Innocence

Being found is a nightmare mistaken for a dream

Merlin felt the cold calloused hand slap him again. He shrunk back father against the wall that he had looked for sanctuary in. Alas he received non.

"You dirty rotten scumb-"

"Dirk, Let's go, give him time" dirk sneered at him and walked off out of the room. Someone next to him wolf whistled.

"Well well well, they sure are hasty to get you over to their side." Merlin shakily leaned over to see beyond the bars, next to him was a smiling man. Suddenly all around him prisoners emerged, some groaning, some amused, some broken.

"What do you want Smiley" spoke a lady with a cold scratchy voice. One of her eyes missing.

"Smiley?" One of the prisoners asked, a new one, in fact Merlin had himself watched him get dragged in.

"He never stops smiling, it's creepy" spoke another prisoner, this one with a whiny voice, Merlin as far as he pushed himself against the bars still could not see him.

"There's nothing to smile about!" Merlin heard this voice much closer, yet still could not hear the nastily voice speak.

"Your just afraid of you stop smiling, you won't smile again" Merlin reasoned, and joined the conversation. The man gave a grim look.

"If ya keep smiling, ya keep hoping" he cheerfully scratches another line onto the wall, finishing the tree he had created. Merlin smiled at him.

"There are reasons to hope" he sat down smiling happily. "I'm sure Arthur will come save us!" One of the guys snorted.

"King Arthur? Sorry to break it to you kid but the day King Arthur saves a sorcerer is the day I grow back all my hair" Merlin frowned at him and shook his head.

"King Arthur's my friend, I'm sure he'll help" the girl shot him a sympathetic look.

"Sweet heart, it's not how the world works. You got a chance of escape take it while ya can" Merlin scowled at her and shook his head.

"I have faith in my friend" even as the words escaped the prisons of his mind, the doubt seeped into him as he realized Arthur might not come.

𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚐𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚐𝚠𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚊 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚕𝚎⌫

"Is-is that it?" Arthur asked Elyan excitedly, Elyan looked on the map then smiled at him.

"It sure is! Merlin here we come!" Gwaine gave Elyan a slap on the back which made Elyan drop the map in the mud.

"Gwaine!" Gwaine rubbed his back then took a few steps back.

"My bad" he laughed nervously.

"At least we have the castle in sights. Come on let's go" Lancelot headed forward leaving no room for argument, everyone followed shortly.

𝙿𝚎𝚛𝚌𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚕 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚜𝚕𝚎𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚜⌫

Merlin once again found himself surrounded by people.

"Where does your loyalties lye" spoke up one of the men. He had brown dark hair that was sleeked back into a wavy mess. Merlin grimaced at the sight of him, saying nothing and instead using spit as his words as he spat on him. The man wiped off the spit and leg go of his jacket.

"Forget it! He's like a dog! Loyal as ever!" The mans frustrated groan spoke up. The man pat him on the back.

"We'll break him don't worry" Merlin rolled his eyes. When would they just give up the man slumped back and ran a hand through his hair.

"What if he doesn't break?" The other guy spoke, one that Merlin had not noticed from the corner until now.

"Then we quite literally break him" the other guy, Merlin did notice spoke up cracking his knuckles.

"Boys!" A girl with a red dress and blonde hair spoke up, laughing slightly giving Merlin a pat on the cheek "treat our guest well. He and morgana will do well" Merlins eyes went wide, he shot up straighter, his whole aura going panicky.

"Morgana? Leave morgana out of this!" The girl smiled and looked at him.

"So he speaks! And had friends, friends in the castle no less." Merlin growled at her. She smiled at him.

"He'll be on our side soon enough, do not worry. For now, leave I'll have food brought to him. We have something to plan" Merlin breathed in relief as they left, no sooner then 10 minutes later someone came up to the gate in guards cloths. They aren't going to drag me to another dinner are they? The guard struggled with the key for a second before swinging the door wide open. He took off his helmet to reveal golden blond hair and a big smile.

"ARTHUR!" merlin cheered and ran up to him giving him a long hug which Arthur gladly returned.

"Alright alright we got to go now!" Arthur began to drag him away but Merlin dropped dead weight.

"WAIT!" Arthur stopped and gave him a pointed look, merlin stared at him for a while before realizing he expected him to talk.

"Oh, right umm can we release these people as well?" Merlin gestured to quite literally everyone. Arthur gave him a Incredulous look.

"You want me to release... EVERYONE?" arthur face palmed "Merlin you Know I cant!" At merlins look Arthur realized he wasn't going to leave until he did it. Sighing Arthur got to work at unlocking the cages, that was until he reached a known sorcerer. Merlin was to busy hugging one of the other people to notice. One of them was petting their head expectedly, as if waiting for hair to grow.

"Well well well pendragon. You have a choice to make" the man cheerfully said with a large smile.

"Smiley where's smiley?" Merlin noticed him still in the cage and ran over.

"Arthur whats taking so long we got to go!" Smiley looked knowingly at Arthur and Merlin. He gave Merlin a reassuring look.

"Merlin, Arthur can't do that." Merlin tilted his head and looked at Arthur confused.

"Why not?"

"Because he's a known crimin-" arthur was cut off by smiley.

"If your going to leave me tell him the truth"

"I am-"

"The full truth" Merlin looked confused between the two of them not understanding. Arthur looked at Merlin and hung his head.

"I can't because he's a sorcerer" a understanding scowl overtook merlins face.

"What does that mean! Release him Arthur!" Merlin desperately begged him. Tears threatening to break free.

"Merlin..."

"Arthur please!" Smiley looked over at Merlin and pat his hand.

"It's alright Merlin you just change our old Kong's opinion on sorcery, I'll stay right here happy as ever" Merlin ignored him, a ringing noise was rolling all over his ears.

"Arthur please! I won't leave! Please Arthur" smiley looked over fondly at Merlin before nodding to one of the released guys. They lightly hit Merlin over the head and he crumpled down. Arthur went to leave but smiley stopped him one last time.

"Arthur, remember the wrongs I have done" Arthur looked at him and suddenly felt guilty.

For the man had no wrongs.

He ran out fast as possible before he could change his mind. Putting Merlin on a horse he set off.

Boy oh boy was he going to have some explaining to do.

AYEEEEE doneeee

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Thank you guys for reading this book, I know it's really just ok but I do appreciate every read, comment, and vote I get.

Love y'all!!!