Memories of then (Prince Merlin Fanfic)

Part 16

Thank you for 300 reads, sorry for the late update!
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Arthur's POV

A chill runs down my spine and my skin itches as I wake up to the prickling of hay underneath my head. I open my eyes and look around groggily, I place a hand to my temple as it throbs. I see three stone wall and a row of bars along the fourth. I look up in the direction of the thin stream of light that shines through the small window. I'm in cells, it takes me a moment to recall the event that led to me being here but then it all comes back. I was leaving the camp when I was ambushed by Markus' men, they must have knocked my out and brought me here. I look through the bars and see two guards positioned on either side of the door.

"Hello? Why am I here?" I ask hoping they don't know who I am. Of course I receive no response but, one guard turns and walks down the hall towards the exit. After a few moments he returns, with Markus in tow.

"So we are awake then?" He says happily, I glare up at the man and scoff.

"Ohh, no need to be so stubborn Arthur" he coos.

"I don't answer to traitorous tyrants!" I yell, he looks surprised for a minute but it fades and he laughs.

"But you do, You listened to your father " he says merrily, I stand and reach through the bars for his throat he takes a simple step back and I give up.

"My father was no such thing!" I shriek at him, his lips curl into a sly smile.

"Tsk tsk tsk, no need to get so angry" he coos again.

"I am not a child, I am the king of Camelot and I will not be left here my Knights will find me" he smiles once again which surprises me.

"I am counting on it" he says beginning to laugh a very breathy laugh.

"Restrain him, take our king here to him" he says walking away. Him? Who's him?

"Who's him?!" I shout after him, the guards go to unlock the door swords raised. I prepare myself to resist but, I'm not given much of an opportunity. The second the door is open one of the guards uses a spell to restrain me. They pull me along the long corridor into a room with nothing but a torch and shackles on the wall. The guards lift my arms and shackle me down before releasing the spell and mumbling another, nothing happens and I get confused .

"If anyone tries to use magic to open these" the guard pauses and gives a sinister smile "you are going to wish they hadn't" with that he walks out the other guard joining him, I wait a few minutes before the door opens again. A tall larger man walks in looks up at me for only a second giving the same sinister smile as the last. The man had a strong build but, had the belly of someone who drank too much ale, his hair was extremely short and a deep brown. When the man smiled you are greeted by rotted teeth.

"You ready for the real fun pendragon? I wonder if there is anything you've forgotten that you wish to never see again" this makes me nervous for there is plenty of memories I wish to never see again. He seems to prepare himself before muttering a small spell under his breath. In an instant I am flooded by images, so many images that I had forgotten. My mind fills with everything, friends deaths, torture,war and of course, failures. I close my eyes as if it would block out the memories but, it only enhances them so I force my eyes open once more. Memory after memory runs through my mind before it falls on a particular one I immediately notice the lopsided grin of the man I care for so deeply, Merlin.

Merlin's POV

After hearing those two words I turn and rush out of the cramped stables. I feel tightness in my chest both from the wound and the pain of knowing Arthur is missing, maybe even dead, Lancelot rests a hand on my shoulder.