Becoming Magic

More secrets revealed

His dreams had other ideas though. Instead of being able to have pleasant dreams of spending time with his friends, or even Gwaine, he had a nightmare. They were out on patrol and were attacked by bandits. But then they weren't bandits anymore, they were Morgana's men, led by Balin. They were outnumbered. Merlin saw an opening to protect his friends and he took it. He reached out with his mind to say sorry and then, using his magic, threw them in the river they were backed up against. Once they were safely downstream he turned to face the man who had tormented him. He was terrified, but at least his brothers were safe. As Balin approached him he became frozen in place. Morgana appeared behind him and lashed those infernal enchanted chains around him so he couldn't move. He was carried to a nearby structure that was once a great house. It was long since abandoned. Not surprisingly he was dragged to a room that had rings on the ceiling and the ground. Before he could react, the enchanted chains had wrapped his wrists and ankles to the rings. He couldn't move. And since the chains were enchanted, he couldn't break them. He tensed when a hand traced its way up his back and grabbed a handful of hair forcing his head back.

"You know, I never put much thought to you Merlin. You were always just a pest that got in my way. When Balin approached me and requested my assistance in retrieving you, I saw it as an opportunity. With you out of the way, my dear brother will be unable to concentrate. I will take Camelot's throne. It is rightfully mine, after all." Morgana said pressing her mouth to his ear to ensure he was listening. "He's all yours." She let go of his hair and Merlin heard her steps retreating the way they had come. Then the man he had hoped to never see again was in front of him. He tried to contain his fear, but he knew the man saw it. Relished in it. That made him all the more fearful. His hands were chained directly above his head while his ankles and feet were chained to the ground. He found himself pulling, uselessly, against his bonds. The man let out a cruel laugh seeing the struggle.

"I've been waiting patiently to get to you. It has not been easy. It seems it is not just the King and the Knights that care for you. I witnessed the towns-people cheer for you as if you were famous. Well, I can assure you, that you will not be part of that again." He sneered and pulled out a knife and cut through Merlin's shirt leaving his bare skin exposed. Merlin winced as a dagger was drug across his shoulder blades. He felt blood dripping down his back and soaking in the band of his pants. This wasn't real. He knew this wasn't real. It was just a bad dream. He needed to wake up. Come on, Merlin! Wake up! The man then stepped back and tossed the dagger at him. Without thinking the dagger stopped just before it could pierce him as his magic reacted. Balin stared at him with renewed interest. He closed the gap between them. "It would appear you have a secret, Merlin. I wonder how much your gift can protect you from..." The man looked too anxious to find out. A table had appeared against the wall in front of Merlin that had an assortment of tools and weapons on it. He renewed his efforts to pull free causing his wrists to bleed as the chains tightened each time he struggled. He let out a yell and sent the man flying backwards, but the yell had sent his magic out and the building started to come down on top of him. He was trapped by the chains, unable to pull free and he was panicking at the thought of being buried alive with no one knowing where he was or how to find him. The shaking was intense and he found he was screaming. Usually if he screamed enough he could wake himself up.

"MERLIN!" A familiar voice shouted and he bolted up falling out of bed and backing up against the cold stone wall. When he looked up he found Arthur and most of the Knights in his room.

"Sorry. I'm sorry." Merlin said softly and put his head in his hands trying to shake the nightmare and breathe. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest.

"Merlin, the whole castle was shaking. What happened?" Arthur asked.

"N-n-...n-nightmare." Was all he could get out as he was still struggling to get his heart to stop racing. The others crowded in the small room now and waited for him to share. He just wrapped his arms around his body and shivered. When Arthur saw the shiver he guided Merlin up and back to the bed to at least sit down somewhere warm.