Just an angsty little one-shot I felt like writing. Enjoy!...err…kinda…

Warning: Contains much Merlin-whumping. Ha, hahaha… Post-reveal fic. No slash. Rated T for torture and gore. I don't own Merlin. :( Though maybe that's a good thing...

Merlin cried out in pain as the whip cracked against his back, marring his skin with angry red welts. He was tied, stomach down, on a cold stone table and restrained with dirty ropes which dug painfully into the soft flesh around his wrists and ankles. His shirt had been reduced to blood-sodden rags. The leather whip snapped again and he whimpered. The back of his throat stung with strangled sobs.

"What's wrong, kid? Had enough?" His torturer asked. His rumbling voice was snide and taunting. Merlin moaned in agony, raising his swollen eyes to look at the man, but he said nothing. "Answer me." The torturer roared. He raised his hand and slapped Merlin across the face. The young warlock flinched and opened his mouth – blood dribbled over his lips – to let out a shallow breath. The man growled and kicked him in the face, resulting in a sickening crack as Merlin's nose snapped. "Are you going to tell me what I want to know, or not?"

Merlin blinked and winced in pain then tilted his head to stare at the man through blood-shot eyes. "No…" he croaked weakly. Bruises covered his face, colouring it vicious blue and black with bloody red smears around the sides of his temple. His nose had been smashed in and his right cheek was slightly disfigured, as if the bony arch had collapsed beneath his skin.

The man grabbed Merlin by his hair; which was now grimy and blood-soaked, and wrenched his head up; forcing his neck to arch backwards. His aching muscles stung in protest, prompting an animalistic whimper. "You asked for it." There was a nasty grin on his face as he took a knife from his belt. The blade was jagged with a bit of rust, and was stained dark red with blood.

He used the knife to slice open the ropes on one of his wrists and then roughly grabbed Merlin's hand. The warlock tried to tear his hand from his grip, but the man was too strong. He turned it over and pressed the tip of the dagger to his palm. "Last chance, kid."

Merlin shook his head then screamed as the blade dug into his palm. Bright red blood pooled on his hand and ran over his fingers, adding to the stains on the stone table. The man gave the knife a sharp twist and Merlin's agonising shrieks worsened. He could feel the rough metal grinding against his skin, scraping the flesh away from bone.

There was grim laughter; low, rumbling and cruel. Merlin's vision was swimming, becoming hazy and dark around the edges. He could just make out the man's stomach which bulged beneath a gore-stained tunic. Merlin closed his eyes; hoping, dreaming, wishing that someone would come to help him; someone would save him. But nobody would. Nobody knew where he was, what was going on.

"Arthur, please…"

"No, Merlin. You are a traitor and a liar."

"But-"

"Leave. Now. Get OUT OF MY SIGHT. Leave Camelot and never return if you value your life."

Merlin felt tears burn at his eyes as they tried to leak out between his swollen eyelids. If only he hadn't been so careless; Arthur would never have found out, and he would never have thrown him out of Camelot. Merlin wouldn't be where he was; tortured by evil thugs demanding to know all of the King's secrets. They had recognised him as Arthur's manservant; and decided to use him against Arthur.

And yet that was exactly where Merlin was; faithful to his King until the end. The dagger was wrenched from his mangled hand and the tip forced into his forearm, a few inches above his sore wrist. More animalistic screams emitted from Merlin's throat and echoed about the room as the blade was tugged roughly through his flesh and dragged up his arm, leaving bloodied trail.

"Arthur, Please…" Merlin whispered, but it was whispered to mere memories. The murmurs tumbled from his mouth as he fell into the dark, painless pit of unconsciousness. "Help me…"

But Arthur wasn't going to help him. No one was.

Basically; Arthur found out about Merlin's magic and threw him out of Camelot (instead of sentencing him to death) Whilst on his own, Merlin got found by some evil dudes who recognised him as Arthur's manservant and are torturing him for information but Merlin, being Merlin, refuses and instead remains ever-loyal to the man who betrayed their friendship.

So sad. Sorry Merlin, I love you really! :)