True Loves Kiss, Works Every time

Le Démoniste Endormi

"Let go of me," said Merlin pulling away from Morgause. He stumbled away from her and tried to get away but he fell and tried to crawl away. 

"Guards!" yelled Morgause and two black knights came in. "Take our guest to his chamber." 

The guards dragged Merlin through the corridors and threw him into Arthur's room before locking the door behind him.

"Hello?" said a voice from the corner. "Is someone there?" A face peaked out from the corner and stared at him. 

"Who's there?" asked Merlin hoarsely.

"Tyler. You're Merlin. Aren't you?" Merlin just nodded and rested his head on the floor. "The witch said that you were coming soon. I heard the guards talking about it a couple days ago."

"We need to get out of here."

"How? There are guards at every door and it's too far of a drop from the window. 

"Lying around are we?" said Morgause walking into the room with a couple black knights. 

"Get lost witch," said Tyler and Morgause turned to look at him.

"So brave for one so young." She turned to look at a knight. "Take him to the the throne room." The knight grabbed Tyler and dragged him out of the room. "Now on with business, bring it in." Six knights walked in carrying a long white box domed with a glass cover. 

"What is that?" said Merlin turning his head slightly to look at it.

"I like to call it a punishment. You see it's not to punish you, but to punish Arthur. He had a chance to change Camelot for the better but instead he let it rot. So I will use you to make him pay and then I will return magic and Camelot to its former glory." 

"How will a glass box be a punishment?" 

"It's a special type of curse. But what is special about this one is that it must be taken willingly. Think of it as a sleeping curse. Some have thimbles, some apples, but me... I much more prefer this because then what choice will have but to come rescue you and to what end, a spell from which you will never wake again." 

"I will never get in there and I will not let you hurt Arthur as long as there is breath in my body."

"Even after what he did to you? Hmm?" She smiled wickedly as he winced. "That's what I thought."

"Do what you will to me, but you will never win this war Morgause."

"Never?" She walked to the window and opened it. "Remember that boy that was just in here?" She turned to face him. "You can save him, you know. All you have to do it get in that box and he won't die. But if you don't get in that box, not only he will die and I'll make sure that it's painful one but my soldiers also need a plaything. After that I'll start hunting down your friends and pick them off one by one, starting with Gaius. Kill him and the handmaiden, give the knights and the prince to my generals to use as they want before finally running a spike through their pretty heads." She walked towards the door. "See Merlin their fate lies on you."

"You can't," whispered Merlin.

"Can't I?" She smirked slightly. 

"No you won't because then you won't have any leverage over me if you do kill Tyler and then you will never have Arthur."

"Won't I. Well just you watch me. You have till sundown to decide, otherwise it looks like Tyler will be given to my soldiers and I don't think that he would enjoy it that much." She gave him a wicked smile and walked out and the knights followed her leaving Merlin alone. 

After what seemed like hours the door opened and Tyler was thrust inside the room. His clothes were ripped and he fell in a heap. "Tyler," whispered Merlin crossing to his side and placing a hand on the boy's shoulder before pulling back after he flinched. "I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to protect you." Merlin gently laid a blanket across Tyler's shoulders and gently pulled him to his feet. "I know you don't want to talk about what happened and there isn't even time to but we need to get out of here." Merlin crossed to the window and opened it. The courtyard was full of soldiers milling around but they started to split off in different directions until it was empty. "Come on." He crossed to Arthur's bed and slid underneath it before pulling out a rope and a dagger. "Time to leave Camelot." He tied one end to the bed frame and the other he tossed out the window before having Tyler slide down the rope. Once the boy was down he quickly followed landing lightly on the ground and pulling out the dagger. "Ok lets go."

The pair slipped through the streets headed for the secret gate when guards appeared behind them. "Run!" yelled Merlin and both of them took off but more guards appeared in front of them and Morgause appeared with soldiers carrying the glass box. 

"Time to make your decision Merlin," she said waving her hand so that silver chains wrapped themselves around Tyler making the boy fall to the ground. 

"Stop Morgause, just let us go. We are just servants, nothing more."

"That's where you are lying. You are definitely more. The boy on the other hand, he is expendable. Kill him."

"Wait!" yelled Merlin stepping in front of him. "Don't."

"You know how to save him."

"I...."

"Merlin, don't," whispered Tyler. "Arthur needs you, we all need you."

"I'm sorry Tyler, but I have no choice. I will do as you wish Morgause." The soldiers opened the lid and Merlin laid down in side of it before they closed the lid. 

"Kill the spare," said Morgause and one of the soldiers slit Tyler's throat. Merlin screamed and pounded on the glass but every beat was getting weaker as Tyler's blood spilled onto the ground. "The twist, the spell needs a sacrifice of an innocent to take place, now sleep for all time." Merlin fell back onto the white pillow and fell into a deep slumber. Morgause just sighed and waved her hand and Merlin's clothes changed into a royal red tunic, black pants, and boots. His hair combed itself and became healthier looking. If one did not know better it would look as if he was a prince or lord and had just laid down for a short nap. "Take him to the Prince's room. Fitting that that is where he will remain." 

le démoniste endormi means the sleeping warlock