Work Text:
Merlin struggled as he was dragged down the stairs of the Dungeon, he swears he can still hear Arthur yelling about his innocence to his father, but as he was dragged deeper under the castle The Princes voice faded away.
The next thing Merlin knew was being strung up by his arms to the ceiling, the rope that tied tightly around his wrists was touch and seemed to have sharp spurs that dug and cut into his skin. The fabric that had been shoved into his mouth to gag him was ripped out suddenly.
“You know if you just confess now, we both won’t have to go through all this trouble.” The witch hunter said in a gruff voice, as he ordered two of the guards to go get the dark wooden chest from room. “I am not a Sorcerer.” Merlin Retorted angrily, struggling a-bit in his confines, only to find that moving made the spurs cut into his wrist more, drawing blood.
“Well don’t think I didn’t warn you.” He sighed, as he circled Merlin, getting a good look at him. Merlin’s ears perked up at the sound of a set of two heavy footsteps coming down into the dungeon. It was the two guards carry what he can imagine is the Witch Hunters chest. It was a dark wooded chest, that had a few red stains on his, from god knows what.
“Ah good, just set it in here, where the Sorcerer can see it.” His tone was mocking as he glared at Merlin. The warlock swallowed thickly but held his tongue.
-
The next few hours for Merlin would be absolute hell, he even ended up puking from the amount of pain he was in. He’s been beat, cut with a dagger, even whipped with a long black leather whip that seemed to have a sharp piece of metal on the end of it, each time it hit him he felt it’s tear threw his skin like paper. His clothing reduced to blood soaked rags, the only way the fabric was staying on him was a few strings still hanging on, and it sticking to his body do to the thick blood that was slowly drying on his skin. If patches of his skin wasn’t covered in thick blood it was definitely covered in black and blue bruises, his whole body was throbbing, and he was trembling. His wrists, still tied tightly above his wrist were dripping blood onto his head.
Merlin coughed blood dripping out of his mouth, his throat raw from screaming. “Well I am going to retreat for the night, if you want to confess now, we won’t have to do this again tomorrow.” The witch hunter stated, stretching his limbs. Merlin stayed silent. The witch hunter hummed before climbing the stairs up to his room in the castle. The raven was about to pass out when he heard two pairs of foot prints coming down the stairs hesitantly.
“You two men retreat, we were ordered to take night watch of Me- The prisoner.” He hear Leon’s voice order stiffly. The other guards left without question, leaving just the three of them alone in the cold stuff dungeon. “Good lord Merlin what did that Bastard do to you?” Concern and anger lacing Lancelot’s voice as he took a step towards his cell. “Merlin you just need to hold out for as long as he you can okay? Arthur, Gaius, and Morgana are trying to clear your name and get you out of here.” Leon voice sounded gargled as blood had rushed to Merlin’s ears, but he could still hear how he was forcing back tears as he spoke.
Merlin wanted nothing more than to reach out and reassure his friends that he was alright, but all that came out of his mouth was a gargled wet groan. His head dropping, no longer having the energy to hold it up anymore.
After what felt like a few hours, he couldn’t tell, he couldn’t sleep, the dripping of the cave was so loud it seemed. He wondered what was causing the dripping sound. What it raining? What water leaking into the dungeon? Or was it his own blood causing the sound? Either way to was very loud.
“The bastard shredded him.” Lancelot mourned. The knights couldn’t even bare to look at their friend any longer. If it wasn’t for the slight rise and fall of Merlin’s chest the two would have though he had died. Leon shushed the other man, but he couldn’t deny it, Merlin had far to man cuts on his skin. The blonde was sure that if had been anyone else who had been tortured like this, they would have died, but Merlin was strong. The strongest of them all.
-
Come morning Merlin flinched as he felt a hand touch his face. He had been going in and out of consciousness all night. “Merlin? Merlin can you hear me?”
“Arthur?” His voice trembled as he lifted his head. Hope blooming in his chest as he got a good look at the handsome blonde in front of him.
Arthur’s face was twisted in anger, sadness and disgust. “I’m gonna get you out of here, okay? But I have to untie you, so this might hurt a-bit.” Merlin was grateful for the warning as Arthur untied his hands. Scooping the raven haired man up quickly before he fell to the ground. Merlin whimpered in pain as Arthur cradled him in his arms, the pressure on his wounds hurt terribly. “I know Im sorry Darling.” His voice was calm and gentle despite the still stormy expression on his face.
Arthur hurried to his chambers, listening to Merlin cry each time he was jostled to roughly.
-
The next time Merlin felt mostly conscious he was kneeling by the wash tub, dipping his hands in a bucket of warm water, as he waited for the servants to return with water to fill the washtub. Arthur was pacing quickly next to him. “St-stop doing that. You’re making me nervous.” Merlin stammered, his whole body shaking. The Prince stopped abruptly and took a seat in one of the chairs by the fire place, his heated stare landing on Merlin.
“I’m so sorry Merlin. This never should have happened.” He seethed through clenched teeth.
“Not your f-f-fault.”
“You’re right. It’s my fathers, even if he had his suspicions he should’ve believed me when I said you were innocent… I’m gonna kill him. I swear.”
“Don’t say that A-Arthur…” As much as Merlin wanted Uther dead, he couldn’t let Arthur do that.
Suddenly there was a sharp knock on the door. Arthur stood abruptly and opened the door. “Morgana. Come in quickly.” He opened the door and she sped inside. “Where is he?” The prince pointed his sister towards where Merlin was, his arms still rusting in the bucket of water.
The gasped quietly in horror, at Merlin’s bruised and bloodied body. “That bad huh?” Merlin mumbled an attempt at humor. “S-sorry Merlin. I wasn’t trying to be rude.” She sighed, her tone gentle as she picked up the pair of scissors off Arthur’s desk.
“The maids are on their way with the water, Gaius wants you to soak in the tub for a-bit and he will be up as soon as he can to bandage your wound’s… I’m gonna cut the rest of your clothes off, I’ll make sure to replace them, I promise.” She kneeled down onto her knees and began to snip away at Merlin’s clothes, turned rags.
“Are you telling me Gaius is still debating with our Father?!” Arthur fumed his fists clenched tightly to his sides.
“You know father he can be so blind when it comes to magic.”
Merlin heard Arthur growl behind them. “It’s f-fine I’m sure Gaius ha-has everything under control.” Merlin started to feel nauseous and dizzy again as Morgana finished cutting off the rest of his clothes.
Arthur forced back his tears, he needed to be strong for Merlin. He couldn’t let him see him cry right now.
Morgana stood before nodding at Arthur and taking her leave. Only a few seconds after the princess left did the servants arrive and filled the tub with warm water, all of the refusing to look at Merlin, well one girl did but she just winced before quickly looking away. They all left in a hurry.
Arthur carefully walked over to Merlin and started looking at the different oils he had for his own baths, before pouring a few in saying that they would help with his wounds.
The raven went to stand only to stumble forward and be caught by Arthur. The prince picked up his man servant and gently settled him into the tub.
Merlin hissed as he felt the water burn a-bit at his cuts and gashes. “I’m sorry darling, but the burning means it is disinfecting your wounds.” He reassured him. He only nodded at Arthur before relaxing to the tub, Arthur pulled up his chair and sat next to him his fingers gently playing with his hair.
It felt like such a sweet domestic moment between the two, if it wasn’t for the horrible pain through out his whole body he would have forgotten what had caused this moment to happen in the first place.
-
Arthur was so pissed off, he doesn’t think he’s even hated his father more then in this moment. He’s never thought he would see his lover looking the complete bloodied bruised mess that he had found Merlin in.
Merlin had fallen asleep a few seconds ago, leaving Arthur to his thoughts. He sighed and place a gentle kiss to the ravens forehead.
After what felt like forever you heard Gaius enter the room, announcing himself as he entered. “What the hell took you so long?!” Arthur whisper yelled, abruptly standing up and taking long strides towards the older man.
“I apologize sire, but your father is apparently a lot more stubborn then I thought. But if it makes you feel any better I believe I saw some of the knights corner that witch hunter as he was going to leave.” Well that did make him feel a-bit better. Gaius set down his medical bag and bent down near the tub, where Merlin was still fast asleep. “Merlin, Wake up. I need to bandage your wounds.” Gaius voice was gentle as he woke the raven.
Merlin’s eyes fluttered open, and he flinched back quickly. “Oh sorry. You startled me.” His voice still hoarse. The anger inside of Arthur was so close to boiling over, he doesn’t think he’s ever seen Merlin flinch away from Gaius. “That’s alright Merlin. Why don’t you get out of the tub, and I’ll start bandaging you up.” Merlin nods not bothering to look at anyone as he stands and wraps a towel around his waist , Arthur has them all move to the dining table area where they take a seat. Gaius started gently drying Merlin’s skin, being mindful of his wounds and bruises before he stays the wrap them.
By the time Gaius was done Merlin torso, arms, parts of his legs, when his neck was wrapped in cloth. “Alright, there all done. I apologize I wasn’t thinking and forgot to bring you something to wear.”
“That’s alright, I’ll find him something in my wardrobe.” Arthur explained as he stood to go through his clothes, thankfully it didn’t take long and he was able to quickly find a large shirt that hopefully won’t rub against him to much and some baggy pants.
He returned to the dining area where Gaius wads finishing up tell Merlin how to disinfect and change his bandages. “Merlin I would like you to stay here if that alright.” Arthur said setting the clothes on the table in front of Merlin.
“What if your father barge’s in here?”
“I’ll lock my door and have Percival and Leon stationed outside the door. If he has a problem with it, well I don’t care.”
A small smile appeared on Merlin’s face and he shook his head, but didn’t argue it. Good because Arthur was not going to take no for an answer this time.
Once Gaius left Arthur helped Merlin get dressed and settled into the bed. The raven look so cute in Arthur’s clothes. Arthur was only 3 inches taller than Merlin but sense Merlin was so skinny compared to Arthur’s muscular frame, the clothes look quite large on him.
“Are you gonna keep looking at me like that or are you gonna lay down with me you Dollophead.” Arthur laughed and laid down next to his lover. Arthur wasn’t going to lie he was scared to touch Merlin, in fear of hurting him more.
“You can touch me you know, I’m not gonna break.”
“Sorry, I just don’t want to hurt you.” He admitted.
“You won’t hurt me.” Arthur sighed and as carefully as possible wrapped his hands around the other man.
-
Arthur stayed awake most the night. He won’t tell Merlin this, but he really did want to kill his father. His father had done some horrible things, but this was Arthur’s final straw.
Nobody was allowed to hurt what belongs to Arthur and get away with it.
-
Thankfully Arthur didn’t have to worry about taking care of the Witch hunter himself, because next thing he knew he saw his knights burning the man’s belongings. When asked where the man himself was, the knights only shrugged and asked if he really cared where he was. And the answer was No, he didn’t care.