at Arthur blearily and unfocusedly, clouded with pain.
The king gently pulled his servant so that his head was in his lap. His heart wrenching at the sound of Merlin's feeble whimpers. He stroked his friend's head soothingly, the soft black hair running through his fingers. 'Shhhhh, Merlin' Arthur whispered, 'It's ok. I'm here now. I've got you.'
Reaching for the water left for them Arthur began to clean Merlin's wounds; wiping the dried trails of blood from his torso and binding his abused ribs.
Merlin was frowning slightly as Arthur examined him. An angry bruise was forming on his cheekbone below his left eye, and his skin was peppered with small cuts. Turning to examine the gash on Merlin's arm Arthur peeled back what was left of Merlin's shirt and gasped at what he saw. The wound ran deep-almost to the bone. The chunk of flesh that had been so mercilessly ripped from his manservant's arm now hung loosely from one side.
Arthur swallowed thickly and his hands trembled as he tried to put his lover's arm back together. Merlin sobbed in misery and tried to shy away.
'Shhhhh… Merlin.' Arthur whispered softly
Merlin's head turned towards Arthur's voice, 'thur..?' he mumbled,
Arthur cringed at the frailty in Merlin's voice; 'yes, it's me, Merlin- I'm here'
Merlin shivered and whimpered softly. 'Hurts' he managed to breathe, reaching a shaking hand out to grasp Arthur's shirt feebly.
Arthur tried not to crumble then and there, and his voice shook as he soothed his friend,
'I know' he murmured, 'it's ok, Merlin. I'm going to make it better. I promise.'
Arthur waited until Merlin was asleep again before trickling water over the arm wound and bandaging it tightly to stop the bleeding. The manservant whined quietly but did not open his eyes.
Leaning back against the wall Arthur closed his eyes to the darkness, his hand stroking Merlin's face absent mindedly.
Merlin's strangled sobs woke him a while later. Arthur felt tears sting his own eyes as he cradled the man he loved into his chest and rocked him gently. Fear threatened to crush him as he felt Merlin's cold skin against his own and the sticky sheen of sweat on his forehead.
No.
He needed Merlin to be strong; to fight. He leaned down to press his lips against his servant's temple.
'Please' he whispered desperately into his ear, 'Please, Merlin. Don't leave me.'
Whispers became sobs as Arthur held Merlin tighter;
'Merlin, Please! I NEED YOU!'
Please, please don't die.
Wah! I wrote this at like 4 am so I apologise if it is a little waffily!
Lemme know what you think- even if you hated it i want to know :)