The soldier from Barley part 8

Merlin woke to whispers.

He lightly groaned, finding it hard to move, suddenly there was a voice.

"Merlin?" It croaked.

"Merlin...please..."

The man slowly opened his eyes and looked up to see Gwaine holding him close, rocking back and forth.

He frowned.

"Gw-aine?" He grit out, feeling his throat raw.

"Merlin!" He gasped.

"Wh-what happened?" He asked, the man gulped dryly.

"Morgana...she's captured us and....." Gwaine hesitated.

Merlin slowly got out of his grasp and the two lay on the wall.

"-And what..." Merlin huffed.

"She....she tortured us..." Gwaine gulped.

"So thats why my throats raw...urgh i can hardly move..." Merlin coughed slightly.

"It's all my fault..."

"It's not..."

"I thought i could protect you better!"

"Gwaine..."

The man shook his head and bent his head.

"I'm alive aren't i...so you succeeded..."

The man didn't answer so Merlin painfully pushed himself up and hugged him weakly.

The man held him close.

"I'm so sorry..." He whispered.

"It's alright..."

"No...it's not i could have written a letter to you explaining everything...but i had to tell you, i even knew Morgana was there, i got my sword out just incase she barged in but i wasn't fast enough..."

"Everyone, everyone makes mistakes..." Merlin reassured the man.

"I won't forgive myself for-"

"GWAINE!"

The man flinched from Merlin's outburst.

"Good..." He croaked, making Merlin break the hug and watch him, confused.

"You should shout at me..."

"Listen...where all human, and we make mistakes okay...i don't blame you for anything, all you did was trying to help protect me, how was that bad?"

"I didn't do it well enough..."

"Oh come on....look how everyone else messes up..."

The man shook his head.

"Don't make me feel good about this..."

"I'm just showing you how brave you are..."

"Hah brave!" He chuckled coldly.

"You got yourself hurt for me didn't you..." Merlin noticed.

"Merlin..."

"Jake did that to you didn't he?"

The man nodded.

Merlin sighed in anger.

"The bastered..." He squeaked.

Gwaine suddenly brought him into a bone-crushing hug.

"I won't leave you, i wont..." He vowed.

Merlin nodded smiling as he hugged back.

"Same here..."

Gwaine hugged tighter.

"Merlin i'm so sorry..." He whispered as the cell door suddenly opened.

"What do you mean?" Merlin asked.

He didn't answer and suddenly Merlin was pulled to his feet by guards.

"Gwaine..." Merlin called.

The man looked down to the floor, looking powerless.

The warlock was brought out of the cell, he noticed it was Camelot's dungeon.

Merlin frowned.

"Whats happening??" He asked strongly to a guard.

"We've taken Camelot...Morgana wants you to pay her a visit..."

"What did you do to Gwaine?" Merlin hissed.

"Nothing much...if he was to resist you would get hurt if he does...a spell we did but you wouldn't know anything about the power of magic."

Merlin sighed.

Soon he was face to face with Morgana.

"Leave us..." She called and they both bowed and left.

"Wheres Arthur and the knights..." Merlin demanded.

"Right here..." She said and turned to see them right at her side, their eyes glowed red.

"What did you do to them!?" Merlin cried in anger.

"A simple controlling spell...they bend for me now..."

"Not for long!" Merlin cried and was about to do magic when she suddenly laughed.

Merlin frowned.

"If you kill me you will kill them too, and Gwaine..."

Merlin glared at her.

"I've gotten better, haven't i Merlin?" She smiled, circling him, a dagger suddenly appeared in her hand.

"With you gone all will be mine..." She smiled.

"Try me...." Merlin cheekily hissed.

"Oh i will..." A familiar voice said and Merlin looked behind him to see Jake.

"Jake..." Merlin whispered, feeling tears fall down, his voice cracked with sadness and sadly still joy.