Ugh, guys, I know it's been ages, but I'm really, really busy with, you know, life and stuff. So unfortunately I can't promise you more regular updates in the near future.
:-/ But I haven't forgotten you!

Anyway, here goes the next chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 8

He didn't know how much time had passed. Merlin's whole world was pain. Sweat, mixed with blood, was tripping into his eyes and blurred his sight, so that Bran became nothing but a shadow that surrounded him time and time again, randomly cutting Merlin's skin open whenever he pleased. The witch hunter hadn't even asked him anything, hadn't even tried to make him do anything. He just meant to break Merlin. After what had seemed like hours of torture, he smirked, put his knife away and assured in his warm, gentle voice that they would continue the next day. With a quick move of his hand, he ordered a piece of rope so wrap itself around Merlin.

"Just to be sure", he chuckled, "Even though I do not believe you would go anywhere." Then he left Merlin alone in his haze of agony.

The hot, white pain of a knife plunging into his body had gone now and was replaced by a dull ache from the wounds it had left. A few times Merlin tried to heal himself, but his arms seemed to heavy for him to lift and he didn't even have the strength to squeeze a spell out of his limp mouth. There was nothing, he could do. He had never felt so helpless.

His consciousness was drifting from the real world to dreams and back again until Merlin couldn't distinguish between the two anymore. His sense of time was gone. How long had it been since Bran had left? An hour? A day? A month?

When he heard a key turn in the lock Merlin winced. Was Bran back? Who else knew he was here? Merlin tried to tense his muscles in anticipation of more pain, but they wouldn't obey him. The sorcerer prepared for another day of torture. What was Bran's plan? To make him agree to present himself as a sorcerer to Uther?

"Merlin!", an exasperated voice reached his ears. He knew that voice. It was warm, it promised safety and comfort. With all the strenght he had left, Merlin forced himself to lift his head. A wave of relief washed over him when, through the mist of pain and fear, he recognised Arthur.

The prince rushed to his side. He undid the rope that tied Merlin to the chair and caught his servant, who tumbled over, unable to keep himself up, in his arms.

"Merlin", he gasped, "What did he do to you?"

"Arthur", the sorcerer mumbled, "I'm sorry. I didn't... I didn't..." But he couldn't complete the sentence, his mind gave out and his world went black.

0-0-0

When Merlin came to, it took him a while to make out his surroundings. Everything was blurry in front of his eyes. And then, suddenly, the pain came rushing in. Merlin let out a groan as his numb limbs came back to live and so did the stings of the various wounds all over his body.

"Shhh", he heard a familiar voice. Then a wet cloth was pressed to his forehead. "You'll be okay."

Arthur moved into Merlin's field of vision, a concerned look in his eyes that betrayed the confidence in his voice.

"Where am I?", Merlin mumbled. His lips didn't quite obey his will yet. He could feel a hard mattress underneath him and a rough blanket covering him. A fire was rustling somewhere.

"In an old hunting cabin deep in the forest", Arthur replied, "You won't be able to hide here forever, but they won't find you for a while."

"You saved me", Merlin breathed.

Arthur put down the cloth and looked at his servant with an intense gaze, before he spoke.

"I have decided that I do not agree with my father's politics when it comes to magic. I couldn't let you die, Merlin."

The sorcerer tried a faint smile. He was too exhausted to speak anymore.

"You lost a lot of blood", Arthur continued as he gently pressed the cloth to Merlin's cheek, "I have dressed your wounds as best as I could, but I'm no expert. I'm pretty sure you'll live, though", he added, trying to bring a lighter tone to his voice.

"Not with you taking care of me", Merlin croaked. Arthur smiled wryly at Merlin's exhausted attempt at their usual banter. He gingerly caressed his servant's hair that was damp with sweat. "You should sleep", he soothed him, "I need to return to the palace. My father will suspect me of helping you anyway, but still I should pretend not to know anything. I'll try to bring Gaius here as soon as I can, but it won't be easy. I promise you, I'll return as soon as I can. I'll make sure you'll be fine."

He turned to leave, but Merlin tried to grab his arm. He didn't have the strength to actually grip it, he could merely rest his hand there, but still, Arthur stopped.

"Don't leave me", Merlin muttered. Fondness rushed into Arthur's eyes, made his features go soft. He took Merlin's hand in his. When his servant didn't show any sign of protest, he slowly leaned down to him. For a moment, his lips hovered directly over Merlin's, then Arthur closed the gap and pressed their mouths together.

Their lips moved against each other, warm and comforting, in what was a gentle, innocent kiss, a kiss of hope and promise. When Arthur broke it, he kept his face close to Merlin's and looked into his eyes, which were opened wide. The young sorcerers lips curved into a grin. Arthur smiled at seeing his servant so happy again, as if the torture from just a few hours ago had never happened. He gently caressed his cheek.

"I'll be back as soon as I can", Arthur whispered, "I promise."

0-0-0

Only after he had stepped outside and had made sure that the door was bolted properly, Arthur realised what had just happened. The feeling of pure joy that coursed through his whole body was dampened by guilt. He should have never started anything between them. Such a relationship could never last. This kiss would only give Merlin false hope for something that could never be. He didn't want to be that cruel.

Still, there were more pressing matters at hand. Merlin's health and Bran's banning from the kingdom.