A/N – So this is my first ever Merlin fanfic and I am super excited to share it! I only recently finished the series and it kind of took over my life, holding it hostage until I started writing this fic. Servant of Two Masters has to been one of my favorite Merlin episodes, even though I wished they had done more with it (it had so much potential for angsty feels) but ah well that's what fanfic for is right? This chapter was a little shorter than I usually write (and is completely unbeta'ed, PM if you are interested) but it is acting as a prelude of sorts to the actual story. The next one should be longer and touch base with a few of the other characters.

For anyone who is subscribed to my True Blood stories don't worry, this isn't me abandoning them. I have just been a little suck getting into the flow and thought that starting another story in a different fandom would help me get out of my writing rut.

Thanks and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I sadly don't own anything Merlin, only taking them out for a play...

1. Sacrifice and Capture

~ Merlin ~

He always knew that he would die like this, saving Arthur's life.

And part of him had always resented the idea. Resented that his great destiny amounted to sacrificing his life for someone else. But as he had watched Arthur grow from a spoiled Prince to a strong King and, dare he say it, loyal friend he could no longer deny the fact he would die for this man, destiny or not.

It had been those thoughts that had caused him to step into the path of the rider who had been bearing down on Arthur's vulnerable side, taking the blow that had been meant for his King. And it was testament to Arthur's loyalty as a friend that he had pulled Merlin to safety instead of continue the fight, refusing to abandon him, even when in the most dire of situations.

Now Arthur was faced more than half a dozen bandits, determination etched into his very stance as he prepared himself for a battle that could very well kill him. Merlin would have yelled at him to go, to save himself, but knew better than to try after his earlier attempts had been ignored.

Bloody stubborn prat, Merlin grumbled in his head, knowing it would, once again, be up to him to save the King from his own obstinate bravery. Using the last of his strength he summoned his magic, focusing it towards the space that remained between Arthur and the advancing bandits.

"Gewican ge stanas!" He forced the words from his parched throat and felt his eye's burn with magic as the spell took effect, the cliff faces on both sides of the gully crumbling down like stale bread.

"MERLIN!"

Arthur's desperate cry was quickly drowned out under the noise of the slip, and the wounded warlock could only watch as his only form of rescue disappeared behind the giant rocks and boulders his magic had called down.

Almost immediately he fell back against the forest floor, exhausted after using such powerful magic when already in such a severely weakened state. The pain from his chest wound flared up again to an almost unbearable degree, every breath now feeling like an impossible task. Black spots began to dance across his vision at the lack of air.

He struggled to stay awake as the bandits moved around him, trying to make some sense of the words they were speaking. He thought he heard the name Morgana, but through the haze of exhaustion and pain he couldn't be sure.

The next moment he felt the shadow of a man fall over him, before he was roughly grabbed and pulled onto the shoulders of one of the bandits. The sudden movement stretched his wound but he could barely find the breath to groan in pain.

His eye's fluttered closed against his will as he began to lose the fight to stay awake. But as he slipped into unconsciousness, he felt content, safe in the knowledge that Arthur was still alive.

His destiny had been fulfilled.

~ Morgana ~

Morgana paced, her agitation plain to see.

Her carefully planned attack had failed. Despite the intel Agravaine had provided her, Arthur had gotten away. Escaping into the forest before the battle had been over. And now, after more than 12 hours of searching the surrounding forest, he had yet to be found.

In her anger she had decimated the forest surrounding her, tree's reduced to piles of splinters and ash. Yet, for all her power, it seemed she was still unable to kill one man.

One again she found herself wondering how it could be that Arthur managed to evade her every attempt at his life. How could it be that a one man, without magic, was able to time and again thwart her plans?

Another nearby tree took the brunt of her rage, catching alight and burning with unnatural ferocity. The men she had under her command scattered in fear and surprise at her sudden display of power.

Pathetic.

No wonder Arthur got away when she was surrounded by such incompetence. She snarled in wordless anger, ready to turn her magic on the men surrounding her. Perhaps pain would make their minds sharper.

The sound of approaching footsteps broke her from her thoughts. Turning she found Agravaine entering the clearing, watching as he hesitated before her, his eye's flickering nervously to the burning tree behind her, before he stepped to the side. Behind him was a handful of men, two of whom were carrying the limp form of a man between them.

She felt her spirits rise until the man– no boy– was dumped at her feet, his red tunic and blue neck scarf mocking her with the knowledge that he was not the prize she was looking for. It seemed, even unconscious, Merlin managed to foil her plans. She glared down at him distastefully before leveling her poisonous gaze at Agravaine.

"What is this?" She hissed, her anger rising to the surface once again. The men around her flinched away in response to her acidic tone, already acutely aware of what her anger had done to the surrounding forest, and knowing now to fear her when in such a mood.

Something the wretched serving boy at her feet didn't seem to comprehend.

"I thought I told you to bring me the head of Arthur Pendragon. Instead you bring me his serving boy." She spat the last few words, kicking the unconscious form of Merlin onto his back.

"There were…unforeseen circumstances my lady." Agravaine bowed his head slightly, in deference, knowing he would have to choose his next words carefully to avoid her wrath. "We had Arthur in our grasp, trapped in a gully, but a rock fall cut us off before he could capture him."

"And that's supposed to make me feel better? I don't care for your excuses. I want results. I want Arthur dead and the throne of Camelot in my grasp, and that cannot happen if such incompetence continues." She grit her teeth in frustration, feeling the ever-present bitterness and anger rise up within her that being thwarted of her prize once again. Now she would need to come up with a new plan to kill Arthur.

"I understand completely my lady, please tell me what I can do to be of service. I only wish to see you seated on the throne, as is your birthright."

"Right now, I want you back in Camelot. People will become suspicious if you are missing for too long. After all, if your true nature is revealed I don't know what use I still have for you." She watched the flicker of fear cross his face as he understood her less than subtle threat.

"Please, allow me to remedy my mistake before I leave." He spoke earnestly, unsheathing his sword and moving to stand over where Merlin was lying, unconscious and vulnerable on his back. "I will dispatch this servant." He raised his blade to strike, when Morgana stepped forward.

"You will do no such thing." Morgana demanded sharply, and Argavaine retreated immediately, confused but unwilling to make her angrier with him than she already was.

"But…I thought you wished him dead. The boy's a menace, you have said so yourself."

"That is precisely why he shall live, for now. His death should not be so quick when he deserves to suffer for the part he played in my sister's death. Besides, Arthur is strangely fond of the boy. He could prove useful. Very useful indeed."

She took a final look at the disheveled servant at her feet, observing with some satisfaction that he had been badly wounded in the attack, the front of his tunic torn and bloodied from a painful looking chest wound. It was a horrific sight, yet it would be nothing to what she had planned for him.

He would regret the day he first crossed Morgana Pendragon.

. . .

Thanks for reading!

Please leave a review and tell me what you thought :) I thrive for feedback (constructive criticism welcome) and I would love to hear what level of Merlin Whump you are expecting. I have the potential to get quite dark when I write and haven't had the chance to write an angsty fic for this site before so I might go a little crazy…