Arthur POV

they had been riding flat out for a few hours and darkness was falling "Sire," said leon "we should reat up for the night"

"yes ok, m-!" started arthur but soon realised merlin wasn't there. A cloud of sadness shrowded him. He needed to see merlin. He wanted to see merlin return safely back home amd see his huge grin that covered his face. However there hasen't been a grin on it for a while....

Merlin POV

This was hard work. That was all there was to it. Simple. He felt so low. Everyone stood there and laughed at him like he was a monster. It was 7:00 merlin roughly estimated. He was kneeling on the floor with ethan's feet resting on his back, he was a human foot rest. Whenever he turned to look away ethan would jab him in the ribs, he knew exactly the bruise that hurt the most. People walked past and hit merlin like he was nothing. To them he was nothing. Surely merlin could use his magic?! He was to weak. His back began to tire and he was famished. The chains around his wrist were rubbing away at more layers of his skin. It hurt like hell. Ethan looked down to see merlin suffering. Oh no he had to suffer more "Can i have your attention please. This boy here tried to escape today!" shouted ethan shoving merlin into the crowd "now how should i punish him?"

"make him dance!". shouted a man

"beat him!"said another

"i know...!" said ethan maliciously

"you can take it in turns to do whatever you like!" merlin did not like the sound of it. Ethan shoved merlin into the middle of the hall and everyone cued up infront of merlin "NEXT!" Ethan would shout. Merlin was puched whipped and slapped. He licked someones boots clean and almost dislocated his arm from one man. Ethan was next. He spat on merlin and clicked. A carriage was pulled in. As soon as he knew it he was harnessed up and was dragging ethan around, ethan had a whip he would crack if merlin slowed down. More and more wanted a go. Merlin collapsed. "has merlin had enough?" taunted ethan "get up'" he shouted. Merlin got to his feet. "take him to his cell!" shouted ethan. Merlin was dragged away and chained up. He began to cry.

Arthur POV

He was tossing and turning in his make-shift bed. All he could see was vivid images of merlin being tortured and him crying and crying. Arthur screamed. "sire are you ok?" urged Percival

"Just a nightmare!" replied arthur who was sweating, "it was all so clear though!" he whinned and shuddered but he wasn't sure if that was the cold or his dreams returning. The sun was setting over the horizon. "someone wake Gwaine up!" joked Leon. They all laughed. No one had laughed in a while it felt good...