*DISCLAIMER---There is Violence and Abuse in this chapter. Read at own risk.*

"Merlin, is that really you?" A voice called from behind Merlin. Currently, he was standing next to the horses unsaddling them. He, Arthur, and the knights had just gotten back from a hunt they have been on for the past three days. Arthur was dead set on coming back with something meaning two elk and 5 rabbits were harmed in the process. Merlin was exhausted due to having to do chores while on the hunt. He sighed as he turned around and saw someone he wished he would never have to see again in his life.

Before him was Aaron. A man who use to criticize and beat him when they were little. Something the knights didn't know about him and he tends to keep it that way. They were very protective of him as he noticed the past couple of months. Aaron was a tall man that stood about the same height as Percival. He had a dark auburn hair that laid neatly above his brows swept to the side to stay out of his piercing evergreen eyes. He wore a dark green tunic with dark pants. A sword laid against his hip ready to be un-sheath. A blue clock laid rested on his shoulders pressed back to give his arms free movement. He didn't have to turn around to know that the knights were eyeing him suspiciously. Making sure that the man before them wasn't going to harm their friend they all thought of as a brother.

"What are you doing here Aaron?" Merlin asked coldly, shocking the knights in the process. Some of the knights, like Gwaine and Percival, stopped what they were doing as they were eavesdropping reaching towards their swords but kept them in their holsters. Knowing that the person who was before them was someone not to trust due to the change of characteristics from their small friend.

"What a man can't come and see his friend?" Aaron asked as he stepped closer to Merlin making the knights step unconsciously towards them. This went unnoticed by Aaron but not so much by Merlin. He knew they would want to make sure he was okay and by the way that he shifted from foot to foot and his coldness to the man, he dreaded to see. He knew that the knights weren't going to leave him alone with the man. They were too caring and protective too.

"Not a man that has no meaning to. So I will ask again why are you here Aaron?" Merlin said crossing his arms. He was not dealing with this right now. He was already tired and stressed out. Adding this just sent him to the edge, a place he rarely finds himself. He was a man that usually kept his cool.

"I guess you caught me. I came to see why a bastard child like you was working for the King." Aaron said grabbing the hilt of his sword. He wasn't going to let Merlin get away easy.

"You are the one that made the elders send me away and now I am outlawed in Ealdor and it's all your fault. I will be back and you won't have your petty knights to protect you!" He yelled before running out the gate behind them. Merlin sighed knowing this was going to send the knights into an overprotective mood. Well, more than what they already are in. He turned to the others chuckling while rubbing the back of his neck

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The next couple of weeks were hectic. The Knights took turns watching over him. Never leaving him to do anything by himself. They would check each room he walked into before either sitting with him or standing in the doorway making sure Aaron didn't keep his promise. They were very protective of Merlin, he was their little brother and older brothers protect the youngest brother. He was the youngest out of them all. Merlin hated having them watch him non stop for three weeks. He just wanted to be alone. So he did what any other person would do. Escape.

He ran to the armory away from Gwaine who was currently on Merlin watch. He let out a happy breathe finally being alone and away from the crazy knights. He just wanted to be alone for five minutes without someone watching over his every move. He just wanted the room to think. Heck, he hasn't checked to make sure there isn't anymore attempts on the prat that he has to serve. He sat down on the bench he usually sat at to polish the king's armor. He picked up the brush and continue to polish. He also loved to polish when he was stressed out. Its usually were the Knights would find him when he is stressed or sad about something before talking to him.
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Merlin was in a trance making it to were he didn't hear the heavy steps coming up onto him. Once he did, it was too late. A fist came punching him across the face sending him sprawled across the floor. He quickly grabbed his jaw rubbing the pain away. He looked up to see Aaron standing over him smirking at the boy sprawled across. Merlin Gasped as he scooted back against the wall trying to get away from the bigger man. Aaron turned to look for what he needed. He chuckled when he saw a spiral of rope laying in the corner of the room. He then walked over to the bundle and picked it up before walking dangerously towards Merlin who just sat on the floor frozen in fear. Without a warning Aaron grabbed Merlin's arm, flipping him onto his back bringing both of his hands behind his back. Merlin struggled to try to get away from the man, freezing in fear as he felt the rope brush against his arms.

Aaron wrapped the rope tightly around Merlin's arms making his hands touch the opposite side's bicep. Twisting and turning the rope to make it loop hitting pressure points and joints causing immobility. After he was finished with his arms, the ropes covering his forearms and wrapping around his fingers. Rope also came around wrapping around his shoulders to keep them back. Aaron grabbed another section of rope and tied it to the prove keeping Merlins arms tightly tied back, he looped it down to his ankles wrapping them tightly a couple dozen times before tying them around the middle between his ankles creating a handcuff tie. He then pulled the piece that was looped around the arms pulling his feet up to were his heels were brushing against his lower back. Merlin whimpered as flicked the piece of rope hogtying him to the point of no movement. Merlin gasped as he tried moving feeling the ropes burn his pale skin. He realized he was able to speak. Gasping the moment he yelled

"HEL.." but before he could finish his word a hand grasped his mouth shut to firmly creating bruises. He looked up to see Aaron angered more than he already was. The fear setting in deeper as he stared at the angered filled eyes staring into his soul.

"We don't need you to scream for your knights in shining armor while I beat the crap out of you do we?" Aaron said as he grabbed his neckerchief shoving it into his mouth silencing his pleas for help. Before slipping a smaller piece of rope over his mouth wrapping it around his head a couple times before connecting it to the ropes that bond him. Successfully keeping the cloth in his mouth and gagging the poor boy. Along with keeping his head up and unable to be brought down to his chest.

Aaron stepped back admiring his handiwork. Merlin tied and gagged before him. Tears spilling out of his blue eyes. He smiled as he brought his leg back before bringing it down on Merlin. Kicking him repeatedly, bruising his pale skin and making the ropes rub against the skin. Creating more bruises as he continued to punch and kick the helpless boy.

"You deserve everything you are getting right now you bastard!" Yelled Aaron as he grabbed Merlin's hair pulling his upper body up off the ground creating a greater pain.

"You ruined my life. So I am going to ruin your pathetic one" he said before shoving him back into the ground. He pulled out a knife that was wrapped in leather from his holder on his back. He then pressed it against Merlin's shirt ripping it as he pressed into his skin creating a cut that leaked of crimson blood. He continues to cut along his arms and legs creating a pattern of cuts. He then smirked as he grabbed a cloth from his pocket cleaning the knife as he sat on the bench letting Merlin take a breather from the pain he was inflicting on him.

"You know you are the one that got me kicked out of the Ealdor. Your the one that was asking for me to punch you and beat you to a pulp that day. I should have done what I am doing to you know back then maybe take you can to my house and keep you in the basement to were ai can take my anger out on you. Make you my punching bag." He smiled as he thought of him tied up dangling from a hook just waiting for him to be beaten with all his anger. He looked around hoping there was one around the room they were in. To his disappointment, there wasn't. He sighed as he laid back taking a breather and calming down some. He closed his eyes resting for a minute only to be woken up by a banging of the locked door.

"Good thing I locked it before getting down to business," he thought as he kicked Merlin who was trying to scream around his gag. The banging continued till the lock completely fell off. Flying across the room hitting the wall behind them. The knights and Arthur ran in to see there friend lying on the floor crying, beaten, and tied. The knights looked up at the scared man who causes Merlin great pain, anger filling their eyes as they reached for their swords.

Percival quickly rushed forward wanting to end this debate so they were able to

addresses their injured friend. He quickly pulled up, his hands in a surrendered motion making the man ease a little. Slowly walking up to him before punching as hard as he could successfully knocking him out. Leon and Elyan rushed forward chaining his hands together making it too were he was unable to fun away.

Arthur, on the other hand, rushed forward unsheathing his dagger and begun cutting his friends bonds. Merlin whimpered at the sight of the knife and the movement of the ropes cutting even more into his skin.

"Sorry Merlin, you're going to be okay. Just have to calm down so Arthur can cut the ropes." Lancelot calmly said as he took out his own dagger and cut the rope binding the gag in his mouth. After cutting he gently removed the gag before letting Merlin rest his head on his lap. Running a soothing hand through his thick curls. Merlin sighed in relief at the touch. Calming down to small hiccups from the heavy sobbing he was just doing. Gwaine let out a heavy breath as he sat down next to his best friend rest his hand on his shoulder giving reassurance to his best friend.

After what seemed like forever which in reality was only 15 minutes. After cutting off the rest of the ropes Merlin launched onto the nearest person he could. Which was Arthur. Arthur quickly latched back onto, him whispering sweet nothings as he rubbed his back and ran his hand through his hair. Arthur nodded to Percival who was behind him. Signaling for him to pick Merlin up. Percival picked him up gently carrying him to Gaius's room to take care of his injuries.