Two guards reported back to Uther's chambers. The boy had been found, they had said. He was now in the dungeons.
Good.
Was it good? He was a little skeptical about what he was doing, but then again he was king and could therefore do whatever he pleased. And it was for Arthur's own good. Yes, he thought. This is the right thing to do. The only thing to do. The problem had to be fixed, but before that, he needed to be sure there was a problem.
Two nights ago, he had gone into Arthur's chambers late at night to ask for his opinion on a decision he had come to and would announce the following day around the borders. He hadn't thought Arthur would be asleep. When he was a boy he had stayed up into the darkest hours of the night reading. Yet there he was, sleeping soundly. He looked like a child again, and Uther was reminded of the days of the past, a smile making its way onto his hardened face.
This moment, however was interrupted by a sigh coming from Arthur.
"Mmhmmerlin"
Uther stiffened. Merlin? The serving boy? What business did Arthur had uttering the boy's name in his sleep?
Arthur turned over and gripped a pillow, bringing it closer to him and smiled.
"Merlin" it was barely audible, but Uther had heard loud and clear. He frowned and turned to leave.
Uther had spent the last two days thinking over the meaning of such an occurrence. His mind had jumped to a conclusion that night. It was one he didn't like, but as he thought more about it, the more likely it seemed. Arthur was… attracted to the Merlin boy. He didn't want to think about whether the same went for Merlin with Arthur, and if they had done things about it. He became horrified the more he thought about it.
It made sense, they were always together. And it seemed they were always laughing and having fun with one another. He had often seen Arthur and Merlin exchanging meaningful looks, but he had thought nothing of it before. Now he was beginning to see just how meaningful they may have been. They even went on every trip together, even when it was not required that Merlin go along. Those trips alone in the woods, Uther didn't want to think about it.
He didn't have any proof that his mind was running away, however, so he had decided to see how Arthur reacted to losing the boy. The lengths he would go to in order to find him would prove enlightening as to the inner workings of Arthur's heart. It sounded cruel, but so was letting such an affair continue.
It needed to be done.