Too Far by Emachinescat

A Merlin Fan-Fiction

SUMMARY: AU tag to 'Lamia'. How far is too far? Looking at the bloody, battered form on the cold, stone floor, with Lamia's green eyes focused hungrily upon the weary men, the knights realized that this time, they might have crossed the line. Enchanted or not, they've gone too far. 4x08

A/N: Hey, strangers! :) I know it's been a LONG time since I last posted anything on here, but I swear: I'm NOT dead! I've just been really busy with school and also, Doctor Who swept me away for a while. Hee hee. Anyway, I should be writing my British Literature term paper right now, but after this weekend's episode, I just had to write this. My Merlin-whumping muse would not shut up about it. So here goes. :) Enjoy, and please review!

Too Far

Leon wasn't sure who started throwing punches first.

Hell, he wasn't even sure he knew what had just happened.

He and the knights had been tense all day – so much so that he and Gwaine had actually begun to exchange blows in the middle of camp – and besides the small quarrels that had broken out amongst themselves, most of their anger seemed to be focused on the two servants with them. Well, the servant and the future queen, but at the moment, Leon couldn't bring himself to care that the woman was his future ruler. Neither she nor Merlin seemed to understand what a precious treasure Lamia was, and neither tried to protect her like the others were.

Just as well. Leon didn't want anyone else trying to take care of his Lamia. That's why he and Gwaine had attacked each other. Neither one could stand the thought of the other trying to steal Lamia away from him. It wasn't Lamia's fault. She couldn't help that she was so perfect and beautiful, that she needed to be protected.

But Merlin and Gwen didn't understand that. They looked at her funny sometimes, with suspicion or doubt in their eyes. And the way Lamia had shrieked when Merlin had touched her… Leon had shuddered. He didn't want that servant anywhere near Lamia.

Gwen, though, for the most part, had tended to keep her mouth shut, even if her eyes said she didn't agree. She'd spoken out a time or two, but not like Merlin. And that is why the knights were basically content to leave her be. But Merlin wouldn't leave them alone, wouldn't leave Lamia alone, and wouldn't leave them alone about Lamia. He had to be able to see that he was pinching a nerve – a very, very raw nerve – considering the threats and occasional shove sent his way, but he just wouldn't stop.

And then, soon after they had built up camp in the castle, after Lamia had disappeared and they were about to split up and search for her, Merlin opened his big mouth again. And this time, no one had been able to control their anger.

"Leon, Percival, Gwaine, you have to listen to me!" Merlin had nearly shouted, the insolent servant! "Remember the sickness, the dying people back in the village? Remember why we came here in the first place? I told you something magical was going on; that an enchantment was behind it, but you wouldn't listen! I'm telling you, it's her!"

"Merlin." Gwen's voice was frightened, hesitant. She was trying to warn him to keep his mouth shut.

Listen to her, Merlin.

He didn't.

"Lamia is behind this! She's controlling you all, making you fight! She made Elyan sick and she'll be going after you next. We have to get out of here now, get Elyan back to Camelot. What will Arthur say when he – oomph!"

Leon still wasn't sure if it was him, Gwaine, or Percival that hit Merlin first because they all lashed out at basically the same time. The anger filled every inch of his being, seething throughout his skin and bones, rushing through his bloodstream, causing his heart to pump faster. He wasn't himself anymore, his vision went green as the fury took over him, and if he had been in his right mind, he might have realized that he was under a powerful enchantment. But, of course, being under a powerful enchantment, he was nowhere near being in his right mind.

The others were the same. There were sounds of flesh hitting flesh, cries of pain, and Gwen's voice screamed out over the group. "Stop it! Please, Leon! Gwaine! Percival! STOP IT!"

Someone's hand grabbed onto his arm, pulling desperately to get him away from Merlin. Leon shoved Gwen away harshly. In the middle of the circle of knights, Merlin moaned pitifully, bleeding from a busted nose, eyes swollen, and lip cut. He fell to the ground, curling in on himself as his 'friends' advanced upon him, this time kicking as well as hitting. Merlin's moans grew softer until they disappeared altogether.

When the knights finally backed away, his chest was barely rising and bruises and cuts covered every inch of visible skin. Leon expected to feel accomplished and proud, like he usually did when defeating a monster or a bandit, but instead, he just felt hollow inside as he looked upon the trembling, unconscious form of Merlin, a man that Arthur trusted, that he had befriended, that he had attacked.

Oh, gods.

He had attacked.

For Lamia. He had to remember that.

Lamia.

"What the… hell?"

At Gwaine's exclamation, Leon looked up to see the most terrifying, chilling sight. Lamia stood before them, a twisted, cruel, satisfied smile on her once-pretty face. As they watched, her back arched, teeth elongated, clothing ripped as her body grew, and her skin began to turn a sickening green color. Two piercing eyes glowed out from the midst of a hoard of tentacles and a terrible growling sound escaped her – its – lips.

Leon glanced down at Merlin, who had just begun to stir, and all of a sudden what they had done to him came into clear focus. They had gone too far.

That was the last thought that flew through Leon's mind before he himself was soaring across the room with the help of a strong tentacle flying into his face. Regret filled every bit of his being and he could hear the shocked cries of the knights and a loud, piercing scream from Guinevere before he lost consciousness.

A/N: That, my friends, was just the introduction. There shall be much more Merlin whumpage, along with Merlin/Arthur bromance, extremely guilty knights, an angry king, and Merlin POV later! I'm thinking there will probably be around 6 chapters to this fic, give or take a few. Please review and I'll update as soon as I can! :)

~Emachinescat ^..^