Hello! I'm so sorry for going awol there for a bit. A lot has happened since I last posted, and I've been trying to figure out to get this chapter together. I finally forced myself to sit down last night and start it, and then I finished it just barely. I really hope you like it. I hope to be more frequent with my postings, but I can't promise anything. Please be patient with me, and know that I am delighted to have you here. I really am.

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Arthur paced most of that night, too worked up and agitated to do anything else.

Gwen sat in the chair by the fire and quietly watched as his feet carried him from one end of the room to the other, and back again.

It had been that way since she had returned from tucking the children in, after dinner.

He hadn't said a word, and she knew better than to pressure him.

He would speak when he was ready.

"The collar is tormenting his mind."

Gwen opened her eyes, lifted her head from the back of the chair, and looked at Arthur. "What was that?" She yawned involuntarily and rubbed her eyes. "Arthur?"

Arthur's back was to her, as he stared moodily into the dying embers of the fire. "I don't know, and I don't know why, but something about the collar is refusing to let him rest properly until...he-he fulfills some sort of...I don't even know what it is...but..." He shook his head angrily and started to pace again.

Gwen leaned back again and waited.

"The collar won't let him rest unless he is..." Arthur stopped again and licked his lips. "Unless he is..."

Gwen suddenly realized the words that he was unable to say and felt her heart sink. "Oh, Merlin," she murmured. Nausea settled into her gut. She placed her hand on her stomach, and closed her eyes, focusing on taking deep breaths.

Arthur slowly turned to look at her, seeming to see her for the first time since he walked in. "He can't rest, Gwen. The collar only allows him a couple hours of sleep, before it forces horrors onto his mind. And the only way to stop it is to...to..." He covered his mouth and looked down. "I can't even say it."

Gwen nodded slowly, the very idea of the word tasting sour in her mouth. "What do we do?"

Arthur shook his head helplessly. "I don't know." He fell into a chair and put his face in his hands. "This is a nightmare."

Gwen didn't know what to say, so she remained silent and rested her head against the back of the chair again.

Several minutes ticked by.

A heavy silence had fallen between them, broken only by Arthur's occasional muttered cursing.

"It's late," he finally murmured.

Gwen opened her eyes and looked at him. "It is."

"We should rest."

"Probably," she agreed.

His gaze met hers and softened. "I'm sorry for keeping you awake."

"You don't have to apologize, Arthur. I'm just as angry and worried as you are. There's a way to help Merlin, and we'll find it. You found him, after all, and brought him home. We'll figure it out."

He shook his head and looked down. "I don't know," he whispered.

Gwen's heart broke at the despair that was weighing down on him. "I sent a rider to Ealdor to bring Hunith to Camelot."

Arthur's head shot up. "I hadn't even thought about her."

He had sent word to Hunith two days after Merlin had disappeared. She had shown up in Camelot a day later, insisting on joining in the search for him. She remained in the city for one heartbreaking month, before resigning herself that he was truly gone, and leaving.

Arthur did his best to maintain contact with her, but as the year lengthened he found it easier to let the communication drop.

"I know," Gwen said softly. "Which is why I took care of it."

"Thank you." He could hardly imagine what her reaction was going to be and was already preparing for the response that was going to come when she saw the state of her son.

She smiled softly at him.

Arthur massaged his hands down his face and pressed his fingers into his eyes.

It was a mess.

He knew things were going to be hard once they returned, but his mind was struggling to comprehend the actual depth that they were in.

Yes, Merlin was home. But he was far from being comfortable or even remotely himself.

Arthur still didn't know if that version of Merlin even existed anymore.

"You're tired," Gwen commented softly.

Arthur removed his hands and nodded. "I'm exhausted," he muttered.

He nodded again, and pushed himself to his feet, to cross the room and hold his hand out to Gwen. "Here."

She accepted it and allowed him to pull her into a standing position. Her balance wavered, and she swayed slightly, prompting him to wrap a firm around her back.

"I've got you," he murmured.

She leaned heavily against him, as the two crossed the room to their bed. "Tomorrow is a new day," she said softly, as the two climbed under their covers. "We'll take things as they come and figure out the best route of helping him through all of this."

"I hate seeing him like this," Arthur murmured. "I feel helpless."

"I know." Gwen settled on her left side and placed her hand on Arthur's cheek. "Try and sleep," she said softly.

Arthur rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling.

The bed felt too soft beneath him, and the blankets too heavy.

He doubted sleep would come.

Not when his mind insisted on dwelling on Merlin's expression of pain and fear.

. . .

Hunith arrived at dawn.

One moment Arthur was in a restless sleep, the next he was being shaken awake by Leon, who had crouched next to him.

"Mmmph. What is it?" Arthur rubbed his eyes and lifted his head. "Leon?"

"Merlin's mother is in the council hall."

"Merlin's mother..." Arthur frowned as his mind struggled to put together the situation. And then he remembered. Everything. "Right." He sat up and swung his legs over the edge. "Right." His mind was still struggling to grasp the situation. "Uh...tell her I will be with her shortly."

Leon nodded and swept from the room.

"What's going on?" Gwen murmured, sleep still in her voice.

"Hunith has arrived." Arthur took a moment to rub his eyes. "They must have ridden through the night." Arthur turned and leaned down to kiss her. "Go back to sleep."

Her hand settled on the back of his head. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." He brushed her curls from her face. "I will try to see you at breakfast." He pulled the blankets up and tucked them around her. He then changed as fast as he could and hurried out of the room.

Hunith was pacing, when he arrived. "Where is he?" She demanded the second he walked in. "Where's Merlin."

"With Gaius."

She immediately moved to walk past him, but he held his hand up. "Wait."

"You might be king, Arthur Pendragon, but you are not stopping me from seeing my son."

"I have no intention of stopping you," he replied calmly. "But I do intend to warn you. You need to prepare yourself for what to expect from him.

She stared at him for a long moment, before her expression fell and she sighed heavily. "Tell me." She stepped away from him. "Tell me everything."

"I think we should sit down for that. It's...a lot."

She hesitated, before walking to the table and lowering herself gingerly into the nearest chair.

Arthur followed her and sat perpendicular to her. "Okay. I'm going to get the worst bit out first, alright? He was held and...tortured in a...a slaver den."

Hunith's hands flew to her mouth, and her eyes widened in horror. "No," she whispered. "No, no, no. Not Merlin. Not my boy."

Arthur nodded solemnly. "I'm sorry," he said softly.

She placed her face in her hands. "Oh...Merlin..." She inhaled deeply, before removing her hands and looking at Arthur again. "Keep going."

"When I arrived at the den, I found him locked in a cage. A slaver explained to me that he had been trained in all...aspects of slavery. These include servitude, labor, battle..." His voice failed him. He couldn't say it. Not to Hunith. He choked and stuttered for a moment, before finally getting his voice to work. "Pleasure."

Hunith placed her face in her hands again and gripped the roots of her hair. Moments later, her shoulders were shaking with sobs.

Arthur let her cry.

He couldn't imagine the pain she was feeling. The rage and helplessness that was probably consuming her. He didn't know what he would do if anyone laid so much as a finger on Aiyla or Tristain.

Several minutes passed, before Hunith removed her hands, wiping her cheeks as she did. "What else," she asked.

Arthur brushed his hands under his eyes. "Uh...they put a collar on him that...well...it binds him to his...master. Which is me. He is unable to...essentially function without permission from me.

"He cannot eat, sleep, move, speak, relieve himself...anything, really, without waiting for my permission. I've discovered that it is something that is renewed every day. It also forces him to obey every order I give him. If he resists, then the collar hurts him. I-I think it burns him. Gaius is looking for a way to remove it, but the slaver mentioned that the only one to take it off is the one who put it on."

Hunith's expression fell again.

She cried for another few minutes.

Arthur let her.

There were few words that he could offer her as comfort, so he decided that silence was the better approach.

After a while, she wiped her cheeks. "Anything else?"

Arthur didn't want to tell her the rest.

He couldn't tell her the rest.

He had to.

"I don't know how it works, exactly, but...the collar is also restricting him from sleeping through the night without nightmares. I asked him why last night and he...well...in not so many words, made it clear that the only way the collar will allow him to sleep peacefully is if he is...well...used...sexually."

A pained noise escaped Hunith's lips. "Oh, my boy." She hid her face in her hands again. "My poor boy." She shook her head, and took several deep breaths, before lowering her hands. "What else?"

"The uh, the slaver that I mentioned...explained to me that the collar also binds his...magic."

Hunith's eyes widened. "What?"

"Merlin has magic," Arthur explained dumbly.

"Yes, I know. He's had it since he was born. The collar binds it?"

Arthur nodded, forcing the conversation about his magic to the back of his mind. "He is unable to use it against me, or without my will. If he does then the collar punishes him for it."

"He can't use his magic," Hunith said softly.

"No."

"Damn them." She shook her head and looked down at her hands. "I know the law, Arthur. As did Merlin, when he came here. But something you need to understand is that using magic is the same as breathing for him. If he is unable to do so, then it is like constantly having to hold his breath. Can you understand that?"

"I think so," Arthur said softly.

"I'm sorry he lied to you about it."

Arthur stared at her in shock. "You're apologizing to me? I just explained all the ways that Merlin was brutalized for the past year, and you're apologizing. I should be apologizing to you. Merlin was under my care - my protection. It was my job to keep him safe. The slavers never should have had the chance to take him. I should have found him sooner. I-"

Hunith reached out and placed her hand over Arthur's. "I know how hard you looked for him. I know how fiercely you fought to protect him. What happened to him...none of it was your fault."

"Hunith-"

"I'm serious, Arthur. I am angry right now. Furious. But that anger is not directed at you. Not when you found him and got him out of that horrid situation. I cannot imagine what that must have cost you." She brushed her fingers under her eyes. "I would like to see him, now. Unless there's anything else that I need to know."

"There's more, but I'm still figuring it all out myself. He's terrified and submissive. I can't seem to convince him that he's safe, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to. I'll just...I'll take you to him."

Hunith chewed her lip for a moment, seeming to work hard at not letting her emotions get the better of her.

The two of them stood and walked through the halls, passing several rushing servants hurrying to get jobs done before the rest of the castle woke up.

"Brace yourself," Arthur warned softly, once they reached the door to Gaius's chambers.

Hunith nodded, her jaw tightening with her resolve.

Arthur pushed the door open and stepped in.

A keen sense of despair seeped into him at the site of Merlin curled up in the corner of the room, and both Gaius and Morgana slumped at the table.

The room was in shambles

"What happened?"

Morgana lifted her head. "The collar," she murmured. "We tried to keep him calm and comfortable, but the collar refused to let him relax. I don't know why, but his magic kept flaring up, which caused the collar to react. It's...it's been a long night."

"You should have sent for me."

"You needed the rest," Gaius said. "He calmed down a half hour ago." His gaze shifted to Hunith, and his eyes widened. "Hunith?"

Hunith's gaze was fixed on Merlin, who had yet to move or react. "He's so small," she whispered.

Gaius stood and clasped his hands in front of himself. "Did Arthur tell you what...?"

Hunith nodded, her hand taking its place over her mouth.

Arthur looked at Merlin, just as the collar suddenly burned red. "Shit! Stop!"

Merlin immediately reacted, his body writhing in pain and his mouth opening in a silent scream.

"Stop!" Arthur couldn't imagine why it was suddenly punishing Merlin, but he was desperate to put an end to it. "Please!"

The collar finally cooled, allowing Merlin to slump to the ground.

A heavy tension settled in the room.

"What just happened?" Hunith demanded.

"I don't...I don't know. I'm still trying to figure the collar out," Arthur admitted weakly. "I-I'm sorry."

Merlin raised his head and looked at Arthur, before hurrying into the bowed position.

Hunith released a quiet sob.

"You can go to him," Arthur prompted.

Hunith nodded, and slowly crossed the room in order to kneel next to her son. "Merlin," she said softly.

"You can sit up, Merlin," Arthur said. "You can speak, move, eat, cry, relieve yourself - whatever you want, alright? It's okay."

Merlin twitched slightly and slowly raised his head. His eyes widened at the site of Hunith, and his mouth moved soundlessly.

"You can speak," Arthur prompted. "Remember?"

Hunith reached out with a slightly trembling hand and ran her finger under the hair that covered Merlin's forehead. "I'm here, Merlin," she said softly. "I have you now."

Tears welled up in Merlin's eyes, and moments later spilled down his cheeks.

"Oh, my boy." Hunith reached out and pulled him carefully into her arms. "I have you." She arranged him so he was folded in her lap, with his face buried in her chest. "I have you."

Arthur glanced at Morgana and wordlessly agreed to back out of the room.

"Well, that was utterly heartbreaking," Morgana commented softly.

Arthur nodded in agreement. "Go rest." He rubbed his eyes, which were aching slightly. "You've had a long night."

Morgana nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. "It was awful," she whispered.

"I know it was. I uh...I can imagine just exactly how it was." He looked down at the ground. "Getting him here was equally just as much of a nightmare."

"This entire situation is a nightmare. I keep wishing I'll wake up. I don't understand how people could be so cruel to another human being. Especially Merlin." Her voice broke slightly. "Arthur..."

Arthur looked up, immediately noticing the tears shining in her eyes. "Oh, Morgana-"

"I love him."

"I know."

"You-you know?" She frowned at him in confusion. "You know?"

"I know. The magic bit might have gone under my nose, but you two didn't. I've known about the two of you for years. Ever since I caught him sneaking flowers to you."

"Oh." Morgana looked away from him, her cheeks turning slightly red. "We were going to tell you," she said, her arms folding around herself. "We just...we liked having it as a secret. It was...romantic. Fun."

"You don't have to explain to me the allure of having a secret relationship," Arthur said softly.

Morgana's mouth twitched slightly. She turned back to look at the door, and her expression fell. "He's through the door, but I feel like he's still a million miles away."

"I know. I miss him too."

"Do you think we'll ever get him back?"

Arthur's heart sank at the question that he had been mulling over for days. "I don't know," he answered softly. "I honestly don't. The things they did to him...I don't know if there's any coming back from that, for anyone. I want to believe that he's strong and that he come to overcome this, but..."

Morgana nodded grimly. "But," she whispered.

The two stood in silence for a while, staring at the door that separated them from the scene of Merlin being held and comforted by his weeping mother.

. . .

The throne room was cold.

Darak drew his cloak closer around himself and glanced at the half-naked slave kneeling at his feet. "You might as well get used to this cold," he said. "You ain't leaving it ever again."

The man remained silent and wrapped his arms around himself.

"Well, well, well. Look who had the balls to come back." Cenred walked in from the side door and stared coldly at the two. "I expected you two days ago."

"My apologies." Darak bowed his head. "The auction was postponed."

"I see." Cenred lowered himself into his throne. "Is that him?"

"I'm afraid not, sire. I was unable to procure the warlock for you."

Cenred's gaze hardened slightly. "Why not?"

"I was outbid."

"By who?"

"I didn't catch his name, but he and his men claimed to be mercenaries. I tried to trade for the warlock, but he wouldn't accept the offer."

Cenred's gaze flicked to the slave, and he scoffed. "I can hardly blame him. Tell me why you brought that filth into my castle."

Darak shrugged helplessly and attempted to ignore the flutter of nerves in his gut. "I didn't want to return empty-handed."

"Hmm. So you brought me another worthless piece of shit."

"I was told that this was is-"

Cenred grabbed a dagger from his belt and threw it at the slave, nailing him directly in the chest.

The man groaned and fell to his side. Dead.

"You're lucky I didn't dispose of you."

Darak dropped the end of the chain he had been holding and forced himself to nod. "Yes, sire. Thank you."

"You're also lucky that I don't make you take his place."

Darak forced another nod and lowered his gaze. "Y-yes. Thank you."

"Now make yourself useful and tell me what direction these Mercenaries were headed."

"North. Toward the Camelot border."

"Camelot? Slavery is banned in Camelot. As is magic." Cenred pushed himself up and slowly approached Darak. "Are you sure?" He bent down and removed the dagger from the slave's chest.

Darak forced himself to remain calm, and nodded. "Yes," he answered softly.

Cenred grabbed the end of Darak's cloak and used it to wipe the blade clean. "Interesting. What did the men look like? How many were there?"

"Six. They were... well-built. Strong. Well dressed and groomed."

Cenred hummed softly and began to drag the tip of the blade gently across Darak's chin and cheeks. "Could they have been knights?"

Darak swallowed nervously. "Knights?"

The knife dug into his skin.

Darak forced himself to remain still.

"Knights of Camelot, perhaps."

"Perhaps."

"Perhaps?"

"I couldn't say."

"Hmm. Well, I'll simply have to find out." Cenred sliced his blade across Darak's cheek, drawing a hiss from his mouth as he felt the skin part.

"How will you find out?"

Cenred moved away from him. "I have spies within the ranks of Arthur's men. They will look around for me, and confirm my suspicions."

"Would you like me to go there as well?"

Cenred barked out a laugh and sat down. "No. You've proved yourself to be useless. I have no more need of you."

"I-"

"That was your cue to leave," Cenred said before Darak could argue. "I would suggest taking it before I truly decide to turn you into the worthless scum we both know you actually are."

Darak closed his mouth with a click and nodded. "Yes, sire." He bowed lowly and hurried from the room.

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Thank you for reading! I hope you liked it. I know exactly where this story is going, it's just a matter of getting it out of my head, you know? Anyway...thank you again! :) ️