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Chapter 2

Merlin had managed to find an empty chamber for Jared, but it wasn't one of the tidiest... this may have been because Merlin had accidentally knocked over a few things which, instead of tidying up, he kicked under the bed and draws. He stumped around the room, his eyes melting into gold as he made the bed, flew old clothes into boxes and flung open the windows. When he was finished he sighed and began retrieving the objects from under the bed and replacing them. In one case, a vase had chipped. He touched the place where it had broken and the missing piece shot from a crack in the stone floor and fitted itself into place.

He was just standing back to admire his handy work when he heard the ominous clanking of armour and orders, shouted in thick, grunting voices, which he had long since come to recognise as meaning one thing: there was trouble, and he was probably in it.

Arthur had found himself frozen to the spot when Uther had ordered the guards to find Merlin. He couldn't believe what was happening.

"But- but Merlin hasn't done anything!" Arthur stammered, horrified.

"Exactly... and he never does anything, or at least, he never does anything correctly according to you." Uther replied. He almost sounded amused.

"Father, that's nothing. Really. That's as much my fault as Merlin's" he said, desperately, although deeply thankful that Merlin was not there to hear him say it. Uther did not deign to reply and so, with a furious look at both him and Jared, Arthur turned on his heels and swept from the room.

The moment he was out of his father's sight he broke into a run.

Merlin considered hiding but, unfortunately, this was not one of those rooms he was often lucky enough to be in when the guards came. There was no immense wardrobe, big enough to fit a man, or long, thick curtains, and the bed had barely been tall enough for the vase to fit beneath, let alone a person! Instead, when the guards banged open the door and lumbered inside, all Merlin could do was back away. His magic, as always, reared upwards to protect him, but he pushed it back down. Hopefully this was nothing serious... he'd probably just forgotten to polish a piece of Arthur's armour at some point. But Arthur had never sent guards after him for something that trivial. No; there was definitely something up and, even as Merlin squished himself to the back wall, he knew that there was no getting away.

The guards moved forwards and seized Merlin's arms. He instinctively struggled, for about three seconds, before chanting 'this is a mistake, I've done nothing wrong' to himself, to calm down. Once he was still, they marched him from the room. Merlin prayed with all his heart that they were taking him to Arthur, and not the King.

Arthur dashed down the castle corridors, around corners and burst into room after room. He had no idea which chambers Merlin was in, or what he would do if he managed to find him. All he knew was that no man was going to lay that whip across the back of his servant. Finally, just when Arthur was on the point of giving up in despair, Merlin rounded the corner, escorted by two guards who were gripping his forearms.

"Arthur," Merlin yelled when he saw him. Arthur turned to look at him, his eyes betraying his worry however hard he tried to hide it. Merlin offered him a weak smile.

"I order you to let him go," Arthur turned to the guards and put on his most authoritative voice.

"Sorry Sire, we are under orders from the King." Merlin paled, casting his lamplight blue eyes up at his master. Arthur could only stand there as he was led away.

Merlin twisted his neck to try and gaze back at Arthur, who began to follow them as they went, well... wherever they were going. He really knew he was in for it now, but it wasn't because of anything that had happened between him and Arthur. So what was it? The awful possibility that they knew, that they knew about his magic, presented itself to him, but he was determined to ignore it. It wasn't a prospect worth dwelling on.

They reached the Kings meeting room within minutes and the guards banged open the double doors. Merlin stopped trying to look behind him and, instead, he stared forward, taking in the scene with wild eyes. Uther was sitting at the long, oak table, and Jared was standing near the back wall. He had something in his hands.

Uther looked the boy up and down, coldly. Perhaps, in the very back of his mind, a voice was asking whether what was going on was right. Uther was a good kind, but not quite as good a man. He wasn't going to let any voice get in the way of progress, and this whip was progress.

"Hold him against the wall," Uther instructed the guards. He saw them exchange surprised, even nervous glances, "do it, now," he said. Merlin could see what Jared was holding now, the long leather strap. A whip. Was it just Merlin or was it glittering? But the warlock didn't ponder on the question; he started struggling with all his might, real fear beginning to clamp around his chest. The guards dragged him forwards and forced him against the cold stone, holding his hands above his head and pressing them to the wall.

Arthur reached the meeting rooms, out of breath, and gasped in horror. Merlin heard him and looked around. "Arthur, what's going on?"he asked, his eyes wide with terror "What have I done?"

"Don't worry Merlin," Arthur called from the doorway, but all he could think of was the rise and fall of that glittering whip. Merlin faced the wall once more, desperately twisting his wrists, trying to break away from the guards. He heard Jared pace forward and place himself behind him. Arthur watched, feeling utterly helpless, as his father walked to block his path, in case he tried to rush forward. He didn't see the twisted panic shoot across Merlin's face, and the flash of gold which lit up his eyes. All he saw was the two guards' faces hit the wall with enough force to knock them both out cold.

Everyone stood still for a moment, staring at the two fallen men, wondering how it could've happened, but not suspecting magic. Merlin didn't move; he was petrified. What if Arthur had seen? While the King, his son and the servant stood frozen, Jared made his move. He raised the whip above his head and brought it down upon the boy with an earth shattering crack.

"NO!" Arthur's roar of fury reverberated around the cavernous room. He pushed past his father and charged forward, intending to wrestle Jared to the floor and make him pay but, halfway there, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. Merlin shuddered convulsively and fell on his knees. Arthur immediately switched targets and headed for the fallen servant instead of Jared. He could see a tear in the boy's jacked and, through it, a thin line of scarlet.

"Merlin," Arthur crouched down beside him, trying to look into his eyes, but Merlin was avoiding his gaze. Arthur span around and got back to his feet. The rage was still red and raw inside his chest. He walked to Jared and pulled the whip from his hands. Jared offered him nothing but a look of cold calculation. Arthur had the sudden urge to spit in his face.

"Arthur," Merlin called, softly. He was trying to pull himself up, scrabbling against the wall. Arthur took him beneath the arms and gently raised him up, putting one of Merlin's arms around his own shoulders.

"Arthur-" Uther began, his tone bemused, but Arthur interrupted before he could even get started.

"What were you thinking? You think anyone deserves this? No one does, especially not Merlin. If that man," here Arthur pointed at Jared "ever lays a finger on him again I will see to it that he doesn't get away lightly."

"You have two choices here, Arthur," and suddenly, Uther's tone matched Arthur's: deadly serious. "You can either leave Merlin here so that Jared can finish his demonstration, or you can agree for Merlin to help and work for him while he's here." Arthur scowled.

"Why?" he asked, testily.

"Because you have just interrupted something that really has nothing to do with you."

"So you're going to punish Merlin for my mistakes?"

"I will do what I need to in order for you to learn." Uther replied. Arthur looked at Merlin who was sweating and shaking.

"I'm not leaving him here." He said. Uther nodded.

"He is on Jared's beck and call, as well as yours now. Remember that."

Arthur shoved his way out of the room, gripping tightly onto Merlin.

"'s'not that bad," Merlin murmured. Arthur rolled his eyes.

"Stop trying to be all modest, idiot," He replied. Merlin looked at Arthur, and his face went into a spasm of pain.

"Feels like fire," he gasped. A little colour drained from Arthur's face. How was it that one stroke could have caused so much pain?"

"Don't worry," he said "I'm going to get you to Gaius."

Merlin hadn't been able to breathe when the hardened leather licked his skin. One stroke and pain had shot through him, and then continued to reverberate around his body. He had shuddered, every nerve screaming and his back arching. He could already feel the blood seeping from the gash and he wondered how much flesh had been torn from his body; how much of the bone would be visible.

When Arthur had come over and tried to look him in the face he had twisted away so he wouldn't see the water gathering in his eyes. Everything had gone misty and red rimmed and all he wanted was for Arthur to guide him away and get him to Gaius. To let him shake off the pain, like he always did, and today would be no exception. But then Uther had practically said that the best way to punish Arthur was through Merlin and Merlin had felt something. A stirring from the only other person in the room. It was like Jared had registered what the King had said, and something had risen in his body. Something magical that, until then, he had managed to keep hidden.

And so ends the second chapter... :p. Hope you liked it and that it answered a few questions for you. As you can see, Jared has both made himself a powerful ally and a few enimies as well. In the next chapter, which I will try to get up as soon as possible, you will see how Merlin copes working for Jared and perhaps a little bit about what Merlin felt in the way of magic. Please read on when the next chapter arrives and keep reviewing!