Chapter Text
Merlin was always so busy watching Arthur’s back, that his own was often left vulnerable. He didn’t see the Saxon soldier come up behind him, but the Saxon saw him. He saw Merlin’s eyes glow gold, making Arthur’s opponent lose their footing. Merlin didn’t see him until it was too late, and the pommel of the Saxon’s sword was slammed against his head. After that, there was only darkness.
Merlin awoke a few times on the trip to wherever they were taking him. He wasn’t awake very long- not long enough to escape. He gathered as much information as he could in those short moments of consciousness. He had been captured. From the looks of it, he was the only one who was captured. And from the state of constant unconsciousness they seemed determined to keep him in, it was possible that they also knew of his magic. He wasn’t awake long enough to dread the consequences of that particular piece of information.
The next time he awoke, the difference in the atmosphere was immediately apparent. The cold wind was gone, and Merlin swore he could hear the crackling of fire in the distance. Voices spoke around him, but he couldn’t follow them, his own mind still attempting to crawl from the pit of unconsciousness.
“We saw… magic… he’s a…”
A few more moments passed by, and Merlin became aware enough to realize he was on his knees. The floor was hard stone, and before him was a throne. It was who sat upon the throne that made him jerk away.
“Get the… put them…”
And then there was agony. Blinding, pure white, agony.
Merlin heaved in heavy breaths, realizing moments later that he was no longer on his knees. He had fallen at some point, now lying on his side. It was his magic. It was gone. Merlin stared down at the manacles now locked upon both wrists. They burned through his veins and through his insides because it was gone . His magic was gone.
Merlin looked up through watery eyes, pain shooting through every part of his body, and saw the face of Morgana Pendragon standing above him, a cruel smile across her lips. Merlin knew, right then, that this was only the beginning.
Merlin was startled to consciousness as water was thrown across his body. He tried to move away from the icy puddle forming underneath him, but was stopped by the chains attaching his wrists to the bolt on the floor. There was only a foot or so of chain looped between his wrists and through bolt. It was short enough that he couldn’t stand, forcing him to either kneel or sit on the cold, stone floor.
Merlin, gasping at the chill as the water soaked his clothes, looked up to see Morgana standing outside the bars of his cell. It must have been several hours since he was sent down to his prison. Or maybe it had been days. Merlin didn’t remember falling asleep, but considering how worn he had been, it was not overly surprising. Having his magic taken from him alongside being dragged by a group of Saxons for who knows how long had left him truly and utterly exhausted.
Morgana grinned at Merlin’s obvious shock and discomfort. “Good morning.”
“Is it?” Merlin glared, trying and failing to keep his teeth from chattering against the cold.
Morgana didn’t seem perturbed by Merlin’s response. If anything, her joy seemed only to grow. “Now Merlin. Is that anyway to greet an old friend?”
“You’ll have to forgive me if I’m less than courteous at the moment.” Merlin yanked at his chains. “Your hospitality seems be to lacking.”
Morgana gave a huff of laughter. She opened the door to his cell and crouched down next to him. She cupped his face in her hand, making Merlin jerk away as much as his chains would allow. “I’m going to enjoy killing you.”
Merlin glared at her. “Why haven't you?”
“That wouldn’t be any fun, now would it?.” Morgana stood, staring down at him. “I want to make this last.” She took a few steps around the room, circling him. “I was thinking that maybe we would get some company to join us, too.”
Merlin’s thought immediately went to Arthur. Merlin hadn’t seen him during his short bouts of consciousness on the way to Morgana’s fortress. Surely she hadn’t captured him, too. Surely he had escaped along with the rest of the patrol.
Morgana seemed to know exactly what Merlin was thinking. “I wish Arthur could join us, but considering I have no idea where he is at the moment, I find the likelihood of that happening unfortunately slim.” Admitting this to Merlin had made her frown, but her smile soon returned. “But maybe I’ll go down to Ealdor and bring that mother of yours back here. Hunith, right? That would be fun, wouldn’t it?”
Merlin lurched at her, held back by the chains. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“I wouldn’t, would I? You hardly seem in a position to stop me.”
He closed his eyes. She was right. Without his magic, he had no hope of preventing her from doing anything, but surely she wasn’t cruel enough to consider bringing his mother into this. “Morgana, please. She’s done nothing to you.”
“True.” Morgana made her way back towards Merlin. She grabbed his hair in her hand, forcing his to look up at her. The position was both uncomfortable and painful. “But you have caused me more than enough suffering for the both of you.”
She walked back to the door to his cell, locking it behind her as she exited. She turned to give him one last grin before walking away.
“Morgana!” Merlin cried out, yanking at his chains in a panic. “Leave her be! Please!”
There was no response, and soon Morgana out of sight. Merlin breathed heavily, concern for his mother bubbling up within him. There was no way Morgana would get any information on Arthur out of Merlin, assuming that that was what she was after. Even if his mother was on the line, he could not betray his king. His mother would understand that, but it didn’t make it any less painful.
It had been two weeks since Morgana’s threats, yet she seemed to have made no move to enact them. Merlin began to wonder if it was all a bluff. A cruel bluff, but a bluff nonetheless.
Morgana had taken to making daily trips to his cell. She didn’t always have much to say, nor a purpose for being there. In fact, she rarely did. She probably just enjoyed seeing Merlin so miserable. After a week, the short chain attaching Merlin to the ground had been removed and replaced with an even shorter chain. This chain, however, was not looped through the bolt on the floor. This allowed Merlin to at least move around the room. Being able to stand seemed like a blessing in it of itself.
“One of my scouts saw Arthur leaving the area yesterday morning.” Morgana said. She was leaning up against the wall across the Merlin’s cell. “He’s left you.” Merlin didn’t respond, so she pushed further. “After all your loyalty, you’d think he wouldn’t be so quick to abandon you.”
Merlin shook his head. “You think I’d expect him to stay in enemy territory trying to find me?” He took a few steps towards the cell door. “It was dangerous enough that he spent as much time as he did searching.”
Morgana crossed her arms. “You’re far too loyal to a man like him.”
“I disagree.”
“I’m sure you do.” She looked away, disinterested. “You always do.”
Merlin paced around the cell, something he had begun to do simply to alleviate the boredom. “Arthur’s a good man. I wouldn’t expect you to understand that, though.”
“You call a man that would slaughter innocent people good?” Morgana counters, taking a step towards the cell.
“It is Uther who has blinded him when it comes to magic.”
“And you think that’s an excuse?”
“No, of course not, but considering the fact that he has seen no reason to believe otherwise, I’d say his assumptions are pretty fair.”
“You could have told him about your own magic.”
Merlin closes his eyes. “I wanted to, but-”
“But you didn’t.” Morgana interrupted. “Because you knew he would kill you if he knew the truth.”
Merlin shook his head, but he didn’t argue.
It was quiet for several long moments.
“You could have told me.”
Merlin looked up at Morgana. “I wish I had.”
“I needed you.” Morgana pressed. “I had no one. You were the only person I told. You were the only person who believed me. I guess now I understand why. But you still didn’t help me.”
Merlin closed his eyes. “I know.”
“Why didn’t you?” She didn’t seem as angry as she had been only moments ago, merely curious.
“I was scared.” Merlin turned away. “I had been warned about you. I couldn’t risk you turning on me.”
She scoffed. “I was scared, too.”
“I know.” It was all he could say. “If I could change things, I would.”
“Well,” Morgana began, taking a step away from the wall. “You can’t.” She turned and stalked out of the cells, leaving Merlin alone once again.
“Would you care to join me for a meal?” Morgana stood next to the door to his cell, key in hand. She inserted the key into the lock and opened the door wide.
The question made Merlin raise an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
“A meal.” Morgana repeated, looking vaguely annoyed. “It’s where you eat food.”
“Yes. Thank you. I’m aware.” Merlin huffed. “You’ll have to forgive me if I’m less than interested in getting anything from you.”
Her eyes darkened. “That wasn’t a request.”
Still, Merlin did not move from his place on the ground, leaning against the wall with his bound wrists in his lap. “Sure sounded like one to me.”
Morgana looked down the hall and made a gesturing motion. Two of Morgana’s soldiers came into Merlin’s view and into the cell. Merlin stood in an attempt to make more distance between himself and the guards to no avail. They grabbed his arms and forced him out of the cell.
They dragged him through the stronghold, following Morgana, until they finally reached a room holding a long dining table filled with an array of different foods. It reminded Merlin of the dinners Arthur used to share with Morgana and his father before she turned her back on them.
“Leave us.” Morgana commanded. The soldiers released Merlin’s arms and exited the room. Morgana took a seat at one end of the table and gestured towards the empty seat on the far end across from her. “Well?”
Merlin could find no reason to bother refusing her at this point, and he didn’t want to risk Morgana calling her men back to force him into the chair. With a silent sigh, Merlin pulled the chair back and sat in it.
Morgana smiled. “Hungry?”
Merlin didn’t respond, though he was indeed very hungry. He hadn’t eaten since yesterday, and even then, it was only a stale chunk of bread. It was enough to sate his stomach for the time being, but not enough to satisfy him entirely.
Morgana didn’t seem deterred by his lack of response. “Go ahead. I promise it’s not poisoned.” Merlin winced at that, though she didn’t acknowledge it. “It’s the only food you’ll be getting today, so I suggest you take advantage of it.”
Morgana placed a grape from her own plate into her mouth. After a long moment, Merlin finally reached forward to grab a piece of what looked like chicken off his plate. He chewed it slowly, which was difficult to manage with how truly starving he was. Morgana gave a small, satisfied smile before continuing her own meal. They ate in silence for several minutes before Morgana finally broke it.
“How have you found your accommodations?”
Merlin looked up. “They’re lovely.” His tone was flat and filled with sarcasm.
“I’m glad to hear it.” Morgana took a long sip of her wine.
Merlin shook his head, incredulous. “What is this?”
Morgana raised an eyebrow. “I thought we already went over this?”
“Not the food, Morgana.” Merlin said, annoyance leaking through his voice. “Why are you doing this?”
“I thought you might enjoy something to eat.”
“Why am I not dead?” Merlin countered, ignoring her previous reply entirely. “You said you would kill me, yet here I am.”
“If you really want to die, rest assure I can make sure that happens.” Morgana starred at Merlin, waiting for a response. When she didn’t get one, she continued. “I’ve decided you are of better use to me alive. Arthur is sentimental. I could easily use you against him.”
Merlin’s jaw clenched. “I won’t let you hurt him.”
Morgana smiled. “Oh, Merlin. You can’t stop me.”
“He’s not stupid, Morgana.” Merlin glared at Morgana. “He won’t walk into a trap just because of me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Merlin. Arthur will play right into my hand.”
As much as Merlin wanted to argue this, he knew that Arthur would not abandon him, no matter how much the odds were against him. The thought terrified Merlin far more than it comforted him.
“I won’t let you hurt him.” Merlin repeated, more to himself than Morgana.
Morgana smiled to herself, taking another sip of wine. “You keep telling yourself that.”
Merlin was taken back to his cell not long after that conversation. As much as he loathed being in Morgana’s company, he couldn’t help but dislike being back in his cage. At least at dinner he could pretend that he wasn’t just a prisoner. Being in a cell, however, made that particular piece of truth hard to deny.
It had been three weeks since Merlin was brought to Morgana. If Arthur hadn’t found him by now, he was never going to be found. It didn’t help that he was being held outside of Camelot’s territory. Not only did Arthur have to abandon the search personally, but he couldn’t send patrols out into the area either. Merlin couldn’t rely on Arthur finding him. He’d have to get out of this himself.
“So you’re Morgana’s prized prisoner we keep hearing about.” Merlin was jerked out of his thoughts by the gruff voice. Outside of his cell stood two of Morgana’s soldiers. One of them, the one which had spoken, had the key to his cell in his hand. Where he had gotten it, Merlin had no idea. “What makes you so special?”
Merlin stood from his place on the ground but said nothing. The soldier didn’t seem to expect a response, though.
“Rumor has it you’re the pet of that good for nothing Camelot king.” The key slid into the lock and turned. Merlin considered trying to make a run for it but knew he wouldn’t get far without his magic. “You see,” the door creaked open, allowing the two men to enter his cell. “It was the king of Camelot that took my child from me. It was the king of Camelot that burned her alive.”
Merlin shook his head, backing away from the impending men. “That was Uther, not Arthur. Arthur hasn’t burned any sorcerers since becoming king, much less children.”
The man shrugged, continuing the step forward. “Perhaps, but it matters not. Arthur Pendragon is no better than his father, and still you continue to defend him.”
Merlin continued backing away until he hit the wall behind him. The other man, who had yet to speak, grabbed at Merlin’s arm, yanking him away from the wall. Merlin tried to dislodge his grip, but soon both arms were trapped against his sides. The chain binding his wrists together to little to help the predicament. The speaking man grabbed Merlin’s chin, forcing him to look straight at him.
“How can you serve such a man?”
Merlin, lacking any mobility, did the only thing he could do. He spit at the man, hitting him square in the face. It took less than a second for Merlin to realize that this was probably a mistake.
Merlin gasped in pain as the man’s fist made contact with his jaw. Once. Twice. A fist hit his stomach, and Merlin tried to curl in on himself but could not with the other man still holding him still. He could feel the blood spilling out of his mouth from the continued blows.
The man holding Merlin let go, and he fell to the ground in a heap. The blows did not stop, however. Feet rained down on his form. Merlin did his best to curl in on himself and cover his head, but moving was difficult. One particularly hard kick led to the distinct sound of a rib snapping, making Merlin cry out in agony.
One of the men, Merlin wasn’t sure which one, grabbed his arm and held it tight. The part of Merlin that could still focus was confused until he felt the other man’s foot slam down on the raised arm, snapping the bone in two. Merlin screamed.
There was a swift kick to Merlin’s head, and darkness followed.