Camelot Enterprise

by GR Griffin

  Speak of the devil. Two people in white lab coats were now striding around the corner ahead towards him, he could hear their voices approaching, clipboards in hands. Frozen in shock, Merlin’s eyes automatically flashed gold. The two lab workers continued walking towards him, he swore one of them was looking directly at him, but the invisibility spell seemed to have worked instantly to his relief.

  “Poor Gaius.” One of them said, a sigh torn from their mouths.

  Merlin followed them, peering over the shoulder to read whatever had been scribbled on the clipboard. He had to bite his tongue not to cry out or unleash some kind of spell that would knock them to the ground and blow his cover. The other man looked at his peer, and adjusted his glasses with an adamant determination.

  “He’s a druid. If you’re implying what I think you’re implying, you know what the consequences are Nia.”

  Nia, the younger man with flame-red hair averted his gaze to the ground and refused to reply. This conversation, shocking as it was for Merlin to hear the discrimination against his kind, had given him enough time to read over the first page on Nia’s clipboard. Without hesitation, he ran to the direction they had come from. Skidding round the corner, he came face to face with a door. It was just an ordinary door. A simple wooden door painted red, blood red. On the front a number was printed on it, a number. Merlin felt his eyes water. They didn’t even name them; they branded them like animals, like criminals. But what was their crime? They had never waged war against this place, despite having the power to.

  And that was the frightening thing; Merlin bet some of these druids were powerful enough to break free. If they mustered enough energy, they would be able to escape, go back home to Albion. But they were lacking in something fundamental, something this whole building had drained and drained and constantly drained; faith.

  Reaching out to the door, Merlin opened it with his magic, not wanting to leave anything incriminating on its handle. Slowly, the door creaked open, revealing a man on a table. Not a bed, a table. They didn’t even offer druids the slightest comfort in this hellhole. Gaius looked remarkably unlike Gaius. First of all, Merlin noticed he had no hair, it had been shaved off, revealing his scalp. He was dressed in a simple blue gown down to his knees. His arms and ankles were locked onto the table via some kind of metallic contraption. Plastic tubes were filtering through his nostrils and another on his arm. A machine to the right was beeping slowly; Merlin guessed it was measuring his pulse or something to that degree. And then there was this thing. This terrible thing injected into his side, clearly trying to harness magic or take it from him.

  Panicking, Merlin rushed to Gaius’ side, shaking him promptly. The man opened his eyes rapidly, and Merlin felt the burning inferno inside devour all of him when he noticed the first emotion to flash through those old, wise eyes was fear. What had they done to him? It took him a moment to focus his gaze, and when he had, his eyes widened. Trying to sit up, but unable to due to the constraints, Gaius shook his head.

  “Merlin. What an earth are you doing here?” his voice was calm and steady as usual, and enough to bring a swell of relief to Merlin.

  Gaius wasn’t broken, yet. He was still Gaius- hell he was still alive. The feeling of discovering this was tremendous. He laughed bitterly.

  “I’m so glad you’re alive.”

  Merlin clasped his hands together as if making a silent prayer of gratitude to whoever had been so kind to spare Gaius. It had only been a day in the lab for him, but Merlin had felt the druids’ magnitude of suffering. This was a place forged by the devil himself, smouldering in fires of hatred and cruelty.

  “Merlin, get out of here.” Gaius said, voice stern. “Now.”

  But Merlin wasn’t listening, overcome with the satisfaction of finding Gaius. Now all he had to do was get him out of this blasted room. Gazing around, he finally took in the surroundings. The walls where white, the room was empty and sparse, the lighting was intense and it seemed to be a vacuum of nothingness. He was pretty sure a week in here would be enough to drive anyone crazy. Bringing his eyes back to Gaius’ bald head, he shook his head slowly.

  “It’s not safe Merlin, they’ll be back any minute-“

  “-what have they done to you?” Merlin interrupted, eyes watering as he registered the bruising over one eye and several other parts of his body. “Do they do this…to all the druids who leave Albion?”

  He didn’t need that question to be answered. He’d seen that poor woman in that room…he’d seen everything in a matter of seconds. Yet he knew, somehow, there was more- maybe there was worse. Gaius remained silent, not wanting to shatter Merlin’s delusions of this world. He had always tried to bring up both parties- the Pendragon’s and Merlin- to believe that each were not so different, that there were positive things in each world. However, he knew now Merlin would never be able to see anything positive about this place again. In despair, Merlin bit his lip, trying to force the pain away.

  “Every night.” He managed to get out in a small hushed voice. Clearing his throat, he shut his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Gaius was safe, that’s all that mattered. “Every night.” Shaking his head, he put both hands over his mouth; in an attempt to conceal the choked sob escaping his lips. Merlin liked to think he was a resolute person. Yet now, here he was in Camelot Enterprise, the shock of the whole situation finally washing over him and making it past his pumping adrenaline. Then abruptly, before it had even begun, it stopped. Merlin opened his eyes fiercely.

  Gaius was the one in pain here, and to act like this in front of him was unfair. Putting the grief into the depths of his mind, Merlin sighed and restarted the sentence.

  “Every night you came to me, you told me about this place, this world.” He gazed around the room dismally. “It’s a lot different to how I imagined it would be.”

  Smiling softly, Gaius stared at the man’s pale face.

  “Times change Merlin, people change.”

  Times change, people change. That wasn’t the first time he’d heard that old Druid proverb today. Oh how it was ironic, how it was funny and brilliant and terrifying. How was it that these four words were so powerful, that they could evoke happiness, sadness, laughter, pain, guilt…a whole emotional spectrum could be chosen, just from these four famous words. How it encompassed humanity, how it showed flaws, how it highlighted strength…Glowering, Merlin reached for the bounds around Gaius’ wrists.

  “You’ve lived outside of Albion your whole life. Our own kind…” Merlin frowned. Many druids would be reluctant to say people from this land were kin, but it was the ugly truth. “…they treat you like this.”

  Determinedly, he tugged on the metal with his hands.

  “I’m getting you out of this-“

  Flashing gold, Merlin focused his magic on the metal frantically.

  “-They’ve magic-proofed it. It’s no use.” Gaius said sadly, looking down at the boy close enough to call his own son, the boy he loved more than life, the boy he’d taught. That boy was a young man now, and he was struggling uselessly against these bounds with that willpower he’d never grown out of it. Gaius had always told him it was his best quality, even if it had gotten him into trouble.

  “Then I’ll use my hands.” Merlin spat as if it was going to be simple.

  It’s moments like this; when you know that you’re going to fail, you know that you can’t save him right here and now that echo through your nightmares, follow you everywhere you go. No matter how hard you tug, how much magic you shove into the binds, it does not move. It does not seem to even falter. Murmuring words, Merlin’s eyes flashed gold dramatically. Nothing happened. He panicked. Nothing happened. He was powerless. Merlin was powerless. Emrys was powerless.

  “I knew one of youwould come to find him.” An alien voice caused Merlin to stop his efforts, and gaze over at Gaius who seemed a little scared, not for himself, never for himself – for Merlin. Turning around slowly, Merlin was a little surprised at the sight before him. S
he wasn’t dressed in a white lab coat. The woman with long blonde hair, violent features and heavy eyelids was wearing a short red dress, a black jacket over her shoulders. Her eyes were big and full of scorn. She took a step forwards, closing the door behind her.

  Merlin wondered why she hadn’t sounded the druid-alarm.

  “Why is someone here to rescue you Gaius?” she said, tilting her head sceptically. “Are you really special?” Merlin gritted his teeth to control himself from barking out an equally violent response. “None of you showed me the same devotion when I was taken to the laboratory!” her voice rose slightly.

  Glancing from Gaius, who now looked a little furious, to the blonde woman, Merlin gaped. …What?!

  “The…you…it…you’re a druid?” he managed to stammer through the confusion.

  Laughing, the woman took a step towards Merlin, who raised his hand a little in defence.

  “Not so bright are you?” without hesitation she pressed the red button beside the door, sounding a harsh, booming noise throughout the whole of the lab. Merlin clasped his ears for a moment, heart racing. She sounded the alarm! They would be here in seconds. Looking over in despair at Gaius, he tried one final shove at the chains.

  “-Leave him alone Morgause he’s just a boy.” Gaius interjected quickly, lifting his head off the table to scowl down at her.

  “The time has come,” the woman – Morgause – grinned. “They’re coming young warlock. I suggest you run back to your safe little haven before it’s too late.”

  Pacing away from the table, he had failed; Merlin’s eyes permeated uncertainty and upset. They were coming, he could hear them ploughing down the stairs, trawling through the corridors with their weapons of destruction.

  "Merlin, for heaven’s sake. Go back to Albion now.” Gaius yelled, voice riming with authority.

  Walking towards the corner of the room, he looked over at the man on the table.

  “I’m not leaving without you!” he cried hopelessly, knowing that this was a reality that could not be.

  The swell from inside seemed susceptible to climbing into his mouth and flooding through the entire room.

  “I’ll be fine…leave.” Gaius pleaded, voice barely sounding over the ones traipsing down the hall outside, on their way to this very room.

  This was it. Taking a deep breath, Merlin raised his hand.

  “We’ll rescue you Gaius, I promise.” He vowed ferociously through his ever-thickening throat, voice strained and cracking.

  Eyes flashing gold, he felt his magic envelop his presence. Before he left, he saw the blonde woman’s look of smug satisfaction, Gaius’ relief, and the door burst open with a team of people dressed in black clothing and armed with guns. The sound of shouting, the sound of laughter from Morgause. Then it was all gone, and he could feel the cool Ealdor air on his face, hear the birds singing, feel the sun shining into his closed eyelids. Then there was a brutal punch to his arm that sent him sprawling backwards.

  Chapter 3

  “What the hell do you think you were doing Merlin!” a voice roared.

  Opening his eyes slowly, Merlin landed in the arms of Will’s angry voice. A little disorientated, he felt himself being lured into the fierce, and unusually protective, vice-grip. Will had no doubt been one of many who feared for Merlin’s safety whilst he was gone. He was unsure how long he’d gone for. But by now, the sun had passed the top of the sky, threatening to settle beneath the horizon, gesturing he had been longer than anticipated. Releasing Merlin from the hug, the brown-haired man glared at his friend. Dirt smeared his cheeks, jacket even more tattered than Merlin’s.

  “Do you know how dangerous it is out there?” his expression morphed instantly into a grin. “You could have asked me to come with you, you selfish fucking idiot! I haven’t been out there in years-

  Flashing a knowing sly smile to his friend, Merlin rolled his eyes. This was typical Will. Will who always wanted in on everything, Will who was possibly more of a rebel than he was, Will who was full of the colloquial blasphemy from that terrible world. Before he can make a crude remark, the images of Gaius, of everything he’s just seen are thrust to the centre of his thoughts. Shaking his head, he stared pleadingly at his friend with teary eyes. Not even Will had been near the labs in his lifetime on earth. Merlin felt isolation smother his body; trap him in a haze of sorrow. He could try and explain it, but it wouldn’t be the same. To believe it, you had to see it, you had to feel it, feel that terrifying magical bond to that suffering; feel the magic-weep.

  “This is serious Will.” He said, eyes frosted over with renewed shock.

  Leaning forwards suddenly, holding a hand behind Merlin in concern he was about to faint, Will searched the frightened eyes imploringly.

  “Shit Merlin. What’s happened?”

  Shaking his head, Merlin met his friend’s eyes darkly, lip quivering for a moment. Just thinking about what he had seen was tearing him apart. It took an overdose of adrenaline to make himself speak, and even when found words his syllables were heavily elongated and unclear.

  “It’s Gaius, they’ve-”

  “-Merlin!” without any warning, a new pair of arms engulfed him.

  Quickly, the tanned woman removed her arms, huge brown eyes shimmering with distress. Her long black curls framed her beautiful face angelically, the golden headband over her forehand added to her innocent aura. Smiling softly at Gwen, Merlin felt his fear, his panic, melt away for just a moment.

  “Hunith and Balinor were so worried about you! We all were. How could you leave us on edge like that? The whole clan have been praying for your safe return. Taliesin even looked for guidance from the crystals.”

  Merlin blinked in a surprise at the lengths his people had gone. To put things into perspective, he had practically leapt into death’s arms in front of his own mother, leaving her with no indication of his whereabouts, or if he was coming back alive. Guilt smothered him instantly. His selfless nature had its benefits and its consequences. He watched his friend’s complexion resolve, her lips trembling, revealing the blatant consequences.

  “You were gone for hours!” chewing her lip, she raised a hand to her forehead, releasing a tense sigh. Then abruptly her eyes widened in realisation of her actions and straightaway she grabbed his arm gently. “I’m sorry Merlin. I just-”

  “-No you’re right Gwen.” He admitted, smoothing a hand delicately over hers. “It was stupid of me to just disappear like that.”

  Frowning, Gwen nodded, pleased he agreed with her. Then, her expression softened into one of worry. Rubbing his hand, she leant towards him and gazed over at Will who shot her a look suggesting she probably shouldn’t pry. She did anyway, unable to control her compassion. It wasn’t just Merlin the people had been praying for, it was for Gaius also. Speculations had risen that he had been captured, taken to the place of nightmares.

  “Did you find him?”

  Merlin heard her saccharine voice, but his mind was too focused on Gaius, on what was happening now, on Morgause. Would they hurt Gaius? Would they hurt him because he had been there? Would they torture him for answers? Maybe he shouldn’t have gone, maybe he should have let them- no. Gaius was weak already, bound. Maybe soon they’d do it, do that horrific thing he had seen with his magic through the barricaded windows. Shuddering, he tightened his grip on Gwenevere, to prevent his legs from caving in.

  “Something’s happened…” he managed to whisper, vacant eyes looking into hers eventually.

  Gwen and Will exchanged stern glances, clearly worried for the wellbeing of their friend. Even the birds seemed troubled by Merlin’s shift in behaviour, for their songs had stopped, replaced by inquiring chirps, flying over their heads.

  “Let’s take him to Balinor and Hunith.” Will declared, hooking one of Merlin’s arms over his shoulders. “Whatever he’s seen, it’s seriously freaked him out.”

  Nodding obediently, Gwen hooked Merlin’s other arm over her shoulders. The pair trudged forwards, Merlin’
s feet barely making any movement of their own. Maybe he should go back, rescue Gaius tonight when nobody would be there…Walking quickly through the mass of druids who must have sensed the shift in emotion, Gwen offered reassuring smiles to the druids. She had been a blessing to the Ealdor clan. Despite background, they had accepted her as one of their own, not hesitating to befriend her and let her courageous act be known to all. She was good for the clan. Gwenevere kept people calm, and her golden heart never failed to console or comfort those in dire need of faith. She was dependable, and the softness to her complexion often deceived many into believing she was faint-hearted. That was hardly the case.

  Hunith and a bearded, sturdy man – Balinor – met them on the rocky platform.

  “Merlin, you scared us.” Hunith cried, cupping her sons face in her hands desperately, pinching the skin to check it wasn’t a hallucination.

  Releasing Merlin from their grasp, Gwenevere and Will glanced over to Balinor who had apprehension plastered over his face. Merlin wavered a little before regaining balance, and realised that somebody – his mother? – had been trying to make contact with him. Blinking unresponsively, he shrugged at Hunith, words unable to leave his lips. How could he possibly describe what he had seen? Noticing his behaviour, Hunith turned to her husband imploringly. Balinor leant close to his son.

  “What’s wrong son?” he asked.

  “I…Gaius…th-the-theeey…” he hissed, clamping his eyes shut for a moment, holding a hand to his head. “I found him.” Pause. “I found Gaius.”

  Gwen clasped her hands together, holding them to her mouth; Will’s eyes widened; Hunith sighed.

  “Oh Merlin-”

  Unpredictably, Merlin jumped into wild animation, body tightening in posture. “-they had him chained up. They were hurting him, taking his magic away.