Only For You

Chapter 7

The first thing that Merlin was aware of was the pain when he regained his consciousness. He lay slumped against the wall of his cell, his bloody hands shackled to the wall. He could barely move from the pain...even breathing made him dizzy. He lays there in a pain-hazed stupor, the blood that had streamed down the side of his face now drying and clotting over his cheeks. He struggles to keep his heavy eyes open, but after a while he just gives up and surrenders himself to the throbbing of his head and the pounding in his ears.

He was beaten so hard and for so long, he can't even think straight any more. The only thing he knows with certainty is that he's hurt. And badly.

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Arthur stumbles down to the dungeons, his head still fuzzy from the alcohol, but more focused now with the thought of Merlin being kept down here. He stops when the guards seated at the watch table rise and block his path to the cells.

"I'm sorry sire, but we've been ordered not to let you down here." One of the guards says.

Arthur's nostrils flare in anger and he roughly shoves both of the guards aside, striding down to the cells. He almost trips down the stairs, but braces himself on the railing. He reaches the bottom, and freezes, his knees weakening.

"Oh my god...." He gasps, catching sight of Merlin's crumpled form in the cell directly across from him.

He slowly and haltingly walks over to the barred door, sinking to his knees in front of it, staring inside in horror.

Merlin looked like he'd been mauled by wolves. The entire left side of his face and head was bruised and bloody, presumably from being hit with the blunt side of a sword handle repeatedly. His posture against the wall was awkward; almost as if he was trying to alieviate pain from his chest when he breathed. The bottom of Merlin's shirt was pulled up to mid chest, and colourful bruises were already forming above his far too visible ribs. Arthur could easily tell that many of them were broken.

Arthur feels like he's going to be sick. Rage mixed with horror bubbles up inside him. "Merlin..." He mutters, his voice shaky.

Slowly, with much effort, Merlin opens his eyes. He blinks; his vision blurry. It takes his eyes a minute to focus on the man knelt outside his cell door. "Arthur..." His voice is thick, his throat raw.

A hard lump forms in Arthur's throat. This was all his fault. His fault. Seeing Merlin like this...this hurt, this helpless...it did things to him. A huge wave of guilt washes over him. "I'll get you out of here..." He mutters, rising to his feet. He quickly removes his ring of keys from his belt, searching only briefly before finding the one that unlocked the cells. He inserts the key into the keyhole and quickly enters the cell, hurrying over and kneeling beside Merlin.

Merlin raises his head with difficulty, stars popping before his eyes. He immediately regrets moving as a fresh wave of agony makes him nauceous. He groans thickly, which makes Arthur's heart ache.

"Shhh...." Arthur moves and slides the key into the shackles that bind Merlin's hands to the wall, unclasping the metal and releasing his wrists. Merlin's bruised wrists fall limply into his lap. Arthur gently slides an arm behind Merlin's neck, and the other under his knees. He stands slowly, gathering Merlin gingerly, but securely, into his arms, bridal style.

Merlin's eyes flutter and his head bumps against Arthur's shoulder. "Where......'re we.....whereyou....." He mumbles, unable to string together a coherent sentence.

Arthur shakes his head. "Don't talk." His voice is quiet and worried as he exits the cell and walks briskly down the opposite hall, away from the guards at the table. "I'm getting you out of here, Merlin, hold on....."

Merlin's hands shake, but his fingers clasp weakly to the front of Arthur's shirt. "O-okay...." he whispers, his head pounding. The last thing he's aware of is Arthur's low voice murmuring something by his ear before his pain once again takes dominance, and blackness overcomes him.