A/N It has been 365 days since I updated this fic and I am so, so sorry. You are all an amazing audience and deserve better than my late chapters.

Consider this an early Christmas present? *Nervous smile*

A soft moan sounded in the dank cells and three figures crowded around a fourth, who was lightly stirring on the stone floor. "Merlin?" Gwaine whispered, pressing against the bars alongside Arthur.

"C'mon, Merlin," Lancelot muttered. "Wake up."

This scene had repeated itself countless times over the course of the last few hours. Every time their youngest showed signs of waking, they got their hopes up. And every time, it was all for nothing. Something would change during this repetition, but not in the way they wanted.

The raven-haired boy groaned again and his eyes fluttered open, revealing dazed blue orbs. He stared up at the ceiling for a few seconds, getting his bearings before looking around. A flash of fear crossed his face when he caught sight of his friends' gently concerned faces, and he slammed his eyelids closed again.

Three pairs of eyebrows furrowed in confusion, the air now thrumming with worry. Arthur spoke up quietly. "Merlin? You alright?" The only response the manservant gave was light trembling. The prince reached through the bars slowly, reaching for his friend's leg. 'Merli-?"

The second Arthur's hand made contact, the warlock jerked away. He ended up jumping right into Lancelot and quickly skittered into the furthest corner of the cell, eyes still tightly shut. "No! D-don't touch me! You're... This isn't real... I'm not here..." He curled in on himself, covering his ears. "Just don't look and you'll be okay," he whispered to himself.

Lancelot crept over to him. "What are you talking about? Of course we're real. See?" He lightly touched Merlin's shoulder.

The boy simply curled up more, muttering, "No, no, no, get away. I won't look, not again."

The knight looked over at his two friends in the neighboring cell. Sadly, he shook his head.

"Gods, what did he do to him?"

Hours passed, any attempts to comfort the warlock falling on deaf ears until there was nothing left to say. A depressed air fell around the cells, silence only broken by Merlin's occasional mutters. Every broken whisper of "Don't look" and "Not real" sent a painful pang through the hearts of Lancelot, Arthur and Gwaine. Each pang solidified their wrath towards Evelyn, and their conviction to escape. Soon.

Yet more time passed. The knights and their prince were now huddled by the bars that separated them, conversing quietly, when...

Thud, thud, thud, thud...

Soft footsteps echoed from the hall. Looking up, the three saw the familiar form of Bayard, who was carrying their rations for the day: a small platter of stale bread and water. "Hey, how's Mer-? Oh..." He stopped as he caught sight of the boy. Kneeling in front of the bars, he began handing out the food and whispered, "What happened?"

The three exchanged glances. "We don't know," Lancelot started. "But he won't open his eyes."

"He doesn't think we're real," Gwaine added, fuming at their absent captor.

As if on cue, Merlin murmured, "Not here, not real..."

Bayard stared for a few seconds, then sighed. "The amulets. I knew those things were bad news." Receiving three blank stares, he elaborated. "Evelyn has been gloating over them for weeks, claiming to have gotten them for next to nothing from some merchant who wanted to get rid of them. They're supposed to show you your worst fears."

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure they were used on Merlin?"

"Positive. Evelyn... tested them on a few new recruits. It didn't always end well."

"I bet they regret joining now," Gwaine muttered darkly. Bayard nodded.

Nothing was said for a few minutes. Then, Arthur looked up, fire in his eyes. "We're leaving tonight," he told the guard.

A/N It's really short, I know, but I have school tomorrow. I will try to have another chapter up next week, I think I know where I'm going now.

Again, I am really sorry for how long this took. I will try to get better, I promise.

If anyone has a good name for the amulets, please let me know. I considered the Amulets of Psychoses, but that just seemed too obvious.

Thanks for reading! Especially to those of you who have stuck around through my unannounced hiatus. You're the best. *Hugs*