Okay. I posted this earlier today, and then it got all weird, so I deleted it. I'm back home now, so here we are. :) There will be plenty of angst and whump. If you like that yay! Welcome!
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Arthur wished he had never had to step foot in the dim, crowded, hot den. The air was thick with the stench of waste, mingled with the sweat of the captive souls packed within its suffocating walls. Torches flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows that danced across the faces of everyone present.
It had been a year of tirelessly searching the Kingdom before Percival and Gwaine got word of a slave ring in a remote corner far from the citadel. Arthur had wasted little time rounding up the other knights to go investigate, hoping within himself that Merlin hadn't been taken and reduced to a hollow-eyed slave. His heart felt like it was going to burst at the mere idea of Merlin being present in the hellish environment.
Traders, buyers, and sellers all mingled together, pushing through the crowded aisles between cages that held the slaves.
The cages were filthy and crowded, holding far too many people who wore the same hollowed, despair-filled expressions.
If Arthur were able to, he would liberate every poor soul locked in the cages, and get them to safety.
As it was, he only had enough gold to purchase the freedom of one man.
"See something you like?"
Arthur jumped at the wheezy voice that suddenly filled his ear, and turned to see one of the slavers standing at his shoulder. He cleared his throat and shook his head. "Not yet."
"You have something in mind that you're looking for?"
"I guess you could say that I have an image in my head of a particular...slave."
"Ah, I see. You're one of those, are ya? Tell me what you have in mind?"
"Uh...well, male, tall, lanky but still fit, raven hair, distinct cheekbones."
The slaver thought for a moment. "You know, I think we have that in stock. Come with me." He turned and led the way, pushing a path through the crowds of people. "Why so specific?"
"No reason," Arthur replied casually.
"There's always a reason for such specifications."
"I had a servant once, that looked like those, and after he left I realized that no other look would do."
The man chuckled and cast a look over his shoulder at Arthur. "I see."
Arthur wanted to throw up at the implications in the man's gaze.
"Here we are." The man stopped short at a cage that held only one man kneeling with his head bowed. "Looks like you'll have tobid for him. Others have expressed interest."
Arthur's heart ached at the haggard look of the man.
There was no denying his identity. Arthur would know it anywhere.
He was smaller, thinner, and paler than he'd last seen him, but it was him.
"When...uh...when will the auctioning for him begin?"
"An hour, or so. We're going to let a few others get a look at him before we start the bidding."
"Why do we have to bid for him?"
"He's one that has been trained in all aspects of servitude. See the marks here?" He pointed to the markings on the cage. "The slaves over there are only trained in one or two aspects - labor, pleasure, battle, et cetera. But this one here?" He reached his hand through the bars of the cage and forced Merlin's head up. "We spent a good year getting him ready for anything his future masters could desire."
Merlin stared at Arthur and the slaver with eyes full of guarded fear. The once bright and spirited young man was now a shadow of himself, broken and weary. Arthur's chest tightened at the sight.
And then there was the matter of the thick, black, metal collar around his throat.
Arthur's throat tightened. "I see. What's the purpose of the collar?"
The slaver grinned wickedly. "It's magic. It'll bind him to whoever purchases him."
Arthur's blood turned cold. "I see."
"We had it put on him when we realized what he is."
"What he is?" Arthur asked.
"A sorcerer."
Arthur stared at him, not quite sure he had heard him correctly. "A sorcerer?"
"That's right. A powerful one too."
The ground slipped out from underneath Arthur. There was no way that Merlin, bumbling, clumsy Merlin was a sorcerer. It was impossible.
"Anything else?"
Arthur forced himself back to the present. "When you say bind, what exactly do you mean?"
"It itself is made of magic, and when it is bound to the master, the slave will be forced to comply to any and all orders. Any resistance causes him to be in indescribable pain. It also removes his ability to eat, sleep and talk until his master wills it."
Horror, mixed with nausea was all but consuming him. How could one person subject another human being to such torture? Especially Merlin. Of all the people in the world, loyal, kind, goofy Merlin deserved this kind of treatment the least.
"Is there any way to remove it?"
"I can't imagine why you'd want to."
"I am just asking."
"No. The only one who can remove it is the one who put it on, and they're long gone."
Any hope that Arthur harbored was immediately crushed. "I see," he managed to get out.
The slaver released Merlin's head, which immediately returned to a bow. "Put a coin on the cage, and you'll be admitted to the bidding ring."
Arthur nodded and pulled a coin from the pouch at his waist, setting it carefully on the top of the cage next to several other coins - each signifying a person who wanted to purchase Merlin and (more than likely) continue his torment.
"Take a walk," the slaver said. "Peruse the merchandise. Perhaps something else will catch your eye."
"I think I'll stay here," Arthur said. "I know what I want, and I intend to have it."
The slaver shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Arthur watched him walk away, before bending down to look through the bars properly. "Hey," he whispered.
Merlin flinched slightly and lowered his head further.
There wasn't much for Arthur to say or do in the moment, so he straightened and took a small step back, positioning himself close enough to the cage to keep Merlin in sight.
An hour passed, during which several others stepped forward to get a close examination of Merlin, with the help of slavers. Some put a coin on the cage, and others didn't.
"Alright, time to take this one to the ring," a slaver said.
Arthur, despite wanting to step forward and snatch Merlin when the door opened, took a step back. He needed to keep a low profile if he had any hopes of his plan working.
The man attached a chain to the collar around Merlin's neck and gave a tug. "Come on."
Merlin immediately obeyed, crawling through the open door of the cage and following the man as he lead him through a hidden doorway into a small ring-shaped arena.
An announcement was made for everyone interested in him to follow.
Arthur took a calming breath, attempting to calm the anxious pounding of his heart, and walked through the doorway. He had to be strong in his resolve. He'd come too far to risk losing Merlin again.
The tension in the ring was thick and suffocating.
Merlin was forced to kneel in the center of the room, well within the site of all those interested in him.
"This one had fight when he was brought in," the auctioneer said. "But we eventually won him over. He's a hard worker and quick to obey all orders given to him. The collar you see on him reinforces your will and binds his magic. That's right, he's a magic user. But no need to worry, he is unable to use the magic unless you will it."
"Give us a demonstration," a man from the crowd shouted.
The auctioneer shrugged and stepped in front of Merlin. "Use your magic against me."
Arthur found himself holding his breath as he watched.
Merlin lifted his head and stared at the auctioneer in fear. His mouth moved, forming a soundless word, and his eyes flashed yellow.
Shock washed over Arthur, lasting only a few seconds before horror took over as Merlin doubled over and began to convulse in pain.
"Satisfied?"
"Take off the tunic!" Another voice yelled. Let us have a look at the goods."
Arthur was half tempted to cut down every single person in the room.
"On your feet," the auctioneer ordered sharply.
Merlin immediately got to his feet, tremors of pain still running through his body.
"Take it off."
Arthur curled his hands into fists and squeezed tightly, as he watched Merlin pull the tattered tunic over his head and drop it to the ground.
Arthur's breath caught in his throat as a myriad of injuries were suddenly revealed, covering his entire torso, abdomen, and back. If it wasn't blood that covered him, it was dirt. There wasn't an inch of unmarked skin.
"Circle."
Merlin turned himself in a circle, allowing everyone in the room to observe him.
Arthur closed his eyes, unable to look at the state of his friend.
"Anything else?"
"How's his mouth?"
"To die for."
A wave of chuckles and dark murmuring shifted throughout the room.
Arthur nearly threw up right then and there. The nausea was only abated by the pure rage that burned through him, fueling his determination to get Merlin as far from this hellhole as he could.
"Let's start the bidding at 50 gold coins. Do I have 50?"
Arthur watched and waited as the bidding jumped in numbers, his attention jumping to a rival bidder who was eyeing Merlin with a predatory hunger.
There was no way in hell, that he was letting Merlin go with that man.
"500 gold coins," he called, jumping the number by nearly a hundred.
A tense silence fell over the room, as everyone turned their gaze to Arthur.
"550. Do I have 550?"
"600," the rival called.
"800," Arthur countered.
The air in the room thickened as everyone else watched the two in anticipation.
"900."
"2000."
A collective gasp echoed through the room. The auctioneer's eyes widened, and he stared at Arthur for a long moment, before turning to face the rival.
Time seemed to stand still for a brief moment as the man considered his options.
Arthur held his breath.
The man finally lowered his gaze in defeat. "You win," he muttered, his voice laced with frustration.
Relief flooded throughout Arthur as the Auctioneer announced his success. He had done it. He had located Merlin and was bringing him home.
"Come forward," the auctioneer beckoned.
Arthur pushed through the crowd until he reached the center of the room.
"Down."
Merlin obeyed and folded himself on his knees, bowing his head and waiting.
The auctioneer turned to Arthur and held his hand out. "Payment."
Arthur pulled out four pouches of gold and passed them over
The man accepted them and tossed them in an open chest. "I'm going to need a drop of blood."
"What for?"
"To bind the collar to you."
The idea was repulsive, but Arthur had little choice but to pull a knife out and prick his finger with the end of it, drawing a drop of blood.
The Auctioneer grabbed his wrist and brought his hand down in order to press the bleeding finger to the metal of the collar.
Merlin hissed in pain and convulsed, as the collar suddenly glowed a bright red.
"And done."
Arthur immediately pulled his hand away, as Merlin slumped to the ground and curled slightly around himself.
He was trembling and breathing raggedly.
Guilt tore at Arthur's stomach.
"He's all yours," the auctioneer said. "I'm mildly curious why you would pay such a high price for him."
"My reasons are my own."
"Hmm." The auctioneer grabbed a set of shackles and locked them around Merlin's wrists and ankles. "I must say that I am going to miss him, especially his mouth. I put a lot of my own time into molding him into the perfect slave." The man attached the chain to Merlin's collar and held the other end out to Arthur. "Enjoy him."
"I intend to," Arthur heard himself say.
The auctioneer smirked and ran his hand through Merlin's hair, before leaving the room.
Arthur felt a weight lift from his shoulders and chest. "Okay." He lowered his gaze to Merlin, who hadn't moved from his bowed position. "Come, we have a bit of a ride to the camp where the knights are waiting."
Merlin immediately lifted his head and moved to his hands and knees, ready to crawl wherever Arthur led him.
"Can you walk?"
Merlin tilted his head slightly and stared at Arthur in confusion.
Arthur suddenly became aware of the darkness and depth that he was in. His hopes of finding Merlin and immediately going back to how things had been, were fading quickly.
"I need you to walk," he ordered softly.
The order worked and Merlin immediately got to his feet. His head remained bowed, and he seemed to be attempting to make himself as small as possible.
Arthur longed to remove the chain and shackles, but he couldn't risk dropping pretenses until they were in the safety of the forest. "Let's go."
Merlin followed two paces behind him as they passed through the den and out into the open air.
Arthur inhaled deeply, relishing the fresh air. "Thank the Gods." He turned to glance at Merlin, who seemed to be breathing deeply as well.
How long had it been since he'd been outside?
Arthur pushed away the guilt and pain and kept walking.
He couldn't focus on all the things that were wrong with the situation, and all the mountains he was now facing.
All he could do was put one foot in front of the other and get Merlin to the safety of the camp.
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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! I'd love to know your thoughts! :) ️